Goldie M

[Wurzel]

If it's the end of May then you could be onto your Grizzled Skippers for sure Goldie as well as Marsh Frits and Dukes Good to hear that you had a great Chrimble - fingers crossed it'll only be 7-8 weeks until things kick off

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Good to know you had a great Christmas/New Year, Goldie. I bet those snowdrops brought a smile to your face.

All the best for 2020.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, hope fully I'll finally see the G Skippers this Year, so far, over all, I've seen 50 species over the years so I've not too many more to go in this country, trouble is with Butterflies there's no guarantee So fingers crossed

Hi! David, they certainly did, I've not had a good look round the garden yet But I bet the bulbs are showing through has well.

Goldie

[Goldie M]

Looking out into the Garden this afternoon I spotted these very different marked Woodie's, I've not seen them in the garden before.
The middle photo is definitely my local Woodie but the other two I don't recognise at all, my local Woodie is definitely interested in the very marked one though Goldie

[bugboy]

Hi Goldie, the two imposters are Feral Pigeons

[Wurzel]

Bugboy got there before me Goldie The first and last are Feral Pigeons although the first is quite a good fit for the ancestral Rock Dove from which the Pigeon Fanciers bred from originally and are now possibly extinct in the UK. The white collar is the best way of distinguishing the Woodie, although the young ones don't have it Good to see you keeping your hand in - not long now til kick off!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Many thanks Bugboy and Wurzel, I'd never heard of Feral Pigeons before let alone seen one in my garden, they're back again today.

I'm not getting the same amount of birds Wurzel due to the many Squirrels arriving in the garden and also three cats that or a pest can't do much about that, cats will be cats, but I've not seen the Gold Finch or too many Starlings lately.

I'm keeping my Camera handy though Goldie

[Goldie M]

I heard on the News tonight about the full Moon, they called it the Wolf Moon, any way I couldn't resist taking some shots
It was rather cloudy but I thought that made the Moon look more sinister then I changed my Camera for the last few shots to AV
and got the the bigger, closer, picture. Goldie

[Padfield]

Hi Goldie. We've never met, but how many times we must have stood under a clear sky gazing at the full moon together ...

Great pictures of the wolf moon. You got the close-up ones at just the right time, with the bottom right part of the moon darker because it was in more shade.

Guy

[Wurzel]

Great shots Goldie It was my sisters and nieces last night in the UK before they head back to Oz so we went out for a meal - but we kept nipping out of the restaurant to have a look - the waiter was a bit twitchy - I think he thought that we were planning on doing a runner

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Thanks Guy and Wurzel, The Moon fascinates me with it's different changes last year for instance it was called the Blood Moon ( 21st Jan ) this year the Wolf Moon, what next!! can't wait Goldie

[David M]

Good stuff, Goldie. You've definitely got the hang of this!

[Goldie M]

Thanks David, not so nice here at present last two days have been awful with very heavy rain, no sign of the moon
I just missed a shot of a Sparrow Hawk on Sunday though, that'll teach me to keep my camera handy Goldie

[Goldie M]

I was just looking back to photos I took in February last year, I remember the weather being unusually hot for that time of year and being surprised at finding my first Small Tortoiseshell in the front garden on the 25th February, I don't know what this year will bring but February is not so far a way The Butterfly was enjoying my White Heather, mind you I didn't see another until the 20th of March but it's encouraging Goldie

[Wurzel]

Great shots Goldie Mid February is generally when I start looking for butterflies - usually Small Torts or Red Admirals so not long now! Mind you I was lucky enough to get off the mark with a Red Admiral on Sunday so hopefully that's an omen of a great butterfly year ahead

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Hi! Wurzel, I saw your post in the January section, I'd have been thrilled to see a Butterfly so soon, it must be much milder down South than here, even so I'm on the look out starting February Goldie

[David M]

You can't wait can you, Goldie?

I doubt if this February will be as glorious as 2019's version but whichever way you look at it, we aren't far away now!

[Goldie M]

Hi! David, your quite right, I can't wait I've even booked for a five day trip to North Wales in February
I've been fed up with the weather so I thought a trip out would be Ideal to break the Winter up a bit, I wouldn't be surprised though if it snowed Goldie

[Goldie M]

I've just got back from Llandudno, in spite of the rain I enjoyed it, good food and the company was pleasant, I went with my Sister-in-law .
I took some shots from the coach windows of the mountains with snow on their tops , they looked really great, I also had a Visitor from time to time who looked in the Window
We visited a Slate Quarry , the sharpness and shine of the slate made unusual colours in the water, really lovely It didn't rain all the time and we managed to dodge most of it.Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cracking views Goldie That shot of the quarry lake is lush The gull looks a little annoyed that you're looking into his 'bedroom'

Have a goodun

Wurzel