Cheers Essex
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I did manage one more trip out (see below) but it was a disappointing autumn.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
I saw the sun today though and it felt awesome
Cheers Trevor
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I could try Trevor but then I'd have to work it out for myself first - I heard someone use it once, liked the way it sounded and so chucked it into my prose
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Yep silly season is on the way - the examiners time it to perfection every year - just as the butterflies start emerging in earnest the revision sessions start
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Hope to see you for some mutual self isolation at Easter
Stourhead 27-10-2019
Every October I’m inundated by sister in-laws as they all descend on us for a few days visit. Luckily this means at least one trip out to a National trust site with Stourhead being the popular choice. So it was this year only I hadn’t counted on national advertisement of the ‘glorious autumn colours’ which meant queueing to get into the overflow car park. Still it meant that we emerged from the ticket office into slightly warmer temps…if you can call them that. This year it’s almost as if someone’s flipped a switch; summer off autumn on. No Indian Summer, no shorts and T-shirt in October instead having to rattle round in the loft to find hats, scarves and winter coats.
We followed the traditional route – across the bridge, through the walled garden and stables, skirt the edge of the garden and dive down through the wood. Whilst there were more birds to see, their protective cloak of leaves dispersed and decaying, as well as fungi the insects were few and far between and as I wandered I wondered if I’d already finished the year?
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As the woodland path came down the hill and merged with the lakeside track to flow together over the dam my question was answered for me. My season hadn’t ended as there was a beautiful lemon Brimstone looking to all intents and purposes as a falling leaf caught on the breeze. I knew that it wasn’t one though as in the slight breeze most leaves were spiralling diagonally downwards and this ‘leaf’ was moving horizontally. And just as quickly as it had come it was gone disappearing into a small tree which was bedecked in Brimstone yellow leaves. Nothing ventured nothing gained I tried to relocate the Brimstone in its hidey hole and amazingly there it was, hanging upside down looking remarkably like an apoptotic leaf ready to drop.
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After this I kept my eyes open and in the remnants of the walk I spied out a further two butterflies – both Red Admirals and both high up and out of reach of my lens. I didn’t mind not getting any shots of them I ‘d rather they found somewhere snug to hide away as the autumn came quickly upon us.
And so ended 2019 for me...there were one or two more sightings but nothing down on memory card...I guess I'd better start sorting out the Portugal reports now then
Have a goodun
Wurzel