Janet Turnbull

[Goldie M]

Hi! Janet, the weather's been great here hasn't it I'm still short of a Brimstone but I saw a Small White today look's like Spring has Sprung Goldie

[Janet Turnbull]

I'm still short of a Brimstone but I saw a Small White today look's like Spring has Sprung Goldie

Wow - it really has! I haven't seen a Small White yet, according to the timetable they're not supposed to arrive until mid April!

Good to see you are getting out, and seeing some good stuff in the process.

I'm not going out any more, Essexbuzzard - it doesn't feel right. I have to drive almost 3 miles to get to my favourite stamping ground and you could hardly call my style of butterflying 'exercise'! It's more stand still and let them come to you.

Yesterday was the first day of lockdown and already I feel quite guilty about going out. So I stayed at home today and painted the garden fence which I've been meaning to do for the last 5 years. It's so rotten that I'm sure what's left of it after the storms will not stand another winter but it does now look attractively 'shabby chic' and almost all the same colour.
A Small Tortoiseshell was fascinated by the dandelions in the garden but every time I turned round it flew away. A Peacock with half a wing missing sunned itself in between chasing other Peacocks and Small Torts - the air above our garden was thick with aerial warfare! A Comma spent so long on the viburnum I think he got drunk.

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Janet I know what you mean about the 'guilt' I felt it the last couple of times I've been out (still once a day) but then I don't have a garden and a brisk 10 minute walk observing the 2 metre rule and I'm at Middle Street LNR which the last time I went was frequented by 3 people including myself

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Janet Turnbull]

So after saying I wouldn't go out again, I stayed in yesterday and this morning I did some repair/decorating where the winter storms had left us with ceiling paper hanging down (since December ) but then cabin fever set in and I just had to get out. So I had a brisk walk to Banky Lane, went into the meadows and back via the village, which made a 4.5 mile round trip. The lane leading back to the village had quite a few people and not all of them seemed to care about the social distancing.
The meadows yielded several Peacocks and a couple of Commas, and I was pleased to get a half decent picture of a Long-tailed tit.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Janet, I love the shot of the Long Tailed TIT, they're a cute little bird aren't they I might have a wander out today to see what's flying, you do feel like you shouldn't be out though even if your taking exercise. Goldie

[ernie f]

Janet, Like you I am staying in too now and like you there are plenty of maintenance jobs around the house which would in any other circumstances probably would never get done!

I found your pictures of the Comma that you took on March 25th to have a lovely soft-focus look about them. Very pretty.

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Janet,

Great reports with some nice butterflies. I am fortunate that I have a small but decent local spot that I can walk to in five minutes for my daily exercise, I don't think I will be driving anywhere for a while.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Really like the Peacock shot Janet - I can't recall one looking as red I feel the same way about the exercise but then its been shown to have a positive effect on the immune system as well as mental health. I'm lucky in that I have a couple of goodish spots in walking distance and I can get to them without seeing that many, if any people. I think the main problems are in the big cities as people don;t seem to have gotten the message Stay safe.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Cabin fever is particularly strong at this glorious time of year, Janet. It doesn't help that we've just had one of the wettest, gloomiest winters on record - practically all of us are desperate to get out.

We all need to be sensible about it, but we cannot stay indoors for weeks on end, and I'm not surprised you gave in to your instincts (and saw a few fine butterflies in the process).

[Chris L]

That Peacock is soooo red. What a lovely photo that is Janet (along with all of the others).

[Sij]

Very nice..........

[Janet Turnbull]

Thank you Otep and Sij!
Today's only sighting is a moth

which I strongly suspect is a clothes moth

[Old Wolf]

Hello Janet, I hope you had a good hibernation

Good to see you out and about and with a new camera to play with makes it even more fun Lovely long tailed tit picture, I have never managed to even get one in the viewfinder as they never sit still when I see them in their little groups.

[Janet Turnbull]

Hello Old Wolf! Yes, a good hibernation followed by an enforced one! However, I went out for my government permitted constitutional today - it started dull but then the sun came out and everything looked so much more cheerful. The hedge mustard is not quite in flower but I expect it will be in the next day or so and then hopefully the orange-tips will appear. I didn't see any butterflies today but there was a robin in full song, and on my return home I discovered a green caterpillar on my specially cultivated nettles. I've tried to look it up without success. Perhaps it's a moth.

[Chris L]

That robin in song photo is an absolute gem Janet. I bet you were absolutely delighted to capture that. I would be !

[Janet Turnbull]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment over the last few days; DavidM, Wurzel, Ernie F, Niel, Goldie, Otep and Sij. I mentioned you all in a post earlier which didn't go because I must have hit preview instead of submit... put it down to age

Now that it has turned cooler I feel much less inclined to go out, especially as it's a half hour walk to get to Carrington Moss. There are green spaces somewhat closer but the threat of development hanging over the Moss makes it seem all the more important to appreciate and record what is there.

[Wurzel]

No worries Janet - been there, done that myself That Robin looks like he was about to burst...either that or shatter any surrounding windows

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

That's a fantastic shot of my favourite bird Janet I've got one nesting in the Garden , I tend to tip toe when I'm passing there spot. one comes for some cheese every day. Goldie

[Janet Turnbull]

..either that or shatter any surrounding windows
Wurzel

Luckily there were no nearby windows, Wurzel. But he had to sing up on account of the farmer crunching up some brash with a tractor!

one comes for some cheese every day. Goldie

Cheese, Goldie? Clearly has different preferences to Yellowhammers!

[Janet Turnbull]

It was Orange-tip day on the riverbank today - we counted at least 15 males and a couple of females. The males looked particularly spruce and bright. I thought I saw a Small White but it never settled, and a Peacock shot up from the grass near my feet; I was so intent on the O-tips I wasn't looking where I was going. A very thirsty Small Tortoiseshell had its tongue deep into a rapeseed flower.
Back home, Alan was buzzed by a Holly Blue. We watched it examine the aquilegias but of course I had left the camera indoors!