Hedgerow Blue Tit

In a Kirkstall hedgerow, a group of Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Long Tail Tit zipped in and out of tangled branches. This individual was the only one to sit obligingly for a picture. His colourful fluffy form contrasted with the bare spiky hawthorn branches whose buds are starting to emerge.

Beckett Park Lunchtime Woodland Wander

Yesterday lunchtime the earlier blue skies and sunshine had become slightly overcast so I opted for a nearby woodland walk. Almost immediately I heard the calls of a Nuthatch, as it scoured the nooks and crannies of a tree stump. Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tit zipped around the treetops above and a Robin perched nearby.

With fleeting glimpses of sunshine I headed towards a clearing, hoping for better light and the vague possibility of some butterfly action. Listening to what might have been a Bullfinch I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. It winded its way in my direction and landed nearby, a familiar woodland friend the Speckled Wood, this one identifiable due to two diagonal scars on its upper left forewing.




A second Speckled Wood strayed into its territory and the two set off on a duel, disappearing into the woodland. Moments afterwards the original butterfly returned to settle in almost the same spot presumably content with its victory.

As it flew away again I looked up to see a Blue Tit watching me from above.

On my return another Speckled Wood flew past me shoulder to settle on the right of the path, a notably different Speckled Wood with a more saturated ground colour and much bolder markings.

As I turned and stood I heard a call to my and caught a glimpse of a Treecreeper in the process of working its way up a trunk, another satisfying lunchtime wander.

St Chad's Churchyard Friday Wander

On a lunchtime stroll to St Chad's churchyard I was rewarded with clearer views of one of the pair of Jay that I glimpsed briefly last week, what a lovely bird it is.

Here's my first decent shot of a Speckled Wood that greeted me as I entered the churchyard and later settled nearby amongst paper thin golden leaves. The Speckled Wood was my most familiar butterfly last year, it prefers the dappled shade of hedgerows and woodland margins, I welcome its return and look forward to many more happy encounters.

Three Blue Tits fed on emerging pinnate leaves (Rowan or Ash perhaps), the spire of St Chad's Church can be seen in the background of the first pic. Note to self: must identify this tree on my next visit.

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense, growing by a gravestone, Phil Gates (Cabinet of Curiosities) recently blogged about Equisetum telmateia, and as usual its well worth a read.

Beckett Park & St Chads Churchyard lunchtime wander

Today Beth joined me for a woodland wander and we ventured down to St Chad's Churchyard, a few minutes walk away. On the way we saw Mistle Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbirds aplenty, Wren, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Magpie and Jackdaw. In the churchyard, from a distance we watched a Blue Tit check out a potential nestbox. With the help of Beth's eagle-eyedness (she's very good, I'd recommend her to anybody out on a nature walk) we spotted a Small Tortoiseshell on the wing, second butterfly of the year in two days!