Of course half term has gone flying by. We walked up on Painswick Beacon and I found several common blue butterflies fluttering in a hollow. Gorgeous. I do love butterflies so much. I wish I was better at identifying them.
We walked down to the river. (Not on the same day!) The tide looked low and you could see sandbanks waiting to trap unwary ships. Most of the big ships have an experienced pilot to bring them up the river, it's not an easy place to navigate.
There's been a little recorder playing here, a bit of puzzling and of course lots of shinning up trees. Also a huge amount of pre-birthday excitement. We might burst! We saw a peacock, such striking birds. Big fat show-offs, but I sometimes get the impression there's not much going on up top. Other than the thought, "Look at me, look at me, aren't I fine, oh yes I am, look!"
The last photo is a picture of a tree we can see from the house. It has a crows' nest in it, maybe you can just make out one of the birds. We've been watching it through binoculars. It's much easier to see through binoculars than with the camera, you can see a baby occasionally, popping his head out and flapping. The wind was horrendous the other morning, it was quite nerve wracking. But the nest held of course. Clever birds. Our book says it's stuck together with mud. And junior sat tight, with a little help from mum. It's quite precarious, being a wild creature. Tonight the wind is really picking up again. My little greenhouse has just blown over. Tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and a chilli pepper are all tipped up inside. We're watching the nest anxiously. I hope they all hold on.
So now it's back to school and the final seven weeks before the summer holidays. The calendar is full and I'm bracing myself for the onslaught of school summer activities. Stay safe and dry, and have a good week. CJ xx
That is very interesting about the birds. Did you know that I have a road-runner's nest right above my head in the courtyard going out to our front yard right now? I mentioned on my blog that I'd been watching them build the nest but I didn't expect it to be where it is, in a very precarious space. I can see the female on the nest, just her tail sticking out. I love seeing your butterflies and your walks in such green places. I hope the rest of the school year goes well for all of you and that the upcoming birthday doesn't cause any severe bursting! :)
ReplyDeleteA robin has built a nest in dad's post box on the front of his house! They are having to use the back door at the moment - but I guess it doesn't wobble in the wind!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos - I'm useless at getting good ones of butterflies.
I think you've summed up peacocks brilliantly. x
Your common blue butterfly photograph is exquisite - I always associate them with the chalky Hampshire downs of my childhood. I hope your little nestlings survive this stormy weather. I'm a bit concerned for our rose arch as the roses are in full leaf on it. Think we'd better batten down the hatches tonight :)
ReplyDeleteCathy x
Glad you had a good time! I hope that the birthday doesn't cause a burst before the big day arrives!! As for peacocks, I think you are right. Very little going on upstairs. I remember as a child having a mars bar stolen by a peacock and it ate the whole thing, paper wrapper - because they still came in paper then! - and all!! That is surely the sign of a very dim brain in a bird - a bird brain in fact!! xx
ReplyDeleteLife is so precarious for baby birds as Springwatch is always reminding us. I've found two dead baby blue tits in my garden this spring, no wonder the parent needs to lay so many eggs. Crows, of course, are very intelligent. This afternoon I cycled right past one eating something in the road.He didn't move, he knew a bike wasn't going to harm him. The photo of the Common Blue butterfly is lovely. Their primary food source is bird's foot trefoil which we have growing in abundance at the bottom of the allotments. As soon as the weather warms up there will be hundreds down there. Perhaps an opportunity to practiice my butterfly photography!
ReplyDeleteSo many gorgeous views and just the sight of your boy up that tree made my knees feel wobbly! It's a bit wild here too at the moment - fingers crossed for your birds' nest. xx
ReplyDeleteLOVE that butterfly photo! And you just randomly saw a peacock out and about?Haha that's crazy. I've only ever seen them in zoos!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous butterfly, I've never seen one. It looks like you and your family have been having fun and out and about a lot. Good for you. It was cute to see your little one coloring and climbing. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful butterfly, you have such a talent with a camera. Its blowing a storm here too, we have had to put the heating back on.
ReplyDeleteLOL I love your description of peacocks. I've often thought that .....especially when the ones here stand in the middle of the road blocking traffic and WILL.NOT.MOVE.
ReplyDeleteSo much life happening all around you! That butterfly is stunning...I haven't seen those around here! And my goodness are those views amazing!! It is like you are standing on top of a mountain! And I'm sorry to hear about the winds knocking your little greenhouse over. The winds were horrid here and flatlined several of my pretty flowers in my front garden. I was out staking everything back up today. Here is to more discoveries my friend....oh and the rabbits have eaten all of my peas! You win some and you lose some! Happy gardening! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteI would love to take a walk in those hills and look at the butterflies. Looks like heaven of tranquility to me. :)
ReplyDeleteXxx
Annette
It sounds like you had a lovely half-term. And I tend to agree about the peacock!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Common Blue- well done, super shot :o)
ReplyDeleteEveryone's back at school and work here too- I am quite relishing the quiet!
It always amazes me what baby birds can endure, but then I suppose we think of it from a human point of view, not a bird. Lovely to be able to watch the little one progressing xx
As always a most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. I rarely ever see blue butterflies let alone take a picture of one. Sorry to read that your mini greenhouse toppled over. I hope that you can retrieve most of the plants.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and you too. Flighty xx
Butterflies flying flowers. I hope ythat you manage to rescue the contents of your greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly photo is fabulous, you've caught it beautifully with its wings outstretched, it looks perfect. I'm totally fed up of the wind, I don't think we've had a still day yet this year, I do hope that you've managed to salvage something from the greenhouse and that the nest is still intact, complete with babies. I always remember this summer terms being really busy when my two were at primary school, it's something I miss now, I used to love the music recitals, sports days and assemblies.
ReplyDeleteI spotted a common blue the other day too & different one in the garden which I'm still trying to identify. We have a local garden centre with a peacock & a pea hen. The male is rather showy, you can almost see the female thinking 'There he goes again' Oh no, your poor little greenhouse & plants, I hope they are ok. x
ReplyDeleteYour butterfly photo is amazing, CJ. We don't see any blues round here. You are absolutely right about the peacock, they strut about like the own the place. And they're noisy too! What a nuisance about your mini greenhouse, the wind certainly has got up, hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteI hope the birthday excitement doesn't peak too soon :-) xx
Hope you managed to retrieve your pots of tomatoes, etc. Blinking wind. It's force 8 here today – the sea is frothing. Gorgeous butterfly photos; gorgeous photos all-round. The weather forecast is for balmier weather towards the end of the week, so fingers crossed your son will have a summer-y birthday.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting that you can see a crows nest. We have tons of crows around here and the little babe and I always talk about them on our walks. I turn it into a counting game, since they are always in groups of three (called murders). Just the other week, I wondered about their breeding habits. What happens to the murder during breeding season?
ReplyDeleteOh your photo's are just gorgeous CJ - particularly the butterfly ones. It sounds like half term was all as it should be !
ReplyDeleteKate xx
Stunning photos CJ, sounds like you had a lovely half-term. I hope your greenhouse contents are not too damaged. xx
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteStunning shots of the butterfly, my friend. I actually know a few peacocks in real life....
You live in a gorgeous part of world. And you and your boys really make the most of it too. I really hope the plants in your greenhouse were ok. My garden has been battered, and is rather bruised. There have been some casualties, notably the alliums and my lovely rambling rose. I think I may just give up on Alliums; most of them got nailed by the snails anyway. I shall try and tie the rose back to it's trellis, and hope it holds.
Leanne xx
Beautiful photos as always CJ, especially the butterflies - I love them too. What Mr Peacock may lack in brain he certainly makes up for in beauty :o) and is that The School Recorder Book standing up on your piano? I'd know it anywhere, I still have mine (from about 1969) and it doesn't look as though it's changed a bit!! I hope your crow family is holding on in this weather - I can't believe I'm wearing thick socks in June! Have a great week CJ. Jane xx
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how nature knows how to take care of itself. Birds know how to build sturdy nests and other animals hide fromt the wild wind. Beautify photos.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
I worry about birds in wild weather too! we are hitting winter and frosts here, and I wonder how the little ones keep warm and do not freeze overnight! so I would have been worried about your baby crows too.
ReplyDeletethat blue butterfly is so pretty, in a very subdued kind of way.
please keep supplying pictures of blue skies - much needed here right now!
That's terrible about your greenhouse. Hope you got it all sorted.
ReplyDeleteLove those butterflies. I don't think I've ever seen a blue one. One of our cats is also a fan of the pretty flying critters. One day, she walked in from the garden, made a strange chirruping sound and a butterfly flew out of her mouth. Hope the strong winds of late didn't cause too much damage.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about peacocks - spot on. My party trick is knowing that the collective noun for peacocks is "an ostentation". I think that pretty much says it all!
ReplyDeleteWasn't that wind awful? The birds here just looked unsettled and bemused by it all. Thank goodness summer seems (touch wood) to have arrived. xx
Always enjoy reading and looking at your posts. Weather has been up and down a bit recently but hopefully now June is here things will improve.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan