Being watched.

Today’s walk was on different paths. Everything, both farm animals and wild animals seemed to be looking and saying who are you what are you doing here.

Wordless Wednesday. Permitted daily lockdown walk.

Snail day (part2)

Snail day.

Then it rained.

Shorter walk this morning in the rain. Pictures were taken on my phone.

Horse Chestnut  (Aesculus Hippocastanum). This tree is at the end of our road & is now in full of flower. They were first introduced to the UK from Turkey in the late 16^th century. It is native to the Balkan peninsula. They can live for up to 300 years and, at their largest, can reach heights of 40 metres with 2 meter wide trunks. Why a “horse” chestnut – when the leaves fall, the stalks leave a scar on the twig which resembles the shape of a horseshoe complete with nail holes.

Sea Kale.

Sea kale, (Crambe maritim), is a striking plant that is edible. The large leaves are glaucous green, with wavy edges, these are crowned with a cloud of tiny white perfumed flowers. These nectar-rich flowers are good for attracting pollinating insects. As the name suggests, sea kale is often found growing wild on the coast. The young shoots in spring can be eaten raw or steamed – they are said to taste like asparagus.

Reaching the sea.

Today we had to go and get some shopping in our time of stay at home and time of lockdown. So today I added a couple of miles onto the round trip to take my permitted exercise walking on the beach.

A few pictures taken on my phone.  Very quiet and no shipping moving on the sea. I have never seen Southampton Water so empty.  Still Waters.

A Sunday stroll.

Sometimes when you are watching wildlife you get the feeling that it is not you watching what is about but the wildlife has spotted you and it is watching you. Today on my usual walk a Roe Buck and one of his doe’s had spotted me from a well-camouflaged position in the long grass and shrub.

A bit of slow walking and I was able to get a bit closer. They were happy watching me before strolling off into the woods.

 

 

Garden visitor.

Helophilus pendulus is a hover fly but it also has a common name the “Sun Fly” it has black and yellow longitudinal stripes on the upper surface of its thorax. Sometimes it is also called the footballer fly. This is due the pattern of yellow, black on the insects abdomen.

It has a wing-length of 8.5–11.25 mm (0.33–0.44 in). .

Little blue flowers.

Common Speedwell seems to be one of those tiny plants that is easy to miss while walking just a little pop of blue on the ground. They seem to be very abundant at the moment. If you can take a closer look.