nest

 

While cutting back and tidying the garden I have been aware of a pair of very noisy Long-tailed Tits in the hedge. Intrigued I had a closer look and there in a clump of brambles, probably only about a metre off the ground, is the most beautiful nest that they are busily constructing.

 

Made of moss, feathers and lichen woven together with spiders webs to gives it elasticity to expand as the chicks grow. So clever!
I have always wanted to see one of these nests and to find one so close to home is simply delightful!

...and breathe

 

After dropping the boys off at school for the first day of term, I escaped to the quiet lanes and hills of Montgomeryshire to explore my new wildflower survey area. It is a lovely kilometre square consisting mainly of agricultural pastures currently given over to expectant sheep, interspersed by broad-leafed woodland, twisted knobbly hedgerow trees, roadside verges along old lanes bursting with springtime flowers, springs and streams.

 

Blackthorn blossom is in its prime and early spring flowers are just starting to flower. It was a delight to see the first of the blue bells, stitchwort and cow parsley.

I spotted this eggshell discarded near a hedgerow. Nesting is obviously in full swing. Birdsong has been enhanced by the addition of summer visitors and it was delightful to hear the first willow warbler and my favourites, redstarts.

 

Calm restored...

from the hawthorn to the copper beech

 

My final visit to the hawthorn as it's Tree Follower was in beautiful warm spring sunshine. While photographing the tree, the distinctive song of a Chiffchaff cut through the other bird song - a true sound of spring. Interestingly it was a day earlier than last year.

It has been a wonderful year of observing the hawthorn tree. A beautiful tree to follow with its delicate fresh leaves, followed by masses of blossom, turning into rosy red berries. All of its phases a delight to photograph. I've selected one favourite picture from each month to give an overview of the year of the hawthorn.

 

So it is with reluctance that I bid goodbye to this beautiful hawthorn tree and choose an new tree to follow for a year. I have chosen this rather grand Copper Beech. Like the hawthorn tree it is situated in The Field, but a little closer to home. There were two Copper Beech trees here, but one has recently died which has prompted me to study this remaining one closer. Another reason for choosing this tree is that it is one of my son's favourite trees and he loves to climb it. As he is away at university, this will be a nice connection to him. 

 

I am rather taken with its large sweeping bows and on a sunny spring day, the shadows these make on the ground below.

 

 

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following' 

the field in december

 

 

 

 

Everything sparkled in the field with frost and the grass crunched underfoot as I walked. The sky was clear, woodpeckers were drumming on the trees and robins flitted from bush to bush looking for food. Even when the trees and wildflowers are dormant the field is glorious on a day like this.

the hawthorn tree in october

 

The hawthorn tree is laden with deep red haws, all glistening after an early morning shower of rain. The deep green leaves are just beginning to turn and are becoming mottled.

 

 

Walking across the field to the hawthorn tree, I saw my first (and probably last!) Painted Lady butterfly of the year. I also had lovely view of a Jay feeding on the ground near to the hawthorn tree.  

 

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following Project'

the hawthorn tree - september

 

 

 

 

Beautiful September sunshine helping to ripen all the haws on the tree, as they have all turned a uniform rosy red colour. The tree is laden with berries. Leaves are just on the turn, with the horse chestnut behind already looking autumnal.

As I approached the hawthorn tree, I was treated to a fantastic view of a family of spotted flycatchers feeding from a neighbouring tree. Also a treecreeper made an appearance, which I hadn't seen in The Field before.

A blissful few minutes sat by the hawthorn tree, in the warm sunshine, watching them all.

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following' project.

To see the hawthorn tree's progress this year, click on the Tree Following label.

exploring around dolanog

River Vyrnwy

At the end of a half term of rain and a lot of restoration work at home, the boys and I were very excited to get out for a little adventuring. I have recently discovered a beautiful area of Montgomeryshire around Dolanog through doing some bird surveying for the BTO, and I was keen to explore further. Dolanog is a small village nestling in the valley of the river Vyrnwy.

 

 

Eager to try out their new fishing nets, the boys searched for minnows to catch...

 

There are a lot of beautiful old houses up here. This one had 1664 inscribed on a beam, wow!

  

 

I was equally taken with the the old barns... I think I have a thing for old farm buildings.

  

 

Bluebells were still in flower in shady spots, and the meadows were covered in pignuts and buttercups.

Common Speedwell

And I spotted a new speedwell, a Common Speedwell - not so common to me!

Yellow Archangel

  

Rowan

The hedgerows were full of hawthorn and rowan blossom. Things up here were a little behind than the trees at home.

Unfurling bracken fronds

The boys were unsuccessful in their quest for fish, but they did catch a lot of bugs and buttercups. Having the nets and hunting for prey (!) did help them walk over 6 miles with very little moaning!

Speckled Yellow moth

We left the river to walk back along quiet country lanes. Littlest spotted a colony of Speckled Yellow moths. The verges were gorgeous as they were full of wildflowers. Montgomeryshire at its finest up in these hills.

EDIT: The problem of writing a blog post with constant interuptions is you forget to include things that there isn't a photograph of! I meant to include some of the birds I spotted like redstarts, pied flycatchers and my highlight - a cuckoo! A first for me in Montgomeryshire.