Copulating green beetles: why not?

Yesterday, Spring felt real for the first time, so I got outside and almost fell over all the copulating green beetles.

Field course round up

The weather nearly spoilt our annual second-year field course, but didn’t quite.

Spring flower extravaganza

April, as you know, was a complete wash-out for practically everything. However, now May has arrived, catch-up has begun.

Flora of Southwick Wood

One of the glories of Northants is the old remnants of Rockingham Forest, and in spring they are just outstanding. One remnant is Southwick Wood, conserved by the Cambs, Beds and Northants Wildlife Trust. It’s bloomin’ marvelous. We went on 1st April (really!), and stuff was just coming out.

Anniversary walk: Hutton-le-Hole to Lastingham

As seems to have become our way of marking a family event these days we hopped it to the moors for a five-miler to celebrate 11 years of marriage.

Corfu stuff.

A week at Roda on the north coast of Corfu was kibbie holidays for us kibbies. Here’s what we saw.

Squiffling through the tangled weeds

On Sunday 14th August, I did my stretch of the Tansy Beetle survey between Bishopthorpe Palace and Acaster Malbis on the west bank of the Ouze.

Rosedale

Yesterday we did a five mile walk from Blakey Junction round the track of the old Rosedale railway at the head of Rosedale, to Dale Head farm.

Ellerburn flora

Where to start? Spotted orchids is a good place. Here is some of the variety on show (the second is my favourite):

Beautiful Bempton Birds and Blossom

Thank goodness for the RSPB…..I don’t know where our wildlife would be without it. A million members is the sort of following even politicians sit up and notice. I mention this after a visit to Bempton Cliffs nr Bridlington. Close to paradise for a bear like me.