Heatwaves….at last!

Three straight days without a cloud in the sky……what is Britain coming to? This is starting to make up for 2006-2008! 

Onset of summer skies

As spring comes to an end, it’s getting harder and harder to view the night sky.

Idyllic afternoon in Newtondale

With the rare conjunction of a Bank Holiday and sunshine, we headed off to Newton-on-Rawcliffe, just north of Pickering in the North York Moors, and the lovely valley of Newtondale.

A very late night

Having not had clear skies for nearly two weeks, I was desperate to get out under the stars again. So with a good forecast, that’s what I did.

On the verge of something special

The minimeadow is just about to come into its annual prime.

Hypnor-tized by a new bumblebee

When we bought our house five years ago we inherited a Cotoneaster bush. I saved it partly because it screens a rather ugly fence, but partly because it has some wildlife value: in May when it flowers, it becomes covered in bumblebees getting drunk on its nectar.

Visited by a buzzard

Looking out of the kitchen window on Saturday I spotted the unmistakable shape of a soaring buzzard.

Buzzed by nocturnal oystercatchers

What an evening! The weather forecast was good, and for once the evening sky agreed; it looked like a good night’s stargazing was in the offing. As usual I got more than I bargained for…..

Waiting for the moon…..

The weather forecast promised a clear sky last night, and with a full moon on the cards I had a lunar observing list mentally mapped out.

Bedstraw bonanza

When I started this blog I didn’t know it would turn out so botanical! I think it’s because I do most of my spotting from a bicycle on journeys to and from work, and static objects have a better chance of catching the eye!