Back in business

As most of you are aware I had decided to have a blogging break for a while....be that a few weeks or a few months.  Well 6 days in and I have found that I have really missed writing about my experiences in the natural world. 

Its funny really and the old saying is true "you don't realise how much you are going to miss something until its gone"  So, I realise now that the blog and my related trips into the great British outdoors looking at wildlife is actually beneficial to my mental well being whilst I am going through my current employment woes.  It gives me a sense of purpose, routine and enjoyment and to be honest I don't think it was impacting on my job searching as much as I thought.

Thanks to all of you who had contacted me with your kind words.  I never realised when I started this blog that it would mean so much to so many folk out there.

So there you have it...I am back posting again and the blog has been slightly refurbished in the process.  Anyway enough about me, on with the posts.....


Thursday 6th September 2012 - Trench Wood NR:
The fine weather continues and today I decided to pop to Trench Wood Nature Reserve near Droitwich.  In Worcestershire we are lucky to have 3 cracking reserves that are jointly owned and managed by Butterfly Conservation and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.  These 3 woodlands (Grafton Wood, Monkwood & Trench Wood) are a haven for invertebrates and if you are into butterflies, moths or dragonflies then you really should pay one a visit during the Summer months.

I arrived at the woods to an empty car park...fantastic!  Yes I am a sociable guy but there is something to be said for being able to enjoy the sights and sounds of a woodland on your own!

Along the first ride I noticed a huge Dark Bush Cricket sat on a leaf.  These really are brutes to look at.  A bit further down the ride a Common Buzzard flew low across in front of me...stunning birds, I never tire of seeing them.  Also of note along the first ride was a single ♂ Ruddy Darter dragonfly and the first of many Common Darters.

The Devil's Bit Scabious was seemingly everywhere and was absolutely chuffing with bees and hoverflies.  During the circuit round a number of the late summer butterfly species were observed:  1♂ Brimstone, 6 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 22 Speckled Wood and 18 Meadow Brown

Also of interest was the large numbers of Silver Y moths that were present.  In total I noted 26 Silver Y.  For those of you who may not be aware, Silver Y is a migrant moth which arrives in varying numbers from North Africa each Spring.  This time of year numbers are bolstered by the spring breeding population and increased still by further migrants.

During the walk I also recorded 5 Migrant Hawker dragonflies and 2 Southern Hawkers. Rather surprisingly i didn't encounter any Brown Hawkers today.

A single Slow Worm was noted in one area and 2 Marsh Tits were heard calling and seen flitting around the trees along one of the far rides.

All in all an enjoyable walk looking at some of the late summer invertebrates at a superb, well managed reserve.

Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera)















Brimstone on Devil's Bit Scabious















Red Admiral



14 comments:

  1. Great to have you back in the Blogging comunity Jase :)
    MB

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  2. Thanks Craig. I know I haven't been away for long but it feels like an age. One thing I have realised is that i am not ready to call time on blogging as yet!

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  3. Well done Jason, you just couldn't keep away which is great news ;-) Lovely photos, not seen many Brimstones this year. Love the new name and the header photo too.

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  4. Thanks Jan. I feel a bit silly for saying I was having a break then coming back so soon but I honestly missed it that much!

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  5. Welcome back, Jase, and what an excellent report to mark the relaunch. I hadn't realised the Silver Y was a migrant - been seeing a lot of those about here, too.

    Good choice with the 'Shenstone Naturalist' and a cracking header photo to boot!

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  6. Welcome back mate, running a blog is a job Jase, keeps you employed full time :-) Just like work though some days are better than others, and so you just blog on!

    Anyway I'm well envious of that Brimstone photo, something ive never achieved !

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  7. Rob - Thanks, much appreciated. It certainly seems to be a good Silver Y year!

    Warren - Cheers Mate....your not far wrong there, as a fellow blogger you realise how much time it can take up. But it's worthwhile time!

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  8. I am so pleased that you couldn't stop using blog, I think it's serious stuff, giving up your blog. Keep on blogging, lol.

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  9. Cheers Bob...I think your right! blogging is a way of life! lol

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  10. Good to see you back blogging Jason and with a good read and images to boot!
    Like Rob I had not realised the Silver Y was a migrant, I must do more reading! I had 3 Silver Y's in my garden the other night, they were around the Sweet peas and Buddleias.

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  11. Jason, you're making good morning coffee conversation - one day Rob tells me you're giving up blogging for a while, the next he says you're back again! Thanks for making me smile, I'm glad you couldn't stay away.

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  12. Welcome back Jason.....some nice sightings & great shots there.

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  13. Had a nice surprise when I clicked on your blog this morning. Welcome back, glad you could not stay away. Cracking header photo.

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  14. Pam - Cheers. I've not had Silver Y in my garden this year which is unusual, especially given how many seem to be around this year

    Omi - Glad to have been of conversational service! I guess it was inevitable that I would return but I think I even suprised myself by how soon that return was!

    Deano - Cheers mate. Glad to see you are back blogging too mate! It was a shorter break than anticipated and in hindsight I prob shouldnt have shut the blog down but my moods are like a yoypo at the mo with various frustrations of life so hey ho! ;-)

    Mike - Many Thanks. I didnt realise how much i would miss writing my posts until I stopped!

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