Wildlife in the Slow Lane
Wild Tobacco, or Tree Tobacco, Nicotiana glauca, is native to Bolivia and Argentina but is now fairly widespread as an introduced species throughout the world. It is a common roadside weed in the southwestern United States and has become quite ...
The Yellow Woody Thistle, Carthamus arborenscens, (Cardo Cabrero in Spanish) is quite common in the south and southeast of Spain, not so common in the southwest except on the limestone cliffs of Gibraltar. It belongs to the large, Daisy family, Asteraceae, ...
I met a lady the other day who told me about a new walk where there are often lots of butterflies. Although it is still quite early for some butterflies, I thought I would check it out. It is alongside ...
We like going to Bix as it is very quiet and peaceful and there are always lots of birds. The smaller ones are usually singing loudly in the hedgerows and there is no other noise to disturb them. This time, ...
I think I have identified these two as variations of Gazania, a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family and like so many plants found in Andalucia, it originates from South Africa. The Asteraceae family is quite commonly and variously referred to ...
This is a colour variation of the Sea Fig, Carpobrotus chilensis, yellow instead of the more common purplish one. These plants do have to be kept in check as they spread rapidly in a carpet-like fashion and are quite invasive. Rather nice ...
No prizes for guessing it was raining again today and there was also a high wind making it seem colder. Despite this, I went for a walk just outside Pangbourne where Thames Water have a treatment plant. Umbrella in one ...
The weather continues to be unpredictable - sunshine one moment, torrential rain the next - so I haven't been far this week. I have been on a couple of short walks to the nearest lakes to check for any more ...
I looked out of the window this morning in Woodley and saw a pair of Blue Tits taking it in turns to pull bits off the hanging basket liner, obviously to use in their nest! They pulled pieces off, flew ...
This rather nice bloom is a member of the Aizoaceae family, this particular one, I believe, being Carpobrotus chilensis, commonly known as the Sea Fig. It is a succulent, originating in Southern Africa, but now found throughout the world. It spreads ...
When I first spotted these birds in the far distance, wading their way through the green slime, I assumed they were the usual Wagtails, but on closer inspection this turned out not to be the case. I think they are Little ...
These are just a few oddments I have taken in the last few days. I see lots of little Wrens everywhere and they dart about very quickly. This one sat on a branch and sang to me. and I was also ...
I haven't been out as much for the last few days, partly due to the dull, rainy weather. The sun has come out again though and the temperature is rising slowly. These are just a few oddments I have seen ...
