Monday 6 August 2012

Early August in the forest


Early August in the forest
Bill junior is lighter in colour than his father
Bill and Beatrice Crow daily demand their biscuits. Bill is still the more confident bird and comes down from the tree immediately he spots that a biscuit has been thrown for him. The two young have been reduced to one, a very noisy and insistent bird that follows Bill to the ground, not to pick up the food but to squawk to be fed. Bill flies off and the youngster follows.
Frodo, Buster, Tia, Foxy, Janice, Gus, Bertie, Jenna
We decided to visit some of the ponds we’ve seen from a distance. Since the fire of May 2011 that destroyed so many trees the Forestry Commission has worked hard to clear and replant, helped by local volunteers. 
Buster, Bertie, Gus
New ponds have been dug and are full at the moment, a magnet for water-loving dogs.
In the distance you can see the Tuley tubes, protective tree sleeves to defend young saplings from foraging herbivores. They also accelerate growth because they act as a miniature greenhouse and channel growth into the main stem and roots. 60000 trees have been planted and are growing strongly.
Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
On our way back from our walk yesterday Barry spotted this butterfly. It is a Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) or Hedge Brown and flies from mid-July to the end of August. It is common and widespread in the southern half of Britain and is gradually increasing its range northwards. This is a female – the male has a dark patch on his forewing that marks an area of scales (androconia) that produce scent to attract females.
It is known as the Gatekeeper because it is often found among flowers and grasses near field gates. Its alternative name indicates that it frequents hedges and the edges of fields.

9 comments:

  1. Ah...a dog a stick and some water...instant happiness.

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  2. Oh joy, seeing dogs play in water!!! Lovely post Janice.

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  3. I love to see your dogs in the water, Janice, and I'm forever nagging my husband to take Lindy to a place where she can swim. She has a child's wading pool in the summer, so she can lie down in it to cool off after a walk, but it's hardly the same.
    I'm so glad your pond area has been replanted, and the sleeves are such a great idea. I've never seen a tree-planting program since I moved to the prairie, but when I lived in British Columbia, I saw many, but I don't remember any sleeves. Perhaps evergreens aren't as vulnerable to foraging animals as deciduous saplings are.
    K

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  4. Your photos are so interesting, and it is nice to see they have planted so many trees.

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  5. What a paradise for your dogs ! Beautiful walk ! (and then cleaning 28 paws ??):) ? I am home now and miss the green patchwork landscape the little villages and the sea of course !

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  6. Bliss!
    How I wish I could take my babies to a place like this. Buddy and Ginger would go crazy in the water n Shadow would probably chase those butterflies!
    No chance here in Delhi.

    Bertie is almost grown up.Bill and Beatrice crow are quite smart!

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  7. I had one water lover and the other a water hater - she would stand by the edge ankle deep, ready to leap on him once he climbed out.

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  8. Love reading about your dogs' antics. None of mine would enjoy water. LOL. Beautiful nature photography as well.

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  9. Hi Janice .. those 60,000 trees - are they part of a Jubilee planting? Great photos though and the tubing around the trees - I'd never thought of that ... or their name: Tuley tubes - something new to add to the brain!

    Love the pics of the dogs too .. and those butterflies, moths and dragon flies ...

    Cheers Hilary

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