30 Days Wild 2016 Day11

A gentle stroll by the river

That's all today I'm afraid, not a very wild day at all.

30 Days Wild 2016 - Day10

I spent some time today admiring a copper beech we passed on our morning walk.

 

30Days Wild 2016 - Day 9

Growing on our rather unruly front lawn, which seems to be made up of all sorts of plants and moss, are the plants below.

I've identified them today via the Internet as Pilosella aurantiaca or Orange Hawkweed.

Also known as fox and cubs, tawny hawkweed, devil's paintbrush or grim the collier.  It is a perennial plant of the daisy family or Asteracea.  It is native to the alpine regions of central and southern Europe.

It has been appearing on our front lawn for the past three or four years but this year it seems to have taken over quite a large area so I guess it is quite invasive.

30 Days Wild 2016 - Day 8

The day started so well.   

Yesterday we managed to find one of the bug houses that Ragged Robin had mentioned on her blog.

It has been hung on the new fence.  One or two bees have had a look at it.

 But I'm afraid rain stopped play and we had to retreat indoors

The garden is now flooded in places

I'm sure the frogs in the pond will love it.

30 Days Wild 2016 - Day 7

This morning we walked  on The Brampton in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme

 It was cool under the trees as we walked up to the Museum gardens

Spotted this little spider on the rhododendron.  It was light green in colour, but it doesn't show so green on the photo.

 

 The flowers in the garden were delightful

 With plenty of wildlife buzzing around them

There were loads of bumble bees

 The pond with the aviaries in the background.

30 Days Wild 2016 - Day 6

Today we had a lovely walk around Westport Lake which is administered by the Stafordshire Wildlife Trust.

We had a cup of coffee first in the Visitor Centre cafe before heading off around the lake.

 There were plenty of geese

and the black swan was still there.

 There were lots of parents with their young. 

It was great to see them all. 

30 Days Wild 2016 - Day 5

Another day at home sitting or working in the garden

It was lovely just to sit and listen to the birds calling, mostly blackbirds, the cheep of the goldfinches, the coo of the doves and pigeons and in the distance a woodpecker.  Overhead a herring gull soared, its calls reminded me of the sea shore. 

The robin flew in and landed on one of the raised beds. He or she spread their wings and stayed there a while.  I guess it would have been cooling off as it was quite warm in the later afternoon.  After a while it flew off.