Rambling Russells

Well, only 2 days to go! Not a very exciting day for Day 29.   It was too hot again to do very much during the day besides clean out the water baths for the birds. Weeding got done very late in the evening! Day 30.  The final day of 30 Day Wild was another scorcher with very little getting done, so I spent the time making a collage covering the whole month.

Well, we were right not to be too optimistic about the moth traps - only 51 moths. The weather looks better for Day 22  of the last full week of 30 Days Wild - the sun is shining but there is still a breeze, but definitely not as strong as it has been!  Still some nice moths to be seen. Pot beetles are very rare in Scotland and last year we went on a survey looking for them on the only site they are known at in this country. Day 23 was the date of this years survey and the day dawned sunny and warm. Having found the beetles last year we were very optmistic as we set off with the rest of the small group of volunteers and experts. However luck was not with us this year! We found lots of other beetles, moths and insects but no sign of the pot beetle. It was still an enjoyable time and as we live close by the site we can go back and have another look in the next couple of weeks. On Day 24  we had a trip out. We went to Lowther Castle to the Plant Fair they were hold...

Week 3 began with a quiet day but a busier evening. A moth event was advertised locally - running from 8-10pm on Day 15 .  Warm clothing, waterproofs and a head torch were advised as essential equipment. We added a couple of pots and torches and off we went. A local expert and local NNR reserve staff were waiting at the appointed meeting place. We were joined by 6-8 other people and had a great time emptying and identifying moths from 3 traps. Many of the spectators were new to moth-ing, so we helped them identify the moths and listened to their oohs and aahs as the moths were revealed! People are so surprised at the variety of colours and sizes of moths when they really take a close look. After identifying the moths we then went on a short walk through the wood for a little dusking - using a net to catch any moths flying around in the dusk. There were quite a few moths flitting around, but they were not easy to catch as we tried to avoid the brambles with our nets. A very enjoyab...

Weeping Window is one of two sculptures from the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, originally displayed at the Tower of London in 2014. The original artwork consisted of 888,246 poppies, one to commemorate every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War. The two poppy sculptures being presented across the UK, have been saved for the nation by the Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation, and gifted to 14-18 NOW and Imperial War Museums. 14-18 NOW gives people across the UK a chance to experience the impact of the poppy sculptures in a range of places with links to the First World War.  A tantalising glimpse of the Weeping Window sculpture, by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, is seen as you approach the castle. Carlisle Castle was the HQ for the Volunteer Training Corps during WW1. It was also the HQ for the King's Own Royal Border Regiment from 1873 until 1959. 23,000 recruits passed through the castle during...

Week 2 began with another sunny day. In fact  Day 8 was   so hot we were too lazy to do much more than wander around the garden just looking at what was around. Hoverflies were whizzing around plants but they are so fast it is hard to get a photo! The centipede was also very fast - well that's my excuse for the fuzzy photo! Manged to get a look at a day-flying moth today too - it actually sat still long enough to get a quick photo too. Wood lice, ants, flies, spiders, and bees were all busy despite the heat. .... and as for the sparrows... their cheeps and tweets are a constant sound in the garden. There must be at least 50+ sparrows (adults and young) in the garden most days. We have also had a second brood of blackbirds in the garden too. This one was quite visible as it searched the chippings. A calm, warm night encouraged us to put the moth traps out tonight too. When it is calm we often spend time outside catching moths coming to the traps as they arrive. Toni...

Week 1 of 30 Days Wild began with a week of hot sunny weather here in Scotland. Lets hope the rest of the month is as good as the first week has been! On  Day 1  we began steadily with Peter dismantling, washing and refilling all the bird feeders around the garden. Water containers were refilled - although this has been a daily task as the hot weather has evaporated the water fairly quickly - and the birds having their baths has splashed the water everywhere! Day 2   took us to a village locally where we attended a community moth trapping event. Six traps were set around the village on Friday night and opened this morning. The traps contained good numbers of moths. The “spectacular” were in attendance  – Poplar Hawk moth, Small Elephant moth, Puss moth and Elephant Hawk moth. Others may have been smaller but no less spectacular - such as Pebble Prominent, Brimstone, Iron prominent and scorched Wing.               ...