AFMM

Took a drive out to #Dartmoor today to visit the Assycombe stone row, the adjacent and nearby hut circles, and the Fernworthy stone row and circle. #AncientSiteSunday #StandingStoneSunday #SundayStonework

One for an early #MallardMonday greeting from yesterday at Titchfield Haven. Have a great week!

The lighthouse at Amphitrite Point, Ucluelet, with a couple of shots from 2010 for #PharosFriday.

A spot of dry stone wall renovation at Durlston Country Park last weekend for #WallsOnWednesday.

For #WallsOnWednesday (and perhaps #WindowsOnWednesday), one from last weekend at Durlston Country Park, #Dorset.

Heading to Durlston Country Park from north Hampshire early on a Sunday morning meant a very slightly slower journey, and a £5.30 ferry charge, but a 9 mile shorter route, with the added enjoyment of the Sandbanks ⬅️ to Studland ➡️chain ferry crossing.

Sitting against the west wall of the lighthouse compound at Anvil Point in Durlston Country Park today gave us a wind free lunch spot (could have easily slept for a few minutes), and this view:

Today was our first trip to Durlston Country Park in #Dorset since the end of last December, and the first time we've seen an owl there. Several passes from this Barn owl around Round Down, which, a little strangely, was at 10:45AM

Locals may be justified in not holding their breath after so long in dereliction, but it would be good if the Kupari site could be regenerated (and the Grand Hotel facade retained; my 📷 from 2015): www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

1m sea rise, and you could get the Island of Meare.

‘About time they got some credit’: why hoverflies are an underappreciated insect Prof Dave Goulson is one of the world’s foremost experts on insects. But there’s a special place in his heart for hoverflies, one of the prettiest flies around. Here he explains why we should nominate...

Lovely piece here by @davegoulson.bsky.social in praise of hoverflies
#Insects
#InvertebrateoftheYear

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

First few bees (incl. white tailed bumblebee, and possible carders) of the year briefly spotted from the house in the garden today, where there are crocuses flowering next to lungwort. #PlantForPollinators #PlantsForPollinators #spring

It will be sooner than we think if we don't change our ways as a species.

One from Sunday for #ThickTrunkTuesday.

That was after being in the sunshine among the reed beds with a distantly viewed hobby and a close up water rail at RSPB Greylake, and before the marsh harrier at RSPB Ham Wall, in sight of Glastonbury Tor. Tough day.

Saw these by the side of the road at Meare in Somerset on Saturday (they caught my attention between photographing a giraffe mural and a 14th century monastic fish house); the ones in our garden aren't far behind.

For #MallardMonday from yesterday's visit to Steamer Point Nature Reserve, Dorset.

While parking up to get a photo of the giraffe (below), inadvertently came across Meare Fish House, England's last monastic fishery building. #SundayStonework #Somerset

The #Somerset levels are probably not as well known as they should be for their wandering herds of giraffe, as recorded on this house in Meare. 😉 On a more serious note, this area could all be lost to sea rise change due to global warming. #ClimateCrisis

Made our first visit to RSPB Greylake in #Somerset today, & there were lots of serious birders there, but a big thank you to all those who took the time to point out where to 👀, especially the gentleman who showed my wife a rather habituated Water Rail.

A double #BirdsFromFarAway entry from today's very enjoyable trip to #Somerset, with a Merlin at RSPB Greylake, and a Marsh Harrier at RSPB Ham Wall.

Walking at Hengistbury Head this morning we were overflown by this strange looking and stranger sounding (due to the push-pull engines) #aircraft. It's a (Cessna) F337G Super Skymaster, but one of only 29 built by Reims Aviation (this one in 1977), returning to ACI, having earlier flown in to BOH.

From Monday's visit to Highcliffe Castle for #WindowsOnWednesday.

Haven't been to the #ScillyIsles since our only previous trip in 2008, but we're now booked for the coming Easter weekend, and I've therefore just re-read one of the books that inspired our first visit, Michael Morpurgo's "The Wreck of The Zanzibar". It's an excellent story. 📖✅ #travelinspiration

From the boardwalk at HIWWT Fishlake Meadows NR, Romsey, this morning, that's not blossom, hail, or droppings, but fish scales, which was all that was left of an otter's supper. Alongside another nearby stream an otter (the same one?) had also been enjoying freshwater mussels.

A photo at a river estuary or shoreline, with a footpath running alongside it. On one side of the photo are some Curlew Action signs about wintering waders.

Great to see our wintering waders signs out in the wild!

Don't forget to download (or order) yours via our website: www.curlewaction.org/wintering-wa...

Ellinikos?

Margareitis vs Ellenikos at Kourion, Cyprus, for #MosaicMonday.

For #MallardMonday from yesterday at Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve, Romsey.

Oh come on, there must be a law against having two such great photos of grebes in one day.