Caterpillar Identification?

While I was weeding today I found this caterpillar but I have no idea what it is. I have looked at pictures of green caterpillars until I went cross eyed but could find nothing to match. If you can help I would be most grateful. I should think it is about 30mm long. (After more searching - it may well be the caterpillar of the cabbage looper moth)



During our afternoon walk the ewes and lambs in the closest field were much calmer and just watched us. The older lambs are now happily munching the grass so the ewes can relax a bit.





As well as the milder weather bringing out plenty of colourful flowers it is also accelerating the weed growth and bringing out the aphids. I have been plagued with them on my plants in the cold conservatory for several weeks and now they are appearing on the outdoor plants.



I adore the subtle way the colour changes on each petal of these flowers.



We are at the Spring Equinox and British Summer Time starts in another nine days so there is plenty of activity to look forward to. Looks like I will have to drag out the mower very soon as the grass has put on a spurt this past couple of days.

I have not managed to spot the Blue Tits in the box today but there is more moss in the bottom so they must have made a few visits.

Long Tailed Tits - Groups or Pairs

A while ago I said I was worried that I was only seeing two LTTs at at time where I had been seeing groups of six or seven at a time on the feeders. Well, I should not have worried. Having had a search round the net I found that this is normal. They tend to group together in the Winter months but in the Spring they tend to move around in pairs.

Can you spot all six Long Tailed Tits here?
You may have to click on it and look at a larger version on Flickr to spot them all.



Another interesting fact about my favourite bird visitors:
Single LTTs have been known to help out mated pairs feeding their young. Not only that but they have been seen helping with the feeding of the offspring of other species. I read about one LTT observed helping out a pair of Wrens by bring food to the nestlings.

They really are the gentlest of the birds I have visiting. They have never squabbled amongst themselves or bothered any of the other birds. They swoop in, have a quick feed and then go on their way.



Blue Tit Nest Box
Both birds visited the box briefly a couple of times today.
No more nesting material as yet though.

Walkies - Old Mill Lane and the Churchyard

We were a bit later than usual going for our afternoon walk. I had decided to go down Old Mill Lane for a change. As it had turned out to be a lovely bright afternoon I took the camera but at first I thought it was going to be a waste of time and energy. I hadn't realised how misty it was until we got out in the open.



There is no mill in spite of the name of the lane. Early mornings usually sees many rabbits down there but this afternoon there was just the one lurking in the mist.



Apart from a Blackbird singing and a Dunnock amongst the brambles the only other life spotted was some birds gleaning in the bare fields.





There are a few large Ash Trees along the lane one having quite a bit of lichen on its branches and showing buds plus another with last years keys still hanging on tight.







As usual Bobby was being very patient, just occasionally giving me a pained look if I dawdled too much at one spot.



On the way back home we cut through the churchyard. Looking up, moss and lichen could be seen on the carved figure above our heads.



Round the back of the church it is possible to look at the old part of the graveyard which is used locally for chickens and, at this time of year, for sheep. This year it was more like a lamb outpatients as most of the ones there were limping and some had bindings on their legs.





On the last part of our amble home I was taken by a complete hedge of green leaves absolutely full of brilliant red berries.



Finally a snap of the patterns on the bark of this tree and then home for a well deserved cuppa as it felt much colder in the damp misty atmosphere.

Back Garden Visitor

Just in the middle of potato peeling when I glanced out of the kitchen window to see an unusual, for me, visitor peeping round one of the planters. It was already looking very wary so I reached for the camera and took my time bringing it into view.



Slowly the Moorhen came into full view and showed off its enormous, for the size of body, feet. No wonder their walk is so ungainly.



After a brief look round it moved over to the lawn and found a few tasty bits of seed left over from the lot I had scattered first thing this morning.





After a short while it noticed me and gathered speed as it strode off to the far corner of the garden.



This is only the second time I have spotted a Moorhen in the garden and the first time to get some half decent photos. That red beak with its yellow tip is so brilliant, especially against the duller colours of the rest of its body. I had never noticed before that the legs are yellow / green. A while later it was wandering round the front garden.

Those Numbered Sheep Again

Today the ewes and their lambs had been given access to a part of the field next to the one where Bobby and I usually take an afternoon stroll. As we approached I was able to get some better views. It appears that all of them are numbered, all on one side only so sometimes it appears as though some do not have a number.



The ewes were eyeing us nervously and as we got closer some of them decided to go through the gate to the further field. First the most nervous and eventually all moved away from us.



Even while they were moving the lambs did their best to carry on with their mid afternoon meal. Just one last sheep stood in the gateway keeping a careful watch on us as we went on our way.



This straggler was the last to make it to the gate. She was a bit slow in getting started and two hungry lambs were slowing her down.

Nest Box Visited

A short while observing from a distance was rewarded by seeing and photographing a Blue Tit visit the nestbox this morning.



Friday: Lots of activity with several short solo visits to the box.
Saturday: Didn't see any evidence of any visits.
Sunday: Another shuffle session and then I spotted both birds in the box at the same time for a brief period.
Today: Another shuffle session spotted. Lots of brief visits.

Activity and interest seems to be gathering momentum.

Determination

A few weeks ago I was pleased to find a fat ball feeder pole which had no perches as I thought that would stop the large birds from grabbing such large amounts of food. WRONG! I hadn't realised how determined and agile a hungry bird can be.

This Rook stood on the edge of the bird bath eyeing up the possibility of elevenses.



A quick leap and .... success.



If only the food would stay in one place. This is getting tricky.



Oops - fallen off again - will it be an early bath?





Phew! That was a close thing.



After a few goes the Rook managed to grab a decent sized piece of fat ball and took it down on to the lawn to eat. A satisfied Rook weighing one fat ball heavier than when it started. I think that look says, "I'll be back!".



A very hurried set of handheld snapshots but I was really pleased to capture the sequence.