Since Spring began springing in March a lot has happened in the countryside. And, for me, the month of May is a particularly pleasing one to see what’s going on. There are lots of hedgerow flowers and the hawthorns are in full bloom. Simply brill!
Saw this brown hare (Lepus europaeus) briefly in open farmland between Brandon and Ingram.
Hares are fairly easy to identify (is it a rabbit or is it a hare?) by their long, black-tipped ears and relatively large size – they grow from 50-70cm long. It has a golden-brown coat and a white tail.
Mushrooms are fascinating subjects for nature photographers, especially in autumn when they are abundant and diverse. However, photographing mushrooms can be challenging, as they are often small, low to the ground, and surrounded by clutter. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how to photograph mushrooms with a mobile phone, using its built-in camera app and some accessories.
Another sure sign that Spring is springing is the more frequent sightings of deer in the valley.
On one of my cycle rides to Ingram, I saw these roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) on the bank at the bottom of one of the Branton East Side farm’s fields.
Having only just seen my first adder late on in the season (15 April 2023), I came across this one the following day – also at Branton Lakes Nature Reserve.
We’re well into April now and I’ve only just seen my first adder of the season! This isn’t for any peculiar nature phenomenon – such as the snakes emerging much later – but rather that I hadn’t had an opportunity to go looking for them until yesterday.
Other names: Enteridium lycoperdon, cauliflower slime mould
When to see: Seen most commonly April – June but can also be seen in Autumn
To see in colour is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.
But which Spring is springing? The astronomical Spring? The meteorological Spring?
Other names: gem-studded puffball, warted puffball, devil’s snuff-box, wolf farts
When to see: July – November
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