Friday 18th March 2022

Butterflies don't like the cold. As a rule of thumb, I don't expect to see many butterflies flying if the temperature is below 14c. There are of course exceptions. As the naturalist and Times Nature Notes writer Mathew Oates put it, 'Red Admiral will fly in a fridge'. 

So it was no surprise to me that on this trip, I saw no butterflies. It was mid-afternoon when I set off and although the weather was fine, the temperature had eased back to around 12c. Despite this, there was a pleasant feel of Spring in the air and plenty of signs of what was coming.

Slow worm - Tucking Mill 18-03-2022

I stopped first at a section of embankment a couple of hundred metres past the Tucking Mill viaduct. It was warm and sunny here and I noticed a piece of roofing felt had found its way onto the steep slope. I recognised it as a long lost 'reptile mat'. 

These were used several years ago by one of the Sustrans ecologist as part of a reptile survey. I decided to move the mat off the steep slope to somewhere more suitable and discrete. Underneath was a Slow worm which, after pausing a short while slid off into the undergrowth. Sorry!

Bloody-nosed beetle - Tucking Mill 18-03-2022

Retracing my steps, I caught sight of a large black beetle trundling across the grass. I hadn't seen one like this for some years. It was a Bloody-nosed beetle. The name refers to it's habit of secreting a distasteful blood-red liquid when threatened. I left it well alone and just took a picture as it picked it's way through the dead grass and leaves.

Tadpoles - Midford to Wellow 18-03-2022

Continuing on my way, I stopped off at a section of the path between Midford and Wellow. Here, opposite a farm gate there is a boggy area where farm vehicles often turn around. The tyre tracks were filled with water and it was obvious the local frogs had taken advantage. It was teaming with Tadpoles.

Long-tailed Tit - Midford 18-03-2022

Returning a short way back towards Midford, I paused to photograph a Long-tailed Tit which seemed content to pose for me. These 'fluff-ball' birds are quite common along the path and their communal chatter a familiar 'sound track'.

Wood Anemone - Tucking Mill 18-03-2022

Off the cycle-path and along the footpaths that wind through the surrounding woodland, the spring flowers are getting going. Wood anemone and Dog violets are showing their blooms. The Wood anemone is always one of the first to appear in spring and are strongly associated with ancient woodland.