The Weather Outlook

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Retron
19 March 2025 18:02:15
Given how frosty it was this morning (down to -1, the ground was frozen for a while) I was surprised at how many insects there were around today! Several massive bumble bees, perhaps a sign I've a nest again this year; hoverflies, little tiny flies - not midges as they didn't bite - milling around in a cloud formation, and most surprisingly a peacock butterfly!

My garden has nettles and (thanks to my late neighbour) hops, both of which are apparently favoured by peacock caterpillars.

It's quite ironic, really; I know my neighbours on the other side think my garden is untidy, but as I mentioned to them the other day the semi-wild areas of it - out of public view, of course - are the reason why there are so many butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies around in the summer. Their own garden is a patch of grass and a massive patio, no flowers, no shrubs, definitely no trees, and that carries on all the way up the road. You don't see many butterflies etc up there for some reason....
Leysdown, north Kent
+2
Roger Parsons
19 March 2025 19:12:33

That's practically on my doorstep so thank you for this, we may end paying a visit there soon as we have some special occasion days to mark, very imminently, so this would do nicely for at least one of them.
Also  not a problem about the no dogs part, it turns out our "old" dog really isn't much of a car traveler, but we will keep taking him out to the Marshes, Just have to cover the car seats and footwells for easy cleanup when we get back home.

Originally Posted by: Windy Willow 


Great. My aim is to get you addicted to Lincolnshire as much as I am! 😁🥂
Google "Parsons famous Lincolnshire people"

RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1
Northern Sky
19 March 2025 19:24:58

Heard my first chiff chaff today. In fact I heard several. But none about yesterday.
They are the most reliable arrivals. Normally 15th-25th of March.
Also crossbills/siskins in the coniferous woodland a few miles away. And skylarks on the valley side. Sadly, the woodlarks our valley used to have are gone. What a delight it would be to hear one again!

Originally Posted by: Devonian 


Heard my first chiff chaff on Sunday. The blackbirds have only really got going over the last few days, unlike the Robin that has my garden as its base and who has been full pelt for weeks!
Windy Willow
19 March 2025 20:37:02

Great. My aim is to get you addicted to Lincolnshire as much as I am! 😁🥂
http://rogerparsons.info/famous.html 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


It's not too difficult 😁I'm already cultivating my addiction, as there's a talk in the local Methodist Church Hall next month, a History in pictures, which I am looking forward to as it's by the same chap who gave a short talk there, back in January, on historical farming in the locality, during the Plough service, which had me curious enough to attend. I'd never heard of such a service before but the talk was very enlightening 👍and it was lovely to see some pictures of the area from the past 100 years or so and to compare how much has changed. Apparently there was a river Moulton before the area was drained!
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

Barry White


It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) - R.E.M.
Roger Parsons
19 March 2025 20:50:21
There are long-eared owls at Deeping Lakes - viewed from the hide.
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1
Roger Parsons
20 March 2025 06:16:38
I have just seen an osprey on the webcam at the Loch of the Lowes. 06.15hrs. First time this year. Tidied the nest to make good impression. Its since been fetching in quantities of nesting material.
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
20 March 2025 22:45:24
Queen wasp in the conservatory today, woken by the warm weather
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+1
Roger Parsons
21 March 2025 05:30:41

Queen wasp in the conservatory today, woken by the warm weather

Originally Posted by: DEW 


Useful wasp ID page:
https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/insects-invertebrates/british-wasp-guide-how-to-identify-common-species-lifecycle-and-why-wasps-sting-in-autumn 

I make use of the BWARS website:
https://bwars.com/ 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
21 March 2025 16:31:11

I have just seen an osprey on the webcam at the Loch of the Lowes. 06.15hrs. First time this year. Tidied the nest to make good impression. He's since been fetching in quantities of nesting material.
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Watching today, I saw the [correction] - female - Osprey being harassed by a pair of crows. She's left the scene for now - and they finished off some scraps of fish he had left in the nest. I expect she'll be back at dusk to guard the nest. The pair of them should be better able to deal with such pestering.
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
24 March 2025 16:42:22
Lots of excited calling now 4.45pm. Gull nagging? Keep an eye on developments.... Speakers on...

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
25 March 2025 10:33:25
I mentioned "Crows earlier. I've now seen and heard Ravens raiding the nest for sticks. Also heard a woodpecker drumming. It's been windy there today - a bit calmer now.
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Devonian
26 March 2025 08:44:45
Our first resident swallow and house martin here today. That is the earliest we've ever recorded for a swallow and tied for the house martin. Life used to be impossible for both up here in March - both used to be mid April returnees.
+2
Bertwhistle
26 March 2025 16:11:18
Some of us might hope to see some early birds now like sandmartins and wheatears. Any sightings?
Hearing chiffchaffs for 2 weeks now.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
26 March 2025 16:21:37
A sprig of hawthorn seen in flower (no, not blackthorn or cherry plum)
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
30 March 2025 08:14:38
Fungus-lovers please note:
Police visit over mushroom picking alarms forager
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2xex0mj3mo 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Devonian
30 March 2025 12:59:43

Fungus-lovers please note:
Police visit over mushroom picking alarms forager
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2xex0mj3mo 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


I rekon that she accidentally carried the foraging basket and knife with here. You know how it is, you get out of the car and you find you're carrying the car mats with you. Happens all the time...
Roger Parsons
30 March 2025 13:35:57

I rekon that she accidentally carried the foraging basket and knife with here. You know how it is, you get out of the car and you find you're carrying the car mats with you. Happens all the time...

Originally Posted by: Devonian 


Like the old story of the poacher making his way home with a dead deer over the shoulder.
Keeper: "Now what have you got there then?"
Poacher: "Ooo-err - where did that come from?"
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
30 March 2025 14:49:14
On a different note the Knepp storks. (live cam)
https://www.youtube.com/live/s0liN8AzykQ

Edit you will have to copy and paste the link. Or highlight and open in new tab.






Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
30 March 2025 14:57:05

I rekon that she accidentally carried the foraging basket and knife with here. You know how it is, you get out of the car and you find you're carrying the car mats with you. Happens all the time...

Originally Posted by: Devonian 


A good name for a forager.
"I do sometimes forage, usually for wild garlic and wild leeks," said Mrs Gather.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+2
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
30 March 2025 17:28:03
Saw my first Brimstone yesterday
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+2
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
31 March 2025 06:03:30
I'll add a small white that settled on the olive tree outside the office yesterday afternoon.
More honey bees visible than same time last year and a bumble not sure what species is a regular visitor most days.

One for Fairweather if he reads this.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/25046433.rare-hoopoe-bird-seen-photographers-portland-dorset/ 

Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+2
StoneCroze
31 March 2025 07:04:50
Seeing loads of queen bumblebees on the various blossoms in the garden.
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
+1
Roger Parsons
31 March 2025 10:37:25
I discover the osprey I've been watching is a female, not a male as I first thought! There's a bit of a story to this: explains a lot. 
First the webcam link:
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/popular-osprey-returns-to-perthshire-reserve/?_gl=1 *np5kv8*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTUyNjE2MDkwOS4xNzQzNDAwOTcy*_ga_5BH0XSGV9M*MTc0MzQwMDk3MS4xLjEuMTc0MzQwMTExMC4wL
{You may need to copy and paste 2nd link  - but it works!]


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Windy Willow
31 March 2025 11:56:41
I can hear a chiffchaff out in the back garden, somewhere in one of the neighbours tree's or evergreen bushes.
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

Barry White


It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) - R.E.M.
Roger Parsons
31 March 2025 13:38:12

I can hear a chiffchaff out in the back garden, somewhere in one of the neighbours tree's or evergreen bushes.

Originally Posted by: Windy Willow 


A mate insists they are actually singing "Chip Shop, Chip Shop!"
😁👍
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1

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