A Day out at Broaks and an Evening Safari

It has been a while since I went to Broaks wood, so I thought I go for the day to see what was about.

“There’s a an Azure damselfly over there!” said a familiar voice.

“ I know, I’ve seen it”.

“You’re getting good!” said the dragonfly-man.

“I’ve had a good teacher over the years,” I replied.

The sticks were already put in at angles around the pond, making it easy to focus on the larger four-spotted chasers.

Of course, there was an abundance of wildflowers around the woods, including these common spotted orchids.

I’m not sure how this mole met his demise, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen a dead mole in this exact spot.

It’s the first time I’ve seen a red admiral this year.

Great willowherb was seen on the side of some the paths.

Closer to home, I went on an evening safari around the local area. I’ve got some exciting news to tell you soon about this area.

Freshly cut hay means wildlife like this hare is easier to spot despite him trying to stay hidden by laying his ears down flat.

On the edges of the seldom used paths, there’s plenty of low lying biting stonecrop.

Newly hatched burnet moths feed on the scabious (field scabious I think)

I managed to sneak up to about 10 yards to take this shot of two young little owls.

And so ended a great couple of days in the woods and the fields of Essex.

I hope you have a good week ahead.

A Day out at Broaks and an Evening Safari

It has been a while since I went to Broaks wood, so I thought I go for the day to see what was about.

“There’s a an Azure damselfly over there!” said a familiar voice.

“ I know, I’ve seen it”.

“You’re getting good!” said the dragonfly-man.

“I’ve had a good teacher over the years,” I replied.

The sticks were already put in at angles around the pond, making it easy to focus on the larger four-spotted chasers.

Of course, there was an abundance of wildflowers around the woods, including these common spotted orchids.

I’m not sure how this mole met his demise, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen a dead mole in this exact spot.

It’s the first time I’ve seen a red admiral this year.

Great willowherb was seen on the side of some the paths.

Closer to home, I went on an evening safari around the local area. I’ve got some exciting news to tell you soon about this area.

Freshly cut hay means wildlife like this hare is easier to spot despite him trying to stay hidden by laying his ears down flat.

On the edges of the seldom used paths, there’s plenty of low lying biting stonecrop.

Newly hatched burnet moths feed on the scabious (field scabious I think)

I managed to sneak up to about 10 yards to take this shot of two young little owls.

And so ended a great couple of days in the woods and the fields of Essex.

I hope you have a good week ahead.

Who’s Birthday is it?

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Billy. 5 years old today.

Who’s Birthday is it?

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Billy. 5 years old today.

Glorious Weekend in June

This weekend I helped out at Wildcrafts Bushcraft School. The weather was wonderful. We had the choice of the cool of the woods, or the full sun around one of the two lakes.

It was even worth dangling a line from a survival fishing kit (more about this in a later post) but nothing was biting.

Brett went one step further, but forgot his harpoon!

This area is good for black-tailed skimmer dragonflies and Azure damselflies. The lake also had a visiting tern who occasionally splashed into the water, surfacing on more than one occasion with a small fish.

The pathways were dry, but I managed to brush out some tracks to reveal badger, fox and fallow deer all making their way to the side of the lake for a well needed drink.

On Saturday, we decided to get out the bow drills. It was like the annual “fire-by-friction qualification day” as we all lined up to have a go.

Steve and I went one further and jointly got an ember from a hand drill set I brought back from Africa.

Even the flint a steel came out, and a couple of others, including Rebecca, managed to blow an ember into a flame for the first time. The ember had been transferred from the char-cloth to a crampball fungus and then onto some straw and dried grass.

A tarp was definitely not needed this weekend. I suppose it’s just force of habit that we all put one up… or is it complete mistrust of the British weather?!

Steve’s swag-bag was possibly the best way to go if you were ground-dwelling …

Life was definitely good this weekend, meeting up with old mates and enjoying the mid-summer’s day weather.

Thanks or the visit.