Soulandy

Passing the vine in dunham on my Bollin Valley walk, just has to be done

Thinking about it I've not seen/heard them round here for a bit. We came across a house near to us that had a couple of swift boxes under the soffits hoping to get them to use them. We get a few bats flying about most nights tho

wow.

More here https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/worlds-most-valuable-7in-record-4386683?fbclid=IwAR3JdXGDmMo2lrPnPETMZ10PFlFn47IGvRVQc28bm_e_sHlzjZ6X0AEc6Tc

Keep meaning to get up there for a walk and look round but not got round to it. Been across the way up to Peel Tower a few years back so that's the closest I've been to Scut Moor. They are big when near them

Cheers Steve. See lots of Buzzards and Kestrels, but no Peregrines as yet. Red Kites I've seen in Wales and Yorkshire. Hoping for a Vulture flypass, but I might be in for a long wait

A Sparrow Hawk on the lookout from a neighbours tree while it is being closely watched from the roof tops First one I've seen here for quite a number of years, must be 25 or so but just recently I spotted one flying around and we did have a lot of feathers in the garden and the remains of a Pigeon behind the shed a couple of weeks back. I guess that's why there's no song birds knocking about these past weeks. A few minutes after this photo it did swoop down into some bushes and I did see it again this morning circling over, on the prowl no doubt A Gatekeeper butterfly that stayed still for a few seconds. Seen a lot of these recently

Loads up in Scotland, especially the highlands. When you start to get past Loch Lomond they seem to spring up all over the place and there's a lot of heated discussions going on with some of the last remote wild area's pointed to get them. Scout Moor near to Ramsbottom is one of the largest in the Uk

Nice photos . Talking of kingfishers, I saw another pair, flying down the river, one behind the other, on my walk yesterday. I must of seen at least half a dozen pairs this year, that's half a dozen more than the last 60 Seems this is the year for lots of strange things happening in the wildlife world as well as ours

As tattodave said, a Speckled Wood. As a side note, this was the million pound question on Who wants to be a millionaire in 2002. As I try to teach my family a few things wildlife, they were ecstatic to get it right and we still talk about the lost million today Usless bit of info https://millionaire.fandom.com/wiki/Who_Wants_to_Be_a_Millionaire%3F_(UK_version)/Final_Questions

Fantastic picture

Finally got back out in the mountains of snowdonia yesterday, first since January. Went on the quiet side of the Carneddau where there's always a better chance to see the wild ponies and foals. Weather was overcast but warm

Thanks for sharing these

Brilliant Steve Seen some great photos of the comet over Wales with the mountains and lakes

First proper pint in a pub, the Vine in Dunham Massey, our favourite bike ride pub. We made good use of the decent weather and made up for lost time

Yes mate. Around 3 days they were there. Luckily the bluetit family fledged, they were next to the KF. The M56 tunnel, a 100 yards from the KF site, is the home to another brood of grey wagtails. I think its the same as earlier in the spring as its on the opposite side of the tunnel as earlier so theres still plenty going on.

Unfortunately the kingfishers i had been watching are gone, probably because the farmer or Bollin Valley rangers were working on the bank clearing the fallen trees and all the debris while the river was so low a few weeks back. Probably didnt know they wete there. As a side note we've seen another skimming over the mersey earlier on. Seen it a few times over the weeks. First photo with the work going on. Second photo last week

So that's what it looks like when it's still Great photo Steve. You haven't managed to see the vulture have you, must be a great sight for anyone. https://www.birdguides.com/articles/britain-ireland/tracking-down-the-peak-district-lammergeier/

Plenty of Red Soldier Beetles out today enjoying life in the sun

Just came across this beast in the garden. I think its a violet ground beetle.

After all the rain on Monday and over last night, the river is looking a bit full

Steve, yes mate. Seen around 30 ducklings, kingfishers, buzzards, kestrels, owls, herons, rats, 100's of crows and alsorts these past months.

Sunrays, a new duck family and a few midges tonight

A couple from a couple of weeks back. Honeybee, cropped to show a bit of detail and a horse in need of a good haircut and shave

A couple from Friday evening along the river where the crows have made their home in the trees and have a bit of a feed at the small farm. A few hundred of them, or a mob, a horde or even a murder of crows, after all the chicks have now fledged but they are here every evening making a right old racket.