STERF Butterfly Atlas Project 2014

With the conditions being dry, sunny and very little wind and encouraged by the number of butterflies we have around the garden, this afternoon we carried out our first butterfly survey for 2014.

In the past couple of years we have struggled to get a suitable day in April never mind in March.

The results were as good as we expected and by the end of the survey we had a reasonable count. Top of the list was the Peacock, closely followed by both the Brimstone and the Speckled Wood...

The Speckled Wood was a bit of a surprise at this time of year..

A bit more of a surprise was what we think to be a Holly Blue. Our book says: "...may be observed on ivy blossom in summer.." Well, it's not summer (yet) but here it is, on ivy..

And, as we regularly do on our surveys, we took a couple of none butterfly shots. We are not sure of the identity of these damsel flies...

The results will have to be filed for the time being as we have not yet received this year's survey information from STERF, though this shouldn't surprise us!

For  more information on the Butterfly Atlas project (STERF) and to find out how to get involved, go to http://vigienature.mnhn.fr/page/suivi-temporel-des-rhopaloceres-de-france

Fish Farming Next??

Those who know our garden will remember the famous "hole" left by the previous owner...

During the wet months of this winter and last spring, the hole became more like a lake, with over four feet of water in it..

Today I was using a watering can filled with some of this water when the rose on the spout became blocked. Taking it off and shaking it, imagine my surprise when this fell out...

It's a Great Diving Beetle, and at 25-35mm it will attack almost anything that moves, including fish and frogs.
When I took it back to the water's edge and set it on the vegetation, it couldn't get into the water quick enough....

The Great Diving Beetle inhabits still waters with plenty of vegetation, which describes perfectly our "hole".

What we would love to know is how on earth did it get here? The hole was completely dry until 2 years ago and it dried out again between last spring and this winter.

How long till we can start selling fishing licences?

Bird battles...

The wood at the rear of La Croix Blanche is home to a pair of buzzards and several crows and every year they battle...

My guess would be at nesting time but it is early in the year for that. This morning one of the buzzards and a pair of crows were having a real battle. Typically by the time I got the camera they had vanished, I waited for a while but only managed to photograph a kestrel which paused long enough for me to find it in the viewfinder.

Typical hover pose!

It must not have seen any prey as it was soon off.

Tail closed back up...

Is that streamlined or what?

These were taken with my new Sigma lens with the image stabiliser switched off, which after reading the manual, (YES, I read the manual!!!) allows you the take faster shots... I am again pleased with the results given the distance the Kestrel was away. The biggest problem is actually finding the target in the viewfinder in order to get a focus... More practice needed!

Will have to keep a look out for the next buzzard v crow battle and have the camera handy next time!

Plants with a Purpose?

Whilst out walking yesterday we photographed some several clumps of violets, both white and several shades of the more commonly found "violet" ones...

It was only when we got home and looked closely at the last two photos (above) that we noticed the "insectivorous" looking plant leaves at the base of the violets.

Are they indeed a type of insectivorous plant or simply the half-opened basal leaves of some other flower?

If anyone has any thoughts we would be happy if you would share them with us, please, Susan?!

Forget Spring... Summer came early today!

With temperatures reaching 21.2C today, we took a leisurely walk following one of the waymarked routes starting and finishing in the centre of Usseau, a small village 22km south east of Braye. It was also the first proper outing of the year for the 2CV!

The walk takes you through rolling farmland giving some wonderful views over the open countryside..

It was a perfect day for photography and Colin captured this white wagtail and a couple of partridge..

Both these last two photos were taken from quite a distance away so we were pleased with the results.

The walk takes you past the Maquignon quarry which gave me a chance to indulge in my passion for stone - on a grand scale...

Returning to the village we noticed a sign highlighting one of the more confusing aspects of driving in France...

This is the old French system of giving priority to all traffic coming from the right. This still applies at unmarked crossroads in the countryside, in small villages, as well as minor streets inside cities, etc. Most other road crossings have some kind of priority system implemented. 

Home again and it was shorts on as we sat out to have a cup of tea!

Can't be bad for the 9th March!!

Bits and Bobs...

Today has been like a Lancashire summers day... At five o'clock this afternoon our thermometer was reading...

Yes 19°C, it was as warm in the garden as it was in the kitchen and there was not a cloud in the sky...

Yesterday we got most of the Potager turned over with the rotavator and today most of the grass was 'trimmed'. This spell of dry and warm weather is set to continue for a good while yet.

On our walks recently and also in the garden, we've seen plenty of over-wintering butterflies now out and about in the early warmth. Perhaps we'll manage to do the first of the butterfly surveys next week, which will be a full month earlier than we've done it in previous years ...

Visiting the supermarket today involved a search down an aisle we don't usually have cause to frequent.. the Baby aisle!

The reason for this? During this week Elizabeth had a close encounter of the "edge of cupboard" kind, resulting in the following slight discolouration to the temple...

I have also fallen foul of the same angle and believe me, it hurts. In fact, it HURTS!

So today's trip down the aisle was to purchase...

to fit onto the offending corner...

Job Done! And we look forward to less painful encounters in the future...

All in all it's been a week of bits and bobs, which is what makes life out here interesting!

Garden Additions...

When we first started upgrading the garden path, Elizabeth decided that it may look nice with lavenders along either side... We have a good number which she has 'cultivated' by simply sticking a cutting in the ground... They don't half grow fast here! Anyway since we completed the path that idea has been scrapped /postponed...

In order to enhance our new garden path we have gone completely over the top...

...and bought two small and slow growing conifers.

On Wednesday LeClerc had a good selection of standard rose bushes for sale. I have always wanted one, so we chose a.....

It has been planted in a new circular bed, dug by Elizabeth, in the centre of our front lawn (weed bed)

We now need now some 'Guards'. Fortunately LeClerc were also selling a good selection... Trouble is, it is my son Stephen who is the expert on these things; he owns several. We just could not make up our minds on which ones would be best!!

Any preferences??!