Butterflies and Too Much Cheese

Had a great evening last night.  I met Clare from work and we walked around the Blythe Valley Nature Reserve.  It's lovely.

Housed on a business park, with the River Blythe running through the middle it has become home to otters, sky larks and all manner of butterflies and birds. We ambled around the meadows whilst the motorway next to us ground to a stand still. 

The people in charge of it have done a great job, they have even built a hide overlooking the water where you can watch the birds feeding.  My only criticism is that they have been a little over zealous with the "Danger Deep Water" signs and the gravel path they have laid means any wildlife can hear you coming from some distance away.

Although we didn't see any otters we did see lots of butterflies.  I'm becoming quite fond of butterflies lately and yesterday we saw the following

Ringlet - loads

Comma - several

Speckled Wood - many

Holly Blue - several

Red Admiral - one

Marbled White - one

Meadow Brown - loads

Small Tortoiseshell - one

Green Veined White - several



Having wandered around for a couple of hours and once the traffic had died down we headed back.  We stopped off at Bella Italia for a drink and a bite to eat.  I went for a pizza with extra olives and chillis.  When the pizza arrived the chillis were missing.  I decided not to say anything but made sure that when the bill came I hadn't been charged for the extra topping I did not receive.  Turns out that rather than chillis the waitress had thought I'd said cheese.  So that's what I ended up with pizza with olives and extra cheese!  I couldn't complain as when I ordered she repeated it back to me.  I think with her East European accent and my Brummie accent it was understandable that we got our wires crossed.

All in all a pleasant a relaxing evening.

England 1 Slovenia 0

So, England upped their game yesterday and managed to make it through to the next round.  They played well, especially in the first half and at times, looked like a World Class team.  It still worries me that we only managed the one goal (Defoe 23mins) and that we never topped what was a relatively easy group. 

What I did enjoy about yesterday was the vibe.  From lunchtime onwards, there were people on the street.  Walking to the pub or popping to the shops to stock up on supplies.  Others on their way home from work early.  You could feel the excitement in the air, or should that be tension?  The weather was great.  The sun was shining which added an extra element to things.  I think the time of day helped as well.  There were the lucky ones who were not at work, others leaving early or just skiving off. Some were stuck in their offices with it on the radio (Clare) or were watching it on their PC.  It all added to the sense of occasion.

So Germany in the next round.  Tough game.  If we manage to beat them then our next game would more than likely be Argentina.  We don't make it easy for ourselves!

With all the drama of the World Cup I have neglected other things.  Yesterday was National Cricket Day.  When the stars and coaches go into schools and organise competitions to help develop children's education through cricket. I'm not entirely sure how that works but it has been going since 2005 and so must have some benefits. 

Today, England take on Australia in the second One Day International. On Tuesday, a great display by Eoin Morgan helped England to victory, winning by 4 wickets.

Finally, there have been stories in the news lately about foxes attacking people. There has even been talk of a cull! Yesterday I was lucky to find one asleep in my garden.  He's welcome back any time!

Another Suny Day

Another sunny day and another walk along the towpath.  This was the best walk yet as we got to see kingfishers!!  2 of them.

We came across them toward the end of our walk.  I had been trying to take photos of a heron who we found sitting on the path underneath a motorway bridge. Each time I got closer it would fly a bit further down water.  Having followed  for a bit, we decided to turn round and head back. 

As I turned I saw a flash of blue, low over the water. We watched it swoop twice before turning and heading away with a fish.  As we watched another appeared.  I tried to take a photograph but they were too quick.  We waited and within a few minutes they were back. Again, I tried to take a photo but again no joy.  After about 15 minutes they disappeared.  We waited for a few minutes and when they never returned we decided it was time to head home. 

Here are a couple pictures of something that wasn't as quick as a kingfisher.  In fact it just stood there.

In the Garden

As I said yesterday, I have spent a good deal of time in the garden, what with the nice weather and all.  It's been lovely. I've sat in the sunshine and just watched the wildlife going about it's business.  Although I live in a residential street, my garden is quite enclosed and I deliberately leave it slightly overgrown. I prefer it that way. Just let nature do what it does. Over the last few days I have become quite fond of a couple of Goldfinches that flit back and forth all day long.  I've tried to take a photo but they are either too well camouflaged in the foliage or fly off by the time I have my camera ready.  Other visitors to my garden (or the airspace above it) have included Blue Tits, Great Tits, a Robin, Magpies and a Kestrel. In the late afternoon Swifts appear over head.  Butterflies including Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Peacock and a Small White have also visited. Again I have tried to photograph these with limited success.  Below is a picture of a Peacock Butterfly.  I stood for what seemed like hours waiting for it to open it's wings but when it did I was too slow and it had gone by the time I was ready.

To a lot of people this won't sound very "Rock n Roll"  but I find it very relaxing.  I am a city person through and through and don't think I could ever live in the countryside but as soon as the sunshine arrives I want to be out and surrounded by trees and greenery.  I am lucky enough to have a small garden to escape to at the very least.  I am in no way green fingered but can understand why people love gardening. Perhaps it's something I might take up in a few years. In the meantime I will just sit and watch the birds and butterflies as they come and go.