First spring post for 2019

The tree and flower buds are opening in north-east Scotland now, like these Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus leaf buds.

The lovely soft Scottish light shows the subtle tones and colours of the buds.

Down at ground level the Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta are opening and the ferns unfurling.

It's good to take a ground-level view, that of the birds like the Robins Erithacus rubecula who were collecting insects to feed their newly-hatched young.

One pair of Robins in this wood had hidden their nest beneath this tussock of old dried grass from last year.

Their eggs hadn't hatched yet, the neighbouring pairs to either side had though. The chicks were only two days old.

The birds with young had five chicks, this nest contained six eggs. Five is the most common clutch size in north-east Scotland. perhaps there had been plenty insects for food when the eggs were laid two weeks ago. It was warm and sunny then, today was cold with showers.

Last autumn post for 2019

I was clambering up Mt Majura in north Canberra the other day and came eye to eye with these seed pods lying on top of a ridge.

The autumn gold of the seeds inside a Kurrajong seed pod. Old dry and blackened pods lie around.

The ground in the grove was littered with seed pods, some old some new.

The stand of Kurrajong trees were up on a ridge. Their straight stems and lush green foliage make them instantly recognisable. The ground cover of grasses and herbs was close-cropped by Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

There was a good crop of seed pods on most of the trees, but I don't know what animals eat them. Any suggestions?

The glistening green pods under a bright blue sky, what a lovely tree.

One last last crisp autumn view over Canberra.

And one final butterfly for the season in Canberra, an Amethyst Hairstreak Jalmenus icilius basking on a track on a hillside today. Other species seen flying today were Meadow Argus and Cabbage White.

It's Spring for me next week.