On your own doorstep.

[Wild-Woman]

Sometimes it's easy to overlook our own doorstep when it comes to looking for wildlife. I'm guilty of this. We have a tow path that is through some marshland, some half a mile away from our house. We have not ventured there for years, as it has a bit of a reputation for attracting undesirables. But today we thought we'd give it a shot again.
The first 100 metres along the path delighted us-6 species of butterflies-Large White, Green Veined White, Comma, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Red Admiral. They were numerous and we probably counted 40 in all. We also saw lots of Bee Fly, Hoverfly-of which there were numerous species,Bumblebees galore,wasps,lacewings and gnats.
We also heard Chiffchaff, chaffinch, robin, dunnock, singing their hearts out in the hawthorns and blackthorn.
Flying over, we saw herons, gulls, starlings and a lark with it's watery dancing song and descent down into a field. It was magical.
The pathway is a lot cleaner than I remember it, and we met.....no one!

Sometimes it's worthwhile looking close at hand again. I learnt that today for sure.

[aeshna5]

A very worthwhile doorstop! You're right we often travel all over + neglect the magic that can be found around the corner.

[glsammy]

A good example for us all Jules.

Likewise with my mobility problems I've been forced to look at more local spots, areas I've always ignored in the past. As you found, they've proved to be a real eye opener. I've had one of my best ever months, yet I've traveled far less distance and hardly walked at all!
The local spots I've re-discovered will now firmly be on my must do again list.

[rlchew]

I totally agree Julie .... and it sounds like you had an excellent day on your own doorstep.

I used to travel all over the UK wildlife watching. I still do so to an extent but during the last year or so I have spent increasing amounts of time at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea which is 2 or 3 miles from home. This has become my local patch and it is fascinating to learn what is close to me and begin to understand seasonal changes.

Having said that, I went to Chobham Common in Surrey on Friday and there may be another non-Essex trip before the dreaded return to work on Tuesday.

Richard

[yellowhammer]

Jules, do you mean down by the rifle range? It's been a lot nicer since the police firearms squad took over the sea school & range, but I'm sure that's just coincidence

I was down there Friday, Grass Snakes, hares & Water Voles, lots of flutterbies plus all the 'usual' stuff. Was going to go today but was a bit hungover. I shall be down there tomorrow though, I want a pic of a Water Vole!

When you talk about undesirables I hope you don't mean me!

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by yellowhammer

Jules, do you mean down by the rifle range? It's been a lot nicer since the police firearms squad took over the sea school & range, but I'm sure that's just coincidence

I was down there Friday, Grass Snakes, hares & Water Voles, lots of flutterbies plus all the 'usual' stuff. Was going to go today but was a bit hungover. I shall be down there tomorrow though, I want a pic of a Water Vole!

When you talk about undesirables I hope you don't mean me!

The very same YH! The walk starts from Chalk...that one. I was amazed. So much nicer and although we did look over our shoulders for the 'you know whos' we felt ok. I still wouldn't feel totally at ease on my own, it was hugely better. You could be right about the police training school of course. Never occured to me!

We did look out for Water Voles and I may have seen evidence of their habits of nibbling the reeds in a certain way.I'd need an expert though.

Undesirable...you! Nah, your a gent!

Hungover........again?

[yellowhammer]

It was a friends birthday yesterday, that's my excuse

I'll always show you where the voles are if you like. It really isn't that bad down there now, I don't get any grief at all. Of course, I am 6 foot odd, 16 stone and covered in tattoos but that's just coincidence too

At the end of the Chalk path, just before the bridge there's a gate on your left and a pond that's well-worth dipping. Also check the canal from the bridge for grassies, lizards, little grebes & courting/mating sticklebacks.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by yellowhammer

It was a friends birthday yesterday, that's my excuse

I'll always show you where the voles are if you like. It really isn't that bad down there now, I don't get any grief at all. Of course, I am 6 foot odd, 16 stone and covered in tattoos but that's just coincidence too

At the end of the Chalk path, just before the bridge there's a gate on your left and a pond that's well-worth dipping. Also check the canal from the bridge for grassies, lizards, little grebes & courting/mating sticklebacks.

See. All this stuff and I never knew it was there!

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by rlchew

it is fascinating to learn what is close to me and begin to understand seasonal changes.

That's the crucial bit - stay close to home and really get to feel what the natural world is about. I love going to the 'honeypot' sites, but if your local patch is as dull as ditchwater from an objective perspective, it is still a cracker if it means you get to see the subtleties, the little differences week by week, through the year, across the years.

As it happens, your site sounds great, and well worth a visit by any standards, but my point is true for anywhere that you can get to easily and regularly.

Enjoy your new found play ground

[mrs fish]

I am very lucky to have a nature reserve right outside my house, here are a couple of visitors literally on my doorstep

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

I am very lucky to have a nature reserve right outside my house, here are a couple of visitors literally on my doorstep

Cor! You are lucky Mrs Fish! What a great place to live-next to a nature reserve, I couldn't think of anywhere better.

[ron1863]

I'm lucky in that my house in Scotland backs onto a river and on the other side is a country walkway where I can see numerous bird and animal life, but my favourite is lying in bed at night listening to the owls.

[Dan Salter]

I spent the day in my garden veggie plot.

We live in a rural area surrounded by N.T land and farmland and a small woodland shaw next to the garden so im spoilt really.

Squirrel mayhem...literally 8-10 can be seen at any one time normally on my flippin bird table !
Great spot woodpeckers daily too.

I have Tawny owls keeping me awake all through the night , foxes under the feeders at dusk, pheasants scaring me senseless when they shout out from nowhere.

But today i was very pleased having moved houses from my "Wildlife Trust" Chalk Downland reserve i literally had on my doorstep last year and had Adonis Blues visiting my potted herbs.

today in the new house i saw a Blue !! it got away from me so i dont know which one? looked pale so maybe a chalkhill....and then yay !! my first Brimstone of the year followed by a pair of whites....then peacocks ( 2 or 3) and just as i was packing up and wondering if that patch of things growing in the scrubby edge of the woodland next to the garden was Giant hogweed? ( i think it is ) i saw a Speckled wood ! so a good day for flutterbyes today

I also have two nest boxes, one on a tree one on my shed both with blue tits residing ! yaya.....all good stuff.

[nightshade]

My old neighbour walks every morning to visit his wifes grave,he takes a lane that follows a railway embankment and in the recent sunshine he has seen so many birds and butterflies he almost babbles in his haste to recount everything
This is somewhere I have not walked for ages,must give it a go