A Muddy Morning Walk

What' this, two posts in two days!? I must be ill!

I have a bit of spare time this evening between my studying to type up a quick post. This morning I joined my University Nature Society for a walk along the river. For some reason I didn't give any thought on the amount of mud there would be, rookie error!

Nevertheless it was a beautiful walk, and a new route to take that is nice and local! (Hurrah!) A few new sightings for me personally too, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the teeny Goldcrest! There were also plenty of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits! Although photographing was difficult with the sheer amount of naked branches competing within the photos! (thanks winter!) But of course, I am not one to be beaten yet!

Here is what I did manage to get:

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Long Tailed Tit

I promise this is a Goldcrest!! 

Another Long Tailed Tit

#30Days Wild Day 15!

I cannot believe we are now halfway through the #30DaysWild Challenge already!! So many more exciting things to do and see!

An absolutely sodden day tonight! It just about managed to dry up and brighten in time for me to head home for work - and just as I was packing away the outdoor cafe furniture, I spotted this little guy drying off on the windowsill! I calmy had to run into the shop to grab my phone to get a photo!

Now for anyone who doesn't know, this little guy is a Buff Tip Moth! He stands out a lot on our beautiful teal paintwork, but he is designed to camouflage as a Silver Birch twig. I'd known about these moths, but this is the first I have seen with my very own eyes, and of course I was embarrassingly excited about it. (Making sure to message my best friend about it all as quick as I could!)

So, I've made it a job that any species I spot I'm going to learn me some facts!

1. Their Italian name is Phalera bucephala (Okay so I'm probably not going to remember that)
2. They are a common species, often found in farmland, grassland, towns and gardens and woodland
3. You are likely to see them in June and July (mostly at evening or night!) 

I also went for a quick walk this evening after dinner, I didn't manage to escape the rain this time! But I did spot a wagtail of some sorts! It was either a yellow or a grey wagtail, oh I cannot wait to buy myself a camera that will do these beautiful species some justice! (only another £492.78 to go!) 

What wild things have you been up to? 

Tayla 

x

Bewdley's Bursting Banks

Though slightly overdue as the water levels are slowly decreasing now, Bewdley's flood defence barriers have been up again! Last week locals were issued weather warnings, following expected heavy weather in the Welsh hills. (Note: the source of the River Severn is situated  in Cambrian Mountains)

Water levels were noted to start rising on Tuesday 1st December, and the barriers were swiftly constructed the following day. The entirety of the defence system was not put up, only the barriers alongside Severnside North, where the pavement sits lower. Large debris such as logs and a few whole trees have been seen to be floating down with the fast current.

With water levels now dropping again, and pavements beginning to emerge from the murky depths of the Severn, it looks like another successful intervention from the Environment Agency. Quick thinking and very effective communication to the people bewdley helped to save many homes and businesses, with very little disturbance.

Here's to next years events! (Don't get me wrong, a flooding like this has been catastrophic to homes in Bewdley, but with new defences in place, we all feel much safer! And anyways, businesses in Bewdley that rely on tourists, its events like this catch people's attention!)

The view down Severnside South, the blue on the other side are temporary barriers to protect homes and roads.