Posted in Photography, Uncategorized, tagged photography on February 23, 2023| 2 Comments »
Little man on the pavement, about two inches tall…
I am always looking down at the pavement – partly so that I don’t trip over anything. But I also like to spot unusual things. I wondered what this little plastic person was and when I passed it a second time I flipped it over…
…it looked like a Christmas elf decoration of some sort
Posted in Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Llandaff Fields, Nature, sycamore, Trees on February 12, 2023| 6 Comments »
Shadow of the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) in Llandaff Fields, Cardiff
After a wet and then frosty January, February has started with some drizzle and mist and quite a few fine late-winter days.
I visited the sycamore I am following in Llandaff Fields on another lovely day – from my photos you would think the sun always shines in Cardiff!
A reminder that in America this would be called a sycamore maple but in the UK it’s simply a sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). (more…)
Posted in Nature, Trees, tagged Nature, Trees on February 7, 2023| 8 Comments »
Ash branches against a cold February sky
Welcome to the February 2023 tree-following gathering. I look forward to seeing everyone’s news and pictures once again. Newcomers are always welcome and I see some of the usual followers are already looking for a new tree.
Here in South Wales in January we had some very wet weather followed by some very frosty weather – with temperatures at night falling to minus 5 degrees. That’s unusual for Cardiff, as shown by the fact that in one street the paving slabs lifted apart all along the middle of the footway because of “frost heave”, caused by expansion of wet ground below.
Since then the weather has been alternating between mild and damp and cold and dry as the Atlantic jet stream moves to the north or south of the UK.
I hope to visit the sycamore in Llandaff Fields this week while the weather is again crisp.
I’m sure you regular tree followers will have something to report. Point to any tree-related post you would like to share, using the link box below. And please don’t forget to leave a comment.
The link box is now open for contributions and will stay open until 7pm GMT on February 14.
If you are new to tree following, read all about the idea here, although, as I have been saying for years, I must update that page when I have the chance!
Posted in Birds, Nature, Uncategorized, tagged birds, Nature on February 6, 2023| 5 Comments »
The bright blue and white flashes on the wing of this jay (Garrulus glandarius) attracted my attention when I was sitting at my desk by the window the other day. It was yawning as it sat on a branch, nodding off to sleep and then opening its eyes again
We used to see jays a lot in our garden, which is next to a park, but for a few years they had gone missing. Happily I have seen them again recently and I was very pleased when one showed itself just in time for the recent RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (2022 results here).
A closer look…
The Squirrelbasket 