#milkham

[dansnaturepictures]

Rainbow and sun setting on a walk from Milkham in the New Forest this afternoon. 05/11/23

[environmentguru]

Country diary: pines that went to Passchendaele

Milkham Inclosure, New Forest In the wartime effort of 1917 timber from this woodland fell to axes and became the battlefield planks trodden perhaps by the forest dwellers themselvesToday we wander through Milkham’s pines in an atmosphere of autumnal https://www.environmentguru.com/pages/elements/element.aspx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr&id=5755905

[nycpastpresentfuture-blog]

Zack Porras, 21. Union Square//New Jersey Native. “New York City was one of the first places I felt comfortable going to see a film alone. As a film major, going to the cinemas in the city feels like a part of the creative process. Walking home through the streets of the city after seeing a great film is centering.”

Angelika Film Center- photo by @milkham

Times Square movie theatre in the 1970s- photo by Maggie Hopp

Taxi Driver (1976) dir. Martin Scorsese

New York Movie Theatre 1963- photo by Joel Meyerowitz

[fuckyeahseolhyun]

Hey, I appreciate being credited for my photos. thanks.

You very much welcome. Your pictures are amazing. Thank you for your hardwork!!

[dansnaturepictures]

Ten of my favourite photos taken in January 2023 and month summary 

1. Bewick’s Swan at WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire 

2. Nene aka Hawaiian Goose at WWT Slimbridge 

3. Curlew at Lymington, Hampshire

4. Kingfisher at Winnall Moors in Hampshire

5. Winter heliotrope at Lakeside Country Park in Hampshire 

6. Weston Shore, Hampshire 

7. Tar Lakes in Oxfordshire 

8. Milkham in the New Forest 

9. Sunset at home 

10. Frozen lake at Lakeside 

What a start to the year I have had for wildlife watching and photos. It was another fantastic start to my birdwatching year with the sheer volume of species we saw, allowing me to have my fastest ever start to my year list being the highest amount of bird species I have ever seen after one month of a year and ahead of what all my other year lists were on at given points on most days. It was a joyful process to lay the foundations of my year list once again seeing so much, with a thrilling mix of trips to wonderful places on our week off to start the year, working day walks and weekend trips making it a unique start to my birdwatching year allowing us to see many sensational species, many so well and a fair few multiple times from Purple Sandpiper to Green Woodpecker and many more in between. Scaup, my first ever Sabine’s Gull, a fair few Goldeneye and Kingfisher seen, Short-eared Owl, Glossy Ibis, Slavonian Grebe and unexpected Kittiwake are some of many other top species seen this month. 

It has been a brilliant start to my mammal year too especially deers and especially Roe Deers with many seen. I even managed to see an unidentified butterfly during it all with spiders continuing to shine throughout the month for me at home. It was a great month of flowers even if not too many were around with some seasonal delights which I so enjoyed seeing and some seen that will come to the fore in weeks to come as I enjoyed seeing plants and fungi too generally. I took in so many beautiful landscapes and sky scenes in different parts of the country in many brilliant bits of sunny weather, with frost and ice as well as dramatic bare tree scenes, the wet landscape with the amount of rain too and gorgeous seasonal light bringing that winter flavour to the month. I am happy to have taken so many photos this month including many I am pleased with. I hope you all have a good February.

[dansnaturepictures]

08/01/2023-Milkham in the New Forest

We came here today and had a lovely walk around taking in the Broomy Walk area too and saw three more bird species for the first time in 2023, tapping into the larder of woodland species and New Forest specialities we were yet to see this year. Firstly a sweet Treecreeper shuffling up a bold beach, seeing my first of the year on the last walk of my week off to open the year in the forest for the second year running after Blackwater a year ago tomorrow. Later on in the wooded part of the walk we saw a Song Thrush or two. This is a bird I have had a bit of fun with in my mind this week as whilst I wouldn’t say I regularly see them at Lakeside I certainly do see them there a lot and have a lot on my annual New Year’s Day walk there over the years. Early in that walk a week ago today this year I heard a Song Thrush maybe two singing beautifully one of my favourite bird songs deep in vegetation but just couldn’t see it/them after a few minutes of trying. Conscious of wanting to keep the pace I wanted for that walk I moved on thinking I may well see one further on, but didn’t and didn’t see or hear another for the rest of this week. So it became a common species to be entertained at luckily for us a lot of rarer species beating it onto my year list something I enjoy about New Year birding. I was looking forward to looking for them more and there is something nice about just sneaking one into my week off.

In the heath we quickly saw a Dartford Warbler, one of the ultimate New Forest birds which it was a delight to see. This is one I always aspire to see in a year and am so lucky that we have now got the species on ten year lists in a row after really becoming more aware of them from 2014 onwards, but you never know when you’ll see one so it always feels special and valuable to see one. A great moment with a top bird of my year so far with 115 species seen this year a wonderful figure to end the week off on. Also on the walk it was nice to see a handful of Redwings flying around late on in the heath and a charming little Goldcrest in the woods.

A couple of late Roe Deers as dusk began to fall was a special and attractive sight and it was nice to see and photograph one for a second Sunday running after Lymington last week I took the eighth picture in this photoset today of one, it was a powerful natural moment as I saw and felt it gazing back at me. There were great bits of gorse in flower which looked pretty especially in golden sunlight I took the fifth picture in this photoset of this and I also enjoyed fungi on trees and lichen on the heath and trees on the walk. I took the second picture in this photoset of fungi on a log and sixth of lichen on wood.

It was pleasing to take in views of heath, raging full streams, rich woodland lit perfectly by the sun with gorgeous and dominant scenes of sun shining through trees this afternoon and lighting up bits of vegetation and engaging sky scenes. We arrived in a pressing rain shower that had defined the day until that point, but it cleared really nicely with great bits of sunlight as the afternoon went on. There were great scenes of glistening raindrops clinging to trees as the shower cleared. It was amazing in this open and vast landscape to see the sun lower behind a line of conifers and the clouds redden. It felt like a memorable day of taking in and photographing landscape today. I took the first, third, fourth, seventh and ninth pictures in this photoset of views here today. It was good to get chatting to some nice people as we have done at places all this week.

At home today it was a treat to see the Dunnock in the bush out the front which the tenth and final picture in this photoset shows and the spider I noticed in my en suite last night again and the one in the crack in the landing.

Wildlife Sightings Summary for the Milkham walk: My first Treecreeper, Song Thrush and Dartford Warbler of the year, Redwing, Blackbird, Robin, possible Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Woodpigeons seen well, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Roe Deer and New Forest Pony and Grey Squirrel seen nicely towards the end.

[dansnaturepictures]

Post seven of my wildlife and photography highlights of 2022 posts: Ten standout moments/themes in our visits to the New Forest this year

Seeing Jack Snipe, Sparrowhawk and Bramblings at Milkham in January having seen Goosander at Eyeworth Pond earlier that day

A key winter day of birds for me. I took the first picture in this photoset of a view at Milkham.

Blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/673572518539509760/16012022-nice-sky-at-home-and-eyeworth-pond-and

Seeing the iconic for the forest Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, my first butterfly of the year a Red Admiral, my first Fallow Deers of the year and more at Backley Bottom in January

What I look back on as one of the days of my wildlife year on a sunny day. I took the second picture in this photoset of the Dartford Warbler.

Blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/674840159542525952/30012022-backley-bottom-in-the-new-forest

Seeing Sika Deers at Hawkhill in February, the same day as seeing Bittern, Cetti’s Warbler and Great White Egret and more at Blashford Lakes

What a day! I took the third picture in this photoset of a view at Hawkhill that day.

Blog about it on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/675475985682104320/06022022-bittern-cettis-warbler-great-white

Seeing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Goshawk at Millyford Bridge on an early sunny morning in March

Like the above this one overlaps into others of my highlights posts this year but I just had to mention it, one of my greatest ever wildlife watching moments in the New Forest so true to the oasis of wild this national park is. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of a view there on that fine sunny March morning.

Blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/679189994727981056/19032022-blog-1-of-2-morning-in-the-new-forest

Seeing Crossbills including young being fed, Cuckoo really well as well as Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart and Fallow Deer on a walk in the Cadman’s Pool/Fritham area in May

Another of my favourite afternoons of the year, epic New Forest wildlife to see on a packed day. I took the fifth picture in this photoset that day of Crossbills.

Blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/684349837303513088/15th-may-2022-a-brilliant-walk-of-birds-and-more

Going on a boat trip along the Beaulieu River with Wild New Forest seeing Honey Buzzard as shown in the sixth picture in this photoset and lots more then walking at Godshill that afternoon seeing Silver-studded Blue, Keeled Skimmer, Beautiful Demoiselle another Cuckoo well and more in June.

Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Avocet, Roe Deer and Moon Jellyfish other highlights on the boat trip.

A blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/686163358563663872/040622-blog-2-of-2-godshill-in-the-new-forest

Doing a longer Beaulieu River boat trip with Wild New Forest in September going to Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight too, getting amazing views of Grey Seal and Common Seal I took the seventh picture in this photoset that day of seals and seeing Osprey, Peregrine, Gannet, many Sandwich Terns and Swallows, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews and more

Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Sparrowhawk were other wildlife highlights of a smashing day of beautiful views and epic wildlife, being a list of species seen bringing together many species I haven’t often seen in the same day, it was one of my days of the year.

Blog on the day: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/695040054085795840/10th-september-2022-blog-1-of-2-boat-trip-with

Visiting Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve and Blashford Lakes across the year

From seeing a Temminck’s Stint on fishtail lagoon at the former in May to Red-crested Pochard, Hobby and Long-tailed Duck at Blashford later that month and much more in between, I could not present highlights of a year visiting the New Forest without mentioning these two of its fantastic nature reserves I love and are places I see so much at. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of a view at Pennington in May.

A blog on these this year: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/674752826495418368/29012022-blog-2-of-2-pennington-this

A classic wild trip out at Pig Bush and a week of tranquil New Forest walks also going to Acres Down, Ashley Walk and Ibsley Common in our September week off

The sense of peace I found being in the middle of nowhere on these walks summed up much I love about the New Forest. At Pig Bush seeing loads of Spotted Flycatchers and Swallows, Redstart, Clouded Yellow butterfly and devil’s-bit scabious were amazing moments and I saw some of these at the other places in that week too. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of a view at Acres Down.

A blog at the time: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/695128531043270656/11092022-pig-bush-in-the-new-forest-and-bits-at

Autumn in the forest: Pigs out for pannage one of my favourite parts of a New Forest year, wonderful mushroom walks and seeing Fieldfares

I saw pigs first this year and very well at Shatterford where I took the tenth picture in this photoset of them, seeing them travelling through the forest too. The amazing walks at various spots seeing so many mushrooms and a brilliant walk at Leaden Hall especially seeing the Fieldfares were other strong memories of a time I pleasingly visited the forest so much.

A blog at the time: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/699571903919194112/30102022-leaden-hall-in-the-new-forest-we-had-a

[dansnaturepictures]

Ten of my favourite landscape and fungi photos I took in February 2024 of; the Devil's Quoits at Dix Pit, Tar Lakes, the key fungi species I saw this month scarlet elf cup at Blashford Lakes I enjoyed turkey tail too, sky at Lakeside Country Park, Titchfield Haven, the Guildhall in Winchester, sunset by Lakeside, mushroom at Winnall Moors, one of many beautiful blossom scenes taken in this month at Lakeside and Milkham in the New Forest.

[dansnaturepictures]

12th August 2023: Walk from Milkham in the New Forest and home

Flora and fauna photos taken in this set: 1 and 6. A delightful Common Grayling on the heath at Milkham, lovely to see this enigmatic and thrilling butterfly with it nice to observe how it flings itself through the air, I'm having a memorable year for these. 2. Foxgloves which it was good to see a couple of times in the wooded bits of the brilliant athletic walk round to Broomy Walk and back, throwing back a bit to those early summer days I'd not seen one for a little while a key New Forest species that I've enjoyed in the forest for many years. 3. Sneezewort, one I remember seeing on a walk here in September 2021 there were great clumps of it beside the path. 4. The pretty mullein in the garden which has come on nicely since I first noticed it. 5. A ripe coloured mossy rose gall among bramble on the walk. 7. Harebell, another I recall seeing on the 2021 walk I was hoping to see some today and I found a pretty little group of them on a grass bank beside and coming onto the path. 8. Sunflower in the garden this evening, a few more have sprung up towards the back of the garden. 9. Black-eyed Susans in the garden. 10. Fuchsia looking nice in the garden now.

Also on the walk it was nice to see two delightful dragonfly species, a couple of Migrant Hawkers commanding the air above me on the path and a pretty female Common Darter. Gatekeeper and Speckled Woods including two flitting through the air, possible hoverfly, lots of bees around a hive enjoying the ripe heather and Common Red Soldier beetle were other insect highlights. Bird wise on the walk I was thrilled to see a chirpy group of young Goldfinches in the trees and Great Tits, Starling which I also liked seeing on the way here with Blackbird, Robin and Stonechat on the heath enjoyed too. Starling, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow on the roof out the front as I saw last night, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon were good to see at home today with Jackdaw heard. I also liked seeing New Forest ponies with foals on the walk. There were some other memorable flower moments on the walk with the first marsh St. John's-wort I recall seeing looking great in a wet ditch by Milkham car park an immaculate flower, tormentil, self-heal, thistle, groups of knapweed and water mint not ones I've often seen in the forest, bramble flower, honeysuckle, ragwort, yellow in flower gorse and bell and common heather I believe. In my next post are landscape photos from today showing the heather out painting the landscape purple. Hawthorn berries were also nice to see. The sedum is on its way out in the garden too.

[dansnaturepictures]

Eleven of my favourite photos I took in November 2023 and month summary

The photos are of; mushroom at Lakeside Country Park, sunset at Milkham in the New Forest, Mute Swans at Weston Shore, autumn leaves at Lakeside, shaggy scalycaps at Lakeside, more autumn leaves at Lakeside, Mallard at Lakeside, teasel at Lakeside, Fallow Deers at Bolderwood in the New Forest, ivy in Winchester and Herring Gull at Lakeside.

November was a month of splendour for me, from the spectacle of watching a Short-eared Owl quartering at Farlington Marshes to the vibrant autumnal colour that blanketed the landscape. It was another very strong month of observing mushrooms for me from amethyst deceiver in a very strong year I've had for them to shaggy scalycap and many more enjoyed. Flowers such as gorse, wild carrot, white deadnettle and daisy hung on to bring some nice colour to my walks still with hawthorn berries, rose hips and memorably lots of holly ever present. The nights drawing right in has brought some special sky scenes to enjoy with it being a great month of moons and rainbows for me too. There was still a sprinkling of insect sightings with the likes of Red Admiral butterflies and Common Darter dragonfly in sunnier parts of the month, with it being another great month of spiders especially the Long-bodied Cellar spider seen well many times at home where it's been notable to see Grey Silverfish too.

The return of Redwings and Fieldfares easing us into winter has been notable in my month's birdwatching, with Brent Geese too. It was a special day at Farlington Marshes at the heart of the month also getting amazing views of Bearded Tits and Marsh Harrier. On my Lakeside walks I have gone nicely into the exciting birding days of winter with different birds being about, most notably the two redhead Goosanders which it has been an honour to see a few times so close to home. Cormorant, Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Siskins and returning Tufted Ducks have been other Lakeside highlights this month. Long-tailed Tit and Kestrel were other standout species this month. For mammals across the month at Lakeside and in the New Forest I was treated to gripping views of charming Roe and Fallow Deers seeing a young Roe at Lakeside and rutting action in the forest with the Fallows. I saw a fair few Grey Squirrels and enjoyed New Forest pannage pigs again too.

[dansnaturepictures]

2023: One key photo from each month

Sunset seen from Farlington Marshes in January, Whooper Swan at RSPB Lakenheath Fen in February, sky at home in March, Long-tailed Duck at Burghead Harbour in April, Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls on Brownsea Island in May, view at Llyn Ogwen in June, Brown Hairstreak at Shipton Bellinger in July, view at Milkham in the New Forest in August, Red Deer at Bushy Park in September, amethyst deceiver at Denny Wood in the New Forest in October, yellow autumn leaves at Lakeside Country Park in November and Long-tailed Tit there in December.

[dansnaturepictures]

11/02/2024-Cadman's Pool and Milkham in the New Forest

Photos taken in this set are of; one of my first Mandarin Ducks of the year Cadman's Pool a sweet pair of flamboyant ducks, gorse in the stunning sunlight at Milkham, beautiful views in the vast open and enticing landscape at both of these nearby to each spots including interesting cloud formations, woodland and the pond, Canada Goose on the pond and a sea of frogspawn on the walk from Milkham another nice promise of spring this weekend.

I was also amazed to see a resplendent Dartford Warbler on the heath of Milkham, getting exceptional views of this bird I adore also my first of the year taking my year list to a thrilling 125. Other highlights today were a grand pair of Crossbills seen at Milkham, Red Kite, Fieldfare and Redwing seen well, loads of Chaffinches at Cadman's Pool, Long-tailed Tit at Milkham, Mallard at Cadman's Pool, Robin seen well at both and some fascinating newts probably Common aka Smooth newts that thanks to a couple of people who showed us we got some lovely views of in a verge area filled of water another great little thing of nature to see today. It was brilliant to see Buzzard in the sunlight and two Great White Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Heron in quick succession by Romsey on the journey home. Black-headed Gull was good to see at home today too. An inspiring wild weekend centring on vintage and special New Forest wildlife.

[dansnaturepictures]

12/11/23-Longslade Bottom in the New Forest

Photos taken here in this set: 1-5, 8 and 9. Views on a nice walk round including birches full of colour, pines and heath, bog and grass habitat. 6 and 10. Highland Cattle including some black ones which we'd never seen before, they were interesting to see, and funnily enough I'd only been to this spot once before in 2015 and I saw one that day too. 7. A nice few mushrooms.

It was a joy to see an array of birds especially around the berry laden hawthorns where we unsuccessfully looked for a Ring Ouzel that had been there, the birds seen including; Blackbirds, loads of Song Thrushes which were a delight to see, Robins, stunning male and female Bullfinches and gorgeous minute Goldcrests flitting around which are always lovely to see. Also as with last Sunday at Milkham it was beautiful to observe loads of Redwings overhead, with Kestrel hovering, Carrion Crows, Magpie and Black-headed Gulls other highlights with Green Woodpecker heard. Grey Squirrel, mossy rose gall, rose hips, daisy, ragwort, gorse, hawksbeard type flowers and lichen were good to see on the walk too.

[dansnaturepictures]

08/11/2023-Spider this evening, photos from earlier in the year of Red Squirrel on Brownsea Island in September, mushrooms and autumn leaves at Lakeside Country Park on Monday, Brown Hairstreak at Shipton Bellinger in July, beautiful views on Mull in April, Newborough on Anglesey in June and Milkham in the New Forest at the weekend and Turnstones at Hill Head and Snipe at Titchfield Haven in September and a phone photo in Winchester with some nice autumnal colour today.

It was nice to see common mallow near Lakeside on the way to the station this morning, beautiful ivy-leaved toadflax by Abbey Gardens at lunch time, cornflower on a wet Winchester lunch time walk and Feral Pigeons at Winchester Cathedral with a Robin heard at Abbey Gardens.

[dansnaturepictures]

05/11/2023-Walk from Milkham in the New Forest and bits at home

Pictures taken in this set are of: 1. Gorgeous amethyst deceivers, the woods of the New Forest seems to be teeming with them this autumn with the amount we've seen at different places and it was joyful to observe these mysterious and fancy coloured mushrooms at a couple of points on the walk. 2. Six Collared Doves out the back this morning, I remember when we'd see one or two in the garden but it's great seeing them in such numbers these days. 3. A beautiful Fieldfare on the walk, a key species today and it's my first of the autumn/winter which is always a special moment. 4. One of many Chaffinches it was a joy to see on the walk, lovely birds which I've had a good couple of weekends for. 5. Interestingly shaped gorse bushes with bits of flower in a shower at the start of the walk. 6 and 10. Beautiful views on the walk, one I always enjoy doing a circular route taking in the Broomy Walk and Spring Bushes areas too a perfect blend of heath and woodland with so much to see. 7. Tree out the back with a few more yellow leaves at home this morning. 8. A mushroom on the walk. 9. Some nice rose hips on the walk.

It was a sight to behold as dozens of charismatic Redwings alongside the Fieldfare/s dashed overhead as dusk approached, such a beautiful immersive experience evocative of this time of year. A Mistle Thrush seen too made it a good thrush day. I also enjoyed hearing Robin sing delightfully and a great view of a nice Coal Tit too. Probable wood blewit mushroom the first I've seen, brittlegill mushrooms, possible cauliflower fungi which is always fascinating to see, hawksbeard, some pineappleweed hanging on within the path, hawthorn berries, a Grey Squirrel and some probable midges grouping in the air in a shaft of sunlight in the woods such a beautiful scene were other great things to see on the walk. Seeing a Fallow Deer running on grass beside the road and a Kestrel at dusk were great to see on the way home today with varied coloured snapdragons out the back, Starlings and House Sparrow other at home highlights.

[dansnaturepictures]

Ten of my favourite flora and fauna photos I took in February 2024 and moth summary

The photos are of; Black-tailed Godwit at Titchfield Haven, Peregrine Falcon at Winchester Cathedral, daffodil in Winchester, crocus and Red Admiral at Lakeside Country Park, gorse at Milkham in the New Forest, Shelduck and Bewick's Swan at WWT Slimbridge, Mute Swan at Tar Lakes and teasel seed heads in a flooded area at Dix Pit.

February was another fantastic month with many breathtaking birdwatching moments, from the wetland splendour of watching the Bewick's Swans, Common Cranes, Ruffs, Spotted Redshank, Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Pintails, Shelducks, Pochards, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and more on an amazing focal point of the month on our trip to Slimbridge to mesmerising views of a Hen Harrier. Mistle Thrush, Sanderling, rare Red-breasted Goose, brilliant Bittern and Dartford Warbler views, Lesser Redpoll, incredible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk, Woodlark, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and vibrant Mandarin Duck and Red-crested Pochard were other key species seen as my bird year continued to build wonderfully with me feeling amazing that my year list is really competing with where past ones of mine were on this date. A few more visits from the Black Redstart in the garden, seeing the Winchester Cathedral Peregrine nesting season develop and the nesting season on patch at Lakeside Country Park come on with Great Crested Grebes building a nest and Greylag and Canada Geese taking over the country park with Lesser Black-backed Gull mostly a spring bird there too more present there and near home were other exciting themes this month. Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Avocet, Curlew, Snipe, Goldeneye, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Siskin, Firecrest continuing my strong start to the year for them, Redwing towards the end of their season and the sound and sight often for some too of Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Cetti's Warbler were other highlights in February. I had a good mammal month with Muntjac Deer, a few magical encounters with Roe Deers and Brown Hare seen nicely.

A big theme of the month was the race towards spring with the usual expected sightings for February of epic swathes of snowdrops and daffodils being joined by a plethora of perky spring flowers including crocuses, lesser celandine, snowflakes, speedwell, marsh marigold, red deadnettle, white deadnettle, hyacinth, violets, mercury, some winter heliotrope still going, glorious bits of blossom and stunning scenes of gorse especially in the New Forest. With many sunny moments and high temperatures at times inevitably I had one of my best ever Februaries for seeing butterflies with a few more Red Admiral sightings including ones settled to allow I believe my earliest ever butterfly photos in a year including with my macro lens and a Peacock seen at least once too. I can't help but be upbeat about my early butterfly encounters in a year and as my flower interest is really blossoming now I feel the same about early spring flowers but what we've seen this winter is of course alarming in our changing world. Spiders and Grey Silverfish kept me entertained at home again this month and bees were a pleasure to see a few times too as were some newts and frogspawn.