LoL Walking in the Cotswolds

has sprung in Pontshill.

What a gorgeous day!! So a 2 hour walk around my local patch at Pontshill, Herefordshire just over the Gloucestershire border. So many benefits - it is the best exercise for my arthritis; there are so many wonderful things to see if you look; removes you however briefly from the depressing state of affairs in this world at the moment; one long deep breath. As William Henry Davies said "a poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stop and stare" my favourite quote, hence quoted on my website,+ always reminds of my dad who used to stop + stare at every opportunity.

A lovely walk around Highnam Woods today. Things to see: lots of Spotted Flycatchers flitting in and out of the trees collecting titbits; a Golden-ringed Dragonfly; Southern + Migrant Hawkers; Commas + many more butterflies.

A further exploration of our local area, and this time Queens Wood, part of Dymock Wood. What a gorgeous spot. Free parking and straight into thick woodland. Great paths - many of them though so lots of choices - I am trying to identify a new butterfly transect and this might be an option. Especially as I came across the beautiful and elusive White Admiral on my walk. The path eventually opened out onto a large lake with dragonflies and damselflies aplenty, including this black tailed skimmer and red eyed damselfly. It were a grand day out

A scorchio walk up Bredon Hill this week, but another butterfly count under the belt. It's starting to pick up now with dragonflies on the wing. Spotted several Emperors + Scarce Chasers + a pair of Black Tailed Skimmers. Dingy Skippers still busily skipping in the grass, a few Common Blues, Small Heaths, Speckled Woods, Large Skippers + Meadow Browns making an appearance. They will be present in abundance soon. And then the birds. Quite a few fledglings about including this Whitethroat being shown the ropes by its mum/dad. The Yellowhammer was opening its beak to help it cool down. I know how it felt. Apparently the little fella on the bowed branch is a juvenile Stonechat.

Good to see Highnam Woods is opening its car park at weekends and on bank holidays until September. The birdsong at the moment in the woods is simply lovely - song thrushes, blackcaps, nuthatches calling....... And the carpets of Cuckoo flowers with resident butterflies atop are a sight to see. 😊

Said it before and I'll say it again...... love the wildlife at this spot. Despite all the upheaval caused by the roadworks directly alongside the pond, the wildlife at Plock Court carries on undeterred. This Reed Bunting was giving it full welly this morning. I think it was hoping it's mates were going to show up. Beautiful bird.

A great if you live in . Starting at Alney Island Nature Reserve you can enjoy a short stroll around the reserve itself or, as we did walk for 3 hours alongside the River Severn in a big loop. There are lots of pathways criss-crossing around the reserve and so many birds to see. Flocks of Redwings and Fieldfare, Linnets, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers and geese of some description and many more. A glimpse of the cathedral reminds you you are in the middle of Gloucester.

A lovely walk up Wistley Hill today. A hop and a skip from Crickley Hill but without the crowds and no need to pay for parking. Beautiful views from the top and the trees changing colour adds to the scene. Saw a kestrel hunting, Linnets, Skylarks and would probably have seen more if Monty had not been with me.

A walk up Bredon Hill today. It's beginning to come to the end of butterfly season so not much to report on that front. However, halfway up a handful of Marsh T**s were darting out of the hedgerow to collect seeds from the thistle heads, so I sat down and watched them for a while. Then at the top, leaning against the stone wall admiring the view, a pair of Spotted Flycatchers rose up out of a nearby shrub, darting and weaving whilst catching insects out of the air right under my nose. Gorgeous creatures.

Kemerton / Bredon Hill blog updated on my website today www.lolwalkinginthecotswolds.co.uk. Take a look 😀

Revisited Brockhampton / Sevenhampton walk yesterday. Made a small change to the walk details as new gates and a pathway have been added. Only a minor tweak. A really lovely and easy walk in a quintessentially Cotswold village/countryside setting. Saw a hare, Silverwashed Fritillary, juvenile Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtails, Yellowhammer and much more.