![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
2026 Photo #10
May. 16th, 2026 01:30 pmThis is one of the local playing fields where I'm doing the Birds in Green Spaces count, and where, on a sunny day, there are normally butterflies.
Wildlife - May
May. 14th, 2026 10:45 amMy activity over the past month:
British Trust for Ornithology: I've reported Garden Bird Counts every week, except when on holiday. Numbers are now up, as the sparrows are finding insects on our plants, and the pigeons and magpies appreciate the water we provide. I've done 7 surveys for Birds in Green Spaces in two sites.
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme: So far I've only managed one survey early last month. Whenever I've had the time the weather has not been too cold.
Butterfly Conservation: Butterflies for the New Millenium. 7 counts. Because this is not site specific - I add location when submitting the report - there's more opportunity simply to count the butterflies.
Maintenance: Regularly topping up the water bowls on not so rainy days. Emptied the bird feeder at the end of April to tie in with new guidelines - not that anything apart from the occasional pigeon was using it.
Sightings of note: Walking along the canal I spotted the swan on her nest with about 4 cygnets (exact number difficult to ascertain as she was on the opposite bank). In addition I saw 2 moorhens and a cormorant.
Other activities: I've signed up for 30 Days Wild 2026 with the Wildlife Trust and downloaded the planner. I've also signed up to vote for Britain's Favourite Butterfly.
British Trust for Ornithology: I've reported Garden Bird Counts every week, except when on holiday. Numbers are now up, as the sparrows are finding insects on our plants, and the pigeons and magpies appreciate the water we provide. I've done 7 surveys for Birds in Green Spaces in two sites.
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme: So far I've only managed one survey early last month. Whenever I've had the time the weather has not been too cold.
Butterfly Conservation: Butterflies for the New Millenium. 7 counts. Because this is not site specific - I add location when submitting the report - there's more opportunity simply to count the butterflies.
Maintenance: Regularly topping up the water bowls on not so rainy days. Emptied the bird feeder at the end of April to tie in with new guidelines - not that anything apart from the occasional pigeon was using it.
Sightings of note: Walking along the canal I spotted the swan on her nest with about 4 cygnets (exact number difficult to ascertain as she was on the opposite bank). In addition I saw 2 moorhens and a cormorant.
Other activities: I've signed up for 30 Days Wild 2026 with the Wildlife Trust and downloaded the planner. I've also signed up to vote for Britain's Favourite Butterfly.
Wildlife - April
Apr. 9th, 2026 03:11 pmA quick first post on my encounters with wildlife, to introduce the challenges I'm involved in.
British Trust for Ornithology
Garden Bird Watch: I began this last summer, as part of my 25 Things in 2025. I continue to record my sightings (such as they are) every week.
Birds in Green Spaces: The project is running from April to June this year and asks for a count of the birds seen in specified green spaces. There are two designated green spaces near where I live, so I'm aiming to visit them once a week.
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Flower Insect Timed Count: Runs from April to September, and asks for 10 minutes to count insects on certain flowers. It requires a warm, preferrable sunny, day.
Butterfly Conservation
Big Butterfly Count: Happens from the middle of July to the middle of August
Garden Butterfly Survey: I'm waiting for warmer weather and the flowering of some of our bushes
Butterflies for the New Millennium: An ongoing count, which I'm currently doing when I do the birds in green spaces count
While there may be other opportunities which are less structured, these are the ones I'm using when I go for a walk locally.
British Trust for Ornithology
Garden Bird Watch: I began this last summer, as part of my 25 Things in 2025. I continue to record my sightings (such as they are) every week.
Birds in Green Spaces: The project is running from April to June this year and asks for a count of the birds seen in specified green spaces. There are two designated green spaces near where I live, so I'm aiming to visit them once a week.
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Flower Insect Timed Count: Runs from April to September, and asks for 10 minutes to count insects on certain flowers. It requires a warm, preferrable sunny, day.
Butterfly Conservation
Big Butterfly Count: Happens from the middle of July to the middle of August
Garden Butterfly Survey: I'm waiting for warmer weather and the flowering of some of our bushes
Butterflies for the New Millennium: An ongoing count, which I'm currently doing when I do the birds in green spaces count
While there may be other opportunities which are less structured, these are the ones I'm using when I go for a walk locally.
Goals 2026/27
Apr. 2nd, 2026 11:19 amNormally I would set my new goals towards the end of April, but this year I'm planning on beginning them this month, and running them with a month's overlap - my goals, my rules.
Goal No 1: Do a Themed Monthly Post
This is the same as this past year, when my theme was 'The View from the Window'. That will be completed at the end of the month - we're on a coach tour through parts of Germany for a week towards the end of the month, so I shall be including a selection of hotel bedroom views. I find having a theme to concentrate on for a year helpful, so this year my theme will be Water. My intention is that there will be at least one photo from the canal, plus anything else suitable.
Goal No 2: Concentrate on Some Knitting Projects
Like most crafters I have a selection of books and magazines. Many of which have projects which appeal, but remain in the book/magazine. While I shall continue knitting my jumper, it's not something I can pick up for the odd 10-15 minutes, due to the pattern, so finding smaller projects would be a good move. Last year with 25 in 2025, one of my 25 was to reduce the number of cross stitch kits I had. That worked well, and I'm continuing to do so. Also, I've finally found a knitting magazine I like, so I'm aiming to achieve 4 projects from the issues I have (I bought a number of back issues), plus at least one thing from the Christmas volumes.
Goal No 3: Engage More with Nature
I've bought a new notebook (of course) and intend to keep a weekly record of what I'm doing. Last year I had grander plans of visiting places, but this came to nothing, as it would have been too time consuming. I've realised that what works for me is to go out in the local area, so a 5-10 minute walk, and spend an hour outside (give or take, in view of the weather) two or three times a week. I should probably do a monthly post, so that I keep myself accountable. No-one needs to feel they have to comment, it's for my benefit!
Goal No 1: Do a Themed Monthly Post
This is the same as this past year, when my theme was 'The View from the Window'. That will be completed at the end of the month - we're on a coach tour through parts of Germany for a week towards the end of the month, so I shall be including a selection of hotel bedroom views. I find having a theme to concentrate on for a year helpful, so this year my theme will be Water. My intention is that there will be at least one photo from the canal, plus anything else suitable.
Goal No 2: Concentrate on Some Knitting Projects
Like most crafters I have a selection of books and magazines. Many of which have projects which appeal, but remain in the book/magazine. While I shall continue knitting my jumper, it's not something I can pick up for the odd 10-15 minutes, due to the pattern, so finding smaller projects would be a good move. Last year with 25 in 2025, one of my 25 was to reduce the number of cross stitch kits I had. That worked well, and I'm continuing to do so. Also, I've finally found a knitting magazine I like, so I'm aiming to achieve 4 projects from the issues I have (I bought a number of back issues), plus at least one thing from the Christmas volumes.
Goal No 3: Engage More with Nature
I've bought a new notebook (of course) and intend to keep a weekly record of what I'm doing. Last year I had grander plans of visiting places, but this came to nothing, as it would have been too time consuming. I've realised that what works for me is to go out in the local area, so a 5-10 minute walk, and spend an hour outside (give or take, in view of the weather) two or three times a week. I should probably do a monthly post, so that I keep myself accountable. No-one needs to feel they have to comment, it's for my benefit!
