30 Days Wild: Day 15

Mallow

I'm not sure which type this is (I thought it was Musk Mallow). I have it in my garden but according to information it doesn't flower till July!

30 Days Wild: Day 14

See the wind?

It's great to see the wind blowing grasses. It's a wonderful sight. Of course, the wind can be devastating at high speeds.

Winds can be called a breeze, gale, storm or hurricane depending on their strength. 

30 Days Wild: Day 13

Hawthorn

I have these hedges in my garden. I was attempting to provide a wildlife sanctuary for our native creatures.

Until the 19th century the hawthorn was believed to possess supernatural powers.

30 Days Wild: Day 12

Enjoy the rain

I love to watch raindrops falling from the leaves during rainfall.

I was fortunate to capture this short video in my garden today.

Raindrops are spherical in shape when they first form in the atmosphere, as the surface tension holds the water molecules together, not the raindrop shape they are often drawn as.

30 Days Wild: Day 11

Magpie

These cheeky birds have become more bold over time. I often see and hear them but it's not often that they come into the garden. Sometimes they display quite bullying behaviour, diving into the garden just to clear the feeders of other birds and then flying off.

An old rural tradition of raising one's hat to a Magpie has died out as not many people wear hats.

There is also a traditional children's nursery rhyme associated with the Magpie which I remember due to a TV show of the same name:

One for sorrow,

Two for joy,

Three for a girl,

Four for a boy,

Five for silver

Six for gold

Seven for a secret,

Never to be told,

Eight for a wish,

Nine for a kiss

Ten for a bird,

You must not miss.

30 Days Wild: Day 10

Cellar Spider (Pholcidae phalangioides)

I don't have a cellar but I see these in my little shower room. I have seen ones with less than 8 legs and others with egg sacs. Last year I saw one sac hatch and for a while there were lots of tiny spiders present. They soon dispersed and I'm not sure where they all disappeared to!

They gyrate when threatened which makes them look larger. Not sure these photos show it but it is possible to see their internal organs. My camera is probably not powerful enough. 

30 Days Wild: Day 9

Daisy

The Daisy is my favourite flower and I normally love this time of year as we see them while travelling to the cinema along the verges. I'm missing that display but I was delighted to find them while walking on Highdown Hill in Worthing. 

The name daisy comes from 'day's eye' due to them opening in the morning and closing at night.

30 Days Wild: Day 8

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I often see these beautiful birds at my feeders. I have a male and a female. The male (pictured) always visits the feeder at the back of the garden (usually at the peanuts), the female visits the front feeder (preferring the suet).

It has been recorded that they drum on a variety of objects including metal poles and weather vanes, not just trees.

30 Days Wild: Day 7

Dandelion clocks

These are so beautiful and mathematical in shape. Nature is so artful.

When I was young we used to have fun blowing the seeds off, we used to count how many blows it took to clear the head, and that (apparently) was the correct hour. Obviously this was very rarely true!

30 Days Wild: Day 6

Bindweed

I saw this on my walk this morning. I think it's lesser bindweed, sometimes called morning glory. It does seem to be particularly pretty first thing, as this bunch was!

30 Days Wild: Day 5

Bumblebee

I love these little guys. I saw these on my walk passed some brambles this morning. Not easy to photograph! 

A myth:

Bees stay away and won't nest if dandelions and other flowers are removed from lawns. 

To pollinate flowers they can travel miles, so if a scout spots your flowers, they will come.

30 Days Wild: Day 4

Honeysuckle 

I found this in the hedgerow.  Wild species of Honeysuckle is more fragrant than most garden varieties. The scent always reminds me of my father as we had fragrant flowers just as we walked into the garden when I was young.

I found this poem:

And honeysuckle loved to crawl

Up the low crag and ruin'd wall.

- Walter Scott

30 Days Wild: Day 3

Wood Pigeon

Today I happened to see this pigeon bathing in my garden. Quite fascinating to watch!

It is widely believed by sportsman that the flocks of young birds seen in the autumn are migrants from the continent.

30 Days Wild: Day 2

Great Tits

I had a family of Great tits visit my garden today, a family of 6 and they were enjoying the water that I have in several areas.

One interesting fact I found was about it's song and old country names. In Norfolk it is called a sharp-saw because of it's song.

30 Days Wild: Day 1

The Buttercup

Beautiful yellow iridescent flowers.

When I was young I remember being told that the buttercup could tell you if you liked butter. You placed the flower under the chin and if you could see a reflection of the flower you liked butter! I can't remember ever finding anyone that didn't like butter.

Saw these on Highdown Hill this morning.

30 Days Wild: Introduction

I live in Worthing and during this lockdown period I have taken my exercise on Highdown Hill. Over time I have noticed subtle changes on a weekly basis. Some species have thrived more with the lack of disturbance. 

I garden for wildlife and I have planted bushes and plants that are native. I belong to BTO Garden Birdwatch and report the birds I see weekly. 

Over the 30 days of June I plan to post an unusual fact, myth or legend about a species I see, either while walking or one I have spotted in my garden. 

My home patch: