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Science/nature/environment

On my walk today I,

(56 Posts)
MiniMoon Thu 16-Apr-26 15:38:23

Skirted my way around muddy puddles.
Met a man out walking his dog, he was holding on to his hat as he didn't want the wind to blow it into the burn.
I saw forget-me-nots, dandelions and daisies, gorse in full bloom and king cups in a marshy field.
I watched sand martins flying beside the river and bees collecting pollen from the wayside flowers.
I heard a blackbird singing and a chiff-chaff calling.
They all brought me such joy. It was lovely to be out in nature.

Greyduster Thu 16-Apr-26 16:19:27

On our usuaI Thursday walk I saw swathes of bluebells (sorry it refuses to download my photos) in our lovely ancient woodland, along with celandines and wood anemone; saw a pair of mandarin ducks and one lone male on the pond, heard a woodpecker and saw robins, a wren and a nuthatch.

keepcalmandcavachon Thu 16-Apr-26 16:23:05

Lovely pics MiniMoon, nature to me also is a great joy and often a gentle solace. sunshine

crazyH Thu 16-Apr-26 16:24:58

Lovely pics 👌

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 16-Apr-26 16:28:12

Indeed MiniMoon: my three year old GC and I have been birdwatching and listening for their songs, spotting blossom and uncurling new leaves, daisy hunting and bug- following.
All of this was whilst we strolled through the park, back from the playground.
It is an inspiring time of the year, filled with hope, isn't it?

tanith Thu 16-Apr-26 16:57:58

I saw lambs running and playing and bleating when they'd lost mum, there was a very bright yellow field in the distance which I think is rapeseed, the 2 wind turbines were turning like billyo in the distance. Lots of dandelions beside the path and a new path in the process of being installed, I walked 2 miles. Lots of birds singing but I can't identify them.

AskAlice Thu 16-Apr-26 18:22:49

I didn't go for a walk today, but in my garden I heard the first call of the cuckoo, watched Bobtail the tail-less squirrel leaping about through the trees and spent a little time in the company of a very friendly robin who perched on the back of the chair opposite mine and gave me some very cheeky looks!

AskAlice Thu 16-Apr-26 18:23:23

Oh, and Joey the tortoise bit my toe for the first time this year!

valdali Thu 16-Apr-26 18:38:01

I saw, along the verges of a lane that used to be cleared / sprayed: Jack by the hedge, bluebell, wild garlic, celandine, buttercup and bugle (all native wildflowers).
A protected tree that everyone seems to love, absolutely swamped by mistletoe (really I should speak to someone about it)
A dog who always raves & lunges at mine, twice! But the owner, me & my dog don't take any notice now, he is kept well restrained & I think his heart isn't in it anymore really.

valdali Thu 16-Apr-26 18:38:57

Also Ladies smock in the park, another wildflower that I particularly like.

Cossy Thu 16-Apr-26 18:44:26

Aw, lovely posts. I love nature, but mobility quite bad atm so not walking too much at all

Gran22boys Thu 16-Apr-26 20:31:17

tanith

I saw lambs running and playing and bleating when they'd lost mum, there was a very bright yellow field in the distance which I think is rapeseed, the 2 wind turbines were turning like billyo in the distance. Lots of dandelions beside the path and a new path in the process of being installed, I walked 2 miles. Lots of birds singing but I can't identify them.

Tanith and everyone - Please download the Merlin app which identifies birds singing. It’s brilliant. I put it on every time I go out walking. Very simple to use. AI at its best.

tanith Thu 16-Apr-26 20:34:37

Thanks Gran22boys I will do that.

dragonfly46 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:36:20

I walked to our local wood and saw beautiful bluebells.

dragonfly46 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:47:42

Try again!

keepcalmandcavachon Fri 17-Apr-26 09:30:37

Beautiful dragonfly46, I have a little painting that gives me the same feel. My nearest bluebell wood is at the end of a fairly steep climb! I think I'll drive a bit further this year and save my knees.
Happy bluebelling chumssunshine

Moth62 Fri 17-Apr-26 09:56:06

Another fan here of the Merlin app. So easy to use and it adds such a lot to a walk when you know what you are listening to.

Shelflife Fri 17-Apr-26 10:20:20

I had a lovely walk yesterday. Saw a beautiful male blackbird perched quite close to me. He was singing his heart out, I stood and listened 🎶 to him , there was such a variety of notes I did wonder if he was communicating with a mate. However I watched closely and noticed that when he closed his beak there was silence. So the ' music ' was all from him ! It lifted my spirits- lovely!

Juicylucy Fri 17-Apr-26 14:14:05

I adore our countryside and grew up on a farm so the outdoors is in my blood. I live in a village now surrounded by stunning countryside however the grey belt versus green belt debate is about to plough right through our beautiful countryside. Awful what’s being allowed to be done.

Dodo43 Fri 17-Apr-26 14:14:55

Such a joyful thread.
Nature in Spring is the most wonderful thing. Thank you for sharing MiniMoon and Dragonfly specially. 😘

valdali Fri 17-Apr-26 14:19:25

Went round the lake and first the swans did a fly-past & touchdown, then the ducks. There's a swan sitting on her nest & her mate hovering anxiously at the moment, I hope they have hatch OK, we had avian flu last year and the numbers plummetted, I think it's last years' cygnets that survived / stayed & are nesting now.Fingers crossed for them.

Greyduster Fri 17-Apr-26 15:10:51

I’ve noticed an extraordinary number of dog violets this year. Both my lawns are full of them and every hedgerow too. So pretty that I will refrain from mowing for a while (any excuse😂).

Wetnosewheatie Fri 17-Apr-26 15:11:46

I saw beautiful flowers. A stately home and an arboretum. Lambs and sheep and all sorts of birds. An an ancient burial chamber

Greyduster Fri 17-Apr-26 15:33:58

There are two wood pigeons on my lawn doing some serious courting! She is playing hard to get. I keep wanting to open the window and shout “a get a room!!”

Mcm5 Fri 17-Apr-26 15:39:15

AskAlice

Oh, and Joey the tortoise bit my toe for the first time this year!

What wonderful memories you brought me, Alice! My grandma was called Alice - and her tortoise was called Joey!! Thank you so much!
And, reading all your lovely posts about birds singing you may like to know about an app called 'Merlin'.... It's free and you can find out what birds are in your garden or on your walk or in the park! My son told.me about it.at the weekend. It's wonderful and I think you'll all love it!