Diario de happybird44

I just wanted to record the amazing day I had yesterday.

I observed 3 species new to me for the first time;

• Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
• Hook-barred Spearhorn (Chrysotoxum festivum)
• Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)

The Skipper was a challenge as I could at first only see it from above (but with wings closed), later I got a picture of the underside and was able to narrow it down to 2 species, and finally I was able to get an image of the upper wings and identify it fully. It stayed in the same spot for a long time and I was careful not to disturb it.

The hover fly I thought was just one of the usual ones and almost paid it no notice. However I decided to take a picture anyway and was very surprised to find it was a new one for me.

The Moth made it's way inside our house and we carefully put it back outside. While looking at it I was puzzled by the bare spot on top of it's Thorax. I did some searching and found this earlier discussion thread https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/a-simple-question-about-moths/26013 which, while not completely solving the question, showed that it was a known condition and I learned something new!

However the crowning event of the day for me was finding an adult Slowworm (Anguis fragilis).
They are such beautiful creatures, and this one even had it's tail intact.
I first came across a dead one when I was young (around 40 years ago) and now in the last 2 months I have found three, a dead one, a very young one, and now a healthy adult.

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223995523 (dead)
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/227325126 (youngster)
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/229945455 (adult)

I hope to see more of them in the future. They are definitely one of my favourite species!

Today is the last day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

What a great month, 693 observations and 252 different species seen. Making an effort to get out every day has been a challenge (and I didn't always succeed) but one that I always enjoyed. It also bought my life total of different species seen to almost 500.

This was my first time taking part and I look forward to repeating this next year, and to try and get to some new places.

Here are all my observations from the month: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2024-06-01&d2=2024-06-30&place_id=any&user_id=happybird44&verifiable=any

Today is the 28th day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

Today's walk was part way around Milwall dock again.

New species I saw today;

• Jersey Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum)
• Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata)

(a full list of everything I saw can be found here; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-06-28&place_id=any&user_id=happybird44&verifiable=any)

Today is the 27th day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

Stuck in a meeting room all day today. I could just see the outside though a skylight. Not a single observation, but a redoubled determination to get outside tomorrow.

Today is the 26th day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

The month seems to have gone by so fast, I can hardly believe there are only 5 days left. This has been my first time taking part in #30DaysWild! and it has been a great encouragement to get out every day and do something for nature. It didn't all go to plan for me, but I have seen many new things and hope to continue this momentum.

I have also been making an effort to read the iNat forums at least daily. There have been a lot of very good posts recently. and some of those have got me thinking about new projects also.

New species I saw today;

• Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) - I may have seen this before, but this is first time ID'd.
• Amber Snail (Family Succineidae)
• Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis)

(a full list of everything I saw can be found here; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-06-26&place_id=any&user_id=happybird44&verifiable=any)

Today is the 25th day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

We had workmen at home today so I was unable to get out and make any observations.

Today is the 24th day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

Got a new camera today, the OM System Tough TG-7. Have got it set-up and ready but only got a couple of observations with it. I definitely need to read more and experiment more to work out how to get the most from it.

Today is the 23rd day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

A lot of walking along the shore in Folkestone again today. Weather was clear and rather hot. No observations made today, but I did find a a very cheap, almost new RSPB Handbook of British Birds, 2nd Edition in a local charity shop.

Today is the 22nd day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

Another walk along the beach in Folkestone and up to East Cliff and Warren Country Park and to the beach there.

New species I saw today;

• Koromiko (Veronica salicifolia) AKA narrow-leaved hebe
• Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) AKA Common Kestrel
• Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia)
• Eurasian Linnet (Linaria cannabina) AKA Linnet (English)
• Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
• Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

(a full list of everything I saw can be found here; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-06-22&place_id=any&user_id=happybird44&verifiable=any)

Today is the 21st day of #30DaysWild! Annual challenge from the UK Wildlife Trusts.

A short walk around Bushy Ruff lake today.

New species I saw today;

• Metallic Harpalus (Harpalus affinis)
• Rose variety
• Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
• Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)
• Lesser Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus)

(a full list of everything I saw can be found here; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-06-21&place_id=any&user_id=happybird44&verifiable=any)