2020 has been tough on us humans but the natural world has carried on as normal. In fact in those early days of lockdown when most of us stayed home and the roads were eerily empty, wildlife blossomed. Many of us had time to notice the birds in our gardens , the visiting butterflies, the quiet rustle of hidden creatures going about their business. From all the negativity a greater connection to nature came about. We have so much to appreciate in our wilder surroundings.
Travel restrictions prevented me from venturing very far so my photos this year are from Lancashire and Cumbria. Still plenty to see though. Enjoy the pics. β€οΈ
Roe Deer spotted on the fringe of woodland earlier this year in Clitheroe.Scarlet Elf Cups , Kirkby Stephen in March.A sandmartin settles, the river Lune, Caton.Round Leaved Wintergreen, Salthill Nature Reserve, Lancs.Ringed Plovers and Dunlin, Port Carlisle, Cumbria.Corncockle in a wildflower meadow on the Lowther Estate, Cumbria.Red Admiral butterfly.Little Egret with its bright yellow legs, Ravenglass, Cumbria.Bonnie Bullfinch at a feeder in Caton, Lancashire.Juvenile Wheatear , Cow Green Reservoir, Cumbria.Fly Agaric on the riverside at Garrigill, Cumbria.A Whitethroat by the sea in Heysham, Lancs.Heather in bloom , Bowness on Solway, Cumbria.Native Longhorn cattle on the Lowther Estate, Cumbria.Marsh Cinquefoil , Eyecott Hill Nature Reserve in Cumbria.Golden Plover , Cow Green Reservoir, Cumbria.Pretty in pink waxcap , the village green in Melmerby.Female Fallow Deer on the Dalemain Estate in Cumbria.Bee Orchid in Clitheroe.Little Owl in Clitheroe, one of two that perched on the tree every morning in early Summer.
Our wildlife spotting has also been very local to home in Hampshire with just one night away to Dorset. Our local fields have allowed much closer observation on both deer and fox behaviour. Insects have been another highlight. I did lose count of how many large clumps of Fly Agaric fungi spotted best year ever for me. Best Wishes to you and your family – stay safe. Let us hope 2021 will allow some travels further away.
Thanks Andy. I have enjoyed seeing your local wildlife via your posts all year. Hopefully 2021 will let us venture a little further, though we are both lucky to have lots to see locally too. π
All great photos but my favourites are the fallow deer and the little owl π I think my own favourite wildlife moments this year were the jay I spotted while on a Jumbles walk in April (I’d never seen a jay before) and the two goldfinches in my own back garden in July, which I’d never seen before π
Just catching up after i’net issues & really enjoyed this post. Love how your wildlife can be so different to ours & enjoy seeing your areas through your eyes. Thank you. Take care, stay safe & hugs from down under. PS: Look forward to tomorrow’s “Festive Friday photos”.
Looks like youβve had a varied and interesting year, we may pass in the real world one day as we seem to wander through similar areas. Have a great Christmas.
They weren’t together, it was five separate sightings but still amazing to see in one day! π
Definitely! Still amazing. Haven’t seen a hare in quite a while. X
Love your shot of the long horn!! My highlight has to be the pheasants that were hanging around the yard. Donβt know where they came fromβdonβt know where they got to with all the snow weβve had. I hope they found shelter and food somewhere.
Some lovely photos, I’ve vicariously enjoyed your funghi finds. My wildlife highlights have been limited to our garden but loved having a hedgehog visit during the summer, peacock butterflies fluttering round the garden in autumn, and lots of birds (we now have two pairs of blue tits, a coal tit and a great tit visiting regularly, along with a million sparrows that live in the hedge). X
That’s wonderful. I too have about a million sparrows which is very cheery I think, considering their numbers have dwindled in some areas. I remember you mentioning your hedgehog. Lovely. X
I live and work in the Canadian Rockies, and the camera mounted on the outside of our work building has recently captured a pine marten scurrying about at night. They are nocturnal creatures, and are very cute but ill-tempered. A couple of weeks ago, I startled it when I arrived at work unexpectedly early. The both of us ran for our lives (haha).
Wow! I can imagine you see lots of amazing wildlife, you live in such a gorgeous place. Very jealous of your pine Martin. They can be seen in the UK too but only in the Highlands of Scotland. They are very rare and haven’t got a reputation for being ill tempered , just shy. I have never seen one, I wonder if they are the same as your Canadian ones, I shall look them up!
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Our wildlife spotting has also been very local to home in Hampshire with just one night away to Dorset. Our local fields have allowed much closer observation on both deer and fox behaviour. Insects have been another highlight. I did lose count of how many large clumps of Fly Agaric fungi spotted best year ever for me. Best Wishes to you and your family – stay safe. Let us hope 2021 will allow some travels further away.
Thanks Andy. I have enjoyed seeing your local wildlife via your posts all year. Hopefully 2021 will let us venture a little further, though we are both lucky to have lots to see locally too. π
Enjoyed those moments, thanks!
Thanks Judy. Have really enjoyed seeing your posts all year, what you are doing with your land is wonderful. X
Lovely photo montage of your wildlife year. Little owl pic is wonderful! π¦ x
Thanks Bea. The Little Owl sightings were a lovely diversion this year. Have enjoyed seeing your lovely local area via your blog in 2020. X
Some lovely photos here. Seemed a good wildlife year even if restricted in the places we could go. π Here’s to a better 2021 xx
Thanks Christine. Looking forward to reading your wildlife round up. X
Your photography is amazing! Love the owl picture that is really sweet!!!
Aw thanks. π X
All great photos but my favourites are the fallow deer and the little owl π I think my own favourite wildlife moments this year were the jay I spotted while on a Jumbles walk in April (I’d never seen a jay before) and the two goldfinches in my own back garden in July, which I’d never seen before π
Oh yes I remember your jay! I can never get a photo of one. They like to cackle at me and fly away. Maybe next year. π X
Still love that owl photo, such a great shot
I was very lucky, thank you. π
Such a great collection.
Thanks Anabel. π X
Just catching up after i’net issues & really enjoyed this post. Love how your wildlife can be so different to ours & enjoy seeing your areas through your eyes. Thank you. Take care, stay safe & hugs from down under. PS: Look forward to tomorrow’s “Festive Friday photos”.
Thanks Susan. Xx
Looks like youβve had a varied and interesting year, we may pass in the real world one day as we seem to wander through similar areas. Have a great Christmas.
Thank you, you too. π
Fantastic pictures, I love the one of the deer. My wildlife highlight was seeing five hares (in one day!) while walking in the Forest of Bowland.
That’s amazing! I love hares but not often managed to get a photo and never seen so many together.
They weren’t together, it was five separate sightings but still amazing to see in one day! π
Definitely! Still amazing. Haven’t seen a hare in quite a while. X
Love your shot of the long horn!! My highlight has to be the pheasants that were hanging around the yard. Donβt know where they came fromβdonβt know where they got to with all the snow weβve had. I hope they found shelter and food somewhere.
You have some amazing wildlife that visits you. I do remember your pheasant post though. π X
What a great wildlife album! Have enjoyed your many local wildlife walks this year. X
Thanks very much! There hasn’t been much else to write about. X
Some lovely photos, I’ve vicariously enjoyed your funghi finds. My wildlife highlights have been limited to our garden but loved having a hedgehog visit during the summer, peacock butterflies fluttering round the garden in autumn, and lots of birds (we now have two pairs of blue tits, a coal tit and a great tit visiting regularly, along with a million sparrows that live in the hedge). X
That’s wonderful. I too have about a million sparrows which is very cheery I think, considering their numbers have dwindled in some areas. I remember you mentioning your hedgehog. Lovely. X
I live and work in the Canadian Rockies, and the camera mounted on the outside of our work building has recently captured a pine marten scurrying about at night. They are nocturnal creatures, and are very cute but ill-tempered. A couple of weeks ago, I startled it when I arrived at work unexpectedly early. The both of us ran for our lives (haha).
Wow! I can imagine you see lots of amazing wildlife, you live in such a gorgeous place. Very jealous of your pine Martin. They can be seen in the UK too but only in the Highlands of Scotland. They are very rare and haven’t got a reputation for being ill tempered , just shy. I have never seen one, I wonder if they are the same as your Canadian ones, I shall look them up!