Out in the garden, examing the moth trap (that didn’t take long – we’re catching little or nothing this year) when we heard the screaming of birds in the sky. First thought was gulls rising for an ant swarm, but it soon became clear the sound was more like a…
…in frosty February. The opening of ‘Chasing Butterflies’ – a retrospective of John Vetterlein’s 13-year obsession with photographing butterflies – was absolutely heaving at the Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton last evening. A selection of his best work is on display in the gallery space until the 27 February and…
The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a pretty gregarious animal. And even more sio when it comes to the huge flocks that appear from Novemeber to March or thereabouts. As we often do at Christmas, Jan and I took a trip to Ham Wall RSPB reserve in Somerset to see…
One of our members, Josh Phangurha, recently gave an illustrated talk to the Society on the Reptiles of Buton, Sulawesi. But behind the research is an unfolding tragedy for local people following a recent catastrophic tsunami in the region. Josh is now trying to raise funds for the local Red Cross…
At a recent meeting Cath brought out an egg (or was it?) for our inspection. It was sort of egg-shaped, although a little more symmetrical than most bird eggs. It seemed to have pores and felt light(ish) and was hard. Discussion ranged around turtle eggs, bird eggs, Cadbury Cream Eggs,…
Jan and I been trapping moths on and off for a year or three now. And for those of you who don’t know, we have a small garden right in the centre of Southampton. Surrounded by pubs, clubs, street lights and neon. We think we’re doing well if we get…
Many of you will be members of, or at least know of, Plantlife. They say “Wild flowers , plants and fungi are the life support for all our wildlife and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help , this priceless natural heritage is in danger…
…but not when you’re a fox apparently. More from Cath’s garden video diaries.
Some more video diaries (hedgehogs this time) from Cath Corney’s garden in Woolston. She asks what these hedgehogs might be doing…. And it looks like the mating dance between male and female. A female hedgehog will keep a male at nose length in this spiny pirouette until she has made…
10 people arrived on a mild, dry evening for a short walk around St Mary Extra (aka Butts Road Cemetery) lead by Cath Corney. Cath gave a brief history of the Cemetery established in 1879 under Itchen Urban District Council, which was later taken over by Southampton City in 1922.…
