Environment Magazine

Grey and Overcast

Posted on the 01 July 2017 by Ashley Crombet-Beolens @Fromanurbanlake
Grey and Overcast - Views over Buckinghamshire to Whaddon Hall
After the heatwaves of last week the weather this week has taken a rather greyer turn for the worst, sadly the mugginess is still there, but recently it has been gray and overcast, and such it was today (OK two days ago now) when i headed out to reverse my Butterfly and Dragonfly walk of last week. Starting at Howe Park Wood and Finishing at Oakhill Wood, via Tattenhoe park - Check out that walk for the route map, it was basically the same but backwards!

Grey and Overcast


Covered in my rain coat, I headed from the bus stop into the deep dark woods, OK I wandered sweatily onto the surrounding rides of the light, lush and green Howe Park wood. A gathering parents and toddlers group was already surrounding the first pond, and with nothing but the odd hoverfly in evidence around the edges I headed off with a longer stride than usual in the direction of Tattenhoe Park.

Green Bottle Fly

Green Bottle Fly


Harlequin Ladybird - Looking very 10 spotted!

Harlequin Ladybird - Looking very 10 spotted!


A different view of the rather orange Harlequin Ladybird

A different view of the rather orange Harlequin Ladybird


Tattenhoe Park and Some Surprises


Arriving at the linear pond, and stream complex I enjoyed views of quite a few Ringlets and Meadow Brown butterflies, fluttering around in the long grasses, and while I watched a small waterfall, barely a 30 cm high, a large Grey heron was causing a kerfuffle on the pond behind me.

One of the small waterfalls as the water makes its way through Tattenhoe Park

One of the small waterfalls as the water makes its way through Tattenhoe Park


Tattenhoe park seems to me to be split in two, not just be the dividing road, but in the park maintenance, the first half, bordering Tattenhoe housing estate is manicured, and well tended, the other half seems more wild, and, in this bloggers opinion, much nicer to wander. It was in this second, wilder half that things came to life.

Here be Dragons


As I began wandering the tall grasses and wild flowers that surround the larger ponds, I began to stumble into damselflies, as a few Blue-tailed Damselfly flew off from my approach. As I watched them flying I spotted a damsel in distress, struggling a meter or so from the bank was a small damselfly, wings soaking it lay on the waters surface, only bursting into life when the water boatmen came in to attack, deciding to play god I grabbed a large stick and helped it out.
From a purely selfish point of view this gave me a great opportunity to photograph a stunning Red-Eyed Damselfly in close quarters as it dried out. It also, obviously, gave me amazing close views of this stunning small Odonata.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly


Full on side view of Red-Eyed Damselfly

Full on side view of Red-Eyed Damselfly


Face on Red-eyed Damselfly

Face on Red-eyed Damselfly


Leaving the Red-eyed damselfly to dry off, I continued my walk around the ponds, and soon stumbled across more damselflies, a stunning Emerald Damselfly, that flew in amongst the grasses and flowers, perching in some fetching poses, while nearby a an Azure Damselfly perched beautifully on yellow flowers.
It wasn't all damselflies though, a STUNNING, lone, 6 Spot Burnet was resting in the grass. More Meadow Browns and Ringlets were flying around and the odd Marbled White was still on the wing, all despite the growing ominous clouds.

Emerald Damselfly

Emerald Damselfly


Emerald Damselfly

Emerald Damselfly


Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly


Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly


6-spot Burnet

6-spot Burnet


One of the Ponds at Tattenhoe Park

One of the Ponds at Tattenhoe Park


North Bucks Way


With the rain clouds looking like they would soon release their pent up load, I decided to head on and was soon walking along the North Bucks way once again, I think I am going to plan a walk along the whole route one day (or more likely a few days), as it is such a beautiful pathway, and one that starts right on the edge of my patch.
Looking out across the Buckinghamshire Fields I could see Whaddon Hall in the distance, glimmering white in the dull conditions, this building became one of the most important locations in WWII after the wireless interception function was moved here, from Bletchley Park, in 1940. Incidentally Whaddon comes from Anglo Saxon meaning Hill Where Wheat is Grown!

Wheat Fields

Wheat Fields


North Bucks Way

North Bucks Way


Views from North Bucks Way to Whaddon Hall

Views from North Bucks Way to Whaddon Hall


Whaddon Hall

Whaddon Hall


Oakhill Wood


I soon arrived at Oakhill Wood as a slight drizzle descended on me, fortunately the rain didn't last more than a few moments, unfortunately this put a dampner on the likelihood of there being many butterflies on the wing, and in fact most of the ringlets (which was all that was about) we settled in the long grass.

North Bucks Way as it goes through Oakhill Wood

North Bucks Way as it goes through Oakhill Wood


Mating Ringlets

Mating Ringlets


Ringlet

Ringlet


Pillbug/woodlouse of some kind?

Pillbug/woodlouse of some kind?


Leaving Oakhill


Continuing along part of the North Bucks Way once more, I paused briefly to look out over an area of wheat fields that I have previously walked - North West Milton Keynes Circular Walk - in order to capture more of the beautiful English countryside.

Ominous Skies and waving Wheat Fields

Ominous Skies and waving Wheat Fields


Other Photos


Glassy wings of Common Darter

Glassy wings of Common Darter


Grey and Overcast

Common Darter


Marbled White

Marbled White


Dolerus ferrugatus larvae

Dolerus ferrugatus larvae 


Over the Fields to Whaddon

Over the Fields to Whaddon


Blue Flowers

Blue Flowers


I'm Walking 2500 miles in 2017 to raise money for Birding For All - Read about it here - Please consider donating through My Donate
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