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~ a celebration of nature

earthstar

Category Archives: winter

Rotund Robins

05 Tuesday Dec 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds, winter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, robin

I feel for the birds when the temperatures plummet. I’m feeling cosy in hand-knitted woollens, fleece-lined trousers and wind-cutting jacket, whereas all they can do is fluff up their feathers to retain a layer of warmth close to their skin. It seems to work for them though, as long as it doesn’t get too cold. And little birds like these Robins are even more adorable than usual when they look like little balls of fluff.

231205 robins

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Slip-sliding

02 Saturday Dec 2023

Posted by sconzani in birds, winter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

bird on ice, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, female mallard, icy pond, Mallard

After a few sub-zero-Celsius nights and not much higher daytime temperatures, the pond at Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve had mostly frozen over, and the Mallards and a Coot were sticking to a small open area on the far side. But, when a couple arrived with food for the birds, Ms Mallard was tempted out of her little patch of unfrozen water to reach the treats. I felt a bit mean but I couldn’t help laughing at her slip-sliding her way across the ice.

231202 mallard

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First Coltsfoot

28 Tuesday Feb 2023

Posted by sconzani in wildflowers, winter

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Tags

British wildflowers, Coltsfoot, end of winter wildflowers, Tussilago farfara, yellow wildflowers

I’d already finished last Sunday’s video showcasing the end of winter wild plant and tree flowers I’d photographed during the previous week’s walks when I found, during Sunday afternoon’s local meander, my first Coltsfoot flowers of the year. And here they are …

230228 coltsfoot

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End of winter wild flowers

26 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by sconzani in flowers, trees, wildflowers, winter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British wildflowers, catkins, tree flowers, winter colour, winter flowers

As another winter draws to a close, I thought I would document the plant and tree flowers currently in bloom in my little bit of south Wales.

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Crocuses

12 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by sconzani in flowers, winter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

crocus, Crocuses, winter colour, winter flowers

I have no new native wildflower blooms to share this week but I was captivated by the beauty of these Crocuses, growing under trees in a Cardiff park and thought you might enjoy them too.

230212 crocuses

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Spring messenger

05 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by sconzani in flowers, wildflowers, winter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

British wildflowers, Lesser Celandine, signs of spring, winter colour, yellow wildflowers

According to Flora Britannica, Spring messenger is a now defunct local name for Lesser celandine, and how wonderfully appropriate that name is. I’ve been watching several areas of Lesser celandine plants, wondering which would put forth the first flower but, in fact, this particular bloom was a complete surprise. I had to cross a narrow country road so a truck could complete its turn in to a tight driveway entrance and, as I was crossing, I spotted this tiny drop of sunshine beaming out from under a bush. Spring magic!

230205 lesser celandine

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Winter six

22 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by sconzani in wildflowers, winter

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Tags

British wildflowers, Daisy, dandelion, Field speedwell, wildflowers in bloom, Winter heliotrope, winter wildflowers

After a week of hard frosts and bitterly cold winds, it’s not surprising that I’ve found very few wildflowers in bloom. Indeed, I’m rather surprised to have found any. But those I have found seem to be particularly hardy plants and are wildflowers I’ve previously found during the winter months. They are Daisy and Dandelion, Field speedwell, Gorse, Sun spurge, and Winter heliotrope.

230122 winter six

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Beautiful Beeches

11 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by sconzani in leaves, trees, winter

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Tags

autumn colour, autumn trees, beech woodland, Cwm George, winter woodland

I’ve shown you this beautiful location several times before – this is Cwm George, in the small south Wales town of Dinas Powys – but I simply can’t resist sharing this year’s late autumn splendour. I couldn’t decide which view I liked best, so I’ve included three images, each one zooming in to the scene a little further. I hope you have somewhere magical like this to enjoy, to wander through, to escape into.

221211 cwm george

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Fluffball

10 Saturday Dec 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds, winter

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Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, robin

A hard frost coated everything with a thick layer of ice this morning, the ground crunched under my boots, and my handknits were keeping my extremities warm and cosy. Without the luxury of thermals or boots or knitwear, my little Robin friend was keeping itself warm by puffing up its feathers, making it look like a cute little fluffball.

221210 robin

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Winter 50

04 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by sconzani in flowers, wildflowers, winter

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Tags

British wildflowers, wildflowers in bloom, winter colour, winter wildflowers

First, a confession. I actually made the first two of these grids of wildflowers for last Sunday’s Wildflower Hour on social media. But, when I checked again over the last couple of days, all of last week’s flowers bar one were still in bloom, so I’ve simply modified them as necessary to accommodate this week’s finds.

221204 pinks x12

So, in this first grid of flowers in the pink-purple range, I removed a Field scabious flower that’s now turned to mush and replaced it with the first Sweet violet flower I’ve spotted. The flowers are: Creeping thistle, Sweet violet, Hemp agrimony, Herb Robert, Ivy-leaved toadflax, Knapweed, Meadow crane’s-bill, Purple toadflax, Red clover, Red valerian, Tufted vetch, and Winter heliotrope.

221204 white x16

This second grid, of (mostly) white flowers, has a whole new row at the bottom with this week’s extra finds. These are: Bitter-cress, Bramble, Bladder campion, White campion, Daisy, Large bindweed, Mayweed, Oxeye daisy, Shepherd’s-purse, Traveller’s-joy, Wild carrot, Yarrow, Barren strawberry, Black nightshade, Common fumitory, and Hogweed.

221204 yellows x20

The third grid, of yellow and green flowers, is totally new. These flowers are: Bristly oxtongue, Common toadflax, Creeping buttercup, Dandelion, Evening primrose, Gorse, Groundsel, Hoary mustard, Meadow vetchling, Prickly sow-thistle, Ragwort, Sea radish, Creeping cinquefoil, Meadow buttercup, Nipplewort, Yellow-wort, Sun spurge, Smooth sow-thistle, Yellow corydalis, and Petty spurge.

221204 extras x2

And, today, I’ve discovered two extra flowers, which it’s easiest to just add here at the end on their own. They are Narrow-leaved ragwort, a new plant for me, and Blue fleabane. It’s both wonderful, and a little alarming, to see so many (50!) wildflowers still in bloom at the beginning of winter but, with very cold weather forecast for later this week, I think numbers will soon quickly diminish. I’m enjoying this feast of colour while I can, and I hope you do too.

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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