Country File

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

The Dee is so silted that the only channel is on the Welsh side, and I'm lover 200ft above the Mersey.

[Techno II]

Techno Towers is about 800/850  feet above sea level.

We were suffering from oodles of low flying cloud for a few days last week.....Had to drop about ( ) four or five hundred feet on the trip into Cardigan before getting 'underneath' it.

There's a TV/phone mast on top of the ridge opposite us......Maybe a mile (?) away, as the crow flies.....150-200feet tall (said he guessing wildly).
That can look strange sometimes when a thin layer of cloud (or fog) hides the bottom of it, and the top warning light is the only bit you can see.

Cheers - Phil.

[Heedless Horseman]

8 maybe 10 Great Tits clustered around 'fat' Coconut and Peanut feeder, 6' from kitchen window. Big fledgelings... some starting to feed themselves, others still shouting for Mam and Dad! Nice sight to wake up to! 

[Leman]

Interesting country this for tackling water. Last night absolute screamer of a thunderstorm, continuous lightning flashes, torrential rain and cars driving down our road and creating a wash as they went. This morning the road is as dry as a bone. I am 0m above sea level.

[Techno II]

Are you sure about the 0m above sea level, Andy ?

Being driven back from Eindhoven to Amsterdam, to catch a plane (By my then boss, Bob Watts (Heartbreaker).....Absolutely, really lovely guy..)....

A certain person, in the car, came out with, isn't 'Holland' flat ?.........

Spot the brain cell.

Cheers - Phil

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

No Phil you must have 2

[Leman]

Well, about a km away, and slightly downhill, there is an absolutely massive dyke, fom the top of which you can see Germany, about 5km away


The dyke.


Germany across the Eems/Wadden.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

That's a lot of man hours!

[Heedless Horseman]

For anyone who would like to 'visit' Stonehenge... with nobody about, I have posted a link to an interactive 360 tour on the Resources board.
Not Solstice, but interesting. Apparently there was supposed to be a 'Live Feed', today on MIdsummer Morning, but pulled due to 'pitch invasion'.

Suppose I can duplicate link here too, so:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history-and-stories/stonehenge360/

[Heedless Horseman]

Not seen Butterflies... or Moths... so far... though could be early. Only One 'Wood'. A bit worrying.
A Few Bees. Escorted 3 from Bathroom this week... must squeeze in through fan. A site recommended a 'Bee bar'... a 'throwaway' plastic container of water with some stones for landing/drinking. Will probably 'slime' up quickly, though.
Hedgehogs and small birds seem to be thriving!   

[Raider4]

Seen a fair few of these recently:



But it's a moth, rather than a butterfly.

[FierceKitty]

Striking.

[Steve J]

Very few butterflies so far this year, which is unusual. Lots of bees though which is good.

[Techno II]

Not so many butterflies here, either....at least around the house.....I expect they're all hiding out on  the 'bog' (SSSI) over the road.

Bees/Honey bees ?.....Nah....No-one keeps any hives anywhere near us....Though once a year we usually get a swarm of 'wild' bees.

Used to see LOADS of those cinnabar moths in Notts...don't think I've seen any here.....I've got a feeling they like groundsel 'weeds'  ..and that's a plant that's missing from around here.

Cheers - Phil.

[Leman]

In Netherlands so far seen Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood butterflies.