Blog

I blog about nature in the Norfolk countryside and about my wildlife garden. My blog blends digital photos with an analogue nature journal.

Nature journalling blends nature observation and citizen science with a written diariy or art journal to build a deeper connection with nature and cultivate curiosity, creativity and flow.

December Robin and Solstice

On the 3rd a sunny start to the month led to some lovely sightings of a pair of Robins at the bird bath.

13.12.25

The earliest sunset of the year happens quite a few days before the winter solstice, which occurs on 21st December. This is because the moming sunrise continues to draw in even after the evening sunsets start to get later again. On 13th daylength is 7:40:29 and on 21st it is 7:36:42. By the 31st over a minute is gained each day and daylength is 7:42:18 (+1:03) as the latest sunrise is 29th/30th. Source: timeanddate.com

The definition of "Solstice" comes from sol for sun (latin) and sistere meaning to stand still.

It is the moment the sup appears to stand still, directly above the tropic of Capricorn, the most southerly latitude it reaches each year. This is because the earth is titted by 23.5° on its axis. Solstice dates vary because it does not take an exact year to revolve around the sun but c. 365.24 days. It slips by c. 6 hours each year then reverts after corrective leap years. Orbit variations and a wobble on its axis caused by its rotation also impact the precise timing of solstice.

Woodpeckers and Leaf Fall

November Nature Diary

2/11/25 Wonderful sighting of a pair of Green Woodpeckers on the ant mounds in the back garden foraging for ants?

6/11/25 A still, mild day. Beautiful autumn foliage colours. Cute little Wren foraging amongst the lavender stalks.

16/11/25 Storm Claudia augured leaf fall finally. After a mild first half of the month it turned much colder.

19/11/25 Early snow showers and ice overnight. Very cold for the time of year. makes me wonder what sort of winter we will have this year?

21/11/25 Pigeons with beautiful salmon chest markings perching on the swing.

26/11/25 A hazy blue sky at sunset.

29/11/25 The flower buds, pistachio green, on the Winter Cherry are just beginning to burst.

Weather Wheel August 2025

Another exceptionally dry month seemed to lead to an early Autumn, with trees and bushes fruiting and dropping their leaves earlier than usual. Rosa sampled the ripe black-berries on 22nd and I spotted sloes on 25th.

After another short hot spell, the second half of the month wars however markedly cooler, with wet weather arriving in the last few days of the month.

Comma Butterfly

Polygonia c-album - Comma

  • A regular visitor to my garden

  • Caterpillars will feed on Hops and Nettles, but also Currants, Elms and Willows

  • Scalloped wings conceal it amongst dead leaves

  • Larvae look like bird droppings

  • Flexible life cycle allows it to capitalise on favourable weather

Verbena bonariensis - Purple Top

  • Non-native

  • South American

  • Tall herbaceous perennial

  • Erect branching stems up to 2m high

  • Numerous clusters of Small, Lilac-purple flowers

  • Flowers Summer into Autumn

  • Excellent for pollinators

Red Kite

Coincidentally, the longest day also proved to be the hottest of the year so far, peaking at 33.8°c!

We sat outside as the stifling heat began to ease and watched peacefully as the light falling upon the high, dappled clouds gradually transitioned from piercing white to a soft, luminous, lemon-yellow. Barely had we sat down, when the Red Kite graced the scene, cruising effortlessly along our hedgerow. This, the third show in a week, made us wonder if they have set up home nearby?

As we skygazed, a family of House Martins swirled in great arcs up high, hunting for insects. We rejoiced when John spotted our Linnets flying down to drink at our wildlife pond. They have been here since we first moved in. Our hearts were lifted by the sweet peeping calls of a flock of Long-tailed Tits drifting loosely across the garden shrubbery.

The balmy breeze slowly stilled as the evening progressed. I breathed out a slow sigh, feeling present in that very moment and at peace with the world on this, the longest day of the year.

Seashells at Lady Anne's Drive

This is just about my favouritest place to visit in Norfolk, this time tidal conditions.were.favourable and I made it all the way across the saltmarsh to the beach proper, which had lots of cockle shells.

Cockle

  • A marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cocklers.

  • Are filter feeders.

  • Tolerate a wide range of salinity (euryhaline) and temperature (eurythermic) which help to explain its very extensive range.

  • Distributed from Iceland down to the coast of west Africa.

  • It has a lifespan of 5 to 6 years but is subject to predation from crabs, flounder and Oystercatchers.

Other Sightings

  • Pod razor

  • Atlantic jacknife clam

  • Common Otter shell Oyster (otrea edulis)

  • Sea Lavender

  • Biting Stonecrop

  • Oyster Catchers

  • Black-headed Seagulls

  • Swallow

  • Sandmartin

  • Meadow pipit ?

Painted Lady Migration

I noticed a Painted Lady bulterfly on my Erigeron and wondered where she had come from?

The Painted Lady has the longest migration cycle known for any butterfly species, reaching 12,000 km over multiple generations.

Painted hady butterflies travel from sub-Saharan African directly into Europe. My butterfly probably arrived from France during favourable wind patterns. Painted Ladies have a lifespan of about a month and travel hundreds of km. They "surf" the wind at Speeds of up to 45 kmph. They follow similar paths every year - but there is variability depending on rain patterns and availability of food. It is likely that they are genetically coded to orientate and navigate given particular environmental conditions.

 

© Kiri Stuart-Clarke 2008-2026
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