March
The roof panels have been turned over, and I'm back on site despite there still being snow on the ground here and there. It's been a long, wet winter and isn't very warm up here today; I'm grateful for my toasty hat, and a flask of tea (nectar of the fieldworker!).
The wet weather from Autumn last year meant that the Wytham staff couldn't get onto site to do the end of season cut until really late, so there's not been much regrowth yet (though not a lot would be expected over winter). It's very quiet on site - just me, some crows, and, despite still being rather nippy, rather a lot of snails.
Taking a walk around the perimeter and revelling in being back, I spotted this striking parasitic wasp. This is definitely one to check on for an ID when I get back into the warm - though I'll probably need specialist input, as I'm really rusty now on these impressive-looking insects.
April
Not so much April showers, as April fog...
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| Looking south towards blocks A (right) and B (left). April 2018 |
Still not much regrowth, though there are some small flowers making a show - violets and cowslips nudge up towards the weak spring sunshine.
May
May saw me mostly engaged in a survey of calcareous grasslands from Somerset up to County Durham (a bit intense, but totally enjoyable work), but I did find time to call in to RainDrop in mid May, and what a difference a month (and some blue skies and sunshine) makes! Some strong regrowth lends the site a rich green mantle - look at the difference between this and a similar shot in April (above):
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| Looking south towards blocks A (right) and D (in the distance to the left). May 2018. |
Plenty of Spring flowers stud that green sward now:
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