Martin's Mag.

We walked from Chepstow, in Wales, to The Lancaut Peninsular, a slightly spooky area named after the disappeared village of Lancaut in Gloucestershire, on a bend in the river Wye. A ruined church (St. James’) was abandoned officially in 1865. Probably some ghosts, but none appeared to us. Can’t speak for Lucy, though… A rather precarious walk back much lower down by the river, clambering over bolders.

On the right bank (north) side of the River Avon, although pictures are of Pill and beyond on the opposite bank. Lucy and I walked from the motorway bridge to Sylvan Way, and back through the golf club. Also couldn’t resist a picture of the Shirehampton Cricket Club ground.

Spent the day in the Quantocks on the West Somerset coast. Not yet called Coleridge Country, but only a matter of time.

Sally worries when I stand on the top of a stepladder picking plums, so she has sent Miles up. But she worries about him more, understandably, and clings to the steps adding an extra layer of tension for all concerned, including the two dogs, Lucy and Mabel.

No question mark required here as I’m pretty certain these are Gatekeeper butterflies. Partly from appearance and partly because it is sitting on some wild marjoram (oregano) which is it’s favourite herb! Seen on Walton Common.

Just the start of our plum crop.

I know where I’d rather be…

Another dragonfly, this time recovering on our garden shed wall after emerging from its nymph stage (carapace still to the right of it). I think it’s a Common Clubtail but not sure, hence the question mark.

10th July 2020 UPDATE: I was right to include the question mark because my chum Dave, a Wildlife Trust warden, tells me that it is a Southern Hawker. Common Clubtails are, contrary to the name, “about as rare as you can get”, he tells me. I’ve left the title unchanged to attract the passing entemological trade.