Lauren's Wildlife Blog

My name is Lauren and I have just completed a degree in Wildlife Conservation at Kent University. I have always had a passion for British wildlife and photography so I've decided to keep a blog of all my photos, activities and other wildlife related things!

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Sunflower in the physic garden at Westgate Parks, Canterbury

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Tannery Fields Wildflower Meadow

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Humming bird hawk moth in my garden :)

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Comma Butterfly, first time I've managed to get a photo of one in the garden!

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Bike rides around Kent!

Recently I have been on a couple of bike rides and its opened my eyes to the countryside that really is right on my doorstep but in a car you just don't see and appreciate it.

On my first bike ride we went past a gorgeous field with poppies popping up through the wheat and a buzzard soared above us.

On the second bike ride we went along the marshes and over the waterways. I love the huge dandelion heads that were along the pathways, some were bigger than a tennis ball!

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I put my camera trap out in an area where I know my cat walks through so was expecting an odd photo of her.....but this did make me laugh!!

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Common Blue Damselfly making the most of the sunshine and the wildlife pond in my garden! 

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13th June- Oare Marshes

Just got home from an evening walk around my local RSPB nature reserve; Oare Marshes near Faversham.

Sightings- Oystercatcher, Shell Duck, Avocet, Mallard, Coot (one pair with baby), Moorhen, Swan (with 6 cygnets), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Tufted Duck, Heron and best sighting.......a Barn Owl!!!!!

Also think we saw signs of water voles- several holes in one bank and a lavatory area plus some reeds nibbled off at an angle!

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Today I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and take some photos of the glorious flowers that are adding that much needed splash of colour after the long dreary winter! Its really nice to see some foxgloves forcing their way up through the borders, I love the noise of bumblebees buzzing their way in and out of the flower heads occasionally hitting their wings against the side! I also love it when lavender is buzzing with bees, its impossible to look at one of our lavender plants at the moment without seeing a bee on it! Gorgeous smell too!

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Polecat ferret caught on my camera trap, interestingly seemed to run straight onto the cut grass pile at the bottom of the photo were two foxes were playing!

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Two small tortoiseshell butterflies on a buddleia bush, photo taken last summer.

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Finds in the garden!

So today I have done some more work in the garden and found a few exciting finds!

First of all I found this Violet Ground Beetle who unfortunatley had seen better days, he slightly moved his legs but was in no hurry to move away from me. Personal relief for me as I found him before I even started clearing the garden so I know it wasn't me who injured him!

Secondly I found this caterpillar who's identification I am still trying to work out! I have asked on Kent Wildlife's Facebook group which is full of knowledgable people so hopefully I'll find an answer soon! Very distinct white line down his side! I would expect it to be a common butterfly or moth of some sort!

 Finally I absolutely adore slow worms and would love to find them in my garden! It is one of the main motivations behind transforming this part of my garden so imagine my happiness when I was clearing the grass and weeds at the front of a shady border and found this shed skin of what I believe to be a slow worm! I think it is a slow worm because the scales do not overlap and are very small which I believe indicates a slow worm rather than a snake. It was also very soft and hadn't dried out yet so I'm hoping this means it is fresh and the slow worm is still present in the garden! All in all an exciting couple of finds in the garden.....I just must remember suncream next time I go out! My poor back is slightly red, should know better!

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May not be my favourite red squirrel but this guy was quite the poser yesterday at Edinburgh Zoo!

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Amazing view from the top of Edinburgh Zoo yesterday!

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Also found this dragonfly nymph in the pond! A decent size so would suggest he is going to leave the pond this summer, will keep an eye out for the hatched shell throughout the summer!

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Decided to move the goldfish out of our big pond into the other one so that the pond can go back to being a wildlife pond. In the process found 5 newts! Absolute cutie pies! Adorable faces! :)

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Plans for the summer

I have come up with a few ideas of wildlife related activities I would like to do over the summer

1. Use my camera trap more! I have already got some brilliant images of the foxes and a polecat ferret so I would like to try and get some more photos and videos of these guys! I think its fascinating to see what happens in the garden whilst we are all tucked up in bed!

2. Attend some wildlife related courses. There are many Kent wildlife trust courses I would like to do over the summer/autumn and although they are good value I may need to be a bit picky as I like the look of more than my purse may like! I think its brilliant that this sort of opportunity is out there now though, courses on a variety of species, taxa and related activities such as photography.

3. Volunteer. I have always have a passion for British wildlife and would love to get children back involved with nature more as I feel they are becoming more and more disengaged! In particular it is the simple things that I think children miss out on like making a mud pie or going on a creepy crawly hunt. I would like to get some more volunteer work in this conservation section but also in surveying and identification as well as practical conservation in the field

4. Improving the wildlife garden. We have always had one part of the garden that has been the wildlife section with a large pond and in general little maintenance. Unfortunately in the last couple of years its become too wild and brambles and ivy have taken over! So I have decided to tackle this part of the garden this summer and make it an ideal area for wildlife. I hope to include photos of the garden on here soon!

For now that is all I can think of but im sure I'll come up with another handful of ideas soon! :)