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SCRAPBOOK
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GARDEN WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
OUT AND ABOUT WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
In the Scrapbook are ideas which may or may not be developed within the site.
LAND YEO MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
IMAGES OF RECENT GARDEN VISITORS
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Can you identify the wildlife within these images?
If you can please click here and contact me.
MAY 2025's WEATHER
May 2025's weather with 26.9mm of rainfall and 21 rain free days was drier, warmer, windier but brighter than April 2025's.
May 27 was the wettest day with 8.43mm of rainfall.
May's average daily low temperature was
10.68C.May's average daily temperature was 15.14C.
May's average daily high temperature was 20.50C.
May's lowest daily average of 10.60C was produced on May 05.
May's highest daily average of 19.40C was produced on May 01.
May 06 produced the lowest temperature of
6.10C Min.May 01 produced the highest temperature of 28.40C Max.
May's average wind direction was from the South East with a daily average wind speed of 4.22 MPH.
May's average daily wind gust was 4.51MPH
May 26 produced the highest wind gust at a speed of 24.30MPH.
May's average daily UV Index was 5.19.
May 27 produced the months last daily low UV Index of 1.7.
May 25 produced the months last daily high UV Index of 6.5.
MAY 2025's DIARY
Diary Entry May 02 Weather 13.0C Min, 22.9 Max. Sunny with cloudy intervals, winds from the North East averaging 4.5 MPH and gusting to 17.6 Max with no precipitation.
First sighting this year of a Swallow which was seen in Tickenham. There has been a distinct reduction in House Martins, Swallows and Swifts overflying my garden in the last couple of years.
Diary Entry May 03 Weather 10.5C Min, 19.5 Max. Sunny with winds from the North East averaging 5.2 MPH and gusting to 17.8 Max with no precipitation.
First sighting in the garden this year of a Cinnabar Moth. A Small White Butterfly also seen.
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Diary Entry May 09 Weather 6.5C Min, 20.7 Max. Cloudy with sunny intervals, winds from the North East averaging 3.87 MPH and gusting to 14.9 Max with no precipitation.
First sighting in the garden this year of a Hairy Dragonfly. Swifts also seen overflying Clevedon.
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Diary Entry May 12 Weather 12.8C Min, 21.5 Max. Cloudy, winds from the East averaging 1.40 MPH and gusting to 1.5 Max with no precipitation.
The remains of a Sparrowhawk kill were found in the garden lawn.
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Diary Entry May 13 Weather 11.8C Min, 24.0 Max. Cloudy with sunny intervals, winds from the North East averaging 2.50 MPH and gusting to 14.5 Max with precipitation.
A Common Blue butterfly seen for the first time this year in the garden.
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Diary Entry May 17 Weather 10.0C Min, 18.8 Max. Sunny with cloudy intervals, winds from the North East averaging 4.60 MPH and gusting to 14.9 Max with no precipitation.
Moorhen in the garden. Speckled Wood and Blue Tailed Damselfly also seen.
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Diary Entry May 22 Weather 9.2C Min, 20.6 Max. Sunny, winds from the North, North West averaging 2.80 MPH and gusting to 17.4 Max with no precipitation.
Azure Damselfly seen for the first time this year in the garden. A Moorhen and a Cinnabar moth were again seen.
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Diary Entry May 23 Weather 10.2C Min, 20.8 Max. Sunny with cloudy intervals, winds from the South West averaging 3.70 MPH and gusting to 15.8 Max with precipitation.
Large Yellow Underwing Moth seen in the garden and Strawberries were picked from the garden for the first time this year.
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Diary Entry May 27 Weather 12.8C Min, 16.6 Max. Cloudy, winds from the West, South West averaging 7.80 MPH and gusting to 21.6 Max with precipitation.
Grey Squirrel seen in the garden for the first time this year.
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Diary Entry May 28 Weather 14.5C Min, 18.0 Max. Cloudy with sunny intervals, winds from the West, South West averaging 7.00 MPH and gusting to 19.5 Max with no precipitation.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly seen in the garden for the first time this year.
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Diary Entry May 29 Weather 13.6C Min, 20.6 Max. Cloudy with sunny intervals, winds from the South West averaging 4.70 MPH and gusting to 17.6 Max with precipitation.
Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly seen in the garden for the first time this year. Also seen in the garden Cinnabar Moth, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies and a Blue Tailed Damselfly.
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The Year Weatherwise 2026
A total of 278.37mm of rainfall and 50 rain free days.
The wettest day of the year was January 8 recorded with 16.15mm of rainfall.
The wettest month being January with 115.3mm of rain.
The driest month being April with 19.31mm of rain.
The years warmest day with a temperature of 16.8C was recorded on April 30.
The years coldest day with a temperature of 2.1C was recorded on January 05.
The years highest temperature of 24.7C was recorded on April 30 .
The years lowest temperature of -3.2C was recorded on January 06.
The years average daily wind direction was from the South, South East with a daily average wind seed of 3.83MPH
The years highest sustained wind speed was recorded at 26.28MPH on April 04.
The years highest wind gust was recorded at 36.23MPH on April 04.
The years daily average UV Index is 3.7.
The years last lowest UV Index of 0.0 was last recorded on January 08.
The years highest UV Index of 7.8 was last recorded on April 27.
APRIL 2026
Butterflies regularly visiting the garden for the first time this year and the arrival of my Buckfast Bees..
April's Weather with 19.31mm of rainfall and 21 rain free days was drier, warmer, windier but brighter than March's.
April 03 was the wettest day with 6.02mm of rainfall.
April's average daily low temperature was 7.00C.
April's average daily temperature was 11.48C.
April's average daily high temperature was 16.75C.
April
's lowest daily average of 8.60C was produced on April 13.April's highest daily average of 16.80C was produced on April 30.
April 13 produced the lowest temperature of 2.90C Min.
April 30 produced the highest temperature of 24.70C Max.
April's average wind direction was from the South, South East with a daily average wind speed of 4.49MPH.
April's average daily wind gust was 4.78MPH.
April 4 produced the the highest wind gust at a speed of 36.23MPH.
April's average daily UV Index was 4.24.
April 01 produced the months last daily low UV Index of 1.1.
April 27 produced the months last daily high UV Index of 7.8.
MARCH 2026
A Blue Tits seen regularly visiting the garage's small hole nest box.
March's Weather with 35.35mm of rainfall and 17 rain free days was drier, warmer, less windy but brighter than February's.
March 12 was the wettest day with 10.95mm of rainfall.
March's average daily low temperature was 6.70C.
March's average daily temperature was 9.78C.
March's average daily high temperature was 13.38C.
March
's lowest daily average of 6.70C was produced on March 13.March's highest daily average of 14.20C was produced on March 18.
March 14 produced the lowest temperature of 2.10C Min.
March 18 produced the highest temperature of 20.60C Max.
March's average wind direction was from the South with a daily average wind speed of 4.08MPH.
March's average daily wind gust was 4.41MPH.
March 13 produced the the highest wind gust at a speed of 35.11MPH.
March's average daily UV Index was 2.57.
March 07 produced the months last daily low UV Index of 0.4.
March 30 produced the months last daily high UV Index of 4.5.
FEBRUARY 2026
A Blue Tailed Damselfly nymph seen emerging from my tropical fish tank.
February's Weather with 108.39mm of rainfall and 5 rain free days was drier, warmer, windier but brighter than January 2026's.
February 06 was the wettest day with 12.78mm of rainfall.
February's average daily low temperature was 6.43C.
February's average daily temperature was 8.61C.
February's average daily high temperature was 10.86C.
February
's lowest daily average of 4.20C was produced on February 14.February's highest daily average of 12.00C was produced on February 25.
February 18 produced the lowest temperature of 2.00C Min.
February 25 produced the highest temperature of 15.10C Max.
February's average wind direction was from the South, South East with a daily average wind speed of 4.19MPH.
February's average daily wind gust was 4.49MPH.
February 16 produced the the highest wind gust at a speed of 28.40MPH.
February's average daily UV Index was 1.21.
February 03 produced the months last daily low UV Index of 0.3.
February 27 produced the months last daily high UV Index of 2.6.
JANUARY 2026
A Tree Creeper spotted in a copse of trees at Blagdon Lake, Somerset
January's Weather with 115.3mm of rainfall and 7 rain free days was wetter, cooler, less windier but brighter than December 2025's.
January 08 was the wettest day with 16.15mm of rainfall.
January's average daily low temperature was 3.50C.
January's average daily temperature was 6.50C.
January's average daily high temperature was 8.90C.
January
's lowest daily average of 2.10C was produced on January 05.January's highest daily average of 10.20C was produced on January 12.
January 05 produced the lowest temperature of
-3.20C Min.January 12 produced the highest temperature of 12.50C Max.
January's average wind direction was from the South with a daily average wind speed of 3.21MPH.
January's average daily wind gust was 3.55MPH.
January 21 produced the the highest wind gust at a speed of 26.78MPH.
January's average daily UV Index was 0.49.
January 18 produced the months last daily low UV Index of 0.
January 29 produced the months last daily high UV Index of 0.8.
PET HATES
I don't dislike cats but I hate their habits. They prowl gardens stalking and killing wildlife, fouling any area and turning it into a minefield and making working in the garden an unpleasant experience. Since the start of the covid epidemic cat ownership has exploded and so has the occurrence of cats fouling gardens other than those of their owners. Please consider nature and your neighbourhood before imposing your pets habits on others.
Drivers who 'tailgate' to intimidate others into driving faster than they wish. Private Hire and Taxi drivers particularly in Bristol seem to be prone to this trait. From my observations they also appear to think that they have a dispensation which allows them to exceed speed limits.
Drivers who park on double yellow lines and pavements and the failure of authorities (having spent my taxes to locate and maintain them) to police the parking restrictions.
The number of 'potholes' in roads and if we are lucky their eventual ineffective repair.
Anonymous Community Speed Watch persons who in the interests of road safety stand behind their inappropriately parked vehicles in potholed and crumbling roads and point their 'gun' at cars driving well within the legal speed limit. Community Speed Watch persons, Local Authorities and Police Constabularies please examine your own contributions towards road safety.
Horse riders and cyclists who seem to think it is necessary to ride two abreast and obstruct other road users when they don't even pay for the privilege.
Cyclists who cycle on footpaths and roads during the hours of darkness without showing lights and having any means of warning of their presence.
First Published August 2025
If you are considering a switch to TalkTalk's Fibre 67 read on.
I am currently a TalkTalk Fibre 67 user with a TalkTalk supplied Fast 5364 Router / Hub.
My equipment connected to the Router / Hubs Wi-Fi is located 10 metres from it but Wi-Fi connection to it is frequently lost necessitating a reboot of the Router / Hub.
The Router /Hub uses Wi-Fi channel optimisation and often switches my Wi-Fi channel to conflict with that of my immediate neighbour and other congested channels in the neighbourhood. TalkTalk informs me this function is not optional.
This channel optimisation necessitates me constantly manually monitoring and setting my Hub /Router's Wi-Fi channel selection to avoid congested channels.
TalkTalk have tried on numerous occasions to resolve this issue without success.
I consequently installed a TP Link Wi-Fi Extender approximately mid- distance (10 metres) from the Hub / Router to the my equipment on the same floor and in the same room as the equipment. This has improved Wi-Fi reliability more so than any of Talk Talk's attempts (if any) at resolving their problem.
Due to the lack of reliability of its Router / Hub's Wi-Fi connection I am seriously considering switching to a different ISP.
LAND YEO MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
First Published May 2004 Revised August 2025
First Published May 2004 Revised August 2025 Any organisation working on, in, from or indeed using the river should be more considerate of the riverside owners and their riparian rights. Before the Environment Agency took more of an interest in the Land Yeo and the establishment of 'Land Yeo Friends' I had been maintaining and improving the river bank adjacent to my property. Yet, without consultation someone planted reeds along a stretch of the river bank which I own and to which I have riparian rights. Luckily the Mute Swans made quick work of rooting them out although a few remain to this day. On another occasion the much needed task of cutting back brambles overgrowing the river bank opposite the one I maintain was undertaken by someone who left some of the bramble cuttings on my bank for me to deal with. If anyone working on, in, from or using the river wishes to gain more friends and support then it's time they started communicating with affected riverside owners and those with riparian rights before they undertake activities likely to have an effect on them.
Maintenance by the Environment Agency has ceased in the last couple of years and the stretch of the river which flows alongside my garden has become overgrown due largely to a certain resident who seeded the river with water lily plants. These have now become established and reduced the river flow providing a key allowing other plants to grow and form what is now a carpet of vegetation stretching from bank to bank which even the ducks fail to navigate.
I used to get in the river and trim my bank but that has now become too big a task. If the Environment Agency cannot be bothered
to maintain the river then I am no longer prepared to undertake their maintenance for them.
Upstream as it was Upstream August 2025
Downstream as it was Downstream August 2025
January 2026 and there has been no change except the green vegetation is now dead and forming an impenetrable carpet which ducks and Moorhens still continue to fail to navigate other than by waddling or walking.
Bottle Identification My Find
Date Launched Unknown
Time Launched Unknown
Location of Launch Clevedon Pier, Clevedon, North Somerset, England.
Date Found 09-08-2012
Location Found Kingston Seymour Sea Defences, North Somerset, England.
Distance Travelled 5km
Date of Re-Launch 19-08-2012
Time of Re-Launch 09:28
Location of Re-Launch Sand Point Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England.
Bottle Identification Master
Date Launched 19-08-2012
Time Launched 09:28
Location of Launch Sand Point, Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England.
Bottle Identification 1
Date Launched 27-08-2012
Time Launched 16:00
Location of Launch Kingston Seymour Sea Defences North Somerset, England.
Bottle Identification 2
Date Launched 27-08-2012
Time Launched 16:00
Location of Launch
Kingston Seymour Sea Defences North Somerset, England.Bottle Identification 3
Date Launched 02-09-2012
Time Launched 09:15
Location of Launch
Sand Point, Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England.
Bottle Identification 4
Date Launched 02-09-2012
Time Launched 09:15
Location of Launch Sand Point, Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England.
Date Found 14-10-2012
Location Found Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England.
Distance Traveled 0km
Date of Re-Launch ?
Time of Re-Launch ?
Location of Re-Launch ?
Bottle Identification 5
Date Launched 28-04-2013
Time Launched 12:47
Location of Launch Kingston Seymour Sea Defences, Congresbury Yeo Outfall, North Somerset, England.
Bottle Identification 6
Date Launched 28-0402013
Time Launched 12:55
Location of Launch Kingston Seymour Sea Defences, Congresbury Yeo Outfall, North Somerset, England.
Tropical Red Wagtail Platy fry available for collection.
Tropical Green Swordfish fry available for collection.
Tropical Red Swordtail fry available for collection.
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