Tell me what you chose and why in the reblogs! :D

8 of my favourite pictures I took in August 2022, end of month thoughts and my bird of the month 

The photos are of; view at Old Winchester Hill, view and Meadow Brown butterfly at Lakeside Country Park, tree with colourful leaves on the way to Lakeside, Blood-vein moth, Starlings and sunflower at home and view at Hook-with-Warsash. When coming to choose the eight photos for this post its not deliberate that six were taken either at our very local Lakeside, at home or in the short space between the two. Whilst home and Lakeside dominate my photos given I take at least something at home every day currently and visit Lakeside with a camera at least three days of an average week, we visited lots of fantastic other places across the south this month too, this is the first observation I would make that I have been pleased with my Lakeside and especially up against other months from home photos this month. 

August was a brilliant and memorable month for me. Weather wise defined by another heatwave which took us into drought and then some relief for the land when the temperature dropped and rain finally came. A positive of course of the hot weather was the amount of sunshine to enjoy for taking photos and being out, and I have taken so many photos I am pleased with this month of wildlife and landscape with top sky scenes at home towards sunset and elsewhere. A more negative impact of the weather was the “false autumn” from all the trees’ leaves changing colour from stress but this alongside the usual towards autumn sights perhaps happening earlier too like acorns, blackberries and other berries have made interesting features for my photos this month.

It was an amazing month of butterflies for me, observing them so much as another gripping Big Butterfly Count survey which I love taking part in wrapped up. It was also very much a month of the finishing touches to my butterfly year in terms of getting as many species seen in a year as I can, seeing some of the high summer species which are some of the finest days of butterfly watching for me which I get really passionate about, this year really lived up to that including this month with incredible species seen so well, and making the most of precious time with certain species with a few having a second emergence. August I can look at as the butterflies which take my main focus in the quieter summer birdwatching months handing the baton back over to birds as it can quieten down for seeing butterflies but bird wise pick up with migration beginning. Whilst I had one of my best ever birdwatching Julys as my equivalent of this post last month mentioned this description did rather fit this month. I was thrilled to see some amazing late summer bird species pivotal ones to my year. It was also a month of taking a lot of bird photos again which I was pleased with and really connecting to many species, with some great moments in my best ever year of seeing and photographing young birds this year too. My bird and butterfly year lists are in very high places for me in comparison to my past years after this month and I’m proud of both.

Moths took centre stage as well with so many brilliant ones seen at home, some really colourful and vibrant species something I enjoy at this time of year moths coming into the house, with them seen well outside too. Naturally for summer it was a good month for seeing other insects like grasshoppers and hoverflies, and spiders at home too. It was also a really good month for dragonflies and damselflies for me a key time this year for the former, and I had some great mammal moments. It was the first August since I believe 2007 when I was ten that we did not go away at all, so it was interesting and lovely to really focus on home this year in high summer and getting around the county and a few times just over the border into another at weekends through the dizzy summer days.

For my bird of the month for the first time since February I’ve only picked one. I have rather evolved this bit of fun I am doing this year to a place where I picked two birds of the month, one a standout wow moment to see and another one I saw more consistently and came to define the month. This month I was torn between two for the consistent star of the month in particular, so thought as I tend to now mention other highly commended species in these posts I would just pick one standout at the top of the pile. So Pied Flycatcher, a bird I saw for only the second time at Northney Paddocks, Hayling Island this month, getting exquisite views of a finely marked species key to summer, stood out most and is my bird of the month this month. It was its relative the Spotted Flycatcher these Pied Flycatchers were seen with as well as extraordinarily at Lakeside more than once and Green Woodpecker one of my favourite birds also seen that day on Hayling Island and multiple times well at the great site for them Lakeside this month which were the two main consistent star candidates and I might always think of as joint second this month. It looked like I might have a favourite bird battle on my hands to decide at one point with Great Crested Grebe the “always the bridesmaid” species of my bird of the month choosing I have mentioned this key bird of my year so many times as an also strong candidate but there’s always been something else or others I’ve picked over it and Kingfisher seen well at Lakeside a few times and indeed the Peregrines of Winchester seen well a lot this month on my in office working days. Other strong candidates for my bird of the month were other year ticks Curlew Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, Little Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper and Black Tern. Thanks for all your support in August, I hope you all have a great September. 

what if.. what if one day Richie is Particularly annoying and once stan's had absolutely enough, he just rolls his eyes and kisses the nerd right on the mouth; Richie shuts up immediately and goes entirely red, and Stan simply goes back to his book about birds and plants

The only way to truly shut Richie up😔🤘

-----

“Hey, Staniel!”

Richie’s greeted with a shriek, followed by an over exaggerated groan as a flock of birds take to the sky.

“Look what you did,” Stan whines. “They had just settled down too!”

Richie shrugs. “It’s not my fault they’re terrified of everything.”

“Are you kidding me?  I would be terrified too if a giant buffoon came into my home and started screaming!”

The insult only makes Richie cackle.  He may hate birdwatching, but he would never pass up an opportunity to rile up Stan.  He loves seeing the pink that spreads across his cheeks.  He loves the way he purses his lips and furrows his eyebrows.  Stan’s always been pretty, but he’s even prettier when all his attention is on Richie.

“Is that an invitation?”

Stan wrinkles his nose.  “You’re disgusting, I hate you.  Are you just gonna stand there the whole time?”

Richie grins and plops himself down beside Stan.

“Tell me, Stanley,” he says, in his worst announcer voice. “What have we seen today?”

“There was a grey partridge here earlier,” Stan says.  He places the binoculars back on his face.  It makes him look ridiculous, laying flat on his stomach with his hot pink binoculars pressed up against his eyes.  Stan complains daily that the color makes them sub-optimal for birdwatching, but he still brings them every time.  Richie thinks they’re adorable.  Which is exactly why he bought them. “It was cute.”

Richie hums softly. “I saw a turkey on the way over.”

“Yeah, there have been lots of turkeys recently,” Stan says, which is not the answer Richie wants.

“I wonder whose dining room table it’ll end up on,” Richie continues.  Then, in the impression of what he assumes a turkey would sound like, “Please, Mister Hunter!  I have a family!  Three beautiful mini-turkeys.  You wouldn’t really leave them fatherless, would you?”

That catches Stan’s attention.  He looks up at Richie with an agape mouth and wide eyes.

“That’s horrifying,” he murmurs. “Why would you say that?”

“Oh, come on, it was just a joke,” Richie says with a grin. “Turkey’s don’t actually have families.”

“Turkeys raise their young, Richard!  Haven’t you seen all those baby turkeys running around?”

“Wait, so that could be a real scenario?”

“No!  You don't eat wild turkeys on Thanksgiving!”

Richie huffs, slumping down in his seat. “Then what’s the point?”

“Just be quiet, Richie,” Stan says with a roll of the eyes. “You’re scaring away all the birds.”

“Maybe that’s my secret master plan,” Richie says. He snatches the binoculars out of Stan’s hands, ignoring the offended squawk he gets in response. “Scare away all the birds, so I can have you all to myself.”

“Rich, c’mon, give those back!”

“Come and get them!” Richie says, holding them far out of Stan’s reach.

“You’re an asshole,” Stan seethes as he makes useless grabs for the binoculars. “I didn’t even ask you to come today.”

“You asked everyone!”

“I should’ve clarified, it was everyone but you.”

Stan finally seems to realize his attempts are futile, and sits back with a pout.  Normally, Richie would’ve conceded by this point, driven to guilt by his friend’s pleading eyes.  But Stan’s pout is unfairly cute, and it makes all reasonable thought leave Richie’s brain.

“Aww, giving up so fast?” Richie teases. “I would’ve thought-”

Except Stan will never know what Richie thought.  Because Stan chooses that moment to grab Richie’s face between his hands and press their lips firmly together.

It makes Richie’s brain short wire.  A boy is kissing him.  And not just any boy.  Stanley Uris is kissing him.  Stanley Uris, who Richie’s been head over heels in love with since he knew what love was.  Stanley Uris, who Richie spends all his time and effort trying to get the attention of.  Stanley Uris, who’s now pulling away with a triumphant smirk on his face and the binoculars in his hand.

He settles back into the grass without another word, binoculars once again pressed against his face.  It’s unfairly casual, as if he didn’t just turn Richie’s world upside down.

Richie, for once, can think of nothing to say.  All he can think about is how soft Stan’s lips were.  How he could feel every inch of himself relax into his friend’s grip.  How suddenly his heart was beating fast enough to crack his ribcage.

Cautiously, he lays down next to Stan.

He half expects Stan to laugh, to tell him it was all a big joke.  But he doesn’t.  He stays perfectly still, eyes trained on something in the far off distance that Richie doesn’t care enough to see.

“Stan,” he whispers.  Nothing.  “Stanley.”  Still nothing.  “Staniel.”

Finally, Stan turns to face him.  His entire face is tinged pink, though he’s clearly trying so fucking hard to ignore it.

“Are you kidding me?” he huffs. “Even that wouldn’t shut you up?”

Richie doesn’t answer.  Instead he asks his own question, “Why’d you do that?”

Stan shrugs. “You wouldn’t shut up.”

“Is that - Is that the only reason?”

Richie tries to shove away the hurt that scrambles to escape his throat.  Of course that’s the only reason, it’s not like Stan could actually like him back.  He could never be that lucky.

Except, maybe he could be.  Because Stan’s cheeks darken, and he ducks his head as he mutters out, “I mean, you’re also really adorable.”

And because Richie can’t ever take anything seriously, he puts on the first accent he can think of and says, “Aww, Staniel, I’m blessed!  You think I’m adorable?  Little old me?”

Stan wrinkles his nose. “What was that?  Southern?”

“It’s a cowboy!”

That punches a laugh out of Stan, and Richie can’t even be mad about it.  How can he be mad when Stan’s laughter is the best sound in the world?

“Why are you doing a cowboy voice right now?” Stan cackles.

“I panicked!” Richie whines.

“Okay, okay,” Stan says, eyes still sparkling and full of mirth. “I’m sorry, it was good.”

“You didn't even know what it was!”

“Well, it will be good.  Eventually,” Stan says.  He turns back to his birds. “I’m sure of it.”

But Richie decides that just won’t do.  He can’t lose his attention that quickly.  He lays directly on top of Stan, chin resting on his shoulder. “Hey, Stanley?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I kiss you again?”

Stan glances at him over his shoulder.  He tries to keep his face neutral, as if Richie’s still a nuisance, but Richie knows he hasn’t truly thought that since the fifth grade.  He can see the way his mouth twitches upwards slightly.  He can see how Stan’s eyes dip down to Richie’s own lips.  He can see how Stan turns slightly, giving him better access to his unfairly soft lips.

“Of course, Rich.”

woe... tma be upon us. Anyway this is my Mag195 liveblog! Adrift, that’s an interesting name. Spoilers below the cut :)

Is Jon adrift without Martin?

Martin without Jon?

Both? Both probably. 

Maybe we’ll get a sea statement. A lonely sea statement. Nice :)

Oh episode starting here we go here we go herreee we go !

*tape recorder click*

Water?

Is that Jon? Who’s breathing?

Oh is he rowing a boat!?

Did Martin and Annabelle have to go on a boat too?

Oh statement time

Down in the depths... 

Oh sounds cold. Oooh! Water buried statement!! Yikes!!! 

What has you gripped?

Oh I hate the idea of perma-drowning that sucks. Guess that’s what the coffin was like too

Yowch

Fakecrfan has the beginning of a fic where the Apocalypse is stopped but the things that happened still happened. And people started dying from their injuries. 

Just swim. Ohh.

Anyway. that fic, some people survived, but those in the more physically torturous domains died, so this person would probably die

Oh somethings coming???

OOOh combo vast and buried!!! We love a combo vast and buried!! Maybe dark too

Oh what is it?

OOOOH BIG THING BIG THING

Shark? Ouchie not the soles of your feet!

Oh good, no pain. Oh nausea isn’t good tho. Ew please don’t throw up.

Something else?

Huh it’s gone

Bye, shark-creature.

Ooooh it is the dark, too! Triple combo, triple combo!

I know the difference between the entities doesn’t really matter but it feels weirdly fun to identify them. Like. Birdwatching??? Yeah

Change? Freedom?

You’re out?

Oh that probably makes things worse when you inevitably go back in

Reddened sky? Nothing? Smooth ocean, no waves?

Oh I wonder if they’ll see Jon

Ohhhh hope in the dark that’s fun. Love that

Cmon bro just float on your back

You clearly haven’t died yet just chill out

Oh, and there’s the beholding. Watching you.

*Sticks middle finger up at the sky*

Oh you choose to go back under?? Ooooooooh that’s fun

It can still see you

Statement ends! That was a neat one! 

Oh! 

Where are we now? You still rowing?

There you are?

Who? What?

Who is that?????? 

The shaking?

Who is that?

BASIRA

BASIRAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was that Basira’s statement? Don’t think so.

BASIRA <3!!!!!!! 

Oh. He went out to grab Basira first? Smart.

She doesn’t know about Salesa either lol

Let’s go! :) Thanks Basira!

Oh we’re still about 14 minutes in

Mirror maze to island, yikes

What’s that noise? More paddling?

Horror geography lol

Academic isolation? Dangerous unknown

Feeling of sore arms lol

“You look like crap” “Thanks” “You’re welcome” love them

A metaphor. 

I WOULDN’T WANT TO CRAMP YOUR STYLE

ONLY PART OF HM THAT ISN’T CRAMPING

that’s so funny oh my go d

i wonder how moving around with the camera works in regard to like. the water in stuff. i imagine it like a dome pushing it away. cool mental image

Anyway

Oooh power of the spider. webs

Web/Vast teamup, fun!!

“hard for it to go worse” lol

How long do you think it’s been since the apocalypse

Helping people get what they deserve, 

Some of the avatars hate it as much as the people they’re torturing but they still do it,

It’s weird, though, because they don’t have to do much. Im thinking about Oliver and Martin, they’re not actively doing anything but their domains are feeding and protecting them

She is an avatar! Oh!

Inherited Daisy’s role hmm

Freelance watcher

Oh she doesn’t have a domain yet?

Why?

Why’d

Wandering around, something to do, some way to help

Basira was right huh

Wait. But like... okay does that mean if you’re cut off from the eye, you’re safe?

Yeah I thought about that, are there others out there who are immune? 

“I also killed Helen,” “Oh. Right.” LFDJ:SDJ

Kinda a relief

He didn’t tell Melanie? Wait, I thought he did? Or did Martin tell her? Or did Jon tell Georgie?

“Cramp your style”

Almost there!?

click?!

Walking

Cult?

Oh it’s Georgie and Melanie

Melanie must hate that

Static??

What?

OH THEy’RE IN

OH MY GOD

But...

Jon you can’t be in there, you can’t do anything

You won’t remember

aww “doesn’t matter martin’s here and we need to find him” <3 we stan. go save him- or maybe not save, who knows. Go get him. 

What’s that sound?

Jon?

In the spiderweb eek. 

Oh... Annabelle is the tape recorders theory, anyone?

Mr. SPIDER

OH NO

fuck it’s over!

also

OH NO. OH NO? D:

ughhh really hope Martin isn’t supposed to be “mr. spider”

Not a fan of the evil-web-martin stuff...

Huh how did Annabelle even find it? That tape was natural and from forever ago?

Or was it natural? dun dun dun...

Anyway fun episode.

i should relisten to “a guest for mr spider”

@hartblooms​

vane has always heard people say that he is the too soft kind. usually those comments come with a small dose of pity laced in their voices, something he could not understand at all. there is nothing wrong to be soft and have your heart open for the world to see; dangerous? certainly, you are bound to disappointments and sadness. but without those you cannot meet those who will light up your world. it is a calculated risk, he likes to believe. lucifer hired him to work on his coffee shop even if he never had any experience or a fancy diploma from any cooking academy. the white haired man just had this aura about him, a kindness so beautiful and touching it almost brought him to tears. vane opened his heart to him, so now he hoped someday lucifer would do the same ‘hey, boss!’ his voice is chirper as always, hands now offering a chocolate cake with little bird decorations ‘happy valentines!!’

Valentine’s Day || Always accepting (feel free to turn into threads)!

                                                           ★ ☆ ✮ ✯ ―☼ ― ★ ☆ ✮ ✯

     Days have a habit blurring together - tumbling messily into one another until he scarcely knows whether it’s Monday or Friday when he opens the cafe each morning. A part of it due simply to how busy he was. Owning a business came with countless responsibilities that most people weren’t privy to, and he was novice at this entire thing to begin with which meant he often spent quite a bit of time going over various aspects well into the morning. Another part due to how often he came up with new recipes, and how quickly he would leap to his feet to test them out meaning he spent most of the time he should be sleeping in his kitchen pouring over odd flavors that might very well never be added to the menu. And then, of course, came the fact that he didn’t get nearly as much sleep as he should. Often suffering from nightmares that make him unwilling to close his eyes, and so he spends hours tossing and turning beneath the sheets before he simply gives up and devotes himself to work once more. The days he sleeps are, oftentimes, worse than those he simply chooses to never lay down during - at least then his exhaustion feels a bit less heavy and haunted. Thankfully, Michael often slips notes beneath his apartment door, sticks them to the counter at the cafe, or sets alarms on his phone to remind him of any important meetings, inspections, or special menus for the day to ensure he, at the very least, knows what’s going on at the cafe for any given day. So, when he spots a note on the slick, cream marble of the counter he thinks little of what’s written upon it: Remember - heart cakes, red frosted donuts, strawberry blast, and red velvet lattes are the specials for today. He simply absorbs the information, and sets about getting the safe ready to open for the day - slender fingers still covered in bandaids from the other day when he had burned them making coffee reaching back to tie his sky blue apron about his waist when he hears the door click open and lifts his head to offer Vane a soft smile in greeting. 

        Ah, given the specials he had read on the paper Vane was the perfect to help him open for today. He thought the other would rather enjoy crafting heart-shaped cakes - it’s a thought he recalls having had when he was discussing menu options for...something that he can’t quite place while going over his ideas with Sandalphon. He shakes his head lightly as he finishes tying a neat bow - whatever it was, it must not have been terribly important if he can’t recall yet. A thought he allows himself to have despite the fact that he forgets the keys to his apartment so often that Michael has a spare set now because she had grown tired of having to call the building manager to come let him in day in and day out. He just knows Vane to be a kind and enthusiastic man who has brought nothing but good to the cafe since he had chosen to hire him despite the fact that he a degree and proper training. Franky, though, that train of thought could be applied to more or less everyone who worked for him. Michael, his assistant, had no prior business or service work background. Gabriel had no related experience - the list went on, and most of them hadn’t even known how to make coffee until he had taught them. To call him odd would be fitting in a way. He’s air-headed, seems to have little business sense, and is much too gentle-hearted for his own good, but they’ve managed these past few months since the cafe had opened, and, for one reason or another, he had a tendency to draw people to himself. One that often brought customers back each morning.   

      He doesn’t even take notice of the cake when he turns to greet the other - or, rather, he does, but Vane is his pastry chef after all so seeing him handle such a thing wasn’t unusual to him. Perhaps he had made it before coming into to work or had ducked into the kitchen and baked it before he had taken notice - the list of possibilities is endless even how unaware of his surroundings Lucifer tended to be. “Good morning, Vane,” he returns, the tired creases beneath his eyes crinkling slightly as his equally tired smile turns upwards just a bit at the title the other always refers to him with. Truth be told, he prefers the use of his name over such things, but he allows Vane to remain an exception simply because he knows the other does so out of fondness rather than the distance people had once kept from him that had fueled a deep-seeded loneliness that has remained with him to this day. One that the cafe is slowly filing in, but there remains a hole in his heart he knows will never truly heal, and he’s willing to carry that wound with him for the rest of his life. But, for the time being, he allows the sound of Vane’s voice to chase away the ghosts that haunt him. And it’s only then that he realizes what today is, and who the cake Vane was currently offering him was for. 

         Dull, yet beautiful blue eyes blink in a mixture of surprise and confusion that just barely shows on his delicate features as lips part ever so slightly. Well, that does explain today’s special and why he had suggested they make little cakes in the shapes of hearts. His attention shifts to the cake - it’s wonderful as always, everything crafted by Vane’s hands tends to be. It’s a rich, chocolate cake that has birds decorating it, and - ah, Vane really is too kind. Truth be told, he rather likes sweets though he rarely eats them, and he can be caught birdwatching quite often when he doesn’t have his nose buried in a book. Gingerly he takes the cake from Vane’s hand, his smile brightening just a bit and it makes the bags beneath his eyes seem just a bit lighter for the moment. “Thank you, Vane, Happy Valentine’s Day to you, as well. I truly appreciate it. Your cakes are always a delight.” He’ll have to make something for the other in return when he next has the chance - he should add a note in his phone before he forgets. For now, though, his eyes flicker upwards towards the antique clock hung upon the wall behind the counter. There’s still quite a bit of time before they open to the public, so he lowers his head once more. “Would you like to join me for a slice and a cup of coffee? I’ll brew your favorite blend in exchange. We still have a bit of time left before we open, and I find it difficult to resist this chance to taste one of your creations.”            

Cheerleader.

Pairing: Stan x Reader x Bill.

Warning: swearing

A/N: I'm not even a writing page/blog, but like no one wrote this, I decided to do it by myself. Also, my grammar is bad, since English is not my mother language, also I had to delete some paragraphs because tumblr is a shit and I exceeded the 100 paragraph limit.

Words: 2257

Summary: reader is a popular cheerleader, who is loved by everyone, but her eyes are into two boys of the loser's club.

Another game is coming up, and you and your crew were practicing the choreography for the cheerleaders. You were the leader of them, so you have to mostly do everything, although your friends help you too, it is somewhat embarrassing.

You were in the gymnasium, practing the routine with your other friends, jumping and dancing to the music. Beverly was watching you from the bank, with a smile on her face, she always stayed a little while after school so she could watch you dance. Sometimes when the training is too tough/harsh, you organize to go to the quarry together. Only the two of you. Not even both your friends knew about that. Other times you would go with the whole loser's club, and this is one of those times.

You grab your bike, saying your goodbyes to the other girls, riding off to the quarry along with Bev. It was a quiet silence, until she talked, "Good."

"What?" You looked at her for a moment before turning your gaze back to the road. She giggled. "What you did there, the training. It was so good, you were good. I know of two certain boys that would've like that too." She imitated your action, and let out a laugh when you blushed.

"Stop saying that. I don't know why they like me though, I'm not that good." You smiled slightly, not really looking at her. She smiled back, "Well, you're beautiful and had a great personality, so I don't see why not." Before you had time to reply back, you already got there. She was fast to leave the bike there and take off her dress.

"I'll go." She said, and already ran forwards, passing through the boys and jump off the cliff. And then a loud splash into the water. They look at you, like waiting for something, you realized quickly and stripped off your clothes painfully slow.

"You're too slow! I'll go." Richie said, preparing himself to jump, but you stopped him by yelling at him, before pushing him back and jumping off the cliff, "Too late!" You ended with a loud splash too, landing near Bev, and the boys didn't last long to come either. She winked at you, and nodded towards Bill and Stan, you blushed but thank god you were in the water, so it can not be noticed. You swear, whenever you could get an alone time with her, you'll talk about this.

Sure, you loved Bevy so much, but sometimes she just pressed things that should not be, and this was a good example. She knows how frustrated it makes you talk about them, and loves it.

You were talking to Richie, more like him flirting with you, like if you were some new hot girl into their group. Truth is that you were one of the first loser, but still he keep doing that always. He could be in love with you, but he didn't seem to specialist you, or at least not like Bill and Stan does. Besides, Richie is known to flirt with any girl he finds hot himself.

Stan knew that he liked you, when he was birdwatching and nobody wanted to accompany him, but you were the only one who stayed with him all afternoon. And so that tradition was maintained: after going to the quarry, you two stayed a little longer, mostly to accompany him, since you didn't have as much appreciation for birds like him. Since that day, Stan couldn't help but feel weird every time he was around you. Although he hated it when you hugged him or had some affection that he goes instantly red. Stan was scared that someone could find out his crush on you, but poor boy. Everyone already knew that, including you. Though he didn't know of Bill's crush.

But Bill did. Bill was jealous of his best friend. He was scared that you would choose Stan instead of him. He hated it too, when you would go and kiss Stan in the cheek, he couldn't help either, but feel anger, and jealousy, but he was very good at hiding his emotions, that's why he was never got caught.

Bill actually tried to forget you by being with Beverly, but she didn't seem to show interest on him, she was secretly in love with Ben. Plus, even if she didn't like Ben, she wouldn't be with Bill either, cause she knows that you like them, only that don't want to accept it. And Bev would never do that to a friend.

"You're hot as fuck, (Y/N), why do you even hang out with us? You should be in a popular group." Richie said, dragging the attention to the two of you. You grimaced and shrugged, thinking for a few seconds.

"I don't know. When I first get here I was alone, but Eddie managed to add me to their group. I guess I gained popularity when I entered the whole cheerleader thing." You said softly, not minding much importance into that. Richie frowned. "Yeah I don't understand why did you went into that. All you do there is open your legs and be preppy." He responded. You know that he has zero intentions to offend you, but it did, like any girl.

"Excuse me?" You started, which got the attention of all again. "Do you think that what we do is easy? You should try one training and see how it goes." You didn't want to sound rude, but he had it coming. Beverly nodded. "I even get tired and I'm only watching." You nodded back. Richie stood there for a moment, before nodding too. "Alright." He took it as a challenge, seeing your intimidating look. He swim near Stan and Mike, as you went to talk with Eddie and Ben.

Stan didn't take his eyes out off you in any moment, and Richie noticed, and a certain stuttering boy did either. "Wow, shit. The girl does have character." Mike said. "No wonder why do you like her." Stan glared at Richie. Mike was looking intensely.

A few minutes passed away and Richie suggested (more like shouted) a chicken fight. Bill got Richie on his shoulder. "Come on Stan, you should get (Y/N) in your team." Beverly said, pushing you forward to him. You shrugged and nodded. Stan hesitated a few seconds before giving up. You went behind him and supported your hands on his shoulders. "Do not make me fall, okay?" You said giggling, blushing a little, before hoping onto him. Stan started to walk towards the other team, and he couldn't help but blush too, before he realized that he was actually having you, (Y/N) (Y/L) in underwear, in his shoulders. Just the thought of how beautiful you should be looking in that position make him go tense and blush even more if possible.

The fight started, and you were surprisingly good at it, almost making Richie fall, but he returned and pushed back.

Bill didn't mean to, but he actually glared at Stan instinctively seeing you in his shoulders. He was feeling bad for being jealous of his best friend. He knows that he shouldn't, but his heart tell otherwise. Stan didn't saw him, or simply ignored it, or tried to. He was more concentrated on the fact that you were almost nude and on his shoulders, trying his best for you not to fall, gripping your thighs tightly.

Then, Stan turned his eyes forward to be met with a pair of green ones, he shocked in that position, analyzing what his friend was trying to tell him. Why was Bill glaring at him? Was for something he said? Was to deconcentrate him?

If it was because that, he did it. Stan lose balance and his hands on (Y/N)'s grip softened. Richie pushed and eventually kicked her out of place, making her fall to the water behind her. Stan turned around and looked at her brushing her hair back.

"I'm sorry! Are you okay?" He was red, and displeased with himself with the fact that he actually dropped you. You started laughing and hugged him, which made him tense, feeling your wet skin.

"It's okay Stan, I'm fine. It was fun, actually." You said, separating from him, and started to swim until you got out of the quarry. Beverly following behind.

Stan turned around, meeting with Richie's eyes. He was having a shit eating grin on his face, nodding towards you, who already was out of the water, standing in the land/dirt, brushing your (H/C) hair back, the sun rays making it even brighter.

Stan blushed, and so did Bill.

(...)

Beverly was laying on the ground, with a towel, face up to the sky, with sunglasses on, while you were upside down. The boys were already used to the two of you doing that, since it wasn't the first time you go to the quarry, but damn. They -even Beverly- cannot stop admiring your body, not in a sexual manner, (or maybe Richie does but who knows what happens in that boy's head), but with compliments, like "you have a beautiful body; I wish I had your body" Being a cheerleader does have their pros.

"Hey." Beverly said, making you look up from your position. "Why don't you talk to them, and tell them what you're feeling?" You frowned. She, waiting for that reaction, giggled. "Don't look at me like that, you know exactly what I mean." You sighed. She smiled and sat down, taking off her glasses. You smiled back, and imitated her action awkwardly.

"I'll wait until everyone go. Still I don't think they'll agree... But wait- what should I say?" You said, very nervous, playing with the strap of your bra. She let out a breath laughter, and lean towards you, to start whispering things so the others wouldn't hear.

Almost an hour passed that everyone started to go, one by one, but luckily found the moment to tell Bill to stay a few minutes more. Beverly was the first to go, and she winked at you, mouthing a "good luck".

Now it was only the three of you. You knew that they were very good friends. And it scared you the most to ruin their friendship. You both stood there, awkwardly. You sighed and stood up, facing them.

"I know we are supposed to be birdwatching, Stan. But there's something I want to tell you both. It's really important for me." They nodded, Bill probably knowing what's coming. "Well, uh... I-um, all the time I've been here, as a friend and part of the group, I've noticed all the affect I've been having, being a cheerleader. And I know that there's many other boys that would die to be with me. But I sincerely couldn't care less." They looked up at you, then at each other then back at you. You were so nervous you can barely breath, your hands shaking, grabbing a lock of your hair, curling it around your finger.

Bill sighed, finding an interest in his black shoes. Stan seemed to barely understood, but he was very aware about it. You looked down, before taking a calming breath, ready to let it out.

"I like you both. And I know that you two like me back, since a not-very-long time ago. I didn't want to say anything, because, I wasn't sure about it, and I didn't want to ruin your friendship. You two are best friends, and I'm scared. I- I don't.... I don't want you guys separate because of a girl, you know?" You said, feeling like you had a hole in your chest.

They weren't answering. Just looking at you. Though you knew they needed time to think and analyze what you've just said. It was getting you really nervous, and if it wasn't cause of your nerves, you could have felt the awkwardly tension between all of you.

Before they had time to respond, you said, "I don't know if you'd like this idea, but... I was actually thinking on being together, all of us."

"I-I do n-n-not have any proble-ems with sh-sharing." You froze. You were okay with this, as long as it didn't affect their friendship, but damn. You'll look like such a slut.

Stan nodded after thinking about it twice. He looked at you the same way, before saying, "While the others do not find out, there's no problem."

"W-Well, I'll let you-u be with her right n-now. I-It's your time of having her." Bill said, talking about the birdwatching tradition, standing up to grab his bike, since he was already in most of his clothes. Stan nodded, but you stood there, eyes widened.

"Wait, what?" They turned the attention to you. "I'm sorry but I'm not some kind of object you're referring to." You said offended.

"(Y/N)" Bill laughed, and hopped onto his bike, riding off the quarry, before saying, "You're m-more th-than that. Stan c-can tell too."

nictator white delta

And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful daughters. And the watchers, the sons of heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: Come, let us choose wives from among them and beget children. But Semyaza, who was their leader, said unto them: I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of sin. And they all answered him: Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon each other. And they were two hundred, who descended in those days on the summit of Mount Hermon, and the mountain was called Cursed, because they had bound themselves upon it. And these were the names of their leaders: Semyaza, Azazel, Yeqon, Gadreel, Penemue, Kasdaye, Araqiel, Armaros, Baraqiel, Ezeqiel, Kokabiel, Sariel, Shamsiel, Ramiel, Asael, Batael, Satariel, Turiel, Jomjael, and Tamiel. These were their chiefs of tens.

You are needed.

Nothing is required of you. There will be no punishment if you refuse. Nobody will descend from on high to rebuke you. Really, nobody is even paying attention. But you are needed.

The war is going badly.

There’s not enough -- not enough anything. Not enough time, energy, patience, people. There should be; maybe there was, at one point. But now? The richest country in the world has people starving in the streets. The sky and sea are turning sour, people are inventing ways to die faster than we can give them reasons to live. We are fighting with a darkness that wants to destroy and devour every thing that lives or loves and the war is going badly.

We can’t beg you to join. We can’t ask that of you, that you compound your own personal struggle against the enemy and take up arms against it on every front. Nobody could possibly do it. But we need you to.

The Watchers are a secret hand in human history. They were at the establishment of Babel and Babylon; they watched the burning of Rome and Alexandria. They have been here since before the Flood.

Every agent of the Watchers can trace their lineage back, master and student, to one of the angels who swore an oath on Mt. Hermon. The angels were ambivalent then, and the Watchers are ambivalent now. Every lineage has, over the millennia, been turned to the service of Hell and redeemed to the work of Heaven countless times. And because no Watcher can be truly sure of another’s allegiance except their own master and student, every lineage is in a cold war with every other. When Enoch wrote, seven lineages had already been extinguished by infighting and other disasters; today, only nine survive.

The celestial Watchers face an insurmountable task. They know that the evil in this world, the despair and destruction and disease and death, is not how the world has to be. They see the hand of the Enemy behind it: something that actively wants pain, something that crouches in darkness and watches us and laughs because our suffering brings it joy. How, they ask, can they know such a thing and not be moved to fight it? Despite the fact that the whole world is arrayed against them, despite the fact that they will probably never see a tangible reward for their work, despite the fact that their methods will probably still damn each of them individually to Hell. The Watchers fight to make the world better, or at least to keep it from getting worse.

The infernal Watchers don’t have it much better, to tell the truth. Sure, they can reap the benefits of being a shadowy organization with millennia of accumulated power. Sure, they are even privy to the world of spirits, behind the curtain. But many of them have bargained with Hell for power or money or sorcerous knowledge, and they live under that shadow day in and day out. Worse, Heaven has not left them. The spirit of angels is in them still, and they must work terribly hard to remain fallen.

They do enjoy some benefits, of course. The lineage of Aretstikapha, occasionally called the “birdwatchers” in reference to Matthew 6:26, has remained neutral for centuries and provides resources and favors to both sides; a Watcher who knows the right people can get just about anything they need. Celestial and infernal Watchers occasionally call on celestial and infernal powers, though exposing yourself to either is the spiritual equivalent of swallowing red-hot uranium. There are other spirits in the world, half-fallen things and elemental beings that were never good or evil to begin with; sorcery is the knowledge of these things and the art of bargaining with them.

Nictator White Delta is an Unterpunk game. There are two new Skills: Humanity, which is a Skill of Tongue, and Sorcery, which is a Skill of Eyes. Sorcery lets you command spiritual powers. The actual work of sorcery is comparable to a mortal agent setting up networks and turning local agents by knowing their leverage. A sorcerer must either establish a pact with a spirit they find or become beholden to a pact someone else has sworn (those who begin play with Sorcery may already be part of one such pact). For example, a sorcerer may have dedicated herself to the North Wind and be able to command storms and blasts of freezing air, in exchange for never going beneath the surface of the earth. Or a sorcerer may know the words of command and rebuke that demons must obey, even when they are sent by higher (or lower) powers. Each such pact comes with a taboo or promise that must be maintained or a sacrifice that must be made to invoke that sorcery, and each pact is a +2 specialization bonus in certain situations (as well as allowing things that would be impossible without sorcery). Humanity is less formal; sometimes, angels or devils will appear to you, and it will be hard to remain human instead of simply becoming what they want you to be. Humanity helps with that, as well as with retaining your sanity when you witness or do terrible things.

Furthermore, each lineage has its own Skill which it specializes in.

Semyaza: Command is a Skill of Tongue, and makes people listen to you.

Azazel: Survival is a Skill of Feet, and helps you live in wild places.

Yeqon: Temptation is a Skill of Tongue, and sends people towards their desires.

Gadreel: Weaponry is a Skill of Hands and covers any premodern weapons, such as swords and knives.

Penemue: Lore is a Skill of Eyes, and covers knowledge of the spiritual world.

Kasdaye: The lineage of Kasdaye specializes in Sorcery, and may take an additional pact at starting.

Araqiel: Connection is a Skill of Tongue, and allows you to grant and call in favors.

Kokabiel: Prediction is a Skill of Eyes, and lets you foresee what is likeliest to happen.

Shamsiel: Guarding is a Skill of Hands, and lets you keep another from harm.

???: It is rumored that a tenth lineage survives. Which Watcher it descends from, and what it specializes in, are unknown.

this is the tatterpig codification of the world of maristela black delta, because ima  fucking goblin who does things like that

in many ways this shares themes with cold war in heaven, its kind of like mortal-level play

did you know theres also a mount hermon in california? thought that was interesting. theres also a couple in other places but the one mentioned in maristela black delta is that one

at some point ill explain the naming conventions but i couldnt find a place to do so here

i originally wrote a d19 game called wizardpunk that was the origin of this form of sorcery but honestly this was the only good thing in that so

A Few Words In Praise of Birds

An appreciation of birds and the many reasons why birds and birdwatching appeal to so many people, this article discusses such factors as the beauty of birds, their songs, and the symbolic associations that we attribute to bird behavior.

Why do birds appeal to us ? Most people enjoy the sight of birds, even people who have never been active birdwatchers. Although birds are less like us in appearance and habits than our fellow mammals, birds undeniably hold a special place in our hearts.One reason that birds capture our imaginations is that they can fly, while we remain trapped here on earth.

What child hasn't watched a bird fly overhead and dreamt of being up there in the sky flying alongside ? What adults have not, at one time or another, wished that they could take wing and fly away from all of their everyday troubles and cares ? Birds are natural symbols of freedom and escape. After all, what could better encapsulate our vision of pure freedom than the ability to fly off into the sunset ?Birds can soar overhead and they can also cover great distances. They are privy to a "bird's eye view" of a single building or a park, or an entire city or landscape, making them a perfect metaphor for obtaining a fresh perspective on a situation, or for taking a larger view of an issue.Birds often symbolize other things, as well, such as human character traits and qualities. There's the proud peacock, the noble eagle, the thieving magpie, squabbling crows, and billing and cooing love birds. Gliding swans are the perfect picture of grace and elegance in motion. The hawk is a symbol of war, the dove a symbol of peace.What else attracts us to birds ? Birds have feathers, soft to the touch and a joy to look at. Plumage seems to come in an infinite variety of lovely colors and patterns, from the subtle, earthy tones of the common house sparrow to the outrageous, iridescent regalia of the showy peacock. Birds are beautiful works of art, signed by nature. Their plumage adds color and spectacle to a humdrum world. Their colors may also suggest many different locales and associations to us.For example, those small, round, brown sparrows are homey, comforting and familiar to those of us who live in temperate climates. They are our backyard friends and neighbors. American cardinals and blue jays are highly colored, cheerful sights to behold on gray days, from the tips of their tail feathers to the fanciful crests on their heads. They are a bit more exotic, yet they are still familiar backyard friends. Then there are those birds who live in far off exotic places, such as African pink flamingos and tropical parrots, who sport wonderful tropical colors. We love them, not only for their magnificent colors, but also for their association with far-flung lands and exotic adventures.Birds also come in a great variety of shapes and sizes, which further adds to their appeal. We can relate to them, in so far as they, and we, have two eyes, one mouth and bilateral symmetry. Yet, they are also very unlike us. They have protruding beaks, from the sparrow's tiny jabbing beak to the toucan's enormous appendage. They have wings, more unlike human arms than those of other mammals, or even of reptiles. In fact, when their wings are folded against their sides, birds appear to have no arms at all. They also have thin, bare legs and they have claws. Their heads and necks flow smoothly into their bodies. Their forms create graceful outlines, whether round like a chubby European robin, long like an African parrot, or sleek like a regal swan.Yes, birds are beautiful to look at, but the beauty of birds is not confined to the visual aspects of shape and color alone, because birds also fill the air with music. They seem to offer us their song simply to entertain us, and they ask for nothing in return. Like a garden bursting with colorful flowers, the fantastic colors and songs of birds seem frivolous and out of place in a world full of harsh realities. It seems as though they were put on earth expressly to make life more beautiful. They were not, of course. Their color and song serve biological ends in the process of natural selection, but that does not prevent us from enjoying such sights and sounds. We can listen in on their free concerts and derive pleasure and serenity from the experience. We can also be amused when a few species of birds even mimic our own speech.Another characteristic of birds that we humans respond to is the fact that they build nests. They seem so industrious and we watch with wonder as each type of bird builds its own species-specific nest, ranging from a simple assemblage of twigs to an intricately woven masterpiece of craftmanship. "Nest" is such a cozy word. Birds build their cozy nests, care for their young, and raise their families, all in the course of a single spring or summer. We admire their patience and devotion and attentive care to their offspring. We observe and marvel at a parent bird's countless trips to and from the nest to diligently feed the helpless chicks. Birds provide us with fine role models for parenting.Yes, birds are homebodies during the nesting season, but they also migrate. Birds are free to come and go and many cover vast distances each year, as they travel between their summer and their winter homes. They are social creatures, moving in flocks and creating great spectacles as they fly. A glimpse of a V-shaped flock of geese passing overhead thrills us and stirs something in us. We admire their strength and endurance in carrying out such grueling journeys year after year. We envy them, too, for they are free to go beyond mere political boundaries and to cross entire continents. We up north are sorry to see them part each autumn and we are heartened to see them return each spring. The return of such birds as the swallows signals the return of spring, with its promise of birth and renewal.Each spring we are able to welcome them back into our midsts, for nearly everywhere that humans live, birds live also. Birds cover the earth. There is such a diversity of bird species to fill each ecological niche on earth and to contribute to its balance by doing such things as eating insects and dispersing plant seeds. There are the ducks and moorhens of rural ponds. There are birds who live in the forests. There are birds in the mountains and birds in the deserts. The forbidding oceans have their hardy puffins and pelicans. Even frozen, icy places have their own birds, the lovable penguins.Birds adapt to so many different habitats and situations, including human environments. The often ignored pigeon is a beautiful bird. (I have cared for and been grateful to have known many individual pigeons over the years.) As a species, they have managed to adapt to modern cityscapes, substituting cliff-like building ledges and bridge girders for their ancestral cliffs of rock. Other bird species may be less tolerant of such disturbances and avoid the prying eyes of humans.Wherever they choose to live, birds remain symbols of untamed nature, surviving despite man's interference with their habitats. They remain proud and free to the present day. They are also a living link to the mysterious and fascinating history of life on our planet, as birds are the surviving heirs to the dinosaurs. One look at unfeathered baby birds, with their oversized beaks and feet, and it is easy to see the dinosaur in them.Each of us may have our own reason, or combination of reasons, for loving birds, but their appeal is indisputable  and universal. Birds represent the perfect blend of beauty, strength, grace and endurance, from the cuteness of a tiny sparrow to the majesty of an imposing raptor. Birds fill both the eye and the ear with beauty. We enjoy them. We admire them. Sometimes we envy them. They add appreciably to the quality of our lives and to the diversity of life on earth and the world would be a smaller, sadderComputer Technology Articles, emptier place without them.

Firecrackers - OR, OOH, AAH, How Do They Do That?

One of my most immediate remembrances contains a 4th of June year spent at Annandale, New you are able to city, sitting on a hill and watching firecrackers. The members of the family had a apartment on Woodlands Lake, kilometers and one 50 % away, and we had gone to the show with an as these times exhausted cold organic tub loaded with treats and a package of bananas Kool-Aid. I may not be surprised if this was the first occasion when I at any aspect was able to remain up previous my 8:00 relax time.

Like all children and several grown-ups, I sat stock still with my mouth begin whole time. I had never observed anything like it. Red, yellow-colored and organic blossoms in the sky and uproarious explosions that caused them to be go after my mom's side. Furthermore, toward the end came the murmuring, spitting and excellent great smoky America marketing in red, red and white-colored.

Amazing! How could they do that?

Neither my mom or dad had any believed. I was interested however never effectively find out how everything managed until the component that this year when I regarded the firecrackers show with the Birkenstock birkenstock boston Jolts on TV. I at last choose I needed to know and Investigated up a remarkable website known as howstuffworks.com. On the off chance that verifying out this content will harm 12 several weeks from now's a fun for you, stop appropriate here.

Are you game? Put generally, firecrackers are variations of two regular 4th of June year objects- - sparklers and fireworks - in a papers and series protect and operated by a mortar. Sparklers are truly just little remains of extreme with papers and dark powder wires. They are designed to eat easily and detonate. Sparklers look like maize dog firends, a rod fixed by steel pollutants structured together with a resinous place and are designed to eat all the more gradually. Metal, nutrient mineral magnesium and zinc oxide oxide all eat incredibly.

In firecrackers, sparklers are known as superstars and fireworks are capturing costs. Celebrities might be areas, 3D types, or spaces. They look like a deal of legumes with a sparkler in the center. The sparkler is the capturing price. A mortar, which really is a pipe, dispatches the firecrackers into the sky. Our bodies of the superstar furthermore contains dark powder to help get in touch with off the prices, and steel things help create the excellent fast quick flashes.

The flammable procedure starts when the expert illumination the starting price in the mortar. This furthermore illumination the schedule within the price. The capturing price is structured to go off at the best possible stage where it strikes off the superstars and perplexes them. The strategy within the program will choose a condition of the show. Like a Western toy, the superstars may have more superstars within them, and they with superstars within them.

The most well-known functions are the side, the round invest, the group invest, the willow, the roundel, the chrysanthemum, the pistil, the maroon invest and the courbe. Get more information about fireworks then you can always consider pyroteamdelft briandoet. The side, willow and chrysanthemum are really regular and contain long-consuming components to type streamers. The maroon invest is the clamor producer. Different variations are basically as day aside from the roundel, which is a drift of shells detonating in succession; the pistil which seems to be like the chrysanthemum yet with another coloredcenter; and the courbe. The courbe is the excellent performing and skittering ignitable which creates detonating superstars.

The colors come from different inorganic combinations known as producers. The hardest to create is red on factors why that the protecting scatters so easily. Natural is the least complicated to create and will last the lengthiest. Red, orange, and yellow-colored have a compact lifespan yet are very amazing and simple to create. For the folks who have an interest for technological innovation, red starts from strontium chloride; orange, from strontium hydroxide. Different colors are as follows:yellow, sodium; organic, barium chloride; and red and violet, birdwatcher chloride. Red, the hardest to offer, needs a power oxidizer framework.

There, more or less, is the whole procedure. On the off chance that my Dad had known and let me know, I would not have recognized a phrase he said. Be that as it may, I know I would have knowledgeable fooled, some way or another. This indicates like offering the genie a chance to out of the jug. Once gone, it's never absolutely the same.

Three of my favourite pictures I took in March 2022, month reflections and birds of the month 

1. Petersfield Heath Pond 

2. Crocus at Lakeside Country Park

3. Mediterranean Gull 

I think if I was to sum up my March 2022, all words I would describe it with would relate to one, spring. In my wildlife/photography and all time I’ve spent outdoors, to the backdrop of terrible situations in the world and some challenging circumstances personally, its been a month full of hope, joy and splendour. In some fantastic sunny and pretty warm weather for so much of the time; I have loved starting to see spring time birds, butterflies, more and more flowers and blossom at/from home and outside, take in so many pretty landscapes and sky scenes and its been a pleasure to capture so much of it in photos. 

In my birdwatching month as well as it being a brilliant meeting point between seeing spring time avian sights like Skylarks singing alongside winter species still about like Pintails, I have seen an incredible amount of species for the first time this year getting to chase and see so many targets which I was thrilled with. This competed well with the amount of year ticks I got last March and exceeded the amount I got this February to keep my year list among where the highest of mine in total had been at this stage I ended March on the most species I’d ever seen at that stage in a year. The likes of Peregrine, Great Crested Grebe and others at Lakeside and the gull colony of Hayling Island were symbolic of me being able to observe birds going into their breeding season this month. 

March was a great butterfly awakening with once the weather came on one of my best ever starts to a butterfly season with how many different species I saw, its hinted at being another year where butterflies come out a bit earlier perhaps and it has been so good to have these wonderful insects back and I have been captivated and excited by seeing and photographing them. From snake’s-head fritillary to green alkanet and not forgetting oh so many daffodils which I have enjoyed this year, its been so hopeful and exciting to notice the greater range of flower species coming out as we head into this time of year. Mammals and insects and spiders at home played their part in an amazing month too. 

Now onto my bird of the month which I am trialing doing as a bit of fun this year. What struck me from choosing it so far is I want to strike a balance between a standout species significant for the whole year that I might only see once and possibly quickly in the month and a bird that has had the consistency of being notable for whatever reason that I’ve also seen a few times. I had a few candidates for each this month and particularly two of each camp which I was so torn between. So I have decided when doing this that when I feel its applicable I am going to share my bird of the month between two species one of each category. That’s what I’ve done this month, so my birds of the month are two of my favourites in fact, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Peregrine Falcon. 

On a magical early morning weekend New Forest trip in one of my greatest ever weekends we searched for and found this epic woodpecker which we love so much and seeing is a once in a blue moon moment. This brief but brilliant view of this bird on a branch in the bright sunshine filled me with so much joy and will go down as one of my moments of the year. As a recent post I did mentioned I have rekindled my relationship with Winchester’s Peregrines as a welcome release into nature on the two days a week I now work from the office in the city, and as the pair took strides into their breeding season the combination of the multiple times I got quality views and photo opportunities of them on a lunch time at the cathedral and how much they have dominated my mind make the species a clear bird of the month candidate. I hope you’ve all had a good March and wish you a safe and happy April.

4 of my favourite pictures I took in April 2021

Brimstone butterfly at Martin Down

Wood anemone at Stoke Park Wood in Hampshire

Cuckoo at Thursley Common in Surrey

View at Durlston in Dorset

I felt like bringing back these month summary posts with the month number and therefore corresponding number of pictures of mine I choose from the past month as standouts going up to the number I used to include in every photoset at one time 4.

Well April was such an amazing packed month for me. Despite some colder weather and even a snow shower which presented marvelous landscape photo opportunities we have been so lucky with the weather this month with so much sunshine and blue skies which lent itself just as well for so many landscape pictures I was proud to take this month I did take in some breathtaking and beautiful views both locally and at other beauty spots as blossom, addictive light green and in places yellow oilseed rape has taken over the landscape with nice blue water scenes in the sunshine as spring well and truly took hold. It’s been so warm in places too and I have captured some beautiful sky scenes. I took an incredible amount of photos this month too maybe my most ever in a month especially over the packed and amazing Easter weekend and week off I had this month in stunning weather.

And for wildlife this month the resurgence of my bird year list started in March continued and took great pace. With as of Sunday afternoon when I typed this up and scheduled to post eleven year ticks over the Easter weekend, fourteen over the week off and one in between the Barn Owl and one after the Swifts I got twenty seven year ticks this month beating my previous highest ever amount in an April in 2014. All this allowed my lockdown restricted in the first few months of 2021 year list to soar to be in a place where only in my two highest ever year lists 2019 and 2018 had I seen more birds on that date and there were only a few birds in it in places where it had been behind many of my past year lists for so long. Helping this was a few days with high amounts of year ticks of the ilk I only normally see in January where everything is needed to be seen which really made me so proud and happy with what I was seeing as like I hoped the spring migration combined well with a few species we still needed to see and it was interesting having a few of the winter birds around still too. All of these ticks of course represented both locally and further afield a bird seen and we saw some of the most phenomenal birds of our year this month we really did have some of our best birdwatching times and most intimate and special bird encounters.

In the fine weather our butterfly year went from strength to strength, both locally like in March and on a lot of the special further afield days when I went on to see the common first ones to see in year as everything fell into place from Orange Tip at Lakeside to Holly Blue at Stoke Park Wood. We also delved into the rarer/more habitat or site specific ones as the month went on like Grizzled and Dingy Skipper at Martin Down and Duke of Burgundy at Noar Hill so things are ticking along very nicely there. I got to have some fabulous butterfly moments and take a lot of pictures of them with my macro lens too in so many bits of fine weather which I love doing.

It was also a great flower month for me, from the amazing journey I had this and last month with the snake’s-head fritillaries at Lakeside and the early spider and purple orchid on the Purbeck coast during the week off flower experiences I’ve had before, the Wood anemones and garlic mustard on week off river walks which were flower experiences I’d never really had before this month and/or learnt this month showed flowers something I only dipped toes in until last year and the working from home days increasingly front and centre in my hobby as I anticipated and saw and loved seeing a lot of the species this spring like I would with butterflies and birds like the lesser celandine which turned nature’s floor yellow and it was wonderful to see this year in such numbers a key part of my spring. From the Sika Deers by the roadside on the way back from Durlston and Dancing ledge to the hoverfly on a dandelion in the front garden it’s been a great month for mammals and other wildlife too with a fair few mammal year ticks too and I started my fourth and final year list this month too with my first damselfly or dragonfly year tick in the form of the Large Red Damselfly at Stour Valley Nature Reserve during the week off. I wish you all a great May.

Look ahead to the reveals of pictures making my 2020 calendar line ups 

Please note the pictures in this photoset are not ones I’ve chosen to go on the calendar currently but are 5 reserve pictures for each of my calendars from the ones eligible just in case I had a change of heart.

I am writing this on Saturday morning as a kind of update post on where I am with choosing the pictures to go on my 2020 wildlife and landscape & outdoor calendars which are calendars I make of pictures I’ve taken for my Christmas presents that go on my bedroom wall.

Currently I have my 13 pictures provisionally chosen for my wildlife 2020 calendar with 5 reserves in place, all wildlife pictures I take now are going into my 2021 calendar folder with some “wildcards” already placed there of pictures taken over recent weeks which perhaps didn’t get a fair chance to appear on this calendar as I was stuck into choosing the pictures taken from this time last year up until now. The line up will be finalized really on the 17th May which I have set as my calendar deadline, until then I might have a reverse wildcard whereby if I take a picture I see as really strong and feel I can squeeze it into the calendar and it suits it better than another etc. I can action this, if I really feel I want to do this between that date and when I aim to post the line ups in social media in June I might too but I am yet to ever do this for any of my calendars so don’t really envisage it. I can say that currently a wildcard picture taken in March 2018 is on my 2020 landscape line up with pictures taken on them from a wide range of months from then up until March 2019 so it shows the pictures taken in the latter halves of years do get chances for the next calendar. 

I’m a bit further behind with landscape and outdoors in that I have just put the final pictures I wanted onto my provisional line up with reserves confirmed, but I (from Saturday when I’m writing this) will give it a few days to settle before I start putting new pictures into the 2021 calendar folder. 

The reason I am now choosing and revealing the calendars at this time in years by the way is the hot and long days of summer is a difficult time to be sat in front of my screen picking the pictures and September is when I make the calendars which become Christmas presents for me and time really flies up until Christmas from that point so it ensures I can get them all ready. 

Any pictures taken from now and after this point in 2018 have had or will have a shot at making one of my calendars, just the next year’s one. This year I introduced a new rule that the 2020 calendars had to have at least 5 from 2018 and at least 5 from 2019 of the 13 pictures to keep it fair. It worked with currently 7 from 2018 and 6 from 2019 on my wildlife calendar and 8 from 2018 and 5 from 2019 on landscape and outdoors.

Its obviously the pictures of mine I feel are best quality I chose but its become largely about picking a squad of pictures to come together with variety across my subjects. Every wildlife calendar I make must have at least one still bird, flying bird, butterfly and mammal picture. Every landscape and outdoors one I say must contain at least one landscape, sky or cloud dominated picture and one of my minority subjects (such as trees, flowers, mushrooms, water etc.) 

Now onto the important part, the reveals. On 13th June I’ll aim to do on my Twitter Dans_Pictures post the 13 pictures on my landscape and outdoor pictures calendar in the evening, and same for wildlife on 14th June. On the following Monday and Tuesday as usual I’ll have the two photosets for each calendar with the pictures making it as a post for Tumblr followers and recap for Twitter followers if needed. It will be around this time of day. I’m pretty sure no one really knows me on Facebook on here so not too relevant but my first postings of the calendars will likely be putting them in Facebook albums as I usually do somewhen after 17th May which will in effect finalize the lineups. 

With the Twitter reveals I am changing the format this year and not tweeting all the pictures individually, but doing this for the cover with a note saying what I’ll be doing and then in reply to this tweet posting four pictures in each of three tweets. So the pictures on the calendar for January-April, May-August and September-December. This is just something I wanted to trial really and as I only put pictures together in tweets when they’re new if they’re of the same species or a similar view it makes it stand out to things I normally tweet. It should also make it quicker so if I was pushed for time on the night or had to move the reveals around I could do it more easily. 

Ending where I started with the disclaimer, the wildlife calendar reserves in order of appearance in this photoset are; one of my favouirte birds the Guillemot at Bempton Cliffs last June, Pied Wagtail during the Big Garden Birdwatch 2019, Brimstone at Millyford Bridge in late June 2018, Red Deer at Richmond Park in October 2018 and Meadow Brown butterfly at Standing Hat in the New Forest last June. The landscapes and others are, water at Thursley Common last August, snowy path at Blackwater in the New Forest this February, Arne last August too, a wave at Fort Cumberland in March this year and a view looking towards the Isle of Wight at Pennington the same month. 

I’m doubtful any of these will actually end up appearing on one of the calendars but if so they’ll obviously get a double posting. I have done reserves in the past it just leaves five there just in case I change my mind. I thought I would include them in this post to decorate it and if I carry on doing these for the calendar every year it gives them something tangible for still standing out among a year’s worth of my pictures but not quite making it.