Monthly favourites posts are something that I tend to see pretty regularly on fashion and lifestyle blogs and I always love reading them. I guess I’m maybe just pretty nosey (I also love watching house tours etc. on YouTube), but for some reason, I like to see what other people are enjoying each month. Whether it’s products, experiences, or something different entirely, I’ve discovered some pretty cool things through other people’s lists, so I figured why not do one that’s a little bit wilder than it is glam? So without further ado, here are some of my favourite things from Autumn 2017…

Kanisa

Okay, so she’s not quite a wild thing just yet (give it time), but my favourite thing from August is by far the birth of my best friends’ little girl, Kanisa. The latest little wildling in my clan, I can’t wait to start teaching her about all extraordinary creatures and magical places once she gets a little older. Whilst these favourites aren’t in any particular order, it’s only fair that she takes the top spot in August’s list as she’s an awesome little addition to the world who has taken up most of my time since her arrival. I’m seriously over the moon for my friends, Mark and Kash.

Darcey reached maturity!

For those of you who don’t know, Darcey is a stick insect. You can find out more about her here. This month she reached her adult stage and started laying eggs! They’re tiny little things that look just like seeds (I’ll have to try and remember to take a photo of them), which is pretty amazing when you think about it and only adds to stick insects ability to amaze me with their camouflage skills.

She’s the first one I’ve ever kept so it’s been fascinating to watch her life cycle, from the tiny little thing that first arrived on my doorstep missing a leg to the egg laying machine she is today. So far none of them has hatched, but that’s not surprising as it can take anywhere from a few weeks up to months depending on climate. A while back I even read that there’s a record of some species of stick insect eggs hatching 3 years after hatching due to seasonal cooling, which is pretty mind boggling.

Stormy Weather

I’m a huge storm fan, and whilst August didn’t see anything that came anywhere close to the crazy weather from earlier in the year (if you missed it check out my Summer Storms blog), it was nice to get some thunder and lightning. I always find that storms clear the air – I often get a headache leading up to them due to the pressure in the air, so when they finally come it’s always a huge release for me. There’s something pretty therapeutic about that! With the storms also came a pretty stunning double rainbow brighter than any I’ve seen in years, though sadly I didn’t have a camera to capture it… oops!

Increased Butterfly Sightings

The month started right in the middle of 2017’s Big Butterfly Count which ran from the 14th of July until the 6th of August. Last year I found really depressing, but this year I’m happy to report far better numbers than there has been in recent years. Most exciting for me is the return of a stunning peacock butterfly to my garden this summer. It infuriated me a little by being insistent on only landing in places I couldn’t reach to photograph, but just watching it made me happy.

Wild Alaska Live

I didn’t manage to catch the BBC’s Wild Alaska Live when it actually went out live in July, so it was an August watch for me. How cute were those bear cubs? I was obsessed! I’ve always thought Alaska looked like an amazing place to visit, the views look absolutely amazing and there was no shortage of pretty things to look at during this series! If you missed it, catch some of the highlights from the series on YouTube or keep an eye out for it appearing on iPlayer again (things normally end up back on there eventually).

Bank Holiday Sunshine

Strangely, August bank holiday was scorching hot which is practically unheard of… Isn’t it tradition for it to rain in England on summer bank holidays? I wasn’t complaining though. After a busy week, it was really nice to sit and chill in the garden for a while, watching the wildlife and de-stressing a little. I always worry that I should be doing more, but sometimes you’ve just got to listen to your body and take the time to just be. I need to remind myself to take time off more otherwise I just get burnt out.

Whilst out in the garden I spotted the gorgeous micro moth above. It was tiny, but stunning! It’s known as a Red Comet (Mompha Locupletella), although the one I saw was definitely more orange than red, and is a first for me. I love spotting critters for the first time! It never stops being exciting when I find something new.

Delayed Cutting of Grass Verges

This might seem like a slightly strange thing to be happy about, but this year the local council seem to have been more content to let things grow and the grass verges outside my house have on more than one occasion been allowed to flourish. Letting the clover bloom meant the insects have been much happier, which in turn makes for a happier insect photographer 😉 With the severe decline in the insect population, everything little gesture really does help.

I’ve been pretty hectic this summer and not had much chance to go on many adventures, but it has meant I’ve made more of an effort to take the time to stop and appreciate nature that’s closer to home. The tiny details I’d otherwise walk past, like determined flowers making their way through concrete or the crows that congregate in the alleyways behind my friend’s house.

And last but not least…

Game of Thrones

Don’t worry, no spoilers here. Although it’s a little off topic, I can’t finish without a mention of GOT in my favourites for the month… I mean, where did you think the Wildling part of my blog title came from anyway? 😉

What were some of your favourite things about August?