Chris Doward
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chrisdoward.bsky.social
Chris Doward
@chrisdoward.bsky.social
88 followers 240 following 130 posts
Born in South London. Moved from Southwark to Norfolk many moons ago. Will probably end up posting mostly the landscape around Sheringham.

The penny dropped and the mechanism emitted a faint whirring noise.
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chrisdoward.bsky.social
A few photos from around Sheringham this morning, 05/01/26. Before and during the snow shower around 09:30. About 5mm fell. @icelass.bsky.social @metoffice.gov.uk
Monochrome image of 'waves' of ice at the east end of Sheringham Boating Lake, 05/01/26. After north-westerly winds over the last few days, the water has frozen over most of the lake, with the ice at east end formed into ripples which look like waves frozen in ice. Sun light reflecting off a window shining on the frozen waters of Sheringham Boating Lake, 05/01/26. Even though the photo was taken around 09:15 this morning, it looks like it could be around dusk. The water in the top right corner of the photo, south-west corner of the boating lake has not frozen over. Greater Anglia Class 755/3 unit 755328 in the snow at Sheringham station, 05/01/26, waiting for departure with the 2S09 09:43 train to Norwich. A robin perched on the edge of a snow cover frozen birdbath in our backgarden in Sheringham, 05/01/26.
January 5, 2026 at 10:55 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
I'm not a birder really but living in North Norfolk you are in birding country. I spent I while wondering around looking for the Eastern Black Redstart but then it appeared around 09:50, Sheringham, 30/12/25. @icelass.bsky.social
Eastern Black Redstart at rest on top of a satellite dish on the southern sunny side of a building in Sheringham, 30/12/25. Crop of the previous image showing the Eastern Black Redstart. The bird is just to left of middle with its' tail pointing to the right.
December 30, 2025 at 11:08 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Poppies in the morning sun, Weybourne Station, North Norfolk Railway. 18/10/25. @icelass.bsky.social
Poppies catching the morning sun, Weybourne Station, 18/10/25. Poppies catching the morning sun, Weybourne Station, 18/10/25. A zoomed in photo of poppies catching the morning sun, Weybourne Station, 18/10/25.
October 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Seeing we're on a Class 87 theme, here's one of my favourite photos: 87006 'City of Glasgow' heading north from platform 5 at Crewe after being detached from its' train on a Sunday around 36 years ago. @doublearrow64.bsky.social
87006 'City of Glasgow' leaving platform 5 at Crewe light engine on a Sunday after working a train from London Euston. 87006 is heading for the Manchester lines which head off to the right of the picture. Photo probably taken around midday as the sun is pretty much head on to the rear cab. Loco in early Inter-City livery, with yellow ends and a BR double arrow just visible on the bodyside of 87006. The West Coast Main Line to Liverpool and Scotland disappears into the distance to the right of 87006. Lots of structures to support the overhead wires are visible. 87006 is framed between the post of signal CE157, shunt signal visible, and a stanchion on the right.
October 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
The loco behind 87030 in the previous photo is 87027 'Wolf of Badenoch'
Class 87 locomotives 87027 'Wolf of Badenoch' and 87030 'Black Douglas' at Euston around 1990. Both locomotives are in early versions of Inter-City livery, which the band extending around the cab of 87027, where 87030 has full yellow ends up to the front windows. 87027 has normal size numbers, while 87030 has larger ones.
October 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
My photo of 87030 at Euston, probably 1990/91, with large numbers and a larger arrow symbol than 87021 just visible in the gloom. I'm sure I've got a colour photo of 87030 from May 1990 but that may be lost in the mists of time.
Black and white photo of Class 87 87030 'Black Douglas' just peaking from the gloom at London Euston around 1990/1991. The 87 is in Inter-City livery with a full yellow end and large numerals on the cab beneath the driver's window. BR double-arrow symbol just visilbe in the gloom, centre-right of the photo.
October 15, 2025 at 11:36 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Raindrops on nasturtium leaves. 08/10/25.
Monochrome image of raindrops on a nasturtium leaf, 08/10/25. Leaf fills up most of the photo, with the stalk at the right end of the photo with veins radiating out from it. A large water droplet fills where the stalk meets the leaf. Various droplets of a large size line the vein heading out to the left, surrounded by lots of smaller droplets. Monchrome image of water droplets on a nasturtium leaf, 08/10/25. A large droplet has formed where the leaf joins the stalk and veins radiate out. At the far left are a large number of droplets of various sizes.
October 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
@simonhendy.bsky.social @lunacytowers.bsky.social Dame Aunty Susan has received her package and would like to thank M'Lord and M'Lady for the thought. She was heard to exclaim "It's an real buscuit tin" I think she is going to enjoy it. Thank you, both.
Note my Mum received with her package.
July 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Whilst I was up on Skelding Hill, Sheringham, 15/07/25, looking for ladybirds I was treated to the sight of a pair of red kites overhead. This one was directly overhead for a short while before flying off east. @icelass.bsky.social
The underside of a red kite circling briefly over Skelding Hill, Sheringham, 15/07/25, against a backdrop of blue sky.
July 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Now for the addendum. I took this photo of a group of six seven-spot ladybirds on gorse, near to where i found the first two. I didn't notice until I uploaded the photo that there where a couple of dinocampus coccinellae wasps crawling around too.
A group of six seven-spot ladybirds grouped around the top of a gorse stalk, Skelding Hill, Sheringham, 15/07/25. There is a presumed dinocampus coccinellae wasp on a leaf above the seven-spot ladybird that is furthest right. There also is a second wasp crawling over the shell of the ladybird at the bottom.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
I went back up again mid-morning, 15/07/25, to see if the ladybirds were still on the end of the gorse stalk. They were, although one of the seven-spots was now on top of one of the others. There looks to be a dinocampus coccinellae wasp bottom right. 5/
I went back up again mid-morning, 15/07/25, to see if the ladybirds were still on the end of the gorse stalk. They were, although one of the seven-spots was now on top of one of the others. There looks to be a dinocampus coccinellae wasp bottom right.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Three seven-spot ladybirds grouped around the top of a gorse stalk. There is a presumed dinocampus cocinelleae wasp crawling over the pronotum of the bottom ladybird.
Three seven-spot ladybirds grouped around the top of a gorse stalk. There is a presumed dinocampus cocinelleae wasp crawling over the pronotum of the bottom ladybird.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Shortly after a third seven-spot ladybird appeared and crawled up the gorse stalk to where the other two seven-spots were. 3/
Shortly after a third seven-spot ladybird appeared and crawled up the gorse stalk to where the other two seven-spots were. The first two seven-spot ladybirds found are in the foreground top left with the photo, with a presumed dinocampus cocinellae wasp crawling over the left of the two seven-spots. The third ladybird is approaching underneath the ladybird on the right.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
I soon noticed that there little insects crawling over the two ladybirds, which I believe are the parasitic wasp dinocampus coccinellae. I believe the first time I have ever seen this happen. 2/
I soon noticed that there little insects crawling over the two ladybirds, which I believe are the parasitic wasp dinocampus coccinellae. There is one wasp that is spanning pretty much the pronotums of the two ladybirds. There is a second one around the right edge of the pronotum of the ladybird on the left but it is slightly obscured by the glare of the moring sun.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Right, a little thread coming with an small addendum at the end, concerning ladybirds seen this morning on Skelding Hill, Sheringham, 15/07/25 @ukladybirds.bsky.social Details in captions.
It starts with finding these two seven-spot ladybirds grouped around the top of a stalk of gorse on Skelding Hill, Sheringham, 15/07/25. They look like they are kissing, with their pronotum facing each other.
July 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
At 08:13, the large white butterfly was still resting on the window frame. By 08:50, it had taken flight and so end this thread.
Recently emerged large white butterfly resting on a white pvc window frame, Butterfly is facing towards the top of the photo with its' wings closed. Lit by the sunshine, its' shadow is visible to the right.
July 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
And this is what I found when I returned at 06:53, 10/07/25: The large white butterfly has emerged from its' chrysalis and is now resting on the frame above. The empty chrysalis is visible at bottom right.
And this is what I found when I returned at 06:53, 10/07/25: The large white butterfly has emerged from its' chrysalis and is now resting on the frame above. The empty chrysalis is visible at bottom right.
July 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
And there is more: At 05:42 the large white butterfly chrysalis was still intact at the front of our house. There is more of a yellow colour visible on the edge @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Chrysalis of a large white butterfly pupa seen at 05:42, 10/07/25. There is a yellow edging visible on the chrysalis, but otherwise the chrysalis is still intact apart from a couple of legs sticking out on either side.
July 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
We occasionally get ladybirds landing on leaves that turn up in the bird bath in our garden, like this seven-spot on Monday. Was safely transferred to dry land. @ukladybirds.bsky.social
Seven-spot ladybird seen floating on a buddleia leaf that had fallen into the bird bath in our garden. Ladybird is pointing with its pronotum to the right. Front three-quarter view of a seven-spot ladybird floating on a buddleia leaf that had fallen into the bird bath in our garden. The ladybird is very slightly submerged, as the buddleia leaf is under the surface. The ladybird was moved safely to dry land.
July 9, 2025 at 5:53 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
This is the view of the left side of the cocoon of the large white butterfly. The most interesting thing for me is the left wing being visible on the top half. You can see the black spots curving up towards the middle. There is also a white leg sticking out.
This is the view of the left side of the cocoon of the large white butterfly. The most interesting thing for me is the left wing being visible on the top half. You can see the black spots curving up towards the middle. There is also a white leg sticking out.
July 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
So, now we come to today, 09/07/25, and at about 10:25, things are starting to happen. The cocoon has darkened and if you look closely you can see a couple of legs protuding out along the right side of the cocoon about one third way down from the top.
Cocoon of a large white butterlfy during its' metamorphosis from a caterpillar. The cocoon is know a dull brown still speckled with black spots. There are two legs sticking out on the right side of the cocoon about one third of the way down from the top.
July 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
By 27/06/25, the caterpillar had become a pupa, in its' cocoon on the window at the front of our house
The pupa of large white butterfly caterpillar during its' process of metamorphosis from a caterpillar into a butterfly. The cocoon is white with black spots spread across it.
July 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
A little thread coming up: Returning home on 25/06/25, I found a large white butterfly caterpillar on the frame of a window at the front of our house. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A large white butterfly on a white PVC window frame. The top is white speckled with black spots and a pale green along the sides.
July 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
An eleven-spot ladybird against the white background of a concrete post, The Esplanade, Sheringham, 06/07/25. 8/8
An eleven-spot ladybird against the white background of a concrete post, The Esplanade, Sheringham, 06/07/25.
July 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
chrisdoward.bsky.social
Twenty-one seven-spot ladybirds on a concrete at the west end of The Esplanade, Sheringham, 06/07/25. Most of the ladybirds found were at the west end, near the boating lake. 7/8
Twenty-one seven-spot ladybirds on a concrete at the west end of The Esplanade, Sheringham, 06/07/25. Most of the ladybirds found were at the west end, near the boating lake.
July 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM