Viewing page 29 of 191

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

53.

16th Feb. 1944. 

A lovely sunny forenoon & evening, but afternoon spoiled by many clouds over sun - a kind of jam! - with one shower at 4:30 P.M.  Rode on bikes to Knockmaroon & up R. Lippey to Lucan & home via. Clondalkin, but saw 
nothing of interest & had only a few minutes sun until nearly home.  Willows by the river severely cut - for sale in Dublin as "Pussies" & those left not out, with one exception which I think had pollen showing on one catkin & others nearly out.

17th-27th. 
Mainly dry & dull with east wind.

On 26.2.44 a ♂︎ Aphidius hatched from a stung Aphid on one of the Galtee mossy Saxifrages in motor house, but ? whether from garden or Galtee!  Labelled 22.2.1946.  A.W.S.

27th-29th Feb. 
Considerable snow, but none lay in Dublin for more than a few hours, though the hills entirely white for some days afterwards.

1st-3rd March. 
With a rising glass weather became dry with brilliant sunny days & frosty nights, though occasional showers of dry pickly snow passed over on 2nd.  About last week in Feb the first flower spike appeared on the Scilla given me last year by Miss Odlum, but not a fair judge of its flowering date, as I believe I dug it "over" in autumn by mistake!


54.

8th March 1944. 

A beautiful sunny day after a frosty-foggy morning, with gentle but cold E. wind  - similar to most days of previous week, but more sunny.  In afternoon rode on bikes via The Green Hills, White Hall, road W. of old Tallaght airodrome to Jobstown & back by main road via Tallaght & Templeogue.  No sign of bees or other hymenoptera.  In fields at top of old airfield (now mainly ploughed up!) saw hundreds upon hundreds of Golden Plovers, as well as large flocks of Lapwings & Starlings;  & in a field further on saw many Fieldfares in very fresh & beautiful plumage, whose blue-gray rumps contrasted wonderfully with their brownish wings as they flew away from us in the strong sunlight.  Snow still lying on higher hills in gullies & hollows & Kippure to a larger extent moss-covered.

10th-15th March 1944
Cold days & frosty nights throughout this week ended in a wet day, after which weather got milder & growth checked a month before began again.

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed & edited