Saxon Sceat

 

Sceat Series J, type 37

This is an article I submitted to Searcher Magazine for the May 2025 edition:-

Over the years I have sometimes come away from a Mid Week Searchers dig in Hampshire with nothing interesting but have always been delighted to see other people's wonderful finds. February 27th was my day! Having found 4 musket balls, a Rose farthing and a decorated button in the morning fields, I had some lunch and made my way to a new field. Once again it was easy detecting and digging but not many targets. Then something amazing happened and I can't even remember what the signal was like! All I know is that it was diggable and when isolated in the soil the target looked like a small hammered farthing. After a water squirt and gentle brush I realised I had something exceptional! Using the Google lens app I saw lots of sceats with "Two diademed busts, facing each other" but couldn't see a similar reverse. I realised I would have to open my "Sceatta List" by Tony Abramson when I got home.I took the obligatory photos and posted them on the club page, then saved the What3Words location for PAS. I deliberately did not look at the comments as I knew people would identify it for me, but I wanted the fun of doing it myself before seeing the verifications. It was a pleasure to show the sceat to everyone who wanted to see it. My buddy Jim took some "grinning me" photos - he has appeared in Searcher himself with some great finds on MWS digs - we go regularly on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Sceat is a Series J type 37 c.710-725AD (PAS no: SUR-55C001). There are other Sceats which have two opposing heads but no authority has identified the significance of these in the Dark Ages. There are also reverses with 4 stylised birds going in the opposite direction to mine. That Thursday is a day I will never forget! 

British Museum database: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1206685

Fitwilliam Museum database: https://emc.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/full-record/20250061

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing returns

 

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing

This morning I had the magical experience of finding a Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing in my moth trap. What a stunner! Strangely in 2 previous years I have had one at the same time of year: 30 Aug 2018 and 31 Aug 2019

Clifden Nonpareil on Nemesia after release

Foxes and a Bittern

Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes

 to view a gallery with more photos, click here

This morning I spotted a pair of foxes basking in the sun below our flat. I saw one Sunday morning at 7am trotting along in the drive but it saw me and turned round.

 During the morning I received a call from Southern Foam to say our sofa and armchair cushions were ready after having new foam fitted. We have been using our balcony chairs for the past week, very confortable but not the same! They've done an excellent job.

 At lunchtime I spotted an Arundel WWT post on FB saying a bittern had been spotted by staff early in the morning so I headed off to Arundel and the Scrape Hide, without much hope. "We've seen it a few times this afternoon" I was told, "the last time 5 minutes before you came in"! Before long there were excited whispers and the bird appeared at the front of a far reed bed, then disappeared and reappeared a couple of times during the next 30 minutes. It was too far way for a good photo with my 300mm lens, but I had some great views of it with the binoculars. A first for me, very satisfied!

Bittern, Botaurus stellaris