Wet Walk in Wellies.

Did circular walk around Gisburn, how quickly things have changed since my last walk. Threatening leaden clouds filled the sky, and the varied green hues of the grasses and leaves on the trees have faded now and have the tocacco tint of a summer nearly over. Still lots of swallows swooping and weaving over Franks cow sheds, little glimpses of summer against a drizzly sky. Spooked a large hare again, this time it stopped about a 100 ft away to turn and stare at me then took off again. Photographed the patchwork bark of a tree that looked like the sort of thing you would get if Dr Frankenstein had branched out (sorry)  into trees. Orange Cuckoo Pint  berries lurk in the long grasss in the hedge bottoms and the peculiar shapes of fungi are starting to appear.

Odd Wildflowers

 I suppose Red Bartsia is probably familiar to most farmers as a weed, but I've never noticed it before.
It was once regarded as a cure for toothache, its scientific name Odontites verna reflects this, odons being  Greek for tooth. It is semi-parasitic on the roots of grasses, so can survive in areas of low fertility.
It is a relative of the Foxglove, in the photo its seed pods look very similar. Carder bees and  a type of solitary bee feed on red bartsia.

Butterflies and Ladybirds

Still not managed to get a holiday yet and not been out for a walk for ages and missing my nature fix. Did my usual route around Gisburn, very hot and humid but the Hoverflies, Butterlies, Bees and Beetles seem to be loving it. Startled a Hare hidden in the grass a few feet away from me so tip toed like a drunken ballet dancer till I got to the gate as scared of standing on any leverets. Lots of Butterflies feeding on the Thistles by field edge. Red Amirals, Green veined Whites and Small Tortoiseshells. Lots of micro moths too in the long grass and I could hear plenty of Grasshoppers chirping.  In the grass by the hedge there were plenty of seven spot ladybirds and their larvae and I came across two mating Green veined whites who kept getting bothered by other amorous males. Everything is feeling the heat, the sheep were panting in the shade and the young cattle that usually love to trail after me, just stared wearily. It must even be too hot underground, the rabbits were laid up in the shade of the hedges by their burrow entrances.

Green-veined Whites mating.

Red Admiral

Small Tortoiseshell

Ichneumon fly.

Ground Beetles.

Dandelion Clock.

Brockholes Nature Reserve

We took a trip to Brockholes Nature Reserve on Monday. Its a huge site and the view of the floating visitor centre is very impressive as you drive up to it, like some Viking Settlement with its shingled roofs turning a lovely silver in the sun. There are three lakes/ponds, marshy areas, dry grassland and woodlands to explore and a childrens play area. Lots of Butterflies, Bees and Hoverflies feeding on the plentiful wild flowers. With the aid of my well thumbed  field guide to flowers , I think there was Ladies Bedstraw, Thale Cress, Common Mallow, Tufted Vetch, Meadowsweet, Enchanters Nightshade, Wild Carrot, Wild mint, Yellow Wort, Yellow Rattle, Honeysuckle, Devils Bit Scabious, Corn Chamomile (it smelt like the tea), Orchids and some wonderful tall Scotch Thistles. After a walk we had a coffee at the visitor centre -  sat on the terrace overlooking the lake in the hot sun made us feel a little bit like we were on a cruise in the Nile (Lancashire accents aside).  Theres also a small deli and gift shop which sells bird food, so we stocked up before heading home.

Meadow Brown

Comma

Brockholes Visitor Centre

Wildflowers

Damselfly

Honeysuckle Sawfly Zaraea fasciata

We saw this crawling around at the base of the honeysuckle in our garden. We looked it up on the web and its quite rare. Apparently the larvae live and graze on honeysuckle leaves. We wondered if it had just emerged from pupating as it was lethargic. We also saw a Humming Bird Hawkmoth in the garden but it was too active for us to get a photo.

Honeysuckle Sawfly

Leighton Moss

We had a lovely afternoon at Leighton Moss last week and saw some fantastic views of Marsh Harriers. As soon as we'd parked up we could hear the raucous calls of the Black headed Gulls and could see them wheeling overhead. Went to watch them at Lillians hide and also the large numbers of Coots that had gathered with young of various ages. At the Eric Morecambe hide we were treated to the sight of a Stoat running along the far bank setting off a flock of Black Tailed Godwits. Once they'd spotted it they all turned and ran towards it - smart really keeping a potential predator in view and must be quite intimidating to have a flock of birds running at you. Saw Avocet, Greenshank and Oystercatchers one of which was lying on its back in the sun - sunbathing? We went to the next hide along and the Stoat turned up again, investigating holes in the bank, probably for voles. On a little island we watched one adult Heron with two very teenage looking young, wilting in the sun, eventually one lay down in the grass. Late afternoon at the Causeway hide and we saw Marsh Harriers making food passes and some spectacular stoops. I think we also saw a Black Tailed Skimmer sunning itself on the hide, no expert though, but using a very useful FSC guide to Dragonflies we'd just bought in the shop!

Marsh Harrier

Black Tailed Godwits 

Black Tailed Skimmer ( I think)