Common cotton grass, Eriophorum angustifolium 20 April Larksong and sedge flowers: that's my April motif from walking the Cawdale Round. Sedges yellow with pollen and skylark nesting on the ground amongst them. All day through a chill wind the surround of lark song. Common cotton grass flowers beside an upland pool and hare's-tail cotton grass, its tussocks still winter-brown. More and more as we climb. In summer, the fells will be white with their plumy seed-heads. Spring comes late to the fells and this is the season of sedge flowers. And the colourful and intricate sphaghum mosses which I love.
On 22 April, on Scout Scar, eager to find spring migrants. Willow warbler singing everywhere. No sign of the cuckoo yet, nor of redstart whose arrival is imminent. I hear lesser redpoll in flight. If I've heard linnet it's been elusive and I'm eager to confirm their presence. I know where they nest. There's lark song and pipits singing.
It's a remarkable spring for the flowers of European larch. I always look out for the female flowers which are so striking. I've never seen them crowding the branches. I hoped to photograph cone and flower together and today it's easy.
It's a remarkable spring for the flowers of European larch. I always look out for the female flowers which are so striking. I've never seen them crowding the branches. I hoped to photograph cone and flower together and today it's easy.
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