Ragwort with caterpillar of cinnabar moth Ragwort flowers are fading fast and their leaves are munched ragged by the caterpillars of cinnabar moth. The plants swarm with caterpillars in their warning colours that echo the coloration of the flowers. Tall ragwort grows in the limestone clitter. The flowers are past their best for bees and the caterpillars have taken over. I’ve been on the look-out for these caterpillars on ragwort and have not found them on Scout Scar until today. I’d love to have seen the cinnabar moth. So, the winners and losers this summer?
Caterpillars of cinnabar moth
Three years ago six-spot burnet moths were abundant on Scout Scar. Last summer I counted them in single figures. This summer I can find none. There’s an explosion in the distribution of autumn gentian and the plant flowers in thick clusters.
After that horrible day on Cunswick Fell when Charlie the King Charles spaniel ate my sunglasses I’ve been wary of dogs when I’m down on the ground taking flower photographs. For some reason they make a bee-line for me. Today I met a Scottish terrier with good manners and a nice nature. He came trotting up and his owner spoke to him gently and said ‘ I don’t think you can help.’ I’m amused at the notion of a Scottish terrier being my photographic assistant.
Autumn gentian are usually mauve in colour but occasionally the flower is white with a hint of pink. Rather attractive I think. As the morning was dull the mauve flowers seemed a deeper shade.
After that horrible day on Cunswick Fell when Charlie the King Charles spaniel ate my sunglasses I’ve been wary of dogs when I’m down on the ground taking flower photographs. For some reason they make a bee-line for me. Today I met a Scottish terrier with good manners and a nice nature. He came trotting up and his owner spoke to him gently and said ‘ I don’t think you can help.’ I’m amused at the notion of a Scottish terrier being my photographic assistant.
Autumn gentian are usually mauve in colour but occasionally the flower is white with a hint of pink. Rather attractive I think. As the morning was dull the mauve flowers seemed a deeper shade.
Autumn gentian, Felwort
Swallows
The swifts have left and swallows begin to muster. Some years ago, I found at least fifty swallows on a dead yew and I’ve been looking for a swallow mustering tree ever since. Today, I found the beginnings of one with half a dozen swallows. The morning was still but the light was poor so the photos lack colour.
There are days like today when the experience outstrips the photographs. There were flocks of mistle thrush calling as they flew, and alighting in the tops of trees where they were hidden by the foliage. Goldfinch flocks are active at this season.
There are days like today when the experience outstrips the photographs. There were flocks of mistle thrush calling as they flew, and alighting in the tops of trees where they were hidden by the foliage. Goldfinch flocks are active at this season.
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