Male stonechat I first heard swift on 30th April, and again on May Day. Two days later swift and house martin were in flight over the River Kent, by Kendal Parish Church.
Days of rain followed by a spell of warm and bright days seemed perfect for rue-leaved saxifrage which flourished on the top-stones of a wall on Queen's Road. It can be found on Scout Scar, if you search clitter and outcrops of limestone. I was surprised to see a mass of red leaves and tiny white flowers on the escarpment edge, above Barrowfield Farm. Days without rain turns its leaves red and this made the plant so striking.
Days of rain followed by a spell of warm and bright days seemed perfect for rue-leaved saxifrage which flourished on the top-stones of a wall on Queen's Road. It can be found on Scout Scar, if you search clitter and outcrops of limestone. I was surprised to see a mass of red leaves and tiny white flowers on the escarpment edge, above Barrowfield Farm. Days without rain turns its leaves red and this made the plant so striking.
I have history here, naturally, so I come to Scout Scar and Helsington Barrows with hopes of renewal. Hearing a cuckoo is good news we locals share. I hear my second cuckoo of spring on May 4th, all morning he is calling. I follow him to the place where I've often found him in recent years and I have a photograph- poor, but sure. I return for the next three days and he's calling, calling. It's an enchantment. I cannot know if he's finding females although if he doesn't I reckon he'd move on and try somewhere else.
By chance, on the third day of seeking the cuckoo, I meet a naturalist friend who is on the same quest, same location. So we walk together. Whitethroat are singing, hidden in foliage. Willow warbler are abundant. A stonechat appears where I've found him over several years. Off-piste, we come upon speedwell and a mass of bluebells amongst bracken. He asks how long I mean to stay up here. 'Until I find the cuckoo,' I reply. Luckily, the bird obliges and soon I'm following his call. He's not far off, somewhere in a cluster of larch but well hidden.
Cowslip unfurl and come into flower. Early purple orchid come in a rush. Hawthorn attracts Saint Mark's Fly. The saint's day is 25th April and about that time the flies are on the wing and they're everywhere. With trailing black legs they seem large.
At this time I've been accustomed to renew my acquaintance with redstart. I think I hear several, fragments of song, but no sightings. Linnet are silent. I hear redpoll in flight and remember years when they were more abundant and I photographed them.
The light on the fells is particularly evocative on 6th May, roving bands of light.
By chance, on the third day of seeking the cuckoo, I meet a naturalist friend who is on the same quest, same location. So we walk together. Whitethroat are singing, hidden in foliage. Willow warbler are abundant. A stonechat appears where I've found him over several years. Off-piste, we come upon speedwell and a mass of bluebells amongst bracken. He asks how long I mean to stay up here. 'Until I find the cuckoo,' I reply. Luckily, the bird obliges and soon I'm following his call. He's not far off, somewhere in a cluster of larch but well hidden.
Cowslip unfurl and come into flower. Early purple orchid come in a rush. Hawthorn attracts Saint Mark's Fly. The saint's day is 25th April and about that time the flies are on the wing and they're everywhere. With trailing black legs they seem large.
At this time I've been accustomed to renew my acquaintance with redstart. I think I hear several, fragments of song, but no sightings. Linnet are silent. I hear redpoll in flight and remember years when they were more abundant and I photographed them.
The light on the fells is particularly evocative on 6th May, roving bands of light.
At this season the escarpment cliff is at its loveliest. Whitebeam grow in the rock and they're leafing and showing flower buds. Tiny seedlings of whitebeam and rowan appear. Vetches flower as blue moor grass grows tall and sets seed. From pastures down around Barrowfield Farm the bleating of lambs rises. A couple of farmers are out with their dogs, driving the sheep into a further pasture. In May, everything comes in a rush.
10th May
A pair of stonechat flew from tree to tree, urging me to be gone.
I don't think I've ever see St Mark's flies in flight over at least a fortnight, and abundant. A spotted flycatcher sat in the top of a hawthorn, watching them, its tail flicking. My images show black flies hovering about the hawthorn, a good meal for the flycatcher.
A pair of stonechat flew from tree to tree, urging me to be gone.
I don't think I've ever see St Mark's flies in flight over at least a fortnight, and abundant. A spotted flycatcher sat in the top of a hawthorn, watching them, its tail flicking. My images show black flies hovering about the hawthorn, a good meal for the flycatcher.
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