Three Small Tortoiseshell feeding on thistle
A brood of Small Tortoiseshell fed on thistles in a wild-flower border of a field between Holeslack Farm and Sizergh Castle. The morning had grown warm and there was a gentle breeze, just enough to make the day pleasant as forecasters tell of an imminent week of exceptionally hot weather. The play of sunlight and shadow over their wings creates colours of such varying intensity but all the butterflies on this patch of thistles were Small Tortoiseshell.
Up on Scout Scar I saw a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, and three more the following day.
There were Six-spot burnet moths on the wing, and a few Painted ladies. A pale butterfly flew across the track over Kendal Race Couse, and settled. An unpainted lady, colours faded and wings badly worn, and shredded.
House martin are returned to their nests in window-niches on the tower of Sizergh Castle. They flew in and out of their neatly sculpted nests, too rapid to catch in images- this time.
Up on Scout Scar I saw a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, and three more the following day.
There were Six-spot burnet moths on the wing, and a few Painted ladies. A pale butterfly flew across the track over Kendal Race Couse, and settled. An unpainted lady, colours faded and wings badly worn, and shredded.
House martin are returned to their nests in window-niches on the tower of Sizergh Castle. They flew in and out of their neatly sculpted nests, too rapid to catch in images- this time.
21st June
A curlew was calling as I set out for Scout Scar. Swifts flew low over the flora of Kendal Race Course, skimming my head as they hunted for insects. As the morning grew hot there was a chorus of grasshopper.
Bramble comes into flower and my first Dark green fritillary of the year nectars on red clover. The species is named for the underwing which, in my first image, appears dark green. There's a softer green hue on subsequent images.
A curlew was calling as I set out for Scout Scar. Swifts flew low over the flora of Kendal Race Course, skimming my head as they hunted for insects. As the morning grew hot there was a chorus of grasshopper.
Bramble comes into flower and my first Dark green fritillary of the year nectars on red clover. The species is named for the underwing which, in my first image, appears dark green. There's a softer green hue on subsequent images.
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