Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Humidity was high and the heat was building toward the week-end. Early morning was misty, with cloud cover and grasses were drenched with dew.
I was on a quest for butterflies. I know the hotspots on Scout Scar and Helsington Barrows, the micro-habitats. Over the last fortnight I've searched for Dark Green Fritillary on bramble flowers and now on thistles where I've previously found them. I've found none.
The gallery on my website shows sightings in previous years, images from several locations.
I was on a quest for butterflies. I know the hotspots on Scout Scar and Helsington Barrows, the micro-habitats. Over the last fortnight I've searched for Dark Green Fritillary on bramble flowers and now on thistles where I've previously found them. I've found none.
The gallery on my website shows sightings in previous years, images from several locations.
July is peak season for a range of flowers on Scout Scar and Helsington Barrows and they're abundant. Scanning scabious and the yellow flowers of hawkweed, hawkbit and hawkbeard I had to search to find butterflies. There were clouds of midges in the humid air, and micro-moths. Over two days I found three pearl bordered fritillaries, two six spot burnet moths, a few small heath and several green-veined whites. The loss of numbers is stark.
Near outcropping limestone there are flowers of thyme and squinancywort. Images of both show anthers and stamens as I've never seen them before. It must be the effect of strong sun. I've seen one faded painted lady, sucking up nutrients from a cow pat.
I found several faded common spotted orchid and fragrant orchid. But, so far, I've not found frog orchid.
Near outcropping limestone there are flowers of thyme and squinancywort. Images of both show anthers and stamens as I've never seen them before. It must be the effect of strong sun. I've seen one faded painted lady, sucking up nutrients from a cow pat.
I found several faded common spotted orchid and fragrant orchid. But, so far, I've not found frog orchid.
'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone' sings Joni Mitchell in the 1980s.
On 7th July 2012 I was on Scout Scar on a butterfly quest, photographing flowers and beautiful six-spot burnet moths and small pearl-bordered fritillary. I didn't count them but they were all about me and I came home with a copious cache of images. My favourite image is published in my book Cumbrian Contrasts, a chapter entitled Wings.
Today, looking-up those SPB images, my best ever of the beautiful under-wings, I came across several somewhat blurred images I hadn't looked at closely because they aren't sharp. But I've caught small pearl bordered fritillary mating.
I look and listen for linnet in a location where I've often found them in previous years. I hear one calling but have not found linnet this year. Redpoll call as they fly overheard. I photograph one stonechat. Look at the gallery and you'll see redstart photographed over some years. None this year. I've scarcely heard or seen them.
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
On 7th July 2012 I was on Scout Scar on a butterfly quest, photographing flowers and beautiful six-spot burnet moths and small pearl-bordered fritillary. I didn't count them but they were all about me and I came home with a copious cache of images. My favourite image is published in my book Cumbrian Contrasts, a chapter entitled Wings.
Today, looking-up those SPB images, my best ever of the beautiful under-wings, I came across several somewhat blurred images I hadn't looked at closely because they aren't sharp. But I've caught small pearl bordered fritillary mating.
I look and listen for linnet in a location where I've often found them in previous years. I hear one calling but have not found linnet this year. Redpoll call as they fly overheard. I photograph one stonechat. Look at the gallery and you'll see redstart photographed over some years. None this year. I've scarcely heard or seen them.
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
13 July forecast sunny 25 degrees
Anticipating heat building, I was out at 7.00 am, sharing Scout Scar with a handful of early morning runners, and with its wildlife. Goldfinch flitted low across the track. Skylark are almost fallen silent, their breeding season accomplished. The cuckoo is gone, although if they bred up here there will still be a fledgling being fed by a meadow pipit, somewhere. To and fro by the short turf where I'd hope to find frog orchid, but I find none. I meet friends who remark that there have been fewer orchids this year. I agree.
To be here at this hour, in a heat wave, is a delight. I sense that birds and butterflies have been on the wing some while. I do not intend to walk far, rather my quest is to find frog orchid and butterflies.
During Covid lockdowns, the wonderful spring of 2020, I walked here most days and explored. Count the erratics, a friend suggested. Well, here's one I missed- a seat of limestone rock surrounded by scabious and an array of yellow flowers- hawkweed, hawkbit and hawkbeard. Bramble flowers are almost over, thistles offer nectar and I spy a fritillary on a purple thistle on the far side of a sprawling bramble. Take the shot, my inner voice advised. It may fly before you find a way to come closer. That first image gives context, a sense of scale a glimpse of surrounding flora with a fragrance of lady's bedstraw and thyme, a herbal scent. A small tortoiseshell nectars on scabious, flitting about my feet from flower to flower.
By 11.00am I'm heading home, having met few folk on Scout Scar. It's a Sunday and nothing stirs as I detour via the new houses for a view over the town. It seems we're keeping out of the heat.
Anticipating heat building, I was out at 7.00 am, sharing Scout Scar with a handful of early morning runners, and with its wildlife. Goldfinch flitted low across the track. Skylark are almost fallen silent, their breeding season accomplished. The cuckoo is gone, although if they bred up here there will still be a fledgling being fed by a meadow pipit, somewhere. To and fro by the short turf where I'd hope to find frog orchid, but I find none. I meet friends who remark that there have been fewer orchids this year. I agree.
To be here at this hour, in a heat wave, is a delight. I sense that birds and butterflies have been on the wing some while. I do not intend to walk far, rather my quest is to find frog orchid and butterflies.
During Covid lockdowns, the wonderful spring of 2020, I walked here most days and explored. Count the erratics, a friend suggested. Well, here's one I missed- a seat of limestone rock surrounded by scabious and an array of yellow flowers- hawkweed, hawkbit and hawkbeard. Bramble flowers are almost over, thistles offer nectar and I spy a fritillary on a purple thistle on the far side of a sprawling bramble. Take the shot, my inner voice advised. It may fly before you find a way to come closer. That first image gives context, a sense of scale a glimpse of surrounding flora with a fragrance of lady's bedstraw and thyme, a herbal scent. A small tortoiseshell nectars on scabious, flitting about my feet from flower to flower.
By 11.00am I'm heading home, having met few folk on Scout Scar. It's a Sunday and nothing stirs as I detour via the new houses for a view over the town. It seems we're keeping out of the heat.
Recent blogs chart field-trips with Butterfly Conservation, excellently led and attracting others who are knowledgeable and passionate about butterflies. I love to learn about butterflies and their auto--ecology, about habitat-management and conservation.
I remember when first I came to live in Cumbria and began to discover the flora and fauna of Scout Scar, for myself. A solo venture is a different experience. I please myself entirely, I am self-reliant, going where and when I will as the fancy takes me, following whatever I choose, lingering as long as I like. I retrace my steps from three days ago because that's where I'll find what I seek, if they're here. It's an immersive experience and I like in-depth and in detail. Going alone complements the shared experience of field-trips and outings with friends. Finding things for oneself and thinking it through is gratifying. One comes closest to nature when alone.
I reflect on what it's like to lead a Butterfly Conservation field-trip. Expectations are high, the leader hopes to find target species( named in the programme) and to share them with whoever has come on the trip- sometimes butterfly enthusiasts come a considerable distance because Morecambe Bay is renowned for its butterflies. When the leader spies a butterfly he instantly gives species, gender possibly, and auto-ecology. He'll take questions but cannot be distracted from discovery which is the purpose of the day. What comes next? When we all go home I reckon we will follow-up the day each in our different ways. Recording data, sharing images. Being a Nature Writer.
I remember when first I came to live in Cumbria and began to discover the flora and fauna of Scout Scar, for myself. A solo venture is a different experience. I please myself entirely, I am self-reliant, going where and when I will as the fancy takes me, following whatever I choose, lingering as long as I like. I retrace my steps from three days ago because that's where I'll find what I seek, if they're here. It's an immersive experience and I like in-depth and in detail. Going alone complements the shared experience of field-trips and outings with friends. Finding things for oneself and thinking it through is gratifying. One comes closest to nature when alone.
I reflect on what it's like to lead a Butterfly Conservation field-trip. Expectations are high, the leader hopes to find target species( named in the programme) and to share them with whoever has come on the trip- sometimes butterfly enthusiasts come a considerable distance because Morecambe Bay is renowned for its butterflies. When the leader spies a butterfly he instantly gives species, gender possibly, and auto-ecology. He'll take questions but cannot be distracted from discovery which is the purpose of the day. What comes next? When we all go home I reckon we will follow-up the day each in our different ways. Recording data, sharing images. Being a Nature Writer.
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