The woodland fringe where SIlver Washed Fritillary show Hearing that Silver Washed Fritillary had been seen, we went to look for them. A large, orange butterfly they can be seen flying against the deep shadow of the woodland fringe, over sunlit bracken and flowering hemp agrimony. Today, they were active and rarely settling. Emerging from the shadows, they favoured flowers close to an ash.
Look centre of this image, just left of the tree trunk and there's a Silver Washed Fritillary, its wings poised at an angle, half-open. I cropped the image to show it more clearly but then it's almost out of focus.
Look centre of this image, just left of the tree trunk and there's a Silver Washed Fritillary, its wings poised at an angle, half-open. I cropped the image to show it more clearly but then it's almost out of focus.
Finding a way to Brigsteer Wood ( the bridge being closed indefinitely) we see a party of school children being escorted from Helsington Laithes up a track toward Scout Scar. They're all in high viz jackets. Not sure how they reached this point because access to this track along the A 591 is 'unsafe and unpleasant, don't do it' says my good friend. There are no alternative routes for walkers, runners and cyclists. We are not a priority to Westmorland and Furness Council.
The day was warm, flowers abundant. We wore boots, knowing the track can be muddy. That's the charm of this place, you feel the earth beneath your feet and there's a fragrance of water mint. It's a sunlit butterfly ride and butterflies, dragonflies and damsels settle on dried mud and pebbles and on tall flowers that spill onto the track. Not now. A firm gravel track has been constructed and the sense of naturalness is lost. Vegetation has been cleared right back and we ponder the impact of all this work on sensitive habitat. And on hydrology, water tracks trickled down across the muddy track to the peat of the Lyth Valley. Where will that water go in winter storms?
There are several butterfly glades where we watch butterflies flitting over flowers. I see Silver Washed Fritillary in flight, then they come down amongst bracken and hemp agrimony and I can't find them - but my camera can. Back home, I scan images for a hint of deep gold and I find two. Next time, if the sun shines, if they settle I might do better. For the time being the aura of butterflies is delightful.
There are several butterfly glades where we watch butterflies flitting over flowers. I see Silver Washed Fritillary in flight, then they come down amongst bracken and hemp agrimony and I can't find them - but my camera can. Back home, I scan images for a hint of deep gold and I find two. Next time, if the sun shines, if they settle I might do better. For the time being the aura of butterflies is delightful.
RSS Feed