Rosebay willowherb and old barn, 12 August Nature has regenerated along a dismantled railway track, now Smardale National Nature Reserve. Embankments topped with flowers, rank in August, bedraggled after a searing heat-wave and early morning rain. Greater burnet with petals a rich atro-purpurea, so dark and dense they might be mistaken for seed-heads. Mingling by turns with tall scabious, with purple knapweed, with rosebay willowherb and greater willowherb.
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On a field-trip with a butterfly focus I hope to photograph close-ups of butterflies. But the experience of the day is rather different from what the images might suggest. A heavy shower at breakfast, low cloud lingering over the fells as we set out, raindrops on vegetation. It takes a while for even a single green-veined white to appear. Meanwhile we focus on flora, the massed flowers of the embankments. A few day–flying moths, when no other butterfly has yet stirred. It’s not a day when the air is thick with butterflies, too lingering wet for that. But as the sun peeped forth they began to seek nectar on the flowers of the embankment. The photographer's intention is to show butterflies well. The butterfly's survival strategy is to hide from predators. The Scotch Argus, below, seems to have had too close an encounter with a bird which pecked a chunk out of a wing. Some of our butterflies were yards away, deep in flowers, or restless and on the wing. We reached Smardalegill Viaduct along with a painted lady, and this butterfly was close, and lingered. Our focus was butterflies but the flowers attracted other pollinators: bees, hoverflies and other tiny flies.
Beside the dismantled railway line there’s what was a railwayman’s house, I believe. Ground floor windows bricked up, doors padlocked to keep out vandals. Welcome wildlife: upper windows open for the swallows we see and hear all day, with perches to admit owls. Hope they’ve taken up residence.
It’s the season of fruits and seed-heads. Historically, field-guides focus on the flower and it’s difficult to find much on developing seed-dispersal mechanisms. I’ve always found them fascinating: their intricate structure and how they disperse.
Too late for the magenta flowers of bloody cranesbill, but their seed-heads are striking.
It’s the season of fruits and seed-heads. Historically, field-guides focus on the flower and it’s difficult to find much on developing seed-dispersal mechanisms. I’ve always found them fascinating: their intricate structure and how they disperse.
Too late for the magenta flowers of bloody cranesbill, but their seed-heads are striking.
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