Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia. Pete Woodruff.
The change of scenery came from a visit to three mosses today when - with JB/BT - we visited Hale Moss on a day not at all appropriate for such a visit as it was cloudy and cool resulting in no butterflies or dragonflies to be seen. The few birds here were, a male Reed Bunting, a young Robin, with both Garden Warbler and Blackcap heard in song, and 4 House Martin and 2 Swift over.
At Halforth a 'few' Tree Sparrows, 2 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Skylark, a good number of Sand Martin were hawking over the high tide, I presume these are birds from a colony somewhere in the Sampool area, and a Kestrel.
On to Foulshaw Moss where conditions were still not at all perfect for the chance of butterflies and dragonflies, though a 'few' Four-spotted Chasers were around the various pools and ditches, 4 Buzzard, a Kestrel, and a solitary Long-tailed Tit were the sum total of birds seen. Despite scanning the entire viewable area of the moss I can confidently claim there to be not a single Stonechat 'to be seen' here today, and probably more to the point no Stonechat at Foulshaw Moss this summer.
And lastly Meathop Moss which produced a Tree Pipit (probably a pair) a Buzzard, and a Raven over, the only butterfly seen were 2 Large Heath. The photograph at the head of the post is of the Sundew on this moss, a plant which is listed as one which should be protected, the pic is in no way a classic image of the plant but it's a record of my sighting.
And finally....
The Phaon Crescent, a stunning butterfly which you can find in Mike Watsons Diary HERE. The range of this beautiful creature is Guatemala, Cuba and Mexico to southern California, east through southern Texas and Florida to coastal South Carolina. It also strays to east Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Mikes latest post is an excellent account and photograph of his encounter with the Marmora's Warbler which is still singing its little head off in Gwent. Many thanks for the photograph of the Phaon Crescent Mike.
A change of scenery eh? Methinks you will be at CG staring at that muddy patch soon. Nice on in catching up with Tree Pipit, they are just so scarce.
ReplyDeleteI'm in with a chance of a piece of CG on Monday but have a task to perform first these days....they say never volunteer and I'm beginning to think that's a bit of good advice Phil.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit surprised about the TP at Meathop, the only other place I've connected with them is Barbondale, but I think also Hutton Roof area is good.