More Epipactis Schmalhauseneii notes PART TWO.

This is a "nearly" schmal - photo taken 1 week ago

Now for me I would be calling this a "nearly" Epipactis Schmalhauseneii the rare hybrid between Dark Red Helliborine and the Broad Leaved Helliborine. Let me try and outline the case:-

First of all it has the bunched head appearance were flowers are circulating the full circumference of the stem and of a thick spiky plume appearance - for this alone I would have to tick the box for probable hybrid - it bears no resemblance to a typical Dark Red Helliborine whatsoever!

Secondly the base leaf is rounded and deeply ridged and of a deep green colour - certainly not typical of a regular Dark Red Helliborine, but more typical of what to expect of a Broad Leaved Helliborine feature. So here again I would have to tick the box for probable hybrid.

Thirdly the smaller darker green leaves are circulating all directions of the stem in a spiral fashion which you would probably get more with Broad Leaved Helliborine rather than the typical Dark Red Helliborine.  This again means I would tick the box for probable hybrid.

Now then with these points in mind, we also have the following factors to be taken into consideration eg: The main stem of the plant, is of a deep red burgundy colour typical of the Dark Red Helliborine.
Also the actual timing of when in flower (in other words right now!),  is purely typical of only the Dark Red Helliborine, whereby the Broad Leaved Helliborine will not be opened up for at least another three weeks yet.

So just on the evidence so far supplied, I am feeling very confident that we have a probable Schmalhauseneii here! what do you think?

I would certainly have been able to have ticked all the boxes, but for one thing! the boss measurements are too wide within the epichile!  The following photo (below left) is of a close up showing the bosses in relation to its epichile of the same plant which is shown above.

Boss ratio to epichile width
to some "falls short"

To satisfy the BSBI requirements of "Epipactis Schmalhauseneii" the boss width in relation to the width of the epichile must not be any wider than 50% of the epichile width and when you see this specimen you will note that the bosses cover over 75% of that width.

So we have a situation that if this specimen shown here is not a "Epipactis Schmalhauseneii" then what is it?  It would certainly be unfair to call it a typical Dark Red Helliborine (Epipactis Atrorubens) because of the abnormalities which I have pointed out already.

And this is the problem at Hutton Roof, there are scores of plants (less than 50) that fit the title of "nearlies" but probably less that 10 in total that can actually claim the title of  Epipactis Schmalhauseneii.

Another of this years
Schmalhauseneii had a premature end
(Click over to enlarge)

Yesterday on checking on the only as yet confirmed specimen of Schmalhausenii (photos shown in last Saturdays blog).  Already the deer has had it, so sadly this one cant progress any further at least for this year anyway.

And here is another one from yesterday which for some reason already appears to be burnt out!  sadly on checking the records for the area and the gps co-ordinates, it's another one of our recorded Schmalhauseneii's.  In the same area there are lots of typical Atrorubens and these are all OK, so whats caused this premature "burn out" I really wouldnt know but probably something different within its genes may have something to do with it.

Lots of other great stuff to blog, I'll try and do it later. (A Fawn, more Birds Foot Sedge, Pyramidal Orchid photos, More sanicle records, Hard Shield with 40" fronds, Albino Herb Robert, More Common Rock Rose records, a new Squinancywort record, Chimney Sweep Moth eruption, more zig zag clover photos and records etc etc etc....

First day checking out Epipactis Schmalhauseneii

Along with others we've been keeping a eye on this chappie!

First day out this year actually checking out the Dark Red Helliborines (Epipactis Atrorubens), some of which had already opened up.

Checking out some of last year's possibilities for the rare hybrid title "Epipactis schmalhauseneii"  One or two today looked reasonable candidates, for the title but I would rather wait until I get more flowers open before I make any decisions, with lots of ground to cover over the next couple of weeks.

Close up of the flower showing the boss size ratio in relation
to the epichile (2014)

Yes the specimen above we marked off last year with markers and gps readings so that we could get straight on to it this year.  You will see from the photos that last year the plant was very much deformed. This year the deformity is showing much less. 

I suppose the most striking feature at first is the beautiful wine coloured petals of the E.atrorubens featuring against the light green hairy stem of this probable hybrid.

The close up photograph of the boss and epichile, along with other

The same plant last year (2013)

leaf structure and colouring etc, would in my opinion make this a early qualifier for the title of "Schmalhauseneii" just what we had expected the outcome to have been. The width measure of the bosses is just below the 50% required.  

And here is a photograph I took last year showing the plant which had much deformity.

The immediate area has quite a few Dark Reds specimens which seem to be following the standard species requirement, and within two metres of the hybrid specimen is two fine one metre high Broad Leaved Helliborines. 

Besides checking out the Epipactis it was also good to be able to record more Ploughman's Spikenard, Small Scabious, a area I had lost from last year which had recently (now gone over) Sanicle, a good 30 metre solid "Woodruff" colony, more Lily of the Valley gps...d, also checking out a Rock Rose colony which was just about the same area as last year, no more no less! Some more Limestone Polypody and Common Polypody, new Bitter Vetch area, checked out the beautiful Squinancywort, new area for Bittersweet. 

It was a dull morning and no butterflies on the way out, however on the return I had scores of Ringlets, good numbers of Meadow Browns, just the odd Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries and a few Speckled Woods.

Absolutely stunning fern

Hypericum Montanum ss Perforatum (Pulchrum)

Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) on Lancelot Clark Storth

Friday 27th June 2014

Set off from within Lancelot Clark Storth with the main agenda set to check out some of the Dark Red Helliborines (e.atrorubens) and to check out the rare Hypericum Montanum ss. perforatum.

E. Atrorubens

Straight away the deer were "barking" at me, could only have been 75 yards away. And "ticks" where everywhere, in fact I crossed through the footpath which goes through "Ticks Nursery" has I have called it and got covered with scores of them.  So it was necessary to spend at least five minutes smacking all the ticks off the bottom sections of my trousers, whilst mumbling to myself "Consider youself well ticked off".

Found this year that the Common Cow Wheat had spread to further parts of the pavements which is really good news.  I have tried to map it out. I also found lots more Hypericum up there and it was what I would have expected Slender St. Johns Wort (Hypericum pulchrum), another "perforatum" species.

Other stuff noted on my travels was Enchanters Nightshade, Meadowsweet, Yellow Pimpernel, Betony. And on one of the pavements I was suprised to find a couple of clumps of the Pill Sedge (Carex pilulifera) (see photo). 

Another of todays Dark Reds

Whilst on my way up checked out several of the Dark Red Helliborines and its obvious that most of them have now opened up with their flowers, so what that means for me is "Move up a gear over the next two or three weeks" because it will be out every day checking out all these beauties on the nearby pavements to try and find the rare elusive "Schmalhausenii" hybrids which are on Hutton Roof.

I also  checked out the small area which always produces lovely E. Helliborine "purpurea" specimens and sadly two of the usual beauties have already had their spikes taken off, having succumb to the hungry deer, but not to worry there are still a few of what might turn out to be extra colourful examples.

Hypericum Montana ss Perforatum (Pulchrum)

Next stage was to locate those rare beauties which would commonly be called the Pale St. John's Wort (Hypericum Montanum), and all have come up again this year.  A couple have flowers just starting to come out.  There is one place with two, the main group holds eight with another single one a metre away, and ten metre away from the main group is another area with two flowers. I really would love to get to the bottom of the story of these "peculiar" Montanums.  Yes they are weird in so much they have "perforated" leaves, whereby the norm shows they should not have "perforated" and also I am told that the yellow petal colours on these are far deeper in colour than that of the normal Pale St Johns.  I have tried to get help on determination before but as yet without success so for now until I can get to the bottom of it, I am calling them "Hypericum-Montanum-ss Perforatum" and I would love to add to that the name "Pulchrum" because I bet at the end of the day they have possibly bred with the only other perforatum species in the close vicinity. If there is anyone who thinks they can help on this situation I would welcome them getting in touch with me.

Pill Sedge on Limestone!

Also today just one Dark Green Fritillary, 3 Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary with one of them very pale specimens already, countless numbers of Ringlets and Meadow Browns. Also some Speckled Woods in or near woodland rides etc.

Also, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap and that was it for Warblers.

Looking more like our Cuckoo's departed last Friday 20th June from Dalton Crags.  Tonight Swift watching with the Burton Swift Group in Burton In Kendal's Main Street - WE ARE MEETING UP AT 2130HRS AT THE BURTON MEMORIAL HALL AND ANYONE WISHING TO COME ALONG WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.

Common Cudweed in North Lancashire

Common Cudweed in North Lancashire - 25th June 2014

With just one hour spare yesterday morning I decided to go in search of the rare "Common Cudweed" which I noted the other day whilst searching a old grown over sand and gravel pit in North Lancashire.  The County Recorder has requested further information on this rare species so that he can differentiate whether the ones I have recorded are Filago vulgaris or Filago minima, of which either are very rare in this area.

I was probably a little hasty in reporting that there was just one isolated plant, because on closer inspection I found numerous (scores in fact), along a stretch of some 40 yards by about 4 yard wide linear stretch. 

Just a few like the ones in the photo above actually reached 3" to 4" in height, certainly none have been higher to date.  But the majority will have been between about 1/2" and 3/4" with some oddities in so much that odd flowers are actually growing on top of another one has can be seen in some of my photos. 

I was also asked to count the "capitula" heads of the flowers and on average they numbered between 9 and 13.

It really is good to see such a large population.

If you want to check out all my Cudweed photos please click over this link. (photobucket photo hosting external site)

since writing the above it is now confirmed that the species are definately Filago vulgaris 1200hrs 26th June 2014. 

First of the year Dark Red Helliborine in flower

The very first of the year in flower

I thought perhaps a visit to the other side (Clawthorpe Side) of Hutton Roof, to a area I have always called "Mossy Stones". I found lots of Dark Red Helliborines (Epipactis atrorubens) today, and most of them were showing there heads to be at the five past the clock position. Just this one (photo above) was "early" and in flower, all the rest would be at least a week before being ready.  

Common Rock Rose

I was out looking for Common Rock Rose which I have been surveying and recording. And today I did manage to find another six small colonies offering yet another ten square metres of spread out flowers.  The sun was not shining today and so I never had any "Northern Brown Argus butterflies" taking advantage of the Rock Rose. 

Also covering this territory I am always on the look out for the rare Birds Foot Sedge.  I did manage to find one new location which has five clumps.

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Lots of Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries were showing and seemed fairly easy to photograph today, but did not have any of the larger Dark Green Fritillaries on this side of Hutton Roof. Other butterflies today included lots of Ringlets and a pair of fighting Speckled Woods and a Small Heath.

A new site for the Tree Pipit was recorded and I did manage to see three Long Tailed Tits in the same tree as a pair of Willow Warblers.  Also a new site for the Chiffchaff.  Also yaffling today was a Green Woodpecker and calling Redpoll overhead. 

Other plants recorded today were: Squinancywort, Limestone Bedstraw, Dropwort, Pignut, Birds Foot Trefoil, Slender St. John's Wort, Tormentil, Eyebright (sp), Wild Thyme, Broad Leaved Helliborine, Lily Of The Valley (gone over of course) Mountain Melick Grass. 

Slender St. John's Wort (Hypericum pulchrum)

This is a weird "unusual" thing, obviously a early day Broad Leaved
Helliborine well grooved leaves and well rounded and well bitten!

Albino Wild Thyme strikes again

Albino Wild Thyme on Dalton Crags (just click over to enlarge)

Monday 23rd June 2014

I have been going up on Dalton Crags checking this little beauty now for the past four years and it always produces the goods about this time each year, but this year has come even better with far more flowers. This photo just shows you the great comparisons of the two has they sit together on the old "anthill".

Dark Red Helliborine starting to straighten out

My main purpose today was to check out the Epipactis to see how they are coming along, and the Dark Reds have started to straighten out and I'll bet they are looking great in about one weeks time.  The Broad Leaved will be another fortnight to three weeks at least. All the dark Reds where at about the same stage has this photo shows on the left.

It was a proper butterfly morning, I had for the first time on the wing fourteen Dark Green Fritillaries on my way up to the Common, also several Common Blues (all males) about three Small Pearl Bordered Fritts, up to about a dozen Small Heaths, and scores of Ringlets and Meadow Browns, with just a few Speckled Woods thrown in. 

Found a new but going over colony of Bittersweet, and a new colony of Yellow Pimpernel. The Lesser Whitethroat was in song within Dalton Crags, along with some Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

One of my archived "Dark Green Fritillary photos above"
they were too fresh and flitty today and did not want to be photographed

How CUD it be a WEED!

Common Cudweed (Filago vulgaris) at Dockacres

Saturday 21st June 2014

Just fancied a another check out at Dockacres and was lucky to find more undiscovered "Bee Orchids" with one particular plant with seven flowers - very nice indeed!

But without doubt the star attraction had to be this very rare Common Cudweed (Filago vulgaris) which I found on one of the overgrown tracks.  A solitary specimen with eight flowerheads.  Though Common by name it is certainly NOT! by number in so far as North Lancashire is concerned.  A clear rarity...

A pair of the beautiful "clean looking" Small White Butterflies also kept me well entertained along with Large Skippers and Meadow Browns.  Serenaded by a pair of resident Chiffchaffs.

Perhaps a "Tease" Spider or a Green Prickly Octupi wanting to play table tennis!

Small White Butterfly on Ladys Mantle

A really interesting record to note: I have been reliably informed that three Cuckoos were seen flying together within Dalton Crags on Friday last the 20th June 2014.

The Burton Swift Group: On Friday last discovered a further last year's nest site being used by the local Swifts.  Anyone who wishes to join in with the Swift group please meet at the Burton Memorial Hall at 2130hours this coming Friday evening 27th June 2014. You are most welcome.

Orchid wonders from a Sunny Lancashire.....Also below Some Bryophyte, Lichen and other Dalton Crag/Hutton Roof records

The last of the Northern Marsh Orchids

Thursday 19th June 2014

Pyramidal Orchid

A friend of mine called Clitheroe Paul came up for a visit and wanted to do some orchid photography, so I took him first of all to the Dockacres to check out the Marsh Orchids (both Northern and Southern and rare hybrids at this site), together with some nice Pyramidals and Common Spotted Orchids.

It was more a question of just getting there on time to see the remnants of this year's Marsh Orchids with the majority already going well over.  It was nice to enjoy the beautiful "magenta" marvels of the few that were still on offer. 

The status of the Pyramidals had changed a little and out of the three previously recorded populations, one population had disappeared completely, whilst another population which only had one flower previous had grown up to five flowers, and the last population towards the A6070 had 7 well spaced flowers whereby previously they had always been closely bunched. 

Early Meadow Brown Butterfly 

Couldn't find any Bee Orchids here, but there were lots of Common Twayblades and Common Spotted Orchids.  

A Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff could be heard calling. Also had my first Ringlet and Meadow Brown Butterflies. Also Large Skippers were present.  

Other species noted were Ragged Robin and lots of Imperforate St John's Wort, Scarlet Pimpernel, Teasel, Forget Me Knots, Thistles and patches of Spring Cinquefoil. 
Self Heal adding much colour.

Carnforth's Bee Orchids

We left there and went on to another well known orchid site in Carnforth and here we saw some of its lovely Bee Orchids and a few Common Spotted Orchids of which here you always seem to get the added bonus of the "white flowered variety as well".  

I checked out the main area for the Marsh Helliborines, which has expected still have drooping heads and will be another three weeks before they are at their best, but still good populations to show. 

Still looking out for the Blue Fleabane and the Common Broomrape, but they do seem to have dissapeared from the site. 

Nice to be serenaded throughout by the Lesser Whitethroat.

Feeling peckish by 1300hrs we decided to have lunch at the "Waters Edge" near to the Dockacres just to fuel up a little before we drove off to the Plain Quarry Car Park to then commence our long trek up onto the Hutton Roof Complex to discover lots more wild and wonderful beauties on offer. 

"Another cracking day"........

A Common Spotted Orchid
***********************************

A Report of some of Dalton Crags and Hutton Roof's - Bryophytes, Lichens, Plants and Insects etc.

"Normandina pulchella lichen found in Dalton Crags" photo: Mike Gosling

I mentioned only last week that I was in the good company of Mike Gosling and Jeremy Steeden from the Fylde who joined me in a short walk whilst they surveyed of some of the Mosses, Liverworts, Lichens, Sedges, Ferns, Grasses, Flowering Plants, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and lots lots more, which they were able to find in just a seven hour period within Dalton Crags and the Hutton Roof Common. 

The three of us had a fabulous day, although now I wish I had taken along my "Latin Dictionary", but they have been so kind as to forward a "great list" of the varied species we saw on the day of which some are extremely rare, some rare and some more common, and each habitat had its varied contributions. They do intend to visit again in the next couple of weeks to check out the rare Epipactis Schmalhauseneii and other Epipactis specimens, and maybe they will add even more species to the list.

So for anyone interested here is the brilliant report of species found so far:

Location: Dalton Crags and Hutton Roof Crags - Date: 11 June 2014
Recorders: Mike Gosling and Jeremy Steeden
Habitat: Limestone pavement and crags, grassland, trees and walls, and some acid (loess) pockets. 

MOSSES

Atrichum undulatum. On shaded mossy limestone under tree.

Brachythecium rutabulum

Bryum sp. Green-red species with abundant red-brown tomentum. In damp hollow on clint surface.

Bryum capillare.

Calliergonella cuspidata

Campylopus introflexus. On old lock.

Ctenidium molluscum

Dicranum scoparium. Porose cells.

Didymodon insulanus.

Encalypta streptocarpa

Fissidens dubius

Homalothecium sericeum.

Hypnum andoi. On tree trunks, very common.

Hypnum cupressiforme var. lacunosum. On ground & on mossy rocks

Hypnum cupressiforme. On trees, banks and walls.

Kindbergia praelonga. On tree bases

Neckera complanata

Neckera crispum

Orthotrichum cupulatum. On limestone clint surface

Orthotrichum affine.  On one tree

Plagiomnium undulatum

Pleurozium schreberi.On ground.

Polytrichum formosum, Small amounts in acid ground

Polytrichum juniperinum On old log

Racomitrium lanuginosum. Normally in acid habitats but here found over limestone.

Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. Amongst grass.

Scleropodium purum. Amongst grass.

Thamnobryum alopecurum

Thuidium tamariscinum

Tortella tortuosa Very common acrocarp on limestone

Trichostomum crispulum

Ulota  crispa/bruchii

LIVERWORTS

Frullania dilitata

Lophocolea bidentata. On old logs

Preissia quadrata. In grike, hexagonal patterning and pores obvious.

Radula complanata. Seen on one tree.

Scapania aspera. Common Scapania on limestone areas. 

LICHENS

Agonimia tristicula

Arthonia radiata. On twigs.

Aspicilia calcarea

Caloplaca citrina

Caloplaca flavescens

Cladonia coniocraea

Cladonia conoidea

Cladonia rangiformis

Collema auriforme

Dermatocarpon miniatum

Lecanora polytropa. On BVG erratic

Lepraria incana. In usual shaded sites on trees, banks, trees.

Melanelixia glabratula. On tree trunk.

Normandina pulchella. On 2 trees overgrowing mosses.

Pertusaria corallina BVG erratic

Physcia aipolia

Placynthium nigrum

Placynthium subradiatum. Not common or perhaps under-recorded

Porpidea tuberculosa. BVG boulder.

Protoblastenia rupestris.

Romjularia lurida Crevice in limestone (Was in Psora)

Rhizocarpon geographicum. On BVG erratic.

Solenopsora candicans

Squamarina cartilaginea. Small amounts on limestone

Toninia sedifolia

Verrucaria dufourii. On limestone outcrop

Verrucaria nigrescens

Xanthoria parietina. On twigs of trees.

SEDGES

Carex caryophyllea

Carex flacca

Carex panicea

Carex pulicaris. In the relatively dry heathy area. Note: Jermy quotes the habitat for C.pulicaris as '...silty soils with impeded drainage or on wet slopes where drainage water comes from calcareous rocks' but does also say 'in Northern England more often found in species-rich Nardus grassland'   

Carex pilulifera

Carex sylvatica

RUSHES

Juncus bufonius

Juncus tenuis

FERNS

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum

Asplenium ruta-muraria

Asplenium viride In sheltered margins and within grikes

Athyrium filix-femina

Cystopteris fragilis

Dryopteris dilatata

Dryopteris filix-mas

Dryopteris submontana Frequent in grikes

Gymnocarpium robertianum

Polypodium sp.

Polystichum aculeatum. In grikes, some plants with huge (1m.) fronds.

Polystichum lochnitis

Pteridium aquilinum

GRASSES

Briza media

Deschampsia caespitosa

Helictotrichon pubescens

Meilca nutans

Sesleria caerulea

FLOWERING PLANTS

Alchemilla xanthochlora

Anemone nemorosa

Arabis hirsuta

Arenaria serpyllifolia

Bellis perennis

Calluna vulgaris

Cercaea lutetiana

Convallaria majalis

Conopodium majus

Epipactis atrorubens

Epipactis helleborine

Eupatorium cannabinum

Euphrasia sp.

Gallium saxatile

Gallium sterneri

Helianthemum nummularium

Hypericum pulchrum

Lathyrus linifolius

Leontodon hispidus

Linum catharticum

Mercuralis perennis

Mycelis muralis

Odonites vernus

Pilosella officinarum

Polygala vulgaris

Polygonatum odoratum

Potentilla erecta

Saxifraga tridactylites

Sanicula europaea

Teucrium scorodonia

Thalictrum minus

Trifolium  medium

Thymus polytrichus

Vaccinium myrtillus

Veronica officinalis

Viburnum opulus 

PLANT GALLS

Aceria thomasi . Round hairy gall on Wild thyme

Psyllopsis fraxini . Leaf margin rolled on Fraxinus, containing distinctive psyllid nymphs

COLEOPTERA

Altica sp (not collected)

Amara sp (not collected)

Crepidodera ferruginea/transversa on thistle head (not collected)

Dascillus cervinus (larger yellow beetle,,photographed)

Notiophilus biguttatus

Oedemera lurida (slender dark greenish beetle, photographed) 

LEPIDOPTERA

Brown Silver-line moth (disturbed from Bracken)

Celypha lacunana (tortrix moth)

Dingy Skipper

Large Skipper

Speckled Yellow

ORTHOPTERA

Tetrix undulata (groundhopper)

HETEROPTERA

Tingis cardui (lace bug on thistle head)

TOTAL TAXA

Mosses 33

Liverworts 5

Lichens 28

Sedges 6

Rushes 2

Ferns 13

Grasses 5

Flowering Plants 36

Plant Galls 2

Insects 13 

Comments

The lichen Normandina pulchella is an old woodland indicator and is an interesting find. It appears to be spreading into urban areas on trees unconnected with old woodland.

This list is very incomplete, many more species in all groups would be found if surveyed properly.

There are no records here for Lancelot Clark Storth Reserve.

Very early rare Northern Brown Argus plus

Todays Northern Brown Argus Butterfly

Monday 16th June 2014

I planned my day to go across the Hutton Roof Common in search of the Holly Fern (polystichum lonchitis) and went to the second highest point on the Hutton Roof complex.  I found very little in the way of polystichums just the odd Hard Shield Fern specimens.

A day with nature can never ever be disappointing, take today for instance on my way over to the other side of Hutton Roof, I called off to check out various things and came across a good one metre diameter colony of Common Rock Rose, and what should be there feeding, was that little beauty the rare Northern Brown Argus butterfly. This is really good news because we are already aware of colonies on both the West and East side of the Hutton Roof complex, but this is slap bang in the middle of both which may indicate that colonies are possibly linking and covering the complete area. Also it was great to find a new area close to the Cairns which again had a further metre plus of the (not so common) Common Rock Rose. 

Also on the wing were several Small Pearl Bordered, Small Heaths and Speckled Wood Butterflies. 

It was great to be checking out all the rare Epipactis coming through nicely and we should have great specimens within about ten days (thats the Dark Reds), the Broad Leaved are doing well also but would expect another three weeks to a month yet.

Just look at the photo I took this morning, showing how close they breed next to one another with just my 6" notebook managing to fit between them.

both Dark Red and Broad Leaved Helliborine on 6" apart
(Click over to enlarge)

Is it any wonder we have the magnificent hybrid the Epipactis Schmalhauseneii, which there is usually a specimen within a couple of metres of these two parents. 

Another great bonus today was to find that the Lesser Whitethroat has held territory in upper Dalton Crags now for over six weeks. 

The Cuckoo was heard calling well on my way up there, but calling with a "poorly" 2nd syllable "coo" or rather "kii" by the time I returned. I also thought I heard a "bubbling" female Cuckoo calling from somewhere close.   Was able to do some recording of Angular Solomon's Seal - four new sites along with some Limestone Polypody Ferns and Flea Sedge. Found a further 8 Birds Foot Sedge (cared ornithopoda), also Limestone Bedstraw, Tree Pipits, A party of 6 Mistle Thrush, a basking Lizard. 

Swift Counting in Burton in Kendal, Cumbria

Rough jottings of last nights Swifts in Burton In Kendal.

Its that time of the year again, when the Burton Swift Group (Jane, Reg and myself) start doing our weekly checks on our local Swift populations and their nesting sites in our village of Burton In Kendal in Cumbria.

We check the status of nesting sites from our previous years records, so we are busy making notes and comparing, and adding to monitor differences etc, and generally for us to try and study our local birds who give us so much pleasure in the short few weeks they are with us.

Last night we managed to witness at least six sites being used of which one was a totally new site for our records.  And even more pleasing was to see a bird nesting in a gable end wall which has currently got scaffold erected, and it was great to see that the birds were not being "put off" by the scaffold and where able to negotiate access without problem.

It is really rewarding watching the Swifts and their behaviour, and so we are intending to do another visit next week on Friday 20th June.  We are meeting up at 2130hrs at the Burton Memorial Hall and we would very much welcome anyone who may wish to come along and join us.  The more there monitoring these beautiful birds the better.

Cuckoo's last days

Its in it's last few days now before they make their perilous journey!

Wednesday 11th June 2014

Both "Cuckoo's" have been seen flying together in the past few days which can be a early indication to them getting prepared for leaving us to make their perilous journey back to Africa.  The local Dalton Crags Meadow Pipits and Tree Pipits won't know what to do with themselves once the Cuckoos have departed- because they wont be able to chase after the crafty Cuckoo anymore...

Well I have to say today was a eye opener, being in the company of Jeremy and Mike who are both biologist and naturalist!  gosh I must have learnt the Latin language ten times over whilst in their company and still can own up to knowing "nowt about it"  far too much to sink in for one day.  They knew the Mosses and the Liverworts and the Lichens, the bugs, the mollusc and top dogs on the flora as well with a Lecturer in geology thrown in for good measure. 

We did the visit to the fabulous "Holly Ferns" and the "Green Spleenwort Ferns" along with visits to a couple of the more spectacular limestone pavements, where I showed them the "super douper" black holes or the well runnelled depletions and the closeby most turbulent of "raging seas" as Dr Halliday once put it to me.

Lots of new species to me! but cannot list here until I receive the list from Mike, whilst at the same time grabbing my Latin Dictionary.