Tuesday 24th July 2018 - Hutton Roof (CWT reserves with Wal and Andrew) 1100hrs to 1400hrs
Angular Solomons Seal (P. Odoratum) with berries (CWT Lancelot Clark Storth 24th July 2017)
Doing a rekki around Lancelot Clark Storth and Burton Fell. Lots of areas burnt out and difficult to find any Birds Foot Sedge (carex ornithopodia) which was still green, all seemed to be frazzled.. Found a few Common Cow wheat hanging on and in the shade of nearby hazel bushes. Just luck managed to find a couple of half descent helleborines in flower, their plumes were slightly at a angle and never managed to straighten past the 11 oclock, but pretty good taking into consideration the current weather situation. Nice photo of Angular Solomons Seal (Polygonatum odoratum) with its dark berries (see photo above).
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Saturday 7th July 2018 - Hutton Roof 0900hrs to 1300hrs Various
Asplenium scolopendrium (Harts Tongue) var: Marginatum (Click over to enlarge)
Last Saturday 7th July 2018 whilst out on Hutton Roof summarising my Orchids, I found a new interesting Scollie which I would probably label var: "Marginatum" and it is very similar to the one we have in lower Dalton Crags. The new specimen is photographed (see above)
Carline Thistle (Click over to enlarge)
Is in flower now throughout Hutton Roof pavements
A unfortunate Dark Red Helleborine - "Burn" affecting plant
(Click over to enlarge)
This is a small Dark Red Helleborine from the 9s section (9 = very light green stems)
and seems to be surviving because of its shady "nook"
(Click over to enlarge)
If you want to check out the survey work of the orchids "in progress", you can see the outcomes
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Thursday 5th July 2018 - Checking Dalton Crags, Ploverlands for Fragrant Orchids, then back through Lancelot Clark Storth. 0930hrs to 1400hrs.
Called in at Plain Quarry to have a good look around for the Maiden Pink which have not showed this year, in fact all the ground was totally parched (straw colour) and lifeless and other than odd Ox-Eye daisies and thistles and clovers there was not much to be seen - all the Birds Foot Trefoil had gone and obviously so had the Common Blue butterflies which are usually everywhere here. In the margins some of the flowers and vegetation which was just about holding on, I did manage to see several Small Skippers and got the above photo.
During the morning I saw literally hundreds of butterflies which included: Scores of Small Skippers, Scores of Dark Green Fritillaries, scores of Ringlets, scores of Meadow Browns, a few Small Heaths, a few Grayling, odd couple of Speckled Woods odds Whites. One incredible rare sighting of a (wait for it!!) Small Tortoisehell. Just where are they all this year? also had a single Red Admiral.
I checked Hypericum Way and could not find any St. John's Wort anywhere, probably gone over ever so quickly or not even bothered to come out this year. Seems strange without seeing it all growing down the margins of the footpath, up to 5 species here and I could not find one. Even checked out the regular Dalton Crags rare Hypericum Montanum (Pale St. Johns Wort) and they had not even bothered to come through this year, neither had the nearby "White" albino Self Heals. Also checked out the escarpment for Brittle Bladder Fern and Asplenium spleenworts, all had died off prematurely because of this weather suffering from severe dehydration.
Birds were so quite throughout, just one short burst of what I thought could have been the Common Whitethroat, and another part call from a Tree Pipit a few Hou-Whit Willow Warbler contacts, Green Woodpeckers x2. As you entered the upper Dalton Crags (deforested) there was a handful of Swifts and the same in Swallows hawking at low height and the Swifts almost flying close as though dive bombing (brilliant stuff!!). I seem to be hearing far more Treecreepers now than I did before!
Checked out the regular spot on Ploverlands to see if I could find any fragrant orchids, but no luck, so moved across the pavements and did a check on our two rare Holly Ferns. No.2 looks OK and has survived the deer (for now) but even here it's usual partnered cousin the Hard Shield Fern had died back and schrivelled away and left the Holly Fern all on its lonesome, a sight like I had never ever seen before (see photo)
Nearby Odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal) had come through deep down in the regular grike and I did just about notice a small green berry attached! also nearby mass areas of what should have been Common Rock Rose had completely disappeared to severe dehydration and obviously the Northern Brown Argus butterflies were nowhere to be seen. No. 1 Holly Fern has you can see in the photos is only showing four fronds this year where it normally would have about 9 or 10.
Wednesday 4th July 2018 - Park Wood circular - Recci with Peter S 1100hrs to 1400hrs
Enjoyed doing a recci with Peter S in preparation for the Farleton Festival later in the year.
Some lovely views whilst Peter explained the geological paths that gave rise to our topography and here are a few photos:
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| Small Skipper on Clover (Click over to enlarge) |
During the morning I saw literally hundreds of butterflies which included: Scores of Small Skippers, Scores of Dark Green Fritillaries, scores of Ringlets, scores of Meadow Browns, a few Small Heaths, a few Grayling, odd couple of Speckled Woods odds Whites. One incredible rare sighting of a (wait for it!!) Small Tortoisehell. Just where are they all this year? also had a single Red Admiral.
I checked Hypericum Way and could not find any St. John's Wort anywhere, probably gone over ever so quickly or not even bothered to come out this year. Seems strange without seeing it all growing down the margins of the footpath, up to 5 species here and I could not find one. Even checked out the regular Dalton Crags rare Hypericum Montanum (Pale St. Johns Wort) and they had not even bothered to come through this year, neither had the nearby "White" albino Self Heals. Also checked out the escarpment for Brittle Bladder Fern and Asplenium spleenworts, all had died off prematurely because of this weather suffering from severe dehydration.
Birds were so quite throughout, just one short burst of what I thought could have been the Common Whitethroat, and another part call from a Tree Pipit a few Hou-Whit Willow Warbler contacts, Green Woodpeckers x2. As you entered the upper Dalton Crags (deforested) there was a handful of Swifts and the same in Swallows hawking at low height and the Swifts almost flying close as though dive bombing (brilliant stuff!!). I seem to be hearing far more Treecreepers now than I did before!
Checked out the regular spot on Ploverlands to see if I could find any fragrant orchids, but no luck, so moved across the pavements and did a check on our two rare Holly Ferns. No.2 looks OK and has survived the deer (for now) but even here it's usual partnered cousin the Hard Shield Fern had died back and schrivelled away and left the Holly Fern all on its lonesome, a sight like I had never ever seen before (see photo)
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| Holly Fern No.2 without its mate the Aculeatum! (Click over to enlarge) |
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| Holly Fern No.2 with only four fronds this year (Click over to enlarge) |
Showing a close up of the pinnae of the No.1 Holly Fern (Click over to enlarge)
Maybe all the little dots on the pinnae are seed?
A photo showing the back of the plant and the pattern of the "sori"
A nice atrorubens I found on yet another pavement, just has I was heading
towards Schmalhauseneii No.1
A nice atrorubens I found on yet another pavement, just has I was heading
towards Schmalhauseneii No.1
This is Lancelot's rare Hypericum Montanum (Click over to enlarge)
You can see the new ones which are only about 1/2 the size of last years,
which you can see last years stems. Again all signs relating to the
dehydration.
Showing just how the bracken is burning back
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| Broad Leaved Helleborine (Epipactis Helleborine) Click Over to enlarge Here is my first one of the year with just the bottom flowers open as yet. I don't recall ever having one flowering so early in July |
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| Cinnabar Moth |
Wednesday 4th July 2018 - Park Wood circular - Recci with Peter S 1100hrs to 1400hrs
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| Checking out a interesting area with vertical runnels - with Peter Standing (Click over to enlarge) |
Enjoyed doing a recci with Peter S in preparation for the Farleton Festival later in the year.
Some lovely views whilst Peter explained the geological paths that gave rise to our topography and here are a few photos:
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| Lovely Betany just coming into flower (Click over to enlarge) |
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| Small brook below Park Wood which has lots of lovely flowers and sedges which include: Ragged Robin, Water Mint, Marsh Lousewort, Yellow Sedge etc (Click over to enlarge) |
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| Old Lime Kiln (Click over to enlarge) Note the Maidenhair Spleenwort seems to have given up the ghost this year and suffering from severe dehydration just like so many plants are |
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| Stunning Thistle with fabulous heads that remind me so much of bonny Scotland! |
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| This is one of the rare "Field Maples" in Park Wood (Click over to enlarge) and the following photo shows the leaves. |
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| Leaves of the Field Maple (Click over to enlarge) |
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| Peter's latest GeoTrail Book which is now available. contact Peter at peterstanding@btinternet.com |
Monday 2nd July 2018 - Hutton Roof checking out orchids with photos etc 0900hrs to 1100hrs
Plenty of nice butterflies on show today whilst on the Fells including lots of the larger Dark Green Fritillaries, Grayling, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, and Speckled Woods whilst on way up through the Woodland areas.
Again sweltering up there and the heat is bouncing back off the limestone, but did a simple check out of the regulars at 33,55,15, all escarpment specimens etc and here are some of the photos today:
Sunday 1st July 2018 - Hutton Roof checking out orchids with Mr and Mrs. Alan S. 1000hrs to 1400hrs
the Lovely 55a No.2
Recorded for the first time, shows beautiful coloured epichile. It has
arrived from the 55 family which has plenty of Lemon - Petal in its makeup
Plenty of nice butterflies on show today whilst on the Fells including lots of the larger Dark Green Fritillaries, Grayling, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, and Speckled Woods whilst on way up through the Woodland areas.
Again sweltering up there and the heat is bouncing back off the limestone, but did a simple check out of the regulars at 33,55,15, all escarpment specimens etc and here are some of the photos today:
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| This is yet another of newly found Specimen 55 - A1 (light form)(Click over photo to enlarge) If you were to take out the red boss colours you would think that you had yet another rare "Albiflora" with inner transparencies showing. Maybe it's strange that "albiflora" lives only 8 yards away from this plant |
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| Specimen 55 A (Click over to enlarge) Yet another beautiful specimen from the 55 family which shows outstanding contrasting colours on both petal and sepal. Also another unusual feature is showing the purple fluffy bosses set on a almost white wide epichile. |
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| Specimen duo 40 (Click over to enlarge) Sadly this is the state of affairs with what should have been the lovely 40 duo which this is as far as they go and in fact are receding as you see them they began stunted right from the start, but have obviously given up the ghost have been like this now for over one week without growth! reason: severe dehydration. The same is happening with countless specimens |
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| This is Specimen Escarp 12 which is considered a Schmalhauseneii (Click over to enlarge) This one always seems to do OK its sort of hidden |
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| Again Specimen 12 close up (Click over photo to enlarge) |
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| Just found this one hiding behind a hazel (Click over to enlarge) A beautiful little specimen but struggled to get focus. ******************************************************** |
Sunday 1st July 2018 - Hutton Roof checking out orchids with Mr and Mrs. Alan S. 1000hrs to 1400hrs
Beautiful 9L
Today showing a lovely dark lower petal and sepals
Recorded for the first time, shows beautiful coloured epichile. It has
arrived from the 55 family which has plenty of Lemon - Petal in its makeup
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