SNIPPETS OF WEALTH (October 2018)

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Visible "Bird Migration" please check

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This beautiful red sky is what the Starlings were faced with this morning - Wed 31st October 2018 (Halloween) Hutton Roof (from my watchpoint Burton In Kendal)

I certainly experienced something different this morning, which I have never seen before!

About 2,000 Starling came through in one wave (after leaving their roost which is about 5 miles to my West) and normally would continue East to their feeding grounds around Kirkby Lonsdale etc., just has they passed me at about 50ft high they suddenly they all tumbled down quickly to the nearest tree or the trees of near by Pickles Wood close by at the base of Hutton Roof to take cover (never done this before to my knowledge).  There they all started chattering with a enormous collective sound just like you would normally hear if you went along to their evening roost site.  After the red skies on their horizon had almost subsided perhaps 20 minutes later the birds started to leave the temporary holding area in small parties of 50 or more at a time, the evacuation lasted for some 20 minutes.  I can only think that perhaps the sight of that red sky had "spooked" them! and they were showing that they wanted to get into the "Halloween" mood (spooky)......

Skyskape looking East - Vic Lane 26th October 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Tonights sunset over Leighton Moss - taken from near the Mosses at Burton In Kendal (21st Oct 2018)

Enjoyed a lovely walk out by the old station at Burton, with thousands (yes thousands) of Starlings flying low overhead on their way back to Leighton Moss for their nightly roost.  Some of them formed balls over "Moss Farm" before carrying on. A fabulous hour which was at its peak at around 5.30pm. This was the sky at around 6pm. 

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(Talking in recent days to a Shooter before his first of the year pheasant shoot this coming Saturday)

The pleasant pheasant or pheasants are always stood in the lane,

Some are noisy and rambling amongst the fodder beet

They appear to give the impression they are so stupid!

But so soon they learn to recognise things, like -

the smell of the Gun, and car doors banging simultaneously,

" They are the sounds of the shooters coming after us they say" 

so on hearing this will try to skulk off in a orderly fashion one behind the other,

just like you see a train and its carriages,

The searching dogs will disturb your peace and quiet and make you lift to the skies

Just before all hell lets loose.....

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Elephant found under the railway tunnel at "Burtlands" on way to mosses
Click over to enlarge
14th October 2018

Tuesday 2nd October 2018 - Sunrise and Skyscapes over Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0830hrs

Monday 1st October 2018 - Checking out some nice fungi at the back of Kelker 1000hrs to 1100hrs

I think this might be "Ramariopsis subtilis"

 I think this might be "Ramariopsis subtilis"

I think this one is Wrinkled Club (Clavulina rugosa)

I think this one is WRINKLED CLUB (Clavulina rugosa)

Monday 1st October 2018 - "Old Lime Kiln" at the side of the footpath to the West side of Whinn Yeates Farm 0915hrs to 1000hrs.

Went this morning to check out the Ferns which are within the crevice and other areas of this old lime kiln. Here are some photos which show the area etc.

This photo shows the old filled in Lime Kiln which lies next to the farm track and footpath to the West side of the Whinn Yeates Farm. Note to the higher right of the photo a small open entry which may well have been the chimney, but its a cracking little fern area which can be seen in the following photos.

 This photo shows the track/footpath which runs just at the side of the Old Kiln. When you go by this route you come to a solitary large overhanging tree which is a "Ash" and if you count 107 average paces you will then have arrived at the Old Kiln.

 This is showing to the right hand side of the old kiln, but also shows to the middle right of the photo the opening area I mentioned which may well have been a chimney outlet or something, but if you look at the next photo you will see just what a special place it is for the ferns.

In this particular small section I was fortunate to recognize what I took to be Maidenhair Spleenwort (Trichomanes), also Brittle Bladder Fern, Black Spleenwort and Harts Tongue (Scollie)

This photo shows Maidenhair Spleenwort Fern, Rusty Back Fern and Black Spleenwort

Maidenhair Spleenwort Fern, Rusty Back Fern and Black Spleenwort

Asplenium Ceterach - Rusty Back Fern

Black Spleenwort

Common Wall Rue

Shows both Maidenhair Spleenwort and Rusty Back

Rusty Back

Maidenhair Spleenwort and Rusty Back Fern

Maidenhair Spleenwort, Rusty Back Fern and Black Spleenwort

Brittle Bladder Fern, Harts Tongue Fern, Maidenhair Spleenwort

Maidenhair Spleenwort which I wonder if it is a hybrid trichomanes and also in the photo is Black Spleenwort

Maidenhair Spleenwort and Brittle Bladder Fern

Maidenhair Spleenwort which I am sure could be a hybrid and will seek advice on this.

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Here below is a photo of the area on Holme Stinted Pastures which is fenced in.  Its a small pond area taken over by "Bullrush", but so important for the frogs etc. But also of great interest is the construction of the fencing and gate done in country traditional style.  Here is a couple of photos I took last week.

SNIPPETS OF WEALTH (September 2018)

If you want up to date information on the
Visible "Bird Migration" please check
out the following blog by scrolling down
or alternatively please click here

Tuesday 26th September 2018 - Holme Stinted Pastures, Holme Park Fell and later that day Farleton Fell (Hutton Roof) 1000hrs to 1300hrs and later 1500hrs to 1700hrs

It was interesting to check out the Mezerium on Holme Stints, can't believe it is in bud so soon, usually the flowers start to appear around March time, but you can see from the photos the buds are already present.  A couple of Willow Warblers calling from Holme Stinted Pastures, whilst high above was a Peregrine showing its stooping skills. Still noticing Limestone Bedstraw and Squinancywort on Holme Park Fell. Very little here in the way of migration but did have a pair of Skylark heading South West, also disturbed 3 grounded Meadow Pipits, but I guess the highlight had to be Golden Plover calling from above.

Found several new Autumn Gentian plants on Farleton Fell. Also recorded a Red Admiral.

Later that day decided to have a full walk around Farleton and had 3 Wheatear towards the Farleton/Holme Park top style.  Also had 20 plus blogging Meadow Pipits near the turtle stone. Even more Brittle Bladder Fern

Showing the Daphne Mezereone with buds (click over to enlarge)

Brittle Bladder Fern found on Farleton Fell

With the Autumn Gentians there are as a rule always hundreds, but in 2017 we had thousands, yet in late August of this year we had one, and now in mid September we are up to 6.

There is still some Limestone Bedstraw and Squinancywort left on Holme Park Fell

Still some rare intermediate hybrid "Enchanters Nightshade" about on Hutton Roof

Just the one small area on Farleton

Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Hutton Roof  1300hrs to 1600hrs 

Found this late Dog Violet - usually they have finished by about the end of May!

Now then this is a fine scollie I found on Hutton Roof were you can see a lot of action on the tips of the fronds of which there are 9 and each one have some sort of aberrant make up.  I have gps were I found it and contacted my friend Alec whom I am sure will give me his comments in due course.  For now we have some photos:

Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Skyscapes over Burton In Kendal (taken whilst doing bird counting and general vismig.

Saturday 22nd September 2018 Sunrise and a spectrum formed this morning, just like a mini rainbow

Nice sunrise over Hutton Roof this morning (0700hrs)

Spectrum from the sun - just like a mini rainbow - "22 degree halo"

Later on "Spectrum lines"

Several skeins of Pink Feet going over all from North and out to SE, S, SW

Friday 21st September 2018 - Cloud formations whilst doing VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION from Burton In Kendal. 

Saturday 15th September 2018 - Dalton Crags

Whilst doing the Flora walk for the "Farleton and Hutton Roof festival" last Saturday we found the following puffball (fungi) in Dalton Crags and it was remarked that it looked very much like a lawyers wig!  Also whilst on the walk we noticed lots of 2nd generation stuff coming through with the ferns which is so unusual. eg: Brittle Bladder Fern, Rigid Buckler Fern and Hard Fern. Also there were examples of 2nd generation flowers appearing.  We had a very small and only just in flower of the Hypericum Montanum (Pale St. Johns).

Above are 3 examples of how things are this year - A second generation is coming

through for the Brittle Bladder Fern, Rigid Buckler Fern and the Hard Fern

"Guilty my honour"

Saturday 1st September 2018 - Holme Stinted Pastures and Holme Park Fell and Farleton Fell 0900hrs to 1200hrs

Gentianella

At long last after searching and searching I have found only one Autumn Gentian (shown above). Last year we had a thousand or two but this year just this solitary specimen!

Entering the Stints I had a calling (in song) Chiffchaff, in fact there could well have been two. Also a couple of Willow Warblers doing their hou-whit contact call. A noisy screaming Jay until it heard the nearby Peregrine calling and then it soon shut up! These five belted Galloway cattle could not have had it better, plenty of food and area to graze at will.

Entering the fell I soon picked up on some Parsley Piert which I noted accordingly along with a white Harebell. There are scores of White Harebells on this fell.

White Harebell

Had 3 Wheatears today so they have started coming through now, with two just has you started going up the main track - usual places near escarpment, then another solitary bird just were I had one yesterday at 3/4 way back on the fell. Dont think this was the same bird because far tamer than yesterdays little beauty. Also a party of 10 blogging Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks, and a party of 6 Swallow which went out to the NW. 

Plenty of Wall Butterflies, Small Heaths, Grayling and a single Painted Lady and a good possibility of a late large fritillary. 

Looking over towards the sloping limestone pavements on Farleton, it just ran through my mind, that "I could take thousands of photos and it would never do it justice, but if I take one it will show the way". 

Found a limestone fern hiding in a gryke which still looked reasonably fresh but interesting to see the head of the fern split out. (see photo)

Limestone Fern (Click over to enlarge) 

Been enjoying the search to find the "Slipper Rock", a photo my good friend Peter sent through showed me what it looked like, but again Holme Park and Farleton Fells are big areas, but by chance managed to find it and took a photo for comparison. The old photo is from about 1921

Slipper Rock photos showing (top is how it is today bottom how it was in 1921)

Click over to enlarge

Photo: thanks to Peter Standing and Kath Hayhurst for sharing

Another one of those fabulous Eyebrights from today

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