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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)
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
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