Snippets of Wealth (11th May 2019) - Swifts//RARE FERN possible-P.Shivasiae/Green Winged at Lots/Warton Crag/S.Cinq/Horseshoe V/Rock Rose/WALL butterfly etc

Saturday 11th May 2019  The Lots at Silverdale followed by Warton Crag

Heard a Common Redstart calling from the small copse which has all the Ramsons at the top end of THE LOTS.  Also whilst at Warton Crag had several Willow Warblers a couple of Chiffchaff and Garden Warblers and Blackcaps.

Several variations of Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchids) on the Lots at Silverdale 11th May 2019

The Lots - Silverdale (Click over to enlarge)

Here are some of the views today with Green Winged Orchida.

Some photos from my last visit of the year for this species, quite a lot have now already gone over and same applies with the orchis masula (Early Purple Orchid.

 Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

 Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

 Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

 Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

Anacamptis morio (Green Winged Orchid) - Click over to enlarge

Photo: The Lots Silverdale 11th May 2019

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Warton Crag

A few butterflies were out and enjoying the sun including the Orange Tip, and the rarer Wall Brown butterfly and also the Speckled Wood. 

Straightaway on setting off from Warton Crag I was into a beautiful fern which at first looks I thought the rare Polypodium cambricum or (Southern Polypody), it had that wide "delta" look.  But it was different by the length of the fronds they seemed almost 1/3rd longer than what you would expect with a "cambricum" which then made me think, hi! hi! hybrid!  It follows that this could be the mega rare "Shivasiae which is the hybrid between both the cambricum and the interjectum. I have now measured one of the fronds inclusive of stipe which comes in at 41cm.  Lets hope it is the rare "shivasiae", already I have contacted ferny friends giving them advance warning of what is on the way! Below are some photos I would like to share with you. 

  Some of these fronds will be in excess of 40cm

 Some of these fronds will be in excess of 40cm

41cm length of frond (incl stipe)

41cm length of frond (incl stipe)

Speckled Wood Butterfly (Click over to enlarge)

Photo: Warton Crag 11th May 2019

You rarely get to take a photo with wings closed! It was taken during heavy rain

Its a wonderful place, I have never seen so much (Potentilla verna) Spring Cinquefoil before, it seemed to be present for almost the full length of the lowest escarpment leading up to the back of the old quarry.  Also along this section lots of the beautiful Hippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch) again stretching the length of the escarps, Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rock Rose) now in flower and lots of the beautiful Poterium sanguisorba (Salad Burnet) in the best of photogenic settings you could possibly get. When the sun is out here is yet another paradise, but! when you get caught in a heavy hailstorm you may feel like swearing! but it was no problem really tucked away under my little umbrella whilst the heavens thudded down whilst I still attempted to write notes and take the odd photo of some special orchids. It's all part of the job!

 Potentilla verna (Spring Cinquefoil) Click over to enlarge
Photo: Low escarpment of Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

 Potentilla verna (Spring Cinquefoil) Click over to enlarge
Photo: Low escarpment of Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Potentilla verna (Spring Cinquefoil) Click over to enlarge
Photo: Low escarpment of Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Geranium molle (Dovesfoot Cranesbill) Click over to enlarge

Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Geranium molle (Dovesfoot Cranesbill) Click over to enlarge

Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Areas were carpetted with Geranium molle (Dovesfoot cranesbill), the rare Minuartia verna (Spring Sandwort) was seen on the escarpments as well. I guess I could go on and on.

Poterium sanguisorba (Salad Burnet) Click over to enlarge
Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

 Poterium sanguisorba (Salad Burnet) Click over to enlarge
Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Poterium sanguisorba (Salad Burnet) Click over to enlarge

Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Arabis hirsuta (Hairy Rockcress) click over photo to enlarge
Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

So nice to see Hairy Rockcress at its best just now with small populations near to the back of the Quarry areas.

Pilosella officinarum (Mouse-ear Hawkweed) click over to enlarge
Photo: Warton Crag on 11th May 2019

Photo: Warton Crag 11th May 2019

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"Early Day "Swift" Records" - Main Street, Burton In Kendal

1930hrs  5 Swifts flying around between Kings and Memorial

0815hrs at least 10 Swifts about this morning could well be more, they were seen chasing one another and screaming with up to 8 birds in one party. 2 separate birds were seen to enter the front of the Royal Cottage. Also yesterday evening a Swift entered the long established "Hangings Farm" site.

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Robert Ashworth's records for Hutton Roof 
dated yesterday 10th May 2019.

Despite cool and generally wet weather some new birds for the year for me at this site. 

House Martin

Sand Martin

Swift

Whitethroat (2 males deforested) 

Stonechat (2 males and female at deforested, also still male above Burton Fell on common/Uberash Roughs?). 

Fly orchid - small number of plants in bud. Lancelot and Burton Fell. 

Robert Ashworth (Kendal).

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