1st March 2021 - So Whats been happening this week (first scollie rosettes - Lots of Chiffchaff reports - Mezereone on its way etc)

 

Well it's that time of year when it is smart! just like the very first day of Spring (1st March).

Sunday 28th February 2021.

Mollie the Scollie was found yesterday - 28th February 2021  so so early, well at least by a week or two for my records. Here are a couple of photos

Asplenium scolopendrium (Harts Tongue Fern) Dalton Crags 28th Feb 2021

"I climbed up to see Mollie the Scollie,

with her little nest of pearls,
who's always no.1 and cannot
wait to tell you its the first day of spring!
Ding a ling a ling.

She will unravel and stretch 

so she can be told

a "Harts Tongue" to behold"

Its lovely seeing the very first scollies, and then to watch them unravel over the coming month into little fronds with curled over ends...for me the very first fern of the year. 

Also noted two singing Song Thrush on territories, one in the area from Nineteen trees heading up to the Crags, and one in the woodland side of the Crags (deforested). A small group of 3 Stonechat in the Crags (deforested)

1st March 2021 - Daphne Mezereone - Holme Stinted Pastures

Daphne Mezereone in Holme Stinted Pastures - Hutton Roof - 1st March 2021

Daphne Mezereone in Holme Stinted Pastures - Hutton Roof - 1st March 2021

Daphne Mezereone in Holme Stinted Pastures - Hutton Roof - 1st March 2021

Daphne Mezereone in Holme Stinted Pastures - Hutton Roof - 1st March 2021

Daphne Mezereone in Holme Stinted Pastures - Hutton Roof - 1st March 2021

Always worth checking our dear Daphne who seems to have bodyguards all around her with close guarding gorse bushes, but even more sharp are the tall razor wire (almost) looking things which have large prickly brambly arms lying in ambush and ready for the unsuspected!  A flower that looks like a miniature little tree or shrub in its own right, with a very special unique fragrance. Looking at the yield of flowers so far this year it is doing OK, which OK means average, not it's best and not it's worst..

From mid- February a few sightings of Chiffchaff have been recorded from mid to South Lakes, the nearest I know is Helsington Barrows (28th Feb)

Monday 22nd February 2021 - Lancelot (CWT reserve)

What a special, is on it's way Spring Cinquefoil 

Hutton Roof is very good for the rare Spring Cinquefoil with at least 4 separate sites. Although there are several small populations in each site, none of the sites have heavy population but 2020 was especially good on the Clawthorpe Fell site. It must have been one of those very special once in ten year jobs!

Spring Cinquefoil - Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT)

Thursday 25th February 2021 - Walk through Dalham Tower - side of Bela

It was lovely to see four grouped Grey Wagtails scurrying along the side of the Bela in a fragmented group. Also several calling Goldcrest from two different areas of the park. 

Saturday 27th February 2021 at home Glebe Close Burton In Kendal (Garden)

My first wasp sighting and also a drone fly sighting (Eristala tenax - thanks Neil) (photo below)