THANK YOU - Cumbria Wildlife Trust - Gold Badger's Paw Award

Thanks to Cumbria Wildlife Trust for kindly awarding me the "Gold Badger's Paw Award" at Newton Rigg College, Penrith last Friday.

L to R - Award Recipients - David Hussell, Barbara O'Connor, Anne Powell Trust Chairman), Adrian Banford, Irene Downing, Bryan Yorke, Sue Shields and Peter Bullard (Trust Director) - Photo: Charlotte Rowley (Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

Yours truly (Hutton Roof) and Sue Shields (Burneside)

Photo: Charlotte Rowley (Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

VISMIG REPORTS FOR AUTUMN 2015

Tuesday 13th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: NNE 9- 14mph, 6-10c, Cloud 2%, 1027mb pressure, very cold up to 0900hrs

Redwing: 263 mainly SW (actual: 148SW, 28NW, 61W, 20S, 3E) also a roosting party of over 100 in Hutton Roof overnight.
Blackbird: 4SW,
Mistle Thrush: 11W,
Starling: 36
Redpoll: 3
Goldfinch:8
Siskin: 2
Greenfinch: 3
Chaffinch: 76

Monday 12th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 0900hrs

Wind: WSW 0-5mph, 3-10c, 44% Cloud down to 95%, 1021mb pressure. Rain from 0830hrs and stopped what little movement there was

Chaffinch: 45

Reed Bunting: 1

Goldfinch: 15 (one party)

Starling: 30 (SE,SW)

Redwing: 59 (15NE, 9NW, 34W, 1W)

also 1000hrs to 1100hrs

Chaffinch: 21
Goldfinch: 30 (one party)
Skylark: 2
Pink Footed Goose: 10 (one skein) SE

Sunday 11th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs - 1030hrs

Wind: East 9-16mph, 11c, 75% cloud cover, 1020mb pressure. All movement South unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 121 (best party 9)
Meadow Pipit: 7
Skylark: 8 (one party)
Redpoll: 1
Goldfinch: 24 (4 parties)
Linnet: 2
Starling: 63W (17,46)
Song Thrush: 2W
Mistle Thrush: 7W
Redwing: 9W (6SW then returned 20mins later and went to NW probably same birds?)
Golden Plover: 17E (A party of 11 then thirty minutes later a further party of 6)

Saturday 10th October 2015 - Burton In Kendal 1930hrs

Barn Owl witnessed quartering the fields.

(SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER 2015 - update 0400HRS) LOTS OF REDWINGS CALLS HAVE BEEN HEARD DURING THE NIGHT ON THE LISTENING STATIONS So we are expecting some large Thrush arrivals VERY VERY SOON!

(SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2015 - update) JUST A QUICK CATCH UP WITH THE VISMIG SITUATION - We are still experiencing very little in the way of birds as you can see from the numbers in the reports eg: Chaffinch numbers October 9th 2014 were 1310 and numbers on October 9th 2015 were 87 (although far less counting time), also Chaffinch numbers October 10th 2014 were 1351 compared to 64 in 2015 (although far less counting time) so it seems at this point obvious the birds have just not come through yet or lets hope that is the position.

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Thank you to the Kendal Branch of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust who invited me for their presentation on Wednesday last at Plumgarths. - A lovely audience

Thank you to the North Lancs Branch of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust who invited me for their presentation on Friday last at the Church of the Ascension, Nr. Torrisholme - A lovely audience.

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Saturday 10th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730 - 0900hrs

Wind: ESE 5-7mph, 12c, 87% Cloud cover, 1023mb pressure

Goldfinch: 49 (8 parties)
Mistle Thrush: 8W
Song Thrush: 1W
Redpoll: 2
Woodpigeon: 7
Starling: 4
Siskin: 1
Alba Wagtail: 2
Linnet: 2
Chaffinch: 64
Meadow Pipit: 3

Friday 9th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715-0830hrs

Wind: SSE 5-7mph, 11c, 0% Cloud cover, 1022mb pressure. all movement South unless stated

Goldfinch: 12 (one party 10)
Cjhaffinch: 87
Siskin: 2
Mistle Thrush: 9 W
Cormorant: 1SE
Redpoll: 1
Greenfinch: 2
Redwing: 1 (audible only)
Unident Thrushes - 3 Small thrush parties in the distance skirting Hutton Roof: All W. 4,5,3.
Woodpigeon: 18
Blackbird: 2
Meadow Pipit: 4

Thursday 8th October 2015  - No Counts

Wednesday 7th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 0830hrs

Wind: NW 9mph, 12c, 96% Cloud cover, 1003mb
Light Rain throughout.

Tuesday 6th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700-0900hrs
Wind: SE 8-12mph, 14c, 96% cloud, 996mb pressure. All South unless stated

Mistle Thrush: 4W
Song Thrush: 1W
Meadow Pipit: 27
Chaffinch: 88 (best parties 5s 6s)
Goldfinch: 9
Alba Wagtail: 1
Greylag Goose: 40W (15,25)
Linnet: 2
Jay 1W


Monday 5th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700-0800hrs
Wind E23-44mph, 10c, 95% Cloud cover, 1004 mb pressure. Rain at 0830hrs.
Chaffinch: 5
All movement South
LBBG:12


Sunday 4th October 2015 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0830hrs
Wind: SSE 2-3 mph, 8% Cloud, 1014mb pressure. All movement South

Goosander: 3 SSE
Alba Wagtail: 2 SE
Meadow Pipit: 19
Chaffinch: 32
Song Thrush: 2
Siskin: 4 (group)

Sketch showing the Chaffinch corridors and the area I will be watching from over the coming weeks

Harts Tongue Variant: Asplenium scolopendrium "Undulatum Group"

Whilst walking back this morning over Hutton Roof from Whin Yeates and down through Burton Fell and Lancelot, I just thought I would call off and check the fern variant I found a couple of weeks ago. So that I could actually let Alec (Greening) know whether it had "sori" present or not!  Well it has and that is how you tell the difference between the variant "Crispum Group" with no sori or "Undulatum Group" with sori (as in this case).  By the way that's not my clever head working that out, I have been fortunate to get the info from Alec who lives literally just up the road. Not bad having the "Fern Man" on your own very doorstep is it !

ALSO CHECK BELOW TO SEE "SUNRISE" PHOTO AND ALSO "HAWFINCH PHOTO"

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Saturday 3rd October 2015 - Hutton Roof - Road Summit Nr Whin Yeates - 0715 to 0900hrs
Wind: ESE 2-3mph 3-12c, 6% Cloud, 1018mb - Fog to base of Hutton Roof on both sides which remained throughout the count.  Hardly any birds interested All movement South

Chaffinch: 48
Meadow Pipit: 79
Redpoll: 3 SE
Yellowhammer: 1male (came down to rest for 10 mins on HR and then continued South)
Goldfinch: 4
Alba Wagtail: 1
Swallow: 1
Long Tailed Tit: 7
Mistle Thrush: 4W (2,2)
LBBG 34 E (probably ex roost to feeding areas
Starling: now over 100 XRoost and growing daily from W (probably Leighton Moss)


Friday 2nd October 2015 - Hutton Roof - Whinn Yeates Summitt 0645hrs to 0830hrs
Wind: SSW 4mph, 3-12c, 14% Cloud, 1028mb - Manage to get about 20 minutes vismig (but even then it was mega quiet) before it went solid fog from both sides.

Goldfinch: 32 (best 15,10)
Meadow Pipit: 9
Chaffinch: 14
Linnet: 1
Alba Wagtail: 2NW

Thursday 1st October - Sunrise coming up from Yorkshire (Ingleborough on right)  (Click over to enlarge)

Thursday 1st October 2015 - Hutton Roof - Whinn Yeates Summit 0645hrs to 0900hrs
Wind: East 3-5mph, 5-13c, 0% cloud, 1036mb pressure, early low mist

Meadow Pipt (first 0715) 208 mainly 3,4,5s
Chaffinch: 84 (best 2x6)
Goldfinch: 40 (5 parties)
Linnet: 6 (2,1,1,2)
Redpoll: 7
Alba Wagtail: 3 SE
Swallow: 1
Skylark: 3
Song Thrush: 1W

Robert Ashworth has kindly sent in his records for Hutton Roof for September and October and they look very interesting especially the Hobby and Hawfinch records.  Here are the records and below a lovely photo of the Hawfinch which Robert was lucky to manage to capture on camera.

Tawny Owl Lancelot 3/9/15
Redstart near car park 9/9/15
Hobby flying high south over valley to west of Lancelot 18/9/15
Common Whitethroat near car park 18/9/15
Merlin mobbing buzzard south of deforested 1/10/15
Hawfinch at east edge of woodland near car park 1/10/15

Photo: Robert Ashworth - Hawfinch Nr. Plain Quarry, Dalton - (Click over to enlarge)

Wednesday 30th September 2015 - Hutton Roof - Whinn Yeates Summit 0645hrs to 0845hrs
Wind: East 5-7mph, 6-13c, 49% Cloud cover, 1037mb pressure.

It just never got started this morning and even worse than yesterday with trickles from the start and throughout.

Meadow Pipit: 97 (best 5s and 6s)
Chaffinch: 52SW or NE (best 7,6)
Goldfinch: 15
Swallow: 3
Skylark: 1
Mistle Thrush: 2W


Tuesday 29th September 2015- Hutton Roof - Whinn Yeates Summit 0645hrs to 0915hrs
Wind: ESE 5-6mph, 6-13c, 59% Cloud Cover, 1038mb pressure. Movement S unless stated

It just never got started this morning, very few birds.  Also what I struggle with is that you had more or less the same forecasted predictions as yesterday but what a difference, not just in the amount of birds, but also the Mipits we had were divided in the corridor routings example: 70% followed the same route as yesterday (direct South), but 30% today took a more SE route! Also a bit different today was the Albas which all went SW today (rather than there normal SE) - Died off by 0800hrs to occasional trickles which was the same when I left at 0915hrs

Meadow Pipit: 248 (best,13,12,11,10)
Chaffinch: 67 (best 5)
Goldfinch: 9
Greenfinch: 2
Siskin: 1
Reed Bunting: 4,
Alba Wagtail: 5
Swallow: 21 (best 10)
Mistle Thrush: 1
Song Thrush: 2W
Woodpigeon: 12
Jay: 1

Sketch: Tuesday 29th September 2015

Sketch of Passerine/Hirundine Movement over Hutton Roof (Click over sketch to enlarge)

This sketch shows the main directions of the movement of passerines and hirundines over Hutton Roof and in particular shows the "narrowed corridor" taken by the Meadow Pipits usually in the last week of September or the first week in October on their southerly migration. Quite a lot of the Mipits which come down the side of Farleton and also some that come down the Lune Valley will at the point of the "Kelker Well" make a lift and over the escarpment and onward across Uberash Breast or Uberash Roughs, over Dalton and continue South. Also of interest at Hutton Roof is the way that the Chaffinch passage instead of going directly South takes on a SW to NE and NE to SW, the Goldfinches also do a more direct South, yet the albas can be seen doing a SE.  Its as though most of the species have different routing corridors.

Photos: Monday 28th September 2015

(Facing North West I had this) - Above shows the "Moon" as it was this morning over Hutton Roof at 0650hrs (Click over to enlarge)

I suppose you could be forgiven for thinking it could have been the sun, but would be unusual to say it was in the West.

(Facing South East I had this) - And below is another photo from this morning at the same time of 0650hrs showing the sun just starting to come over Ingleborough which lies to my South East some 20 miles approx

Monday 28th September 2015 - Hutton Roof (Whinn Yeates Summit) South Cumbria 0645hrs to 0945hrs.

Wind: ESE 6-8mph, 5-13c, 63% Cloud Cover, 1037mb pressure
All movement South unless stated otherwise.

Started well, not as good as yesterday, but bigger parties than yesterday, tailed off by 0830hrs and then just dribbles since up to 0945hrs. Goldfinch far less today. Hirundines well down today,  FIRST REDWING

Meadow Pipits: 547 (best: 33,24,22,2x20)
Chaffinch: 42 (best: 3x4)
Linnet: 6 (2,2,1,1,)
Goldfinch: 53 (best 3x10)
Greenfinch: 2
Siskin: 3
Redpoll: 5 (2,3)
Alba Wagtail: 8
Mistle Thrush: 4W
REDWING: 1W (my first of the year)
Swallow: 2
Reed Bunting: 3
Skylark: 1
Jay: 1SW
MERLIN local tormenting Meadow Pipits, at times on Pylon Wires

Very enjoyable morning with increases in Meadow Pipits. Will shortly be going out check for Pink Footed Goose which I am getting reports through this morning.

Sunday 27th September 2015 - Hutton Roof (Whinn Yeates and then Uberash Breast) 0700hrs to 1200hrs
Wind: ESE 6mph (West SW by about 1030hrs), 12c, Cloud 0%, 1033mb pressure.
All movement South unless stated otherwise.

Brilliant for the first half hour - reminded me of how migration used to be years ago, and just for that short 30 minutes session, struggling to write them all down! with plenty of birds (but still no super big parties) well it wasn't to last it died from 0730hrs and after 0800hrs just trickles up to noon.

When stood on Uberash you can see why Swallows come across here because it sort of lines up with the Lune Valley (Lupton side) and takes them straight down South. Some really low within a metre of ground. (brilliant stuff!!)

Meadow Pipit: 356 best: 11,10,9,8,2x7 (270 in first hour then 86 in following 4 hours)
Chaffinch: 35
Goldfinch: 99 (12 groups)
Linnet: 14 (9,5 all SW)
Redpoll: 3
Siskin: 15 (in 5 groups)
Swallow: 74 (in 15 groups)
House Martin: (87 in 5 groups best 53)
Skylark: 4
Alba Wagtail: 3
Greenfinch: 2
Wheatear: 1 (on Uberash Breast)
Pink Footed Goose (Could hear mega distant altitude calls on 2 occasions) Nothing seen but obviously crossing.
Red Admiral Butterfly: 5 (South)

Saturday 26th September 2015 - Hutton Roof (Whinn Yeates) 0645hrs to 0915hrs

Wind: SSWE 2mph, Temp 9c,85% Cloud, Pressure 1029mb
All movement South unless stated otherwise.

Mipit did not start until about 0800hrs, extremely high and could not be heard, you only manage to find them occasionally in the milky cloud, more by luck, so I must have missed probably double the quantity I recorded. Absolutely scores of Robins contact calls on HR and also lots of small thrushes on way up.  Situation certainly getting better and obviously better at my old spot for the Mipits, but not for the Chaffinch.

Meadows Pipit: 119 (best: 8,7, lots of 5s and 4s)
Chaffinch: 44 (best: 10)
Goldfinch: 73 (best: 30,15,12)
Redpoll: 9 (3,5,1 and some missed)
Alba Wagtail: 2
Mistle Thrush: 9 (2,1,1,5) all West
Blackbird:3
LBBG: 2E
Starling: 14 (dribs ex Roost from West to East)

also 1030hrs to 1130hrs - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal.

Meadow Pipit: approx 35 over the hour
Chaffinch: approx 20 over the hour
Pink Footed Goose: 50 (one skein) heading SSE over Burton.
Odd Swallows and House Martins.
Skylark: 1
Mistle Thrush: up to 6
Redpoll - heard only

also 1700 to 1800hrs - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal.

Pink Footed Goose: 150 South (see on the line with Morecambe Bay)
Swallow: 8 (1,2,5)
Meadow Pipit: 4 (one party)
Chaffinch: 1

Friday 25th September 2015 - Hutton Roof (Whinn Yeates) 0730hrs to 0900hrs
Wind: West 10mph, Temp 9c, Cloud 52%, 1018mb pressure
All South unless stated otherwise.
Meadow Pipit:  58 (best: 7,6)
Chaffinch: 11
Woodpigeon: 109 (Roving parties: 74SE, 20SE, 15SE)
Starling: up to 20 leaving LM roost and coming by to East
Greylag Goose: 25 SE (one skein been seen a few times over last week or two)
Goldfinch: 3W
House Martin: 15 (one party)
Greenfinch: 2
Jay: 7 (one party E)
Cormorant: 5 SW (one party)
Mistle Thrush: 5W (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 1
noticing small Thrushes mobile.

Thursday 24^th September 2015 – Trig Point, Hutton Roof  (0730 to 0900hrs)

Wind: West 20mph, Temp: 11c, Cloud Cover: 50%, Pressure 1009mb

Chiffchaff singing away in Plain Quarry area.

Also:

Skylark 6 - one group (in part song at times), trying to go SW but continually being blow back to E

Meadow Pipit: 3 only and blogging on HR

Swallow: 3 did manage to cut through to SW

Wednesday 23^rd September 2015 – Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal (0730 to 0830hrs)

Wind: 13mphr, Temp: 12c, 85% Cloud Cover, Pressure 1009mb

All South unless stated:

House Martin: 5 (one group)

Swallow: 7 SW

Chaffinch: 12 (max pairs)

Meadow Pipit: 6 (max pairs)

Tuesday 22^nd September 2015 – Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal (0700hrs to 0800hrs

Wind: NNW 8-10mph, Temp 11c, 25% Cloud Cover, Pressure 1001mb

Mistle Thrush 2 SE,

Chaffinch 22 (best 2x5)

Meadow Pipit: 12 (best pairs)

Swallow: 7 (one party 5)

Redpoll: 1

Alba Wagtail: 2 paired

Greylag Gees: 25W (one skein)

18th September 2015 - Vismig - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal. 

0700hrs to 0900hrs, Wind SE 2mph, 13c, 1% cloud, 1009mb pressure.

Meadow Pipits: 14
Chaffinch: 18 (best party 5)
Reed Bunting: 1
Siskin: (heard)
Greenfinch: 3
Swallow: 2
Greylag Geese: 16W (one skein at 0800hrs)

17^th September 2015

This day last year (2014), I had my first skein of 6 Pink Footed Goose heading SE

Also I had 77 Meadow Pipits, 58 Chaffinch, 1 Skylark, 1 Alba Wagtail (over a two hours)

This year on the very same day I have had –

Less than 10 birds in total (all species) over a period of one and a half hours

15^th September 2015

This day last year (2014), over one and a half hours I had 71 Swallows, 4 Chaffinch and 2 Alba Wagtails

This year on the very same day I have had –

Less than 10 birds in total (all species) over a period of one and a half hours

The only difference I am aware of is that last year the Wind was from the East, whereby this year the wind was from the West.

The only difference I am aware of is that last year the Wind was from the East, whereby today and last Tuesday the wind was from the West.

Swallow corridors around Burton In Kendal and Carnforth (Click over sketch to enlarge)

My Beautiful Garden today - 8th September 2015

My beautiful garden today
(Click over photo to enlarge)

Please come into my garden, you are so welcome!

I love my garden, especially today, because it's the best garden in the World,

I have searched everywhere today and cannot find one weed!

But I did find lots of nice things, of which I want to tell you about!

I have many boulders in my garden, but one very special boulder which lies in the Woods,

Special ! (Ssssh) because some very rare plants grows from the top of the boulder!

I call the plant "Polly" and she is a fern, but not just any fern she is "Cambricum". 

I have another three places in my garden were my Delta (Deltoid) lady grows. 

I try and check up on Polly and her offspring every year if I can - so look at Polly posing!

My Delta Lady "Polly" and she is "Cambricum"
(Click over photo to enlarge)

Its a joy to travel over silver waves which sparkle in the sun, just like they do today,

He crosses the canyons of dark and deep, and stretches his veins far and wide,

"He's gone over today" has "Old Man's Beard", a reminder I get very regular!

His flower has now turned to glistening silk 

A Joy to Travellers or is it a  Old Man's Beard (Click over photo to enlarge)

Clematis shouts "This is as far as I am going my friend" at least for now!

I'm from far South origins and must be at my Northern limits.

You've seen my best, and for the rest, come again another year!

His "beard" doth glisten in the mighty sun  (Click over photo to enlarge)

So to finish off! we go from old "wrinkly" to "crinkly",

Hart's Tongue has gone crinkly around the edges and looks different to the rest,

But to all the plants I have seen today your still "one from the best"

Harts Tongue Fern - Unusual variant!

A Exceptional year for the Autumn Gentians

One of the Hundreds of Autumn Gentian on Farleton today
(Click over photo to enlarge)

It looks to me that its going to be a fabulous show of "Gentians" this year on the Farleton side.  The majority of the plants are going to turn out to be the "White Flowered" rather than the more usual purple colour, yet if you look around you will find small colonies of the purples here and there.

It was just a little early today, a week to ten days time will see the splendour of many hundreds of these.  To give you a idea in most years I would see up to a dozen if I am lucky.  But this year will be a exception with two or three hundred.

Its booked in my diary for another visit next week.

Here is also another photo showing the "white flowered" variant.

One of the Hundreds of Autumn Gentian on Farleton today (White variant)
(Click over photo to enlarge).

Also today there was a hatch of "Small Heaths" with at least 20 seen and at times up to three together dancing with one another.  Also a Wall Brown noted and a Grayling. Also heard a Skylark overhead

Checking out some of last years finds

Looking at Morecambe Bay from Hutton Roof - Note the Line of "White Cloud"
(Click over photo to enlarge)

The main purpose of my trip up to the Common today was to check out my little spiny "Hedgehogs", but seriously they are "Lycoperdon echinatum" or more commonly called "The Spiny Puffball". They are very rare in Cumbria. When I found them only last year the Cumbria Biodiversity at Tullie House informed me that they had only had this species previously recorded in the County way back in 1997 and no records since that date, so I consider this one on Hutton Roof very special.

Last year I found seven of them over a area of perhaps one metre diameter which included a clump of three (see photo).  This year I went and checked the same spot (one day later than last year) and sadly only one specimen could be found,  after spending lots of time searching the surrounding area.  Also this year the single puffball had a slightly different shape than last years specimens, in fact if anything I saw a small resemblance to a baby hedgehog! check the snout.. (see photo).

Spiny Puffball (Lycoperdon Echinatum) found last year (2014) Click over to enlarge

And here below are a couple of photos I took of the single specimen which I found to-day.  You will notice that its grown slightly deformed this year and takes on a snout!

Click over to enlarge

Click over to enlarge

Also today I checked out last years find of Asplenium scolopendrium "Ramosum" or a variant of the Hart's Tongue Fern. It had come up well which you can see from this photo below.

Harts Tongue Fern - variant "Ramosum"  (Click over photo to enlarge) 

A couple of days ago I had a Wall Butterfly and also a Large Skipper feeding on Hawkweed in lower Dalton, also yesterday I had a Wall Butterfly in Lancelot Clark Storth.  There were also Peacocks and a Comma noted in Lancelot.

A few late flowering Broad Leaved Helliborines have been seen but only one which you could count as a "Purpurea" variant and of course it just had to be Specimen 17 in Lancelot Clark Storth.  All under canopy specimens (other than 17) where the standard Helliborine colouring whereby last year the "under canopy specimens" were in the main purpurea. (see image below taken by phone)

Some really late Southern Polypody (not showing at all during July) has come through in the grykes on Lancelot Clarke Storth. Really late this year!

This year has been an exceptional year for Common Rock Rose and also Betany which lots of additional populations have been found throughout.

Birdwise not much about other than:

Lots of Swallows hawking over the Common, a party of Meadow Pipits (15) today going over Dalton Crags heading SSE at 1430hrs. Green Woodpecker yaffling, odd calls could be heard from passing Willow Warblers (hou-whit very weakened, feebly calls)

Think of anything else will come back - for now please enjoy..

I Didn't know Holly Ferns could do this!

Here is a photo of Hutton Roof's Holly Fern No. 2 which was taken on the 2nd July 2015

Holly Fern No.2 on 2nd July 2015 - Note predation - Click over photo to enlarge

So here we have a photo of the Holly Fern No.2 taken on 2nd July 2015.  So this is a photo shortly after predation by a possible Roe Deer.  Four of the original fronds have been bitten off completely, leaving four mature fronds.

The next photo I want to show you is the one I have taken today on 18th August 2015 and you will see there is six mature fronds.  So you will see that the two new additional mature fronds are a much lighter colour than the four existing much darker fronds.

Holly Fern No. 2 on 18th August 2015 - Note two replacement Fronds have grown which are far lighter in colour
(Click over photo to enlarge)

I was very surprised to find that two new replacement fronds have grown during the six weeks since I checked it out last.  Although the new ones are fully mature, they are a far lighter green in colour than the existing four fronds.

On the next photo (taken today 18th August 2015) you will note the "sori" from one of the existing fronds, and just like you would expect they are a rusty brown in colour.

Here is the "sori" on the back of the existing fronds

The next photo I want to show you is the sori on the back of one of the new fronds and as you can see they are much "fresher" and of a creamier colour.

Here is the "sori" on the back of the new fronds

I was yet again very surprised to see just what Mother Nature can do, showing us that in a matter of six weeks (or probably less) two new fronds have come through in replacement of four original fronds that had been previously predated,  It seems really strange to have two of the fronds a much lighter colour density and even more strange to see the sori at two different stages on the same plant.

For anyone who already knows this particular plant (Holly Fern No.2) is a strange one to start with in so much that it is intertwined at the root with its cousin the Hard Shield Fern ("Aculeatum") and you will probably see from the 18th August photo above that a small runt frond has formed yet again which it does in most years. 2013 runt had matured into a full frond for the 2014 season.  Though the 2014 runt did come through but just never developed. We have in the past had the bottom "pinnae" examined with further analysis for chromosome testing, with the results coming back confirming "Aculeatum".  So it is being watched with much interest to see if there are initial indications that maybe one of these days the "hybrid" will come through.

Leaving that aside the birdlife was a lot quieter, just as you would expect, but a pleasant surprise to see a single Stonechat present in Dalton, along with a party of about ten hawking Swallows, and a Kestrel which let me walk past it within some 20 yards. I said to myself, I wonder if I can get past this bird without disturbing it! and yes I walked "gingerely and slowly past looking back occasionally to see if the birds was still there and you could see it looking across at me, but sure enough it stayed there and continued its observational hunting.

The bracken should any day now start receding, you can see it becoming heavily scared with browing here and there.  Strange to see Fox and Cubs up here in Dalton, but sure enough sitting proud as punch at the side of the track and posing for this photo:

Fox and Cubs in Dalton

Antler Moth just has I entered Hutton Roof Common

Some beautiful "rare" Southern polypody

Dark Green Fritillary  much worn and probably in its last hour

Just another day at the Office!

From Hutton Roof (Kelker side) looking over Whinn Yeates, Farleton and Newbiggin (Click over to enlarge)

(Thursday August 13th 2015)

Another lovely morning and had to get out and head up to guess where?

The sun shining and for a change one or two birds singing with odd Willow Warblers and the screeching of a Jay and the local skies recently have been filled (almost) with Ravens and more so Buzzards.  I think the Buzzards have all come on the scene at the same time from all the local breeding populations because I am seeing plenty of them every day now!  Although I am only too well aware that "foreigners" are also passing through on a daily basis especially at this time of year.  Its a while since we recorded the Honey Buzzard or the Rough Legged Buzzard which do past through these parts along with other rare raptors like the Osprey.

Well most of the Swifts have now departed, although I was lucky enough to see one this morning over the Clawthorpe side of Hutton Root and it gave the impression it was heading East.  So its difficult to say whether this was one of the locals or just a bird passing through.  Scores of hirundines (both Swallow and Martin) were hawking the area.  It always is a good area for insect food around this time of the year and generally you will hear lots of chatterboxes above your head enjoying themselves on the large amounts of flies.

"Heading along a footpath being encroached,
Oh! that blinkin bracken is getting everywhere,
Bushwhakking! its the only bushwhakking I will do today,
So take that, and that...

Well you do a bit of that and then you get covered in ticks,
how many ticks do I have to tweeze out tonight then?
Don't want shingly circles, dont want Lymes, keep alert,

Surprising! well not really, everything likes Knapweed!
Five species of Butterfly and bees with ginger bums everywhere!
Knapweed flavoured honey would be nectar! literally.."

Flowers seen today, been checking out the helliborine's but most of them still asleep with their buds tightly closed and I dont think they will flower this year, just the odd one or two making it into flower! Other nice stuff about included: Yarrow, Harebells, Small Scabious, Ladys Bedstraw, tormentil, Self Heal. A really nice patch of Betony at least two metre diameter and tick spread (I mean thick spread)

A pair of Linnets crossing over to the South, a family party of three Kestrels (2 having a go with one another) I'll bet they are the immatures..

Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Torts, Green Veined White (not seen many of these this time), also late Ringlets

Autumn fungi is showing up here and there, found a nice white one today tucked under the ledge of limestone, dont know what it is yet!

All Shades of Green has I look East - in the Lupton direction (Click over to enlarge)

A little further around towards the Kirkby Lonsdale, direction

Black Aphids, Black Ants on Broad Leaved Helliborines

Thankfully I managed to get back up on Hutton Roof today especially to valuate the situation with the Broad Leaved helliborines (Epipactis helliborine).

Well although very much "down" in numbers, odd ones were "out".  I managed to view about thirty of what should have been more like 75 on the pavements today.  80% of them had still not come out of bud with just the odd ones showing flowers at the base of the plume.  I think they may struggle some of them but will again check them out in another week or so.

I have managed to find a couple which did show potential.  Here is a photo of one of them.

I wanted to put this photo up just to remind myself of what they look like!

This was one of the couple of plants that have managed to come through, but the bulk are just there with their buds tightly closed and in some cases "with shrinking buds".

In particular I wanted to check out the "Viride" variants or in betweens which we have up on Hutton Roof.  A couple of plants which are certainly very green are shown below:

This is a very green plant which has just begun to flower

This is one from a area well known for its "viride" variations or thereabouts!  We still have one or two to open up here but sadly the better specimens have already been predated.

And below is new specimen found by a friend of mine Robert yesterday which although a small plant does show plenty of green in the make- up but also you can see small traces of the purple here and there and also a wash on some of the petals

Photo: Robert Ashworth - This is a very green specimen

Again this sort of variant can be seen from at least three areas on the Hutton Roof complex.

And below I found one of our helliborines which had just started to open out, covered with black aphids which looked very much like they were receiving much encouragement from the Black Ants which were giving the impression that they were protecting the aphids. Here below is a couple of photos:

Black Aphids, Black Ants on a Broad Leaved Helliborine (Click over photo to enlarge)

I thought perhaps at first the Black Ants were actually feeding on the Black Aphids but I am told that it is more likely that the Ants are actually protecting and farming the aphids so they can then pick up the "milk". As the aphids feed they secrete a sticky honeydew substance which drips on to the lower foliage which then the ants collect.

Another photo of the black aphids and the black ants on the Broad leaved Helliborine (Click over photo to enlarge)

Saw lots of butterflies today Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Common Blues, Meadow Browns, Several Dark Green Fritillaries feeding on the Knapweed, but most of them well worn, some with only part wings. Few Graylings about this year.

Broad Leaved Helliborines - Struggling this year!

Did I really think it might be different on this side of Hutton Roof?

It was no good kidding myself any longer, lets get out and see whats going on!.  It soon became apparent that we were going to be down in numbers with only about 60% of the regular Broad Leaved specimens coming through.  Of the ones that had it soon became clear that Mr. Hare had already snipped a large amount of the better specimens. I hope I am accusing the right chap here!  Roe Deer - Cut the stalk straight across or Brown Hare cuts the stalk at a sharp angle!

But the main concerns was that out of all the 25 plants which had so far survived none were showing any flowers and some still had drooping heads, but the majority had straightened out but looked a little weary in comparison to other years.

I think most of these are going to struggle this year to even flower.  Already a lot of them are going over and showing burnt edges to the leaves etc.  One particular plant when you look very close it is already showing signs of going over before it has actually had chance to open up.  (see photo)

This plume is already showing problems and I think this could well be the outcome of most plants

The next photo of a Broad leaved Helliborine is within a small colony which usually come through with lots of "viride" and just one of this population in particular is "pure viride" but sadly this one has already succumb to the predator. But we still have one more to go at which I will show you in the photo below.

Usually a good example of a semi- viride variant helliborine

This is one particular plant I will try and keep my eye on over the coming days because it comes out really green with white flowers with just a "smudging" of purple.  Though to be honest with you I also have reservations about this plant this year because looking very close you can see some burnt edges creeping in.

Below is the first specimen that caught my eye this morning and sure enough further evidence of it going over before it has actually opened up.  The leaves are already looking burnt in places.

Specimen 5 - Note burning on leaves (Click over to enlarge)

Our rare Epipactis phyllanthes is coming on but very slow (as is usual) and below is a shot of the progress so far.

A sad specimen of a "Phyllanthes" will it or won't it!

And to finish off with I have one specially for my good friend Alec.  I don't know why I took a photo but this specimen just looked strange to me at the time.  Maybe its because its going over, but although I know its a Limestone Fern and I had lots within a metre or so away but this little patch looked different somehow with much wider pinnae and lots of purple staining.

Unusual looking "Limestone Fern"

Whats going on with the Broad Leaved Helliborines ?

I wonder what can be going on with the Broad Leaved Helliborines.

To be honest with you I did notice a couple of weeks ago that the Broad Leaved Helliborines seemed thin on the ground compared to normal years, and also that most of them that were showing still had their drooping heads, but the thing that struck home most was the buds seemed different, small and little content.

Well this morning is not much better,  I was checking out two or three of the pavements on Hutton Roof and the first pavement I would normally see about 30 good plants and this was down to only 4 this year and of the four they did not look that strong but weak looking (see photos below). The next pavement was the same whereby normally I would get ten but this year down to only three.

So Why are they so far behind?
Why is their far less plants this year than normal years?
Why is the growth this year so poor with feeble buds seen in most specimens?

Let me show you photos of the first three I found.

This one will probably be OK and is probably the best I saw today. 

The second one I found looked weak and feeble compared to most years

No 3 was the same looked weakish especially in the buds.

I will hopefully be monitoring them day by day over the next week or so. Tomorrow I am hoping to check out pavements on the other side and we will see what they have to offer.

Did manage to find a couple with their base flowers just starting to open (see next photo)

Same Plant No.4 just bottom 5 flowers opening up. - very greeny plant

Nice patch of Hemp Agrimony

Well birdwise very little, with just one or two Willow Warblers calling with their "hou whit" contact call and also Bullfinch calling.  One surprise is I thought I heard a very distant Cuckoo, but just purely one call and finish so I never thought much more about it until talking to a friend this morning who had also heard one calling over the past couple of days on Lancelot, so I presume it will be a passing bird, but never realised they called whilst stopping off on their return! (interesting).

Local Swift numbers have plummeted with the bulk of the birds having left on July 29th and 30th, we are now left with maybe four at best.  Also lots of Swallows and Martins already on their way back (early for them!)