Out, About and Around

Sunday, July 30th 2017

There was an initial debate as to whether Saturday or Sunday would be best for CES.  We definitely chose the right day as today, the wind was very strong, not only would we have been unable to open the nets, it was not at all helpful for taking photographs! 

The Tufted Duck - Mrs Tufty to her friends - has five ducklings and is being very attentive to them.  They stay close to her, in line astern.

Then she rounded them up a little closer.  I wondered if the camera was at fault as she appears to have a large head and lots of beaks but they are her youngsters side by side with her.

Mallard ducklings are now well grown and I counted about ten swimming around. 

House Martins were swooping for insects across the lake and a bright blue flash showed that the Kingfisher was still around.  A visitor was thrilled that she had seen it as she had never seen one before.

Cinnabar moth caterpillars are munching their way through the Ragwort leaves and flowers.  They range in size so I am unsure if these are all from one hatching or from several.  

There were few butterflies around due to the strength of the wind, but the bees were out.  A Spear Thistle was the flower of choice for this one and you can see that it is covered in white pollen.

At home I have Mealy Primrose flowering for a second time.  Wandering across the moor I checked those growing next to the stream and was pleased to see that it too was having a second flowering.

We have to think hard about the name of this dandelion like flower - it usually ends up being called hawkweed cats ear thing!  Its correct name is Mouse-eared Hawkweed.  It is one of the easiest of the hawkweeds to ID as it has a lemon flower with the underside of the petals tinged red.  I noticed when looking at it closely, that the sepals are covered in tiny prickly looking hairs.

Spiders are beginning to be seen.  Not for everyone a lovely creature to behold.  I do love the Cucumber spiders.

I have had a leg shaken at me by a bee to warn me to go away, but never has a spider done this to me, until today.  I am not sure if you can tell that it is waving one of its legs threateningly, as they do seem to be a little mixed up!

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