First moth trap of 2018

It was relatively war overnight and no risk of rain so we put the trap out. Eleven species: Five early thorn; 5 common quaker; 5 streamer; 7 clouded drab; 25 Hebrew character; 3 flame carpet; 1 lesser swallow prominent; 1 dark swordgrass; 3 shoulder stripe; 1 red chestnut and a pug.

Caldbeck to Hesket Newmarket along the river.

A glorious day and a glorious walk. The wood anemones were superb and the bluebells were just beginning. The wild garlic was just coming into bloom and the Herb Paris was just flowering.

Toothwort.

Crab apple blossom

Ireby Old Church and King Cups

A great walk around the block. Parked outside Emily's Black Lion in Ireby - along the Torpenhow road to Ireby Old Church and then back along the lane through High Park into Ireby and a quick shandy at Emily's Black Lion! The flowers were fantastic - see the previous blog! Part of the reason for going was to take some samples of the green felt sheets I have to match with the king cup / marsh marigold leaves in preparation for my next felt ball ....http://juliagarner1.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/felt-daisies.html Needless to say I don't have the correct green!

Skiddaw and Binsey; Ireby Old Church: Skiddaw and lambs. 

Ireby Old Church with Marsh Marigold.

Marsh Marigold.

Ireby, Cumbria - spring flowers in the lanes.

A lovely round walk from Ireby over to Ireby old church and back across through New Park. The flowers were stunning and so nice to feel some warmth in the sun!

Forget-me-not; bluebell; water-avens; marsh marigold; stitchwort; wood anemone and primrose.

Herb Robert; violet and butterbur.

Bush vetch; wild garlic and red campion.

Blackthorn; cuckoo flower and wood sorrel. 

Spring in Swansea

Spring has sprung in Swansea so plenty of Early Colletes (Colletes cunicularius) in the dunes by Swansea Bay.

Left: mating ball around a newly emerged female.
Bottom right: shows the differences between males and females.

...and a little egret on Singleton Park boating lake.

Portnahaven, Islay.

Today I finally got around to hand colouring prints........

Paps of Jura from Ardnave point, Islay

A typical view of the Paps, looking across Gruinart at low tide ...the photograph and the oil painting.