We have been really privileged over the past weeks to be able to watch the three Osprey chicks preparing to fledge at Campfield Marsh, down on the Solway Plain. A quick visit last week in the sunshine was good for butterflies too!
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| The adults Ospreys were sat on the fence... |
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| While the young were clearly visible. |
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| Small Tortoiseshell. |
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| Red Admiral. |
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| Peacock. |
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| Speckled Wood. |
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| Wall Brown. |
Just a few of the invert's we saw on our walk....
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| A recently emerged Golden-ringed Dragonfly. You can see its shed skin too. |
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| Golden-ringed Dragonfly. |
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| Small Copper. |
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| Argent and Sable Moth. |
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| Common Blue Butterfly. |
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| A pair of Drinker Moths. |
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| Green Tiger Beetle |
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| Dark Green Fritillary. |
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| Common Blue. |
After walking along Whitbarrow we popped into Latterbarrow. This small reserve was a riot of late summer colour. It was good to see so many butterflies - especially the Brimstones.
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| ..and a Comma. |
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| ..and Peacocks... |
It was great to see these on Whitbarrow Scar the other day....so a few more photos!
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| and that beautiful underside! |
We try to pick our days carefully, depending on the weather, so as we drove over Shap and through a drizzly Tebay Gorge we did wonder.....But it dried up as we headed south and when we got onto the top of Whitbarrow, it was a scorcher! A glorious walk with lovely flowers and butterflies. The sky hinted at thundery showers, but thankfully they didn't materialise.
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| Whitbarrow... |
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| Walking up through the woods the Broad-leaved Helleborines were bob on! |
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| Broad-leaved Helleborine flower. |
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| Up onto the Scar top, where the Dark-red Helleborines were over, with just dried up petals left. |
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| Carline Thistles and below. |
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| Looking back ... |
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| There were lots of Grayling butterflies on the wing. |
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| The sun came out .... |
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| Looking into Central Lakes. |
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| Harebells.... |
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| Nice limestone pavements and grykes. |
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| With the heat, limestone, flowers and butterflies, it was reminiscent of Spain. |
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| The beautiful High Brown Fritillary. |
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| A very fresh Red Admiral. |
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| Just lovely! |
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| I do like Harebells! |
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| ... and back to the beginning. |
