Maryport check up

Earlier in the week we took a quick meander around the grass banks behind the marina at Maryport, to see how the orchids were doing. As it's a strange year for the timing of things, we weren't quite sure what we'd find. Despite it being periodically sunny there was a lack of Small Blue Butterflies, but then again it was breezy - we did see one, but no photographs. The Northern Marsh-orchids were burnt up - wind/droughted? The Pyramidals were just, and very much just, begining to open and  the Bee Orchids were in bud still. Hopefully this damper weather will have arrived in time to ensure a good display of Bee Orchids though. We found one of each of the Broomrapes, which again are just coming into flower. The Bloody Crane's-bill was at its best. 

The grassland behind the marina, with Criffel (Scotland) in the distance.

Bloody Crane's-bill....

Large Skipper.

Small Heath - hiding!

Common and Purple Broomrape.

Northern Marsh-orchid x Common Spotted-orchid.

Northern Marsh-orchid.

Bee Orchid and Pyramidal Orchids - yet to come out.

 

High Summer Scruffiness

 I have love the rambling, scruffy nature of the flora in high summer. Now we haven't really had much 'summer' yet...but last week there was a nice morning - the boat was in at Maryport, so while Steve dutifully queued up for Langoustine and fish, I wandered around....

Maryport looking great in the sun.

Behind the marina - beginning to dry up - just a few Pyramidal Orchids - the rest are over, as are  the Broomrapes. 

Tufted Vetch and Red Clover.

Red Clover...

Kindney Vetch.

Bloody Crane's-bill.

Yeloow Rattle seedheads.

Ladies Bedstraw and Agrimony.

The best Pyramidal Orchids were by the road just before the lighthouse. ..and below. 

Small Scabious.

Across the Solway to Criffel. 

Pyramidal Orchids and Broomrapes (I)

With a fishing boat in,  another visit to Maryport was required - Langoustine for tea again thanks to the Chelaris! Anyway a chance for a meander and catch up with how the orchids are doing. The Northern Marsh are over but the Common Spotted-orchids are just coming out. Plenty of hybrid Northern Marsh x Common Spotted-orchids. There are hundreds of Pyramidal Orchids and a few Bee orchids left that are just on their last legs. The Broomrapes - Common and Purple are both out as were a few Small Blue Butterflies. The whole assemblage was beautiful...a few general pictures to start with - specific species follow in the next blog.....

Behind the marina.

Colour - Kidney Vetch with some kind of Hawkbit, a few Tufted Vetch and Red Clover - grasses in seed. 

Common Spotted-orchids.

Pyramidal Orchids and below...

Bloody Crane's-bill.

Dog-rose.

Maryport 'Blues'

As well as all the Bee Orchids, blue butterlfies were in abundance.

Common Blue.

Common Blue mating pair.

Common Blue....

..and the much smaller and darker Small Blue....and below....

Cumbrian Bee Orchids

We thought that we might have been a little early for the Bee Orchids at Maryport, but we definitely weren't. The Bloody Crane's-bill was spectacular and the first Broomrapes are appearing. What a display! ..and there were Small Blues and Common Blues too....(Next blog).

The SSSI.

Bloody Crane's-bill and Plantain seedheads.

Common Broomrape. 

Northern Marsh Orchids. 

Bee Orchids - and below. 

Maryport Harbour

Whilst waiting for The Charisma to set up her fish for sale - a wander around the harbour - just lovely colours and textures. When the 'Wildlife Season' is over, I may get to do some artwork based on these!