Autumn moth trap (1)

I hadn't trapped with it being misty overnight, but with the mini heatwave and mist continuing with a zero percent chance of rain - it had to be worth a go. And how we were rewarded! 

The full list of species nad numbers was: Angleshades 2; Brimstone 1; Brown China Mark 1; Brown-spot Pinion 1; Canary –shouldered Thorn 2; Centre-barred Sallow 4; Common Marbled Carpet 9; Common Rustic 3; Common Carpet 1; Common Wainscot 3; Copper Underwing 4; Dark Arches 7; Dingy Footman 1; Flame Carpet 1; Flame Shoulder 9; Gold Spot 1; Green Carpet 2; Green-brindled Crescent 1; Large Yellow Underwing 18; Lesser Yellow Underwing 4; Rosy Rustic 11; Sallow 4; Setaceous Hebrew Character 9; Silver Y 5; Smoky Wainscot 2; Snout 1; Small Square-spot 4; Square-spot Rustic 6; Vestal 3; White Ermine 1. 

So thirty species, with the highlights being the three Vestal, which had been brought up with the African heat and winds that brought the generous covering of Saharan sand earlier in the week! 

Vestal.

Canary-shouldered Thorn.

Green-brindled Crescent.

Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Gold Spot.

Sallow.

Rosy Rustic.

Copper Underwing.

Brown China-mark.

Angleshades.

Green Crag

As the mini heat-wave continues I thought that maybe if we went up Green Crag (489m)  - parking on Ulpha Fell would mean not too much up and hopefully a breeze..although there was very little breeze and it was 25 degrees, thankfully cloud cover meant that there wasn't any direct sun - good for the dog, but not for photography. Our first bit of up onto Rough Crag - past the ancient cairns (piles of stones) and then Great Worm Crag - down to Little Worm Crag and then we skirted round White Moss, up onto the ridge and onto Green Crag. There were paths all  the way, but determining which sheep trods were paths, was at times, shall we say - not that easy...glad it was dry underfoot! 

 A cairn on the side of Rough Crag, possibly looking across to Caw. 

Looking up to Great Worm Crag. 

Across the bog to Green Crag with the Scafells in the background. 

Same view - concentrating on the colours - distinctly autumnal. 

Rocky on Great Worm Crag. 

Lasallia pustulata....a nice lichen to see - and there was lots of it. 

Rocky on the summit of Green Crag with Bowfell carefully positioned between him and the cairn. 

Lunch time view : going left from Bowfell - with its characteristic outline on the right we should have: Bowfell; Esk Pike; Great End; Scafell Pike and Scafell...according to the map. 

Sparrowhawk breakfast

When I opened the front door yesterday, the dog ran straight past this Sparrowhawk and it stayed put - I didn't even notice it until it flew off! Back to the house and it returned, as I collected my camera and very slowly crept back along towards it - a lovely moment to photograph and then to put the camera down and just watch, before retreating to leave her to her breakfast. 

Shrimping ....

Brown shrimps are delicious and a well known delicacy from Silloth. The coolest place to be, in this current unseasonal heatwave, was on the beach - so shrimping and photographing the by-catch was the order of the day. 

Low tide - using a push shrimp net.

Selecting the largest shrimps before returning the rest. 

Baby flat fish - probably Plaice.

Pipe Fish sp...and below.

Prawn.

Shore Crab.

Another probable Plaice.

Baby Cockles. 

Young Flounder - note the diamond shape compared to the Plaice.

A very small Pipe Fish. 

Fifteen Spined or Sea Stickleback ...and below. 

Ullock Pike; Long Side and Carl Side

Yesterday, we had intended to go up Skiddaw via Ullock Pike - always a nice walk - especially the ridge from The Watches onwards ...and it was. It was though incredibly warm, so we were stopping regularly for Rocky the dog to sit in what little shade there was and have a drink. We pressed on to Carl Side, but the top of Skiddaw is so stony and hot, with no shade, that we had to call it a day and descend the way we came - which on the plus side gave us new views as we have never gone down that way!

From The Watches towards Ullock Pike with Skiddaw on the left. 

Skiddaw Little Man in the middle. 

Looking down over Bassenthwaite.

A panorama of Skiddaw Little Man far left, Long Side, Dodd and Bassenthwaite. 

Lunch stop with Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man poking its head up. 

The Watches with Binsey in the background.

Return to The Watches ..and below. 

Hesket Newmarket Show : Horses, Vehicles and Cumberland Wrestling.

 ...the weather really was perfect!