Great Cockup

A gorgeous walk this morning with sun and a cooling breeze. We parked at the farm at Orthwaite, where there is now a carpark and an honesty box - making parking far easier than before! A gradual ascent along the track towards Burn Tod before heading up onto the ridge between Little and Great Cockup, then onto Great Cockup. Superb views and clarity today. 

Looking across to Binsey.

And across to Bassenthwaite where there was a regatta - nice day for a sail. 

Across to Dash Falls and Skiddaw. 

Grouse butt.

White Heather.

Looking down the path to Little Cockup. 

Panorama. 

Still King of the Castle! 

Back to the beach

Not a glorious forecast, so a walk on the beach....   But when we got there it was blowing a hooley, so we spent most of the time in the dunes behind the beach. Some nice flora, but very few butterflies.

High tide and it looked more like February than August. 

Curlew.

Curlew and an Oystercatcher lift off. 

The hinterland.

Sea Holly.

A remarkable expansion of Ragwort.

Fox Moth caterpillar.

A cluster of Harebells - not easy to photograph in the wind. 

Thyme and Sheep's-bit Scabious.

More Harebells ...and below.

Some rather rotund Belted Galloways.

 

Fut, fut, fut, fut, fut ....

There was a large selection of beautifully turned out and working standing engines at Cockermouth show....

Cockermouth Show

Today I was on the judging side of things rather than the exhibiting side - so a few highlights from the day...the stock section was excellent and the standing engines were fab - they in themselves deserve another blog.

I thought this was an excellent choice for a floral art category, the second placed 'Wind in the Willows' was excellent as well.

My sweat peas aren't even in bud! 

Floating flowers - always difficult to stage!

Yum! 

and even more yum!

A splendid lad! 

Goats have character!

A lovely coat....and bows!

Herdy favourites.

and vintage vehicles....

August Moth Trap

A warm and still night, but a disappointing number of moths - which seems to be  the state of play this year. So a few highlights....

Poplar Hawk-moth and below...

Garden Tiger.

Clouded Border.

One anntenaed Drinker Moth.

Lesser Swallow Prominent.

Burnished Brass.

True Lover's Knot.

The list.