puddleshark

A bright icy afternoon, frost lingering on the grass, and a thin layer of ice on the puddles. Set off down the farm track to Middlebere, with the setting sun at my back, casting a long shadow. ( Read more... )

At home, the leaves are already dropping from the birch and the oak trees, autumn come very early due to the drought. And still no prospect of any rain. But down by the marshes, though the paths are unusually dry, summer is lingering. The heather and the dwarf gorse still flowering, and grayling butterflies are still on the wing. A small family of swallows were swooping through the blue sky and above the purple heather, but no signs that the swallows have started to gather yet.

( +4 )

A walk across the heath on an overcast morning, with a cold unsummerly west wind blowing. Sun or no sun, the paths are very beautiful in July, lined with purple Bell Heather and golden grasses.
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The wind in the east: warm, humid and sinister. Took a walk out to the small patch of marsh at the lonely centre of the heath, where there are often Marsh Gentians flowering at this time of year.

( Three blue things )

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).

Still a cold, fresh June. The heather is not yet in flower on the heath, but there are tiny Silver-studded Blue butterflies on the wing.

( Wrens singing, hoverflies humming )

I'm not having a good morning. LJ just ate my post. Here we go again...



After yesterday's heavy rain, sunshine. Walked through the woods, by the marshes, and back across the heath, along muddy paths overhung with wet grass and bracken.

Some days, none of my photos come out sharp, and nothing's quite in focus. Maybe because my brain's not quite in focus? Today was one of those days.

( Photos anyway )

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens).

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