Nature Notes July 2024

Nature Notes   July 2024

The sun was shining when we arrived at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s reserve of Eycott Hill. The hay meadow near the car park was a blaze of colour: orange Common Sorrel; yellow Hay Rattle and Catsear; white Oxeye Daisies and Pignut, with blue Germander Speedwell dotted between. Fluttering amongst the grasses were many day flying Chimney Sweeper moths. They were very distinctive as their black wings are tipped with white. They do not occur in East Anglia, so were especially nice to see. The whole area undulates with marshy hollows between rocky outcrops. Patches of white Cottongrass indicated the wettest parts and it was from these that we heard the ‘chuppy-ing’ of Snipe, a secretive wader of wet moorland. Later we were treated to a territorial display, as the male Snipe looped high in the air, only to throw himself down almost vertically, with extended tail feathers making the magical, ‘drumming’ sound. It was something we had not heard in Norfolk for many years. Clouds had built up during the morning but even though it was now overcast, we were very fortunate to have the brief view of a Marsh Fritillary butterfly as it settled on vegetation in a boggy patch. It held its wings open long enough for us to see the beautiful orange and brown chequered markings on the top of the wing, before it was off again and soon out of sight. On the slopes of the hills between the marshes, were the occasional clumps of Mountain Pansy. They were violet in colour with an orange eye and much more delicate than the garden viola. The rocks on top of the hills were covered in lichens, one with bright red fruiting bodies and another that looked like a miniature, brown seaweed. From the main hilltop we heard the evocative call of Curlew and looked up to see three birds flying high to the west. One was slightly smaller than the others, so it may have been a family leaving their breeding grounds for the safety and good feeding to be had on Morecombe Bay. We certainly hoped so.

In Reepham, Tony and Celia witnessed something extraordinary: a Lesser Black-backed Gull, swallowing a Blackbird whole! This sort of behaviour is more usual on the coast where gulls are raising families but it feels very out of place in our neighbourhood!

Helena was able to prevent the mowing of a patch of Bee Orchids and Common Broomrape flowers at Salle Moor Hall. Thank you, Helena.

Do let me know if you see any interesting wildlife (rachel.42rr@btinternet.com)