The sky had the faintest of promises for the following day...
Noticed that the brambles, which in other parts of the country are doing well (cf. Kilhoan Diary and the Guardian Weekend) seem to be a scraggy unready mess. There are tiny green buds and nowhere does anything look promising.
There were some bits of blossom which prompted debate as to whether they were blackberries or scraggy dog roses. We had decided that they were blackberries, but putting these pictures up I have a nagging doubt. We even tried to trace the stems back, but the hazards of delving too deep are many, sharp and obvious. (I really need that book!)...
I think the thorns look like rose, but...
Anyway, the rain came back and then went and a steamy Saturday brightened up early on and a walk on hard standing was called for to avoid the mud and wet grass. Around Arden Fleet on the Dalton Warter road. Track side flowers were few and far between and this dandelion attracted more the its share of bees...
Or are they hover flies? I seem to be having an indecisive weekend.
A furry caterpillar was crossing the path...
Any help with identification welcome.
A junction on the Minster Way. When I looked at this photo I noticed what looked like a big bird in the distance which we hadn't noticed at the time. Closer examination revealed a hover fly, out of focus and close to the lens (cf Father Ted).
The crop, bearded wheat, I think, looked ready for harvest, but not a combine was to be heard anywhere...
From up here you can see the top of the north tower of the Humber Bridge 19 to 20 miles away...
Can you see it?
From here, when its lit, you can clearly see Flamborough lighthouse, which is 32 miles from the Humber Bridge.
There is a dew pond near the crest which had a few bulrushes, an incongruous sight as the only bit of water for miles around...
Not a good walk for birds, the strong SW wind might be keeping any migrants in place. A yellowhammer sat low in the hedge and mocked my auto-focus...
Last year about this time we saw two Marsh Harriers hunting around here, but not today.
The newly re-laid track back back through a very empty landscape...
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Evening then and another walk, trying to avoid the full steamy heat of the day.Kiplingcotes Station to the nature reserve. The Rosebay Willowherb was glowing in the evening sun...
Rosebay Willowherb is also known as Fireweed which comes from its ability to cover bomb sites after the last war and that it is often the first plant to colonise burnt ground...
The bees like it, and I think it is a much under appreciated plant...
Feeling ashamed of my confusion earlier this IS a dog rose...
Harebells were forming a vertical display against the old railway fence, all growing to different heights, as if arranged for a garden display...
Canadian Goldenrod, an escapee, not from Canada, but from domestic gardens, was a slightly surprising sight as an isolated patch by the entrance to the reserve and nowhere near any gardens.
Perhaps they fell off a train...
"Do you think yellow suits my metallic stripes?"
The light was fading as we reached the reserve and I took this by fastening the camera to a fence post with the Gorilla and using a 1 second exposure...
As we got back to the car there was a sudden flush of red in the clouds over Southwold Farm...
A good sign for tomorrow, I think.
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