my local patch and wildlife - Ian McDonald

[ian mcdonald]

Heath Bedstraw, Galium saxatile is just coming into flower.



I noticed a Pine Weevil on a track.



Milkwort, Polygala sp.



Pignut, Conopodium majus. As kids we used to dig up and eat the tubers.



Common Whitebeam, Sorbus aria.

[ian mcdonald]

There were several people stood in the river yesterday afternoon so being nosy I went to see what was happening. I was just in time to see a 15lb. salmon being caught.

[ian mcdonald]

Spring seems to have happened all of a sudden, at last. Trees are full of leaf where a few weeks ago it looked like spring had been cancelled, just like last year. I found Alpine Bistort, one flower, down by the river. Probably washed down from the higher hills as a plant or seed.



A new record for the surrounding area is Northern Bedstraw, Galium boreale.



An American plant, used in cover crops to attract bees and other insects is Phacelia, another new record for the area.



A wren was by the river.



Also there was a Greenfinch, they have declined in recent years.

[ian mcdonald]

I went to the coast yesterday where wet dunes are host to a wide variety of plants. Common Wintergreen, Pyrola minor was in flower.



Marsh Lousewort, Pedicularis palustris were just beginning to flower in the wetter parts.



Common Yellow Rattle, Rhinanthus minor was there.



Cross-leaved Heath, Erica tetralix was in flower in the wetter parts.



In contrast Bell Heather, Erica cinerea prefers dryer conditions.

[ian mcdonald]

A common plant, Birds-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus is well known and widespread.



Less often seen is Kidney Vetch/Ladies Fingers, Anthyllis vulneraria.



Sheeps-bit Scabious, Jasione montana is a neat plant when in exposed places.



Biting Stonecrop, Sedum acre grows in bare areas, usually on sand.



Another Stonecrop I,ve only seen at the coast is English Stonecrop, Sedum anglicum.

[ian mcdonald]

The main reason for my visit to this site is to see Coralroot Orchid, Corallorhiza trifida, again. Some times growing in the open, I only found one plant. However, a walk along a path among pines and I saw about another twenty plants. Well worth the effort of laying down to get a decent photo.





A tiny spreading plant which prefers dry sandy conditions is Birds-foot, Ornithopus perpusillus. This plant also requires the photographer to be at the same level.



On my way back I stopped at the roadside to photograph Hoary Cress, Cardaria draba.



I have noticed in the last couple of years that quite a few Hawthorn flowers are becoming red. I don,t think this has anything to do with climate change. Climate change would affect the flowering time, not the colour of the flowers. Some flowers on the bushes are retaining their white colour.

[ian mcdonald]

A day-time flying moth at the site is Anania fuscalis.



When I stopped to photograph the Hawthorn I heard a Corn Bunting singing. It was perched on a wire. Some people say its song is like someone rattling a bunch of keys. A fairly good description, they are becoming scarce now due to habitat loss, i.e. corn fields.

[ian mcdonald]

A trip to the coast today on a rare sunny day. Among the plants seen were Lyme Grass, Leymus arenarius and Oyster Plant, Mertensia maritima.

[ian mcdonald]

Seen today were Whitethroat.



Violet Ground Beetle.



Zebra Spider.



And Twinflower.

[ian mcdonald]

Another walk along the river and I saw a few Melancholy Thistles in flower.



In the river are long strands of River Water-crowfoot, Ranunculus fluitans.



Five plants of Corn Marigold were found, there used to be many more but cleaning of seed has perhaps reduced this cheery plant.



A couple of white Foxgloves were flowering on the bank.



Tufted Vetch, Vicia cracca are along the river bank and elsewhere.

[MurrayLily]

Hi, I recently joined you, very happy to be here. So many beautiful photos, after all how many unique things are in the places we live in!!!

[ian mcdonald]

I went to an area where limestone is the influence. Many plants of Broad-leaved Helleborine were there but not in flower yet. I did see Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga.



Also in the same ditch were plants of Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, Ranunculus hederaceus.



In an old quarry were a scattering of Lesser Spearwort, Ranunculus flammula.



A plant which was once common on roadside verges but not now is White Campion. Silene alba/latifolia.



In a wetter corner of the quarry I saw Watercress, Rorippa nastutium-aquaticum

[ian mcdonald]

At another site shingle banks are along a river. There can be found plants from high in the hills washed down and growing on the shingle. One of the species is Goldenrod, Solidago virgaurea.



Another species there is Yellow Saxifrage, S. aizoides. One plant was seen but not yet in flower. Another visit is needed.

[Maggi Young]

Hi, I recently joined you, very happy to be here. So many beautiful photos, after all how many unique things are in the places we live in!!!

Welcome to the forum!  Great to see what's around  in other  corners of the  world, isn't it?

[Yann]

Many interesting species, some we share and others completly unknown in the wild here such Mertensia maritima.
It's sold by "horticulture industry" but i never met it in nature. Thanks for sharing!