Thursday 29 July 2021

Cotswolds


Chalkhill Blue.

Green-flowered Helleborine. Hope I've got this right. Note the swollen, hairless ovaries (apparently GFH can self-pollinate without the flowers opening, and so may remain in bud). The upper part of the stem lacks hairs. I found only two presumed examples amongst multiple Broad-leaved Helleborines. More photos below...

A trip up to the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire for Helleborines this morning. Not as straightforward as I'd hoped but educational and a joy to spend more time on chalky soil! On the way back down the M5 I stopped off at Ham Wall, hoping for dragonflies, but it became overcast pretty quickly and consequently there wasn't too much activity. Back for lunch.




Think this photo shows the irregularly-bunched cilia (little hairs) along the leaf edge. Diagnostic from what I've read.


Harebell.


Carline Thistle.


Dwarf Thistle.


Eyebright agg.


Woolly Thistle.



Burnet Saxifrage.


Dyer's Greenweed - thank you Neil!

Chalkhill Blue.

Broad-leaved Helleborines were present in all shades.





Small Red-eyed Damselfly - thanks Steve!

Blue-tailed damselfly.

Glastonbury Tor - too cloudy for dragonflies unfortunately.

Arrowhead.

Marsh Harrier.


Frog-bit.

Ruddy Darter.

Great White Egret. One of two seen.

Amphibious Bistort.


Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle on Hogweed.


Ruddy Darter.

4 comments:

  1. I do not see enough Ruddy Darters, just love them!

    That's a small red-eyed damselfly in the picture, note how the blue extends up and down the sides of the abdomen.

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  2. Thanks Steve - I clearly don't see enough Small Red-eyeds! Knew about the blue but have the memory of a Goldfish! All the best. Matt

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    1. A memory like a Goldfish!? Couldn't disagree more looking at how much more knowledge you've clearly taken on within last five years!

      Keep up the great posts.

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  3. Lovely stuff. Ruddy Darters are fairly common here, though not as widespread as Common Darter.

    Don't see any spines on the plant you've labelled Petty Whin- I believe it's Dyers Greenweed, a different Genista sp.

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