A Walk on the Wild Side

Yesterday we went for a walk on a familiar route.  A farm lane/bridle path that leads into the Pentland Hills just outside Edinburgh.  We regularly walk this path and there is always some eyecatching novelty to stop you in your tracks.  Due to the virus restrictions we haven't been this way for about ages.  The flora and fauna haven't missed us and are thriving.

First to greet us this chicory flower:

Next a novelty I had to look up.  Yes it looks a bit like white ragwort or even blackberry flowers but this is Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica)

Here's a picture with the leaf to help identification

The big attraction is the knapweed which is proving a magnet for many species

Another insect magnet is this:

My best guess is Hawkweed, but "dandelion like flowers" covers an extensive range of plants.  A check of the leaves suggests  Leafy hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)

As we get higher a heathland favourite appears

A bank of harebells

Now here is the most camera shy wildflower .  My camera's autofocus is fooled every time I try to get a close up.  It is Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)

The much maligned ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)  is hosting an insect party

Another commonplace plant: Yarrow  (Achillea millefolium)

Looks like Cow Parsley - I reckon this is a Hogweed seedhead

Next a real surprise up on the moor: Wild Basil?

Clinopodium vulgare

Not to confused with White Horehound (Marubium vulgae) found a quarter of a mile further on 

Last to feature although the plant is long gone these Sweet Cicely seeds are hanging on in their characteristic configuration.

Time to head for home.

Elusive Butterflies

Fritillary feeding

With imminent snow forecast I am in need of some summer cheer, so today I have collected together some of my butterfly snaps 

A well camouflaged Speckled Wood Butterfly 

The ever popular Red Admiral

A Meadow Brown?

Another Meadow Brown

Peacock giving the eyes

It's white and it has a spot. The dreaded Cabbage White?

More spots yes that's a Cabbage White!

There's only one contender for this post:

Spot the Difference

Digital cameras are wonderful things for recording wildlife - and allowing identification at leisure. The following picture was snapped at la Roche d’Oëtre, in the Suisse Normande area of Normandy about 10 days ago.

I had every confidence that I would identify it on my return home. But before I had done so another allotment blogger (take a bow, Sue) just happened to post a butterfly post:


Sue's post

Serendipity or what:?

It is well camouflaged  - Can you see it in this pic?

The main thing la Roche d’Oëtre is famous for is the head shaped rock.  Can you see it?

or maybe this is it:

Not so sure.  All the same it was a tranquil spot, with some nice wildlife.

Always remember to observe the local bye laws: