LOCAL VISITS

On a morning visit to Deeping Lakes on the 1st Sept it was noticeable that there were still plenty of butterflies about. I couldn't resist taking this photo of a fine comma specimen. They have such rich colours.
There was a good showing of birds around the lakes. I counted approx 250 lapwings which were accompanied by large quantities of starlings when they took off. There were 2 little egrets present. 2 snipe and 3 green sandpipers. A hobby circled round for awhile and as i was leaving a marsh harrier flew over being mobbed by crows. It finally dropped down in the reeds between the first lake and the Crowland rd.

On the 2nd Sept i went to Bedford Purlius in the afternoon. For those of you who don't know, this is off the A47 passed Wansford and just beyond the Wittering Airfield turn off.

Lots of Common Blue as well as Gatekeeper butterflies (Photo above) attracted to the swathes of Hemp Agrimony that are growing here. The wet woodland clearings odviously ideal for this plant. The Gatekeeper is sometimes confused with the Meadow Brown but has significantly more orange on the wings.

Another insect that likes the damp habitat here is the fly Sericomyia Silentis. It is one of a number of insects that mimics the look of a common wasp. It is also nearly as big. The larvae live in muddy water.

I saw this excellent example of Hoof Fungus growing on a dead birch tree. The fungus favours this tree as well as beech.

Betony (mint family) also seems quite common here in the grassy areas between the trees.

Today the 7th Sept i had a walk round Bainton Pits. The recent wetter weather is now beginning to favour the sightings of more fungi. These are Shaggy Inkcaps. The cap and white gills will gradually blacken and dissolve into black ink.