20th June 2020 #30DaysWild

The wind was getting up this evening so we walked into the Black Park and explored some of the dips to the north side of the track which were slightly sheltered.  

This Greater butterfly orchid was the largest one we had seen this summer. Huge! 

19th June 2020 #30DaysWild

We walked round the Haunn field this evening.  It was cloudy and windy so challenging for photographs.

The distribution of wild flowers in these fields changes from year to year, and it is difficult to know whether our grazing management is affecting it or is the weather or something else.

No doubt about it this seems to be a very good orchid year.  We are finding Greater butterfly orchids all over the in by fields and lots of Fragrants too. 

Masses of Creeping buttercup and Yellow rattle but seeing the leaves of Tufted vetch coming so hopefully it will be a good year for that too. 

Another big patch of Nettles crawling with Peacock caterpillars.

The first Tufted vetch. 

Noctilucent clouds before they were clouded out by heavy clouds lower down. 

18th June 2020 #30DaysWild

This all night twilight is called Simmer Dim in Shetland and I have borrowed the term to describe the magical twilight that on a clear night we will see all through the night.  I took this looking out from the garden gate just after midnight. It would have been pin drop quiet if it hadnt been for the rumble of the dredgers. 

We went looking for grasses this evening at about 9pm.  We walked through the field below the farmhouse.  It is looking absolutely stunning.  Grasses flowering and heavy with pollen, Common spotted and Greater butterfly orchids dotted about wherever you look, Ox eye daisies, Yellow rattle..  A very different habitat to the Black Park where we walked the evening before.  This is definitely a field that has been traditionally been cut for hay and more recently silage.  When we first moved here it was predominately Italian rye grass but it has now got a far more diverse sward, if not as productive for hay or silage.  It is certainly better for wildlife! 

Crested dogtail grass

Common velvet grass 

Common velvet grass

I find it really difficult to ID grasses or to remember their names. I appreciate their beauty though, especially on an evening like this.

Farmer and Jan.

Walter

Common spotted orchids

Jan

We were blessed with another wonderful sunset.

17th June 2020 #30DaysWild

A Black Park posy

I never pick wild flowers.  Well I never did - until this evening.  And I won't do it again any time soon.  All these wild flowers are all growing abundantly here, and were picked in the one field, the Black Park.  

Heath bedstraw
Ragged robin 
Lady's bedstraw
Bitter vetch
Wood bitter vetch
Birds foot trefoil
Germander speedwell
Common eyebright
Marsh marigold
Water avens
Bog asphodel
Meadow vetchling
Lady's mantle
Tormentil
Fragrant orchid
Greater butterfly orchid 
Northern marsh orchid
Lousewort 
Marsh lousewort
Wild thyme 
Burnet rose
A hawkweed?
Marestail
Yellow rattle
Milkwort
Silverweed
Water forget me not
Creeping buttercup
Sorrel
Pignut
Ox eye daisy
Red clover 
White clover
Wood sage
Bog cotton
Bluebell
Meadowsweet (just about to show its flower)
Crossleaf heather
Marsh ragwort?

16th June 2020 #30DaysWild

Peacock butterfly caterpillars on Nettles.  Farmer protects and encourages Nettles in various places on the in by fields.  These Nettles are across the track from East Cottage and are a popular site for Peacock butterflies.  We have also found them on 3 other big Nettle patches.  It must be a good year for them! 

15th June 2020 #30DaysWild

Another calm day. Still and very quiet. 

We walked up to the Cruachan this evening.  Watching mists roll in and out, walking above the cloud level.   The distinctive outline of Staffa in the evening sun. 

At our feet, tiny sprinklings of Heath bedstraw, patches of Bog cotton and Hare's'tail cotton grass, deep pink Bell heather just starting to flower, Wild thyme and yellow dots of Tormentil everywhere. 

Above our heads, distant calls of Curlew and the air carpeted with a constant Skylark chorus. 

In the Haunn field, the first Small white orchid is flowering. 

And a mad sunset to end the day with! 

14th June 2020 30DaysWild

The machair at Calgary is closed to grazing from the beginning of May until the end of August.  2020 is the third year of this grazing control.  As April is often a dry month and with the sheep still grazing on it, the machair takes quite a time to recover, but the middle of May it is beginning to flower again.  It has been a very dry spring and early summer. 

There are certainly more Northern marsh orchids than last year, and this one was an especially fine specimen! 

Hawkweeds are beyond my knowledge and so I never know what they are. They are beautiful though.