Roy's Nature Logbook

Sunday, 20 April 2014

The Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

This is traditionally an Easter flower so to celebrate Easter Day I have posted some blooms that I shot this week.

A very rare plant in the United Kingdom which can only be found a few locations in the Chilterns, Cotswolds, East Anglia and Lincolnshire.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

This species lives in woodland and can be found in shady areas where the sun comes through the foliage.

A native species that is easily disturbed, but if you do it will most likely return to the same spot soon after.

I have seen quite a number over the last few days which suggests that it will be a good year for this species.

A recent walk around a local woodland revealed that the Bluebells are already starting to bloom, which is much earlier than last year.

These are views of the edge of part of the woodland, which stretches over 90 hectares.

As you can see there are a minority of blooms out so far.

Of course they always look more if you shoot from ground level.

I have added vignetting by using a certain camera setting for the next few images.

More camera trickery here by blurring the images somewhat.

The images below were taken in a separate area of the woodland the following day.

The bluebells, being out so early, have caught up with the Wood Anemones.

Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi)

This female is the first I have seen this Spring. I think it had not long emerged from Chrysalis.

The warm weather is certainly bringing out the first species in quite promising numbers already.

A good year for butterflies is certainly needed after the recent few years.

The Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) are feeding on any flower it can find including the Blackthorn and Dandelion.

Brimstone

This first Peacock (Inachis io) was spending all its time sunning itself on a stony track.

Peacock

Some Peacock like the one below, although in poor condition was still flying and eating where it could.