If one has to walk in woodland - and this morning's stiff breeze and grey clouds suggested it might be a good idea - then the largely deciduous forestry below Beinn Bhraggie could hardly be a better place particularly as the tracks built for the mountain bikers tend to have gentle gradients, helpful for people of our age even though it means we occasionally have to jump off the path.
The prevalent butterflies today were speckled woods which, like us, risked their lives by favouring the sunny spots along the tracks. Neither of these individuals is typical of the species but I've rather given up on worrying about the variety there is within the butterfly world - except to celebrate it.
At one point we left the track and walked up into the woodland, Mrs MW sitting while I hunted around, fairly hopelessly, for helleborine orchids, of which I have yet to see any. But what one does discover....
....in these peaceful places are the otherwise unseen tracks left by the passing of the resident animals such as roe deer.
All around there are signs that the season is changing. The bracken, which shot up only a few weeks ago, is already turning, and....
....the heath spotted orchids have all but disappeared, their place in the damper areas being taken by....
....the delicate bog asphodel and....
....self-heal.
I had identified this as lousewort. Many thanks to the correspondent who corrected me in the comment below.
That’s not lousewort, it’s self heal.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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