Well not on the railway line, rather by it, as I trotted slowly along the Sustrans 64 cycle path, snuffling all the while like a hedgehog, throwing in the odd cough like a moose. I really am a silly boy sometimes, but I get cross if I can't get out there.
You'd think everything would be as dead as doornails along there this time of year, unless you were a fan of berries, but there was a surprising amount of wildflowers in recent bloom, as well as a fair few buddleias hanging on in.
It was noticeable that the buddleias seemed to have lost of their cloying scent, however. They were a godsend for a few vigorously fluttering red admirals, however the peacocks you'd expect to see were not evident at all. They have really had a dreadful year, especially in the second flight.
There seems to be a lot of toadflax around this year, a species I've not really noticed along here before with its bright yellow snapdragon flowers. Ox eye daisies are still in bloom, and bizarrely there was some bramble blossom out in places. Heaven knows why. Certainly the brambles were a major problem today, I twice got my leg ripped as I went butterfly stalking off the track.
I'm examining the 6 inch long scratch now.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.09.15
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| I got my legs ripped for this rubbish shot |
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| Thick fluff |
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| Horse tails |
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| Ox eye daisies. A pleasure. |
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| Hoverfly on ragwort |
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| Blackberries in the fence |
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| Red admiral |
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| Took a while for it to open its wings |
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| Toadflax |
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| Newark Northgate station |
