Friday 16 April 2010

St Chads Churchyard

St Chad's was a sunny haven this afternoon and on stepping into the churchyard almost immediately a pair of Jays flew overhead. Both birds carried twigs, landing briefly in view before settling safely out of sight.

High up on a neighbouring tree, a Nuthatch called out loudly, and sat amongst the bursting buds preening itself in the sunshine.


A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew overhead, Robin and Dunnock darted between the hedgerows, a pair of male and female Blackbirds collected worms from the grassland, and a Blue Tit continually flew to and from a nestbox. To my delight my first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year landed smack bang in front of me and darted off as soon as I lifted my camera, the other butterfly sighting an unidentified white.

I noticed this plant growing through the grass on my previous visit, its Field Wood-rush or Good Friday Grass (Luzula campestris) so named as it emerges around Easter time. It is relatively short, between 5 cm - 15 cm in height, has three to six stemmed clusters of flowers. Its common on grassland in acid conditions, and spreads via short stolons and seed.

6 comments:

  1. I think you have a good patch there Linda

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  2. Beautiful photographs.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Costas

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  3. Jays are such attractive birds, Linda. I hope to get a better picture of one this year (I've only ever managed one very poor picture of one).

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  4. Thank you all for stopping by, Linda

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  5. Nice post. I get Field wood Rush on my lawn. I'll post some shots later this week.

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  6. Hello Abbey Meadows, it was last week at the same spot that a friend asked me what it was and I realised I didn't know, hence the pic and a shuffle through my wildflower book, Linda

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