Adel Churchyard Bluebells & the Kate Middleton connection

In between today's downpours, a picture of bluebells in the grounds of St John the Baptist Church in Adel. According to the church website, "Kate Middleton's seven times Great-Grandparents, Francis Lupton and Ester Midgley were married in Adel Church in 1688. The grave of Ester's parents, Ralph & Frances Midgley 1694 lies close to the path by the main door." Who knew!

Breary Marsh

Up at Breary Marsh earlier today, Bluebells, Ferns and Greater Stitchwort were all in fine display, enjoying patches of intermittent sunlight prior to the thickening of the canopy.  We heard Warblers, Bullfinch, Chaffinch Robin and Blackbird in the trees, and saw Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Moorhen and Grebe on Paul's Pond.

Greater Stitchwort appeared in patches around edges of the woodland.  Less abundant than those posted by Phil Gates (Cabinet of Curiosities) but equally eye catching.




Speckled Woods and Large Whites were the butterflies of the day. Although present in comparatively smaller numbers the former proved far more obliging than the latter.

Adel churchyard bluebells

Adel Churchyard has a fine display of bluebells at the moment. Just as the daffodils have faded, bluebells, forgive-me-nots, honesty and wild garlic, take their turn to flower in the grounds of the churchyard. The afternoon sun filtering through the emerging canopies to create patches of dappled sunlight on the native bluebells.

Adel Churchyard

We visited St John the Baptist Churchyard in Adel on Sunday. Its part of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Living Churchyard Project, a tranquil, picturesque spot and within close proximity of the wonderful one-acre garden that is Yorkgate. The churchyard is currently full of bluebells, buttercups and flowering grasses.

The previous day, at Rodley I noted with interest that recent sightings included a Small Copper butterfly, I've never knowingly seen one, and had recalled Warren's pic at Pittswood Birds last week so it was up there on my list of ones to watch out for. So today I was so delighted to see not one but two Small Coppers at Adel. Whoop whoop!

As if that wasn't enough we spotted this small green beauty as it settled on a wilted daffodil flower, not the best pic but good enough for an identification, and I think this is a Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi). I was interested to see that Emma, Northumberland Naturalist and Frank, Early Birder both enjoyed sightings of the Green Hairstreak this weekend and managed better pics.

There were over 15 Speckled Wood's, along the perimeter hedgerows and in amongst the dappled shady areas, tirelessly seeing off all-comers whenever they strayed into their patch. A range of 20 White's on the wing, none obliging enough to pause for a picture, amongst them Small White, Green Veined White and Orange Tip.

Feathered inhabitants included, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Magpie, Mistle Thrush, a female Mallard settled in the grass, and a Buzzard flew overhead mobbed by Crows.

Beckett Park Bluebell wander

I took a stroll through Beckett Park woodland at lunchtime to admire the carpets of native Bluebells. Katie (Nature ID) asked me recently if I'd seen any bluebell woods, so here's a few pics.



Another flowery find, this one is Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), five deeply notched delicate white petals on slender stems, the leaves grow directly from the stem attached in paired opposites. Dean (DDD) recently posted a lovely pic of a Stitchwort flower which meant that I instantly recognised this one a few days later.

The only birdlife I managed today was this Coal Tit on a conifer.