Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day Mam! Just for you, here's some hedgerow Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa) pictured at Rodley Nature Reserve earlier today.

St Chad's Churchyard wander

During my lunchbreak I meandered down to St Chad's Churchyard, Far Headingley. Hoping that I might catch a little more butterfly action it wasn't until I decided to head back that I spotted a Peacock on the ground, it sat for a few seconds before I watched it swirl its way up onto the roof of the church. That's three in the area in last four days, starting with the Comma in the woodland, then the Small Tortoiseshell in the churchyard.

In the grounds of the church there are a couple of beautifully designed interpretative boards detailing the range of habitats and the fauna and flora they support. The boards are a collaborative effort by the Green Team of St Chad's, Leeds City Council and Stephen Huxley, designer.

According to the information boards butterflies that frequent the churchyard include, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell (which I saw on Friday), Holly Blue, Wall, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper. Although today's Peacock isn't mentioned, I'll take that as a positive and look forward to future treats.

Here's the view from the side of the church looking back towards Beckett Park woodland. Native trees such as Willows and Birch are dotted throughout the churchyard.

At the base of a sunny hedgerow, in dappled shade I spotted three clumps of Common Dog Violet, Viola riviniana.

With the blossom opening and the new buds emerging, this Prunus tree still held last year's fruit.

Rodley Nature Reserve

Rodley Nature Reserve was thronging with visitors, highlights on the wildlife front were 5 Grey Heron at the waters edge & buds and blossom around the Reserve. On the ponds, Cormorants settled on the island, joined waterside by Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Coot, Mallard & Reed Bunting amongst the rushes. A whistlestop at the Manager's Garden where Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Reed Bunting visited the feeders before we refuelled with cuppa at the Visitors Centre.

A blurry Reed Bunting, followed by a less blurry sketch.

Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria. Like damp shade, deciduous environments. Can be eaten in salads, buds can be pickled & eaten as capers, the early leaves are high in Vitamin C. Leaves are a glossy dark green & heart shaped. The plant is an important source of early nectar.

On the way back stopped for a quick trot around Bramley Falls Park, caught sight of Mistle Thrush, Wren, Blue Tit, Chaffinch.

First posting

Witchazel, Hamamelis Mollis growing near Morissons car park, Kirkstall. More reason to shop at Morrisons.

Love a duck! A very handsome Mallard sunning himself by the banks of the River Aire at Kirkstall Abbey

Jelly Ear, Auricularia auricula-judae, growing on a fallen Elder on the banks of the River Aire