West Northumberland mires

Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragram)

Target species Great Sundew (Drosera anglica)

Round leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)

Stagshorn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum)

Emperor moth caterpillar

Saw quite a few of these ??

One of three Cuckoo's - they may have been feeding on the above

Wood tiger moth

Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)

Crowberry (Empetrum nigram)

Red Deer

A lovely day yesterday was spent over at the mires in West Northumberland with IRD. Remote and incredibly wet, you have to be prepared to get soaked even with your wellies on. The bogs we visited were exceptionally wet with healthy plant communities. The target species were Great Sundew and Bog Rosemary two species I haven't seen before and one or two other species I've only seen in the mountains of Scotland. We pretty much cleaned up with the plants we went to see but lots of other wildlife around. The first day I have seen more than a dozen butterflies on the wing. The best being Large Heath but not resting for a picture. A male Stonechat was the first I have seen inland for 3 years.