16 June 2017

We went to Apedale in the morning – it was cloudy and warm.

We saw lots of wildflowers:

This purple flower is called tufted vetch. This plant climbs up other plants with the help of curly leafy tendrils.

There were loads of foxgloves (digitalis).

There is a beautiful patch of meadow orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata).

Mum got photobombed several times whilst trying to take photos of the orchids:

Photobomb by Barney

Photobomb by Danny

We also saw a (we think) spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata):

There is loads of dog rose (Rosa canina) – the rose hips (which come later in the year) are extremely rich in vitamin C.

The brambles are also flowering:

Insect-wise, there were lots of burnet moths buzzing around. Here’s a 5-spot burnet moth:

A burnet moth cocoon recently vacated – there are a lot of these on the wire fences at Apedale, this one is on a grass stem:

Ladybirds are so hard to identify, but we think that both of these are harlequin ladybirds of different types:

Another photobomb!

We managed to get a picture of a blue damselfly, perched on some reeds:

This ringlet butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus) was sitting on a bramble – which is not surprising as it is its favourite plant:

This rather nasty looking fly with furry legs and brown eyes is a dung fly – so-called because it generally lays its eggs on cowpats.

Here’s a picture of brown ants ‘herding’ black aphids on a dock plant. The aphids produce a sweet secretion called ‘honeydew’ which is a staple food for the ants. The ants have chemicals on their feet which subdue and tranquilise the aphids. They also sometimes bite the aphids’ wings off!

There are loads of little paths made by animals through the grass. We aren’t really sure what animals are responsible for these – maybe foxes or badgers?

There are certainly loads of rabbit holes:

Even in very inaccessible places:

We saw a couple of little rabbits as we drove to the carpark, but we haven’t been able to take a photo of one yet – maybe next time!