Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Sunday 25 July 2021

Herefordshire Again - Part 3: Mortimer Forest

 

Mortimer Forest was very quiet and peaceful and there were less cars in the car park than on the first visit and we only saw a few people during the entire walk.  We ate a picnic lunch in the car and I was thrilled to see several Silver Washed Fritillaries flying past (the first I have seen this year). No chance of a photo though as the only one that stopped flying was someway away and kept its wings closed! The trees provided some welcome shade from the sun and heat!

We did the same "easy access" trail as last time.  It is made of two loops in a "figure of eight" and again we walked both loops.












Every time I stopped to take a photo or identify a plant or butterfly B and E got further and further ahead :(







Hedge Woundwort




















Heavily cropped photo of a Ringlet.




Peeler Pond - we saw many Broad-bodied Chasers (males)















Rosebay Willowherb, Meadowsweet and Foxglove







Back at the car park.








The final post of this visit to Herefordshire will include visits to two local churches - sadly one closed and one only open for private prayer but there was plenty to see in the churchyards and on the exterior of the churches.

Stay safe and well everyone.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. D was working from home Thursday and Friday so couldn't accompany us.


12 comments:

Rustic Pumpkin said...

A lovely family walk with plenty to see and great photos. It looks as if there were a few spots that might offer respite from the heat too, as well as being quiet. Our foxgloves are long over, and I seem to have Rosebay Willowherb in my garden.

Bovey Belle said...

That looks a lovely cool walk. How far is the figure of 8 loop as a walk?

Our Foxgloves are pretty well over too, but the Willowherb is just coming into full bloom - we have masses of it in both our little triangular paddocks. It's as tall as the two fruit trees I have planted!

Ragged Robin said...

Rustic Pumpkin - thanks so much. The walk was lovely and shady in many places :) We still have a few foxgloves in flower in the garden. We've not got Rosebay Willowherb but do have Broad-leaved Willowherb - it loves growing in patio pots!!!

Ragged Robin said...

Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. The walk isn't far about 1 or 2 kms. Mainly on the flat too. OH was on about doing the 9km walk to the top of the hill - far too strenuous for me especially in the heat.

Gosh your willowherb sounds tall. We had a Ragwort plant (no horses here so not a problem) taller than me but OH has pulled it up :( I was hoping for Cinnabar Moth caterpillars!

Rosie said...

Looks a lovely shady walk away from the crowds. Great to see the silver washed fritillaries even at a distance, I don't think I've ever seen one. Willowherbs are coming out now I saw two different types on our walk over the fields at the weekend. Lots of small butterflies too all rising up from the ground as we walked towards them. Some of them were gatekeepers. It will be interesting to see which churches you visited:)

Ragged Robin said...

Rosie - Thanks so much. SW Fritillaries are large and rather lovely - they seem to float as they flutter. Mainly orange with dark lines on wings although there a few species that look the same! Woodland butterflies I think. It is good to see more butterflies finally emerging - we have Gatekeepers in the garden - they love marjoram flowers and today I saw a Peacock and two Small Skippers :) Churches weren't famous Herefordshire ones - just two close to the caravan!

Pam said...

I've just been catching up on your posts, Ludlow looks quite lovely, I think with lots of people staying in the UK everywhere is going to be busy during the summer :/ But at least you can escape to the forest! I don't think i've ever seen a Fritillary so i'd be quite thrilled too! Your photo of B & E walking off made me laugh, I have so many photos of my husband and daughter doing the same thing :D

Ragged Robin said...

Pam - Thanks so much :) Ludlow is good - great architecture and shops but hard to enjoy atm as I am still not keen on going in shops! The forest is a good discovery - much quieter than Queenswood Arboretum although a bit further away. You can't miss a Fritillary - large and orange! But there are quite a few species that are similar. Glad I am not the only one left lagging! Not so bad when son and I go out because he takes photos too and sometimes lingers more than me!

CherryPie said...

If I am with my hubby and he gets to far ahead, on most occasions it doesn't matter we are both doing our own things in our own space.

But there are times, mostly when his mobile phone distracts him, that he forgets about me an is lost in his digital world.

Ragged Robin said...

CherryPie - Thankyou. I don't think we ever actually walk together!! He gets distracted by mobile too - thankfully not work now he is retired but now our daughter or one of his friends!

Millymollymandy said...

Looks like a perfect walk on a hot day! Love the Ringlet as I have very rarely seen them, and it must have been great watching the dragonflies around that pond. There seems to be so much to explore around where your caravan is, what a brilliant idea it was to get it! :-)

Ragged Robin said...

Millymollymandy -Thanks so much. Trees provided much needed shade and its quite an easy walk more or less on the level :) Ringlets are lovely - we get very occasional sightings in the garden.

Herefordshire is a lovely county and so rural - nature reserves, public footpaths galore, market towns, churches, black and white villages, museums, gardens - it has everything. Oh to live there permanently! Also it is not too much of a "touristy"county - a big bonus!!!