bluebells and butterflies

At last a free day and a chance to visit Aqualate to look at the bluebells, and the butterflies were about too!
most of the bluebells are the other side of the fence so although I could see butterflies fluttering around the mass of bluebells I couldn't get up close to most.
The first one we saw that settled just about close enough, was this red admiral,

then this peacock came along, somewhat battered and in the shade - but a peacock butterfly nonetheless

there were several orange tip butterflies about, but they were not stopping long enough on any flower, they seemed more interested in chasing each other off, it was while I was following one of these orange-tips when I suddenly spotted my first brimstone of the year
A quick snap of it in flight, just in case it didn't stop

but I needn't of worried
it landed!

We continued walking, the weather forecast was sunshine with showers and as we were almost at the furthest point we got caught in a downpour - we started on our walk back to the car, just as we arrived at the edge of the bluebell wood the sun returned and Mr S spotted this drenched green-veined white drying out so out came the camera again, and another first for this year

then I turned around to see a female orange tip settle - not on a bluebell, but it would do!

well I would have settled for that but then this male decided to land on a bluebell and stay put!

A good day!!!

bluebells at Aqualate

dandelions and bluebells

I have often sung the praises of dandelions, a much maligned flower and undeservedly so in my opinion, as you can read in a much earlier post on this blog from 2011entitled 'our magnificent dandelion'. Today the dandelions along our lane are again in full flower - and the few bluebells in the verges are also just starting to flower too, not in the masses as they are at Jackson's coppice (see my previous post) but just enough to add a splash of blue and the vibrancy of the two flowers together is quite stunning!

dandelions with ground ivy

Dandelions and celandine

dandelions with bluebells

Jackson's Marsh and Coppice

A morning of Marsh Marigolds, bluebells and birdsong.
Our day started with a walk along the boardwalk around Jackson's Marsh, a Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve,  we were greeted by the call of a chiffchaff that teased us for a few minutes before hopping onto a different branch high up in the alders before flying off. the Marsh was full of birdsong, we spotted chiffchaff, nuthatch, goldcrest, coal tit, great tit, blue tit, robin, wren, dunnock, blackbird, jackdaws and buzzard.
Jackson's Marsh

We then went on to Jackson's Coppice, the bluebells are flowering another week and the woodland floor will be covered in bluebells.

 

wood anemone

wood anemone

 

wood anemone

Wood Sorrel 

photography by Angela Smith