The Herald moth, Scoliopteryx libatrix, is a common native species known for its striking appearance and unique life-cycle that spans seasons in a way few other moths do. Belonging to the family Erebidae, it is often one of the first to emerge in spring and one of the last to be seen in autumn, earning its common name as a “herald” of changing weather.
Tag Archives: #Cumbria
Buntings in Bowland
Snow Buntings are true Arctic specialists, thriving in barren, open habitats with sparse vegetation. They breed in high-latitude tundras but undertake impressively long migrations southward during winter to avoid the perpetual darkness and sub-zero temperatures.
The Controversial Practice of Controlled Burning (v2)
Version 2 of an article originally published in 2023, looking at the land management practice known as controlled burning, heather burning or muirburn, updated and amended with latest research, data, policy and regulations
Unnatural Histories; The Crier of Claife
For generations, ferrymen operating the historic crossing betwixt Ferry Nab and Sawrey knew better than to heed these unearthly cries after dark, for they knew that these were no ordinary pleas but rather the desperate howls of a damned soul.
The Common Inkcap, Coprinopsis atramentaria
As the autumn rains soak our countryside, the fruiting bodies of fungi sprout forth, bewitching us with their bewildering multitude of forms.
One of the most bizarre of these is the Common Inkcap.
The Common Redshank
Regarding the Redshank, Tringa totanus, its Ecology, Conservation and Occurrence on the Coasts of Northwest England
Chanterelle; Notes on Biology and Foraging
Chanterelles belong to the Cantharellaceae family and their scientific name derives from the Greek word kantharos (κάνθαρος) which is a type of cup, describing their distinctive funnel or trumpet-like shape, with cibarius coming from the latin cibus which simply means ‘food’.
The Marvellous Migratory Silver Y Moth
Notes on the moth species Autographa gamma and its ecology in Northwest England, including a chapter on the phenomenon of Phototaxis