The Rowan or Mountain Ash, Sorbus aucuparia, a common tree of the cloughs, woods and hedgerows of the Northwest, is fruiting at the moment, there seem to more berries than in previous years and the bright red fruit will attract flocks of fieldfare, Blackbirds, Ring Ouzel, Long-tailed tits and many other birds over the autumnContinue reading “The Rowan”
Tag Archives: #Cumbria
Hedgehogs
The European Hedgehog, Erinaceous europaeus, is our only spiny mammal and in severe decline at the moment, it is also one of the most widely recognised animals in Britain. Typically pictured in a rural setting they are surprisingly common in our urban environments too, finding our parks and gardens to be full of the kindsContinue reading “Hedgehogs”
Temperate Rainforests
Rainforest, but not as we know it Lofty green trees clad in lianas and vines, broad waxy leaves dripping with rainwater, howling and screeching monkeys and birds, the whine of flying insects and unbearable humidity, for most people the images these words conjure up are of the archetypal tropical rainforests, those vast, mysterious jungles ofContinue reading “Temperate Rainforests”
Compass Jellyfish
The scientific name of the Compass jellyfish is Chrysaora hysoscella, Chrysaor being the son of the Sea God Poseidon and Snake-headed Gorgon Medusa. This is very apt as being a true member of the jellyfish family they follow the typical ‘medusae’ body-plan when in their adult stage, with a round bell-shaped body below which longContinue reading “Compass Jellyfish”
The Common or Viviparous Lizard
The Common or Viviparous Lizard Zootoca vivipara, (Zootoca from the Greek ‘to give birth’, and vivipara meaning ‘live birth’, as opposed to ovipara, meaning ‘egg birth’) is one of the most common reptiles in the British isles and can be found throughout the country in a wide variety of habitats, even on the cold, dampContinue reading “The Common or Viviparous Lizard”
Cinnabar and Ragwort
The common perception of moths is as dull-coloured, crepuscular creatures, more often than not seen at night or appearing as the sun goes down to thunk into window panes, or, if they get into the house, lightbulbs. But, as with most things in nature, things aren’t quite so simple and straight forward, as there areContinue reading “Cinnabar and Ragwort”
The Spotted Flycatcher
The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is found throughout the British isles and is a summer visitor to these shores, arriving in May and departing for Southern Africa around September. Although it is a small bird, only reaching up to 15cm in length at the most, which is about the same size as a sparrow, itContinue reading “The Spotted Flycatcher”
Round-leaved Sundew
The Round-leaved Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, (Drosera meaning ‘dewy’ in latin) is a small carnivorous plant found in bogs, it is locally common but hard to find, in England its strongholds are on our acid uplands, in particular those of the Northwest. A small plant, with reddish coloured ‘leaves’ covered in sticky hairs the Round-leaved sundewContinue reading “Round-leaved Sundew”
Northwest Nature and History 