#Forestofbowland – Page 16 – Northwest Nature and History

The Meadow Pipit

The Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, is a small, flighty songbird which birdwatchers often put in the class of LBJ’s or ‘Little Brown Jobbies’, as they are sometimes hard to distinguish from other songbirds that can be found in the British isles. Their scientific name comes from the Greek word anthus, meaning ‘bloom’ or ‘flower’ andContinue reading “The Meadow Pipit”

Eristalis tenax, the Common Drone Hoverfly

The Common Drone Hoverfly Eristalis tenax, is one of the most common and ubiquitous hoverflies to be found in the British isles, and usually the first to emerge, as adults that have hibernated all winter begin to sense the warmer days outside and venture forth to feed before other flying insects do. At about 1cmContinue reading “Eristalis tenax, the Common Drone Hoverfly”

Rana temporaria, the Common Frog

The Common Frog Rana temporaria, rana meaning ‘to gaze’, and temporaria meaning ‘temporary’, spends winter hibernating in frost-free hideaways such as under tree stumps, in stacks of logs, or in stone walls where they will enter a torpor until the following spring. They emerge around February and spawn around March, the tadpoles hatching and growingContinue reading “Rana temporaria, the Common Frog”

Bremetenacum Veteranorum

“It is written on a wall in Rome that Ribchester was as rich as any town in Christendom” The Bremetennacum Veteranorum, or ‘hilltop settlement of the veterans’, was a Roman fort founded by the governor of the British isles, Julius Agricola, in AD78. It was largely garrisoned by Asturians from Spain and Sarmartians from Hungary,Continue reading “Bremetenacum Veteranorum”

The Brown Hare

The Brown Hare, Lepus europaeus occidentalis, is a brown, cat-sized mammal similar to a Rabbit but with with longer black-tipped ears, a longer tail, longer limbs, and the ability to run very fast, having been recorded at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. It is not native to the British isles, originating inContinue reading “The Brown Hare”

Mitton Hall

Mitton Hall stands just outside the village of Mitton near the confluence of the Ribble and Hodder, it is a grade 2 listed Tudor manor, famously painted by William Turner and built in the late 14th century by the Catterall family. The Catterall family are originally from Goosnargh and married into the de Mitton family,Continue reading “Mitton Hall”

Catching moths in winter

As winter is slowly waning, the days getting longer and the nights milder, it becomes a bit more pleasant to leave the house and see what wildlife might be around in the neighbourhood, also tentatively poking its head out from hibernation and eager to get out and about. One way of doing this is mothContinue reading “Catching moths in winter”

The Curlews Return

Curlew, Numenius arquata are large, brown waders known for their long, crescent shaped bill and evocative call, the ‘cur-loo’ so for it is named, which echoes across the pastures and moors of upland Britain in spring. Its scientific name is thought to derive from a combination of the ancient Greek ‘neos’, meaning new and ‘mene’,Continue reading “The Curlews Return”