May 2003

Compare this view with the earlier one from February. Much greener, now.

1st May

This Yellow Pimpernel was growing on some bare stone that has been cleared to make way for a new gate. It clearly has strong survival urges.

5th May

The Hawthorn has just started to flower. There is a pink version, but not in the section of hedgerow I'm featuring.

6th May

It was pouring today, but I caught a glimpse of this Green-Veined White hiding absolutely vertically under the leaves of the Cinquefoil. The brightness comes from the flash.

8th May

Two new 'buttercups' today. That brings the hedgerow total to 4 species in 100 yards. The one on the left is Herb Bennet, and the one on the middle and right is the Acrid buttercup.

9th May

Swallows have been here for 2 weeks, now. This one was obliging enough to sit for a few photos:

The Meadowsweet has large clumps of white blossom, like cotton. I thought the foliage was worth looking at before the blooms turn up.

This Tormentil is the 4 petalled version. Compare it with the Cinqefoil from April.

11th May

I thought I saw one of these Green-Veined Whites the other day, and this photo confirmed it. This is the female

I used to love chewing the leaves of this Sorrel:

12th May

Just for the record, the Scots Pine showing new shoots and flowers:-

15th May

The coltsfoot seedheads have now formed.

This tiny Adders Tongue fern has leaves only 1" long. The Dandelion leave is shown for comparison.

17th May

Another Bumble bee - this is the Common Carder Bee.

This is the Water Mares Tail:

Seed pods from the Dog Violet caught my eye due to their pale colour.

And a bit of excitement, today. The spotted orchids have burst through. The leaves are about 1.5" long. Expect the flowers in early/mid June.

18th May

That's a hard act to follow, but here are some of the green 'sterile' version of the mare's tails (Equisetum) I showed  in March: Note that these are on a badger track, so I suspect they'll be trampled, soon.

These Green-Veined Whites were sunbathing in between (very) heavy showers:-

22nd May

We've had constant rain for the past few days. I hope this isn't going to be a repeat of last year, when summer happened on a Tuesday. Here's a Raspberry flower. Note the Foxgloves lurking in the background.

The Broad Buckler Fern is now looking quite statuesque. This lot is about 4' high.

Earlier, I mentioned that the Mares Tail cones appear on the early, fruiting (mostly yellower) shoots. This cone on the green shoot suggests a hybrid between two types of Mares Tail, both of which are growing very close to these plants. (See 17th and 18th May, above.)

And here's a sedge flower, as yet unidentified:-

24th May

This is the flower of the Snowberry:-

The Silverweed is a close relative of the Cinqefoil and Tormentil, and is so-called because of its silvery leaves:

Here's another Sedge:-

And here's one for the specialists:- Rust ( a fungus) on the underside of  a Bramble leaf

25th May

This mushroom was just at the side of the footpath..It's about 3" across:

I spotted this lichen growing on a branch overhanging the stream. Presence of lichens like this is generally a sign of very clean air.

26th May

It was very humid and still today, due to a high pressure, so the insects were busy:-

Soldier Beetle on the left, Sawfly on the right.

This Lady's Mantle was not at all evident 2 days ago. The leaves look like some sort of origami exercise.

The white clover opened today...the red clover will be a week or so, yet

This young Songthrush is this year's bird - there were 2 in the Ash tree - always a good sign in May.

The wind was so calm, that these dandelion seeds just fell off the plant. They'll be gone tomorrow.

This moss is growing on the face of a gate post. The flowers are about 1/8" long.

28th May

I present this Peacock with no comments, other than:-

a) it was on my walk

b) it was free range

This is the first buzzard I've seen cruising since nesting time. It's a montage of the same bird, to show the identification signs.

And lastly, today, the first flowers on the watercress:-

30th May

A beautiful day with early sunshine brought out the foxgloves:-

This moth flew in and landed briefly:-

Fuchsia are very widespread in Western Ireland as a hedging.

This Brooklime grows in and around the stream.

The Prickly Sow-thistle was growing just at the roadside.

And here is a fine example of moth camouflage.

31st May

I've discovered that the hedgerow does, indeed have the pink Hawthorn:-

The so-called Cuckoo-Spit has nothing to do with Cuckoos - it's a protective environment made by the young Frog Hopper:

The Red Clover appeared just a little sooner than I expected

This fly spends most of its life in and around cow dung. This one must have been between meals.

Now for June....

Back to Home page       Back to April       On to June      Feedback     Annexe     News