Admiring the View

The positive comment is that this morning's walk was not troubled with strong winds. In fact it was calm. And for lovers of water it was enjoyable. An umbrella would have been helpful.

All that's missing in the picture is the sight of the hoards of walkers appreciating the view and happily pointing out distant landmarks.

Soon To Leave

The swallows above the trees then scooting over the heather today were filling up with insect food before taking their long journey south. This morning's cold wind will have encouraged them to waste no time.

The young wheatear on the wall in the pastures was also considering a move to a warmer climate.

Straight Lines

One of my regular gripes is the appearance of new man-made straight lines in beautiful landscapes which are beautiful because they are unstraight. There are two examples in today's picture that I've tried hard to ignore but they continue to be a source of regret and irritation.

One is the power line running across Blacka towards Fox House. The other is a prominent mobile phone mast on the horizon next to a clump of trees. It's made harder to take because of the inadequate disguise as an evergreen tree. Even at this distance it's hard to be deceived.

Four's Company

Yesterday's solitary stag didn't fully convince me that the Blacka herd was still securely in residence. The sight of four today was more reassuring.

One hind was in the group, but she did not want anyone to get close.

Solitary Browser

Recent revelations about deer being targeted by unsavoury characters led to our looking extra carefully for signs of them this morning, not having seen many at all in recent weeks. There has been the odd one here and there but not any in reasonable numbers since the five on July 14th. We had a distant view of one lone stag on the east slope of Blacka Hill. There was more than one size of hoofprint on the paths confirming that there are others.

Roll Up!

Probably the most frequently seen of Blacka's fungi is the Brown Roll Rim, named from the characteristic feature at the edge of the cap which rolls slightly but clearly underneath into the gills. But it's also typical of fungi in the sense that this is only a guide to identification at fairly early stages as in the one above. Later on it can spread untidily and look quite different as in the two rather messy specimens below. Not edible at any stage.

September Pickings

Many years of bilberry picking have convinced me that they taste sweeter in September than in July and August.

There are three minor problems about this. Firstly not many can be persuaded to wait that long once the tempting fruit have been seen. Secondly, and consequently, people have already harvested at the more accessible gathering points before you so it's necessary to explore beyond the most obvious bushes. Thirdly the menace of the midges seems to be greater later on and the little b*****s have obviously learned to wait about here because sooner or later some unsuspecting bloke with a plastic container will appear to provide a nourishing meal.

Late bilberry flowers are also to be seen in places, as are cowberry alongside their deep red fruit.