Overnighters

The small car parking area near Stony Ridge was never an official car park though it's on council owned land. At times, on busy bank holidays and weekends it can be full, even more likely now that the Highways Department has closed the Piper House space. Nobody seems to be taking any responsibility for thinking how to resolve this problem. People do like to come up to Blacka for an hour or half hour and would like to be able to park their cars. There is now a further complication: many official car parking spaces have signs saying 'No Overnight Stays' or words to that effect. Any that don't are getting increasingly used by camper vans and others meaning the casual visitor can't get in. Sometimes these vehicles are here for much of the day. The scene above was typical of the bank holiday weekend at 7.15 in the morning.

Eating Place

Good attendance at our small bird table continues. Fortunately no very special visitors to attract carbon guzzling bird watchers, but a nice balance of the usual garden species. Current interest is around the robin numbers. Five were present at one time recently. Two were adults in sleek appearance, two were young ones one of which was very self confidently asserting his rights. And another was a small tailless character dodging about collecting scraps from the table much to the annoyance of the others. Usually as the nights get colder towards winter numbers of robins drop and serious competition develops. There are also blue tits, great tits and coal tits though chaffinches have been absent lately.

Swallows and Butterflies

It's become a regular practice during the midge plague to retire to the upper reaches of Thistle Hill and drink in the breeze and the relief it brings. Insects can also be found up there but happily less irritating ones. Painted Ladies and Peacocks have been common lately.

This morning a passing group of swallows were fattening up on the local midges before continuing southwards.

Spraying Again

An odd business. Tuesday's notice said "Path Closed Today Only Tuesday 25th". On Thursday it's been replaced by another one contradicting it and telling us that the path's closed today. Spraying has been going on with livestock close by even though the directions say livestock should be kept out for two hours, and then for another 14 days to ensure their trampling does not interfere with the action of the chemical. It makes you wonder if anyone knows what they are doing. Not the first time we've asked that question and doubtless not the last.

Midgefestation

No year before has been as bad for midges as this. Making bilberry picking attractive only for the most determined of addicts. But this morning was the worst yet. Standing still for more than half a minute was an invitation to be eaten alive. The gate in the picture was the scene of a shameful and cowardly retreat by Blacka Blogger as he charged up the hill to find some moving air. After all (as Bertie keeps being reminded when hiding from wasps), they're only tiny creatures.

Spraying

They are still intent on controlling this landscape and the latest event in the campaign was the spraying of bracken on the south side of Cowsick towards the pasture. There has been some bilberry picking near here but it's not the most popular spot. Still the warnings were needed. My suspicion is that it's being done mainly to create more feeding areas for the cattle who roam about from one grassy place to another.

But I have another reservation; about the time of it being done. I may be wrong in this but all of the weedkilling products I've seen have instructions saying they should be applied when the growth is at its most vigorous. The bracken stopped spreading several weeks ago and a few colder nights have resulted in significant browning of fronds. Shouldn't this have been done weeks ago?

Addendum

Directions from Bracken Control UK include the following:

Asulox should be sprayed just before full frond extension (3 'pairs' of leaves) and before sensescence.

Also

Do not admit livestock for at least 14 days after spraying (though this is mainly to prevent disturbance to the sprayed bracken)

Inbye

Inbye land is usually more hospitable than the nearby moorland but here the grassy pasture of the inbye goes much higher than the rest of Blacka, though not higher than other moorland beyond. It is mainly treeless except for a few scattered thorns and one Rowan almost hidden from view low down among the bracken.

It would be improved by the planting of a few groups of trees as there are few other features to attract the eye. Morning sun at this time of year burnishes longer grasses satisfyingly and the distant bleakness of surrounding moors is relieved by the annual makeover. But the view would be poorer without the woods between.