A Red Admiral enjoys the early morning sunshine in the top photograph. And just above and below are three of a huge hatch of Six-Spot Burnet Moths that was taking place on the reserve yesterday morning. We have just one field on the reserve, almost a wild-flower meadow at this time of the year, that is home to a great number of these moths each year. One of the two below has just emerged from the chrysalis below it and was waiting for its wings to fill and straighten prior to flight.
Many of the fields surrounding the reserve have now been harvested and left as stubble or dotted with bales of straw, as a result, with young swallows also on the move, the morning had the look, smell and feel of early autumn. Not at the rear of Harty Church however, here the corn still awaits harvesting and gives the church a really countryside appearance.
Below the church are some of the reserve's saltings, close to Harty Ferry and opposite the reserve at Oare on the mainland. Here the Sea Lavender was flowering in full purple magnificence, and stretching for some way into the distance, its a superb spectacle at this time of year.
You must have been out early this morning to do a walk and get back home to publish so quickly. Nice to see Sheppey is looking ok.
ReplyDeleteI'm normally out around 6-7 in the morning Marc, which is still not as early as you.
ReplyDeleteHarvest time in the sun is always an attractive time of the year in the countryside.