Q1 I know what the Butterfly is and I am positive the experts do but does anyone else?
Q2 I do not know what the plant is and the colours only caught my eye on composing this photo. Does anyone know?
Meanwhile over on the NW edge of Ogden Res while watching the Tree Pipits from 1 metre away on Tussock Grass for 2 seconds, hence no photo - Common Lizard!
I am guessing now - orange tip male.
ReplyDeleteThink I can see its orange tips showing through to the underside.
(didn't look it up ! :-)
The plant is a Poa species by the look of it - one of the Meadow Grasses. Two common ones are are Annual M. Grass and Smooth Meadow Grass ( a perennial that has runners.)
It's always a thrill to see lizards. They are on most if not all our moors, but so infrequently showing themselves. Usually if one is out, though, you see others on the same day. They are said to be one of the favourite prey of adders, and a few of our moors are reputed to hold these. Ogden, Heptonstall Moor, and I just received yesterday a report that adders exsist on Flints Moor near Soyland. This was from a naturalist who was born in Soyland.
The grass is Cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata and the whole infloresence has more spikelet branches than is shown here. It is a tufted species and grows quite tall. Not as palatable to stock when old but they love the early growth and the lattermath following cutting.
ReplyDeleteYou got it Steve it is an Orange Tip and thanks to Philip for the plant info.
ReplyDelete