1988 August to November
August 6th
Blue sky and hot sunshine. At the farm, Brooklime was flowering in
the lane ditch, and in the garden Hemp Nettle and Red Nettle
were flowering with Scentless Mayweed, Knotgrass, and Persicaria
or Red-Shank. I saw about forty Tortoiseshells on the thistles
and about sixty Cabbage Whites: twenty large and forty small.
Down here in the Clough, Mountain Ash trees are covered in
bright orange berries.
August 7th
Beautiful day again. Went to see Dusty - I’ve missed her. Young
Swallows were flying round the fields, and David found me a cock
Partridge’s feather. Yesterday rather surprisingly we saw a
Guinea Fowl running round the back at the farm, and a cock
Pheasant on the road-side on the way home. We saw three Hawks
flying around, I presume they were Kestrels. On the front path
today there was a large brown-black speckled Toad, stood on all
fours. It looked like a miniature sumo-wrestler. Down the
Clough, near the Goyht I saw a yellow and brown Dragonfly.
21st August
A week ago David picked me some purple Heather, which is now in
full bloom around Wayoh and elsewhere. He also gave me a pure
white piece which is supposed to be lucky. We found it in our
favourite place - past Edgeworth.
Today there were flocks of Starlings at Wayoh and a Black Headed
Gull with a white head. To my delight by the footpath were
delicate blue-silver, bells of the Harebell. In the wood purple
Knapweed or Hardheads was flowering, with the mauve blue Devil’s
Bit Scabious. Thistles were blooming, along with white
daisy-like Sneezewort and creamy-white Yarrow flowers.
August 24th
Tonight at half past eight
rose an almost full harvest moon. While walking round Jumbles I
found an unusual and rare Skullcap plant, covered in purple
flowers. Later going round Entwistle I picked some yellow
Ragwort and white Sneezewort. For my collection I picked two
different kinds of Cinquefoil, and what I think is Nodding Bur
Marigold. Whatever it is, there is loads of this plant growing
around Entwistle. At Jumbles this afternoon there was a pair of
russet red Dragonflies.
August 24th
A rather damp evening. I went up to the farm and picked a large
bunch of Marsh Valerian, Devil’s Bit Scabious, Sneezewort, Marsh
Woundwort, Knapweed and Marsh Forget-me-nots. In a large vase
they look absolutely beautiful.
August 25th
The evening started sunny with patches of blue sky as we set off
with Dusty and Cindy for the Grenade Range, but as time
progressed clouds came in and we were soaked by fine rain. We
saw several hunters with Spaniels and one had a hawk. On the way
home I found loads of Eyebright on the pavement, and picked one
piece of pink and one of white Yarrow. There were a few ducks on
the Reservoir, we think they were Teal. The Heather at Belmont
is looking at its best, a mass of purple flowers.
August 26th
Tonight at six we went round Anglezarke Reservoir, I saw a Kestrel
fly over a field and three Great Crested Grebes on the water. To
my delight I found Water Mint flowering. Also I discovered a
Hemp Agrimony plant, which I’ve never had before.
August 28th
As seems to be the normal for this time of year, the day started
off with grey skies and rain but finished with blue sky and
sunshine. Yesterday evening the sky was a glorious deep pink
where the sun had gone down. I saw two Small Tortoiseshell
Butterflies at the farm tonight. On the lane fence there was a
tan coloured Wheatear, a female with large white back patch. I
presume she must have bred in Britain to be here now, as they
are usually only Spring migrants.
Around Anglezarke Reservoir, Honeysuckle and Woody Nightshade have
ruby-red berries, while orange hips are forming on the Wild
Roses. The Hawthorn now has got red berries on it.
David’s Dad was saying today how
Swallows will nest at the wall of a house or other building; but
if anyone dies they leave, and never nest there again. I believe
him, because Swallows always nested with us but after my mother
died, they stopped doing so. Likewise he told me of three mills
where Rooks nested and as each mill closed down, the Rooks left.
I found a
three-spotted feather today beyond the farm. Possibly it belongs
to the Guinea Fowl which is living in the area at this moment.
Today I saw a tiny black and white spider, like a mini
Tarantula, walking across the window. It moved in short sharp
spurts.
We saw a
young Rabbit run into the Churchyard at Belmont last night. This
week whilst up at Edgeworth I saw a Stoat crossing the road.
While walking round Anglezarke Reservoir I found three large
fungi all of a uniform size and shape, all with white gills and
caps five inches across. One was blue, another reddish purple
and the third brown. I think they were all different species.
August 29th
Today while
walking round Wayoh I found a beautiful but extremely poisonous
Monkshood plant. Medicinally it was once used to treat
neuralgia, gout, arthritis, rheumatism and measles. In my book
it says “only a small amount may cause death within a very short
time.” I’ll let you know.
At
Hoddlesden the Honeysuckle is still flowering in the hedges.
Around Edgeworth Swallows, House Martins and Swifts were flying
about. Not much longer though, before they leave for Africa. A
Robin was on the footpath in front of us at Wayoh.
September 3rd
Blue sky
with cotton clouds and strong breezes. At Wayoh we saw about a
hundred Mallard. Tonight a massive Spider crept downstairs. It
was a House Spider, the biggest I’ve ever seen - about three
inches long. Another big surprise came about nine o’clock as
dark settled: a small Bat flying overhead. I think it was the
first one I’m positive I’ve sighted. Round Wayoh tonight I found
a dead female Goldfinch. There was a wasp laying eggs in it. I
have seen a lot of wasps just outside the house lately.
September 9th
Last night
we saw a Hedgehog caught in the headlights near the garage. The
night before David stood on a poor Hedgehog and pricked his
toes, near the garage. This week we looked out of the window one
day to see a Magpie bathing itself in a puddle. It shook water
all over its feathers, and even immersed its tail.
September 15th
Down the Clough, ruby-red berries are on the Hawthorns; the Oaks
are covered in lime-green acorns; there are orange hips on the
Dog Roses, and purple-black berries on the Brambles. I have made
David a blackberry pie, which we both enjoyed.
On the lane upto the Holmes many shiny brown conkers can be found.
I’ll have a go at growing some. Autumn is with us this warm
cloudy day. Thank the Lord for his wonderful gifts.
While walking to work this week I saw a flock of Sparrows having a
dust bath on the lane-side. They shake sand through their
feathers to get rid of parasites.
23rd September
Last week I saw a male Blackbird and two Blue Tits in the Hawthorns
down the Clough. Yesterday we went to the Bradshaw Brook where
there was a brown bird flying low over the river. I’m sure it
was a Dipper, the first I’ve ever seen. There was also a
blue-headed Wagtail flying about the river.
October 1st
This afternoon we went round Wayoh where there was a flock of about
35 Tufted Duck on the water, and as many Mallard sheltered near
the top of Wayoh. On a wall I saw a Seven-spot Ladybird, which
is rare for this time of year I think. On the footpath I found a
brown Caterpillar covered in fury prickles. At the top of Wayoh
we also saw a group of Swallows flying around, which also seem
to be late for the time of year.
October 9th
I saw a Hedgehog run across the road. Although it is raining and
terribly cold, Hedgehogs as well as slugs are still on the move.
Down the Clough, the Oaks are golden-yellow and the Bramble
leaves claret red. Hazel, Bramble, Rose-hips, Crab Apple,
Elderberries, and Hawthorn: all these fruits can be found in the
neighbourhood at the moment
October 12th
Walking through the farm near the Butches I saw
half a dozen Chaffinches
today, two female and four male with pink breasts. There was a
flock of Finches in the trees lower down, which I thought maybe
Goldfinches, as I think I saw golden yellow bars on their wings.
Yesterday I saw a Robin in the hedge at the park. Everybody at
work seems to think Robins only come to Britain at Christmas
time, which they think is why you see them on so many cards. But
I think they are present all year.
October 25th
Yesterday I saw two Crane Flies on the back door. One, I think the
female, had no wings. Later I found them mating. Today I found a
fly like a Mayfly but without the upright wings. It had two
black head feelers and a very long tail. It was on the wall
outside the kitchen, where yesterday I found a Mayfly. Earlier
this week I have seen a green Mayfly on one of the bedroom
walls.
October 28th
I had a lovely experience today. Walking down the Clough under blue
sky and sunshine. There in the Hawthorn by the side of the path
no less than two feet away was a pair of Wrens creeping through
the bush. So close was I that I could see the bars on their
wings and their tiny beady eyes with a puff patch in the corner
of each eye. I don’t think I’ve ever been so close to Wrens
before.
Also to my delight there was a pair of brilliantly coloured Great
Tits in the trees with bold yellow and black markings. As I
walked further I saw a female Chaffinch under cover, with two or
three Thrushes hopping about the ground and three or four
Blackbirds in the trees. These birds seemed quite tame. None of
them were unduly alarmed by my presence.
October 29th
At diner time the weather was gorgeous so I went for a walk round
the Holmes’s. I must have seen at least ten Blue Tits creeping
through the tree tops and four Great Tits. Thrill of thrills, I
also saw two Tits with rather long tails. I wasn’t sure at first
but after seeing their “budgie like” heads and pink-tinted and
black feathers, I knew they were a pair of Long Tailed Tits. I
think this is only the second time I have seen them.