Jack Scout and Arnside Knott

 Cheated by the weather today. The forecast predicted a warm and sunny afternoon. It was wrong.

We began the day with a visit to Silverdale and a walk along Jack Scout, a cliff top area of calcareous grassland important for its plant diversity. It also has a small area of limestone pavement. It was beautiful with views across Morecambe Bay to Morcambe one way and Grange-over-Sands the other. The flowers, set against white limestone outcrops were spectacular: wild thyme, rockrose, centaury, harebell, mallow and spiked speedwell.

Jack Scout

Looking towards Grange-over-Sands

Limestone rock garden

Limestone rock garden

Spike speedwell

Harebell

Lichen

Small skipper

Small skipper

Rockrose and thyme

Once we had negotiated all of the confusing road closure signs, I dropped Heather off in Arnside and went butterflying on The Knott. It was very quiet with not a lot about. It was warm but overcast so perhaps that was the reason. I did get grayling, ringlet, meadow brown and dark green fritillary and even a very worn humming bird hawkmoth that crash landed onto the scree. 

After an hour or two ( and sans ticks, thankfully) it was time to retreat to Arnside and The Albion for the ritual pint overlooking the Kent Estuary before heading home for a BBQ.

Dark green fritillary

Meadow Cranesbill

Ringlet

Very worn humming bird hawkmoth

Grayling

Ringlet