Mike's Natural Musings: Lake District, June/July. Day 3.

Thursday, 27 June 2024

Lake District, June/July. Day 3.

Today, we set out to explore a new loctation that we have found out about two years ago: Smardale Nature Reserve, managed by Cumbrial Wildlife Trust. It is based around the now disused Tebay - Darlington railway line. The old track bed makes for easy walking above Scandale Beck. The valley and slope above the line are initially clothed in andcient woodland where redstart, pied flycatcher and spotted flycatcher can be found. We didn't locate the first two but I was pleased to photograph spotted flycatcher and near the start I was pleased to see my first house martins of the year. Both house and tree sparrows were seen along with other notables such as willow warbler, blackcap, siskin and goldcrest. Further along the line the surroundings opened up and at Smardale Viaduct we could see the beck down in the valley and limestone grassland on the slopes. The reserve is also known for its plants and butterflies. Butterfly highlights are scotch argus, the only other English location being Arnside Knott where I have photographed it. Unfortunately we didn't see this species but we did come across quite a few northern brown argus which were too flighty for photography in the warm weather, although, again, I have photographed them at Arnside Knott. Other butterflies seen were plenty of speckled woods and ringlets a single white and one red admiral. Apart from this butterflies were scarce as I hve noted in other places both at home and here. I have not seen a single butterfly at Ashes Lane yet. Plant specialities on the reserve are bloody cranesbill and rockrose as well as a range of orchids; we saw numerous common spotted, pyramidal and fragrant.

By the time we got back to the car we were very hot and thirsty. Fortunately we had left a bottle of refeshingly cold water in the car and when we arrived back at the site it was beer o'clock.