Fairhaven/Fairlawn walk (habitat) 24 6 2007

This area is to the left of the sea wall and path looking toward Fairlawn. It is very rich in plant life. As you will see we have quite a steep learning curve ahead regarding plant identification (me more than Sue, of course). I initially wasn't going to include much about plants on this blog but really there isn't much choice as they are all over the place.

This is looking back from the start of the Fairhaven walk across Granny's Bay toward Fairhaven Lake.

This is the esturine habitat to the left of the previous picture and across toward Southport. This whole area is of national importance for wading birds. Despite appearances it is an incredibly rich habitat teeming with life.

Some Sort of Dandelion???

From what I remember these two pictures were of the same plant. A really beautiful flower both fresh and dried, which is mainly why it is here. Sue has found it in the book!!! It's Goat's Beard, (Tragopogon pratensis) with a folk name of 'Jack-go-to-bed-at -noon' at it closes when the sun goes in. Sue is delighted it is next to Salsify in the book as she suggested it while we were out and I informed her that Salsify has purple flowers.

How exquisite this is. According to Mabey in Flora Brittanica Goat's-beard is 'most notable for its spherical seed 'clock' which is as elaborate as an astrolabe.'(p362) Find out all about the Astrolabe here.

Sea Wall Survivors

This is some sort of Dock braving the sea wall habitat. Will get back to you if there is any more info. Update - could be Common Sorrel.

Although in what looks to be an identical habitat this specimen seems to be doing rather better than the previous one.

Beach Walk Bunny Update

Beach Walk Update I - Sea Pinks

The Sea Pink is a very delicate flower which somehow manages to survive everything that the elements can throw at it.

Each head comprises a mass of tiny flowers.

Here it is growing on grassy, scrubby ground on the edge of the mudflats.

Beach Walk Update II - Sea Holly

The Sea Holly (Eryngium) is a remarkable plant. It grows straight out of bare sand and appears to have been sculpted out of some sort of metal.

Beach Walk Update III - Glasswort

Glasswort is a plant of the marshes. It is also known as Marsh Samphire. You can occasionally see people collecting bundles for the pot, as it is considered a delicacy in the kitchen. I believe the main commercial centre for Glasswort is East Anglia.

Beach Walk Update IV - Campion

The White and Pink Campion are delicate and lovely. They were growing on scrubby land away from the beach proper.

Beach Walk 22 6 2007 I

We walked from the head of Fairhaven Lake to Pleasure Island in St Annes this evening. Here is the view looking back from Pleasure Island. The habitat is dune, shingle marsh & mudflats. Cora loves it!

This Stonechat was very much in evidence on the return leg of the walk. It allowed quite a close approach before fluttering off a few yards. (Sue has asked me to point out that she saw the Stonechats first and called me over to see them - Ed.)

This (Lesser? will check) Whitethroat was skulking in the same plant as the Stonechat but lower down and partially concealed by the foliage. Update: It isn't a lesser Whitethroat. It has a clear white eye ring, which is one way of distinguishing between the two. If its legs were visible they would be paler rather than dark, and the primaries have darkish brown edges.

Here is the Stonechat again with I believe his mate. In the distance Southport is a hazy blur.

Beach Walk 22 6 2007 II

The Viper's Bugloss was beautiful in the evening sunshine.

The backlighting here reveals a very distinctive profile.

I was surprised at how orange the dying flowers of the Evening Primrose had become.

I came accross some kind of Alium which looked more like a wierd plant-bee hybrid.

We saw a Cinnabar moth skulking in the undergrowth, Glasswort on the marshes seems to be ever on the increase, and a Skylark flew up from almost under my feet toward the end of the walk. A really super evening. Oh and there are two black rabbits amongst the wild ones on Stanner's Bank.

We saw White and Pink Campion and Sea Holly on the dunes, a small puffball and another nondescript fungus.