While sitting in a very hot, stuffy meeting this afternoon, with the after effects of lunch in the sunshine, it was easy to drift off, back to the open countryside and warm sunshine of yesterday, when I was at the North Esk Reservoir, exploring some of the species rich grassland there. The North Esk is situated on the very southern edge of the Pentland Hills, and is a refuge for a number of species now rare in both the Scottish Borders and Mid Lothian.
Drifting back to yesterday, I am standing on the dam at the southern edge of the reservoir, looking out across the still blue water, surrounded by the rounded grassy hills of the Pentlands. Standing there observing the scene and watching small cumuli scud slowly across the sky, while Sky Larks trill in the gentle breeze and wondering if we may finally be heading towards summer.
North Esk Reservoir – 18 June 2012 (Copyright – Carol Jones)
Turning south, the feeling of summer increases as the area below, a mixture of rush pasture, with drier grasslands on the slopes, seems to sing with this fresh new growth. The grasslands in particular have this slight yellow tinge from the many emerging grass inflorescences, that are rippling gently in the breeze. Amongst the fresh greens the colours of early summer emerge, there were the white umbels of Pignut, the occasional washed out purple bloom of Bitter Vetch and the sky blue eyes of Germander Speedwell, accompanied by many yellow spots of Tormentil.
North Esk Valley – 18 June 2012 (Copyright – Carol Jones)
Wandering through the grassland, the developing Common Spotted Orchids, caused much discussion, as this year the leaves seem excessively spotted. Many more of the plants seen here than usual, have so many spots that they have begun to coalesce into each other to turn the leaves more purple then green. Rather than the usual sight of spots that can be individually identified.
The most interesting aspect for me today, was the recent rediscovery of several Mountain Everlasting (Antennaria dioica) plants on the thin soils of a short steep slope above the stream. Possibly named everlasting because when the flowers are dried they last for a long time and use to be gathered for dried flower arrangements or named because the flowers come up in the same place year after year due to its perennial nature. The plant itself is an attractive affair, covered with white woolie hairs that gives its other common name of Cat’s Paw.
Down amongst the grasslands the field seems to be singing with life, particular insect, as the air was filled with large numbers of a hairy bodied flies. Now I am no expert on flies, but these had an uncanny resemblance to cleggs, but luckily seemed not to be the biting kind! Accompanying these were the occasional flash of blue from a Damselfly, the first of the season!
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