Month eight of my photographer’s nature journal.
The year is flying by, the dry weather broken by one or two showers at the beginning of the month, but nothing much. Still with the assistance of the sea fret / coastal fog the fields are once again looking green. As is my lawn.
This month we are back on Godrevy Point. Some of you may have seen my ‘case of the disappearing lighthouse‘ photos. Well while I was there I took the opportunity to wander along the south-west coastal path a little towards The Knavocks mainly to see if the heather was in flower. Some of it was, though some was already turning brown. But I did spot this lovely Mistle Thrush posing for me on the fence.
And several very lovely butterflies. Though one or two were looking distinctly bedraggled with torn wings.
I found it quite annoying when I was obviously photographing something on the ground (the male Wall Brown) that a cyclist whizzed by disturbing the butterfly I had been patiently stalking. Some cyclists can be very aggressive I have found.
I was delighted to see several of these beautiful female Brown Argus butterflies (above) with their wings open. Such tiny things and so colourful. And amused to see the Small Cabbage White settle on the special wildlife notice.
In the fog it felt very autumnal already.
Textures of lichens, rough wood and rusty barbed wire against dried thrift flowers and seeding grasses caught my eye as I walked along the new path slightly away from the crumbling clifftop.
I was delighted to see my first Ladybird this year on top of the seedhead of the Daucus carota (wild carrot, bird’s nest, bishop’s lace, and Queen Anne’s lace). I have not seen ladybirds since moving to Cornwall.
I shall finish with the colour that dominated the walk – purple – amongst the browns of all the decaying plants.
The Changing Seasons | August
Cornwall in Colours 
The photo of the barbed wire fence is beautiful, as is the Brown Argus butterfly. In spite of the late season brown-ness starting to creep in, I’d say there is still a lot of summer beauty in the landscape.
Not sure what I am going to find for the autumn months! Most of the lanes are pretty bare of any wild flowers now.
It seems kind of early for that. I guess the hot summer really took its toll.
Your photo of the Brown Argus butterfly is stunning, Jude. How I love the onset of fall! I love the photos of the lichens, rough wood and rusty barbed wire, and the Queen Anne’s lace. So beautiful. It makes me so excited to have fall right around the corner. 🙂
Wouldn’t be too bad if these photos were from September Cathy, but August is still supposed to be summer! I just hope we have a nice autumn.
I’m sure you’ll get some nice summer days still in September, Jude. Or is that not likely?
We can have lovely Septembers Cathy, I am hoping this will be one of them, especially as I am having my conservatory roof replaced!
Oh, then I hope you have a nice September too. That sounds like a big job. 🙂
Hopefully not!
Here we call them ladybugs and they are quite plentiful at various times of the year. We have had them swarm in the church steeple and swarm in my sewing room.
I wonder where they have all gone in the UK? They are very useful for eating the aphids and I have seen some of those on my sweet-peas this year!
I always enjoy them even when I have to shoo them out of the house.
I really think Tish has said it best. It does feel like you’ve captured a real sense of “your place” this month. The Brown Argus shot is stunning, and as a fan of lichen-covered fence posts, I really like that shot too. Thanks Jude.
One of my ‘go to’ places when I feel a little stressed with the world.
How could there be an autumnal feel to your posts already Jude? Where is this year going? Your butterfly photos are lovely again.
August turned into September, but still an improvement on previous years. I am hoping for a nice quiet, warm September.
It was lovely two years ago when we were there in September.
That was an exceptional September Carol. It is not always like that I am sorry to say.
We like to bring the nice weather with us.
Your first ladybird Jude, that’s surprising.
I have hardly seen any since moving to Cornwall.
I love this time of year best, when seeds start to form. I think that “dead” and drying plants, with their heads of seeds, make the most beautiful photos of all. These are very nice, and I look forward to what you find during the next months.