Fearbán féir

A day of unashamed hedonism! Such a beautiful day, and a bank holiday as well. In the water by 10am and up the mountain by 11.30 looking for butterworts, back in the water by 5pm and a bit of sweaty gardening in between where everything that bites did.

The butterworts were disappointing mainly because I had left it too late and they were over. A rather unthrilling image in extras. Butterworts, bodan meascáin, are bog lovers and instantly recognisable by their lime green leaves arranged in a flat star shape. They are also carnivorous  and insects get stuck on the leaves which sort of then absorb them - I think there are a smattering of insects on the leaves. Whilst inspecting the remains of the butterworts I was thrilled to see an even rarer teeny pale butterwort,  leith uisce beag, Unfortunately my photo is terrible and out of focus but its just peeping out above the remains of the leaves of its big brother. 
An exotic moth and a highly coloured butterfly added to the excitement. I think the butterfly is a heath fritillary and the moth could be a brimstone but I'm not sure. 
But today's blip is the meadow buttercup, fearbán  féir, growing abundantly at the side of the road and quite a view beyond.