Parsley water-dropwort

A much cooler, more autumnal day. After dropping Alex off at Southorpe Paddock, where he was helping the Wildlife Trust replace a fence, Rosie and I had a walk round Castor Hanglands. The Herdwick sheep are back on the site, grazing a rather rank quarry area, while a herd of horses are managing the main area of Ailsworth Heath.

There were a few remaining flowers of water mint, fleabane and devil's-bit scabious and I briefly saw a hornet hunting amongst them. I was surprised at the vivid colour of the seed-heads of parsley water-dropwort, which seems to have had a good year. This species is mostly found around the coast, but occasionally grows inland in base-rich marshes.

By the time we were walking back to the car, the sky was overcast and a fresh northerly wind was blowing. I stopped to look at the flowering ivy which was clambering into the oak trees and had a very good view of a hornet feeding on the nectar. Unfortunately I'd decided not to bring the telephoto lens, and it was just too far away to get a decent shot with my 100mm macro. That'll teach me to be lazy!

After sorting out another piece of fieldwork for early November (just when I thought I'd finished!) and going to Sainsbury's, it was time to go and collect Alex. He was very well exercised, having spent the morning helping to dig a large hole into limestone to take the straining post, and much of the afternoon hammering in fence-posts using a post-driver. Conservation work is cheaper than a gym-session, and helps improve the environment as well as the muscles. Even though he has temporarily lost some of the feeling in his right arm!