Cooks Fields

Westbury-sub-Mendip – From Cooks Fields, Somerset, UK. ID DSCN7328

The Cook’s Fields nature reserve overlooks the Somerset village of Westbury-sub-Mendip.  On a clear day you can see for miles across to Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset Levels.

Mendip Meadow – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_3913

Today, after enjoying the views, I wanted to photograph the small heath butterflies.  I had seen on an earlier visit that there we lots of them along the footpath close to the Deerleap entrance.

The meadows were full of dandelions, and they looked wonderful.

Cats Ear – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR50033

It is very quiet up there, so I settled down on the footpath and watched the small butterflies chasing each other around.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR50064

Most of them were flying around way too fast to photograph.  But every now and again one settled in front of me to have its portrait taken.

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR50048

I had been sitting down for around an hour, and by now the swifts overhead were beginning to ignore me.  I’m sure one brushed against my head as it shot past.

And finally..

There were also lots of ladybirds.  I think this one is being followed.

Ladybird – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR50071