Lynchcombe Steps
Lynchcombe – Somerset, UK. ID 825_2607
Lynchcombe Spring
Spring is arriving at Lynchcombe after a long winter. Not much happens on this reserve over the winter mouths. I am volunteer warden here and the past few months have been quite. The exception being the wonderful work done by the volunteer teams in clearing scrub.
But today there was exciting news as I spotted a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) trying to get warm in the sun. They can wake from hibernation on the first warm days of spring but today seemed too early – has it looked at the weather forecast for the next few days!
Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkins are appearing all over the reserve and will be a vital food source for this brave butterfly.
Sadly this butterfly was too far away to photograph without a telephoto and I soon lost contact.
Catkins – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2617
Beautiful dark blue skies of winter above the sycamores at the top of the reserve high up on the Mendip Hills.
Lynchcombe – Somerset, UK. ID 825_2650
And Finally…
Lynchcombe’s return to spring may have come too early. As in a few days we may see a return to freezing winter temperatures and snow. Perhaps it will look like this again as it did 5 years ago.
Sheep in the snow (5 years ago) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB5_6595
And 5 years before that.
Somerset in snow from the top of Mendips (10 years ago)- Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JBA_8096
