Lynchcombe Steps

Lynchcombe – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID DSC_3381

I got back from holiday climbing mountains in the Lake District so where better to go than the steep Lynchcombe nature reserve on the edge of the Mendip Hills in Somerset.

Lynchcombe

Lots of sheep on the reserve today.

Sheep – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_7525

And lots of small copper butterflies out in Somerset (and probably elsewhere).  I keep seeing them on walks everywhere.

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_7517

They were seeking out the last few bramble flowers.

Small Copper (Lycaeena phlaeas) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. 825_7517

Small numbers of speckled wood butterflies were out and about warming up on the hawthorn trees.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_8219

Despite there being huge numbers of big sloe berries this year I have still not seen a brown hairstreak butterfly anywhere near Lynchcombe.

Sloe Berries – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_7534

I had not seen this group of toadstools climbing up this moss covered hawthorn tree before.

Toadstools – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_7585

And Finally…

At the top of the reserve was a swarm of midges.  Not the best place to pick blackberries (they are not ripe anyway).

Fly Swarm – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID 825_7814