White Ermin Moth Caterpiller

Charlie had this "White Ermin" Moth Caterpiller today (Fri Sept 25th 2009) at Top o'th Slate.

Contributions to Blog always welcome, thanks....

Having now moved to Cumbria, it has now become almost impossible for me to continue with the "Top O'th Slate Nature Site Blog" on a regular basis however I may still be able to contribute from time to time. If anyone has any contributions they would like to make "to keep it alive" then please contact me at the following email address: bryan.yorke@sky.com Thanks....

Insects: Turquoise Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus), Dancing Fly (Empis tessalata) (See below left).

Flowers: Columbine (introduction) (See photo below centre). Hybrid of Jacobs Ladder (Polemonium) (See photo below far right)...

Clouded Bordered Brindles plus lots lots more.....

On Tuesday last June 2nd 2009 we were again mothing at Top O'th Slate and we (Charlie Payne, Arlene Harris and me) had the following species which came to light: (Photo: A Peach Blossom and a Angle Shades by Arlene Harris)

8 different species which included:

Clouded Bordered Brindle - approx 30 specimens.

Peach Blossom (5)

Angle Shades (5)

Flame Shoulder (1)

Scalloped Hazel (3)

Small Phoenix (1)

Herald (1)

Clouded Silver (4)

We also had: The largest true fly - Crane Fly (Tipula Maxima) A female specimen, and Ophion Luteus

If you would like to look at the identification photos please click here

This photo above I took earlier in the week of Hawthorn blossom and notice the many micro moths "Glyphipterix simpliciella" (thanks to Brian Clegg for identification of moths)

Painted Ladies..

Today at Slate there was very little birdlife showing, a pair of Linnets, 3 singing Willow Warblers, Blackbirds, Blue Tits but no Whitethroat or Blackcap.

A couple of Painted Lady Butterflies (one well worn - see photo), several Large Whites and a couple of Green Veined Whites.

Lots of flowers were showing eg: Bistort, Herb Robert, White Clover, Pink Clover, Dames Violet, Red Campion (see photo below right), Ladys Mantle, Thyme-leaved Speedwell (See photo above right), Lesser Trefoil, Cow Parsley, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Mouse-Ear, Common Vetch, Bluebell, Hairy Bittercress.

Hebrew Character, Common Quaker & Clouded Drab Moths.....

Yesterday evening we were mothing at Top O'th Slate, starting off at 2130hrs..and there were four of us decided to brave it.. we caught up to about a total of 8 moths (3 species) before it went very cold, the winds were still coming from the East but had increased in strength, and after 2200hrs we were catching nothing and decided to give up by 2230hrs. However we managed to catch one or two Hebrew Character and a couple of Common Quaker and one Clouded Drab....

Top left is Hebrew Character,Top Right: is a Clouded Drab moth, Bottom left is Common Quaker. Thanks to Brian Clegg and Steve Palmer for help with identifications...

View from Dr. Eugenie Cheesmond's Memorial Seat

Here are some photos of the lovely memorial seat in rememberance of Dr. Eugenie Cheesmond - the first one above, actually shows the view as if you are sat on the seat which directly overlooks Hutch Bank and also Eugenie's house at No.2 Deardengate.....

Great Periwinkle beginning to show at Top O'th Slate

Today I checked on the Great Periwinkle and it is currently showing a small cluster with at least 3 separate flowering heads. Here is a photo showing its current status. Also there is at least 4 Willow Warblers singing from various point on the Top O'th Slate and a further bird singing from the Slate Farm/Duckworth Clough area. A new lichen found at TOS which is shown here (top right) and is called "Physcia tenella"... also another photo of the lichen " xanthoria parietina"

Click over photos to enlarge..

Rossendale Shoe Trail at Top O' th Slate.....

Rossendale Shoe Trail – Coming Spring 2009! Published by Rossendale Borough Council on Tuesday 24th March 09 This is an exciting project that takes inspiration from Rossendale’s historical links with the shoe and brick industry. The Shoe Trail will direct people from Rawtenstall town centre, through the Rossendale Valley and up to the Halo Panopticon at Top o’ Slate using giant footwear designs as way markers. (See artist immpression above right hand side - courtesy of Mid Pennine Arts...)

The giant, ceramic shoes have been designed by school groups from All Saints High School and Haslingden High School in Rossendale. The students worked with artist Julie Miles to produce designs that could be recreated using clay. Each of the way markers is hand carved to provide a truly unique way of guiding people into the beautiful Rossendale countryside.

The giant shoes will be positioned on the top of dry-stone walling and other key sites at regular intervals along the Trail. They will be placed at sites where trail users can admire the view or examine points of specific interest.

Rossendale Valley is famous for its shoe industry, but in the early part of the 20th century the area was also a major contributor to brick making and manufacture. The Shoe Trail aims to recognise this 'forgotten' industry by using clay to produce the way markers. Top o' Slate was once a clay pit for the brick factories of Heys and Duckworth, Haslingden Brick and Tile Co. and R. Holding Pike Law Patent Brick works making the ceramic way markers even more important in celebrating the area's heritage.

The Shoe Trail will start and end with carved relief brick plaques produced by artist Julie Miles. At Top o' Slate the plaque will depict the historical industry of the area from felt making, block printing, carpet printing through to the production of slippers, brick making and the railway. A similar plaque will be worked into the ground outside Rawtenstall station. This piece will be carved with images that celebrate the town's heritage as well as pictures that represent the Rossendale landscape.

A carved image of the Halo Panopticon will be included to encourage walkers to visit Top o' Slate. These plaques have also been designed with the help of school groups.

Meadow Pipits parachuting - Back on Territory....

Signs like this have been put up letting us know of the Shoe Trail Installation which is currently taking place (see tomorrows blog for more details).

The Meadow Pipits where coming through on a regular basis probably every 3 or 4 minutes, usually in singles and heading straight through in the direction of Pendle (Ribble Valley)... there where also some Pipits back on territory at TOS and you could see them doing the parachute display has other birds came overhead. Skylarks have been back on territory for some time now and they where happily singing away...

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) have started to appear. Also this miniature Daffodil was present in the disturbed soils. Gorse, Chickweeds and Mouse-Ear is also beginning to show up..

Life is beginning to spring back into th'owd place..

Certainly one of the best days of the year so far and life is gradually springing back into th' owd place... with a couple of white and several yellow crocus on the disturbed land quite close to the actual panopticon. Also daisies are beginning to show. This Stonechat was on the walls closeby, and a Bullfinch piping from their usual haunt quite close to Slate Farm.

A new tree lichen for TOS (shown in photo - Xanthoria parietina)..