By Caroline Steel, former Head of Conservation at Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
Summer may be officially over, but there was still plenty to see in September on West Common. I love the colour of devil’s-bit scabious flowers and they’re providing food for recently hatched small copper butterflies.
Image courtesy of Caroline Steel
Image courtesy of Caroline Steel
Other flowers still in bloom include tormentil, cat’s-ear and autumn hawkbit. It’s also the best time to see one of the common’s rarities – small water pepper, found in very few places in Lincolnshire. Being bright pink, it really stands out and can be seen in places which are wet for much of the year.
Image courtesy of Caroline Steel
Image courtesy of Caroline Steel
Image courtesy of Caroline Steel
I last saw swifts on 12 August, but house martins and swallows stay with us much longer. I haven’t seen any after mid September – but I might have missed them. Kestrels are hunting over the common regularly, but I haven’t seen any buzzards for a couple of weeks. There’s always something to see!
Beautiful photos. Loving your articles.