Dane Valley 12/9/09.

A TIME OF CHANGING SEASONS

 Members of the Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society recently visited the Dane valley on the Cheshire-Staffordshire boundary to enjoy a late summer flowering of nature under clear blue skies. 

The day’s walk started amongst the rolling heather-clad moorlands of the western Peak District, and then followed the River Dane downstream into the more intimate landscape of north Staffordshire. The day was also one of transition from late summer to early autumn, as the late flowering plants bore witness. Gorse bushes on the hillsides were still flowering and the grasslands sported bright yellow dandelion-like flowers of Common Catsear, as well as the occasional misty blue of Harebells and the taller pin-cushion heads of Devilsbit Scabious. The yellow daisy flowers of the Ragworts, including the less common Marsh Ragwort, also brightened the valley. Also putting on a late summer show were the purple flowers of Black Knapweed and the delicate pink flowers of Centaury. 

The warm weather had kept most fungi from fruiting, and only the Pleated Inkcap, and the lovely orange Waxcap were found in the meadows, whilst a good show of Southern Bracket was found on beech stumps.

 The onset of autumn was shown by bushes laden with elderberries, rowan berries and succulent blackberries.

 Butterflies still abounded in the sunshine, such as Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Comma, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Peacock. The group was pleased to come across an uncommon bright emerald Southern Hawker dragonfly, resting on a blackberry bush, and an impressive late-flying Emperor dragonfly. 

Upon leaving the quiet woodlands we came across an area of badger latrines, small scraped holes within grassland which had been recently and neatly filled! 

The star of the birds seen was a Red Kite, soaring high over the surrounding moors. Finches, tits and corvids were all well represented. Some of the summer’s last Swallows were seen, flying determinedly southwards to their winter quarters, a sure sign of the changing season.

Sightings

Red Kite is spotted	Small Copper
Southern Hawker	Knopper Gall

 Images by Peter Stevens and Peter Francis