As we move into late spring, Helmshore is alive with blossom, birdsong and insects, taking advantage of the beautiful weather we have had in the last weeks of April.
I made a rookie error on Tuesday 29th April on my morning walk around Musbury; a dead flat battery on the camera! As usual when I have no camera, the wildlife was everywhere; I am sure they know. A weasel crossed my path near Musbury brook, and the deer were everywhere; clearly teasing me! I resorted to taking pictures of Pepper fishing with my phone.
The wild garlic is in full bloom along the river bank at Snig Hole. I have been collecting it for making pesto and various other dishes. The leaves and flowers are also lovely raw in a salad.
The warm weather has brought out the butterflies. Musbury was alive on Wednesday morning with hundreds of butterflies flirting around the grass. I saw orange tips, large whites and green veined whites to name a few.
There was also a fleeting glimpse of a female hen harrier, flying low over the grass at the top of Musbury heights. It’s been at least 4 years since I last saw one locally. I’ve also had a report of a male seen in the area also. I’m hopeful they will breed here again; they are a fabulous sight.
On Wednesday evening, on a late walk with Pepper, the bats were emerging from hibernation under the railway arches at the Helmshore Textile Museum. I did an organised bat walk from here a few years ago and learned it is home to 8 different species of bat in Lancashire; this site tells you all about them
https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/charlotte-varela/which-bat-species-lancashire
This week also heralded the arrival of the Swifts, back from Africa to breed. I tried to get a good photograph but Swift by name…
The garden has been a little quiet this week. I bought “no mess” seed to reduce the unwanted lawn sprouting under the feeders. The birds are staging a furious rebellion and refusing to eat it. I shall have to return to the (much cheaper) Tesco food and suffer the grass.
As we turn the corner into May, the warm weather and abundance of flora make it feel like Summer is just around the corner.
I’m back off in the van this weekend, searching for wildlife a little further afield; I will let you know what I find.
A Dull Woman's Van Life 
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