Rainbow North Fife

Rainbow at Flisk last night, the sunshine had slipped though a low chink in the cloud you can see from the length of foreground shadows.

Is there a pot of gold at the end?

Tayview 18th July 2011

I was outside later than normal yesterday evening to capture a rainbow, not easy but noticed the amazing light quality which matured into these brilliant sunset colours.

Tayview 18th July.

Ringlet Butterfly 18th July

Another ringlet today, the only butterfly I recorded, just happened to notice it whilst photographing the himalayan balsam on the other side of the road. Have you joined the national butterfly count yet?

Himalayan Balsam North Fife

Himalayan Balsam on the roadside to Newburgh, a wee stand that has only just become evident, happens to be in a spot that was disturbed by council workers 18 months ago doing some drainage. Possibly the same crew that cleared a pathway down by the riverside, where there are masses, as part of the Fife Coastal Path, seeds maybe carried on their shoes or equipment.

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, is a large annual plant, native to the Himalayas (resulting in its colloquial name of kiss-me-on-the-mountain in the UK), it is sometimes cultivated for its flowers. It is now widely established in other parts of the world (such as the British Isles and the United States), in some cases becoming an invasive species weed. The aggressive seed dispersal, coupled with high nectar production which attracts pollinaters, often allows the Himalayan Balsam to outcompete native plants. In the UK, some local wildlife trusts organise "balsam bashing" events to help control the plant

Ringlet Butterfly North Fife

Ringlet butterfly 16th July North Fife. Today I counted three ringlets and two small whites. Join the national butterfly count.

North Fife Lodge for sale

North Lodge Monimail.

Property Type : Detached
Public Rooms : 3
Bedrooms : 5
Bathrooms : 2
Garden : yes
Garage : yes

An impressive detached villa occupying a rural location and enjoying panoramic countryside views. The villa has retained many fine traditional features throughout and has an idyllic setting. The property is set amongst 4.46 acres (or thereby) of ground which has an attractive woodland area.

Lounge. Conservatory. Dining room. Sitting room
Kitchen. Five bedrooms. Bathroom. Shower room. Porch. Garage.
Pictures.
Offers over £398,000
Ref: north fife blog.
Pagan Osborne Property Services
Solicitors and Estate Agents
1 Crossgate
Cupar
Fife
KY15 4HA

Tel : 01334 656525
Fax : 01334 654119

E-mail : property-cupar@pagan.co.uk
Website : www.paganosborne.com

Hedge Parsley

Hedge Parsley today at Flisk North Fife, Full moon, maybe that's why these beetles were in imperative mating mode as they feasted on the nectar.

More beetles on parsley, maybe it's an aphrodisiac.

Scottish Thistle

Thistle flower, Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) with quite formidable protection. The thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland since the reign of Alexander III (1249–1286) and was used on silver coins issued by James III in 1470. It is the symbol of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland. It is found in many Scottish symbols and as the name of several Scottish football clubs. The thistle, crowned with the Scottish crown, is the symbol of seven of the eight Scottish Police Forces (the exception being the Northern Constabulary). The thistle is also the emblem of Encyclopædia Britannica, which originated in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Garden daisies

Garden daisies at night.

Tayview 14th July 2011

Night time view of the River Tay, alas the camera isn't up to the subtlety of the light but you can get an idea.

Tayview night of 14th July.

tortoiseshell butterflies

This week is the start of a national butterfly survey. We are encouraged to go outside for 15mins or so and count them. My count today was 6 small tortoiseshell and a couple of small whites on the wing.

Tortoiseshell butterfly on wild scabious flower.

A rather pale tortoiseshell, weather beaten sunning and feeding today in the garden.

Small tortoiseshell thrusting its proboscis to reach the nectar in this thistle flower-head.