Wednesday 14 May 2014

Hellesveor Cliffs



















 







I have to tell you, this morning is a beauty in West Cornwall. The sun is bright in the sky and there is just the gentlest breeze. I don't want to drive and then walk. I just want to walk. I haven't walked out onto the cliffs for so long. The weather has stopped Pops and me from venturing there. Too muddy and a bit tricky for little feet. I had an urge to walk there today. I felt it when I woke up this morning. I'm waking early, and getting the household chores done and dusted before the boys wake up. So that the day can be mine. Call it well planned household management.

It's not far from me, this walk. Just up past the rugby club, along the path that winds through the housing estate, through the horse field and I'm there. Five minutes away from my front door, and I am away. I am transported to a place alive with nature. Those hedgerows are stunning me with their display of bluebells, red campion, cow parsley, hollyhocks, anemones and many others. I take pictures for referencing later. I know quite a lot of the names of wild flowers now, but there are still those that escape me. I look up their name, but it never stays inside my head. Pops and I make up our own names. In rather the same way that they got their names in the first place, I would imagine.

The birds are singing too. I can hear blackbirds, robins and wrens. The occasional 'caaak' of a grouse in the fields. There are skylarks and other songs and sounds that I recognise, but can't give name to. I spot them flitting in and out of the hedgerows, or gathering food along the path. There are buzzards soaring high overhead, catching the thermals as they rise and circle. There are crows in the fields, looking shifty and up to no good.

The pollinators are everywhere. I watch the butterflies waft in front of me, following the path with ease and grace. The speckled woods join together in a tumble. Courting or fighting, I'm not sure which. I know that they are fiercely territorial. I see a Peacock butterfly, but it's too quick for me. It teases me down the path with it's stop start antics. The bumblebees career along too. The seem drunk, as they fly in that hap hazard manner. I am always amazed that they manage to fly at all. They seem to be forever in danger of crashing into things. I spy a tiny butterfly or day flying moth. She is the size of my finger nail. Bright yellow with black spots. I hold my breath and try in vain to take a snap. No good. She's gone. I wait for a while and hope that she will return, like the Brimstone did last year. Honey barks, anxious to get moving again, so I give up and carry on.

And there is the sea. It is gloriously blue this morning. Calm and deep and mesmerising. I find a vantage point and breath lungfuls of sea air. I close my eyes and listen to the sounds the sea makes. I wish that I had brought supplies - a flask of tea would be good right now. There is no-one here. No boats on the water. No walkers passing by. Just me and the Atlantic. I could toboggan down those cliffs and plunge right into the big blue. It is just so inviting. Instead I promise a trip to the beach tomorrow with Pops. To dip a toe or two perhaps.

I walk on. Further than normal. I really don't want to stop. I'd like to keep on walking to Zennor. But I have other things to do today. So reluctantly I turn and head home. I meet a lady running with her IPod. I wonder why? I think she's missing out on all the glorious sounds of nature. I say hello to a couple walking. They are German, I think. I tell them about the yellow butterfly/moth that I saw. I'm a bit like that. Sharing my nature nerdism with others.
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When I get home I look her up. I can't find her. Not on my chart. Not online. I know what I saw. But can't find her anywhere. She's a mystery. If anyone has any idea about what she could be called, I'd love to know.

Here's hoping you all have as lovely a day as I am having.

Leanne xx


17 comments:

  1. Ooohh Leanne, what a fab post,so wish i could have had that walk too,i need some sea air inside me 'bout now or any other time for that matter, sorry i have no idea of what the butterfly is, but am sure someone will let you know.Thanks for sharing, enjoy the rest of your day too
    Best Wishes
    Sue xx

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  2. Absolutely stunning views; I am so envious! Lucky lucky you to have all that on your doorstep. x

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  3. So lovely Leanne, I felt as though I was walking along with you. You are so lucky to be able to go for such a lovely walk so close to home and blow all the cobwebs of life away and set you up right for the day! I hope that you find out what your little yellow friend is called! xx

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  4. Enjoy every precious moment . Photos are fab xx thank you for all your kind enquiries of William. My heart is feeling lighter today xx

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  5. I wish I could have been out by the coast enjoying the sunshine today instead of looking at it through the office window! Never mind at least I can enjoy your images and dream! CT (see under my favourite blogs) at Countryside Tales maybe able to identify your moth as she is an expert.. Sarah x

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  6. What a wonderful place to walk, and how lovely to have it pretty much to yourself. I'm very impressed that you get all of your chores done before the boys are up. I'm taking notes, I need to do this kind of stuff. I desperately need to be more organised, to find some big chunks of time from somewhere. Can't help with the butterfly identification I'm afraid. Like you I have a chart, but it doesn't always help me unless I get a clear photo! Hope you and Pops get to have that paddle tomorrow. The weather is set fair I think. CJ xx

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  7. I'm so glad you've had a lovely day. This walk looks wonderful. I don't know too many butterflies, pretty much just monarchs! That's the easiest one. I can't wait until I have a little more time in the day to take walks alone, I really miss having it in my life.

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  8. I think we've just become each other's 55th follower, which is a Rather Nice Symmetry :-)

    I think the small butterfly is probably a day-flying moth called a speckled yellow (http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1909.php). Can't think of another yellow with black dots type, but if it looks wrong let me know and I'll have a re-think. Lovely blog- looking forward to reading/ seeing more. Cornwall is such a beautiful place x

    ps - Sarah is very sweet to call me an expert! (more of an over-enthusiastic moth nerd)... x

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    1. It was a Speckled Yellow! Thanks! And welcome to my blog. Thanks for following.

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  9. Love that third photo with just a glimpse of the sea... Cornish sea, even better. Enjoy these sunny days xo

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  10. what a magical path to the sea, I wonder if that's the south west coast path? It looks amazing there. I hope to walk it one day. Enjoy, Heather x

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    1. Hey Heather,

      Yes it's part of the coast path between St Ives and Zennor.

      Leanne xx

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  11. Could the moth be a Dew Moth or a Speckled Yellow?

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  12. What stunning photographs. I often wish we lived closer to the sea!! Cornwall really is stunning.

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  13. Amazing. I love the idea of just walking and walking until you get to the sea. Around here, you'd end up on a railway line or industrial estate first. That gorse against the blue sea and sky is just fabulous. x

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