To ease my England V Sweden viewing angst, I thought I would write this post at the same time. Ha! I am a very nervy audience…
This morning I had a wander round one of my local town’s two Nature Reserves. Salthill Quarry has appeared on my blog a couple times, but as I haven’t visited for over twelve months, I thought I would drop by for a nosy. The Quarry is a designated SSSI because of its geological formations…but I was there for the flowers…and the butterflies. 🙂
The 7.00 hectare Nature Reserve has grassland and woodland habitats. I was certainly glad of a little shade. The sun beat down as I looked for betony, orchids and scabious. Some of the land was dry and parched. Still no sign of approaching rain here in the North West.
Feeling slightly calmer now. …
Thanks for accompanying me on a wander round Salthill Quarry Local Nature Reserve.
sunshine and celandines 
What a lovely place to wander, love the photos of the painted lady and the umbels. X
Thank you. It was a very hot morning but a nice diversion. X
Excellent photographs! I love the butterfly shots and the umbels.
Thanks Amanda. Its quite exhausting chasing butterflies in the heat. 🦋 🙂
I shout at the telly if England are playing. This kept me occupied. Would rather have had a walk by the sea though. 😁
much nicer than football. In my view.
Oh my word!!!! What beautiful photos of flowers and insects. You must have the patience of a saint Shazza. As soon as I approach for a photo of insects in particular, they are usually off like a shot. Thanks so much, as it is something I’m quite interested in and we certainly don’t seem to have the butterfly population now, that we had when I was a child. Take care.
Beautiful – love the butterfly and buddleia especially. Well done England! I didn’t watch – no interest in football, and not my team anyway, however I did a bit of telly shouting at the tennis!
Buddleia is always welcoming to colourful butterflies. 🙂 X
Your photos are stunning, Shazza! Especially love the painted lady! It all turned out rather well, didn’t it? I think Gareth Southgate might have taken a nature walk too.
Ha yes he is so calm and collected. Aparently he does like to go running on his own. I prefer a leisurely ramble. 🙂 x
What a beautiful pre match walk! I love your photo looking up through the umbels. I am a very nervous England watcher, my nerves will be in shreds on semi-finals day 😳. Gone are the days when I would’ve been swept up in the euphoria of the success so far, I just can’t enjoy it… I must be getting old!
Yes we know all to well how painful it is to watch England play. I remember 1990.
xx
Indeed, me too. I was 16, it was a big deal! 😊 x
You can relax-until Wednesday!!
Not long now!
That’s football . . .
You saw a lot on your visit. I would agree on the swallowtail moth 🙂
Thanks Louise. 🙂 x
Lovely pics, Sharon! Very dry here too which is so unusual in our part of the world. x
I know! Its gone cloudy and grey here now. Thinking about doing a rain dance. 😉 x
Such lovely photos of those butterflies and moth! I’d love to get better at identifying wild flowers. Do you have a book you use, or have you just learned their names as you go along? x
Thank you! I have a couple of books I use. A collins gem guide to wildflowers plus an older guide from the seventies and even old ladybird books of the seasons. My Mum taught me lots of flower names too when I was a child. I always find new ones that I have never seen before, every year. 🙂 x
I definitely need to get myself a book! x
Looks a lovely spot for nature spotting. You saw so many! x
Yes I should go more often. Very hot up there though! X
A beautiful walk and fingers crossed for tonight Wednesday.
Fingers Crossed! X
Looks like a lovely place and in a similar state to our hillsides here, think the rain’s waiting for the school holidays to begin! Shame on the spray painters! I hope they catch them and make them clean it off- horrible job!
I know! Quite annoyed to find that had happened. 😦
Your graffiti “artist” really needs to be more careful, I think! I know that graffiti can sometimes be very artistic, but other times it really pisses me off. We had a lovely mural painted on a blank wall on the motorway. It cheered up the wall and looked great. Then gradually graffitti idiots spray painted their “tags” over it, so now it just looks a horrid mess. A little more respect wouldn’t go amiss.
Your photos of the area are lovely.
Thank you! I don’t think the spray painter was much of an artist. Felt really cross to see the bench like that. Pisses me off too. 😦
It was tense! This looks just the job 🙂 🙂
Haha , Yep haven’t written a post since. Lol. 🙂