Early in the month, on the bank of the river at dusk, we made a recording of birdsong and to my delight there were many more birds around than I had previously realised. However, on reading the list of suggested birds, the App revealed that one of the songs came from a Canada Jay. I think the giveaway is in the name 'Canada' and I began to see the downside of recording Apps. Most of them are American. All of this software is new to me and indeed, is only available via the help of a friend who basically supplies all the equipment and the information on identification. I take notes and look outraged at the mention of a Canada Jay, that's my job. Aside from the imposter from Canada, there were Rooks, Crows, Meadow Pipits, Redwings, Wrens, Golden Plovers and a Common Buzzard. The Redwings and Plovers tend to visit in the Winter or at least, are more visible to us in the colder months. I wish I could say I was able to name the singers but it's early days for me on that front and it doesn't detract in the least from the enjoyment of hearing the woods alive and energetic with song. Up closer to the house, the trees are the regular haunt of various Tawny and Barn Owls, and they screech and hoohoo late into the night - a little bit too late if you ask me.
The rain put in an appearance towards the end of the month but there were no frosts and 'ample sunny periods in between the rain', (MET Office). Here, on The Lizard, the sunshine was above average throughout the month. In the hedgerows the yellow Gorse flowers have already made their mark, whilst the Blackthorn and Elderflower bushes have been stripped bare of their fruits. Although a few trees lost their leaves early on in the False Autumn, there is now an abundance of colour, rich and warm across the fields and woods. There are shots of deep magenta in the leaves on the ground and on the trees, accompanied by the orange russet of the young Oak trees and the fading pinks of the Hydrangeas and the beautiful shocking red of the Rowan trees. Although these are the familiar signs of Autumn days, the unseasonable warm weather initiated an unfamiliar surge of new growth. Lush, verdant grass is here again, new and young Ragwort plants appear across the field and clumps of juicy Plantain, (both Ribwort and Greater), are bursting forth. By the end of the month there were young Nasturtium plants growing up through the Autumn leaf fall and banks of new Alexanders spreading across the garden and hedges - these are not supposed to appear until late next Spring. It doesn't feel right, even when the sights are beautiful.
The pink (or red) Campion is acting as a marker for us all to see the change and effects of the climate crisis. The general concensus in all the information on wildflowers is that Campions are found between March and October, with flowering from April onwards. Although their real abundance comes in from May, there is no longer a month in the year that the hedgerows are not sporting a display of Campions. They are a favourite of many woodland insects, including Bees, Butterflies and Hoverflies, but clearly their pollen is not needed in the Winter months. I hope it is not weakening their future food supplies. In addition to their role in guarding 'bees honey stores', they also 'protect the faeries from being discovered' (Woodlandtrust). Clearly they are doing a splendid job around here - I haven't seen a 'faerie' for years.
Like many wildflowers with a long history of folklore the Campions have many other names; Catchfly, Adders' Flower, Bachelor's Buttons, Devil's Flower, Cock Robin and many more. Depending on where you live, this plant can be associated with good or evil outcomes. In Cumbria, the picking of the Campion invites the wrath of the Faeries, and if you took the plant into your house you would be attacked by a snake - I am not making this up. Worse still, the Campion is associated with the devil's goblins, misfortune and even death. I leave you with the final confusing take on this lovely plant; it was considered unlucky to pick the plant as it could whip up a thunderstorm and yet, it was also hung over doors as a protection from lightning strikes. I'm still pondering over the mystery of how one can pick this plant for protection without misfortune occurring from picking the plant. Thankfully in the West of Britain it is considered a lucky plant. Phew.
Facts on the Red/Pink Campion supplied by homeopathicschool.com
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