Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Viewed from Quarry, November 2011

Female Slow Worm (Blind Worm)

Anguis fragilis

October 2011

Bee Orchid        

Ophrys apifera

Found in dry grassland on calcareous soil. Flowers borne in spikes, petals up to 12mm across with markings that give it a resemblance to a bumble bee.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Aglais urticae

Can be seen March-October. Upperwings marbled orange, yellow and black, underparts are smoky-brown. Their caterpillars feed on common nettle.

Quarry mascot :-)

Teasel

Dipsacus fullonum

Biennial that produces rosette of pine-coated leaves in the first year. In the second, there are conical heads of purple flowers borne on spined stems.

Elder

Sambucus nigra

Shrub with unpleasant -smelling leaves. Flat-topped sprays of fragrant white flowers appearing June-July, and black-coloured berries.

Red Valerian

Centranthus ruber

Grey-green perrenial of rocks, broken ground and walls. Ovate, untoothed leaves in opposite pairs. Flowers are formed in cluster and can be pink, red, or white. Seen between May - September.

Woolly Thistle (with bumble bee)

Cirsium eriophorum

Biennial of calcareous grassland. Pinnately divided leaves. Spherical, woolly flower heads 40-70mm across seen July-September.

Common Dog-Violet

Viola riviniana

Perriennial herb found in woodland and grassland. Long-stalked and heart-shaped leaves. Purple flowers appearing between March - May.