Ambling around in the sunshine

Today was a landmark, as we have seen the first incidence of a brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) in our garden since we moved in about 18 years ago.   This image was taken with a Nikon D3200 and a 200mm Nikkor lens on the Echinacia plants near the raised beds in our garden.

More common are the tortoiseshell butterflies (Aglais urticae)which we see every year.

This morning we walked in the woods at Consall Forge, just down the road from home.  It was clear that we were the first people to walk the high path today as this spider had spun a web across the path between the bracken fronds.

The Cheddleton Light Railway runs through the reserve and today they were running a loan engine, an 0-6-2 tank engine - Lampton Colliery No 29, works number 4263.  This engine was built in 1904 by Kitson of Leeds.  The engine is now owned and conserved by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) in whose colours it is painted.