Harbingers of Spring

Walking around Ennerdale Lake this afternoon, in warm sunshine, I spotted these welcome signs of spring. The Red Admiral had managed to survive winter but was showing signs of wear and tear on his wings. He was so intent on enjoying these flowers growing in a marshy ditch, that I was able to sneak up on him. Coltsfoot produces masses of yellow daisy-like flowers which eventually mature into white, fluffy seed heads. Only then do the leaves appear.