Carrick-a-rede

After the Giant's Causeway, and as we get in free with National Trust membership, we went to Carrick-a-rede. We took it in turns to go across the rope bridge as it was clearly not an option for Rocky, who doesn't like bridges of even the most substantial kind! Whilst Steve went across the rope bridge, I painted a field sketch - despite the attempts of an American Lady who wanted to report me for sitting in a dangerous place, where I might fall off the cliff while painting! 

Razorbill.

Fulmar.

Kittiwakes with chicks.

Kittiwakes.

Guillemots.

Well camouflaged Guillemots.

Nice colours. 

Chalk cliffs.

The Giant's Causeway

A good morning, with an early start, to get to the Giant's Causeway before the hoards. Arriving at 9 we had the place to ourselves for a while. It really is spectacular, but surprisingly small in some ways. 

Looking up the columns continue.

Looking down from the cliff top.

Killard Point Geology

The geology at Killard was really interesting. The cliffs at the back of the beach were cemented glacial deposits and in places you could see glacially striated bedrock. This is the only site in the Irish Sea where sub-glacial sediments were discharged straight into the sea. 

Here, a rapidly flowing icesheet entered into a tidal sea while inland the ice was shaping the debris into drumlin swarms as it melted and swept into the sea. A far better summary and more information is provided in the  ESCR site summary

The back of the beach.

Caves. 

Layers of pebbles/cobbles and what was basically a sandstone.

Nice layers...

Something was obviously going on here...with cobbles having a different orientation.

Metamorphic bedrock.

With glacial striations.

Killard Point Flowers

 The flowers at Killard Point were stunning....

Pyramidal Orchids ..

Of slightly varying colours...

And intensities...

A properly white Common Spotted-orchid.

Bee Orchids - with the one on the right being a var Chlorantha ie pale!

Frog Orchids...

And a Frog Orchid x Common Spotted-orchid...rather special! 

Killard Point walk : Northern Ireland

After a brief period at home to 'play catch up' a visit to see family in northern Ireland. Day 1: an absolutely stunning walk: fabulous flowers, plentiful orchids, great geology, good marine life and views to boot. Hence having to do a three way split of blogs! 

Walking along the coast.

Field Scabious.

Common Spotted-orchids.

An abundance of flowers ....Yellow Rattle, Field Scabious, Ladies Bedstraw, Common Rest Harrow, Common Centaury, Mountain Pansies, Red Clover, White Clover, Spring Squill (seeded) Cat's Ears and Hawkbits, Eyebright, Self Heal and of course the orchids.

It was nice to see so much Rest Harrow. 

Pyramidal Orchids.

Harbour/Common Seal. 

Looking across to the Mournes.

Snoozing.

Rock-pooling.

Light Bulb Sea Squirts.

A red Sea Squirt sp.

A Solar-powered Sea Slug.

The Mournes.

Harbour/Common Seal.