With an unimpressive forecast for the rest of the week, a quick walk from Hesket Newmarket along the river...It's still early, so lots of Wood Anemones and the Toothwort was spot on!
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| The riverside walk. |
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| Toothwort, with plenty more to come. |
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| The characteristic leaves of Herb Paris, in amongst the Wild Garlic and Wood Anemones. |
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| The gorge. |
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| Wood Anemones and Celandines. |
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| A spectacular clump. |
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| The first Bluebells. |
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| Goldilocks Buttercup. |
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| Primrose... |
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| ...and the familiar outline of Carrock Fell |
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| On the nest. |
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| In the act. |
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| Incoming Osprey. |
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| Marsh Harriers. |
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| Marsh Harriers. |
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| A pair of Marsh Harriers attempted a mid air transfer of something. |
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| Two Marsh Harriers taking objection to the two Greylags, while the Ospreys look on. |
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| Three Harriers... |
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| ...settled down as it began to rain. |
What a treat! I was hopeful that we might see Adders on our local moss, as although the sun kept going in and there was a breeze, the Molinia lined path-side hollows would remain warm. We got lucky! A gorgeous entwined pair, the bluish male and the brown female weren't so warm that they sped off, instead we could watch and admire - with Rocky the dog on a tight lead!
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| Dramatic skies and light. |
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| A basking Common Lizard. |
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| And our Adder pair... |
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| The female. |
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| Black-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage. |
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| Cotton Grass just coming into bloom. |
An early start.....We had planned to go up Grisedale Pike from Revelin Moss, but after Storm Dave, the carparks and footpaths were all taped off with signs saying no public access. So with it being the day after Easter Monday, we had to make a quick decision to get somewhere and park before the hoards arrived. Plan B, which was rapidly formulated, was to go up Skiddaw. Skiddaw Little Man and Lonscale Fell. A great walk - a slog as always from the Latrigg carpark, but we got parked just in time, and the weather stayed fair- but very windy on the summits. Great clarity of air in the morning and unbelievably warm when we descended back into the valley. Rocky did brilliantly and insisted on barking and tugging at his lead on the tops. It was so nice to see him enjoying himself on a 'big top' after his worrying episode of vestibular disease at Christmas. Happy days.
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| Looking across Keswick and Derwentwater... |
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| And across to Blencathra. |
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| The top of Skiddaw Little Man. |
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| And on to Skiddaw itself. |
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| Looking down onto Ullock Pike. |
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| Quite a panorama! |
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| The top of Skiddaw. |
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| Looking across to Carrock Fell. |
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| On to Lonscale Fell.. |
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| And zooming in to Thirlmere and Dunmail Raise as we descended. |
A cold and blustery morning, but spring has arrived on the coast..
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| Looking across the Solway to Criffel, in Scotland. |
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| The Sand Martin bank.. |
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| They're back! |
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| ..and one of four Wheatears. |
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| It was nice to see Golden Plover in full breeding plumage..... |
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| As well as large numbers of Curlew. |
A second trip for the year to St Bees Head. It was nice to see quite a few Razorbills, as well as good numbers of Guillemots. The spring flowers are just beginning and it was good to see seven Black Guillemots.
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| The rookeries .. |
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| With Guillemots... |
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| Razorbills on the sea. |
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| And ledges. |
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| Distant Black Guillemots... |
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| And closer. |
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| Spring flowers: Bluebell, Red Campion, Thrift and Scurvy Grass. |
