Sheshkinmore: before it rained

The first of last weekend's walks out, whilst in Northern Ireland, with Tom and Natalie, was to Sheskinmore, in Co Donegal This large area was very reminiscent of Islay and  included beach, dunes, dune slacks, craggy 'lumps' and machair. Unsurprisingly this is the first of several blogs for the day, as not only was the flora stunning, the light was too. We keep saying 'you don't get the light without the rain' and my did it rain! So this blog gives an introduction to the day - before it rained!

Primroses in the dunes.

There were lots of Early Purple Orchids...

...and the rare and hard to find, Dense-flowered Orchid. 

Dune slacks...

One of the hilly 'lumps'.

It was nice to see so much Juniper.

...and Mountain Everlasting.

The Willow was certainly pollen-laden!

Dramatic scenery along the coast.

A summit of sorts.

Another area where there were several Dense-flowered Orchids.

The aptly named Bog Bean was perfect.

Then down to the beach...

With rumbles of thunder....

A hasty lunch, keeping an eye on the weather....
Then it rained....

Wood of Cree

The Wood of Cree is the largest ancient woodland in southern Scotland and provided a delightful stop off on the way to the Stranraer ferry.  The short signed walk leads you up by a series of waterfalls and back down through Bluebell woods. Pied Flycatchers and Cuckoos were calling.

Photos of many photographable and sketchable/paintable waterfalls! :

'White' Bluebells.

Moss growing up the saplings.

Further along the valley, we drove past vast expanses of Bluebell woodland.

Beautiful spring

With a continuation of the glorious weather, half a day gardening and then a walk down by the river at Hesket Newmarket. We happened to finish our walk at opening time for The Old Crown - what a shame!

Rocky heading off - he knows the way!

The Wild Garlic - a few more days and it will be at it's best.

I love the shadows.

Wood Anemones, Bluebells and Garlic.

Meadow Saxifrage.

Toothwort.

Herb Paris.

The river is drying...

Wood Anemones.

Wood Anemones..

Here he comes....

And plenty of Bluebells...

Not Cornwall but....

A trip to St Bees with glorious blue skies and sea. Vibrant flowers on the cliff tops, but the ledges were empty. No birds at all, no rafts of Auks out at sea either. I don't know why, as at this time of year you would expect to see something on the cliffs, especially given the good numbers we saw earlier in the year - hopefully they were all feeding way out at sea and not something sinister. 

Red Admiral on Spanish Bluebells on the track to the coast.

 And native Bluebells....

Red Campion.

Thrift.

Empty cliffs.

Herring Gull.

On the way down to Fleswick Bay, it is apparent that Spring is still very much here....Celandines and Violets.

Primroses.

Looking down to Fleswick Bay.