A perfect day

It's not often you get a glorious day, forecast in advance, on a weekend, in March. And did you know it! As I drove over Dunmail Raise all the parking spots for the Helvellyn range were taken (at 8.30am) and the bottom of Dunmail only had a couple of spaces left. I began to worry that the plan to meet a friend at Elterwater at 9am might be too late.... I squeezed into one of the last spaces in the carpark just before 9am! The plan for the day was to go up Lingmoor Fell in the morning and then meet Molly who was taking part in the Mackyard Ultra in Langdale, running timed loops, leaving on the hour every hour, to run round the valley bottom. A cracking day on all counts.

The lane from Elterwater  -lots of Chiff Chaffs calling.

Herdies in the sun.

Heading up onto the fell and the ridge's wall.

Looking down onto the Mackyard set up.

Heading out along the ridge.

Looking into Langdale.

And back into the valley to watch Molly competing.

And they are off on another loop....those that survive to the end will have run 160 miles! 

Spring at Leighton Moss

We arrived to the calls of Chiff Chaffs and the vibrant sunshine yellow of pollen laden willows.

Things are beginning to look a bit greener!

The day itself was a bit over-cast...the reed reflections though still intrigue me - nature's mark-making.

Moorhen.

An elusive Snipe.

Cormorant - you forget, until you really look at them, what splendid birds they are.

Three Otters - two showing here, put on a good show for us! 

Canada Geese with a swim-by from the Otter.

Pintail.

Mute Swans.

Heron. Again, another bird that you tend not to look at because it's common - spectacular!

Marsh Harrier.

Then down the road to the coast: 

The Avocets are back.

And you'll have to take my word for it - but the small grey blob with the bright red legs is a Spotted Redshank.

Caudale Moor and Hartsop Dodd

Hartsop Dodd is a pig of a fell if you go straight up it from Hartsop, while parking at the Kirkstone Inn, going up onto Caudale Moor and Stoney Cove Pike and walking down onto it, is far more pleasant! 

The signed path to St Raven's Edge takes you up a short scrambly section onto the ridge - from which there are spectacular views all around and the path along the wall is clearly visible. Fix the Fells have done an excellent job of placing stepping stones across any boggy bits.

The last distant snows on the shaded side of Helvellyn.

Following the wall you find yourself at Stony Cove Pike which is 1metre higher than Caudale Moor itself. We came back via Caudale Moor summit which is easier to see from the path coming back.

Splendid views across to Fairfield.

Looking down to Hartsop Dodd - a lovely ridge.

Hartsop Dodd summit...now to head back up onto Caudale Moor.

And as the day began to cool off...Caudale Moor summit.

Spring ...possibly!

Our first walk out after the Cairngorms, was down onto the mosses. Nice to see that spring may be on its way! 

Coltsfoot.

Some strong light.

Hare's-tail Cottongrass.

Darkening skies.

Willows...

Burghead: Long-tailed ducks

Burghead is a good spot for Long-tailed Ducks. we think there were maybe 16 out at sea, and one very obliging one that came, briefly, into the entrance to the harbour.

Redshank, with a Purple Sandpiper behind them. 

This particular Redshank really lived up to its name!

Long-tailed ducks at sea...

And off they flew...

And closer up....

 

Burghead: Eider Ducks

We popped into Burghead, in the hope of seeing the Long-tailed ducks (next post), but when we arrived there were lots of lovely Eider Ducks in the harbour, making their characteristic call and with the males jostling each other and throwing their heads back and forth while puffing out their chests, in courtship display.