Well we took the dogs down Wedholme Flow this morning and to our surprise there was a lovely Red-necked Phalarope pootling round on one of the pools! To make it even better it was in amongst some very nice Ruff.
 |
| Autumnal colours. |
 |
| The paths have all been recently mown. |
 |
| Autumn...plenty of dragon and damselflies too... |
 |
| The pond.... |
 |
| The Red-necked Phalarope. |
Back from Islay and time to catch up with life again ....with the odd trip out - obviously!
 |
| A threatening sky. |
 |
| Cotton Grass. |
 |
| A calling Redshank up a tree - in lieu of a post to stand on. |
 |
| White-beaked Sedge and Great Sundew. |
 |
| Bog Asphodel. |
 |
| Black Darter. |
 |
| Large Heath - and below. |
 |
| Large Skipper. |
Spring may have arrived, but the colours are still all washed out down at Wedholme Flow - one of the Solway Mosses. A warm day, but no Adders today.
 |
| Hiding in a field next to the reserve. |
 |
| Washed out... |
 |
| A single Whooper Swan in the middle - between the Mute Swans. |
 |
| Nice to see the Cotton-grass ... |
 |
| A very green Lizard. |
 |
| Peacock Butterfly. |
 |
| Back through the woods. |
 |
| And a Red Admiral. |
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!
 |
| Dramatic skies and light. |
 |
| A basking Common Lizard. |
 |
| And our Adder pair... |
 |
| The female. |
 |
| Black-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage. |
 |
| Cotton Grass just coming into bloom. |
 |
| Coltsfoot. |
 |
| Some strong light. |
 |
| Hare's-tail Cottongrass. |
 |
| Darkening skies. |
 |
| Willows... |
A glorious late afternoon walk, with snow on the fells as a perfect backdrop.
 |
| Splendid Skiddaw. |
 |
| Female Stonechat. |
 |
| Pinkfeet in formation. |
 |
| Hair's-tail Cottongrass - nearly over. |
 |
| Reflections. |
 |
| A wintery veil. |
 |
| A possible painting... |
 |
| Sunset. |
 |
| And some Whoopers in the evening light. |
After our walk on the fells, a walk on the moss. Nice to have some sunshine and to see the first signs of spring: Hare's-tail Cottongrass.
 |
| Frozen. |
 |
| Reed Bunting. |
 |
| Criffel in the distance. |
 |
| Hare's-foot Cottongrass. |
 |
| Stonechat. |
 |
| Winter's light. |
