Mallerstrang Valley Pendragon Castle

Yesterday Friday, 7th June 2013 was such a fantastic day with the sun shining and warm with blue skies that we headed for Kirkby Stephen and Pendragon Castle in the Mallerstrang Valley.

Pendragon Castle

While at the castle I found a small pond within a hundred meters of the castle and spotted an Oystercatcher and a Mallard. I really enjoyed the location of the Mallard between the reed beds and took two photographs to show my observation.

Oystercatcher

Mallard

Mallard

Tales From The Garden 6

Just had to include these photos from Monday, 3rd June 2013 as I found the photographs of the Blackbird enthralling and found this frog in the garden while watering the plants.

Blackbird 

Blackbird 

 Blackbird 

Blackbird  

and then my first Starling photographed

 

Starling

and now for some Flora...

TBI

TBI

TBI

TBI

First Trip To Beacon Fell

My first outing today Wednesday, 5th June 2013 to Beacon Fell and what a pleasant afternoon was had. Weather was very warm and sunny.

On arrival we parked up at the visitor centre which had a cafe, lots of free literature and of course toilets.

We parked up at the visitor centre which cost a £1 for all up until 1700 hours when it is then free. Their are a number of differeing car parks to choose from and all are connected by the 'one way' system.

We first made our way up the track to the far right of the visitor centre and then followed a stone wall up to the Trig Point where we bared right and followed a track. After approximately 20M we saw a pair of  Skylarks continually hunting and returning to the nest. 

Skylark

Skylark

Skylark

 

TBI

TBI

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

 

Chaffinch

And then my persistance paid off with first a single Long Tailed Tit and then another of which I believe were a pair and of which were plentiful in this area.

 Long Tailed Tit

 Long Tailed Tits

 Long Tailed Tits

We then found The Tarn and sat for a while at this very peaceful location which had four Mallards and one Moorhen plus a Robin and a cheeky Chaffinch spotted.

 The Tarn is a very nice spot to observe small birds with butterflies and Dragon Flies I'm sure constant visitors.

Only Butterfly of the day captured on camera.

Small White Butterfly

Spotted a large Hare on the track near The Tarn but it had turned a corner before I could point the camera, however, close by were two rabits and one stayed still for me.

Rabbit

Above and behind the visitor centre I located a small pool which was teaming with Tadpoles.

Tadpole

Tadpoles

And then it was an abundance of flowers that took my eye.

TBI

TBI

Dandelion

TBI

TBI

TBI

TBI

All in all a fantastic day out to a  new venue where the weather was great, warm and sunny and definately a trip out to be replicated in the future.

Leighton Moss RSPB Nature Reserve

After visiting the RSPB Nature Reserve at Lochwinnoch in Scotland recently and enjoying the visit so much we have decided to visit the RSPB Nature Reserve at Leighton Moss, Silverdale in Cumbria towards the end of this week.

Apparently on Monday, 3rd June 2013 a Bearded Tit was observed feeding on a gritter table, so again, another reason to visit  the centre. Now hoping that the weather stays warm and sunny and we have both photographs and a bird report to add to the blog at the end of the week.

Sunday, 9th June saw us heading towards Leighton Moss and the visitor centre on a very warm, sunny day. Quickly discovered that the reserve included a number of hides being; Lilian's Hide, Public Hide, Lower Hide, Tim Jackson Hide, Grisedale Hide and further afield the Allen and Eric Morecambe Hides.

   

Visitor Entrance

And would you believe it straight into Bearded Tits as we walked down the Causeway, a long path to the Public Hide. Infact, four were sighted less than 3m off the path and my first photographs taken of this bird.

Bearded Tit

Bearded Tit

 Bearded Tit

 Bearded Tit

Also observed a Long Tailed Tit during our visit while approaching the Allen Hide as seen below.

Long Tailed Tit

Also spotted on the Causeway path were Reed Warblers again another first for me and seen below.

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

And then while sitting in the Lower Hide we observed on a tree perch at approximately 100m, the ultimate for me so far, being a male Marsh Harrier as seen below

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

and as it flew from the perch into the sky

Marsh Harrier in flight

Again from this hide  we observed a a pair of Great Crested Crebes where the male was fishing for the chicks which were being carried on mums back as seen below

Male Great Crested Grebe fishing

Female Great Crested Grebe carrying chicks on her back

Female Great Crested Grebe carrying chicks on her back

Father just fed fish to chick

A nice Cormorant duo photographed while stretching out on a post

A duo of Cormorants

Cormorant stretching its wings

My first Swallow of the day on the tin roof of a barn next to the low bridge while approaching the car par close to the Allen Hide.

Swallow

Also took photographs of:

Magpie

Pied Wagtail

Lapwing

Lapwing in flight

Black Headed Gull

Not many butterflies seen today, however, managed to photograph another Small White and a new one for me being a Speckled Wood butterfly of the Nymphalidae family

Small White

Small White

Speckled Wood

Again a first for me as we located one after the other of Damselflies as seen below;

Blue-Tailed Damselfly

Blue-Tailed Damselfly

Male Common Blue Damselfly

Female Common Blue Damselfly

Male & Female Common Blue Damselfly mating

Dandy Long Legs mating

And for Flora a photograph of Meadowsweet as seen below;

Meadowsweet

A very enjoyable six hours was had walking around the reserve and although at a cost of £5 each to non members we instead took out a twelve month family subscription for a sum of £5 per month. We will definately be back....