What have you seen
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We are now home after our tour of the Lakes and Scotland. On the whole the warm weather has been fabulous but now it is positively Autumnal. We essentially finished our Tour at Loch Ness where our daughter was involved in the annual Monster The Loch rowing race. The length completed in less than three hours by her 3 other lady rowers and their cox. Some 140 crews set out to complete the course, quite a sight. From there we have taken a leisurely return journey home via Berwick Sea View and North York Moors.
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micky, I think you have misplaced the above post!!😁
Numerous skeins of Pink Footed Geese flying over the Solway today, with Lapwings and a huge flock of Oystercatchers by the tideline. There are still House Martins flying around the site, and I saw a small flock of Fieldfares on the golf course, the first that I have seen this winter.
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There have been some large skiens of Pink Footed Geese passing over the site each day that we have been here, by the Firth of Forth. Over last couple of nights I saw lots of frogs, toads and juvenile newts on the paths around the site. Today, at North Berwick we watched both Gannets and Cormorants dive bombing into the sea. While walking I came across what I think is a juvenile Cormorant on the shore unable to take flight.
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He’s not looking well, Nellie. We have a juvenile cormorant in the river today which has a distinct white belly. It looks like a magpie of the sea. We also saw a grey seal hauled out on the riverbank about two miles up stream. Others were bobbing about in the water. I think they were waiting for high tide as the depth of water was down to only a few inches in places.
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Out walking this afternoon I spotted a Red Squirrel running across the field gate into Mungrisdale Common, and then later a Roe Deer doe in the woods above the club site.
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The red squirrels here are burying their food ready for winter there is no Walnuts on the big tree in the next field so they are busy with acorns instead but not as many as last year, still great to see them. Saw 2 Roe Deer in a small olive tree plantation across the road from us.
Saw a Red Kite flying over and had my bins with me then another smaller bird of prey flew across the field and checking my bird book it was a Black Shouldered Kite certainly a lot smaller than the Red Kite but good to see, we did have a few around here last year but the first this year.
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Having walked and climbed in The Lakes all my life I now find the Mungrisdale area one of my favourite places to visit. Also that area north of Skiddaw and Blencathra. I think the reason being is that these are the less visited fells, feel more remote, probably not as rugged as some other Lakeland fells but just as beautiful. This summer we walked in the Glendaraterra valley and the northern fells in the Skiddaw Massif, what stunning views looking across the Greta Valley, up St John’s in the Vale and towards the peaks in the distance. For a couple of periods in my life I lived and worked in this area and hold great affection for it and the people who live there. Well worth a visit.
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micky, it was the walk up the miners track above Glendaraterrace that we took in the morning before heading around to Mungrisdale. OH has trouble descending these days because of painful knees so we tend to just do the more level walks, however we do see lots of wildlife wherever we go. It's just a matter of keeping one's eyes open.
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Beautiful area Nellie. In my early twenties I worked at Fellside in the Calbeck Fells and just for the fun of it we planned a summer walking route and set off across the Northern Fells to finish at Keswick. The first peak we climbed was Brea Fell. The view from the summit there is, I believe one of the finest in the Northern Fells, with the panorama north taking in the Solway Firth, Scottish Borders and the northern Pennines. Taking in Great Cockup we made our way onto the head and western flank of the Glendaraterra valley. From there on to Latrigg fell and down into Keswick. Beautiful views.
In winter we also cross country skied amongst the Great Calva , Knott and Meal Fells. Don’t think they get winter weather these days which made it possible then, it seemed to last for weeks. You had to be aware that unseen mine shafts were a danger as they were hidden in snow drifts. Such fun!
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3 weeks ago I reported seeing a Green Sandpiper at Burton Mere. We went for a stroll around the place today and it's still there. For a bird that migrates and doesn't tend to stay in one place very long this one, and apparently a second one, seems to have taken the term " Stopover" to a new meaning.
Also managed to see our first Whooper Swans of the winter. Actually had a good view of a Cetti's Warbler as well.
Just 3 dragonflies left.
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I’m amazed WN, reports of several migrant species still hanging around. Osprey, a few hirundines and a number of Ring Ouzels this week. Oh and even one or two rarer summer visitors like the Hoopoes linger on. Very few usually seen this late in October.
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An interesting couple of days here with around 6 Cattle Egrets on the fields across from the site along with a Grey Heron, and I also spotted a hare hunkering down when it heard me on the road. Then today a Stoat disappeared into the hedgerow as we drove up and within yards a Sparrow Hawk, which had manage to get a claw entangled in a briar freed itself and nearly hit the car!
Spotted these trees in full autumn colour, a Maple and a Large Leafed Lime.
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I came across this note from the Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve FB page, hope it can be accessed, and that it is safe to do so!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/c8ibwf2DWFFJn2iD/
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Well the Common Cranes have been on the move towards Spain today huge numbers even came over our way and we have been outside gardening work and did not see one typical, but did see a flock of Redwings going over about 40 altogether.
Saw quite a lot of butterflies out yesterday whilst looking around a local field which I have not been into for a few months great to see as numbers of butterflies have been down in numbers here like the UK.
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Spotted this fine toadstool today. Not yet had a change to identify it properly yet, so if anyone can help it will be greatly appreciated.
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If it wasn't for the dip in the cap I would say that it's a Blue Roundhead Nellie. Haven't seen one with that dip but doesn't mean it isn't. Can't help much further as my knowledge on toadstools is not wide.
Still several Migrant Hawker dragonflies about, mainly flying over the pool by the Pin Mill at Bodnant Gardens yesterday. Just the one Ruddy Darter though.
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A first for me, a dab chick near the harbour entrance at Whitby. I’ve never seen one in salt water before. What a lovely little grebe it was. Another species to join kingfisher, heron and egrets in this saline environment I’ve spotted. Also seen grey wagtail in the exposed kelp beds at low tide but not today. That grey seal hauled up on the river bank at Ruswarp a couple of miles up river was a surprise too.
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I will have to look out for it micky, as we have just arrived at Whitby.
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Just an update. I think that I have identified the fungus as a Trooping Funnel Mushroom, Clitocybe / Infundibulicybe geotropa, and it is supposed to be excellent to eat especially when young.
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A few photos locally including a Praying Mantis perched on our railing out the one of the lounge windows very late coming out this year, the Tree frog peeping over the watering can, Garden Tiger moth in the garden and Red Admiral on buddleia (buddleja) and a Southern White Admiral on a small stone sink.
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Cheers WN. We saw this beauty enjoying, the warmth from the road and from the sun on its back this afternoon.
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