I’ve been caught by surprise, I left Weardale’s bottom this morning but before leaving checked 3’s mobile coverage for this area and not an iota was showing on their map. It’s seems to be firing on six cylinders out of six so I’ll let you know where we are.
This site is at Englethwaite Hall…………..it is busy but according to a text I got from a chap that stayed last week it is knee deep in Red Squirrel. The site office is overrun with photographs of them. Perhaps that was what he was reporting. It’s busy here but if I get out early I’ll find them. As you can see by kind permission of Google there are several large ponds in this wood which though of mainly mature conifers has Silver Birch, Ash and Sycamore. Something must enjoy this habitat.
We went for a quick wander and got lost well not lost but a touch confused. A good job the sun was shining or we could well have been out a lot longer than I had planned for.
Not quite the view from the van but the view from ten yards outside it. You are looking at Scotland. A very strange place and best avoided…………..it’s half full of English.
This is the wood, the new camera does a better job of exposing this but I still had to drop a stop.
What are these next boxes for with a slot in the base? I saw two but there are obviously at least five…………… Assuming the nest box hanger was numerate!
The largest of the ponds……………nothing much evident. A female Mallard. Loads of small flies and a few Mayfly.
A corner of a smaller pond. Reeds are just growing in this one…………..I would have hoped to see Dragon/Damsel fly, even the odd frog or toad but they appear at first sight pretty sterile.
I’ll give this venue a couple of early mornings and if nothing interest then back up into the hills.
Have fun.
Beautiful greens... Birdhouse with indoors toilet? ;)
ReplyDeleteNice shot of that large pond Adrian.
ReplyDelete-Trevor
I was born in Carlisle, so you are meandering around where I spent my early childhood! On the Townhall the clock has only 3 faces. The side facing Scotland does not have one, which spurned the tale that they had no time for Scotland. ;) Carlisle was part of Scotland at one time. My dad loved to tour and I have fond memories of driving through Scotland and opening the gates across the road so we could carry on. I imagine they must have been for cattle.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find your squirrels.
I hope you find the Red Squirrels tomorrow...we do not get many photographs of them down this way...publish 'em and be damned. Carlisle always seems to be in a time warp to me...very grey and drab but the people were friendly enough.
ReplyDeleteThe bird boxes might be bat boxes! Some bats crawl up into their roosts so boxes have only a slit in the base rather than a normal entrance hole.
ReplyDeleteI figured the boxes were Bat boxes, as well.
ReplyDeleteSo abroad for you is leaving England? I'm so unaware since I've been no further from the states than Canada & Mexico.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, lush photos.
Looks such a lovely place to stop Adrian, with bags of potential. Hope the reds put an appearance in for you.
ReplyDeleteLike others have said, the boxes are for bats. Be interesting to see some shots of them, if possible.
Makes Swallows seem easy lol
That looks like a lovely place to me. Hope you find what you are looking for! I'm not worried, I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever you find.
ReplyDeleteMonica, I love this shade of green.......Bat boxes they are I'll try and find out what manner of bat.
ReplyDeleteTrevor, it looks a promising place, I'll see what I can find.
Glo, it's not an area I know. I'll have a good look round within walking distance anyway.
Trevor, I'll get dug in and see what I can find.
George, I'll see if they are inhabited and what with, there was nothing flitting around yesterday evening.
Horst, that is what i thought, I'll try and find out what manner of bat.
Norma, not really abroad.....I am fortunate to have travelled vast areas of the world. New foliage give marvellous light.
Keith, I'm trying hard to resist the temptation to go bat snapping.......it will be a flash job I suspect.
Pauline, we will be out again shortly and see what we can find.
Nice bright and colourful pictures in the wood.
ReplyDeleteJay, woods are at their brightest at this time of year......I prefer autumn but this is good.
ReplyDelete