Warblers in the Sankey Valley

Warblers singing in the Sankey Valley this morning 7:10-7:50am, Carr Mill Dam to Mucky Mountains: Reed Warbler 5; Chiffchaff 16; Blackcap 12; Willow Warbler 1; Whitethroat 6

Warblers in the Sankey Valley

Warblers singing in the Sankey Valley this morning, 7:15am - 8:00am, Carr Mill Dam to Mucky Mountains: Blackcap 13; Whitethroat 9; Chiffchaff 10; Willow Warbler 2; Reed Warbler 2.

A great few weeks

It's been a hectic few weeks, with not much time for posting to the blog, so here are a few photos from some of the spectacular places we have been.....

19/06/2011 - Y Garn, Cwm Idwal, North Wales
At 3100 feet this is the 15th highest mountain in Wales, and is just 100 feet lower than Scafell Pikes in Cumbria. It rises above Cwm Idwal and the Devil's Kitchen. It's just a 4 mile round walk to the summit and back to the car at Ogwen Cottage, but pretty tough going in places. Lots of botanical interest, with the main flowers seen including Globeflower, Welsh Poppy, Mossy Saxifrage, Starry Saxifrage, Fir Clubmoss and plenty of interesting sedges. Sadly no Snowdon Lily. I think we were probably too late. I didn't have my camera with me, so this photo, taken from the summit, is from my phone.



11/06/2011 - Malham, Yorkshire Dales
Spectacular scenary, and some great flowers, notably Globeflower, Bird's-eye Primrose, Mountain Pansies, Rock Roses and lots of great sedges and ferns. Saw a few Redstarts.

Malham Cove

Malham Tarn and Gordale Scar.

30/05/2011 - Berwyns
A stunning walk from Pistyll Rhaedr, the main birds seen were lots of Whinchats. Once again lots of nice sedges and ferns.

Hare's-tail Cotton Sedge

Upper Teesdale

Our luck deserted us today, and the weather in Teesdale was pretty awful. Even so, there were still some great flowers to see. Scottish Asphodel was unexpected and a first for me, whilst Apline Bistort is a plant I have only seen once before in Britain, at Ben Lawers in Scotland. Other interesting plants included Hair Sedge, False-sedge and Long-stalked Yellow Sedge.


Globeflower and Water Avens


Alpine Bistort and Scottish Asphodel

Great Orme

It was a glorious day on the Great Orme. I had great views of two Choughs and a Peregrine, but star of the day was this fantastic Spiked Speedwell.

Spiked Speedwell

Roudsea Wood and Moss NNR, Cumbria

Large Heath!!! Surely at least a month early! There were at least five of these rare butterflies on the wing today.


Large Yellow Sedge - Even rarer than Large Heath, this is one of only a handful of sites for the species in the UK.

Damselflies Delamere Forest

Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies


This is a dragonfly exuvia, i.e. the remains of the larval exoskeleton which it lived in whilst in the pond. When it's ready to emerge as an adult, the larva crawls out of the water and clings to waterside vegetation. After a while the exoskeleton splits at the back and the adult emerges, and when it's dried out, flies off leaving the exoskeleton behind. Notice how perfect it's legs and eyes are, and how it even has tiny wings. I've not had chance to positively identify this yet, but my guess is, it's a Four-spot Chaser.

Also today I had a fabulous flight view of a Downy Emerald at Shemmy Moss, but unfortunately it was very brief, and didn't land, so no photograph.