Sunday 4 April

Lovely dry morning, we were on our own again.

Headed up through Spring Wood

Look at the balsam seedlings, there are more than ever this year.

Bashing does not work if it's left too late, needs to be done before they reach 18 inches tall.

Once they get beyond that I believe bashing does more harm than good.

Sycamore always one of the first to green up.

Silver Birch Catkin.

This had me fooled - I saw it from across the gully, we made our way to it and yes it's forsythia and no it's not growing yet, it is a cutting it may root we left it to mother nature.

We think these are Pheasant feathers - possible fox kill not a lot left.

I brought a piece of this bitter-cress home to check if it was wavy or hairy, this photo is magnified 60 times.

I opened the flower up to see the stamens only 4 so it's Hairy Bitter-cress - this photo is 10 times magnification.

Take Care.

Wednesday 24 March

Mild & a bit of rain in the air, we met up with Sue and the tribe on Primrose Hill.

Guess who is 2 today

It's Billy the baby of our group.

Happy Birthday Billy.

Beech Bud

Daffodils in Burgh Wood - these were planted a few years ago.

We are finding Mallards all over the woods - if we looked around we would probably find some eggs.

Lesser Celandine on Sunny Brow.

Meg - can't you hear her saying "what I have not done anything yet".

Teddy the handsome lad of our group.

Take Care.

Thursday 21 January

Temperature just above freezing but it felt colder - the wind had a bite to it.

Five of us this morning with eight dogs, it was a chatty walk, it's amazing what crops up for conversation, today it was the beast of Buckshaw and wallabies. A strange animal has been spotted around Buckshaw Village - if you google buckshaw beast you can see the article in the Daily Mail. I will let you decide what you think it is, I could not begin to guess.

As for the wallabies they are not a figment of mine and Sue's imagination - some one actually kept them in Horwich, I wonder if they are still there?

We could do with seeing some of the local wildlife, they are keeping a low profile at the moment.

Blackbird on the sluice table.

Swans coming in for a landing on the still frozen lodge.

Dipper waiting for a meal.

Honeysuckle bud burst, some plant/tree recorders collect this information I photograph it if I see it, can be interesting to look back and see if it's earlier or later than previous years.

Meg is at the vet's again for a repeat blood test on the Bromide, hope we get a reading this time, at least the liver is back to normal and she is back to her old self.

Take Care.

Monday 18 January

The snow & ice are almost gone, just parts of the paths still have patches left.

On our own today did not see a soul till we got back to the lodges.

Looking back to Primrose Hill Gate.

This is where we feed Charlie, plus all the others that are waiting for us to move on.

They sit in the trees waiting like this Great Tit.

Charlie 2 almost coming to greet me.

After the frost comes the new birth, these are male silver birch catkin.

Oak Buds

Oak Marble Galls - these seem to have weathered better than the ones in the next photo.

Bracken, looks like something has been keeping warm here, possibly deer, maybe a fox.

This is an old stump near the slippery log the moss has almost covered it.

Unmistakable Ash Buds - a fascinating tree the Ash well worth reading up on.

Beech Buds

Red Clover Leaves

A few Wood Sorrel Leaves

Meg found some Fox muck - why do dogs love rolling in it? It was all down her back mucky pup.

She is laughing at me - don't I smell lovely, we got back to the river and yes she had a swim got most of it off and then a quick bath at home.

Take Care