Saturday 14 February

We walked up to the Lower Burgh this morning - I have not been up for ages it's too depressing, it has been mowed flat as a bowling green apart from a small patch of reed bed, there are no hiding places for wild life, it's desolate and totally uninteresting, I hope that the mower stays away for the next year to allow some recovery, I doubt it though as it reminds me of the strimming of undergrowth once the machine is running they can't stop and you have a bald patch which takes ages to grow back.

Planted by a memorial bench Dutch Crocus - Crocus x stellaris

 Late this year but finally found one in flower, Lesser Celandine  - Ficaria verna

This is the large Goat Willow - Salix caprea that glistens in the sunshine when in flower, it will stand out this year as there is nothing else to look at.

 There are plenty of Gorse - Ulex europaeus shrubs on the Lower Burgh

Plenty of  Snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis open now, most have been planted but we still see the odd group in odd places, found two small groups in a hedgerow this morning.

Take Care

Sunday 25 January

Damp again

Dry Bones pit shaft

Some of the remains at Dry Bones Cottage

Looking toward the River Yarrow this path leads to the area known as the Horseshoe of the Yarrow.

Red Campion - Silene dioica empty seed heads

 Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

 Wood Sage - Teucrium scorodonia empty seed heads

Wood Mouse very scared, it was soon running the other way, I love the big eyes and ears.

Take Care

Tuesday 20 Jaunary

Freezing again

 Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis they seem to thrive isn't nature wonderful

 Seagulls on the ice

Swan walking on the ice

 The dark new juvenile swan

 Poor Micky stuck on the ice - he and another we call Griff were dumped on the lodge a while ago - they have been pets and then lost their cuteness, why do people keep doing this buying tiny adorable, fluffy animals and then dumped them when they grow.

Big Lodge

Take Care

Friday 16 January

We set off and thought it was going to be one of those mornings, temperature was above freezing, the wind was still a nuisance.

 We had two new swans on the lodge - the Adult we think is the one from Common Bank but it has picked up the very dark juvenile our own juvenile was hanging about with them, our resident swans are busy on the top lodge at the moment but I am sure these two will be gone as soon as Billy Swan returns.

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis just peeping through - I am showing these as within minutes of taking the photo it was covered by hailstone, we were all trying to get some cover even the dogs as they were stinging as they hit.

 Within minutes they had covered the paths, they also created large floating patches on the lodge looked like foam.

It was a complete transformation

 

Some were quite large and stung as they came down.

Take Care

Friday 28 February

Looks like it is becoming the norm - splitting the photos over a few days.

Frosty morning

Toots doing her best to keep the ball from the boys.

Dandelion in flower

Oil Seed Rape on the new building site - they have been bringing soil in

Crocus 

Snowdrops out everywhere

Take Care

Wednesday 22 January

Damp & mild really bringing out the fungi

 Candlesnuff

 Firethorn - Pyracantha coccinea

 Jelly Ear

 Opposite Leaved Golden-Saxifrage - Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Remains of Scaly Earthball - Scleroderma verrucosum

 Scurfy Twiglet - Tubaria furfuracea

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Take Care

Sunday 3 March

Above freezing again.

 Canada Geese

 Hazel - Corylus avellana

 We think this is one of last years young - Great Crested Grebe

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Take Care

Sunday 10 February

Raining this morning.

 An old nest - I thought perhaps a Blackbird as it is really close to the ground

 as you can see I am stood well above it.

 King Alfred's Cakes 

or Cramp Balls they are known by both names.

Snowdrops well in flower 

Take Care

Saturday 2 February

Freezing again this morning, all the birds water out back had frozen.

 Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis on Primrose Hill near the site of the old cottages, probably in one of the gardens but have spread making a very large patch.

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Greylag Goose on Big Lodge among the Canada Geese.

Take Care.