Friday 15 May

Good morning for our walk

 Bush Vetch - Vicia sepium

 Clematis

 Field Forget Me Not - Myosotis arvensis

 Germander Speedwell - Veronica chamaedrys

 Star Magnolia - Magnolia stellata

Swan Family

Take Care

Friday 6 March

Mild morning, we enjoyed our walk

The common bank swan came back again trying to persuade our youngster to go with it, seems like a love match
 

They were together most of the day

Crow marching about

Charlie Robin

Take Care

Tuesday 3 March

A beautiful chilly morning, we hardly noticed the cold as the sun was lighting & warming the valley, birds of all description were out singing and preparing for the promise of spring and new life.

 Even Billy & Edwina Swan 

 This was soon followed by a relentless pursuit of the youngster

 The River Yarrow from the middle bridge

One of the many paths on the rucks, I am sure if this was ever dug all you would uncover would be the slag & spoils from the pits.

Rucks path

Take Care

Saturday 28 February

Cold but we stayed dry

Billy Swan came out of the water after food even though I'd fed them earlier.

 

He sulked and went back in the water when I put the food away.

 

 Happy gang of dogs on Primrose Hill Field

 Little Gromit with the ball

I took this out of Meg's paw, she must have picked it up while I was among the undergrowth looking for new growth, it's from the Hawthorn.

Take Care

Saturday 24 January

Mild & Damp

Robin waiting for us

Sunny Brow

Big Lodge

Big Lodge

Top Lodge

Lodge Path

Male Tufted Duck

Female Tufted duck

Mallards

Lodge Path

Swans still on patrol

 To the left is the Lodge path up the hill to the lower burgh

Take Care

Friday 23 January

Still freezing

The resident Swans are still trying to remove the off comer swans, the ice is making it difficult for them to get about, they mean business though.

 They are determined to see it off

 They are beautiful when they are angry

Even their own youngster has been given the warning signs

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

Thursday 15 January

Above freezing this morning

The dogs are wanting to go as we had just been chatting to fellow walkers, at least we can walk without slipping, this side of the lodge is bad when icy.

Swans are now preparing for the new life, last years youngster has been left to make their way in the world.

Looking toward Sunny Brow Bridge from the river side

Take Care