An overcast August Bank holiday trip to RSPB Leighton Moss. Highlight was the purple heron.
Bullfinch juv
Marsh tit
Coal tit
Chaffinch
Pheasant
Dunnock
Robin
Nuthatch
Magpie
Mallards ecl
Mute Swan
Grey heron
Purple heron
Coot
Marsh harrier
Little grebe
Lapwing
Sand Martin
Long tailed tits
Greenfinch
Black tailed godwit
Gadwall
Moorhen
Otter
Greenshank?
Redshank
Teal
Peregrine
Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 550m
Weather: overcast
Cormorants, geese, wren, chaffinch
This mornings trip on the steamer wasn't quite as sunny, but we found a sheltered spot on the front deck.
The path leads away from Pooley Bridge from the corner by the bridge, through the woodland along the lakeshore.
The convenient new path avoids the roads, next to fields and woodland.
Thankfully it wasn't quite as wet as last year, but there were a few patches that were quite mudsome in a cow-y kind of way. And some patches that were muddy in a boggy kind of way. And some that were muddy in a slippy forest path kind of way.
The heather was out in full purple over Gowbarrow Fell. We saw a couple of big flies, but weren't inundated.
Aira Falls was exceedingly busy but we found a free bench to stop for lunch, then walked around the wooded shore path back to Glenridding and Patterdale.
Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 550m
Weather: sunny intervals, warm
Cormorants, ducks, stonechats, robin, housemartins. Buzzards, ravens.
We caught the first steamer to Pooley Bridge at 9.45, the walk to the jetty the sunniest part of the morning.
We took the path up to the hills above the town, turning along the high path passing the stone circle. Along here many walkers headed up onto the higher hills, although not all.
Lunch was had on a bench just beyond Howtown, it was a fine bench and much admired.
The sun came out and it was warmer later on. My knee decided eight miles in was about the time to start hurting. We had a sit on a rock overlooking the lake, where many people were out boating and adventuring - some not so keen.
We rounded off the walk with a couple of beers in the hotel beer garden.
Warm and sunny day at Moore Nature Reserve near Warrington.
Distance walked 6 miles
Tips for a better day out: charge camera beforehand and don't lock the car keys in the boot.
Tufty ducks
Grey heron
Mallard
Ringlet butterfly
Moorhen and babies
Coot
Orange dragonfly
Great crested grebe and stripy juvenile
Greylag geese
Canada geese
Little ringed plovers
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Pied wagtail
Sand Martin
Little grebe
Black headed gull
Wren
Magpie
Sedge Warbler
Greater spotted woodpecker
Kingfisher
Mute Swan
Squirrel
Bunny
Stoat
Willow warbler
Distance: 13.5 miles
Ascent: 20m ish
Weather: hot
Egyptian geese, mute swans, cormorants, blue butterflies, greylag, marsh harrier, kestrel, green veined white butterfly, little egret, shelducks and babies, godwit, black-backed gulls
The Travelodge didn't serve breakfast, so we bought it at the M&S food and coffee shop at the garage opposite. We took our coffee to a bench in woods on the way back to join the Weavers' Way path, and were visited by a friendly puppy.
Out from under the trees, it was hot. The walk took us out of town south through the reedbed of Damgate Marshes. We saw a kestrel, marsh harrier, flappy grey heron and there were lots of sedge warblers.
Entering a meadow cow field, it was important to remember to avoid the very flat green surfaces, as the ponds and drainage ditches had smooth green scummy tops. It was hot.
A lane lead out to the Halvergate, we stopped briefly to look at oystercatcher and lapwing in the field, and my shoes started sinking into the road. Did I mention it was hot?
Out onto the broads, dry grassy paths led to Mutton's Drainage Mill and around the ditches. A couple coming the other way warned us to beware of the dangerous cows as they'd been chased. Said cows were slightly nervous but not aggressive, which was good for a few reasons - I didn't really want to run carrying a big bag, there was nowhere to run to and it was sooo hot.
As well as cows, there were lots of butterflies and a hare. We crossed the railway line at Berney Arms Station (which is a bit lacking in stationnicity) and then onto the riverside by Berney Arms windmill. The Berney Arms itself is a pub by the river. It was closed.
We walked along the banks of the Berney Arms Reach and passed Berney Marsh, to reach the River Yare. The tide was in and the water level high so there was no mud flats today.
It clouded over slightly around lunchtime and there was a breeze off the water, so it was less hot here, which was a relief. The route leads into Great Yarmouth along the northern side of the river, sections of path rather overgrown with grass and thistles, which is good for the butterflies and ladybirds but not so good for my legs which have come out in a delightful rash.
Towards civilisation, there was a busy road with cars and buses, and the railway line, slightly at odds with the sight of a sailing boat gliding by. We passed a holiday park where the fun never stops... If it ever starts, although they do have a laundrette which is quite appealing right now.
Around the end of the river, we were under the bridge and into town (cue broken glass and graffiti) and Asda car park. We walked to the seafront by a slightly circuitous route, to complete the bit of the Angle's Way we'd missed two weeks ago, then thorough the main street to the promenade and our hotel.
We've had a lovely dinner (including surprise snails) and been to the arcade, where I failed to win a Pokémon in the 2p slots but we didn't get seagull'd so I'm calling it a win.
Distance: 20.6 miles
Ascent: 20m
Weather: cloudy start, warm and sunny
Solid looking grey bird that we decided was a cuckoo
Little grebe
Bearded tit?? No :(
We were away before 9am, it is cooler today, cloudy with blue sky in the east.
Looking at the map, today promised to be more interesting with quite a few points of interest, but we had to get there first.
There was road, and then road. A dilapidated windmill and a tree tunnel through a hedge full of spiders' webs that was quite horrible, then some road. The biggest, pinkest thatched cottage I've ever seen, then some more road. We walked by the entrance to the nature reserve but there are no paths through it so we didn't go in and we saw the edge of Hickling Broad. From the road I saw brief glimpses of a kestrel, a buzzard, a squirrel, a small mammal scurrying across the road and a flat bunny that hadn't scurried fast enough.
After nearly 8 miles, we came on to a lane that was at least signed as a no through road so there was less traffic to worry about and I started to relax. Nearly got squished by a tractor.
Very soon after we were on to the nature reserve, welcomed enthusiastically by Mr Squirrel.
There were some creamy yellow and black big butterflies that were possibly swallowtails (tbc). Lots of sedge warblers, reed buntings, a cuckoo, great crested grebe and a goosander. Tufty ducks, avocets, a grey heron, little egrets and a sparrowhawk with its dinner.
We got caught up in some birding excitement, while watching a crow on a post being flapped at ineffectually by an avocet, a very enthusiastic lady (who was talking rapidly on the phone) asked us if we were looking for the black winged stilts. We hadn't been, but we were now. I didn't even know there were birds called stilts. They are rare and we've seen them.
We also saw a crane.
The Thurne Riverside is a strange rivery suburb with chalets, huts and a pretend windmill, where people paint fences and sit and read the paper.
Higham Bridge is an old medieval stone bridge, still used by normal traffic, bunches boatyard, where we had lunch and an ice cream, watching the swans, greylag and Egyptian geese and ducks.
There were lots of boats going up and down the river of various shapes and sizes, from tiny dayboats to bigger yachts driven by a groups of loud, can swilling gents.
The sailing boats in sail glided quietly and elegantly by, compared to the chugging of the engines, however it probably takes more skill. We ended our day in Acle, trying to cross a busy roundabout at rush hour, then went for a fantastic tapas dinner.
Distance: 16 miles
Ascent: 20m ha ha
Weather: hot
Bunny, squirrel, bees, butterflies, mute swans, buzzard, midges
A warm night, including a moment of panic when Rob thought he might have left his trousers behind at the last hotel. He hadn't.
We retraced our steps out of Aylsham via the church yard and lanes. Then we were onto the disused railway line that was our route for most of the day. We crossed the River Carr, seeing two fish. Fish!
It was hot and sunny, with a light breeze, pleasant in the shade. The buzzing of the bees on the brambles was quite loud, and it was a good day for butterflies. They don't stay still enough to get a good look, but I'm pretty sure there were small tortoiseshell, gatekeepers, small copper, small skipper, peacock, painted lady and speckled wood.
North of Worstead we met some woolly sheep, which looked like cotswold sheep and some balwens.
Crossing a road, there was a sign by the side of the road saying 11 miles from Cromer - we've walked 28...
Lunch was had at bench looking over some nettles at cows in a meadow, while a buzzard looked at the cows and we looked at some small birds, chaffinch, goldfinch and long-tailed tits. Along the way we also saw green yellow stripy dragonflies and some red spiky flowers that could have been willowherb, could have been nightshade.
We met chap on a bicycle with a splendid beard, he could have got at least three kittens in that one, and then were passed by a chap on an electric bike smoking a cigarette, which is cheating. There was also a house called Kia-Ora, which is dedication.
