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.
