Darden Off

A planned wander to Darden Lough was cancelled when we arrived at our parking spot. A nice enough morning but a strong breeze put us off the longer stroll to higher ground. We ended up wandering around Grasslees Burn area just a couple of fields in from where we parked up. An excellent area, small but typical upland Alder lined stream.

Grasslees Burn

A Curlew was bubbling over us as we walked in and a pair of Lapwing were unimpressed and agitated, perhaps they had some newly hatched chicks on the ground.

We didn't take long to locate a fabulous singing male Redstart, we sat, watched and waited, trying to get a photograph. Stewart got some really good pictures so it was worth the patience, and, its just nice to watch and enjoy, and listen and spend the time.

Also in this area we had singing Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Cuckoo, Goosander and Treecreeper. Wandering back to the car I decided to roll around in sheep droppings photographing a small Dandelion, wondering what species of Dandelion it could be or possibly one of the Hawkbits, a very small spiky flower and small slender leaves.... sometimes I don't know what gets into me

Un I'd Dandy

This, as first calls often do, sharpened out apetite. Back into Rothbury to stock up on calories and then to Holystone and Yardhope Oaks.

Track down to Yardhope Oaks

This is a great area, easy to access and good to just wander around. Singing male Pied Flycatcher was virtually our first bird, watched and easily viewed as the trees in this area are not leafed up just yet. These are fabulous birds and put on a real show for us.

Track of the day, faint and soft, through the Oak and Birch woodland

Redstart, Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Buzzard, Willow Warbler, Redpoll also seen, and heard. Spotted Flycatcher and Tawny Owl seen by Stewart but I missed out there. A great few hours though.

A female Crossbill flew up from the track as we wandered back to the car.

Back to Alnwick, we stopped at a couple of sites hoping for some butterflies to end our day on but it really wasn't the weather. 

Lion Bridge, viewed from meadow below

The Pastures area between the Lion Bridge and the Denwick Bridge in Alnwick is an area I have spent a little time in this week. Orange Tip butterflies are just fabulous and during periods of warm sunshine it has been fabulous watching the males patrolling their territories, they are never still. 

Red Campion and White Dead Nettle

I just had to, bottoms up...

I have been trying desperately to get some photographs of Orange Tips for a good blog post but no luck as yet. 

I'll keep trying... its really quite enjoyable and I cant recommend it highly enough...