30 Days Wild - Day 13

  Yes, I know unbelievable a #30DaysWild blog on the correct day (just) ;)

Day 13    Coasting Around County Down

  I am staying at my partners Mum's house in Newry so we decided to head to the County Down coastline, starting in Dundrum about 40 minutes away.It's a great place to see Brent Geese in Winter but today they were replaced by 26 Mute Swans.
  Dundrum Bay

  Also dotted around the bay were a few Curlew, Herring Gulls, Little Egrets, Hooded Crows and 7 Grey Herons.

  Walking along I noticed a lethargic Tree Bumblebee in the road so carefully let it climb onto my finger and relocated it on a Dog Rose.

  On the way out there was a Male Bullfinch on the grass verge.I managed a quick pic from the car before it vanished into the hedgerow.

  We continued South down the coast a few minutes in the car and arrived at Murlough National Nature Reserve.A massive sand dune system known as a stronghold for Marsh Fritillary Butterflies and 250 species of Moth.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/murlough-national-nature-reserve

  The Dunes

  Unfortunately I didn't find any Fritillaries but there were plenty of Small Heath Butterflies instead.

  Four moth species were found, 3 Micros and this Yellowshell.
 along with a Drinker Moth Caterpillar on the path.

  Drinker Moth caterpillar.

  Hooded Crows patrolled the dunes

 
and the song of the Meadow Pipits drifted on the sea breeze.

  After returning to the car we had another short drive further South to the coastal town of Newcastle.It's a high street with a beach and mountains and one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland.

  We grabbed lunch, went in and out of a few charity shops and then headed to the small boating lake which is always good for some Gull action.

    Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were all in attendance.
  Black-headed Gull

  Herring Gull

  Lesser Black-backed Gull

  The Gull creche.

  The sun was starting to warm up so it was bath time for a Mallard and Hooded Crow.

  Another Grey Heron was doing its best to ignore the Gulls and concentrate on fishing until it gave up and moved away to the other end of the lake.

  We avoided the temptation of buying ice creams and walked back to the car along the promenade while deciding we still had time to move a bit inland and visit Silent Valley situated in the Mourne Mountains.

https://www.niwater.com/silent-valley/ 

  There are numerous trails to trek round varying from the lower Nature trail to the more adventurous steeper trails into the mountains.Of course I decided to do the "easy" nature trail along the Kilkeel River.It was a relaxing walk with the songs of Blackbirds, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits serenading us along the way.

Kilkeel River

  A Treecreeper, one of my favourite(non-bird of prey) bird flew from tree to tree trying to unearth bugs from beneath the bark.

  We finished the day by having a break at Sally Lough, a very peaceful place with just Mallards for company.

  It was time to head back to Newry on the coastal road through Rostrevor and Warrenpoint and it was in the latter that the real highlight of the day arrived.AS we drove through the town along the sea wall I saw a few birds bobbing on the water and screamed "stop the car, turn around!" Majella said "what!" and continued on before finding a place to turn and park up.

  I had seen three Black Guillemots in the sea.I got out the car and walked over the road to lean on the sea wall and try to get a photograph of these stunning sea birds.

  It was then I realised there were actually seven of them and incredibly a couple of them flew in and landed along the wall, ambled within a few feet of me and just sat down, unfazed by my presence.

  What a fantastic way to end our day out.What stunning birds :) 

  I am not sure what tomorrow will bring but I hope it will contain more "wild" encounters.

  

  Get out and get WILD!! :)

 

Beyond 30 Days Wild - Avenue Washlands Open Day

  Well the official 30 Days Wild with the Wildlife Trusts may be over but like many others we will continue to get out and try to do wild activities to keep our connection with Nature and to help my mind and body heal.
 
  On Saturday I was kindly invited by Stewart Abbott, a fellow Hen Harrier campaigner and a volunteer with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to attend their open day at Avenue Washlands Reserve near Chesterfield. This place was once one of the most polluted in Europe but with the help of EU funding and lots of hard work by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and its volunteers the area is now a fantastic reserve and haven for wildlife.
http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/the-avenue-washlands

  We had hoped to get there earlier than our 11.30am arrival time so unfortunately had missed the checking of the Mammal traps which produced Voles and Mice and also missed the amazing opportunity to see a Kingfisher up close as one was caught and ringed at the reserve.
  Stewart was out and about doing a guided walk when we arrived so we had a chat with his partner Lynne and checked out the stalls.Derbyshire Wildlife Trust(where we met Louise, another Hen Harrier hero), RSPB, Beekeepers Association had information stands and there was a chance to build a bug hotel or bird nest box.In the marquee you coudl buy plants or do the Tombola which among other things I won the Concise Moth Guide on :)
  We then headed out on to the reserve to have our first ever walk around Avenue Washlands.
A few views around Avenue Washlands.

People enjoying the Pond dipping despite the rain.

River Rother creates amazing suitable habitat for Water Voles.

  As you can see the July weather wasn't great but there were sunny intervals between the heavy rain showers.
  Canada Geese were relaxing among the Buttercups.

  Male Reed Bunting

  There were also quite a few Yellowhammers, Linnets, Swallows, Goldfinches, Greenfinch, Bullfinches, House Martins and a Kestrel. 21 species seen in the end during our walk.
  When the sun did come out between the dark clouds, insects took full advantage with the numerous wildflowers becoming a hive of activity.
  I was determined to find a Moth and finally found this Clouded Border hidden in a hedgerow along the Sidings.

 
  In the warmth of the sun Butterflies once again took to the wing.
Meadow brown

Speckled Wood

 Large Skipper

Ringlet

  With having to be up at 4.30am Sunday morning we were unable to stay for the Moth trapping later in the evening but had already had a good day at the reserve.
  Many thanks again to Stewart & Lynne and the rest of the staff and volunteers that made it a great day and had lots of adults and children engaging with wildlife.
  We will be back :)

30 Days Wild:Day 27 & 28 - Bye To The Kites & Beauty By The Roadside

                                               











  Two blogs for the price of one today as both are quite brief.
  Nothing was done on Day 27 as it mainly involved our 6hr journey back from Wales to Lincolnshire.The only photos I took were the Red Kites seeing us off in the gloomy morning at Gigrin Farm.

  So goodbye to another Welsh adventure and home to work and find Nature nearer to home.

  Beauty By The Roadside....

  We did hope to meet up with a friend at RSPB Bempton Cliffs this morning to see the Gannets and more Puffins.Unfortunately the toll of the 6hr journey yesterday meant another 3hr round trip today was pushing it a bit too far :( My friend did go and had a great time though :)

  Lucky me got to spend 10-15 minutes at the side of a busy road into town on a grass verge and a bit of waste ground ;)

Thankfully the local council saw sense on their recent grass cutting expedition and actually went around the areas of wildflowers on the grass verge near the roundabout.

  There were some strange looks from people driving by wondering why I had my head in the flowers lol

  On the opposite side of the road from here is a larger area of waste ground filled with Thistles, Poppies, Ragwort and other assorted plants, all next to a Morrisons and retail park.

  Due to the drizzly weather there were not as many insects about as I'd hoped for but we did see Large Skippers.....

...and Ringlets.

  I was happy enough to get to spend 15 minutes wandering through the unexpected meadow to calm myself before the hassle of grocery shopping lol

 I am hoping to be out more tomorrow despite the weather forecast predicting heavy rain all day.
#Itsjustwater ;)