Kirkconnell to Mersehead

Tuesday 6th July 2010

Reluctant to leave a bathroom with a collection of Far Side books. Have always thought that Gary Larson was brilliant and for many years he has been my favourite cartoonist. 'How do snakes say goodbye?' ofr instance.

Still on the road early and soon at Kirkconnell National Nature Reserve where I met the warden, Nick Gedge.

Walked to the peat bog/ heathland where the most amazing area of cotton grass greeted me. Masses of it with pieces of seed floating away in the wind to be caught on the nearby trees and bushes.

A spot of elevenses, including a marmite sandwich that is supposed to keep the mozzies away. Something to do with the B12 vitamin it contains. Found a common lizard that allowed a close approach for a photo.

On the bike again and found the Kirkconnell RSPB reserve. No signs anywhere but a local told of fields belonging to the RSPB and the saltmarsh edge down to some very large container tanks along the river was also part of this reserve. Low tide and very few birds. A couple of goosander on the river, a few curlew and oystercatcher on the mud, common spotted orchids along the long tarmac track.

Cloudy and a moderately strong SW wind in my face, rain started falling as I reached Sweetheart Abbey. A superb ruin with the feel of Tintern Abbey, I showed my English Heritage card and looked around in the rain. Thanks to the curator, Moira for the donation.

Next Mersehead. .......

Caerlaverock to Dumfries

5th July Monday 2010.

Brilliant, polite and fun-filled boys came to Caerlaverock to take part in a morning of fun activities centred around birds. Mike, the warden joined in and at one moment some of the wonderful lady staff joined us all to sing the song - 3 Rs - It's a Magic Number!

An albatross on the floor was ceeated using the boys as wings and Mike as the body. demonstrated the wingspan of this magnificent bird whose numbers are dwindling.

Outside to pond dip and points for each creature caught.

Final scores were totted up and the winner with 129 points was ----- OWEN.

Massive thanks to both Nathan and Owen for coming along and also to Mike Youdale, Pam Mundy, Rosy Rutherford and Peter Williams.

So the end of a fabulous visit to the wonderful WWT Centre at Caerlaverock. Thanks to one and all. Must go again when the barnacles are there in the winter.

After a short visit to Dumfries centre, met Sally Hichcliffe and followed her to her cottage in the middle of nowhere; stopping by Routin Bridge and findng a well concealed spotted flycatcher nest with 4 young. Chatted with Margaret and Billy, a couple who had also stopped there to adrmire the waterfalls.

Once at Sally's house met her partner, Paul, and went to their garden pond/lake where blue-tailed, azure and emerald damselflies were in residence.

Sally is the author of a novel, OUT OF A CLEAR SKY; the story of a birdwatching girl who is stalked by someone apertaining to be the same.

Indeed at the moment I look forward to morning rain so that I have the excuse to stay in my tent and read it.

http://sallyhinchcliffe.wordpress.com/

Read the reviews on Amazon, following this link and you'll see why I don't want to put it down.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0330453211?ie=UTF8&tag=towmou-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0330453211

It was so kind of Sally and Paul to put me up for the night and their company was much appreciated.

A Rest and boy do I need it.

First let me say thank you to a number of people  met on my last phase [and I never forget a phase] around North Wales and the North West.

In no particular order because my notebook with names disintegrated,:-

My very sincere thanks go to these people for maybe donating to one of the charities I am supporting or just for a lovely meeting and chat - or both and more.

Mark and Jo from Sheffield. [ see their blog http://ofpiesandbirds.blogspot.com/ ] Brilliant couple!

The 3 lads at the pub in Rufford - Jason, Ben and Dave. Great lads and all the best to you. Thanks for the kind offer - I had a sandwich from the Co-op further down the road!

Sarah Lapsley - triathlon athlete met at Christ Church, Southport, lovely lady who, unlike me, looked super fit and Louise from St Helens, a kind older lady also met there. In fact this was the church where I first got married almost 30 years ago. Let's say it was a spiritual return and maybe a plea for forgiveness to all involved in that marriage.

All the above gave cash donations for Asthma UK and this has been given to Asthma UK through my Just Givng site.  http://www.justgiving.com/bikingbirder2010asthmauk
 
John White [thanks so much for donating to the RSPB, the WWT and Asthma UK] and Nathan and Jan.

Ted Preece and Michael Davenport who I met at the fabulous Inner Marsh Farm RSPB reserve.

To Caerlaverock WWT Reserve, Dumfrieshire

After goodbyes and last photos, including a pretty poor photo of a close short-eared owl left to cycle to Caerlaverock.

Geltsdale was photographed in order to see the changes that 110,000 trees planted in the last couple of years will incur. What with Haweswater and Dave the warden there's tree planting and the number of trees planted here; one can see the commitment to preventing climate change by the RSPB. How many trees they must be planting overall. I'd be interested to know.

Wind! Through Gretna and over the border and immeadiately the west wind was stronger and in my face. I HATE WIND. Rain no problem; waterproofs on and on I go but wind, now that's painful and this was strong and uncomfortable.

Stopped at Ruthwell Cross; the cross eventually found inside the church. A superb medieval cross from the 8th century.

http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/ruthwellcross.html

Reached Caerlaverock to be told that I was a day early. Still after a natter with the lovely staff was shown the farmhouse and what a shock. Not the small volunteers accomodation I'd expected but instead a plush 4 star, almost B & B feel to the place with a huge lounge and large conservatory looking over a large scrape. Luxury!

Here I must say thank you to Peter for the donation and to Jane and Brian for the fabulously friendly welcome. Thanks!

Only 2 other people were staying [hello Ann and Abigail!] and once a kettle was found it was comfort indeed. An early evening walk around the reserve then tea and roe deer from the tower; followed by a fox searching for eggs on the close by islands. A colour ringed black tailed godwit close by, as was a common sandpiper and at half past midnight, a badger coming to the peanuts and honey put out for it. Brillaint place and at £30 a night, well wortyh it. Got to come here in the winter when the barnacles are here in big numbers.

In the morning, a really wild morning with heavy rain and terrific strong winds, a walk around the reserve was exciting for wondering whether a tree would crash upon me. Not many birds braving the weather but another close roe deer by a hide.

Met up with Mike, the reserve, now I've got to be careful here because although I'd call him a warden, that is not his title.

He was taking a group of people over the reserve meadows and I tagged along.

The highlight was a roe deer fawn at our feet. Saw the pool where the famous tadpole shrimp may be found; an ancient specie older than dinosaurs that looks like a small horseshoe crab and which is found here at one of its only sites in Britain.

Another relaxing evening with a badger coming to the food earlier than the previous night; 10.00pm in fact.

Right time up again.

Thanks to everyone. Now at castle Douglas having been to Kirkconnell and Mersehead RSPB reserves.

All the best

Gary

A Lovely day with My Daughter - Rebecca

Thursday 1st July 2010

Arrived at Carlisle and met my fabulous daughter, Rebecca, who'd caught a train very early from Hartlepool, for a great day together.

Breakfast and a pair of flip flops [for her!] and then to Carlisle Castle. High road and low road explanations in the dungeon; 30 hung drawn and quartered many years ago.

Shrek Forever After in the afternoon and a real surprise. The 'real' Shrek is back with plenty of heart and soul. I loved Shrek 1, which some may think is sad for a 50 year old plus. Still I didn't feel the same about Shrek 2 and didn't bother with Shrek 3. This Shrek though was back to the first with Shrek's fatherhood issues being close to my own heart. Lovely to share this film with 'Rebs'.

A meal in a pub and then she was gone; taking the long train home via Newcastle. Long that is in time not length.

Cycled to Geltsdale to be met by the wonderful Jen; taken to a small cottage where they were kindly putting me up for the night and met Lee dark there, a monitoring member of RSPB staff. We had just a few things in common and despite the promise of a year tick, namely a short-eared owl, the walk eventually taken rather late only gave us one bird - a buzzard. Come to Geltsdale and see 1 bird. maybe the rumours were correct.

Friday 2nd July

Up early and out to walk the same way as the previous evening. Short-eared owl withing 5 minutes [208 year list] So there are birds here. Male ring ouzel, a pair of whinchat with young, stonechat likewise, plenty of birds and good ones too.

Back to the cottage and a walk down to the offices to meet other RSPB staff. A ride to see merlin, a new moth - wood tiger and orchids; greater butterfly and fragrant. Brilliant people, a lovely friendly group - Steve, Belinda, Jen and Lee.

An afternoon with a computer and then an interview for BBC Radio Dumfries and Galloway. More walks in a very strong SW wind and then an evening of football. Set up the moth trap and bed.

Saturday 3rd July

Moths included elephant and poplar hawkmoth, garden tiger and a lot of silver ground carpets. Better ones to me were antler moth and flames carpet.

antler moth

flamed carpet

Haweswater and The Golden Eagle

Well I was going to arrive at the reserve at midday but thanks to meeting so many fabulous people, I actually arrived at about 5.30pm.

Had met a lovely couple, Iver and Wendy, whose passion was trail hounds. Indeed their four dogs had won internationals as well as national and local events.

Then met up with Stuart from Woking who with 4 of his friends were cycling from Land's End to John O' Groats to raise money for CHASE. I didn't get their email address but I'll put a link for their website/blog once I've found it. [Get in touch lads if you see this]

The Steve, a cyclist from Hoy on the Orkneys on hsi way to Essex. Photos and a bap with the CHASE lads at Shap.

Finally a couple from Perth Australia who chatted about seabirds.

Oh dear time up!!!

Friends - Scarfell to Campfield RSPB Reserve

So Scarfell was climbed, well walked up and St Bees was almost reached before camping up for the night.

Next day, the 27th of June, Sunday. Sincere thanks to the girls at the lighthouse atop the cliffs for the tea and mobile recharge. Met at the RSPB viewpoint of the guillemot colony there by friends from Upton Warren; my patch in Worcestershire. Fabulous to see them.

Hundreds of guillemot here, small number of razorbills and 1 puffin. Also some lovely people too:-

Cycled to Whitehaven and got in at the Catholic Men's Society Club on the outskirts to watch the worst England World Cup match and then the Red Arrows. Which did I prefer - not hard really to guess is it?

Phoned a friend from over 28 years ago on the off chance that she and her spouse would be in. paul answered and an hour later sat in the sitting room, chatting as though 28 years was only a couple of weeks ago. Pauline was a fabulous friend when I was at college at Chester. Paul is her husband and what a thrill to see them both together. I can't think of any other couple from that time who are still together. Brilliant.

Monday 28th June

Pauline off to an inspection at her school, Paul off to work and me a cycle to some well known supermarket, after blogging update in Workington.

Was cycling with the wind at my back towards Maryport when I decided to head inland to the Osprey viewpoint at Bassenthwaite. Into the wind and a couple of hours later, 4.30pm, found the cafe there but the viewpoint closed and rain starting. Apple and blackcurrant crumble with a small amount of custard then camped about a mile away.

Tuesday 29th June

Osprey pair seen and osprey chicks likewise. Fabulous people at the viewpoints met and all round great time had.



Cycled to Campfield in the afternoon and met the site manager Norman. Spent the evening walking to the high spot that looks over the reserve, Rogersceugh, seeing quite a few large heath butterflies on the way. Barn owl and 2 roe deer on the return trip to the tent.

Sorry about the lack of detail but my notebook is back at the volunteers house whilst I am currently using the computer in the office at geltsdale RSPB reserve.

Up early on the 30th of June at Campfield and saw 51 bird species before breakfast, including tree sparrows to wake me up, 27 golden plover most with some summer plumage feathers on the beach and a grasshopper warbler reeling some way along the same.

Slept in the hide for a couple of hours due to the early start and the heat; waking to find hazy sunshine caused by some thin cloud cover. Rest of the day spent walking around the reserve, along the long broadwalks finding butterflies and dragonflies including a male emperor and a lot of four-spot libs and more large heath. A cuckoo flew close giving the best views I've had of one this year and then I found 21 lesser butterfly orchids afetr thinking I'd found a quail. The string was averted by a female pheasant leaping out in front of me 10 metres further down the path.

Two lovely people met on returning to the tent; John and Judith, and a very intense Led Zeppelin fan, Dave.

Right, now to watch my favourite Zep track on Youtube - Dazed and Confused. Seems apt. Tired out after a fabulous day at Geltsdale RSPB reserve, Cumbria.

More later.

All the best everyone,

Gary