Abbey Village

Braving the intense sun (and wind) around Abbey Village. Quite warm in the sun but chilly in the shade. Reservoirs looking quite low.

Abbey Village elevation

Abbey Village route

Photos..

Jubilee Tower under a big sky

Jubilee Tower

View of Darwen from Darwen Hill

Roadside Rabbit

Speckled Wood Butterfly

Helsby Hill

The sun is blazing hot so a walk round Helsby Hill, which is mostly under cover in forests. Lovely and cool.

Helsby Hill elevation

Helsby Hill route

Fields and trees

Hazy hills behind wildflower meadow

Flowers

Shadowy woods leading out to the sun

Gill and cows

Flowers

View from war memorial

Sandstone

Lush trees in the sun

Helsby Hill

View from Helsby Hill

Skulking rabbit

Buzzard being bothered by Crow

Buzzard

John looking out at north Wales

Ardnave

Our first visit to Ardnave and Ardnave Point, just up the road from the Gruinart RSPB reserve.

Ardnave

The weather had flipped from cloudless blue skies and blazing sun to thick, grey cloud. Saw a Hen Harrier many times along the way, but always too far away (or frustratingly just behind a slightly too tall wall).

We tried to see the Corncrake near the RSPB visitor centre but still couldn't find it. No problem seeing or hearing the noisy Sedge Warbler, though.

Sedge Warbler

 Ardnave Point itself is a reasonably long walk along farm tracks and grassy fields, quite sandy in places.

Young Rabbit

I went for a wander down to the shore on the east side, quite a long way out while Gill waited and watched some Rabbits. There were Seals, Sand Martins, Shelduck and possibly more but everything's a long way out.

Gill waiting patiently

We settled down by a rocky shore looking over to Nave Island. There were hundreds of Grey Seals snoozing on the beaches and rocks opposite but too far away to photograph. Lots of Divers flying back and forth.

Great Northern Diver

Grey Seal

Near the farm buildings a Corncrake was calling away. We spent ages trying to spot it and finally saw it, once, as it fluttered from one patch of long grass to another. Meanwhile a Chough perched behind us.

Chough

Juvenile Barn Swallow

Meadow Pipit

Twite

While wandering around the dunes a male Hen Harrier sailed past out of nowhere. It hung around just long enough to get some rough shots.

Male Hen Harrier

Male Hen Harrier

A lot of Ringer Plover and Dunlin were resting on the rocks.

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Flock of Dunlin on the beach

Flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover snoozing on the rocks

Ringed Plover

Greylag Goose

One of the many cows grazing had what looked like a complete set of mismatched white socks.

"Socks" the Cow

Meadow Pipit

Information at the car park

Bands of rock next the beach and sea

Dunham Massey

A stroll around the grounds of Dunham Massey.

Dunham Massey route

Lots of rabbits near the visitor centre.

Rabbit near the fountain

In an open patch of grass a Fallow Deer was resting but being plagued by the flies.

Fallow Deer

Jackdaws to the rescue! They were running up and down the deer, snatching flies out the air and pecking things out of their fur. A complete top to toe inspection, with barely a flicker of an eyelid from the deer.

Jackdaw using Fallow Deer as insect bait

The Jackdaw Twins up to no good

A convenient support for...

...launching against flies

Deer doesn't care

A mobile perch

Grey Heron gathering twigs

Wet log with moss and lichens