Bulkeley Hill

A walk up Bulkeley Hill and the surrounding countryside. Very muddy after rain during the week, particularly across some of the fields. Very different from when we came last year during the summer; hedgerows previously full of flowers and insects were barren with only dry stems left. The day was rounded off by some well preserved plate fungi.

Lonely Tree

Remains of the harvest

Fungus on a tree stump

Plate fungus

Plate Fungi

Plate Fungus (or UFO)

Loch Gruinart

A windy and variable day out at Loch Gruinart. Quite a long drive along back roads but not many cooperative birds along the way. On arrival we soon made up for this with more Willow Warblers than I've seen before in one place.

Male House Sparrow

Oystercatcher

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Starling piloting a sheep

The one hide overlooking the Loch was reasonably popular, with humans and grey herons.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Later a family of Lapwing fledglings made their way past the front of the hide (almost too close to get).

Fledgling Lapwing

Fledgling Lapwing

Blackbird

Greenfinch on gorse

Greenfinch on gorse

Wren

After failing to get a good shot of the above wren we were having a short break on a wooded path when a brown hare started nibbling grass at the bottom of the path. It warily made its way up the path towards us, stopping occasionally, not really sure what we were (as we were in full camouflage gear). It got quite close before deciding we weren't worth the risk and ran back down and away again. I was standing and would have preferred a lower viewpoint but I didn't dare move in case I frightened it off.

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

More Willows on the way back. The path near the visitor centre was full of them.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Goldfinch

Breezy House Sparrow

Rookery (sans Rooks)

Rainbow over Loch Indaal

Fungus

Beeston Castle

A long walk through the countryside around Beeston Castle.
Great abundance of fungi in the forests, including a bizarre outcropping from under a fallen tree.

Fungus

Fungus

Fungus

Fungus

Shaggy Inkcap

Fungus

Fungus

Delamere Forest

A reconnaissance trip to Delamere Forest. Not much about and very dismal weather. No shortage of dogs, though.

Fungus

Robin