Brockholes 29th Aug 2012

We intended to visit Leighton Moss whilst on the camping trip however as we didn't stay as long as we had hoped we decided to return to Brockholes as it was on our way home.

Besides the usual crew of:

Coots
Canada Geese
Mute Swam + Cygnets
Lapwings
Cormorants
Great Crested Grebe

Of course the Mallard
Magpie
Wood Pigeon

2 more to add to my list though;

A single Kingfisher ( I was too slow to get a picture)
Great Tit - there were many darting in and out of the bushes as you walked down the lane to the family hide.

Ribble Valley - Camping Trip

Ribble Valley
Dale Hey Touring Park
Web Site: http://www.daleheyfarm.co.uk/wordpress/

Review:
Just outside the village of Ribchester, which has a couple of pubs serving evening meals and a great sandwich shop open from 8am.
The site was great and very quiet (mid week trip), we had a choice of pitches either on the main field or for the more adventureous small alcoves off the trails.
Toilets and showers - fantastic, showers free and very hot and clean.
It was intended for us to stay a couple of days but with the weather and the air bed not staying pumped up we decided to go home via Brockholes.

A great site, a good trip could have been longer :o)

Bird Watching

We could hear lots of birds seeing them was a bit of an issue, we did see plenty of swallows darting around and a bird of prey which I managed to get a picture:

Kestrel (Common)



Sale WP 14th Aug 2012

Went by SWP and Broad Ees Dole on a bike ride yesterday evening approx 7pm.

On BED there was a new one for me a Little Grebe x1, diving in front of the first Island. Around near the cafe on the platform a Yellow Wagtail x1 fly by, lots of others in the trees by the cafe but unfortunately no time to sit and watch - maybe next time.
Also on the Ees there was the usual birds, Heron, Coots, Lapwings, Moorhen and Canada Geese flying in.

Brockholes Nature Reserve - 12th Aug 2012

Visit to Brockholes 12/8/2012

Brockholes is a new kind of nature reserve, an unreserved reserve owned and managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

There are many walks and several different hides and a brilliant visitors centre.

A floating visitors centre with restraunt, shops and loo's

There are several lakes this one is the one that the visitors centre overlooks....

The hide is on the opposite side and this was going to be today's spotting location.

On the way to the hide we managed to get a few shots of catapillars and butterflies. I'll have to do a bit of research to see what their names are;

Meadow Brown

Cinnibar Caterpillar (Red/Black Moth)  - It like Ragwort plants

BIRDS SPOTTED

Mallard (Many)

Canada Geese (Many)

Heron x3

Mute Swan and 6 Cygnets

Great Crested Grebe x2

Coots (Many)

Gulls - Black headed x3 Others (Gallacious?)

Wood Pigeon

Magpie

Gadwall (Many)

Buzzard (?)

Bridgewater Canal to Sale WP - 5th Aug 2012

Bridgewater Canal nr the Whitehouse Cruising Club

Sale Water Park - Panorama view from the bird hide