The Gatekeeper, Mersey valley close to Chorlton Water Park. Following local pressure the Env Agency have listened and reduced the maintenance of several sections of the river bank to one late summer cut per year. In summer the most obvious result is the huge increase in the number of butterflies. Read More …
Large-flowered Hemp-nettle, Chorlton Ees. A few (very few) highlights of botanising along the banks of the River Mersey in mid-July as it cuts through the former flood meadows, sewage farms, gravel pits and woodland fringe. Read More …
7 Spot Ladybird close to Chorlton Water Park. You can run but you can’t hide …………… deep within a flowerhead an aphid attempts to hide from a 7 Spot Ladybird. Read More …
Meadow Brown, along the banks of the River Mersey close to Chorlton Water Park. With the easing of the lockdown we’ve really been looking forward to getting out a bit more. However a casual flick of the wrist and a walk along the banks of Read More …
Herb Paris, Gait Barrow National Nature Reserve. A few highlights from a far too brief visit to Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve tucked away on the edge of Morecambe Bay close to Silverdale. With an 18 month old Border Collie for company the opportunities for Read More …
Pied Flycatcher, Padley Gorge – part of the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate.
A superb area of Oak woodland but also ridiculously busy on a warm spring afternoon. Ideally I would have liked to have stayed a bit longer but it was proving difficult to escape the maddening crowd. Read More …
High up above the grouse moors and the first opportunity to enjoy some unlimited exercise since the country went into “lockdown.” After parking a slow, but steady walk led uphill past the conifer plantations, over the grouse moors, past the wet flushes and bogs with Read More …
Watching a colony of Sand Martins and the high speed interaction of the individual birds is fascinating. Although perhaps not quite as glamorous as the closely related Swallows or House Martins the diminutive Sand Martin more than makes up for it with their gregarious nature and character. Read More …
Unable to fly the chicks are totally dependent upon Mum. With the bank patrolled by Herons the young Goosanders have good reason to be wary Read More …
