A walk in the snow

If I was being really fussy I'd be moaning that yesterday was not today (in terms of the weather!), but it's a good job I'm not that fussy and that I haven't thought about that at all today! If it was cloud I yearned (ever so slightly) for on my last post, it was less of it I was wishing for yesterday, but never mind; we can say we walked to Bolsa in the snow! And it would only be ever so slightly an exaggeration. OK, so it was only a slight (but continuous) flurry and we didn't quite make it as far as Bolsa, but we got enviable views of Jim's second otter (his first was not so enviable and only minutes before the second). Sadly no photos, but we watched it for a good 20 minutes, catching a crab, then coming onshore to eat it and then swimming out again and then returning to have a drink in the river and waddle up the path I'd walked up only minutes before. It really was amazing. That's what comes of forgetting your binoculars (Jim) and bringing the wrong camera (Becky). What a fantastic day!
Becky

Abandoned (?) kid en route to Bolsa - its parents fled upon our approach!

Eas Lathan - impressive waterfall on the Doodilmore river

OK, so not snow, but a lot of the ground was still frozen like this.

Ramble at Kintra, 20th July 2012

Five of us set off on a glorious afternoon to explore Kintra and see more of it than before - not because we walked farther -just a different way! I have a feeling the way we went will not be repeated unless we have another Jack who was keen to cross a proper river and got his feet wet in the process. Highilghts were the Little Terns and male Hen Harrier. Eleanor was delighted. It was also encouraging to see so many butterflies- no dragonflies though.Thanks for the adventure folks!
Becky

BIRDS
Chough, Raven, Hooded Crow, Eider, Shag, Fulmar, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Hen Harrier, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Rock Dove, Starling

FLOWERS
Yellow Rattle, Red Bartsia, Lady's Bedstraw, Lesser Meadow Rue, Forget -me-not sp., English Stonecrop, Thrift, Wild Thyme, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Spearwort, Eyebright, Flag Iris, Bog Myrtle, Heath-spotted Orchid, Round-leaved Sundew, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Milkwort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Lousewort, White Clover, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Cottongrass,  Common Nettle, Harebell, Cuckoo Flower, Hard Fern, Daisy, Self-heal, Heather, Yarrow, Marsh Willowherb, Yorkshire Fog, Perennial Rye Grass, Sea Plantain

INSECTS AND INVERTEBRAE
Harvestman ( Leiobunum sp)., Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary

AMPHIBIANS
Common Frog

Dark Green Fritillary

Ringlet

The adventurous way beneath the waterfall

The waterfall at Kintra