The Lakes Day 4. The Dales Way

 What a fantastic day. We woke to a beautiful autumn morning and were quickly packed and away up Ashes Lane, The plan was to join the Dales Way as it leaves Stavely and continue to Bowness. After climbing for a mile or so we were able to look back at the Kent Valley. We could pick out the location of our site and, later, both the Whinfell Ridge and The Howgills as well as Cunswick and Scout Scar. We were both surprised at the toughness of the walk; there was a lot of climbing, but, as we continued, views of the Lakes opened up: Coniston Old Man, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and The Langdales with Scafell and Great Gable peeping through. To the east were Fairfield, High Street and the Kentmere fells. As we sat high up enjoying our Christmas cake and cheese, there was absolute silence; civilization seemed a million miles away.

We were both well ready to descend into Bowness and to find that the Dales Way ended at a fine hostelry: 'a cosy inn of our sort'. It would have been rude not to call in. After some food and rehydration we wandered down to the pier to catch the bus up to Windermere where we shopped briefly (and expensively at Booths) before continuing by buss to the site. The bus experiment and our bus passes worked a dream.

The Lakes Day 3

 A dry day today with plenty of sun and fabulous autumn light. A busy but satisfying morning washing the caravan and putting up the awning. We enjoyed our lunch of tomato salad with one of our own beefsteak tomatoes.

In the afternoon it was off to the woods for a fungus foray. We say very few fungi but we did notice a lot of trees down. Although, as yet the trees were not showing many signs of autumn colour, the bracken was looking spectacular with bronze, gold and greens all intermingled. Walking down the lane at the end of the walk we noticed what I first took to be a stoat running along the top of the wall followed by a second. The first one turned round and a tremendously noisy fight ensued. Suddenly the fell off the wall into a bush and one fell out at our feet. It was jet black; a mink. It hasitly retreated along the opposite wall. A dramatic encounter.

Lakes Days 1 and 2.

 The beginning of a fortnight at the caravan. Mia delivery and packing went well. The weather became increasingly worse as the day went on and the journey to Beth's was horrendous: heavy rain and spray made driving conditions difficult.

We had a lovely evening with Beth and A;le but Tuesday dawned wet yet again. However, as we crossed the Penines the rain eased and then stopped. By the time we arrived at Ashes lane the sun came out. We called in at the fine farm shop and cafe at Plumgarths and visited Lovingly Artisan for some bread. Their sourdough starter is 40 years old and, as they give it away, we planned to call in on the way home and collect some. Once set up and established we went for a preprandial amble - mgreen woodpecker, long tailed tit and robins. Robins have started their winter song.

Winter's, The Humber Bank and Killingholme Haven.

 An earlyish start today and Brian and I were at Winter's by about 9.30. As we were driving down the lane we rain into a birding friend, Steve Routledge who had been there about 4 hours by then. We ran into him again later and we had a good catch up. It was a cool but beautiful early morning and the colours are just beginning to develop; hips and haws are looking wonderful.. We took some time have a close examination of the pond to make sure that we recorded everyting that was present. We then wandered up on the the sea wall and continued to East Halton Skitter. Things are really grown up now that we are at the end of summer and most of the scrapes on the marsh are now dried out. Having had a good look at the mudflats at Skitter Beck we retraced our steps but not before picking up marsh harrier, sparrowhawk and hobby over the marsh beyond the skitter. Back at the car we got the chairs out and enjoyed Christmas cake, cheese and tomato soup, our regular autumn/winter birding lunch.

Before we finished for the day we drove round to Killingholme Haven Pits where we had an hour in the hide. There was nothing spectacular, although we did see a couple of roe deer on the island in the lagoon. The usual large flock of black-tailed godwits were on the far side of the pit with avocet mixed in with them. A good day was had.

Black-Tailed Godwit, Winter's Pit

Black-Tailed Godwit, Winter's Pit

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Redshank, Killingholme Haven.

Roe Deer, Killingholme Haven