Tags
birds, blackbird, Caerlaverock, Carlisle, chiff-chaff, Eskrigg nature reserve, lapwing, linnet, Lockerbie, Lockerbie disaster, mallard, moorhen, Peter Scott, redshank, swallow, swan, willow warbler, WWT
I had not looked round Lockerbie itself yet, so on Friday morning took a stroll round the town centre on foot, including a visit to the library for information on the Eskrigg Nature Reserve nearby. Lockerbie’s handsome buildings are also of red sandstone. The parish church, which was closed, was enormous.
So was this building, which I assumed to be the Town Hall, though, other than a minuscule plaque commemorating the town’s (and others’) disaster of 1988, there was no other sign attached to the building at all. I had to go inside to confirm that my assumption was correct.
Nearby were these and five other sheep
I decided that my day would be best filled by a trip to Caerlaverock, to visit the Wildlands and Wetlands Trust reserve, and the castle if there was time. This decision had the advantage of taking me though more glorious countryside.
Having studied the plan of the WWT site over coffee, I started my tour of several of the hides. At one, I was grateful to a couple who visit most days for pointing out where the linnet and the redshank were to be seen.
The reserve is on the edge of the Solway Firth, so that’s the Lake District in the distance.
It is bounded by farmland on one side.
Unlike the Lockerbie sheep, these were living.
I had been told that there was ‘nothing’ to be seen at the Sir Peter Scott hide, by which my informants must have meant nothing unusual. I took pleasure nevertheless in sitting there after lunch watching swans, mallards and moorhens. And learnt that when mallard is occupying a place where moorhen wants to be, it gives way, smartish.
Then I decided to do the ‘summer’ walk, not available the rest of the year because of overwintering fowl. It was delightful,
especially as for at least five minutes two blackbirds insisted on showing me the way as I strolled along.
The swans I’d seen earlier also seemed to want to keep an eye on me.
I enjoyed looking not only at wildfowl but plants as well.
I was nowhere near a hide when it started raining again, so my new umbrella came in useful. By the time I got back to my car it had stopped, but I heard the castle calling.
There turned out to be a wedding going on there, but visiting was not restricted. Glaring guests just didn’t appreciate how discreet one was trying to be. (One was not dressed suitably.)
Accompanying the wedding was a bagpiper.
Hers was not the only kilt around, but I didn’t dare point my camera at the others, much as I’d love to have done.
The next day, it was time to go home to the cats, by train from Carlisle. Somehow my camera forgot it was no longer on holiday, until we had left Cumbria anyway.
So ended my trip up north. My next big trip is in September, wildlife in the Pantanal, Brazil, largely by river boat, but perhaps I’ll find a pretext for posting photos again before then…
bruceb said:
Thanks for sharing. What was the first of the plants, and might the blackbird pair have been leading you away from their nest or young?
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Musiewild said:
I’ve no idea I’m afraid. Your theory about the blackbirds could be true. It felt charming.
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Hazel Priestley-Hobbs said:
Enjoyed all your beautiful photos and commentary Venetia. Thank you !
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Musiewild said:
Thank you, Hazel, for spending the time to look.
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webernard86 said:
— A chiffchaff, or a willow warbler? Or something else? Comments welcome please.
Probably willow warbler. The pale eyebrow is pretty neat, although it is not very visible back of the eye. Cheek diffuse light markings (parotics). The underparts are yellowish and rather whitish under the primary wing feathers. The legs are not black but lighter. Impossible to evaluate the primary projection on this picture but the previously mentioned criteria tend strongly towards a willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus …
Sincerely
Bernard
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Musiewild said:
Merci beaucoup Bernard! Je re-regarde mon Collins et je vois – maintenant !
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susanpoozan said:
Well, you certainly had a good look round and took some interesting photographs, thanks for the tour.
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Musiewild said:
It was a lovely way to end a lovely holiday.
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tootlepedal said:
You were very brave to walk around when there was a wedding on. I love Caerlaverock Castle.
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Musiewild said:
When I got there the ceremony was over and things were at that stage where guests were hanging around on the terrace waiting to move on somewhere to the reception. Great castle!
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