Moss Walk

After the last few days escapades it was good to get back home yesterday evening. Thankfully, the bucket has remained empty, I hope the hot water cylinder replacement is now sorted quickly.

We had booked onto a moss walk today. 

The UK has lost 96% of its lowland raised bogs, and they are pretty special habitats. It just so happens that we live near one such. It is also happens to be a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). Whilst the reserve is public, and there is a pleasant circular walk around the wet woodland, the main moss itself is strictly out of bounds. So today was an opportunity for a good look.

We saw quite a few slow worms - legless lizards, adapted to burrowing. I had the wrong setting to get the whole animal into focus, so the blip image will have to do. We saw lots of evidence of water voles, and a couple of cast off skins that adders had sloughed off as they have come out of hibernation (extra). No common lizards - too cold and windy. Bird life was sparse (but we did see raven and a jack snipe). 

Good thing we had a guide - we would easily have missed the tiny sundews - carnivorous plants which are specialists of this habitat. The peaty soil is poor in nutrients, so these plants get their nitrogen by digesting small insects. And the first cotton grass type plants were out - harestales. 

We'll go on another walk at another time of year.