Geltsdale

I decided on a bit of an expedition today - to RSPB Geltsdale, which I’ve never visited. I am in Cumbria, and it is in Cumbria, but it’s still a bit of a journey.

The journey was fine, and I spent the morning and early afternoon exploring the trails. It’s a fantastic landscape, and extremely boggy after two weeks of rain, and torrential rain for much of yesterday.

I heard the first cuckoo I’ve heard this year. Then another. Then another. Cuckoos were calling all morning. Curlews, lapwings, redshanks and oystercatchers were alarmed at my presence and were very visible. And there was an abundance of smaller birds. The reserve is huge, with the public trails only skirting the periphery, ensuring that the rare species for which this reserve is important are not disturbed. A sign explained that I might meet cows with calves and bulls, fortunately I didn’t.

After Geltsdale I visited nearby Lanercost Priory, and then the also nearby Birdoswald Roman fort on Hadrians Wall, before returning to the caravan.

The blip image is I think a small heath butterfly. Extras - some of the birds I saw at Geltsdale, Lanercost Priory, and a section of Hadrians Wall (I chatted to the two ladies who are from New York and walking the Hadrians Wall path from west to east). Also a view of the “information point” (a mile from the car park) at Geltsdale, and a general landscape shot. With the rain everything has greened up).

I am giving my feet a rest tomorrow.