A Walk to Grune Point at Silloth with Mike

Mike and I made plans a week ago to go to Silloth for a walk today as he had never walked to Grune Point before. We could not have got a better day as it was wall to wall sunshine all day. It was a wee bit nippy at the start but we were soon in sunshine and even had lunch sitting on rocks next to the beach in the sun.

An incoming tide and loads of birds on the shoreline. 

At Grune Point we had a lovely view of the low frequency transmitters at Anthorn.

At a sheltered spot near the shore this wild flower in full bloom in mid January.

Anthorn in the distance across the inlet.

Criffel at the other side of the Solway in Scotland

Loads of Oystercatchers all waiting to go to Langholm to annoy us all summer.

There was plenty of Gorse in full bloom and it is very colourful for January. 

Getting close to high tide

Another Oystercatcher waiting for the tide to recede so it can start feeding.

 

My First Walk at Wigtown

Our journey from Langholm to Wigtown encountered heavy rain until we got to Castle Douglas and then as we got further west the sky cleared and the weather became beautiful. A quick visit to the river Bladnoch on arrival as we were slightly early.

The view across the valley with the A75 in the distance

Our holiday accommodation which has been greatly improved and renovated since the new owners moved here from the south of England 2 years ago.

A Curlew on the mud flats near the harbour

A view of Wigtown Bay

A Swan on the opposite bank

This Oystercatcher is guarding his nest on the pier at the harbour

Low tide next to the harbour on the Bladnoch

The Martyr"s Stake at Wigtown. This commemorates the execution of Covenanters on 11th May 1685. They became known as the Wigtown Martyrs

Our small holiday flat at the back of the big house

Wigtown Harbour and a dead sheep 

The Oystercatchers Nest

The Oystercatcher on the nest

I was walking along the old railway line and was being watched by this Deer.

Later in the evening I visited the bird hide near the harbour. The late evening sun was right in my eyes so it was difficult to photograph many of the birds

The freshwater ponds that are great reserves for the birds

This is a small burn flowing down to the harbour but at high tide it will be full of water

 

Lockdown Photographs in February and early March

It has been a month since I last posted photos on my Blog. In that time I have hardly been anywhere and all I have done is a daily 4 mile walk on average. This is upper Tarras Valley which is one of my favourite places to walk locally

It's been a good year for Snowdrops although they were at least a week later in coming out this winter

Crimson Elf Cup taken at Canonbie on my weekly walk with Mike Tinker. I have learnt such a lot walking with him as his knowledge of these is excellent. 

This is the new repaired bridge on Easton's Walk. Thanks to Ross Gemmell the D & G Council Ranger who helps us to look after the Langholm network of walks.

Gaye on our regular Snowdrop walk at Westerhall

Gaye has spent Lockdown doing this Crewel work and this is the result which will be framed soon

One of the Feral Goats on my Tarras valley walk

This was take in upper Tarras on Monday 1st March. A glorious spring day.

I feed this Robin regularly on my walk round the Lodge Walks and he is always waiting for me.

Me and the Tin Man at Rowanburn recently

A Selfie at The Round House

More Snowdrops on The Lodge Walks

My favourite bird The Dipper

I love this tree which is on the track above Rowanburnhead. This was taken on Sunday 7th March.

One of the many Oystercatchers that move to Langholm at this time of the year

Snow at our Daughter Fiona's street in Newcastle

A Snowball Fight in Newcastle

More Snowdrops

 Our American family skiing recently in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. They all love skiing and Tommy in the yellow is becoming a star at just 9 years old. His father Fraser cannot keep up with him now.