A Good Day At Bolton Abbey

With an iffy weather forecast for West Yorkshire, we thought we'd try a hike at Bolton Abbey where there is plenty of shelter along the tree-lined river paths if needed.

As it turned out there was just a few specks of rain early on.

A tad dull and windy - but enough about me.

We were lucky to get a parking spot (free) opposite the Abbey Tea Rooms, below the Devonshire Arms hotel.

These tea rooms are a family run enterprise and the food is always great.

We started the hike with coffee and cake here - why not?

We followed the river upstream for 2 miles or so to the Cavendish Pavilion and carried on upstream on the east side to Barden Bridge.

We crossed the river here and returned along the opposite side.

For Lunch, we stopped for a bacon butty at the Strid Tea Rooms.

The sky darkened a bit for the final leg but we stayed dry.

A few specks of rain arrived as we got our boots off.

Not a bad do at all.

Birds:-

I was very pleased with todays birding.

There seemed to be something of interest popping up ever few minutes.

After 5 hours out birding, I think Sue was 'birded up' by the finish of the day!

6 or so Oystercatcher seen along the way.

Many Mandarin Duck - 20+.Some are becoming quite tame.

c10 Pied Wagtail.

Reed Bunting.

Goosander 7 M, 4 F.

4 Common Sandpiper

'Double Figure' Swallow.

Just one House Martin and no Sand Martin which is a little odd.

Greylag Goose.

Curlew, Chiffchaff.

A Pr. Treecreeper, chasing about.

M. Blackcap.

2 M. Pied Flycatcher.

Nuthatch.

There is a 'sightings sign' outside the Cavendish Shop.

The first bird noted on it is a Lesser Pecker.

Needless to say I didn't see one!

A Raptor high over the same shop - probably a Buzzard.

3 Dipper, 3 Grey Wagtail.

2 Song Thrush, 3 Heron, Coal Tit.

Great Spotted Woodpecker:-

1 Drumming, 2 Calling and 2 seen.

Kestrel, Pr. Buzzard - high, miles off.

Lesser Black-back Gull, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull.

And a few other sp.

A Good Do.