June 2023
09.06.23 – 12.06.23 Parkside, Cleator Moor, and Ponsonby Tarn, Gosforth, Cumbria
An evening wander in the West Cumbria fileds saw a female Hare and leveret in the long grass, the female soon took off when she spotted me but the leveret just hunkered down and hid. I was amazed that even though I knew exacty where the leveret was hiding, I just could not see it, it wasnt until I was 6 feet away I saw its eye. Brilliant camouflage in the fading evening light, I wonder how many times I’ve been out looking for hares, and just walked past one without even knowing?
This morning the day started hot and hazy so I thought I would head to Ponsonby tarn and see what was hiding in the woods, at least it would be shady in the heat. Ponsonby is currently being harvested for its trees so it resembled the Somme in place, but no one was working and inbetween the abandoned machinary was a dozen or so Blackbirds and Wrens. Approaching the tarn I heard a vaguely familiar bird call but I just couldnt place it, it was only when I saw a Night Heron on the pond I realised it was from my trip to Australia !
I’ve never seen a night Heron in the UK, so this was a first for me, and made my day. Coming back I spotted a couple of Red Squirrels on a feeder and headed home just in time to see the Curlews on the field! Not a bad morning really 🙂
Click below for location of the Night Heron
https://goo.gl/maps/A9Gsc9Phm4oA2Yt29
