Stewchat...

 

The View West towards the Cheviots. You wouldnt want to be up there today...

Sunday was cold and windy, with a W5 being particularly irritating. 

February is a slow time in Northumberland so rather than face the visitors at Boulmer we headed inland for some solitude. Maybe a bit too much solitude as even the birds were keeping a low profile.

I wanted to check out the access to Corby Ponds, just to see if we will be able to get there at all come the dragonfly season. Many woods around here are totally inaccessible after the storms so I didnt expect anything good. As it happens, apart from a couple of trees across,  the ride through the wood was free of obstruction. A few Crossbills were flying around, one song flighting, and a small flock of birds keeping out of the wind comprised of 3 Lesser Redpolls, 12 Chaffinches and a Reed Bunting. 

Then a sleet squall came in forcing us to take cover in the pines for a short spell until it passed over.

The dragonfly pond is looking good, and I cant wait for some nicer weather later on to get back up here for some invertebrate hunting.

We then checked out Oxen Wood ( top photo) at Lemmington Crossroads. The pines have been felled leaving an unfamiliar look to the landscape but it should let more light in to some nice Green Hairstreak habitat.

And that was the morning about finished really. Not much in the notebook but at least we got some excercise... 

The dark, peaty waters of Corby Pond in the sleet. Hopefully the scene will be better next time we visit.