   |    |
Rufford. Mere Lane.
Monday 8th July
Fine tried to rain. Overcast.
A party of 15 Members parked on the road near Tootle House Farm on Curlew Lane before walking slowly down Mere Lane on the corner of the farm. It tried to rain all evening and the weather was overcast but we escaped a drenching.
There was lots of bird activity including several Corn Buntings perched on wires and stalks in fields. Even perched on Corn stalks. Also a study of a ploughed field saw a lone Grey Partridge that flew in right through my binocular vision and 3 Stock Doves feeding nearby.
Could see a big barn over near Mere Sands Wood. This has a Barn Owl Box in the roof.
There were dozens of Swallows and House Martin's flying around a farm but no Swift's
Lots of wild flowers by the roadside including; Willow Herb, Russian Cumfrey, Yarrow, and Burdock.
We had a friendly Farmer driving up and down the lane giving us free tips on the area.
Found an erratic boulder by the side of the lane that had been brought in by the ice many 1000's of years ago and when the fields were being cleared of debris, this would have been dragged to the side.
Returned at 21.00 as we had not gone right to the bottom of Mere Lane.
A few people retired to The Hesketh Arms and sat outside with a well deserved drink after a lovely summer's evening.
A Barn Owl flew over the car on our way home near Tarleton.
Monday 8th July
Fine tried to rain. Overcast.
A party of 15 Members parked on the road near Tootle House Farm on Curlew Lane before walking slowly down Mere Lane on the corner of the farm. It tried to rain all evening and the weather was overcast but we escaped a drenching.
There was lots of bird activity including several Corn Buntings perched on wires and stalks in fields. Even perched on Corn stalks. Also a study of a ploughed field saw a lone Grey Partridge that flew in right through my binocular vision and 3 Stock Doves feeding nearby.
Could see a big barn over near Mere Sands Wood. This has a Barn Owl Box in the roof.
There were dozens of Swallows and House Martin's flying around a farm but no Swift's
Lots of wild flowers by the roadside including; Willow Herb, Russian Cumfrey, Yarrow, and Burdock.
We had a friendly Farmer driving up and down the lane giving us free tips on the area.
Found an erratic boulder by the side of the lane that had been brought in by the ice many 1000's of years ago and when the fields were being cleared of debris, this would have been dragged to the side.
Returned at 21.00 as we had not gone right to the bottom of Mere Lane.
A few people retired to The Hesketh Arms and sat outside with a well deserved drink after a lovely summer's evening.
A Barn Owl flew over the car on our way home near Tarleton.
| Grey Partridge 1 Cormorant 1 Curlew h Swallow 30+ House Martin 30+ Lesser Black Backed Gull 5+ Wood pigeon Stock Dove 3 Carrion Crow 5 | Jackdaw 50+ Magpie 2 Skylark 1 Blackbird Pied Wagtail 5+ Goldfinch 15+ Linnet 15+ Corn Bunting 2+ Brown Hare 2 |
Daisy
White Clover
Common Nettle
White Dead-nettle
May Weed
Upright Hedge-parsley
Hogweed
Creeping Buttercup
Corn Marigold
Elder
Russian Comfrey
Creeping Thistle
Dandelion
Cleavers
Common Hemp Nettle
Knotgrass
Lesser bindweed
Pineapple Weed
Great Willowherb
Meadowsweet
Bush Vetch
Greater Plantain
Tufted Vetch
Nipplewort
Hop Trefoil
Privet
Common Field Pansy
Field Forget-me-not
Pignut
American Willowherb
Fireweed
Common Ragwort
Rape
Phragmites
Garlic Mustard
Mugwort
Lesser Burdock
Redleg
Persicara
Yarrow
Shepherds’ Purse
Perennial Sow-thistle
Common Vetch
Spear Thistle
White Clover
Common Nettle
White Dead-nettle
May Weed
Upright Hedge-parsley
Hogweed
Creeping Buttercup
Corn Marigold
Elder
Russian Comfrey
Creeping Thistle
Dandelion
Cleavers
Common Hemp Nettle
Knotgrass
Lesser bindweed
Pineapple Weed
Great Willowherb
Meadowsweet
Bush Vetch
Greater Plantain
Tufted Vetch
Nipplewort
Hop Trefoil
Privet
Common Field Pansy
Field Forget-me-not
Pignut
American Willowherb
Fireweed
Common Ragwort
Rape
Phragmites
Garlic Mustard
Mugwort
Lesser Burdock
Redleg
Persicara
Yarrow
Shepherds’ Purse
Perennial Sow-thistle
Common Vetch
Spear Thistle