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Reports

Smardale

15/7/2017

 
​Venue: Smardale
Date: Saturday 15th July 2017
Weather: Fine Sunny breezy light Rain
Leader: Jean Wardle
Party Number: 23
Distance and Time: 6 miles 4 hours
 
23 people met at the Hob Inn Bamber Bridge at 9.00 am.  We then drove up the M6 exiting at Tebay.  After a short stop there, we continued up the Kirkby Stephen road soon coming to Newbiggin-on-Lune where parked in a cul-de-sac at the west end of the village.  We crossed the main road with difficulty and soon turned right passed a large house to pick up the disused railway that has been adopted as Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve.  This linear  level route took us through the countryside for 3miles to Smardale Gill viaducts which over looked the valley below and Crag wood.  We then returned via the same route to be collected at 3.00 pm. 
Both sides of the path contained numerous plants, butterflies and moths and also a few birds.
It tried to rain on several occasions but when the sun appeared it was lovely and warm.  Listed below are the birds, butterflies and plants we identify but we would have appreciated an expert on flowers to have accompanied on the trip to cover all species viewed.
We met on route another large group from Newcastle upon Tyne RSPB.
This was a lovely day out to an area which we had never visited before. Lots of historical sights including a packhorse bridge and medieval stock gate where cattle were driven off the fells between two walls and funnelled down into a corral.
This was a very good last trip organised by Jean Wardle.  We would all from the Society like to thank Jean for all her hard work and enthusiasm over the last five years.
Pheasant
Buzzard
Curlew h
Wood Pigeon
Green Woodpecker h
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Sand Martin
Black Headed Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
House Martin
Swallow
Blue Tit h


Willow Warbler
Wren h
Starling
Blackbird
Stonechat m
House Sparrow
Pied Wagtail h
Meadow Pipit
Chaffinch
Bullfinch 2
Goldfinch
Greenfinch h
Linnet h
Reed Bunting

Meadow Brown
Small White
Ringlet
Plant List:
Clover
Herb Robert
Cow Parsley
Daisy
Pink Campion
Meadowsweet
Lady's Bedstraw
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Yellow Rattle
Vetch
Bugle
Field Scabious
Harebell
Scotch Thistle
Rosebay Willow-Herb
Wild Thyme
Bloody Cranesbill
Great Burnett
Melancholy Thistle
Fragrant Orchid
Teasel

​

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Åsa Berndtsson, Stefan Berndtsson, hedera.baltica, Dun.can, Andy Morffew, rambomuscles
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