Camouflage

I was up at the crack of dawn to drive to Upper Teesdale for a day with Naturetrek. 

We met at the Cauldron Snout Hotel for a 9 a.m. start. Only 6 in the group with our leader, Keith.

Although I had to clear ice from my windscreen before I started, the temperature soon rose and it was a very sunny day. (I may have caught the sun........)

This is an area where you can see rare wildflowers, but not today. There was no sign of the Spring gentians or the bird's eye primrose. The ground is very dry and I'm sure this has affected growth. (We need rain.) To my surprise, I found 4 mountain pansies. I thought it was too early for them.

As a compromise I had a lightweight 70 - 300mm lens on my camera and it was not long enough to capture most of the birds. We were delighted by lapwings displaying, curlews calling overhead, black grouse, larks and meadow pipits.  The ring ouzel eluded us. Snipe were heard and were seen by some. 

Here is a red grouse, showing how well camouflaged it is amongst the heather.

We walked through one or two farms and saw Belted Galloway cows and calves at one. See extra.

We walked 5 miles in the morning but were on our feet from 0900 to 1315. This afternoon we drove to the Cow Green reservoir and walked to Cauldron Snout waterfall and back. Another 3 miles.

It was a brilliant day, but I am very, very tired!!