Orchid Hunting...

I was left to my own devices today as my othe half was up to Preston for the footie, so Seeing the weather forecast was good I opted for a walk in The Peak District.

I went looking for Early-Purple Orchids. I walked along Tideswell Dale, Miller's Dale, Cressbrook Dale, and finally Tansley Dale where I found the orchids.

Along the route were many other wildflowers - wood anenome, wood sorrel, water avens, cowslips, garlic mustard, celandine....

These Orange-Tip butterflies were being mobbed by other Orange-Tips trying to get in on their scene, but they were having none of it!!

Just one of the butterflies on offer today - others floating around were brimstone, whites, tortoiseshell and peacock.

Lots of birdies too - mallard (& ducklings), coot, swans, moorhen, swallows, chiff-chaff....many more.

I even caught a glimpse of that lesser known basking trout!

A great walk for me which, according to the guide book, should have taken 3 hours took just over 4 for me as I was stopping to look at the wildlife and take photos.

Back at the car park, I spied an ice cream van, so that was just the perfect finish to the day.