Monday 15 March 2010

Walking Group Leadership Training

I'm back. Great to see the curlew and lapwings back on the moors and that Chorley town centre has a pair of nesting peregrines.
I've spent the last two weekends on local moors honing my map reading skills by straying from the well trodden routs to locate wells and other features marked on the maps. And all that looking down to avoid breaking my ankles on rough grassland has provided ample opportunity to locate red grouse droppings! We even saw a few as they took flight.
Amongst the grass a toad was going about its business. A rabbit skull and other remains indicated raptors although the only ones I saw were kestrels. I had hoped to see a short-eared owl or tawny whilst on night navigation but it took all my attention to focus on the map. (Night vision is not one of my strengths....)

Hopefully, my map work will improve so I'll have more time to look out for the wildlife.

Thanks to Brian Rafferty for the photo of the curlew. His site is always worth a visit.

6 comments:

Caroline Gill said...

Glad you are back... along with the birds on the moors! We missed them, but goslings were seen this last w/e at WWT Llanelli.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Good to see you back!

Brian Rafferty said...

Carol. Sounds like you have had great fun on the moors.Interesting news re Chorley peregrines.

I am still visiting the barn owl which isn't coming out now until around 6pm. I must make the effort and visit early morning!!!

Thanks for the curlew pic and mention.

Anonymous said...

You found your way back Carol so the navigating skills are working OK. {:)

Mistlethrush said...

Thanks for the comments and welcome back. I'm hoping to spot owl and other species over the weekend - and practise my navigation skills in some remote terrain too....

Caroline Gill said...

We look forward to a report in due course...

Meanwhile thank you very much for your kind comment on my Spring Fever contest puffin poem. Much appreciated!

from the field book

from the field book
An inspiring gift for anyone who enjoys watching nature.