Kentmere

On Thursday I was up in the Lakes and walked the Kentmere Horseshoe, a 20km walk with 3000ft of ascent. A great walk taking in Kentmere Pike, Harter Fell, Mardale Ill Bell, Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell and Yolk. After a showery start it brightened up into a lovely day but a little breezy, and all the way round I was serenaded by Skylarks.



A couple of the locals posing in front of Ill Bell



Didnt have a long lens with me on this walk, this is the nearest i could get to one of the many Skylarks I saw and heard all the way round



Small water, with High St beyond



L-R Yolk, Ill Bell and Froswick



Small water with Haweswater beyond



Nan Bield Pass



Ill Bell



Small Water with Haweswater beyond



Thornthwaite Beacon





Looking down to Froswick and Ill Bell, with the Tongue and Windermere beyond to the right



Big rocks and big clouds over Kentmere



Kentmere through the Bracken



And through the Foxgloves



Bog rock deposited no doubt during the last ice age, with Kentmere church in the background

NATIONAL THREE PEAKS 24HR CHALLENGE

NATIONAL THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE 2011

On the 2/3 July this year I will be leading a team having a crack at the National Three Peaks 24hr challenge. That is climbing the highest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis 4409ft),
England (Scafell Pike 3209ft) and Wales (Snowdon 3560ft) all within 24 hours.

My team are all undertaking the challenge to support the National Children’s charity, Brainwave, who have their Northern Centre here in Birchwood, where I manage Birchwood Shopping Centre.

More details on the charity and the amazing work they do for children with brain injuries such as Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome or Developmental Delay can be found on their website
www.brainwave.org.uk

I would be extremely grateful if you were able to support me in attempting the challenge and donating could not be easier and safer by going to my just giving page below, and I thanks you in advance for your support.

My just giving page can be found at http://www.justgiving.com/GaryJones6

Many thanks

Gary

Sand Martins

Some shots from my recent visit to the banks of the River Ribble just outside Preston, conscious of not disturbing the birds I nestled myself in to the bank side vegetation and spent a delightful couple of hours watching the Sand Martins in and out of their burrows.

More from The Farne Islands

The last post of images from my recent trip to The Farne Islands. The first bird featured is The Shag, not a bird thought of as particularly good looking, but very unique especially when viewed close up, and how prehistoric the young chicks look!







Feeding time



Graceful in flight hugging the waves



Next, Guillemots that are extremely numerous on the Islands













The dreaded walk through the Arctic tern colony was as hazardous as expected, frequently had my head attacked and this time well and truly shat on!!















I think my favourite Duck is the Eider, despite being so handsome I just love the call of the male birds.









not sure if this nest was abandoned or the female was away from it



Next bird featured is the Razorbill,not as numerous as the Puffins and Guillemots,but still a fair few breeding on the sea cliffs











Amongst the seabirds already featured there is a lot of Kittiwakes nesting, sometimes on tiny ledges which really make you wonder how they dont fall out of the nests a long way down to the sea









Lastly a few shots of the sea cliffs and stacks that the birds return to each year to breed on









And finally my transport for the day was Billy Shiels 'Glad Tidings 2', very nice boat ride