salty wood

 

The first of May and a trip to Saltoun Big Wood. Or probably just Saltoun Wood now that it has been largely chopped down. Happily the work was not ongoing today - it doesn't help the ambience having large machinery chopping or stacking logs.

To avoid any obvious signs up saying no entrance we snuck in the side route. Which allowed us to park in West Saltoun rather than try to park at the road end official entrance. We then walked in via Barley Mill. While it was pleasant it wasn't one of the baking hot days we've had lately and there wasn't that much about. But it was nice enough. 

long-tailed tit no doubt feeding youngsters in a nest 

a bit of a haze kept things coolish and jumpers were the order of the day

newts in the ponds

stacked logs
(and sadly widened trails)

tons of tadpoles

pond skater

several GVWs

also a couple of OT females

sun trying to break through

bashed peacock

male OT trying to pretend we weren't there
 taking photos in his face

buzzard

someone had left this softflask

nomad bee

I've been seeing these wild garlic flowers in several places 
where I'd expect (the invasive) few flowered leek to have dominated

more lambs again

back to the car

starling and sparrows in abundance

defib tele box

just under 5miles in just over 2.5hrs