The Headstone Tunnel

Some years ago on a previous visit to Monsal Dale we found that the Headstone Tunnel was boarded up and there was no way through. Now it has been opened up and people can walk or cycle through. It forms part of the Monsal Trail.

Built by the Midland Railway it formed part of a main line rail link between London and Manchester.

 Partway through the tunnel. During daylight hours it is lit up.

Light at the end of the tunnel. Approaching the far end.

Monsal Head and Monsal Dale

Looking down on to the Headstone Viaduct in Monsal Dale.
On holiday in the Peak District last week, went to Monsal Head and walked down into Monsal Dale, completing a circular walk that ended with a climb back up to Monsal Head.

Looking down to Monsal Dale.

A spectacular weir at the bottom of Monsal Dale.

A bank of cowslips beside the path.

Rainbows Over Largo

Rainbow over Largo Law from Lundin Golf Course.
An afternoon of sunshine and showers brought some spectacular rainbows.

 Rainbow over Largo Law from the beach walking towards Lundin Links.

Rainbow over Ruddon's Point at the end of Largo Bay.

Cambo in February

 One of the delights of February in Fife is the display of snowdrops at Cambo.

 Snowdrops line the banks of the Cambo burn pushing their way through the fallen leaves.

A clump of primroses.

Pale blue scilla.

 Brightly coloured aconite.

Snowdrops against a background of the strap-like leaves of black mondo.

 The exposed roots of a tree in the woodland.

 Horseshoe fungus (Fomes fomentarius).

Big Garden Birdwatch 2017

For over 30 years now the RSPB has been conducting a garden birdwatch at this time of year. The public are invited to take part by watching and recording the birds they see in one hour in their garden or a park and sending in their results by post or on-line. My results for this year, taken last weekend, were:

Blackbird: 2

Dunnock: 2

Blue tit: 1

Great tit: 1

House sparrow: 3

Robin: 1

Starling: 2

Chaffinch: 1

Goldfinch: 1

The count was fairly representative of what we see most days. The only other birds that we see regularly are coal tits and woodpigeons. Occasionally see bullfinches long-tailed tits and collared doves.

January Catkins

Hazel catkins In the small v-shaped wood between the two paths in the Serpentine Walk in Lower Largo. I think that it is earlier than normal for these catkins possibly because of the mild December.

First Snow of 2017

Thought that we had escaped the snow on Thursday, but Friday morning saw a light covering of snow.

Snow covered paths in the Serpentine Walk.

From the middle of the Serpentine Walk looking across snow-covered fields to a stand of trees shaped by the wind.