Light rain had been forecast but it turned out to be a much wetter day than we expected. We walked up Long Lane from the station, crossed the A59, and walked up through the ploughed fields to the reservoir. Black-headed Gulls, Crows, Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons were foraging in the freshly-turned earth.
We walked around to the right, skirting the outer edge of the reserve on a woodland path. It started to rain steadily. All the autumn berries are forming well, such as Rowan, Hawthorn, Sloes (Blackthorn) and Rose Hips.
The Blackberries formed early this year but the very dry summer has left them small, withered and dried up, although there is a second flush of flowers.
Although we knew the visitor’s centre didn’t open until 1pm we had expected Cabin Wood to be open earlier. Nope, that was still gated off, too, so we had to find some drippy shelter for lunch under the trees in some of the outer woods. As we made for the reserve at 1pm we came across one path that was full of small birds. Blackbirds, Robin, Dunnock, Greenfinch on the ground, Various small birds flitting back and forth across the path. We couldn’t see what was different about that particular spot. As we passed the gate to the heritage orchard, a Red Admiral flew past us. Amazing to see one on the wing on a gloomy wet day. The apple trees were laden with fruit.
One we got into the reserve, we walked around Cabin Wood. To amuse children they have recently added lots of little “twigs with eyes” to the edges of the paths, that they call “Woodlins”, together with a story that they are refugees from other woodlands that have been cut down.
Before we left we went to look at the shrubby cluster of Wayfaring Trees Viburnum lantana on the western edge of Cabin Wood. Although it is a British native tree, it might be the only one in Lancashire. Its natural habitat is on the dryer chalklands of Southern Britain. It was planted here because it supports the caterpillars of the moth called the Orange-tailed Clearwing, Synanthedon andrenaeformis. No idea if it has worked yet in attracting the moth. We spotted only one cluster of berries, which were still not ripe. (Picture’s a bit fuzzy in the rain, I’m afraid.)
As we walked off towards the station, the rain stopped! It’s always the way, isn’t it.
Public transport details: Ormskirk train from Central at 9.55, arriving Aughton Park station at 10.25. Returned from Aughton Park station at 2.40, arriving Sandhills 3.05. No Sunday walk next week, we will be on the MNA Saturday walk to Pex Hill instead.