| 27.03.2025 |
Nature is picking up at last with a lot of activity taking place. Toads are now being seen everywhere, as are the usual frogs. Will be newt hunting next week in some of the ephemeral pools where I usually see them each year. Lizards very busy and was seeing stoats sprinting across pathways. |
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| 19.01.2025 |
Back to normal. A very heavy frost en-route to the Goyt at Pym Chair and most of the way down The Street. Limited ice on the road. Not enough to cause problems. Below 350 metres elevation it was bitterly cold but no frost or road ice at all. Certainly colder than it was there yesterday which delivered the same temperature. Slight wind chill today. Overcast but we have not had any rain therefore roads clear of ice. Bits of cars scattered everywhere, now revealed by the snow melt. Mainly plastic and glass. No doubt arising from the most recent unusual snow event. I bagged a lot of bits yesterday and volunteer rangers were also out bagging yesterday. |
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| 17.01.2025 |
I returned to the Goyt yesterday after an unusually long (for me) absence of more than a week. For the first time in many years I skipped the most recent snowfall visiting the area, because I considered the risks too serious. I did not want to risk becoming part of the problem of vehicles stranded in the area. Some recent weather events were most unusual in my experience.
The snow was immediately preceded by very heavy rain, which was followed immediately by sub-zero temperatures. The consequence was that the lowest quarter of The Street iced over and the higher three quarters were not. Usually the other way around with the bottom quarter clear. That caught cars driving down off guard. The snow quickly followed and made that ice invisible, creating a major hazard. Much of the reservoir was frozen on the surface, a rare sight.
Speaking to people who live close enough not to have to drive into the Goyt I gather the situation was horrendous. There are always some issues with snow but driving a 4WD that is never a problem for me. However I considered it prudent to avoid the most recent fall.
Curiously yesterday, although The Street is freee of ice (and Hooleyhey Lane), the Errwood car park and the road from there to Derbyshire Bridge were heavily iced over. Although 8 degrees on arrival, there was a heavy frost still visible on grassy areas. All the latter where shielded by trees blocking out the sun. Hence the reason there are no new images of the most recent snow: I was on route 6 anti-clockwise. |
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| 24.10.2024 |
Following a three day absence owing to planned car maintenance I returned to route 6 today and noted that ‘jelly’ substance referred to in the last post was still intact. Acting on a personal hunch I researched ‘Buzzard jelly regurgitation’ in google and got a result. The only consistent feature of that jelly is that it was scattered in an inconsistent manner around but close to a large diameter wooden post where entrails from a Raptor’s lunch was also scattered and smeared. No shortage of Buzzards thereabouts. The jelly is on the adjacent drystone wall, timber and grass. That is the gate leading to Wildmoorstone Bridge, where a Raptor can sit in safety with a good 360 degree view for miles. |
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A fellow photographer described the Goyt as 'birdless' today. There was a curious atmosphere today (which I liked) and Autumn very much apparent. May be time to switch to a landscape lens again from the macro. Whatever, the Stonechats (see below) again absent. |
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| 19.10.2024 |
A nice day but a stiff breeze and what stood out for me was the extent of sparkling white lichens seen all over the Goyt. In stark contrast to the extensive remainder. I assume it is fresh new growth. Also spotted what I have referred to as some 'Jelly Fungus' though it may not be. Any help with this one appreciated. Strange indeed. |
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| 18.10.2024 |
Following a tip-off from a fellow photographer I snapped a Yellow Stagshorn Fungus at the end of the Riverside Walk (Route 5). Been a good (but quiet) week. Still seeing Butterflies but none settled. Macro lens now looking for Fungi as it is now their season to be jolly. Plenty of birds now emerging again and a Great Tit visited one of my own bird boxes this week. Whether it is the same one that roosted over winter last year I do not know. Not there now but 14 degrees all day. The Stonechats are now absent but may yet return. |
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| 10.10.2024 |
Good day and I have had other good days but been too busy generally to post images. A new moth seen today as it landed on my Fedora and someone spotted it. Those young Stonechats are maturing and I have now seen three today. |
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| 28.09.2024 |
Not a good week except Friday when I was working, rather than walking. A chilly 9 degrees today (suits me) and despite that I saw several Speckled Wood Butterflies which surprised me. Stonechats still in the bracken near Bonsal Cob end of Rouet 6. |
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| 14.09.2024 |
A very nice day but far too windy for the two young Stonechats who mostly remained in sheltered areas. I managed one shot only. I had to content myself with a couple of Ragwort customers, in a very sheltered part of Route 6 that did not allow the wind to disrupt shooting. Macro requires perfectly still conditions and/or good timing. Sunday guaranteed heavy rain which my lens does not like but mid-week looks perfect and may be the last chance for many insect species. |
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| 13.09.2024 |
For the birders, there is a pair of Stonechats (youngsters) frolicing in the bracken (ferns) close to the Bonsal Cob car park. My guess is they will remain there. Walk up Goyt's Lane to the small parking scrape on the right then take the footpath the short distance into the dense bracken and you will see them. I snapped one but will try for better tomorrow. The sun later brought the Butterflies out |
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| 06.09.2024 |
A glorious day on Route 6 but the Small Heath Butterfly I sought was not seen. Plenty of others still about including a lone Wall Brown, Green-veined White, Speckled Woods, Red Admirals, Peacocks, Small Coppers, Gatekeeper and Skippers. I bagged a Female Common Darter in a surprise location at Widlmoorstone. |
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| 03.09.2024 |
A message for birders (I am not one). I am still seeing multiple Wheatears in the vicinity of Shining Tor where I was again today. One on The Tors was wrestling a large brown caterpillar (Oak Eggar Moth abuntant there also at the moment). Got images but not good enough. Meadow Pipits as usual disturbing the peace (and spooking the Wheatears) making shooting difficult. Last time I went I was entirely alone and it was very quiet, so I got the shots in. Today was sunny (landscapes day), last time it was dismal and rain forecast that never came as I guessed, hence no pipits or people. It is always a trade-off. |
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NB: As far as I knew that caterpillar only palatable to the Cuckoo which regards them as a delicacy. Several Caterpillars seen and all around 25mm but they grow as big as a finger. Also saw a number of Small Heath Butterflies (said to be vulnerable) and I am hoping to go after those tomorrow. |
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| 28.08.2024 |
In response to questions, I have often said I only shoot birds when they ask me to, which baffles people. Yesterday was a classic example when I was on a very lonely Tors, between Shning and Pym. A dismal day and threatening to rain. Light not the best but enough for my f6.3. A curious Wheatear dropped suddenly, spending time on a nearby wall and appeared to be fluffing its feathers. That time of year. It saw me but I remained mega still taking shots off the monopod. Then it moved nearer into the heather to provide me with even better poses and shots. Never moving my legs I took a number of shots before it got bored with me and took off in a flash of white: I have a lot of landscapes to catch up on. |
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| 18.08.2024 |
Went back today with a macro lens but both the juvenile lizard and the baby lizards are gone. Saw plenty of other lizards and tested the macro lens on a number of new plants (which I have been slow to add to previously) including: Yarrow, Gorse, Cinquefoil, Bilberry, Common Knapweed and snapped an Oak Artichoke Gall in the unclassified section. |
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| 17.08.2024 |
The baby lizards can now be seen out and about. The smallest are jet black and as they develop they look alike miniature Gila Monsters until they develop their adult characteristics. This is a teenage lizard and a baby lizard is here. I am seeing Southern Hawker Dragonflies on the trails, feeding in the afternoon. |
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| 03.08.2024 |
Delighted to have bagged a Lizard on the East side of the Fernilee Reservoir (Route 2) after years of looking. That said I have not historically walked 'routes' during spring and summer carrying 14kg of kit but that has now changed. Routes were always for exercise out of season. In warm weather I would normally be visiting static sites like dragonfly ponds, which I now do less often. |
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I have decided to refresh / update the website. It was built as an interest during lockdown with no guarantee it would continue once lockdown was lifted. I am going to start by revisiting all Goyt valley maps and updating same. That will take time. Some pages need to be re-written in the light of experience. By all means pass on suggestions. |
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