19/06/2022: Blog two of two: Walk at Goathland Viewpoint and a quick look at Thornton Dale Following on from my previous post, we then had a delightful delve into the North York Moors today as we did in 2018 when here, it was so nice to see the dramatic landscape and charming picturesque villages and I felt very immersed in Yorkshire on the way. We had a walk from this car park near to where we went in 2018 at Goathland and the landscape was stunning with some breathtaking views of moor, valleys, bright green trees, the landscape carpeted in the red of possible field sorrel in places I took the eighth picture in this photoset a zoom into some of this and interesting sky scenes as we had at the coast earlier which I mentioned in my previous post. This was another enriching walk round today. I took the first three and sixth pictures in this photoset of views here today. On the way back coming through here it was nice to notice how green the landscape is.
I touched on in my previous post about how seeing birds of a landscape makes you feel integrated into it, and I would extend that to bird calls and all wildlife. And we saw some brilliant birds of the moor on this walk, with three wading species elegant Lapwing and Curlew bulky birds in the air seen and heard with their evocative calls and Snipe seen all big highlights of the walk. Skylark was a perfect part of the sound track again today. I was also very pleased to see a Wheatear which I took the seventh picture in this photoset of, a striking and bright bird which we saw very well. It’s actually my first seen in England this year after seeing so many during our week in Pembrokeshire in April and not seeing one in home areas yet this year.
We had come to this spot in the hope of seeing a Large Heath butterfly one we never had which is found here, we didn’t see it but did see a fair few pretty and bright Small Heaths a key butterfly of the habitat flitting around and I also saw a Painted Lady. Key parts of this habitat Sheep were nice to see too including a young one.
Other flowers/plants I really liked seeing on the walk were bits of heather out in purple flower starting to carpet the landscape a little I took the fifth picture in this photoset of, cotton grass which I took the ninth picture in this photoset of and heath bedstraw which the fourth picture in this photoset shows which I am really enjoying seeing this year doing the same and key for the habitat tormentil. There were some great green trees visible on the walk.
Wildlife Sightings Summary: Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing, Skylark, Wheatear, Pied Wagtail a nice one to see, lots of Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeon, great views of Rook, Herring Gull, Small Heath, Painted Lady, a blue butterfly I believe, a nice moth and a beetle.
On the way back tonight we called briefly into one of the picturesque villages we passed on the way, Thornton Dale or Thornton-le-Dale, to let Missy our dog have a cool off. It is such a beautiful and happy place and it was nice to take in a little stream with an attractive waterfall and a pond which I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of as well as the nice village with a great view of a church. Mallard with ducklings on the pond, foxgloves, red campion and Small Tortoiseshells were brilliant sightings here. It was nice to see two Kestrels on a barn one with prey on the journey back. I also enjoyed seeing Buzzard I believe and another stunning view of a Hare on the way back. There were nice sky scenes at the cottage again tonight. A lovely, packed and relaxing first full day of the holiday, I hope you all have a nice and safe week.
Part 1 of today’s posts is here: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/687520907555667968/19062022-blog-one-of-two-first-morning-in-the