Monday 3 May 2010 - Golden Acre Circular

Making the most of our May Bank Holiday Monday, we decide to do a circular walk from the car park at Golden Acre Park.  Thanks to Linda's recent blog we decided to take in Adel Dam and Breary Marsh.
Adel Dam is a gem.  Compact, atmospheric, it has two small hides and well worth a visit.  Amongst the birds we saw and heard was my first Treecreeper of the year.

From there we walked out the back of the park, through Five Lane End, to Eccup Moor Lane.  The hedgerows and fields were buzzing.  A bright flash caught my eye and as it landed on the top of a hedge, it seemed to pose.  My first Yellowhammer of the year.

In the fields, amongst the Jackdaws, Crows and Pheasants were Red-legged Partridges.  These two were soon seen off by the cock Pheasant.

On the way to Lineham Farm, we stopped off at the New Inn at Eccup.  About half way round the walk, this would have been a great place to have lunch.  As we had pack-up, a pint of well kept Taylors Landlord had to do.  In the beer garden we watched some very confident Swallows.

Walking away from the pub we had one of many views of a Red Kite.  They are well scattered all along this walk.

Whilst passing Lineham Farm and the Donkey Sanctuary, the heavens opened.  Hail pinged off us, but we took shelter against a stand of trees and soon were on our way again.  The views on this walk are excellent.  Sometimes you are reminded that you are on the outskirts of a busy city

other times you could be in the middle of nowhere

Showers dogged us right the way through the walk, so it wasn't until we got near the end that we could sit down and eat our lunch.  But the spot we chose was magic.  Breary Marsh has a small lake at one end, called Paul's Pond.  We sat on the bank, watched the Swallows and House Martins swoop and wheel, and reflected on a brilliant day.