New Lanark and the Falls of the Clyde are located in South Lanarkshire. The area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 2001. The wildlife area around the Falls of the Clyde is managed by the SWT.
It was an early start for me as I had to leave the house at 06.20 in order to get a bus to Motherwell and then the 07.10 train to Lanark. I was met at Lanark by walk organiser Josanne and her husband and they drove me the short distance to New Lanark for the start of the walk.
Meeting the Group at New Lanark
It was slightly cold at the start of the walk and everyone had to wear their woolly hats and gloves, but soon the sun came out and it became much warmer. Before starting on the walkway we took a look over the River Clyde and spotted a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail.
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Dipper on the river |
The walk then took us round the back of the Corra Linn Power station and up a path towards some woods. Birds seen on this part of the walk included Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Goldfinch, Willow Warblers, Bullfinch, Chaffinch and Swallows. The path was well worn and easy to follow.
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Observing a bird |
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New Lanark from above |
Badger Sett
At one part of the path we were able to view a few badger setts and the fresh soil outside two of them revealed that they had only been dug in the last few days. New Lanark is a favourite spot for badgers.
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Badger Sett |
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Badger Sett with freshly dug soil outside |
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Badger Sett close up |
The woodland meander took about 1.5 hours after which we came out onto a minor road. After a short walk along it we turned into a field with two white cart horses. We stopped for lunch and sat on some old tree trunks which had been placed in the field as seating for walkers in the area.
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Lunch - who needs an expensive restaurant? |
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Horse in field during lunch break |
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Horse in field during lunch break |
After about 25 minutes we finished our lunch break and started walking through the field on our way back to the start. David, who was leading the walk, spotted a Wheatear sitting on the remains of an old tree-trunk on the adjoining field and we all managed to get a good view of this beautiful bird. One lady in the group explained that Wheatears have a white rump which makes them easy to identify.
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Wheatear seen in adjoining field |
We exited the field at the power station and walked to the Peregrine site at the falls of the Clyde. We were fortunate to view both the male (tiercel) and female (falcon) Peregrine. The female had been sitting on the nest all night and was on a ledge having a wee break a short distance from the nest. The male was taking his turn sitting on the nest incubating the egg. There has only been one egg laid this year.
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Female Peregrine (falcon) |
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Female Peregrine |
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Male Peregrine (tiercel) on Nest |
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New Lanark |
We arrived back at at the start at approximately 11.30. It had been an excellent day and the sunny weather had allowed us to see a good selection of birds.
The birds seen today were:
- Dipper
- Yellow Wagtail
- Wrens
- Wrens
- Blackbirds
- Goldfinch
- Willow Warblers
- Bullfinch
- Chaffinch
- Wheatear
- Peregrine
- Treecreeper
New Lanark and the Falls of the Clyde are located in South Lanarkshire. The area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 2001.
Grid Ref: NS 87587 42676
Lanark Group SWT:
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/local-member-group/lanark/
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Falls of Clyde
New Lanark ML11 9DB
T. 01555 665 262
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