Anglezarke moor

[Paul Hodson]

A long walk today - Alance bridge - Lead mine clough - Round loaf - Great hill - Solomon's Temple - Drinkwaters - Spitlers edge - Will Narr - Old Rachels - Simms.
Depressing views of the fire damage and damping down operation on Darwen moor, it was good to see a couple of mountain rescue volunteers on the summit of Great hill who were 'fire spotting', to give the earliest possible response to any other fires that may occur.

Not many wildlife sightings today.
Curlew 8-9 including a very territorial pair at Solomon's Temple
Stonechat pairs at Limestone clough-Great hill-Solomon's Temple and Simms
Grasshopper warblers reeling at Holts flat- Great hill and Hempshaws.
Mistle Thrush pairs at Solomon's and the dead forest.
Sparrowhawk at LMC.
2 Reed Bunting pairs at Hempshaws.

still a good number of Common heath moths
2 Oak Eggar moth caterpillars.
Small Heath butterfly 20-25, mainly in the Holts flat/Old Rachels area.
Small Tortoiseshell at LMC.

Four spotted Chaser. Blue tailed damselfly and 4-5 Large Red damselflies including a pair ovipositing at a pool near Old Rachels.