Washout (View from the Visitor Centre)Another very wet day; after Malham we thought it wouldn't happen again but it did. It rained continuously throughout the day. The only consolation was that it had also rained back in Bradford. We were a party of 10 setting off from the Unitarian church and were joined by Robert, Linda and Edie. Fortunately Water's Edge has a superb visitor centre which acted as our base for two sorties, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We were joined by local botanists Angela and Stuart also Sarah, Alice's friend.Our morning walk took us along the foreshore of the Humber estuary with the Humber Bridge towering to our left. The skies were grey and the Humber a murky brown. The plants of the foreshore included Sea Aster, Wild Carrot, Mugwort, Henbit Dead-nettle and Wild Mignonette.The birds included Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. The rain was lashing down before us and we gravitated to the trees where we found shelter. The main party marched back to the visitors' centre whilst the botanists (a hardy bunch) stuck true to their mission of recording shrubs and flora. Along the path sides we found Guelder Rose, Dogwood, Bristly Ox-tongue, Fleabane, Black Mustard and Great Lettuce.
The two options for the afternoon were to remain at the centre (the preferred choice of six of the party) or to complete a walk in the woodland.The remainder of the party joined Angela and Stuart on this walk.We found several plants of interest growing on rough ground in front of the visitors' centre including Viper's Bugloss, Haresfoot Clover, Hoary plantain, Golden Melilot and Lady's Bedstraw. In the woodland we found Canadian Fleabane and Hedgerow Cranesbill. We emerged near the path we had taken in the morning where we found a good stand of Ploughman's Spikenard , followed by Gipsywort, Watermint and Purple Loosetrife by the lake. Stuart took us to view a patch of Centaury in seed growing on sandy soil. Despite the poor weather conditions a total of 120 plants were recorded. The bird count was 14 and included Greylag Geese, Mute Swans, Gadwall, Little Grebe and Coot in good numbers.
Our spirits were high and good humour prevailed. Thank go to our leaders Angela, Stuart and Margaret; to our drivers Sue and Robert and to Alice for her assistance throughout the day.
Margaret