This year we were given an annual pass for Dalby Forest. I had only driven through it once before and have been pleasantly surprised by the variation in walks, trees and wildlife that it has to offer. Our first visit this year was on a cold and grey day but we did manage to see a Roe deer and enjoyed a very peaceful walk. This time the weather was much nicer as an overcast morning gave way to a sunny late afternoon.
After a Fish and Chip lunch in Pickering we drove towards the east entrance to the forest. The refreshing scent of pine trees entered the car as we approached. We parked and chose to do two of the way marked routes.
Herb Robert
Making our way down a steep slope we reached the track in the bottom of the valley - there were some Common Spotted orchids starting to flower
Cuckoo flower
In a meadow area we saw these grasshoppers
near a stream the Yellow iris were flowering
A rather colourful caterpillar (if you know what species this is please let me know - somebody did comment that they thought it was a five or six spot Burnet moth)
Leaving the beck we climbed back up and followed a forest trail to a view point
By now most of the country had rushed home to watch England play and we more or less had the forest to ourselves. We stopped by a lake and were met in the car park by this Pied wagtail.
Approaching the lake a family of Canada geese swam towards us. The goslings had got to the "scruffy stage"
Further out in the lake were pairs of Tufted ducks
Ragged-robin was growing near the lake
A quick walk around the lake and we left the forest. We still have plenty more to explore so we will be back soon.
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