A trip to Barry Mill

[Nicola Main]

This afternoon my mum and I went with Fraoch (our black lab) to Barry Mill and took a picnic. What lovely weather we have had today with only a slight breeze coming in from the east every so often. We left our house at about half past 12. As we were walking through the wood we noticed that all the leaves are beginning to open on the trees. As we were walking up the lane beside Shanwell Cemetery we heard the Buzzard off to our right but didn't see it. A couple of Peacock butterflies flew past us and landed on the warm stones and began to sunbathe. As we continued up the road beside Pitskelly Farm a 7-spot Ladybird flew past us with wings vibrating so fast it was blurred and landed neatly in the grass beside the road. We also heard the Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the belt of trees beside the big house. There was also a lot of bumblebees buzzing around but I have no idea what species they were. As we journeyed on past the fields bordering the road we heard a number of Skylarks singing far up in the sky. What a lovely sound it is, isn't it?

We crossed the new road that cuts across ours and walked past Ravensby House were there are boarding kennels. A Wren was enjoying creeping about on the mossy drystone wall flanking the road. A Robin began to sing in a tree not far away and was followed by a Dunnock and then a Chaffinch. Fraoch began to wag her tail frantically because she could here the burn tumbling up ahead and she kept on going ahead of us and then looking back as if to say 'Hurry up will you I want to have a swim!'. A Small Tortoiseshell was basking on the drystone wall and as we approached it took off and went over the wall. We turned the corner and there was Barry Mill (owned by the National Trust for Scotland), it is a lovely building and has been occupied since 1539. The bridge over the Barry Burn has a decorative picture of a man and an old plough on it. We carried on past the mill and walked up beside the burn. Fraoch was in it as soon as possible. I looked up the burn a little way and noticed a Grey Wagtail on one of the rocks. It was wagging its tail up and down (well what else did you expect it was going to be doing?) and flashing its sulphur-yellow underparts. Fraoch seen it and was intrigued by it ('What's that flashing yellow thing?') she must have thought and went bounding after it almost breaking her legs on the large rocks underneath the water. We went up the walk to the mill lade at the top (Fraoch constantly going back into the water every now and then). This really is a magical place to visit and I just love coming here. There were plenty of the common woodland birds about, like Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Woodpigeons. I kept on keeping a look out for the Grey Wagtail and I seen it up ahead on a large boulder, it must have been following us! Eventually we got to the mill lade and the sun was shining through the trees and it was so nice. I looked up the bank and I'm pretty sure I saw a Roe deer because something went bounding away from the edge of the bank. There were a lot of Mayflies and other insects flying above the water. Another Peacock Butterfly went flying past us.

We came back down the walk and sat on a picnic table and had our lunch. Fraoch was rock-hunting in the burn, she would scrabble at the rocks underneath the water and then put her whole head under and come back up with a huge rock in her mouth and then come to the bank and put it down. By the time we had finished eating there was a small pile of rubble on the edge of the bank. She's some dog all right. We came back down to the mill and crossed the bridge to come home. As we went past Ravensby House we heard the Pheasant but didn't see it. A Pied Wagtail flew ahead of us and landed on the wall watching us. It has been a day of wagtails! Nothing much else was seen until we got to Pitskelly Farm and there were a lot of Chaffinches flitting about showing their white wing and tail flashes. A Greenfinch was singing in a tree. We didn't go down the lane like we did coming up but cut across a grassy field. There were a lot Daisies in flower and my mum spotted little blue flowers poking up through the grass. Upon closer inspection I found out they were Common Field-Speedwell. We cut through a small section of wood and down a hill to a small quarry area where Rabbits are numerous. Fraoch saw one at the bottom of the hill but was too tired to chase it. A Small White Butterfly flew past us and landed on one of the sandy hills in front of us. The first of the year! Well that's about it, thanks for listening to my little ditty and I hope you liked it! Nicola.

[nightshade]

This sounds like a really good day with a fair sprinkling of wildlife
good report thank you

[aeshna5]

Sounds like a lovely day out Nicola- you give the story plenty of atmosphere. Grey Wagtails are one of my favourite birds.

[goosey]

Sounds like a lovey day out Nicola, A nice descriptive report, I could almost imagine it as I read along. A picnic, plenty of wildlife and flowers - how lovely. Beats hemming trousers even if I did sit in the garden to do it - highlight of my day was spotting a Brimstone moth caterpillar in the buddleia. You'll sleep well tonight after all that fresh air

[Ollie]

That was a nice report Nicola. When I read a report if I can visualize the setting and see the views and the wildlife as though I am there myself then that makes it for me. Needless to say I could do this very easily with your report. Pleased you had a great afternoon and thanks for sharing it with us.
Roger

[Nicola Main]

Thank you for all your lovely replies, I enjoyed reading them! Sorry I haven't been on in a while so this post is rather late! Nicola.