With its spectacular panoramic mountain and sea views, North Walney is among the best coastal nature reserves in the UK. The huge variation in its habitats, including sand dunes, dune heathland, hay meadows, tidal mud flats, vegetated shingle and salt marshes all serve to make the visitor feel as if they are in a truly wild and remote location.
The Coniston fells are to the north, the Isle of Man out to the west, across the Irish Sea.
A Kestrel hovers, looking for a meal, while a young Goldfinch poses for a quick photo.
Ragwort, although toxic to some animals such as horses, is extremely beneficial to more than 150 species of insect including bees and butterflies, providing a very important source of nectar and pollen. The orange and black stripey caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth can usually be spotted in huge numbers on this plant, although there seem to be far fewer nowadays than I recall seeing as a child.
Harebells, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Clover, Thistle and Meadow Vetchling are amongst many wildflowers which grow in abundance on the reserve.
The former industries of sand and gravel extraction have left behind deep holes which have since become permanent ponds and important habitats in their own right.
Black Combe in the distance.
This reserve, along with several others in Cumbria, is home to the rare Natterjack Toad. I don't think this little fella was a Natterjack, but I think he was a toad of some description rather than a frog. He could certainly move fast, hence the blurry photo!
Wild Thyme, Rosebay Willowherb and Yarrow provide yet more nectar for many bees and butterflies, including the Gatekeeper, Common Blue and Small Copper.
Dragonflies and Damselflies are also here in abundance, taking advantage of the midgies and mosquitos around the ponds.
I think these are a Common Darter and a Southern Damselfly, but I'm not an expert and therefore not 100% certain.
A Swan family with four Cygnets came to see if we'd brought them anything to eat; they were disappointed on this occasion.
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| Walney Geranium |
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| Sea Holly |
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| Puffball Fungus |
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| Fledgling Stonechat |
As we headed towards the dunes at the northern tip of Walney, Black Combe was bathed in sunshine, revealing its many dips and slopes.
Ubiquitous wind turbines on Kirkby Moor and many more on the horizon. Love them or hate them; there's no escaping them.
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| Burdock |
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| Fox Moth Caterpillar |
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| A Curlew going home to roost |
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| Hobbit House? |
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| Overtaken by the tide |
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| Beach Fungi |
Rounding the northern tip of reserve, the beach stretched away for miles with not another person in sight, which just happens to be my favourite scenario.
We sat amongst the dunes and ate a picnic as the sun went down.
Perfect.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.
Ragwort, although toxic to some animals such as horses, is extremely beneficial to more than 150 species of insect including bees and butterflies, providing a very important source of nectar and pollen. The orange and black stripey caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth can usually be spotted in huge numbers on this plant, although there seem to be far fewer nowadays than I recall seeing as a child. 
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