RainStorm Barney was on its way. Rain and winds were predicted for the afternoon. As we drove away from the Mansion House car park around 2pm it was raining hard with considerable surface water on the road. I trust everyone got home safely. Not withstanding the Bees group numbering 11 was able to enjoy a late autumnal walk in cloudy conditions with some drizzle. As Mary commented she said she had found the walk "atmospheric".
Our route involved the perimeter of the Upper Lake onto Castle Folly then a gentle ascent/descent of the Gorge followed by a walk around Waterloo Lake onward to our mecca -the Lakeside café. We returned to the minibus via Barren's Fountain. Roundhay Park was originally built as the country estate of Thomas Nicholson between 1811 and 1819. It was sold to the City of Leeds in 1871 and has developed as a well loved public park with a variety of attractions.
The subjects of natural history interest included geological, fungi, ferns,trees and birding interest. On our Gorge walk we saw exposures of the shale deposits where the beck had cut its way through also a spring where the shale and sandstone rocks met. Fungi species were still very much in evidence on account of the lack of a frost to date. Of particular note was the White Saddle fungus also Dead Moll's Fingers. Other species included Stump Puffball, Ganodermas, Oak Milkcap, Smokey Bracket, Blushing Bracket, Hairy Curtain Crust, Birch Bracket, Candlesnuff, Jelly Ear and Turkeytail. The fern species included Hart's Tongue Fern and Hard Fern. The ground was a carpet of the leaves of Oak, Sycamore, Elder and Birch. The birds recorded totalled 22 and varied from woodland birds such as Jay and Robin to a bird of prey -a Buzzard and a varied collection of geese, swans, gulls and ducks on the two lakes. They included Goosander, Tufted Duck, Teal, Pochard and Cormorant.
The venue and walk was a wise choice and appreciated by the group. Thanks go to Vera for her support in leading the walk.
View images from today in the gallery
Margaret