Monsal Dale & The Monsal Trail,Sunday 3rd June 2018.

A planned day out today with Mrs R,walking in the White Peak area of Derbyshire,saw us taking in the fantastic scenery around Monsal Head,Monsal Dale and the Monsal Trail.
 A really good mix of birds,insects and wild flowers were seen on our visit,the following is a summary of what we saw.
 We started our walk from Monsal Head to the sound of a Garden Warbler singing away near to the Monsal Head view point,this was quickly followed by a singing male Redstart,which i never did see and then some lovely views of adult and juvenile Dippers along the River Wye.
 As we walked along the Wye,exploring the very impressive Monsal Dale,bird highlights included more great Dipper views along the river and my first Spotted Flycatcher's of the year being heard and seen with 2 individuals recorded.
 The wildflowers along Monsal Dale were absolutely amazing to see,with a real good mix of species and included Bugle,Wood Forget-me Not,Comfrey,Water Avens,Common-spotted Orchids and a new species for myself,Toothwort.
 The latter was found growing under a Hazel canopy and is quite an unusual plant,being related to the Broomrapes.It is a parasitic species growing on it's host species root system as with the Broomrape family,a great sighting and a big thanks to John for the ID.
 Some really nice insects were also encountered today on the walk and included a cracking male Cockchafer,a Buff Tip Moth which i found roosting on a Hogweed stem,the first Brown Hawker of the year which Trace spotted along the river and several Orange Tip and another first for the year in the form of a Large Skipper.
 After re-tracing our footsteps we walked partially along the Monsal Trail seeing a couple of Raven along the way and then through the impressive Headstone Tunnel up to the old station at Hassop for a well earned lunch/tea.
 After a good fill of food it was again retracing our footsteps to the sound of another singing male Redstart near Hassop station and back to the car at Monsal Head.
 What a great day out in some brilliant scenery and with some cracking wildlife,wildflowers and birds to boot,we will certainly be making a return visit!.

The River Wye At Ashford In The Water.

The Wye Valley Taken From Monsal Head.

Monsal Dale And The River Wye Taken From Monsal Head.

The River Wye In Wye Dale.

The River Wye Taken In Monsal Dale.

The Unusual Toothwort,Just Beginning To Break through In Monsal Dale.

Male Cockchafer,Monsal Dale,Pic Taken With The S8.

One Of The Lovely Views Taken Along The Monsal Trail.