Bluebell Beck Valley, March 2019.

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3rd March; The frogs were spawning, both in the main pond and (photo) in the water at the Mandale roundabout end of the path.

9th March; Some nice flowers enjoying the sun in the afternoon, even though Mandale Meadow was saturated.
The beck was full and running rapidly (the day had started with heavy sleet and rain but dried up mid-morning).
Standing water in several places on the main path and even impassable without wellies just north of the main pond.
At least it proved my new walking boots were waterproof.

15th March; Nice and sunny but a cold wind. The frogspawn was developing well and the trees & shrubs budding well.
Very wet between the beck and the main path but at least the latter was clear at the time.

16th March; A litter pick had been scheduled but a very wet morning put paid to that. As the rain had stopped for a while at lunchtime I thought I'd have a wander down for some photos anyway.
These photos were all taken walking down the path from the car park and past the footbridge - but only for about 100m before it was too wet (I was only wearing mud boots, not waders) and I turned back.
In the last photo (not as clear as I had hoped) you can just about see on the left the water gushing out of the field drains.
No sign of the frogspawn photographed yesterday. Hopefully just sunk away from the rain and would be back later.
It was definitely too wet for a litter pick, I didn't dare venture on the meadow for fear of over-topping my boots.

17th March; 24 hours made a bit of difference.
The beck was still a lot more full than usual, the smaller ponds had a fair amount of water in them, as well as the main one, and there were significant puddles on the path, though it was passable again.
The sentinel daffodils were still doing a fine job.

20th March; The path wasn't as wet, though by no means dry, and the meadows were very soggy in parts - still a day for mud boots.
Nice in the sun though, and the frogspawn had resurfaced after the weekend rain.

23rd March; Definitely more leaves on the trees every day, and more birds about as well.
Most of them would not sit still long enough for a portrait but there was an obliging egret between the footbridge and roundabout at Mandale.
Judging by the activity of the pair in the main pond there was to be more frogspawn soon.

27th March; A bit overcast and cool but always something to see.

28th March; Lovely afternoon.
The frogspawn in the pool near the roundabout end had gone but there were quite a few tadpoles there (and plenty of water for them).
I saw a curlew for the first time at one point but it was flying far too fast to photograph.

30th March; A lovely morning demanded an early walk.
Most of the birds were good at hiding/flying off before I could focus but there are always flowers to snap.

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