Winterhope

I woke up to a very fine and sunny morning after breakfast I headed of to Annan for an appointment with  my solicitor which I doubled up with a visit to the recycling centre to get rid of more accumulated rubbish. Having done my business I stopped off  at Gretna Gateway to purchase a much needed pair of slippers then off to The garden centre near Longtown for some lunch.

Later in the afternoon I received a text from Tootlepedal to see if I was interested in going for a walk. I suggested we have run up to Winterhope reservoir.

The following shots are my result of the excursion.

There seems to an abundance of wild orchids this year,

Some lambs enjoying the sunshine whilst others are taking advantage of a little bit of shade.

Mr Cockerel and his girls rushed to welcome us .

 I paused to take a shot of this rather exquisite rose.

The dam head looking rather imposing.

 Some young goosanders  out for a paddle

 This stinging nettle caught my eye

We were watched by some rather suspicious cattle on the horizon, I remarked to Tootlepedal that if we were boys they would've been Indians in our imagination

  

This is my one and only shot of the many dragonfly's that were about, I must admit it is heavily cropped.

The reservoir was teeming with these small fish, every so often there was a great flurry on the surface when they rose to the surface in unison for some reason

 I managed to get a shot.

One final look over the reservoir

 Just loved the contrast.

 Heading back I noticed crab apples were starting to form....

.....as were hazelnuts.

On the way back to the car we were invited in for some refreshments by Jean and Wattie Rutherford who have lived and worked at Winterhope for many years and have a extensive knowledge about the wildlife around the reservoir. On returning to Wauchope Cottage Tootlepedal kindly picked some blackcurrants for me which I have the notion to try and make some blackcurrant vodka. Mr & Mrs Tootlepedal are heading south tomorrow to meet up with family for a birthday celebration so I bid them a safe journey. 

on a footnote I am getting well settled in to my new home, lots to do yet but I can plod on at a more leisurely pace now.