Jumbles Reservoir, Bolton 25-9-2010.
Jumbles Jaunt.
The recent outing of Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society commenced at the car park by Jumbles Reservoir near Bolton. The Society Members were delighted to start in beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies, with the woodlands showing their first indications of autumn.
Initially walking North along the side of the reservoir, Black-headed Gulls, already lacking the summer plumage of smart brown heads, Great-crested Grebe and Mallard were observed on the water. After leaving the reservoir and continuing along the banks of Bradshaw Brook, a heron was seen sunning itself, as it perched on a quarry face. To the right, and from high above the path, a cascade of water fell over a vertical rock face shimmering with droplets and adorned with Woodrush and Golden Saxifrage.
In the woodland, Blushing Bracket Fungus was observed on some tree branches. Stands of Himalayan Balsam, not the most welcome of plants, were providing nectar sources for insects,(bees, wasps and flies) which, appeared quite ghostly white, (not to be identified as an unusual new species), as they became coated with pollen. Although not in great evidence, Speckled Wood, Comma, Red Admiral, and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were seen during the day.
Here Bradshaw Brook, still by the path, appeared to flow through a tunnel of overhanging branches, the water surface dappled by sparkling ripples in the filtering sunlight. Approaching Turton Bottoms, Nuthatch, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits were seen flitting among the trees, and onto some garden bird feeders.
A section of Witton Weavers Way was then followed in front of pretty stone cottages up to Edgworth. Several stops were made to identify various patches of fungus including Turkeytail, Ashen Knight Fungus and Earthballs. The path led on through Barlow Park Wood. Interestingly, this woodland and associated grounds were provided by a Victorian benefactor, Sir Thomas Barlow who was Royal Physician to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and George V. Not only had he donated the Woodland, but he had also arranged for the development of the bowling green, tennis courts, swimming pool and Barlow Institute Buildings. Later in the walk the modest house, where he was born and marked by a plaque was passed.
After lunch, the walk circled back to Turton Bottoms, where a brief stop at the Black Rock Community Orchard was made. This pleasant area is a recent development, as it was only planted with fruit trees in 2008. It was lovely to see some of these young trees already bearing appetising-looking red apples. Leaving this area to return by the stream, one observant Member had a fleeting glimpse of a Roe Deer.
To complete the walk, a route along the West side of Jumbles Reservoir and through Ouzel Nest Meadow was followed. The final observations of the day were of some Crested Coral Fungus discovered as Members climbed back up the slope to the car park and their starting point.