Visit to Strangford and Nugent's Wood

Last week I met my U3A Nature group in the afternoon at Portaferry when Brian Gibson, our leader took us into Nugent’s Wood to see the wildflowers. I decided to make a day of it and left in the morning making my way to Strangford to visit a National Trust property called Castle Ward (more about that is another post).  I had an hour to spare before crossing over on the ferry to Portaferry so I sat in the sun, having my  lunch and watching all the was happening on the water most of which you will see on the video at the end.

This Pied Wagtail kept me company while I had my lunch.

This is the ferry  I travelled over to Portaferry on.

Off I go in the ferry.

Brian showed us these tiny Ferns on the wall and also many other wildflowers as we walked though this wood.

This is most of the group that visited the wood.

The highlight of the wood were the numerous Bluebells and white Cow Parsley and the beautiful lime green of the new growth of the trees.

It was a lovely walk through the wood yet at all times we still had a view of the Strangford Lough.

The cream candle flowers of the Horse Chestnut tree.

I think this tree decided to have a ‘rest’!

I saw several Speckled Wood butterflies and although I took this shot for the record, it is not good.

During our walk, I saw a Robin, some of the Tits family, a Dunnock, a few Chaffinch and heard a Willow Warbler.

After leaving the wood, I went over on the ferry again, picked up my car and on the way home called into the hide at Island Hill.

There were quite a number of Duck, Grebe, Tern, Swallow, Swan, Cormorant, and some Waders on the other side of the lake.

I will leave you with the bright Gorse that was growing all along this road.

You can access the video at

http://youtu.be/oSucOhco3XY

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.  

Thank you for visiting.  

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