Bolton Abbey & Strid Woods 11th Jan 2012

I had a free afternoon today, attending the funeral this morning of a lovely man who had lived a full and happy life left me in the mood to be outside, dull and wet weather notwithstanding.

Bolton Abbey and Strid Woods offer some shelter from damp skies, plenty of hopes of good bird sightings, good paths...and at this time of the year free midweek parking.

Almost immediately upon leaving Sandholme car park, (normally £6.50), I spotted a grey heron, the camera was switched on and settings checked, I was delighted at the result in the low light at full zoom across the river.

Soon I reached the Strid where the powerful flow of the river Wharfe condenses into a narrow gorge, the noise was unbelievable as the water crashed through.

Slowing the camera shot down for a long exposure adds a little calm to the turbulence.

The usual suspects of great, blue and coal tits flitted among the trees, a treecreeper too but in the low light photography was once again difficult.

Turning across the aqueduct to return to the car I headed back through the woods, another treecreeper was frustratingly just out of range and a couple of nuthatches appeared and then disappeared.

The Harrison Ford Shelter, great name but no showbiz connection! People tend to scatter bird food around its boundaries and it consequently attracts visitors of the avian and human variety. My sort was in mercifully short supply and I had the place to myself for about fifteen minutes, brambling, great and coal tits and a nuthatch were my guests! Not great light again but the pix were not bad.

The weekend offers chances of cold temperatures, frost and bright skies. After the dullness and slow camera speeds of the last few weeks that would be most welcome!!!