3rd-4th August 2013, Wharfedale, canal and lanes, and Leighton Moss

The weather at the weekend was a bonus, not looking too promising all week yet when it finally arrived it was pleasantly good.

I had planned a very early start over in Wharfedale, not early because I thought I would see more wildlife but because I thought I would see less people! On the road at 6.30am and at my Barden Bridge destination before 7.00 I blessed my preparations, the waterproofs were packed and needed as a brisk shower fell soon after I began my walk. There wasn't much to see and I kept the camera packed away for a while, as the rain ceased I optimistically hoped some sunshine may appear but it was some time before any brightness filtered into the woodland.

Eventually though a few rays found there way through and I began to find some subjects...fungi on a tree..

Down at the river a young dipper...

More youngsters, a chaffinch and a blue tit as I reached the half way point of my walk and crossed the bridge for the return...

Not much reward for my early start but if you don't try you see even less!

Nearly back at the car a treetop goldfinch..

The weather was settled now and after a re-fuel at home I set out again, this time using the canal towpath and some country lanes to explore to the east of my home town of Silsden.

A mallard at least offered a sunlit photograph...

Swallows rested on a field side fence..

The settled weather has seen a profusion of butterflies, here I think is a small heath..

Moorhens are lovely, quirky birds, rarely still and not the easiest to get sharp shots of, here a youngster heads out for some exploration..

I am trying to get better at flight shots, swallows are maybe not the easiest ones to practice on but I got a couple of reasonable results. The blobs in the pix must be insects magnified by my lens as they only appear in some shots and always in different places.

Another beautiful butterfly, the peacock, completed my shots for the day.

Discussions took place over Saturday evening as to the viability of a trip to Leighton Moss over near Carnforth in Lancashire. My assertion that the forecast of reasonable weather until early afternoon would be correct but that the weather would hold for longer eventually won, some preparatory work was undertaken, lens and camera cleaned and battery put on charge, and alarm set for silly o'clock again!!!

The day started slowly again, a blue tit appeared momentarily as we walked to our first hide...

A cormorant perched out in the water...

Some views of distant marsh harriers were entertaining enough but I was eager for more photographic opportunities.

A patient study of movement in nearby shrubs proved profitable as eventually a beautiful little sedge warbler posed for just long enough...

A reliable mallard posed nicely in the sun...

And that was that for the morning session, we retired to the car for a picnic lunch and a rest.

Re-envigoured and always hopeful we ventured out again in the now bright sunshine...we found a swan enjoying a splash and revelling in the cooling results...

A tiny moorhen chick...

A grey heron hunted out in the reeds...

A lovely little snipe shuffled around near the hide...

The juvenile marsh harriers occasionally flew near enough for me to try a shot or two...

The snipe stayed nearby...

My nearest view of the harrier turned out to be a silhouette...

The little egrets are wonderful to see...

A lovely red deer fawn appeared...

Joined later by some adult females with occasional visits from the marsh harrier as well...

Another great and rewarding, if tiring, weekend.

Many thanks to all readers, the numbers are much appreciated and make the small job of compiling and writing the blog very worthwhile.

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The next blogs will be from Norfolk, hopefully the WIFI in the property we are renting will have sufficient bandwith for me to keep things up to date!