Having time to explore wildlife sites that have been on the "to do" list for quite a while will be fun, as the trees turn their beautiful golden and russet autumn colours it does not take too much effort to set off out.
One that has been on our list for a long time is Old Moor, Dearne Valley RSPB reserve. Situated near Barnsley it meant a navigation around the urban conurbations to the south and east of us, map simulations suggested around a two hour journey whichever route we chose on a weekday, no fun for a fifty mile car ride but we chose a day when the weather was good and set off.
The expected two hours was accurate and that eased the frustration of sitting in traffic for what seemed a long time, we located the reserve easily and settled into our first hide for the day.
Pretty soon we had a good binocular view of a green woodpecker flying towards us, it flew to a nearby tree where canopy cast a shadow so deep the colours of this spectacular bird all but disappeared...
Working round the hides where the lagoons are more visible our first was of fleeing waders, not good!
Happily the birds soon settled, many were the delightful golden plover...
You may spot some green plovers, better known as peewits or lapwings, in amongst the other birds. One of the lapwings presented a wonderful reflection shot opportunity...
Before lunch we took a quick look in the garden hide, there were plenty of small birds to be seen on the feeders, I prefer to take my photographs in a natural setting wherever possible and I decided to wait for further opportunities.
We had a visit from a lovely magpie displaying quite a wide spectrum of the colours that can be seen from the iridescent feathering...
Not too many dragonflies are still flying, the common darter is among those few...
Time for lunch, in the afternoon we did another round of the various hides plus some that had been closed for reed cutting in the morning.
A shoveller duck paddled not too far away...
Then a bonus as a lovely kingfisher flew in at a reasonable distance for my lens...
Black headed gulls hovered nearby...
The kingfisher flew by again...
Before circling round and settling in some distant reeds...
A few days later and we are on the outskirts of Leeds, Yeadon Tarn is small but well worth a visit if only for the great crested grebes...
And a few miles away an opportunity to photograph one of our iconic birds of prey, red kite were virtually extinct until a re-introduction scheme a few years ago. One of the schemes took place at Harewood House near Leeds, if you study the favoured habitat of the kites and drive around the area they are not too hard to find. Gorgeous birds and the colours to be seen as they glide around with the sun highlighting their feathers is just stunning...
Another Wharfedale outing by the river as the weather is untrustful, a short walk as the promised rain kept away for a short time...
A dipper displaying the white inner eyelids that protect its eyes while it takes its underwater wanders in search of food.
Walking through the woods a robin sings its sweet melody...
A family of wood mice inhabit the walls of a welcome shelter, they continue to defy my attempts at a sharp and clear picture. Such is the darkness of the shelter shutter speeds of above 1/25th of a second are not often achievable...
At some times of the year nuthatches are very visible, apart from feeder shots at this time of year sightings tend to be more long distance, treasured nonetheless...
The afore mentioned golden leaves of autumn are starting to appear....
As autumn progresses I hope to monitor the changes in the trees and bushes, together with the arrival of some favourite and characterful birds that are already starting to appear.
The love of wildlife and the great world of being out in the fresh air continues to grow...
Many thanks to all who read, please don't forget that if you do comment they come to me first for moderation.
