The latter part of Autumn 2014

As the year draws to a close the weather has generally become worse, winds have strengthened and rain has become more frequent, both combining to make walking less pleasurable and making wildlife photography more challenging.

 

Retirement has meant I can be more choosy about when to set off out, no longer the necessity to get out at weekends whatever the weather!

 

This time of year also sees free midweek parking at one of our favourite sites...Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale and we chose a rare sunny day for a walk through the woodland and riverbank trail.

 

It would be a poor day there without a dipper!

 

Light in the woodland was poor and I had to turn the camera ISO up to maximum to get a decent shutter speed, this unfortunately results in "grainy" or less clear shots.

 

A lovely little wren stayed in view for a while...

 

In one of the woodland shelters a family of wood mice feed well on the seeds left for birds, lightning quick raids can be witnessed as they pile up their larders ready for winter. Rarely do I have an opportunity for a decent photograph, on this occasion I was lucky...

 

Blue tits were very vocal and visible as we strolled along the leaf covered paths, the trees although now nearly stripped nearly bare let little light through..

 

A nuthatch descended to feed on a coconut shell filled with goodies...

 

We diverted onto a small lane in seek of better light as the skies became cloud filled, scanning round with binoculars we discovered a kestrel perched in a bush, a quiet and gentle approach got us near enough for a reasonable shot.

 

The following week I went to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve for a midweek visit, the first decent sighting of the day was a marsh harrier.

 

Soon after an otter surfaced in the distance...this had all the makings of a great day!

 

 

A fellow visitor alerted me to the presence of a bittern in flight, shame I was too slow to get a proper focus on the bird!

 

 

 

Robins always offer themselves as subjects by the paths as I moved to a different hide...

 

 

 

Snipe were feeding well in the pool edges, their long bill helps them extract small insects and creatures from the mud.

 

 



 

Shovellers are marvellously well named, this is a male...

 



Then a real treat as a normally shy and reclusive water rail appeared right in front of me...

 

The UK's largest land mammal the red deer also provided a lovely view before it was time for me to pack my gear and head home...

 

The following midweek I was looking after grand-daughter Isla as her secondary school were hosting pupil reviews in the evening the kids were excused attendance during the day. She loves nature and wildlife so we found ourselves back at Bolton Abbey on a cold but bright day.

 

Suitable attired for the walk we set off down the riverbank, a male goosander was our first sighting.

 

 

At the shelter and in good light a wonderful nuthatch entertained us with a variety of poses...

 

 

 

 

A sweet little coal tit joined us for a brief moment...as they do!

We spotted a goldfinch in maybe the darkest part of the woods on our way back...

 

 

My next walk was a canal towpath venture that I did not think out properly...the amount of rain we have had recently should have told me that wellington boots should be worn, not to worry my boots did eventually become clean again!

 

I was on the lookout for fieldfares generally classed, along with redwings, as a winter thrush they are usually to be found on bushes that bear berries although they will feed in fields if food is scarce.

 

When they first arrive they are really tough to get close to, this was the expected result from my first sighting of the day...

 

A fine male goosander was some compensation though...

 

Then spying fieldfare ahead I moved really cautiously until I was in a decent position for photographs.

 

 

I had seen brief glimpses of kingfishers in flight but with little time in hand I had resolved to return another day to seek better sightings. Back at my car and beginning to put my gear away I caught sight of movement out of the corner of my eye, turning slowly I was greeted by the sight of a kingfisher!

 

Slowly retrieving the camera from the car I got some lovely shots, maybe the best one only spoilt by twigs in the way, ah well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite a strange and distinct difference with my next outing which was in freezing mist up on the moor!

 

Needless to say I saw little, except this beautiful young male grouse...

 

Later I was by the canal again, this time in wellingtons! No kingfishers this time but a lovely female goosander...

 

 

....and a beautiful female blackbird.

 

Very sincere thanks to all who view/read, please don't forget if you leave a comment that they come to me first for moderation before they appear on here.







Getting out again after a difficult time

Hello again readers and viewers, my first update for quite some time and for a good reason.

 

I knew some months ago that my Mum was seriously ill and my family and I have spent many hours looking after her in her own home for as long as we could. She entered a nursing home in May and after more deterioration she passed away quietly in her sleep on the 12th August. I was unable to be with her as me and close family were 250 miles away in Pembrokeshire, too far away to contemplate trying to get home and a desperate attempt to rescue a fairly happy holiday for our grand-children ensued.

 

The effort put into Mum's care and visits to the nursing home left me desperately tired and bereft of the enthusiasm to keep the blog up to date. With the passing of time the enthusiasm has returned and my walks have become more regular and enjoyable rather than escapes from reality.

 

The dry summer has blessed us with dry and firm paths, particularly the canal towpath which was a quagmire in Spring!

 

 

Robins are always a delight to watch and listen to.      

 

 

This swan looked so elegant in the low light of evening.

 

 

The butterflies have been delightful this year with the gentle and warm weather, now not many are still flying but the speckled wood is still active.

 









 

 

We walked another section of the canal near Bank Newton just by Gargrave, there are some delightful views to be enjoyed along here.

 



 

 

 

We watched swallows gathering and taking little sips of water in their fast flight, many attempts at capturing the moment resulted in one successful shot of a young swallow as it leaves the disturbed surface of the water.

 

Another late flying butterfly...the small tortoiseshell...

 

 

Wharfedale is a firm favourite of mine, particularly the river and woodland walk at Bolton Abbey and I headed over early one morning to see if the dippers were visible. When the waters are high they tend to disappear up the side streams and can be difficult to locate, on this day I was in luck!

 

 

 

Another robin to delight me with its eloquent song...

 

 

...and the entertaining grey wagtail whose fluttering flight as it chases small insects always draws the eye.

 

To round my morning off, another butterfly this time a rare sighting of the tiny small copper...

 

It has been a while since we visited Leighton Moss RSPB reserve and after a check on the weather we arranged an early morning journey over to this wonderful site near Carnforth.

 

The red deer are best seen in early morning or late afternoon, we had a visit from a single female this time.

 

 

The UK's smallest wader is the little stint, sparrow sized and not people friendly so excuse the distant shot!

 

 

With the size of grey herons they look almost comical with huge effort it takes to launch themselves skywards...

 

We have just missed the height of the dragonfly season but I did manage to capture a blue darter in flight...

 

 

A little grebe appeared not too far from our hide...

 

With the lack of rain water levels have dropped and rarely seen birds such as water rail are now becoming more visible....

 

Three great white egret were in residence, bigger than herons they are a commanding presence..

 

We had a visit from three snipe, lovely and delightful birds.

 

 

A ruff flew in..

 

 

One of the great white egrets decided to join a colony of black tailed godwits which caused a temporary commotion!

 

A grand day indeed.

 

Another visit to Wharfedale, another grey wagtail, a slightly confusing name but there is a yellow wagtail which is more yellow and less grey if that helps!

 

 

More time studying dippers which you will have guessed are a personal favourite...

 

 

Mandarin ducks, originally escapees but now breeding along here.

 

A rather unequal battle between a herring gull and a crayfish, even this large invasive signal crayfish was no match for the superior size of the gull.

 

Another wagtail, this time a pied one up in a tree...

 

 

More time by the canal near home as I begin to reacquaint myself with the ebbs and flows of local wildlife.

 

 

Always time for a robin...

 

 

Good to see sunlight highlighting the many and lovely colours of a moorhen...

 

 

And finally another speckled wood butterfly...

And the summer is almost gone now, leaves are crisping and falling or turning their lovely Autumn gold. A great reminder of the cycle of life, things replenish and renew, but before that there is decay and loss. A beautiful and wondrous event occurs as life refreshes itself from the embers left behind by others, birds migrate and many will have left already, many will arrive in the next few weeks to feast on the rich harvest of our fine summer.

 

Life goes on with its own rhythms....

 

Many thanks to all who read, if you do comment please remember they come to me first for moderation.

 

Cheers for your patience and understanding