2nd February 2013, Leighton Moss and a grand day!!

With a forecast of cold weather but the prospect of clear blue skies and sunshine we took no persuading at all to plan another day at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. With all the gear prepared the night before we were up and away in good time and arrived at the reserve soon after nine o'clock, rather than starting at the main centre we went straight down the causeway to the public hide, on the way a lovely swan was on one of the ponds.

We were no sooner settling in at the hide when someone spotted an otter, about 80 yards away so photographs were not easy but we had some amazing views through the binoculars and spotting scope. Thankfully the otter presented various parts of its anatomy above the water and I managed to capture a few decent shots!

The otter did not stay long and to keep warm on such a freezing cold day we didn't either, wandering on down the causeway a small group of people were gazing intently down one of the channels, a kingfisher looked somewhat indignantly back at us from its perch in a tree..

After a second or two the kingfisher adopted a friendlier and more photogenic stance..

The robins that normally abound here were not much in evidence, this shot through some twigs was the only one I managed in the morning..

A trip back to the car and a short drive to the main car park followed, some hot drinks to warm up and then we set out to the two hides near the centre. A grey squirrel was feasting on seeds that had been placed for the birds..

Eventually it moved sufficiently far away for the birds to gain confidence in feeding, first a marsh tit..

Then a blue tit..

Settled in the hides at least we were out of the cold wind, sightings were good with a grey heron showing close enough for a couple of good shots..

And the beautiful sight of an elegant little egret...

Scenically the views were excellent, blue sky really does make a difference:-)

The expected robin turned up eventually...

The walk down to the lower hide usually pays dividends in the afternoon, the marsh harriers seem to enjoy this area late in the day, my best shots so far but I still hope to do better one day.

As the light faded I think our enthusiasm did too, the cold began to bite and we decided we had better set off towards the car. The waters and mood down one of the channels just radiated tranquility..

One last bird photograph as a great tit took advantage of the feeders by the main centre..

A few minutes of the car engine running got some warmth from the heater, fingers and toes thawed and we could reflect on another superb day of wildlife sights.

26th January 2013, Playing in the snow

Heavy snowfall was forecasted by late Friday afternoon, when I had reached home from work there was no sign, during my usual hour in the pub the concensus was that the forecasters had got it wrong again as barely a flake of snow could be seen.

Wrong, wrong and wrong again!! By late Friday night the snow had arrived, later than expected and much heavier than was really welcome, rain was forecasted for Saturday afternoon so we were up and ready for a walk quite early.

Heading up through the fields near home and taking a look back...

The first couple of fields are popular with dog walkers, hence the number of prints. Looking across to Nab End which is part of Rombalds Moor the view was stunning..

As we climbed the number of human and dog prints diminished, this looked as though a fox had wandered through..

Another look back, this time over untrodden snow..

And another look over to Nab End...

Ruins of Tar Topping are near the top of the hill..

Not much wildlife to see but the sunny blue skies were more than pleasant, welly clad feet were dry and though the walking was not easy it was a real pleasure to be out.

The hardy hill sheep don't worry too much about a fall of snow, supplementary feed is out but they forage quite happily in most weather.

I had an idea where we might find some deep and unwalked snow and we took a short walk on a tarmac lane before a turning back down towards the valley...

I was sent ahead as depth tester! Nothing too scary though and we found more fox tracks which we followed, the tracks were interspersed with what appeared to be pounce marks, foxes will catch a scent of a vole or mouse moving beneath the snow..

The warmth was evident in this small but free flowing field stream as it gurgled its way downhill..

As we lost height some wildlife began to appear, first a coal tit..

Then a meadow pipit which took to the air as I composed my shot and pressed the shutter release..ah well nearly!!

We descended through the hamlet of Kildwick Grange and took a field path down to the canal...no kingfishers on here today!

We carried straight on through the gate over the bridge in the hope that the river may yield more sightings...this overflow pond certainly wouldn't!

A chirpy walltop robin caught my eye...and stayed long enough for a photograph..

Poking the camera through a hedge does not often result in a great photograph, this meadow pipit is no better than I expected:-)

Crossing the canal again on our way home disclosed its still well frozen state..

A redwing provided another opportunity, a shame I could get the angle to show the colours better..

We had made an omission in our kit for the day, sunglasses! Both of us were suffering with headaches, more than likely from the reflected glare in the bright sun. As we neared home I suffered a slip, wellington boots are great for keeping dry but the grips on mine leave a lot to be desired, two pirouhettes might have won me approbation from judges but it wasn't nice.

After lunch at home I set out again, no discomfort from the slip at this point, just a short walk down the other side of town to see if I could discover more wildlife.

Success nearly straightaway as a lapwing scavenged for food in a field.

The view westwards was splendid with the valley under a cloak of snow..

Another lapwing posed happily for me:-)

I was now starting to have back pain, undoubtedly the result of my slip and I decided to head back to town and the warmth of the pub!!

A grooming swan always warrants attention though...

And the many splendoured starling too..

A day of inactivity normally lets my back settle down, normal service will be resumed shortly:-))

20th January 2013, A Bolton Abbey circular in the snow

Choices were limited today, the light was not good and snow was forecast for later in the day. Road conditions were OK though and we decided on a riverbank and woodland wander over at Bolton Abbey, parking places at our preferred start of Barden Bridge were all occupied so we returned up the road and found a space by the Priests House at Barden.

The priory ruins looked atmospheric with the covering of snow and the slate grey sky..

We didn't have to wait long for a bird sighting, everyones favourite..a robin..

The river Wharfe was in good flow as it gushed past the aqueduct..

The cold nature of the weather is portrayed quite well by these riverbank icicles reflected in the dark water.

A short diversion off path by a tributary stream found us no wildlife but the cascades were in good form..

Trying to get a decent focus on this blue tit proved beyond my frozen fingers!

Resuming our walk by the river we then found a nuthatch posing somewhat strangely by parking its bum in some snow!

Walkers had left food for the birds and we watched a coal tit feeding happily...well they were titbits!

The path was extremely icy, some were slipping and sliding their way round, our yaktrax proved their worth again as we walked without mishap even on the steeper sections.

Peering through the riverbank shrubbery I managed a shot of a male goosander..

We listened to the sweet song of a nuthatch and looking around for the source we found another nuthatch listening intently.

Brief sightings of dippers occurred but none close enough for the camera in these conditions, as we reached the cafe and the bridge we would cross for the return I did manage a couple of shots..

A group of goosanders resting out of the water were spotted just up stream..

Some kind soul had wedged a fatball in a tree, great and blue tits queued up for a bite!

Food scattered on the path was being zealously guarded by a blackbird..

Another lovely robin posed happily..

We were walking briskly to keep warm, despite plenty of suitable clothing the cold wind soon bit if we loitered for any time.

The view down to the river through snowy trees was enchanting at times.

Just before the uphill road walk back to the car we found the abominable snowman:-))

We hurried from this point!