Busy day

 

Started off the day by going to the local drive in centre for my covid jab. Everything was very well organised and I was only there about 25 minutes.

Then home and hopefully see a few birds to enter onto the Big garden birdwatch.

A nice few birds for a change, and then my neighbours cat came to sit on the fence. I don't know who caused more disturbance, the cat on the fence or me chasing it away.

Walk around "my patch"

 Decided to have a walk around my patch today. The weather was cold and cloudy and wet and muddy underfoot. I walk on Hob Moor several times a week whilst taking my sons dog for a walk, but dont often get chance to stop and look at things.

The walk around the outside of the moor is about 2 miles. After all the rain the footpath is muddy.

Lots of house sparrows in the bushes on this part of the moor. I don't often see them, just hear them.

Too much water to walk through the trees.

On the moor itself there is a lot of water.

Gulls are finding these areas attractive.

A mixture of black headed gulls and common gulls. They appeared to be finding plenty of food, and several carrion crows were with them.

As I walked along this edge of the moor, there is a stream running along between the moor and the railway line. Today the level is quite high and so I did not manage to see either a kingfisher or a grey wagtail, as I have on previous visits.

There are several "grids" that the water flows through and stops rubbish blocking it. Someone has recently moved it from the grid onto the bank.

The other side of the stream there is a model railway. This is one of the stops.

At one edge of the moor, there is a supermarket and several mature trees.

 In the trees there were several goldfinches. The next part of the walk is close to a housing estate and there are several bird feeders. Lots of house sparrows flying back and forth and a small flock of starlings. In the hedge there are still a few berries

some catkins are also in this area.

I did not see any different birds on the rest of my walk.

Coincidence!

 A day of rain, the forecast promised an improvement in the afternoon, but it did not happen. So did various jobs. I have been putting lots of food out for the birds to help them in the cold weather, and also to see if I can beat my usual nil score in the big garden birdwatch.

Only saw one house sparrow today, don't know where the others were. One blue tit, and a usual robin. Plenty of male blackbirds, chasing each other about, perhaps another sign of spring!

One of the jobs I did was to try to work out how the time lapse option on one of my cameras works. Still work in process. However in the camera was a memory card, so I decided to look at the pictures. Listening to a radio programme featuring old songs and one was "Lost in France", and some of the pictures on the card are from a trip to France!

After an overnight trip on a coach and ferry our first stop was at a centre that showed what life was like in the past.

Snail farm was next.

More tomorrow, dog permitting!

Burns Day

 Out early this morning with my sons dog. These pictures were taken on Hob Moor.

Someone had broken the ice and stacked the ice.

Carrion crows, wood pigeons, black headed gulls, magpies, blackbirds, starlings and a great tit were out looking for food.

After a visit to the dentist, it was time for a walk in West Bank Park.

The sun had melted some of the frost

a few signs of spring

robins were singing and a few male blackbirds were out turning leaves over looking for food.

No sign of any birds in the garden today. They are obviously getting ready for this weekends big garden bird watch, when it looks as if it could be another nil return!

3 more ticks in lockdown

 Needed to do some shopping, so called in at Askham Bog on the way.

Lots of snow still on the golf course.

still frost on the vegetation

very crunchy underfoot

Lots of small birds about, the robins were very friendly.

I took some bird food with me and put small amounts on the top of fence posts.

Wood pigeon, blackbird, robin, blue, coal, great and willow tits were soon flying down to feed. As I walked around the reserve I saw a nuthatch busy looking for food, and lots of wrens dashing about. A dunnock was feeding on the ground. I heard jays chattering but was unable to locate them.

Now that I am home the fog has suddenly descended, so I am glad that I went out earlier. Another 3 birds to add to my year list..