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..

Sun and Snow

 Quite a contrast weather-wise between Tuesday and today.

a nice sunny day for a walk in the local park on Tuesday. My walk today across Hob Moor to the pond to feed the ducks was much different.

the coots had to swim along paths of open water

the ducks were also keeping in line.

Feeding time

 For todays exercise  I walked to the Railway Pond.

Lots of people out walking. I have to go through the tunnel under the railway, and despite signs saying keep left, people insist in walking three abreast! Lots of people on the moor, I counted 60. No wonder that people are driving to "quiet" places. 

As I was feeding the ducks, moorhens and coots, other people, including families were throwing sticks etc on to the ice! Is it me or do people not know how to behave.

Not many small birds to be seen today, perhaps because of the noise. Still a few fieldfares about, even though most of the berries have now gone from the bushes. Due  to the icy conditions it must be difficult getting food out of the ground. The slightly warmer next week should help them.