Leighton Moss

We went on a trip out of our still icy green and somewhat muddy valley to a reedbed  by Morecambe Bay.

  Here are a couple of Pictures

Bittern   - this was one of 6 we saw  - the other were flying around.

a brilliant day

A Twitch

Just over the hill is Hollingworth lake and there was a rare American bid visitor and i went to find it.

And here it is -- yes thats right a Pied Billed Grebe -  Impressed  - probably not  but this lot  and many many others were

As the birders walked from the car park around the reservoir to where the bird was - I could see in their walk and anxious faces (and in me too) the silent prayer "let it still be there"  and of course it was (it still is)  and when we saw it there was a relaxation, a breathing out, we were excited, thrilled to be there and to see this liitle bird which had, somehow, crossed the Atlantic and ended up if the South Pennines.  Afterwards people strolled back and I saw in faces of the later arrivals that same suppressed excitement - the same hope that I had when I walked that way half an hour before.  A good one!!

A couple more pics I took of some of the water works around the reservoir.

   The Overflow

 

and the inflow!

Some Autumn Pictures

Not from our wet valley - when I've been well it has been wet - when it was nice I was tied to the loo with invisible string - or had to to go to North Wales - though that was good!

Thes were taken from Church Island in Menai Bridge.  The church is a 7th century foundation by St Tysilio.  And the view of the Bridge and the woods are brilliant

The Graveyard is amazing - and so many have this panel at the top of each stone

The yew this year is heavy with berry

This next picture is Redesmere in Cheshire

A great place to feed the ducks

Martinmere - a good day and a great little bird !

Amazing Fungi

I have been walking around our valley and Halifax this week and I have seem mushrooms than you can shake a stick at!

Here a few pictures!

Cep/Porcini Boletus Edulis

And few Fly Agaric - The Smurf House - so now we know how they came into being - this is a toxic mushroom that gives strange visions - very strange if Smurfs are anything to go by.

Some Others I don't know!

  

This one is an Earth ball ?

• Hi again -its been a while since I posted so her are a few holday pics!
• The red Admiral above was enjoying the National Botanic Gardens of Wales

 as was this one on a Buddleaia

This is the heart of Welsh christendom,  The High Altar of St David's Cathedral

The cathedral itself is held in a quiet valley.

Less quiet in historical terms is Castell Caerphilli

though now a wonderful quiet place 

Where grebes swim in the moat!

Another castle but mine own monsters !

Wake Up Call

The dawn chorus has phases  - whilst blackbirds seem to sing the overture - the final movements are provided by the jackdaws - several family parties lounge around my neighbours birdtable.  They raise me from my bed, smartly dressed in black a bright eye, and a soft grey nape, An elegant bird but noisy always chattering chack chack , the youngsters beg for seed, almost the same dress as their prents, but their grey is more vague and covers more of the back.

A trip to the Seaside!

We set off to anglesey on friday and saw a few things - Ynys Llawd - South Stack is where we started

and finished in Cemaes

and we did all this in between!

Do you what this is ??

-we don't

The Terns were in full nest swing - a few BHG chicks amongst them and one breeding Pair of Med Gulls!

Whitethroat in the old farm

Finally a few fish and chips

The gulls liked the left overs

Only seconds later!

The valley is beginning to turn green

Spring is here in our hills and valleys and here a few pictures to prove it !!

lots of lambs

and blossom

and just today

Spring is truly here!!

Some More Northumberland piccies

 

Inside Dustanburgh Castle - gives some idea of the scale of the place

 

A view towards Craster looking through its walls.

Another Castle

 

Lindisfarne Castle - perhaps the most liveable in castle in the UK.

 
 

A View from another Castle - The Forth Bridges from Edinburgh castle

Why go to Northumberland at all

  

 Perfect quiet beaches

 

Amazing Coastline

 

Seaside Villages

 

Amazing views

No reason really - I wouldn't go if I were you!!