Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Activity in the garden

After a long period where nothing seems to have been happening in the garden there is a lot of activity this morning.

A flock of 9 goldfinches feeding on the lawn, blue tit, great tit and long tailed tit on the seed feeder.
Collared doves in the hedges and several blackbirds chasing each other round the flowerbeds.

Also dandelions and daisies in flower on the verges in out nearby town.

Perhaps spring is coming after all.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Signs of spring in Hawthorn Dene


Went walking through Hawthorn Dene this afternoon.

Saw a female kestrel flying over the meadows, also lots of activity amongst the woodland birds including a treecreeper of which I managed to get a slightly out of focus shot.















The banks of snowdrops in the northern edge of the wood are growing fast and will be spectacular in a week or so.





Just as I was leaving a dark coloured butterfly (or a day flying moth) flitted past me so fast that I couldn't identify it. No picture I'm afraid.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Red Kite at Leeds















Visited friends on the weekend of 2oth January and spent the morning of the 21st walking near Harewood House to the north of Leeds.

Red Kite have been successfully introduced here and we saw several soaring above us as we walked.

I took lots of pictures with a 500mm lens handheld. This was one of the few decent shots.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Hawthorn Dene in the sun

First calm sunny day after a prolonged period of rain and very strong winds.

Walked through Hawthorn Dene. The snowdrops, which are wonderful here in the spring are just starting to push through and develop flowers.















Sat for a while at the top of the wood and saw kestrel, robin, wren, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, chaffinch, jay blackbird and nuthatch.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

First entry for New Year

Back to the diary after a couple of months away from writing.

So far the winter has been mild, more wet and windy than frosty and no snow.

Went to Low Barns Reserve on Tuesday 2nd January. Very quiet apart from a lot of activity at the bird feeders with, blue tit, great tit, marsh tit, chaffinch, coal tit, long tailed tit and great spotted woodpecker.











Walked round our local footpaths this morning. Very strong smell of fox at one point. Watched a flock of long tailed tits foraging in the hawthorns.