Ambling with Aconites

 Retrieving my old waterproof from the car I gathered bins and camera with macro lens attached to go and do battle with the cemetery aconites.  The old waterproof because I was planning on some intimacy with the ground to get a low perspective on the aconites.  I was much more pleased with today's efforts; the birding lens is not ideal for aconite photography.  Moving on to the woodland burial ground I hoped to see the deer again but no luck today.  Having the macro with me, though, I did have a much more successful go at the lovely lichens; it was only when processing the images that I noticed the wintering ladybird.  No sign of the alder goldfinches again today but the snowdrops are coming on a pace.

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A Roe Deer Ramble Around the Woodland Burial Ground.

 Relishing my after breakfast coffee in the conservatory surveying the gloomy morning, I noticed the sky beginning to brighten.  Perhaps it would be worth a visit to the cemetery to try to photograph the goldfinches in the alders.  Getting changed for walking quickly and grabbing the camera gear we set off.

Walking around the ouside of the cemetery I was pleased to spot my first aconites of the year.  Typically I only had the birding lens with me but nonetheless grabbed a record shot before heading down to the alders but.......no goldfinches in sight.  Not helped by grave digging going on nearby and a very large noisy family close to the trees.  All one household; I think not, and what happened to social distancing.  Grrrrr!!!!

Having dipped out on the goldfinches the plan was to go back and walk around the woodland burial ground.  I was absolutely delighted to spot a roe deer out in the open close to a small clump of trees in which there was another.  I have known that roe deer were in there both anecdotally and having often seen their slots.  The deer out in the open stood and watched us watching it before they both turned and trotted off into the trees with their white rumps gleaming.  What a delight; my day was made!!

We continued around the cemetery circuit the weather becoming increasingly gloomy again.  I did spot a good clump of snowdrops so a visit with the macro is on the cards.

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A Session at the Winter Feeding Station.

After the gales of Storm Henry it was good to get to Scallows and find the hide still standing.  I busied about for a while setting up some different perches and then went off to photograph the aconites and snowdrops that were making a colourful display, before returning for an hour in the hide.  There was a constant toing and froing of the various members of the tit family as well as chaffinches and nuthatches.  The woodpecker was around and I heard it both calling and drumming suggesting that it is establishing territory, although I have yet to see the female.  Many years ago I photographed woodpeckers at the nest here so perhaps this bird is a descendant of those.  I was also delighted to have a tree creeper pay a brief visit.

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Aconite

Snowdrops

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Chaffinch, male

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Tree Creeper

The Great Grey Shrike at Last.

A good forecast for Tuesday 20th February encouraged me to plan a session at Scallows to reacquaint myself with the wood and grounds.  Breakfast over, I packed up a flask and sandwiches and heading for Wold Newton planning to have yet another look for the elusive great grey shrike that has been in residence here most of the winter.  This time I found it as soon as I arrived at the location.  It was perched in to top of a small tree surveying its territory.  I quickly parked up and wound down the window, fully expecting it to fly as soon as I poked the lens out of the widow.  To my delight it took no notice and I was able to take a good number of images against a perfect blue sky before it moved on.  Feeling satisfied and smug I drove up the road a short way to turn round and on my way back saw that the bird had returned and was posing again in the same tree so I was able to secure another batch of images of this superb bird.  Sometimes known as the butcher bird from it's habit of hanging its prey of lizards, insects and small mammals on thorns, the shrike does not breed here but the UK is part of its wintering range.

Feeling very pleased with myself I moved onto Scallows where I had a wonderful few hours rediscovering the wood and grounds.  There was a fabulous display of snowdrops and aconites and nuthatches were calling constantly.  Three buzzards hunted over the wood and I had excellent views of a goldcrest and tree creeper.  Great, blue, coal and long tailed tits were busy hunting for food.

From Scallows I called off for some time with the little owls on the way home.  What an amazing day.

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Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite

The Wood in Winter

Snowdrops line the drive.

The Old Quarry

Looking towards the little owls from the meadow.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

The potting shed

Little Owls

Little Owls

Little Owls

Little Owls

Little Owl

Aconites, Snowdrops and Dog Walking at Irby.

Two lovely days over the weekend led to walking Jet both Saturday and Sunday at Irby.  I chose this location as I wanted to see if the aconites were open in Irby village yet; they were a picture.  I also discovered some gorse bushes well in flower in the dale.  On New Year's Day the Botanical Scociety of Britain and Ireland found 320 plants in flower when they normally expect 20 -30.  Whether or not we accept climate change, something very strange is happening to our weather.  Having photographed the aconites it was time to take Jet round the dale, always an excellent walk; so much so that Heather and I repeated it in beautiful late afternoon light on the Sunday.

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Aconites

Aconites

Gorse

Gorse

Snowdrops and Aconites

Irby Church

Irby Dale in morning light.

The quarry

Afternoon light on the church

The path to Irby Dale from Swallowvale

Looking towards the coast.

The path into the wood.

Irby Dale in late afternoon light.

Irby Dale in late afternoon light.

Irby Dale in late afternoon light.

Irby Dale in late afternoon light.

Irby Dale in late afternoon light.

The path into the Dale from Irby Village.