Showing posts with label Beesby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beesby. Show all posts

Saturday, 28 March 2015

The Valley Wood Walk

On a blustery day we took Jet for a walk today out in the Wolds round the Valley Wood circuit from Wold Newton.  Wood anemone, lesser celendine, primroses and dog's mercury were in flower and we heard a green woodpecker in Beesby Wood.

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Lesser Celendine
Dog's mercury
Lesser Celendine
Lesser Celendine
Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone
View from the end of The Valley Wood
Peeling Paint
Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone
Shetland Pony
Looking towards Grimsby

Sunday, 22 March 2015

The Yard, Badgers and Little Owls

Having had the seed feeders run out completely the last couple of times I had topped up the feeders at the yard, I decided to return after only two days.  I spent half an hour or so in the hide but there was very little activity.  I think that maybe winter feeding station photography is over for another year.  The yard itself was more productive, though, with both dunnock and pied wagtails allowing a reasonably close approach.  It was also good to see a buzzard wheeling in the air close by, not something that would have been seen a few years ago.

After topping up the feeders I headed out to Wold Newton to have another look for 'Badger City', this time armed with further directions.  I was successful this time, not having walked far enough two days previously.  This is a very big sett positioned in a deep dip on the edge of the field and tucked in under the hedge.  There are several very large entrances and evidence of much activity.  I even found a small skull outside one entrance; a young one that had died perhaps.  There seems to be potential fro watching and photographing from the lip of the the hollow.  Early spring before the barley and grass obscure the view or later, after harvest.

On the way home I checked in on the little owls and was pleased to see one bird in residence.

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Friday, 20 February 2015

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