Jet Walking and Tea and Stickies

The original plan today had been to go up to Burton Agnes to look at the snowdrops, but the weather was wet and miserable so we met up with friends Brian and Heather to walk Jet and indulge ourselves in tea and stickies at the excellent Sunnyside Farm Shop and Tea Rooms.  We met in the car park at the tea rooms and then enjoyed a variation of our usual walk around Walesby Woodlands. Although it was rather gloomy the diffuse light and damp conditions made it ideal for intimate landscapes.  The highlight of the day (other than the excellent tea and cake) was the good views of a pair of crossbills drinking out of a puddle just in front of us on the path.  They were in splendid spring plumage and the male, in particular, was stunning.  Unfortunately I had the wrong camera and lens with me, but it was wonderful just to see them.  I didn't realise they were to be found here.  On the way home I stopped for a couple of shots from Bully Hill above Tealby looking towards Lincoln. This is an excellent location and will repay a visit in more dramatic lighting.

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A Good Session at the Feeding Station

As the feeders needed topping up and the forecast was good, it was turn for a session in the woodland hide.  It was a cold morning and the ice that I took off the roof of the hide had still not melted after two hours in the sun.  I was pleased to get pics of all of the usual visitors, although the woodpecker was conspicuous by its absence.

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Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Robin

A Walk in the Lincolnshire Wolds from Wold Newton

It was Jet walking day today so we decided to walk from Wold Newton, topping up the feeders at the feeding station and enjoying tea and stickies in the village hall first.  We opted to reverse one of our regular walks taking us up past Stock Furlong Wood with an expansive view out over the coastal marsh and returning via Beesby and The Valley Woods.  The light was excellent and we had a very enjoyable walk, but were fuming when we saw how some irresponsible trail bikers had ridden up through the Valley Wood and over precious and wet pasture churning up the soft ground and causing no end of damage. Idiots!!

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A Day Out to Old Moor RSPB Reserve

We hadn't met up with Richard and Judy for some time so it was with pleasurable anticipation that we set out early for the Dearne Valley Old Moor RSPB reserve in Yorkshire.  The first port of call was the excellent cafe for tea all round and then Richard and I set out for some photography while Heather and Judy went for a walk round the reserve.  The prime place for the day was the tree sparrow hide as there were reported to be a couple of bramblings there as well as tree sparrows and siskins with the occasional redpoll.  We never did catch up with the redpoll, but the siskins and tree sparrows were cooperative and I did manage shots of the bramblings feeding on the ground; not ideal but better than nothing.  By 12.30 we were ready to return to the cafe for lunch and a warm up; the food here is excellent.  After lunch we returned to the tree sparrow hide and later went to attempt to connect with a small group of bearded tits.  In this we were unsuccessful, but we had an excellent day.

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Mixed flock feeding on the ground including two brambling

Brambling

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Long Tailed Tit

Magpie

Reed Bunting

Siskin

Siskin

Siskin

Siskin

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Wood Pigeon