Wednesday 21 November 2018

St Aidan's

A couple of weeks back we spent the day at St Aidan's. It was cold, sunny, cloudy and dull all at various parts of the day! My husband made use of a new app that tracked how far we walked - 6.2 miles!



A large flock of Rooks kept flying up off the hillside


Wigeon and Coot




Rooks on the hillside


There were lots of Lapwings and Coots, a few Cormorants


Three Goldeneyes just taking off from Lemonroyd Lake, they flew onto the Main Lake


Mute Swans


Robin


Reed Bunting


Grey Heron


This spot seems to belong to the Heron, i've seen several photos from others of it in exactly the same place over the past couple of weeks!

We stayed as it got dusk hoping (along with several others) to see a Short-eared Owl that had been hunting over the hillside the past few days but it didn't appear. We did see a Buzzard, Kestrel and Peregrine as we waited though.

10 comments:

  1. Such a spectacular concentration of Rooks. It took me the longest time ever to get a decent picture of a Rook. I think they have been persecuted by humans for so long they have every reason to be wary. Kudos to you for your long walk. You will be fit, slim, trim and lovely. But then you probably already were!

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    1. There were a lot of them, there's a small flock that hang about in my local supermarket car park, making short work of any dropped food, they are a lot bolder around people. Ah thank you! I do enjoy a good long walk!

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  2. A nice long walk and lots of rewards along the way. I think birds are like us seeing that Heron in the same spot he has his favorite patch and that's where he enjoys spending his time. Is that your fam in the photo?

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    1. Yes you could be right re the Heron! It is :)

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  3. That was a long walk Pam! especially in the cold! but you saw some super birds. I've just been reading an article in last month's Birdwatching magazine about how Grey Herons spend so much time lounging about!

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    1. We did sit down a couple of times, for lunch etc but not for too long as I don't want to get back up!! I've still got most of the Birdwatching magazine to read but they do seem to stand around a lot......

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  4. What a super long walk you had. It is funny how grey herons seem to chose a place where they feel safe and stay there for long periods of time:)

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    1. It was a good day, I enjoy the walking!

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  5. Great to get out while you can as this past week has been , shall we say has been PANTS ! .
    Nice selection of birds, still would like to see a golden eye properly. And it's can be surprising how far you walk when looking at the birds.
    Amanda xx

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    1. Oh it's just miserable at the moment isn't it, it never seems to be quite daylight.

      I've only ever seen Goldeneye from a distance, beautiful ducks to see though. Yes you seem to go that bit further just to see what else you can see and when it's a nice place to be walking too..... x

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