Out and About

Since we've been back from holiday we've only had chance for a couple of hours out here and there, visiting Rodley Nature Reserve and Fairburn Ings. Though at the moment work is busy, stressful and exhausting, which is not inspiring me to do much of anything right now.

A couple of hours at Rodley and it was a beautiful morning, quite peaceful and nice to escape for a little while.

There were lots of Bees and Hoverflies around, some of them were so laden with pollen, it's a wonder they could fly!

Fairburn the following week was not quite as sunny and I didn't take many photos, it was pretty quiet bird wise but it was still a good morning out and we followed it up with Fish and Chips!

The garden is as busy as ever, sitting watching the birds early morning before anyone else is up is my favourite thing, though the days are getting shorter so it's getting to the point i'm up before the birds now!

We've had lots of moths and butterflies in the garden all summer

Large White

Comma

Red Admiral

Our Fuschia looks like it's died off every year but then it comes back bigger than ever

This spider was on this poor bee in record time, spinning it into it's web before eventually carrying it off somewhere, it was fascinating to see.

We've had the odd Sparrowhawk around the garden, i've yet to see one catch anything though!

We always have a few passing Warblers through the garden at this time of year but these past few weeks since August have been the best yet with Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff almost daily and at one point a Whitethroat too, this is only the second one in the garden in all the years we've been here.

Our Magpie family has done well they visit the garden daily now including this beautiful bird below, the photo doesn't capture just how stunning the green on the tail is!

Robin

Goldfinch have done well too, lots of youngsters, I ended up having to put an extra feeder out for them, we've had up to 30 in the garden sometimes. 

We're still having visits from 2 or 3 Hedgehogs every night, 2 of them are very small so we think they are youngsters. At least one of the adult ones seems to sleep behind our shed during the day.

 

Of course we still have a Squirrel though not as often at the moment, which does save on the mess!

I have had a couple of walks in the Woods and parks - of course my walk to work is pretty scenic. There's very much an autumnal feel to everything now, conkers and leaves dropping, a chill early morning and some lovely misty sun too. 

Blackbird sunning itself

Hopefully things at work will ease off over the next few weeks and i'll be out and about a bit more. 

Fairburn Ings

The weather last weekend decided be typically bank holiday like and was wet and windy with few sunny spots in between. Of course we're out regardless!

We did try for the Night Heron that has been seen around the far end of the lake for some time now but it is quite elusive and stayed well hidden whilst we were there. We don't often explore that end of the reserve but it was full of birdsong - Wren, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Dunnock.....

Whitethroat 

We saw lots of beetles in the plants along the paths

Cardinal Beetle

Cormorant

The view from Charlies Hide

This Red Kite appeared above us over Cutt Lane

I didn't take too many photos as we walked around the main part of reserve, the rain over the Coal Tips was persistent and I kept the camera under cover. From the Pick up hide we watched Sand Martins fly in and out of the bank, a Pheasant was hunkered down doing the if I don't move they can't see me thing.... We could hear a Cuckoo calling up near the Coal Tips, we heard one (or maybe two) as we walked around but didn't manage to see one. We were surrounded by Swifts as we walked, being high up the Swifts are pretty much head height!

We ate lunch in the car at Lin Dyke and the rain stopped but it was dull and cloudy still. A Chiffchaff was calling by the entrance and then past the bridge a Willow Warbler was singing.

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Damselflies

Little Egret

Little Ringed Plover

A Bufflehead duck was on the water at Lin Dyke, I believe it's been around a while and is no doubt from a private collection somewhere. You can just see it near the end of the spit here (if you use a magnifying glass)

Orange-tip Butterfly

My daughter took these two

I'm not sure what this bee is

Froghopper

And finally as we were about to leave the sun was shining!

Goldfinch