No.2
208 days ago
And the second prize goes to the Pheasant.
Everything seems very late this season, I’m sure I was seeing broods at least a month earlier last year.
(Edit: Last year they were flying mid May.)
~ iPhone
Swallow of 2008
255 days ago
A lonesome Swallow spotted in Aldbrough-St-John, County Durham yesterday – non here yet. Last year it was April 14th.
It’s amazing how they find there way back to the nesting sites of their birth, bet they’re pleased they don’t have to rely upon scent to find there way around, to the extent that Bees do to find food.
Seems that recent studies have turned up another bad effect of air pollution on the scent projecting capabilities of flowers, leaving the Bee with a harder job to find food.
A contributor to Colony Collapse Disorder? We know not what we do.
Quiet moments
266 days ago
Always love to see the Sand Martins return, so I took a little time out to sit on the river bank and watch them.
It’s cool watching birds as agile as the Martin flying so close. You get to see all angles as well, as they waft along just skimming the water below the bank then wheel around you and peel off across the meadows.
Despite their grace, they’re not quite my favourite to watch though, they always seem a little fragile. Nor the falcon’s power and ultimate speed, or the Swift’s relentless speed, for me it’s the liquid flight of the Swallow that’s tops. Always thought Mitchell must have had a Swallow in mind when he drew the Spitfire.
Almost jacket-off weather, well today anyway, the the first May Blossom is showing.
Another season begins
296 days ago
Driving over Blubberhouses on my way back from York on Friday afternoon, I saw my first Curlew of the season, doing their paragliding impressions above the moors.
Later on, walking Rufus, I was therefore not surprised to find our largest wading bird had arrived at the Beck as well. What I was surprised by though, were the numbers they had arrived in. It seems every year their populations grow – as say compared to the Lapwing (or Peewit or Green Plover) and the air was full of their burbling crescendos.
Swelling the ranks were just a pair of these nomadic Lapwing, a pair of Goosanders and half a dozen of the summer visitors from Africa – Common Sandpipers. Easter is early this year, but the birds seem to be lagging behind last year and the Long-tailed Tits certainly seem to be sticking to their flocks – wisps of them drifting through the plantation.
Well Rufus has just appeared (dirty stop-out), back from an extended walk-voluntary which he took at about 4pm on the canal towpath. There must have been some very interesting bitch pass by. I tracked him for about 3 miles, but turned round on nearing Barnoldswick as the last person I met coming the other way, said he’d not been seen, and explored other favourite routes. It’s now 10.30pm and I’d better give the Police answerphone another ring – in the morning I think.
Flooding
350 days ago
I took my camera with me yesterday and took a couple of snaps to compare with the situation last year.
Looks like the meadows have suffered a bit more this year:
Greenshank
419 days ago
Little bit of a round-up for the last few weeks.
The large mystery wading bird that had been hanging around the beck last month and that I finally managed to get a good look at on 6 October, turned out to be a lonesome Greenshank. Well, it’s now moved on. Getting it’s name from the olive-green colour of it’s legs, the Greenshank rises strongly with a flash of white rump and has a much more resonant call than it’s more usual local cousins.
Maybe the recently renewed river straightening operations, have helped move it along. I previously mentioned this riparian vandalism, well naturally the river largely reverted to it’s previous course, only to be forced back into line, but I suspect not for long.
24 October – first noticed the usual influx of Redwings and Fieldfares from Scandinavia – well probably directly from there rather than the Netherlands – as we’re northerly here in Yorkshire. They cross overnight in calm conditions, of which there has a good stretch of late, and can be seen at times flying against a large, clear moon.
These calm conditions have left us with an extended period of leaves on the trees and a magnificent showing of autumn colour.
There have been a few Starlings gathering as well, but not in the same numbers and certainly not anything like I seem to remember them being. Though small flocks of both Starlings and Fieldfares, are leap-frogging across the pastures in the search of invertebrates – Leather-jackets and the like.
The morning of 18 October was our first frost of the year. Very clear, breathless night. Signalled sloe picking time.
Martins return
485 days ago
Strange. A few of the House Martins have appeared again, a youngster is scrabbling at my window – 22:12hrs!
Bye bye Martins
487 days ago
Out early with Rufus yesterday morning and skeins of geese were heading north-east, the Sloe berries are turning purple, so thought Autumn was on it’s way. This morning seemed very quiet somehow, then it dawned on me that the hundreds of House Martins that were swarming around the house yesterday have all gone. Just like that.
Signs of spring
560 days ago
I know it’s meant to be summer now (despite all the flooding we’re having), but here are a couple of little paintings I did for the local Gargrave exhibition, taken from photos I took in the spring.
The ebullient Wren asserting his presence
and Hawthorn blossom with one of the early day flying moths, the vividly coloured Cinnabar.
Oh, to be a ground nester...
591 days ago
…now that spring is here… Well Spring has happened and the silaging has started, just as the ground nesting bird’s chicks are hatching out. The meadows are full of Curlew, Lapwing, Pheasant and Partridge chicks amongst others and a week ago I saw my first young Pheasant flying.
There are still a few meadows around here cut later in the year for hay and DEFRA’s basic Countryside Stewardship scheme prevents cutting of these grasslands between 1 April and 31 May to give these birds a chance, but silaging has a huge effect on these species.
However, that is not the only problem of course. There was a hell of a racket going on yesterday, with Curlews manfully trying to defend their chicks against marauding Crows. The Crows (probably 6 or so) were lined-up in a hawthorn hedge taking Curlew chicks out in the meadow. It seemed a well co-ordinated affair with one end of the line launching an attack, the parents defending there and immediately the other end of the line swooped in. It must have continued for at least 10 minutes, I watched from about 100m for a while then moved on, but the commotion was still going on as I moved out of earshot.
Last year the hawthorn blossom was very pink, seems very fresh and white this season. The same bush (with less blossom) for reference!
Martins
602 days ago
Sand Martins appeared last week at the beck, there were 8 of them last time I visited. We nearly have a full compliment of bird live back now, but still miss the Dipper – which I haven’t seen for a long time – something must have changed over the last few years.
One factor that I know has changed around here is the number of Mink and consequently the Moorhen is another bird that isn’t around any more.
I’m a big fan of Google Earth and WWF have just posted a lot of information through this medium. This is a fantastic method of highlighting their work, by providing a new dimension which is fun and (for me) a picture/map locks it better in the mind – click on the screenshot to see their news article.
K10D
613 days ago
I’ve got a new camera!
After waiting for a long time for Pentax to bring out a good camera for those K-mount lenses I’ve got, I’ve taken the plunge with a K10D.
First shots taken on a cloudy, breezy day – so not ideal for the Hawthorn May Blossom or great contrast. However, I’m very pleased with it so far.
I was in Nottinghamshire yesterday and everywhere the Hawthorn was in blossom, it’s just started to come out here.
although we do have a good showing of Primroses on these woody banks.
These shots were taken using a Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 lens, which although a couple of years old, somewhat to my surprise works with the auto-focus of the Pentax. I really wasn’t expecting it after my ancient rusty Program A.
In my travels over the last couple of days, I’ve seen Red-Tailed Kites, a Great Crested Grebe and my first Swift of the year.
Swallow
633 days ago
Saw my first Swallows of the year today – only two – but it counts!
Odd jobs
633 days ago
Sometimes I get asked to do some interesting little jobs, as with this Lakeland scene.
A lot of water damage that needed fixing and the result:
plus another that had had a lump taken out of the middle -they say variety is the spice of life.
The last couple of weeks have seen a big change in the countryside, stuff is growing madly now. Besides the blossoms in the gardens, the May blossom was amongst the first to show, but of course – it’s unlucky to bring it inside. The Blackthorn is amongst my favourites, not just because it is a sign of Spring, but because of the sloes gin in prospect!
People say that if it is cold when it first flowers, then we’ll be in for a ‘Blackthorn Winter’ – which lasts for the fortnight or so in which it flowers. Good job it was nice and warm then.
The Woodpecker on the back lane has a mate and the Skylarks are climbing over the ‘tops’ with their endless song.
Walking the beck
654 days ago
Well, the beck is nearly back up to strength on bird species variety, with a very good showing of Teal.
The Kingfishers haven’t appeared yet, but generally it is getting quite noisy with the Oyster Catchers, Sandpipers, Lapwing and Curlew, with Wagtails twittering around.
Sketched a Blackbird road casualty for a future painting of the birds that used to (and probably still do) feed on the vines in some old glasshouses I knew. They shot in whenever the doors where opened and attacked the grapes from below.
Snow and Cranes
700 days ago
The first snow flurries of the season have just arrived here, must say I’ve been looking forward to it and I hope we get a good covering for a while. The last few days have been superb and the night frosts have been welcome as well – helping kill the bugs and allowing farmers to spread slurry – but it’s driven away the wading type birds from the beck.
I saw this story about some Cranes being killed by storms in Florida, on the National Geographic site. The were being “escorted” – led by microlight – and is quite a blow to the endangered Whooping Crane population, with only 1 out of 18 surviving out of the dubbed “Class of 2006”.
This story reminded me of a French guy Christian Moullec who started a quest to save the lesser white-fronted goose by leading them from Lapland to Holland. What a fantastic idea, now for me, that would be something amazing to get involved with – flying and conservation!
The giraffe painting is progressing (and the new kitchen!) – just a rough sketch here of the ‘subliminal’ idea behind the painting…
Chester Contemporary Arts Fair
702 days ago
I’ll have three paintings down at the Chester Contemporary Art Fair from 15-18 February, which is kinda odd for me and my history with that particular bit of the art world!
Weather here is fab at the moment, getting some ground frosts at night now and snow is forecast, that Oyster Catcher that turned up at the beck on the 1 February, may be in for a big shock.
Climate
704 days ago
One of those wonderful evenings – crisp slightly damp air, not a breath of wind and clear skies. Farm dogs could be heard barking miles away as the tendrils of mist wormed up the valleys. As the sun’s light faded, directly opposite, the full moon rose and the the first stars winked on.
As soon as we are into February, the cock Pheasant are out and about in force, as if they know it’s safe now. So often you see Pheasant and Rabbits in close proximity grazing, nothing unusual I suppose, but as likely as not, it’s one Pheasant and one Rabbit. I think it’s very interesting when you see non-competitive animals interacting – last weekend a Roe deer blundered into a Mallard when crossing a bog, the bird just hopped into the air a couple of feet and settled straight back down. Similarly, when I startled a Roe (again) a while ago and it burst from some Rhododendrons, it scooped-up a Woodcock in the process – the poor creature at first couldn’t get away from the chest of the deer, but when it did it just flapped a coupe of feet and settled-in again and really didn’t seem too upset. However, taking Rufus for his morning constitutional on Tuesday, he put a Grey Squirrel up a tree. On vanishing into a hole, which it probably regarding as a safe haven, it was immediately ejected by a pursuing Jackdaw – tolerance only so far!
I spent a while watching first the Starlings then the Rooks head for home, before I did so myself and wondered if the various governments would actually do something meaningful in light of today’s adoption by the IPCC Working Group I of Climate Change 2007 – The Physical Science Basis and not just use it as an excuse for raising taxes.
Spring is here?
708 days ago
On Thursday (25th) there were a couple of Lapwings by the beck, first I’ve seen for months and today a posse of Redwings streamed from Hawthorn to Hawthorn, in fact it seems ages since there’s been much around – apart from the Heron and Crows – with all this terrible wind and rain.
Really feels like Spring here, so I hope the Lapwing don’t get a nasty shock.
Pretty poor photo (for some reason my digital camera wouldn’t focus) but I snapped a retreating helicopter with PDG on the side (I Googled them). Couldn’t see the big camera hung from it, but it was hovering just over my garden hedge, in the field, REALLY close and nearly on the deck! To my knowledge, I haven’t made an appearance on local TV, yet…
Signs of winter
719 days ago
The wind may be blowing as hard as it has for the last 3 months or so, in fact a little harder at the moment, but last night we actually got a little slush.
The usual rain turned to a stinging hail then sleet last night and this morning there were patches of white on them there hills. Around the valleys the usual standing water has returned as quckly as it went a couple of days ago. At times like this, holed-up in my studio, I dig out my sketch book and photos of warmer places, so with the words of the local ‘Art Connections’ organization ringing in my ears (a project initiated and managed by Chrysalis Arts, to develop and support creative businesses in the visual arts, crafts and public art sectors across North Yorkshire, supported by the Department of Trade & Industry’s Small Business Service Development Fund for Rural Renewal) about my work not being “contemporary enough” for a listing on their website, I though I would try a slightly different painting from my usual.
(A blue slate from my neigbour’s roof has just flown past the window!)
I’ve uploaded a couple of photos from Namibia around the Palmwag area, as we drove towards the Palmwag Lodge from Bergsig, of the unusual ‘red pebble’ landscape. I have bought one of those canvasses designed for frameless display and have a plan…
Giraffe and a river valley.
Winds of change
787 days ago
Last Saturday the Fieldfares and Redwings were feeding on fallen apples in the orchards of Hereford, whilst the farmer busied himself with the harvest, the weather was beautiful and quite warm. I spied a Kingfisher flashing across one of the many ponds that lie on the margins of these heavy red clay fields. Ideally too deep for duck, they don’t hold many, but obviously have some small fish.
Thursday, the air was so still. Cock Pheasant calls echoing across the Yorkshire Dales – about the only bird to be seen – apart from the black Crows of course and a rush of Starlings going home to roost. I’d gone to call in on the Kingfishers, but my cousin was busy walling nearby and they were keeping a low profile.
A cold night left a good frost, but the day degenerated and blustery wind brought cold rain, almost sleet and the pair of Buzzards that inhabit the copse around the old Lime kiln, were reluctant to leave the protection of the Sycamores – circling around the wood as I passed by. The Crows were still there in plenty, with a few Seagulls scudding high overhead and four Teal sprang from the beck, however the Pheasant were not so ‘cocky’ – probably repairing to their secret places in good time for Saturday.
New Nests
937 days ago
I was glad to see the Martins were starting to nest on my brand new extension, i.e. my office wall. However, after the initial interest things seem to have quietened down and it’s been at this stage for a week now, oh well, maybe they’ll be back next year.
Here comes the rain
1232 days ago
Couldn’t find a Curlew or Sand Martin as the rain moved in, seemingly to draw an end to the summer. The Swallows – all ganged up – were feeding at zero level over the pasture, appearing almost to be perched on the grass in the breeze ahead of the rain.
The river seems very subdued now, sure the Heron screeches off at my approach, but the Wagtails are left to quietly bob about their business.
