Friday 29 December 2017

√Christmas Round Up

A  busy Christmas for us (especially Sue - having two Christmas dinners to prepare) with family ties for most of the time.

Wednesday 27th Soil Hill.

I did get out for a walk up to and around Soil Hill, looking for Snow Bunting.
Very cold today and Soil Hill still retained some of the earlier snow.
I didn't expect a lot and birds were scare with just a couple of Crow types on the hill.
An enjoyable walk all the same, to shift some of the excess calories.

A First Winter Common Gull (I think) was on the Bonnet Fields. 
It had a damaged foot.

Thursday 28th Bradshaw to Haworth.

Our annual Christmas period,3 hour , pilgrimage to Haworth today.
We normally walk to Haworth, get some pub grub, and get a taxi back. This year however, a text received by Sue, part way along the walk changed things a bit.
It's a long walk with no time to stop and stare, so no bins or camera today.
It, was a beautiful, crisp cold day, where my many layers of clothing came in useful.

On the way past the revamped, Row Farm mansion, a Sparrowhawk left the building roof.
Walking along Syke Lane, approaching Ogden, a Green Woodpecker undulated by, on it's way to the trees by the 'Bradshaw Farm' track.

We followed Ogden Back lane all the way to the watershed opposite Oxenhope reservoir (TMR), a bracing walk with just calling Red Grouse for company.

At the summit it was freezing with a strong, biting NW wind.

Down, down, down and along the higher track, to the west side of Leeming Reservoir, where there were a good few small Gulls on the exposed banking.

Past Lower Leeming and Oxenhope Railway, where the car park(s) were full with the steam train running today, to pick up the lovely path next to the stream that leads unfailingly into Haworth.

A 'Massey' of Tractors at Haworth was an interesting and unexpected sight.
All out and about in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

We tried our usual pubs to get some grub but could not get a table in either!
A text on Sue's mobile meant that we had a journey to make to Halifax fairly quick.

We opted for the Hebden Bridge bus route.
Thinking that the views, from the bus, would be spectacular over the moors.
The bus duly came along, but with the recent salt spreading, the bus windows were a tad dark and we could not see much out of them!

While we waited at the bus stop in Haworth, near the Co-op, a check on the stream paid dividends with a Dipper on the rocks.
I managed a photo of it on my mobile before it left.

We were lucky with our Halifax bus connection and made it into Halifax, sorted out the problem and eventually settled for a great curry and some plonk on the Witherspoons at Barum Top, Bull Green.

Back home at 7:30 pm and in bed for 8 pm absolutely pooped, a long but enjoyable day out.

Friday 29th Bradshaw to Amble Thorn in heavy snow.

Today, the forecast snow duly arrived in bucketfuls.
We had a Birthday present to deliver to Ambler Thorn, Queensbury and decided to don the waterproofs and wellies and hike it up the fields and along Roper Lane leaving the car , at home, in the snow.

Heavy snow showers accompanied us going but they packed in for the return leg. 
After shifting the white stuff from outside our house, the forecast thaw arrived.

A very enjoyable Christmas period for us - I hope you enjoyed it too.


A few pics:-

Wednesday 27th Soil Hill:-









A First Winter Common Gull with a bad foot



Thursday 28th Bradshaw to Haworth:-


Looking to Soil Hill from high up back lane bridleway


Oxenhope (TMR) Reservoir


Looking from the summit down to Leeming Reservoir


Very distant Gulls at Leeming Reservoir



Haworth and Abigail's fav. colour - pink.


A distant Dipper

Friday 29th Bradshaw to Amble Thorn in heavy snow:-


Sue - in front as always.
(I think she is a Toyota)




Roper Lane


Adult Common Gull




2 comments:

  1. Like the last Common Gull shot without a tail !!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cheers Dave.
    A new sub species of Common Gull - unique to Roper Lane!!
    John

    ReplyDelete