Hairy Gate & Skipton

Wednesday 8th June 2016

Harrogate Area

We had a trip out to Bilton between Knaresborough and Harrogate today.

We walked along the cycle track from the Cricketers Arms to Ripley.

After a saunter around Ripley we caught the 'Hi-tech' bus to Harrogate and had a look around the shops.

The bus has free Wi-Fi and USB ports built into the seating.

A display screen, and a robot sounding like Harry Gration, tells you the next bus stop destination.

They don't sell ice-cream yet though.

A look around the Harrogate shops and a walk back to Bilton via the Harrogate - Ripley cycle track finished off a good day out.

Birds:-

The walk along the cycle track to Ripley has small bushes and lots of trees along the way, resulting in an enjoyable time with birdsong all the way.

The bird of the day was Yellowhammer a long awaited tick (ticks becoming harder as the year progresses). I heard the song first and after a bit of negotiation with some nettles and a farm gate, I was lucky enough to pick out the bird sitting on a hedge top, singing.

I like Yellowhammers, they are brightly coloured, sing and sit up nicely so they can be seen and photographed.

As is usually the case, after struggling to get a pic. of one Yellowhammer -  3 turn up!

Other birds seen along this path, Jay, Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (or Blackhat as a guy in Tenby called them last week).

Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Long Tailed Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song & Mistle Thrush, Loads of House Sparrow along with a few other sp.

In Ripley itself there were House Martin nesting on the buildings and lots of Swallow and Swifts about and many Goldfinch being pestered by food by their young.

The walk from Harrogate had more of the same with a bonus of a M. Bullfinch (a bird I am finding more & more difficult to find) and a Sparrowhawk.

The Sparrowhawk has caught a vole or mouse - looking at one of the Sparrowhawk photos. The strange thing is that, I rattled off 4 pictures, in quick(ish) succession and the first 3 pics don't seem to have the prey showing in them - maybe there were 2 birds or maybe I've got a Kestrel flying like a Sparrowhawk!

I am disappointed with the quality of the photos but it was very dull here this morning.

Skipton Thursday 9^th June 2016

We enjoyed a trip to Skipton today and had our usual walk in Castle Woods.

I was hoping to find the Kingfisher by the pond but no Joy.

Birds:

A couple of Dippers and a Spotted Flycatcher were top of the pops.

Also in the woods a Nuthatch feeding a fledgling and a Grey Wagtail on the rocks in the stream.

Harrogate Area:

Skipton: