Out and About - Skipton & Ilkley

We enjoyed a trip out this week to Skipton & Ilkley.
In amongst the shopping we had some walking and birding time.

Skipton.

A walk around Castle Woods did not produce the hoped for Kingfisher - the pond being very grotty at present.
There were a few birds about with a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard then briefly seen flying - far off.

2 Nuthatch were calling at different points during the walk.
A good number of Coal Tit were in the woods but it was extremely difficult to get a decent photo of any of them!

I could not force a Brambling out of the few Chaffinch we saw.
Looking over towards Embsay Crag a group of 9 Swans were flying in a line, WNW. 
I managed a few very, very distant photos and I am hoping they are Whoopers - but I cannot tell from the photos for sure but the cropped photo tends to show a Whoopers like head.

Also seen hereabouts a couple of Redwing, Long Tailed Tit and a very good sighting of a Male Great Spotted Woodpecker which was kind enough to hang about for a while.

Ilkley.


A trip to Ilkley on a beautiful November morning did not produce the hoped for Otter, which has being seen regularly, in the river by the golf course - so I was told.

The river held a few Moorhen and Mallard.
There were many Jays (5) out and about. 
Presumably burying goodies to open on Christmas Day!
A Buzzard over the Golf Course was being constantly plagued by Crows.

There were a couple of Heron on the riverside, one in particular was oblivious to our presence.

A Song Thrush made a brief appearance and 3 Bullfinch flew overhead before kindly landing high on a distant tree.

A lovely walk on a cracking November day.

[Pool tonight, better get my skates on - skates for pool?
Well I suppose the pool may be frozen].

p.s.

Many thanks for your help on Monday Bri.
You made light, of a worrying situation for us.
John & Sue.

Skipton:

Ilkley:

Male Woodpecker Video - shame about the background noise:-

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker - Embsey - Skipton from Bradshaw Rambler on Vimeo.