Saturday, 9 January 2021

Elland and Soil Hill

 A beautiful sunny morning and Sue had an appointment at Elland Hospital.

As we were de-icing the car c20 Geese flew fast towards Queensbury - excited I ran for the camera and managed a poor photo before they were gone. 

I think they are all Canada Geese (alas).

I was not allowed into the hospital , (Covid precaution), so I spent my waiting time looking through the tress nearby.

A few birds were starting to stir including:-

Pied Wagtail, 5 Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Long Tailed Tit, House Sparrow with a few Crow Types and Gulls passing by.


Soil Hill:

For my exercise walk today, I decided to take some bird seed up to Soil Hill to feed the Crows mostly!

The early sunshine had warmed up the ground, and mist / fog, soon appeared, spoiling things a bit.

Deep snow on the deck and lots of snow on the north side tree branches, discouraging any potential overnight roosting birds.

Only a few smaller birds about really - Robin and Dunnock.

A Lesser Spotted Snow Plough went along Taylor Lane, leaving behind as much snow, as it shifted.

The snow on Taylor Lane sits on some packed ice and I manged to go Base over Apex (A.O.T. in Yorkshire-speak) at the bottom of Taylor Lane - luckily my camera and bins were ok.

2 ladies, nearby, said "Yes - it's a bit slippy there - I've just fallen.

So just my pride damaged a bit.

Good to be out and about though with some gorgeous landscapes - a tough time for the birds.

Just Starling,  Carrion Crow, Dunnock and Blackbird at  my meal worm restaurant today.

I'm not sure how long a Robin retains it's Juvenile plumage, but it looks like I have a Juvenile Robin along Taylor Lane both going up and coming back.

I've had to lightened the original  photo that was taken in thick misty stuff.






Taylor Lane





Robin or Stonechat?




2 comments:

  1. A lot more snow on Taylor Lane than down here where it's just ice.'Base over Apex' - you're not on your own today John !!! Around the park and the landfill this morning stayed on my feet till I got home and then 'wallop'. Binoculars safe, tucked under the coat 'phew'.
    Are you sure it's not a Stonechat with feathers fluffed up from the cold (?)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Possible Dave. I could not get close to it in the fog.
    It's near my (your) Stonechat seen a while back just a bit higher up.
    I think Juv. Robin plumage lasts 6 months so Robin is probably wrong.
    Behaved like a Robin... Except perhaps not so confiding.
    Hope you didn't break owt in the fall!!
    Keep safe.
    John

    ReplyDelete