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Heaton Woods again    8th April

A beautifully sunny day for a walk. From Idle my path took me down through Thackley, across the canal and the river to reach the riverside path to Denso Marston. En route I heard the yaffle of the Grren Woodpecker. On the reserve itself I heard chiff chaff and had good sightings of many birds including Mandarin Duck, Moorhen, Blackcap, Goosander, Jay, Wren and especially the Nuthatch. Butterfly sightings included peacock and small tortoiseshell. 

See the photos here. 

Sue Z

Coronavirus regulations scupper an annual treat.

Over the last week or so I have completed a series of six walks in the vicinity of my home in Rawdon. They cover in the main the topography, history and vernacular architecture of this unique village. Rawdon has several constituent parts. The linear development which follows the crest of the hill can be well appreciated when viewing Rawdon from Apperley Bridge. The Billing is a steep wooded hill made up of glacial moraine which affords excellent views in all directions. An area around the junction of the Harrogate and Leeds roads contains a park, a library and village green. There are special conservation areas around Low Green, Cragg Wood and Little London.

It was cool and grey with light winds for today's daily walk allowance. I set off to Yeadon with a rough route in mind but I did venture onto roads that I haven't previously walked, all the while noting footpaths signs for future reference. 

My first bird encounter was on Leeds Road where a Wood Pigeon with a twig in his beak was flying straight towards me before it rose over my head to dive into a tall, dense hedge behind me. As I turned off down Apperley Road towards the canal I heard the distinctive call of the Ring-necked Parakeet and was fortunate to then see it fly past. There was little to see from the bridge over the canal - just a single swan. 

Short Walk in Northcliffe             30th March

The weather today was not as warm as it was midweek when I was gardening in a tee shirt. Today's brisk breeze meant that I was donning coat, hat and gloves for today's daily exercise allowance; a 5 mile walk from my home. 

An 8 am start saw me don walking boots and head off through my local patch.  I usually start by going through Sun Woods which at this time of year is absolutely full of wild garlic.  I had expected to be met by much birdsong but there was little activity this morning.  The beck was flowing steadily as I crossed the bridge and headed through the fields where lambing is obviously in full swing.  A lovely sight on a beautiful sunny morning.  Woodland again where I have seen roe deer in the past but careful scanning produced no sign of these shy creatures today.  Some magnificent fungi was seen on a fallen tree as I made my way along the track, past the profusion of bluebells that would appear shortly and out into the open again within sight of Coley Church.  Huge open fields to cross, with horses grazing in the distance and crows flying overhead.  The lane down into Norwood Green holds great promise for later flowerings, particularly of cow parsley, but just a few dandelions were showi

New sightings       22nd March.

I had a Yellow Brimstone in the garden today. Nothing new flowering in Heaton woods this morning but seven birds seen  I am learning to look up as well as down! I saw my first wild pink flower of the year, Geranium robertianum, on the roadside.
Alice

Heaton Woods        20th March

This was prepared yesterday but I see that Julia has beaten me describing some things in Heaton Woods. I present it never-the -less. Also, by the way, botanical terminology gets easier the more it is used so persevere with Julia's blogs. I, for one, hope that they will continue.

The paths are still muddy in places and Red Beck does not seem any less full than last week.
Ten plants were in flower. Some Butterbur spikes were visible, a good sign as hundreds were broken off when the area was flooded. Golden saxifrage in profusion, celandines, woodrush and wood anemone beginning to open were welcome sights. Mosses have thrived in the wet. There are carpets of  different greens with more scarlet elf cup scattered amongst them than I have ever seen in the wood.
Birds were hiding except for a couple of robins and a dipper bobbing for minutes on a recently fallen branch bridging the beck

Alice