Straws Bridge and Manor Floods

My turn to drive and again we wanted to walk on hard standing footpaths so we decided it was a trip around Straws Bridge and Manor Floods. We set off at 07:30 and got there before 08:00 and 2nd in the car park. It was still dark and not a lot to see although we did spot a big fat rat running along the shoreline next to the birds that were still roosting.
We just had a slow walk from the car park and went in a clockwise direction then off towards Manor Floods and past the water settling tanks next to Shipley Common. they had a small screen all around the water tanks and we think its to stop small amphibians like a toad barrier. We went around the tanks and found a spot for our breakfast next to a small bridge with a wildlife screen, our Rob pulled out a nice cake to share around. After breakfast we carried on past a farm and back to Manor Floods then the car. We just watched all the birds on the lake for a while and wondered why a group of juvenile black headed gulls were chasing a tufted duck. I got several shots of this and the duck didn't even have anything in its beak to eat.

Rob in a festive hat

Incoming geese

The Nutbrook

Ike & Rob

Geoff

Rob, Geoff & Ike

Geoff having a cuppa and a cake

Ike, Geoff and me

Me

Geoff

Geoff

Tufted Duck chased by a Black Headed Gull

 

Tufted Duck chased by a Black Headed Gull

Tufted Duck chased by a Black Headed Gull

Tufted Duck chased by a Black Headed Gull

 

Tufted Duck chased by a Black Headed Gull

This was a lovely little walk through some varied terrain, some nice hard footpaths and some muddy ones, we met quite a few people and had a natter, mostly dog owners and the odd jogger. Sorry about the overload  of Tufted Duck pics but it did get away in the end.

Wish you all a merry Christmas and see you next week.

Cheers

Jim

Pleasley Nature Trail

3 of us again this week and it was my turn to drive so we decided to go to Pleasley Pit where there was a Wildlife Day going on. We got there early at about 06:40 and went walking around the nature trail passing several small lakes with swans, lapwings and various ducks in and round them. Lots of wild flowers too and one of the lakes was just full of dragon flies. We found a great seat with a view of the main lake where we had our breakfast. We were treated to a fantastic flying display from the resident lapwings. From there we found the lakes with the dragonflies and Reed Buntings but they were very elusive and couldn't get a shot of the birds.

Pleasley Pit reflected in the water

Lapwing

My favourite shot of the day

Hardwick Hall across the valley

Tufted Duck

Lapwings

Swan & Signet

Ike & Rob

This was the view from the seat

Ike & Rob taking in the view

Breakfast stop

Pleasey Pit complex

The view when having breakfast

This is one of the commonest dragonflies called a Four Spotted Darter

I can see you

Four Spotted Darter

Ike & Rob looking into the lake

Rob

One of the Blue butterflies not sure which one

Attempted to catch one in flight

Brimstone butterfly

Pleasey Pit Complex

Naz manning the FoF photo club wildlife stall

Ike & Rob talking to the Bee man

Some members of the Focusing on Friends photo group

A cracking walk, started off overcast but then the sun came out and it got very warm. Heard lots of birds but didn't see them all because the trees are now covered in leaves. Sorry about the overload of Lapwing and Dragonfly pics but couldn't pick out my favourites. Nice to see some of my mates from my photo club showing their wildlife pics.

See you next week.