Saturday, March 29, 2008

Snow Last Weekend

It didn't escape our attention that it was snowing outside last weekend and because it melting at home we decided to go for a walk round Langsett reservoir to take in the winter scenery.

Debbie got some shots of the snow in the garden before we headed for the hills...

Snowing In Our Garden

Flower In The Snow

Our White Spruce

Then we both snapped away as we trudged round the reservoir, from the winding woodland path to the bleak moors and back again.

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

Langsett

It was a perfect end to our holiday and now I think it's time to let in Spring.

Paul

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Nice Top Shopping & Birds

We were out nice top shopping yesterday morning at Lakeside shopping centre in Doncaster and then in the afternoon we visited Potteric Carr Nature Reserve for the first time. I think I've got Debbie hooked now judging by the fact that we both filled our cameras memory cards for the first time ever.

It's a lovely secluded place with loads of paths round the lakes, ponds and woodland. With it being so cold we only stopped for about 3 hours, I think it would take all day to explore the whole reserve, it's a much bigger place than I'd imagined. They have the busiest bird feeding station I've ever seen and when a Jay and Woodpecker dropped in we could hardly contain our excitement.

I'm sure we'll be visiting Potteric again soon but before we do I think we going to need to get bigger memory cards!

All the shots below were taken by Debbie...

Ducks

Mute Swan

Golden Grass

Cloudy Sky

Mallards

Feather

Trees & Sky

Great Tit

Female Mallard

Male Mallard

Chaffinch

Great Tit

Jay

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sillhouette

Reed Bunting

Potteric Carr

Potteric Carr

Paul

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Thyberg Country Park

Yesterday we started off with an early morning swim and then after that we did absolutley nothing! It was nice to just sit back and chill for a change, Lucy joined in , crashing out on the sofa for the afternoon.

The weather still isn't up to much here, cold and cloudy but at least it's dry. We braved the cold and went for a walk round Thyberg Country Park in Rotherham. It's a lovely place with a large lake to walk round, plenty of opportunities for a bird obsessed photographer with interesting shapes and light in the sky to mesmerise Debbie.

Footpath at Thyberg

Cloudy Day at Thyberg

Cloudy Sky at Thyberg

Greylag Geese

Mute Swan

Paul

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Weather For Tree Planting

It's the start of our holiday today and the weather is awful, plans to go for a walk were abandoned when we opened the curtains this morning, greeted by fog and drizzle. The forecast is for heavy rain later so no chance of it brightening up.

Instead we've been out and got some trees and shrubs for the garden which I've planted in the soggy soil this afternoon, no need for watering today!

Today additions to the garden were Weeping Willow, Peach Tree, Pear Tree, Red Rum Shrub and Black Beauty Shrub. Hopefully the sun will come out over the next week and we'll be able to get some pictures.

This morning Debbie managed to get some shots of the Spring colours emerging in the garden before the drizzle got too bad.

Spring Garden Flowers

Spring Garden Flowers

Spring Garden Flowers

Spring Garden Flowers

Paul

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Howling Gales

We were hoping to get out for a nice walk this last weekend, however, the howling wind put paid to that. I can't remember it being that windy for so long, from Friday right through to the middle of Sunday.

The bins had a life of their own, every time we opened the back door, they were there, lying down begging for mercy!

At least with the rubbish weather we had time to sit down and watch Stardust on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday lunchtime, the wind had subsided a little so we ventured out down to RSPB Old Moor.

I've never seen the place as busy, we had a job finding a space in the car park. The visitor centre was crowded but thankfully the hides were nice and quiet, apart from the feeding garden which had drawn a large crowd so we left that until last.

Cloudy Sky

Shags & Black Headed Gulls

Black Headed Gulls

Footpath

Dark Lake

Highland Cattle

Close Encounters

Mute Swan

Grey Lake

Coot

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

After visiting all the hides we were going to buy a nyjer seed feeder and grab a coffee but the centre was still overflowing with people so we gave that one a miss.

We were back home in time to settle down and watch Elizabeth: The Golden Age, second fantastic film of the weekend.

We're both ready for a holiday, it seems like an eternity since Christmas, thankfully we've got some time off work coming up soon, I just hope we get some decent weather to go with it.

Paul