Sunny, frosty days are ideal for this walkin the winter, which involve walking along a very muddy country lane, and the mud will be frozen, making the walking more pleasant, and the sun of your back provides bright, uplifting views. It has been very cold lately, and there is very little open water about. But most of the ditches and dykes along the walk drain into the Setting Dyke held some free flowing water. By the Setting Dyke, my binoculars and camera prompted a dog walker to tell me that she had seen a Kingfisher a few times in the morning, a regular, she said, and a species I haven't recorded in the area.
One of three Mallard by the Setting Dyke in the Cropton Road area.
Two male Blackbirds engaged in what I call, slow chase. They jump along, loosely following each other. It appears to be a territorial display.
A Rowan in a front garden laden with berries made me look for its guarding Mistle Thrush. It was actually sitting in the middle of the tree, then flew to a nearby roof.
The view West across the Willerby Carrs fields.
I scan the paddocks. All the puddles and flashes are frozen, but a few gulls, a Rook, some Pied Wagtails and these two Meadow Pipits were feeding on the grass.
Meadow Pipit.
Rook. As I scanned the paddocks, a Snipe flew, dipping down onto a ditch.
The view north at Wood Lane.
This Redwing was feeding on fallen haws by Priory Road.
It was nice to see 25 Rooks, with a few Jackdaws, feeding on the paddocks of Woodlane Farm.
The return walk via Snuff Mill Lane, looking NW.
2 comments:
Yes, I've seen that Blackbird slow chase. In my case it was an old male warning his newly grown-up son that he needed to go off and get a territory of his own.
It's a fascinating behaviour, such a restrained and composed territorial contest. Having said that, occasionally this ends in an actual fight with feathers flying!
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