Nice.
My Christmas highlights were: a kingfisher - taking its time and occasionally catching and eating minnows from the dammed pond below Shipley Glen. Then a pair of rose-ringed parakeets investigating a hole in a tree. First time I've seen these around Bingley. I've mixed feelings about them TBH.
On today's run (8.4 miles, 1455 feet ascent, 1 hr 36 mins), a large flock of lapwings on one intake, and later a couple of skeins of geese flying north-westwards. Spring around the corner!
Am Yisrael Chai
Took my neighbour's collie for a run up onto the local fell behind the house today. Just beyond the first trig, he flushed out a quartet of short-eared owls from the spike grass. They, rather nonchalantly and languidly, flew off as a group, not an aristocratic feather ruffled, it seemed, by the impertinent 'mutt'. I've never seem short-eared owls in a group before.
Apparently "Short-eared owls mainly hunt during the daytime, flying low over moorland, grassland and saltmarshes where they feed on field voles and small birds. About the same size as the barn owl, but with long wings, the short-eared owl breeds in North England and Scotland, but can be seen more widely in winter. They nest on the ground in scraped-out hollows lined with grass and downy feathers."
Am Yisrael Chai
Parking in a layby above Menston to go for a walk on the Eastern side of Burley Moor we saw a Barn owl. Luckily we has our binoculars and watched it disappear behind a gorse bush. Carried on watching and a Kestrel came up from behind said gorse bush. The Barn Owl then appeared and was mobbed by the Kestrel. Barn owl flies off one way and Kestrel the other. The Kestrel landed on a gate post and was eating something. We think it had nicked the Barn Owls catch.
A good spot. I've only rarely seen them, but never together.
A skein of geese flying north-westwards here this morning. Doesn't seem right when the forecasters are telling us that it's about to get really cold.Originally Posted by Mossdog
In his lifetime he suffered from unreality, as do so many Englishmen.
Jorge Luis Borges
Geese are very wise Anthony. They believe nothing the BBC tells them!
Visibility good except in Hill Fog
The Kingfisher made my morning, flying down the Wharfe in Otley. Not seen it for about 4 months. Had a brief glimpse of the otter last week. How the fishermen hate them!
Watched a heron (first this year), battle its way into the gale and horizontal driving rain, from one field into another. Quite a feat for such a large, lumbering bird.
Am Yisrael Chai
A rather handsome stoat, with his distinctive black tipped tail, trotted across my path just 6 feet ahead of me on todays run.
Visibility good except in Hill Fog
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