Early June. Out with my camera again.
On the 1st June, not long after getting back from Howden, I went out along the river Aire at Denso Marston Nature Reserve. I then went for a quick look at High Royds Pond. A few days later, on 5 June, I had a walk along the canal from Dockfield Road to Buck Lane, then along the river to the footbridge near Metalbox, along the canal again into Gallows Bridge Moorings and then back to Dockfield Road. The header image is of a Chiffchaff, the only photo from walking along by the river.
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DMNR
At the reserve plenty of birds could be seen flitting through the trees and hedges. Lots of calling was going on so that the parents could locate and feed their fledglings. A Great Tit was even looking at me with its beak open – Feed Me!
There was a cute line up of 5 Mandarin Ducklings with the parent on a rock not too far away.
A Goosander family were also near. I have seen it several times – ducklings can put a spurt on and actually run on the water. This little Goosander chick kicked up a great splash of water as it surged forwards. A few minutes later they were up on some rocks with the parent looking as though it has been injured.
Looking at the number of Aphids on that Sycamore leaf I wont be surprised if we get a bumper showing of Ladybirds. There is plenty of food for them. Of the leaves that I could see on the tree they all looked to be covered in the same way with Aphids.
I need to make a point of taking photos of this car wheel sticking out of the water, it is a good indicator of how much water is in the river.
High Royds Pond
At the entrance to High Royds Pond, as usual, there were quite a few Mallard Ducks, Mandarin Ducks and Moorhen. With young. All of them a reasonable size.
The Mandarin Duck chicks were happy to wander around but occasionally one of the parent would would come over letting you know not to get too close.
Canal
On this walk along the canal I was surprised how clear the water was. I didn’t see any boats moving so I guess the water had had time to clear/settle. I didn’t see any fish swimming amongst the weeds, which surprised me. But I did see hundreds of tracks made by snails along the bottom. And dozens of drinks cans and a mattress.
The Mayfly came up off the water but seemed to struggle. It dipped into the water again and then flew to the side of the canal. I peered over and saw it climbing up the side. It looked like something dropped off it and fell back into the water. Was it something that didn’t like being out of the water so let go? Anyway the Mayfly crawled up the side a bit while I leaned over with my long lens to take a photo of it.
The field between the canal and river near Buck Lane was quite spectacular with the yellow of the Buttercups. Its height made it easy for the Pheasant, Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws and Crows to hide whenever they wanted to.
I then went back along the canal and a bit further into Shipley to see the Swans and Cygnets. And at Gallows Bridge Moorings this barge was out of the water on timber railway sleepers. I liked the name. When the work being done is finished I’m sure the barge will sound different.
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The images are published under the Creative Commons, BY-NC-SA license. Feel free to share them, edit them, but please keep my name in the credits. And if I have got the ID of anything wrong please let me know, I don’t consider myself an expert but I have write something. It is often a best guess and it would take up too much room to say It could be this, or it could be… or perhaps.
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