We in Baildon are really fortunate to have the river, the canal, Robert’s Park and Baildon Moor within such easy reach. I frequently take photos of what I see on my walks around the place and this week has been no exception.
A Nuthatch looking as though it is listening for insects under the bark of the tree.
These two photos were taken on my way through Robert’s Park on Wednesday morning. I think it’s great that on my walk to work I can easily see things like this.
And then I heard the “Peep. Peep.” of an Oystercatcher. By now I was across the river and managed to get this shot from near the Boathouse as it flew along the river. For several years now they have been nesting at the Tax Office and at this time of year you can hear them flying along the river many times a day, and often catch sight of them.
Because I was more or less in the same place as when I took a photo of the crowd at the Dragon Boat Festival I decided to take a similar composition to show that the park does not seem to have suffered much. The cleanup crew do a great job. Earlier in the week there were dozens of cable ties from the awnings and latex gloves littering the paths – now all gone.
At lunchtime I went for a walk along the canal to Hirst Lock and then across to the weir at Hirst Mill. This Heron, at first, looked like someone had stuck a walking stick into the side of the canal but there it was, watching for frogs, worms, fish and any stray duck or goose chicks. And also quietly keeping an eye on all the people walking past.
Some great work is being done at Hirst Lock. Flower beds have been planted and a nature reserve with pond has been created. Well worth a detour.
At Hirst Mill I was keeping an eye on several Grey Wagtails when a Kingfisher flew up river from Saltaire direction and landed in the trees just above the weir. The photo is nothing special but shows what you can see if you keep your eyes and ears open.
It wasn’t until I viewed this photo at home that realised it looks as though the Grey Wagtail at the top right of the photo is dive bombing the Heron. I don’t think the Heron would be too worried and would probably swallow the thing whole given half a chance.
The Heron the flew up to the top edge of the weir….
where it caught sight of something to eat…..
and then went for it…..
and got it. It’s only a tiny fish. I wonder how many of them a Heron has to eat each day to keep it going?
On my way home from work I took this of a Heron on the Weir at Robert’s Park. The water was only still enough for a second or two for me to get the reflection.
And then this is a view along the canal taken from next to Argy Bargy at a similar time the following day.
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