On Saturday I set off to the weir at Hirst Mill with the intention of setting my tripod up. It must be quite a while since I was last up there because it has been re-landscaped. The last time I was there part of the weir was missing. It has now been repaired but also the area below the weir has been raised so that the slope is more gentle. I guess this means that fish will be able to get up it easier but it also meant that there was no where for me to put my tripod.
So I went a little further up river by the field next to the rowing club and took over 300 photos. I have only kept one of them, see above, just to show that I was there. I need more practice. The idea is to get a decent photo of a Swallow flying. The idea of the weir was to get at the same level as the water with the Swallows flying along the river towards me. In my mind it seemed so easy.
I did keep my eyes open for other wildlife too. There were plenty of Ringlet butterflies around.
And a few Red Admirals
Down at Dowley Gap there were a few gulls around and on the filter beds were 3 Oystercatchers dodging the water as the spray arms came around.
From Dowley Gap I walked back through Hirst Wood and this was the view from the river bank near where the railway line crosses the river. I caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher and several Grey Wagtails and all the while the Oystercatchers were making a racket further down.
Along the river and canal there are quite a few of this year’s ducklings looking very grown up but then as I crossed the river just down from Hirst Mill I saw these tiny 11 that are looking as though they are quite new.
I stopped off in Robert’s Park to have an ice cream from the Halfmoon Cafe and watched the cricket for a few minutes.
On Sunday I went down to Gill (Ghyl) Beck to look for Dippers, no luck.
But I did see this brick in the beck. Made by Wrose Hill Fire Clay Co Ltd of Shipley. The factory was built in the mid 19th century and closed, it is thought, in 1944.
I then went down to Denso Marston Nature Reserve hoping to see more wildlife. Still no Dippers, but a few Brown Hackers ovipositing.
And Azure Damselflies doing the same.
While nearby a Moorhen was keeping a couple of eggs warm.
Further along the river towards Shipley a flock of Longtailed Tits chattered past through the trees with this cute juvenile showing itself.
Apparently Longtailed Tits from other broods can help feed the most recent clutch of youngsters. This adult was in the same flock drifting through the trees.
You can see a couple of photos of a brood looking rather cozy here and here.
For some reason I thought that Dragonflies/Damselflies only existed in this stage to mate and that they didn’t eat. Their larval stages are voracious hunters but it looks as though they hunt at this stage too. Here is a Azure Damselfly having just got hold of a fly.
and here it is with not much of the fly left
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