Just another day

I woke and through the curtains caught the muffled light. It looked and felt like snow, there was that orangey glow to the sky, but I thinking “its April now” turned over and went back to sleep. Later I drew back the curtains and stared out at the snowy, icy landscape outside. I felt annoyed at this intrusion into spring. Of course I know that it snows, often long after winter has gone, the infamous cricket match in June springs to mind. Illogical to feel so angry, like shouting at the wind to stop, as a winter storm plucks at the roof tiles and taunts me whistling through the gaps in the windows.

Later, after work, I stood by a tree looking up towards Stakeside and watching a female Sparrow hawk hunting smaller birds, darting through the trees, as sleet stung and needled my face. Somewhere near by the reluctant Weasel was lurking, lured away from Tele and hassled into warm clothes to join me, “The Fresh air will do you good”. Earlier we had watched a pair of Buzzards being mobbed by angry Ravens and searched for Dippers along the rocky stream.

As we drove home over the bleak moors near Derbyshire Bridge, I stopped to show her the Grouse butts, and on cue a Grouse stalking the long grasses, I needed binoculars to see it clearly but she had her younger sharper eyes.

Home, as the sleet turned to rain, and into the warm glow of lights and mugs of tea. I talked to Mrs BW about the things we’d seen; the Weasel had TV to watch.

Spring?

Most of the snow has gone but its still cold so I wore my thermal underwear (okay to much information) as I was intending to spend a couple of hours lying up in one of my favourite spots to watch and wait. When I got to the carpark there was a lot of activity. The curlews that nest on the higher part of the moor were unsettled. I think it was a party of walkers plus dogs (off the leads). The walkers were noisy and did not seem to worry where their dogs went. Luckily they were at the end of their walk.

I got to my spot and had not been there long before the Owl appeared. Because I was high on the side of the valley I watched as it flew up the side of the hill and then realised that there were two. I watched for the next ten minutes as they flew together, tumbling and gliding and quartering the hillside. Not a lot of serious hunting appeared to be done and they displayed to each other, dropping through the air making a clapping sound with their wings. It was, for me a mind blowing few minutes. They flew quite close, oblivious to my presence or unconcerned by it, they were true masters of the sky the hillside and the valley and I was so lucky to have stumbled across them.




I have take plenty of photos but my lack of skill means that few of them are usable. I will sift through them amd see if I can find one with them both on.

The light was quite extraordinary as the sun set.



As I walked back to the car the air was full of sky larks and I turned for one last glimpse of the setting sun and the valley, before heading for home.



I watched from the car park as two cyclists ignored the signs and set off down the steep narrow muddy path to the bottom of the valley. Hopefully they will break their bikes on the rocks and have to carry them back up the hill.

Curlew in Flight

It was a bitterly cold morning. There was still snow cover and light flurries of snow gently brushed us we put on boots and chatted to the ducks that came up from the pond to investigate us and to see if we had anything for them. We didn't and they soon lost interest and went back to the safety and comfort of the pond.



The curlews were noisy and very active. There were quite a few people about walking their dogs and despite the notices telling them to keep dogs on short leads from 1st March to 31st July because of the nesting birds, there were dogs running around on the access land, upsetting the curlews and the grouse.



We felt annoyed. Its bad enough that the paths are covered in dog mess, but to allow your dog to roam across the moor during the nesting season is just plain stupid and idiotic. Not a lot that you can do about it though. The snow gave the moors a bleak and forbidding look and feel to them. As we rounded the end of the dismantled railway line, a Raven flapped lazily above us calling in that deep harsh way of Ravens. I the distance we could see the next line of snow showers working their way towards us. Spring was on hold for the moment. But only for the monment.

The First Day of Spring

Despite the fact that it was chilly, it felt as if Spring had finally arrived. Down in the valley we could hear the Curlews cry and call, and occasionally one would fly along the crest of the hill. The pond was occupied, though the ducks got a little more than they bargined for when first three Canada Geese flew honking and a hollering in for a quick feed and then the Heron dipped in briefly to disturb their peace. Mrs BW and I watched the light fade away.

 

As we set off back the heron flew back towards its roost.



And I managed to get a quick snap of it before it faded from sight.

We set off for home with a spring in our steps ready to face the week.