Sunday 17 February 2013

Blue Skies

Sunday 17th Feb 2013
                         After the many days of either cold/grey weather with periods of snow and rain, what a welcome change to be able to enjoy a day out under a cloudless sky with a definite feeling of spring in the air.  Our walk today from Gargrave in West Yorkshire was just over 9 miles, crossing over Eshton Beck  passing Flasby Hall, skirting near to the top of Flasby Fell and then through the small hamlets of Stirton and Thorlby before returning along the banks of the Leeds & Liverpool canal for almost 3 miles.
        There were around 20+ Oyster Catchers along the banks of the River Aire  the Lapwings were calling and we also heard a more distant Curlew.



             




Along the banking near to our path a lovely display of Winter Aconites and Snowdrops

                              Striding out along Flasby Fell

                  First Coldsfoot of the year on a south facing banking

A lovely show of Snowdrops in the small hamlet of Stirton

This sheep is what I call "Rigged" they roll over onto their backs and can't roll back because of the width of their flat backs and in many cases at this time of year they're heavy in lamb, so a helping hand is needed to roll them over. I'm told they can die if they can't roll back on their feet but I'm not 100% sure about it.

Several Osytercatchers were feeding in the field besides the Leeds & Liverpool Canal








   
                                

   
                                

6 comments:

  1. Oh David, what beautiful drifts of Spring flowers. Looks like a grand day out you all had there :-)

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  2. Oh my oh my oh my... so beautiful and all that walking must make you one of the healthiest men around.... what a wonderful and life-enriching hobby you have! Larry

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  3. The flowers here are not as advanced, we are still looking for coltsfoot in flower. Well done with the sheep.

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  4. That looked like a wonderful walk...the flowers are lovely and yes sheep can die if left on their backs so great you spotted it:)

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