Coot at Lapwing Lake

On Wednesday I showed you Lapwing Lake at Moore Nature Reserve. Here is what I found swimming across the lake.

The Coot (Fulica atra) is a common bird in British waters. It is all black with a distinctive white beak which distinguishes it from its smaller cousin, the moorhen, which has a red beak. Coots feed on aquatic plants, like duckweed and grasses, and animals such as snails and larvae brought up from the bottom of the pond or river.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Lord of the Wings

Jack (the one on the right) is a 15 year old Harris Hawk that has his home at Lord of the Wings in Prestatyn. They were in Llandudno last month showing off to the public.

Fena (again the one on the right) is a Western Screech Owl that also has its home at Lord of the Wings.

According to their Facebook Page Lord of the Wings was founded on 5 May 2014. It is a Community Interest Company, that uses birds of prey, medieval history and weaponry to engage with the public and deliver educational topics. It was set up to carry on the work of a company (Coastal Hawks Project) that is no longer trading. Their aim is to impart a greater understanding of birds of prey to all members of the public, both young and old alike.

A contribution to Saturday Critters and Camera Critters.

Moorhens on the Ashton Canal

Last week I showed you some Geese on the Ashton Canal. The geese are common but a little further along I came across this perfect habitat for moorhens. I almost didn't spot them at first.

The Moorhen (Gallinula clioropus) is a member of the family of crakes and rails. It is a poor flier and prefers to go into hiding when danger threatens. Its name is a form of mere-hen. Seldom seen in flocks it spends all its time on shallow water near dense undergrowth in which it can hide. It can sink when danger threatens leaving just its bill above water. When it does take to the air it patters off across the water flying low and dangling its legs. The Moorhen has partially webbed, very long toes, to aid its passage across floating vegetation. As it swims it jerks its head and pecks up food, including slugs, snails, worms, insects, seeds and vegetation, which float on the surface of the water or amongst bankside vegetation. Its nest is built near the water, often in a bush or low branches. It will aggressively defend the nest against all comers. The hen lays 5 to 11 eggs between March and July. They hatch after 21 days and the young leave the nest after 2-3 days.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Reflections on the Ashton Canal

A gaggle of geese swim past an old narrowboat on the Ashton Canal between Portland Basin and Guide Bridge.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

The Harris's hawk or Harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) formerly known as the bay-winged hawk or dusky hawk, is a medium-large bird of prey that breeds from the southwestern United States south to Chile and central Argentina. Birds are sometimes reported at large in Western Europe, especially Britain, but it is a popular species in falconry and these records almost certainly all refer to escapes from captivity.

I found this one at Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, North Wales.

A contribution to
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Swans with Cygnets at New Islington

The New Islington Marina is centred on Old Mill Street in an area of Ancoats that has seen considerable urban regeneration since the Millennium. The marina services both the Ashton Canal on one side and the Rochdale Canal on this side, although there is no direct connection here between the two canals. In the background is a large apartment block in a converted mill and known as the "Chips" building.

Hardly visible (click on image for full size version) on the left hand side shrouded in scaffolding is the distressed Ancoats Dispensary which began life in 1828 as the Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary on Great Ancoats Street. It moved to this building on Old Mill Street in 1869, in order to serve the influx of people who came to the Ancoats area during Manchester's industrial hey-day. The hospital finally closed its doors in 1996 and the dispensary building is the last remaining in the area. A group Ancoats Dispensary Trust was formed in 2012 with the aim of saving the building.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Peacock at Blackpool Zoo

A contribution to
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters;
Blue Monday.

Pelican at Blackpool Zoo

Eastern White Pelicans (Pelecanus ononcrotalus) live in large colonies with up to 50,000 pairs. They spend the early hours of the morning fishing until about 9am. The rest of the day is spent preening, bathing and resting.

I came across these a year ago but have only just now got round to sorting through the photographs.

A contribution to
Water World Wednesday;
signs, signs;
Good Fences;
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Two swans at Bowness on Windermere

The MV Swan is a sister ship to MV Teal. She was constructed by Vickers Armstrong of Barrow-in-Furness on behalf of the LMS railway. The vessel made her maiden voyage on June 24th 1938 when she carried delegates to the 37th Annual Conference of the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association on a charter from Lakeside. Swan and Teal operate today under the Windermere Lake Cruises flag.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
Our World Tuesday;
Wild Birds Wednesday.

Blackpool Gull

A seagull poses for a photograph by the North Pier at Blackpool.

Click on the photo for a larger version.

This was taken on an evening in June 2013 but I've only just got round to looking at the hundreds of photographs I took then.

The bird may or may not be one of the ones featured in my photo of the pier on sithenah.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections - see the feet - Saturday Critters and Camera Critters.

The Rochdale Canal at Castlefields

In the Castlefields area of Manchester, an arch of the Castlefield Viaduct crosses the Rochdale Canal.

Reflected in the canal is part of Manchester's highest building, the Beetham Tower.

The canalside is home to Canada Geese. A ramped walkway leads down to the towpath.

Looking back from the towpath under the viaduct which carries the mainline railway through Deansgate. On the right is a former railway line now converted to carry the Metrolink Tramway.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections and Scenic Weekends as well as Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Weekend Reflections on the Ashton Canal

(Click on image for full size version)
This view is from bridge #29 of the Ashton Canal, a footbridge which links the towpath on the left to the Portland Basin Museum.

The canal basin is home to several families of Canada geese.

On the left is the packhorse bridge over the entrance to the Peak Forest Canal.

In the background is Junction Mill chimney. The octagonal chimney, 210 feet (64m) high with an unusual tulip-shaped top was built in 1867 to serve Samuel Heginbottom's cotton-spinning mill which operated from 1831 to 1930. The mill itself was eventually demolished and replaced in recent years with canalside apartments called "Boatmans Walk". In 2000 the chimney was bought by Tameside Council and restored.

In the right foreground is Lilith a restored wooden canal boat based at the Portland Basin.

I had just taken this photographer when I turned round to see what became an encounter with a squirrel which story I posted here last Sunday.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections and Scenic Weekends.

Encounter by the Ashton Canal

Last Monday I was taking photographs of the Ashton Canal from the footbridge by the Portland Basin. I noticed a woman climbing the steps up to the bridge. She stopped and I wondered for a brief moment if perhaps she thought I was blocking her path, but she was looking down and I saw there was a young squirrel crossing the bridge.

It stopped and looked at me, back at the woman and wondered which way to turn.

It climbed up on the bridge railings. I aimed my camera at the squirrel despite having my sunglasses on and having to shoot almost directly towards the sun. The camera focussed even if my eyes didn't. Another close-up shot is on my photoblog sithenah.

At one point a pigeon flew on the bridge to see what has happening. After a brief period I moved away and the squirrel crawled along the parapet and then jumped into some bushes.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.
Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo and
Camera Critters.

ABC Wednesday: G is forGull over Gull on Gull

At Southport, a gull flies over a gull sitting on the statue of a gull by the Marine Lake.

For more G posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Anchor Bridge, Brighouse

Last Monday on my way to Mabel Ferrett's funeral, I stopped off in Brighouse for an hour.

I wandered around the town taking a few photographs whilst waiting for my next bus. This is the Calder & Hebble Navigation from Briggate looking at Anchor Bridge.

It was only when I later downloaded my photographs onto the computer that I noticed the large congregation of ducks assembled between the bridges.

For more Sunday Bridges visit San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

ABC Wednesday: Z Zz Zzz Zzzz Zzzz

I found this sleeping duck at Lion Park on Jersey.

More photographs from the island can be found on Jersey 2010.

Visit ABC Wednesday for more Z posts.

Weekend Reflections:Lion Park Lake

At the back of Jersey Goldsmiths in St Lawrence parish is Lion Park.

The lake is home to a pair of flamingos.

You can see a closer view of one of them on sithenah.

For more Weekend Reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

ABC Wednesday: H is for Heron at Northenden

Last Sunday I posted a shadow shot and left you wondering what had created it.


It is in fact a heron sculpture. According to the Northenden Riverside Park Friends Group website, it was installed on the 5th March 2010 and a competition is being held in order to name the sculpture.


You can see it in the distance from a little further up the river Mersey on sithenah.

For more H posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Weekend Reflections:In the Eye of a Bird

[click on the image to see the bigger picture]

The Rochdale Canal at Todmorden reflected in the eye of a bird.

For more weekend reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

ABC Wednesday:I is for Inner Farne

Inner Farne is the largest of the Farne Islands which lie off the coast of Northumberland.


It is home to shags, puffins, arctic terns and other birds.


These photographs are from my one and only visit on 23rd July 2001.


Apart from the Inner Farne Lighthouse, all the buildings on the island date from the monastic period. In 1540 a Prior named Castell built the "Pele Tower" to house the monks who lived on the island. The Tower is now home to the National Trust Wardens who live there for nine months of the year to look after the Island and its wildlife.


In 678 Inner Farne was home to St Cuthbert. After 12 years as Prior of Lindisfarne, St.Cuthbert retired to Inner Farne until he became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 684. He returned to Inner Farne when his health deteriorated and died there on 20th March 687.


A church was built on the island in 1370 dedicated to St Cuthbert and is open to the public today. Inside is a monument to Grace Darling.


Some other photos from my trip to the islands from Seahouses can be seen at Farne Islands 2001.

For more I posts visit ABC Wednesday.