RSPB Great Garden Birdwatch
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
3w ago
Robins outnumbered any other bird at the start of our garden birdwatch this morning. A pair of robins were working their way around the border by the hedge, just a couple of yards away from a single robin on the patio. Robins defend winter territories so I’m surprised that they were tolerating each other. One ..read more
Visit website
Pebble Project
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
As the latest warning of ice includes Yorkshire it’s been a good opportunity to stay warm here in the studio and make a bit of progress on my next article ..read more
Visit website
Fascinating Ferns
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
Back to work on my Thomas Gissing ‘Ferns of Wakefield’ article for a forthcoming ‘Dalesman’. The ferns, horsetail and clubmoss on the right-hand page are by botanical illustrator John Edward Sowerby (1825-1870). With exception of the clubmosses and the rare parsley fern, all the illustrations in the book were drawn from specimens that Gissing had ..read more
Visit website
Overnight Snow
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
The teasel has collapsed under 2-3 inches of overnight snow. Three female pheasants join the goldfinches, house sparrows, blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, nuthatch and robin at the bird feeders. They appear to hear a noise and freeze in alert mode. They remain motionless for five minutes or more, gradually relaxing, as if it’s a ..read more
Visit website
The Strands in Flood
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
At the Strands, the canal overflowed the towpath, leaving grassy debris along the lower wires of fences. Both canal-side pubs – the Bingley Arms and the Navigation – had their cellars flooded. Further downstream at Broad Cut Low Lock, one boat sank and two were dumped on the banking by the flood waters ..read more
Visit website
Pheasant on Ice
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
The male couldn’t quite get past the female pheasant as they came down the garden path this morning. He strikes out to treat her to his magnificent display as he struts across the frozen pond. But as soon as he steps onto the ice he sinks into the icy water in a gap at the ..read more
Visit website
Return of the Blackcap
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
Amongst the regular birds at the feeders late this afternoon, a female blackcap – with a reddish rather than a black cap like the male – which fended off the sparrows and blue tits from the sunflower hearts feeder but deferred to the robin. It returned later and was the last bird at the feeders ..read more
Visit website
Horseplay
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
Smithy Brook has spilt over onto the pastures a the lower end of Hostingley Lane by the Go Outdoors store. A dabchick divves amongst the beck-side trees. At the far end of Low Lane, a male blackbird with white head and a small patch of white on the shoulder. Yesterday morning: a buzzard on a ..read more
Visit website
New Year’s Art Bag
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
The rain’s lashing against my studio window and it isn’t looking promising for New Year’s Day but I’ve finished my old A6 sketchbook and I’m ready to start a new A5 landscape Pink Pig sketchbook tomorrow. Whatever the weather throws at us ..read more
Visit website
A Christmas Carol
Wild Yorkshire Blog
by Richard
1M ago
No, my brother Bill didn’t actually appear in this year’s production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Old Vic, but he did play Scrooge in our ambitious multi-media version in 1966. I played Marley’s ghost ..read more
Visit website

Follow Wild Yorkshire Blog on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR