Mandrin Duck

I liked the reflections these ducks produced... double the beauty

Carved Nuthatch

Nuthatch Seat

Cheethams Park & Nature Reserve

Stalybridge

...

This is a living tree and the carved Nuthatch as been attached where a limb as been removed.. the seat is just wide enough for me to sit on... so it must be ment for two.. ha! Again this was part of the sculpture trail... this trail as been added this year and I have not been able to find any information on it as yet.

I will show the next set of pictures from this set on Friday, to join in with Rune's bench post..... so theres a clue as to whats in store. Tomorrow I will show you two old stone posts with inscriptions.... I hope you can join me then as I need help deciphering one ;o)

Carved Owl

Cheethams Park

Stalybridge

This is just one of a few sculptures this park as commisioned and have placed throughout the grounds on what it calls a Sculpture Trail. I'll show more from here this week... tomorrow with be a pair of Badgers.

3 Of - 7

Feather On Gorse

....

3 Of - 1

This week I'm posting 3 pictures a day... I'm calling it '3 Of' and to start off with I have chosen birds... I hope you enjoy this.



Robin



Wood Pigeon



Jays

Water View

I resently stopped by here to have a walk about and take a shot of the bridge and the boundary stone.

Over the bridge theres a nice view up stream of a weir, I had taken the shot before I noticed that there was a Grey Heron.. mid-stream sat as still as can be hunting it's dinner.

When I was growing up it was a rare sight to one of these...

Now it's as easy as popping my head over a wall and theres one there waiting.

Mallards

Female

.

.

Male

.

We see these more or less where ever there is water. I was surprised to find out resently that these our most popular of ducks are now on the decline, and have been added to the 'Amber Alert' list of species of conservation concern.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

.

.

.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is the UK's most common woodpecker, is sometimes called the 'Pied Woodpecker' because of its black and white colouring. Its trunk-clinging habits, characteristic shape and black and white plumage eliminate all other British birds except Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Apart from being much bigger, the Great Spotted is easily told by the big white patches on its shoulders, as well as the red under-tail coverts. Juveniles have red along the crown, the male has a red spot on the nape but the female has no red on her head at all. The white shoulder patches show up clearly in flight which is characteristically bounding. I have been lucky enough to see plenty of these over the last 2 years at the feeders I help to maintain in a carpark on Woodhead.

Last from Reddish Vale

Sparrow

Crow



Jay



__ ? __



View of the Viaduct



Ducks on the old mill pond

This view taken late evening is the last from this series of pictures... but I'm sure I will be back here again soon. Thanks for stopping by.. Have a great weekend.

Reddish Vale 9

Waterfowl

.

Coot
.



.



.

Duck
.



.

Moorhen

This as been the last of the wildlife shots from Reddish Vale, tomorrow I'll show the last views and them move on to something else.

Reddish Vale 8

Banded Denoiselle
Calopteryx splendens

.

Wingspan approximately 60mms, It can be seen flying around May to the end of August It feeds off other insects, which are caught while flying. Found around slow flowing rivers, streams, canals and the mill ponds here at Reddish Vale. This is the largest of our damselflies and these are the firsts ones I've managed to capture with my camera... these are infact 3 different ones and are just 3 of many I saw on the morning I visited the Vale. Early morning is the best time to catch them sitting still, as soon as the sun gets up and warms them they are off.

.

The males have these dark coloured patches on their wings. These are used in a fluttering dance to attract females. Their bodies are an iridescent blue/green colour.

The females do not have the tinted dark patches on their wings, and their bodies are an iridescent pale green colour. Alas I did not see one of them. The banks of the pond and river had plenty of males about but not a single female was about that I could see.

Grey Heron

The largest European heron. It can stand with neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunch down with its neck bent over its chest. In flight it holds its neck retracted and has large rounded wings. This looks like a youngster to me, it was very tatty looking...

I came across this story last week and thought others who read this blog might find this of interest. Heron Eating A Rabbit

A rare sighting of late on this blog... this is thee Green Backed, Yellow Brested, Blue Legged, Wifelet... other wise know as Jane.

We enjoyed a peaceful walk around the vale last week and took bread to feed the water fowl.. these ducks got the lions share. More from here again tomorrow, I hope you have enjoyed the views and wildlife.

Reddish Vale 7

Swan's At Reddish Vale

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

We felt like 'Peeping Tom's watching these Swans preening, they did not seem to mind one bit and remained relaxed and content. It was very peaceful just sat there on a summers evening enjoying the views and sounds of the area. More from here again tomorrow.