Last from Reddish Vale

Sparrow

Crow



Jay



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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.

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Waterfowl

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Coot
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Duck
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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.

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Banded Denoiselle
Calopteryx splendens

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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.

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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.

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Swan's At Reddish Vale

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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.

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Feathers & Petals

Wood Pigeon

Iris

???

No idea on this..

Another one I need help with

Duckling ( Eazy One This ;O) )

Wren

I apologise for the lack of visiting I have done this weekend but matters concerning family have needed attending to... I will do my best to catch up in the coming week. In the mean time thank you for stopping by and commenting I really do appreciate it.

Crows At Reddish Vale

Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

While I was sat eating a snack I became aware of being watched from above... by this beauty of a Carrion Crow. These crows are large birds with glossy black feathers, thick blunt bills and a smooth plumage.

I shared a bit of bread with this one and it was happy to come quite close. They get their name from scavenging the carcases of dead animals. I see these on my travels quite a lot, picking at road kill.

These are very crafty birds, in the breeding season they will watch other birds building their nests and later raid the nests for eggs and chicks.

Jay

Garrulus glandarius

While I was breaking bread with the Crow it's more colourful cousin the Jay turned up nearby. They are mostly a pinkish brown bird, the underparts being slightly paler. The head has a black and white flecked crown, black moustache and white throat. A white rump which contrasts with the black tail. The iris of the eye is a pale blue, the bill is black and the legs are pinky brown. The wings are mostly black but have white patches and have striking blue patches, and close to these wing patches are beautiful bands of graduated shades of blue.



These are shy birds so I counted myself very lucky to have one so close by. Jays feed on acorns, beech mast, fruits, insects, small rodents, bats, newts, birds' eggs and young birds. I watched this one eat a snail after breaking the shell by bashing it on the ground.

Jay's along with other crows are still persecuted by gamekeepers in its traditional habitat as it takes eggs and young from the nests of game birds. It was often sought out by fishermen who used its brightly coloured feathers for fly-fishing.

More from the area again tomorrow.. the more I visit this place the more I like it.

Sky Watch From Reddish Vale

I showed these arches last week on SkyWatch... but these were taken early evening last night.

The clear blue sky was reflected in the old mill ponds and helped to show off the arches so well.

To see more skies from around the world visit the links at Sky Watch ..... you will not be disapointed.

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Today I show you just a few of the birds on view in the Vale, and if you would prefer to see flowers nip over Here and see what can be found in the hedgerows and meadows.

Grey Heron

Mallard Duckling

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Join me again tomorrow for more views from Reddish Vale, and of course my Sky Watch post.

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More From Reddish Vale

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Following on from yesterday and the views to be seen around the Vale I took a path way which lead me to the mill ponds, and the local wildlife.

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What great eyes this goose had

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Coot

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Swan

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Tomorrow I will show another selection of more birds I came across, I hope you call back to see them.