Nature Walks during Lock Down pt1.

There's not a lot I can add to what we know, or rather don't know about the Coronavirus pandemic except maybe to say that for some of us, me included, this forced retreat into our respective bubbles has restored our enjoyment of the simpler things in life - for all those fond of saying 'stop the world, I want to get off', now is your time!

Oh and one other thing, surely I can't be the only one that mutters an inward groan every time the phrase 'we are living in unprecendented times' is spewed out? Its word pollution. Why not 'unheard of ', unique, un-rivalled or 'without parallel' to mix it up a bit?

Back to nature, benefiting a bit now that we've temporarily stopped using our machines so much, and I sense that millions of people are 'seeing' more, maybe because there's not much else to do; I'm no different, I find myself observing more and savouring the sights and sounds of the daily exercise routine. Never straying far (not allowed😣) from my new house in Pocklington I've been busy discovering previously unexplored sites around and about the Yorkshire Wolds.

Millington Wood, 13/03/20

Pre-lockdown days (remember them?) a couple of my mates dropped by to wish me well in the house and we popped into Millington Wood. A gem of a place, I remember quite vividly running recklessly down the steep slopes with my kids many years ago. An altogether more sedate experience this time around but still, we did it from top to bottom and were rewarded by flock of 30 or so Bramblings downed by a brief squally shower and some magnificent views of local raptors.

Looking on, Rob and Mark, Millington Wood, 13/03/20

Red Kite, Millington Patures, 13/03/20

Common Buzzard, Millington Patures, 13/03/20

Earlier in the month I visited Brayton Barff, a local woodland near Selby that I'd heard some good things about. It was ok, few too many dog walkers for my liking and nothing out of the ordinary in terms of birdlife, but I was impressed by some of the ancient trees there and being the highest point around for many a mile the view from the top was equally impressive.

Thorpe Willoughby from the top of Brayton Barff

Veteran oak tree, Brayton Barff, 06/03/20

Robin, Brayton Barff. 06/03/20

Selby cathedral from Brayton Barff, 06/03/20

Drax power station from Brayton Barff, 06/03/20

Barlow Common, 06/03/20

In the shadow of Drax power station, nearby YWT nature reserve Barlow Common is always worth a pop in and even though I found little else but the scenery to photograph the late afternoon sun was shining and there was not a soul to be seen, just the way I like it!

Again, not many interesting birds - Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, Teal and a flock of Fieldfares passing through the highlights.

Barlow Common, 06/03/20

Barlow Common, 06/03/20

Barlow Common, 06/03/20

Barlow Common, 06/03/20

Drax power station from Barlow Common

Arnecliff Wood, 20/03/20

Another place I've wanted to visit for ages but never got around to it is Arnecliff & Park Hole Woods, a SSSI site near Glaisdale and it was certainly worth the trip. A proper ancient woodland and one that I'll be itching to revisit when all this is over. It was just fit to burst into life when I was there mid March with the first Chiffchaffs singing away and I can only dream about how it might look now!

Wild Daffodils, Arnecliff Wood, 20/03/20

Arnecliff Wood, 20/03/20

Valley side & railway bridge, Arnecliffe Wood, 20/03/20

I saw a daytime flying largish bat, possibly a Noctule, fluttering around in a sheltered glade and as I climbed along the edge of the ravine a big dark shape descended into the valley below, bigger than a pheasant, I have no idea what it was but immediately wondered if it might be one of the famed Eagle Owls that are rumoured to breed somewhere in the North Yorks moors. I'll almost certainly never know.

3 Willow Tits, Nuthatch, Curlew plus a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail on the River Esk were my other memorable sightings on the day.

Park Hole Wood and Glaisdale Side

Dipper, River Esk, Glaisdale, 20/03/20

And then we had 'lock down' and my rovings limited to within a few miles of Pocklington but I haven't felt particularly restricted, I have the Yorkshire Wolds and several other good sites within cycling or a short drive away and I've made full use of my daily exercise!

Newborn Lambs, Nunburnholme Wold, 26/03/20

One such stroll, near Nunburnholme brought me my first decent pics of Chiffchaff along with some very photogenic new born lambs.

Chiffchaff, Nunburnholme Wold, 26/03/20

Bratt Wood, Warter and Londesborough are all within striking distance from Pocklington and of course the Pocklington Canal is an easy and often productive walk. I've seen the usual but always welcome spring flowers emerge and bloom, Brown Hares, Curlews bubbling away and hopefully looking to breed, and of course the weather has been splendid, the light perfect and the skies clear and blue - all good for wildlife and of course taking photographs ...

Curlews, Pocklington Canal, 24/03/20

Wood Anemones, Bratt Wood, 28/03/20

Weir at Londesborough, 26/03/20

Pocklington Canal, Bielby Arm, 27/03/20

Primroses, Bratt Wood, 28/03/20

Dog Violets, Bratt Wood, 28/03/20

Marsh Marigolds, dew pond, Burnby Wold, 27/03/20

This was a surprise find and a first for me in the Wolds, Redshank, 2 of them on a flooded area just outside of Warter.

Redshank, Warter, 26/03/20

Yellowhammer, outskirts of Pocklington, 28/03/20

Wheldrake Ings is now officially closed to the public but shortly beforehand I popped in there looking for Sand Martins. I didn't see any, in fact the place still felt quite wintery with lots of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail still around. Best birds by far were a big flock of Black Tailed Godwits out of the back of Swantail Hide. They pass through here every year and used to breed, maybe the odd pair still do, but I've never seen as many as this here. I counted 117! I'm reasonably confident and hopeful that nature reserves like Wheldrake will be among the first places to re-open - mid summer? Here's hoping.

Black Tailed Godwits, Wheldrake Ings, 25/03/20

Pintail, Wheldrake Ings, 25/03/20

And that my friends is that for now, I've been on so many solitary walks and taken so many pictures over the past few weeks I couldn't fit them all in to one - part 2 of lock down Stay safe everyone😄💚