Delta Ged, Volunteer Ranger @ National Trust Lyme Park : Black-headed Gull

Sunday, 27 December 2015

Week 86 23/12/2015 - Winter Sunshine and Shadows

Photo Blog Week 86 - Wed 23 December 2015

Hi readers, I wish you a (belated) Happy Christmas and everything you wish yourself for 2016.

Not an 'official' patrol but Mrs Delta-Ged and I nipped in 2 days before Christmas for a walk. Unusually, this route starts from the Knott Car Park rather than the House and wee had lunch sitting on the side of the Knott looking out over Manchester. It seems odd to choose to look at the city and urban sprawl when there is so much beautiful countryside around but it is a novel perspective on where we lead our lives and so many land marks to spot and discuss; it has a beauty all of it's own as so many lives lay their trail in the landscape.

I somehow managed to switch my phone off just after we set off so the track and distances are remembered rather than recorded. This is largely why the the post has been delayed, I uploaded the photo's Christmas Eve but then got too busy to finish the job.

route: The Knott Car Park; Westpark drive gate; up to Pursefield ridge; Paddock Cottage

Looking across The Knott to the city beyond

Unusual section of wall. The slope is steep and the bed rock near the surface and several steps have been built into the wall profile

gorgeous blue sky behind Lantern Wood and Park Moor

approaching Paddock Cottage silhouetted against cloud lit by a low winter sun

Cheshire plain from Paddock Cottage

Kite surfing

Paddock Cottage Door

route: Paddock Cottage, ridge path, Cluse Hey and Poynton Brook, Middle Moor Wall

looking down into Cluse Hey from the rock outcrop

The purple hue that appears in the new growth on silver birch through winter into spring

path through the birch above Poynton Brook along Cluse Hey bottom

Paddock Cottage high above us now

shadows creeping across the valley as the winter sun lowers

gorse beginning to blossom high up on the south facing bank

catkins; unfortunately, I hadn't noticed the camera focusing on the rear rather than centre ones

the bracken which only weeks ago stood tall and verdant is now limp and matted on the floor

Nature's Artwork: I liked the view through the hole

unfortunately, I got the focus wrong again :( but still interesting so I've kept it in

blue to white and light shadow

This deep path up from the brook to Park Moor now totally in shadow

coming out of the darkness toward Middle Moor

Higher now; looking across Paddock ridge to Cheshire plain.

That bank of cloud is heralding a change of weather on it's way in.

zoomed in on Paddock Cottage

zoomed in on the city of Manchester. Beetham Tower (Hilton Hotel) left of centre.

route: pass over Middle Moor wall; Knightslow Wood

2pm shadows on Dec 23rd

long lens shot of the Moor Herd red deer

The House and The Cage

Nature's Artwork: A nugget of purest green.

Blackadder fans will understand

sun sinking through the beech trees of Knightslow Wood

route: Knightslow Wood, Drinkwater Meadow, Car Park; Timberyard

low sun lighting up the pines by Drinkwater Meadow

Sky changing over Drinkwater Meadow as the bank of cloud begins to pass across the sun

Mallards and Black Headed Gulls sharing the Mill Pond

route: Timberyard; Turtle Brew; track return to The Knott car park

nice reflections looking away from the darkening clouds

a hint of the House through the tree tops

Fungi fest'

classic South Face shot with shadows creeping up as the sun begins to dip behind the trees

Today's Track and Profile

Track hand drawn from memory & time estimated as phone switched off just after star.

All Approximate.

Total: 3.3 miles (5.34 km) 3hr 0min

duration includes stops for chats, inspections, photo's and snacks

This Time Last Year

Have a look at This Time Last Year

Week 50 24/12/2014 - Christmas Eve In The Park

Week 49 18/12/2014 - Low Light but Long Views over Cheshire and Manchester

Week 48 10/12/2014 - Weather and Stags

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Thursday, 19 November 2015

Week 84 18/11/2015 - Copper and Rain Drops

Photo Blog Week 84 - Tue 17 & Wed 18 November 2015

I continue to have my wednesdays occupied with the walling team but I managed a couple of hours after a meeting in the Estate office to have a short, damp walk around Lyme this week which means that this post is more traditional and true to the Photo Blog.

I was quite shocked by how much I've missed in the last few weeks. Autumn has turned from sparkling colours to dull browns other than the copper colours of the Beech and the gorgeous pale gold whispers on the Larch. I haven't seen anything of the deer and the rut has passed me by.

Winter looks as if it is at last arriving in northern England. For those of you outside the UK, October and early November have been unseasonably warm at around 13C (55F) with Dahlias and Geraniums still standing as most of us haven't experienced a frost yet. The last few days storms Abagail and Barny have brought strong winds and torrential rains but with warm temperatures for the time of year and we as we are promised that the temperatures are going to drop below 0C this weekend and snow will fall in some areas.
Naming storms is new to the UK this year, we're waiting to find out what 'C' will bring but happy to wait a while.

Tue 17 November 2015

I didn't have my boots or waterproof trousers so this was a walk along routes I would be OK with trainers and not too far from the car park. A nice varied walk.

route: House North Face; Red Deer Sanctuary; Cater's Slack; Lantern Wood

Cage Hill - puddles in foreground and misty rain in the distance

Park Moor - a rich tan colour looking over the Nursery plot

Bank of cloud and rain hiding the Kinder plateau

Lyme has a completely new Orienteering course installed

Path along the bottom of Lantern Wood

Colour contrast between the green of Turfhouse Meadow and the Tan of the Moor

route: Lantern Wood; Turfhouse Meadow; Park Moor (lower path); Knightslow Wood

The pond in Turf House Meadow with the House and Gardens in background

The Lantern

I am delighted to see that the equipment has all ready been recovered following the end of the Distant Drumbeat installation. The Lantern open and back in business to be used by many over the winter months as a retreat from bitter weather.

The sheep in the meadow,

The cows in the corn....

Well, No, actually these highland cattle are on Turfhouse Meadow

Close up, the Moor still has plenty of green

Fungi fest' : pale and delicate, reminds me of a clam shell

looking back toward Lantern Wood

route: Knightslow Wood; Moor wall path; cut corner toward Drinkwater Meadow gate but divert to Quarry before continuing ; Drinkwater Meadow

Looking out from the protection of Knightslow Wood, misty rain obscures the Moor

Copper curls on beech saplings with odd green leaves still present

(rain drops on camera lens)

damp autumn path along top of Knightslow wood

The old quarry in Knightslow always fills with copper beech leaves

The Ferns look particularly green contracted against the leaf covered woodland floor

Drinkwater Meadow - on a clearer day, Greater Manchester would be in the distance

Autumn shades in the trees in the Fallow Deer enclosure (but no deer)

Larch needles dropping to create a golden carpet (lens wet)

Fungi fest'

route: Drinkwater Meadow; Crow Wood (circle); Timberyard; Main Car Park; North Face

The House South Face dominates today's empty car park

Water-logged area near millpond has a desolate feel but saplings are growing

Nature's Artwork: this perfect over water perch was unoccupied today

Mill pond and trees at mixed levels of leaf drop

Crow Wood Playscape

deserted today - looks fun

This sums the weather up

Beech leaves - I love how Beech trees manage to hold onto green, yellow and gold at the same time

Rosebay Willowherb showing that summer is definitely gone

vivid yellow highlight in the wood

Nature's Artwork

Stepping stone logs look a bit slippery today, think I'll pass

Nicely rebuilt wall by the race. Plenty ov water passing today.

Fungi fest'

The Black Headed Gulls have there winter plumage.

All that remains of the black cap is a grey spot behind the eye until next year.

Moorhen considering a dip (corrected from coot)

Wed 18 November 2015

Walling at Four Winds. Wet and windy though not cold. I actually built independently this week and managed to close off one course which is always tricky as the final stone has to fit both sides.