Parrotts Perch

New Sky Watch 6

2008-08-21T18:19:00.002+01:00

Taken on a resent walk in Derbyshire

Thank you for your continued support

Peter Parrott

New Sky Watch No.5

2008-08-14T17:30:00.000+01:00

Sunset Over Newton

Teasles & Thistles

2008-08-14T00:01:00.000+01:00

Summer Views No.2

2008-08-12T00:04:00.000+01:00

River Side

Hover Fly

Fishing Fun

Paddling Paws

Summer Views No.1

2008-08-11T00:02:00.002+01:00

Greens & Reds

Leaf Cover

Crab Apple

Ladybird Bug

Sky Watch 4

2008-08-07T19:52:00.001+01:00

Sunset Red

Water Boatmen

2008-08-03T00:01:00.001+01:00

Water Boatman

Water boatmen rest on the surface of the water sensing vibrations. If something is disturbing the water they will dive to investigate. When the boatmen get around one or two inches of their prey they can then track it using their eye sight. They kill the prey by jabbing it with its rostrum (feeding tube) and injecting its toxic saliva. They are very effective predators and can catch and eat tadpoles, small fish and even the fearsome larvae of the diving beetle. They will also eat flying insects that have accidentally fallen onto the surface of the water and can fly between different ponds.

Sky Watch 3

2008-07-31T17:46:00.001+01:00

Summer Clouds

Dragonfly Nymph

2008-07-28T00:01:00.000+01:00

Dragonfly Nymphs are the adolescent dragonfly, just before it transforms into an adult. They are from the order 'Odonata', from the Greek word, odous, meaning tooth. They can give sharp bite with their teeth (mandibles) if held carelessly.

These nymphs are short and chunky with wing pads and internal gills. The look like something from a nightmare, they have six legs which are located near the head. Nymphs can be seen on plants, among stones, and leaf litter, most of my sightings are in ponds and on the canal.

Dragonfly Nymphs are predators and feed mostly on other insects in the water. They are known cannibals. Some of the larger species feed on small fish and tadpoles. They catch their food with a toothed lower lip (labium) that is usually folded under the head. When prey comes near, the nymph will shoot out its lower lip to grab it, faster than most prey can react. The lip is then pulled back to the waiting mouth and feeding begins.

They breath by sucking water into its abdomen to move water over its internal gills. Once it has absorbed enough oxygen, the nymph squeezes the water out rapidly so it does not have to come up for air like most pond insects. This also helps jet propel them forwards in the water.

Much of a dragonfly's life is spent in the larval stage where it moults six to 15 times. The nymph crawls out of the water and moults one last time, emerging as an adult with functional wings. Dragonflies and damselflies do not go through a pupal stage to become an adult.

Banded Demoiselle

2008-07-27T00:01:00.001+01:00

One of the our most striking damselflies is the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).. click to enlarge these pictures as the hairy legs are awesome.

Sky Watch Blog 2

2008-07-24T12:15:00.006+01:00

MANCHESTER STORM

click to enlarge

I was taking pictures of the mill, when I noticed a storm front moving towards Manchester City Center some 8 miles in the distance. My first thoughts we not 'What good pictures these will make'.. but 'Another Sky Watch post in the bag'.

......

As some of you know already I do not have my own PC and Tom hosts this one for me, I do however get the chance now and then to visit your blogs and see your picture... thank you for visiting here and commenting... I appreciate you all putting up with this one sided blog arrangement and thank you all

Peter Parrott

Relaxing

2008-07-23T00:01:00.000+01:00

Relaxation at its best

Fledgling

2008-07-20T22:50:00.002+01:00

I'm not 100% sure just what these fledglings are apart from beautiful. Beautiful is a word that will be in my mind today as I say a final farewell to a beautiful, fun, filled friend.

Dedicated to Wendy

R.I.P.

Sky Watcher Defor

2008-07-17T18:37:00.002+01:00

Defor Dog

June Views

2008-07-16T22:02:00.002+01:00

July is turning out to be wet.. so to make up for the rain and drk cloudy skies I show 3 favourites held back from June.

Fun With Foxgloves

2008-07-15T00:01:00.001+01:00

Swallow Tales

2008-07-13T10:14:00.003+01:00

I had to stop and watch the work of these Swallows, going backwards and forwards with small bits of grass, and mud. The would fly to the mud-hole with the grass, dip it into the waters edge and cover one end with mud then fly off into the distance to add to their nests. Others would just turn up for mud.. very hectic and hard working.

Sky Watch Dawn

2008-07-10T19:07:00.002+01:00

Dawn 4.25am onwards

Wednesday the 9th July 2008

Can You see the birds?

Joined and Flipped to suit then Cropped,

Shepherds Warning

Perfect Morning and then it changed to a wet grey day

Thanksevery one for viewing and commenting, I really do get a buzz from your comments and appreciate the time you take to make them.. Thank you.

Unknown Bloom

2008-07-10T00:01:00.000+01:00

Not to sure what this is but with the blues sky as a background it was just begging to be snapped.

2008-07-08T00:01:00.000+01:00

I'm taking many shoots of this local landmark mill.. it's days are now numbered and is being taken down soon and housing put in its place. Many are sad to see it go, some are more than happy. I grew up with the mill and feel saddened at it's lost.

Spider

2008-07-06T00:01:00.000+01:00

There's a saying in Madagascar that goes

Words are like the spider's web.

A shelter for the clever ones and a trap for the not-so-clever.

Ugly Ducklings?

2008-07-05T00:01:00.000+01:00

No way. these look great.. the only way these could look better was if the were served on a bed of seasonal vegetables, with roast potatoes, and a sweet port and blackberry sauce. ha!

Sky Watch

2008-07-03T11:31:00.003+01:00

Mooooonlight

This picture was taken on my way home at 02.30 in the morning, the moon was visable but the night never seemed to darken. The sunrise was still 2 hour away, which I didn't get to see as I was snoring and dreaming of a new camera.

Alas I have no P.C. so Tom dose the blog for me... I would just like to thank all who call by here daily and all my Sky Watch friends for there comments and support.

Water on Blade of Grass

2008-07-03T00:01:00.000+01:00

This is a really small insect having a drink

Embden Geese

2008-07-02T00:01:00.001+01:00

These are what I think are Embden Geese, also known as the Bremen. Although it as a German name, this is I think a northern Dutch breed that migrated throughout Europe to Italy where it was imported from to cross-breed with our native white geese. Also known as L'oie d'Emden in France/Belgium. The reason I think it's a Embden, is it's size. these were quite a big goose with plenty of meat on them. I have eat a few of these in the past.. one of the best birds for the table. They are normally kept from Egg production and meat.

Giant Gulls

2008-07-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

These gulls seem as big as the people behind them.. I would like to tell you these are rare Giant Gulls only found in Wales but alas it's a trick of the eye.

Welsh Coast Views

2008-06-30T00:01:00.000+01:00

Apart from the good fishing, good company, and good food from a nearby inn the views were what made this trip for me.

Oyster Catcher

2008-06-29T00:01:00.001+01:00

OYSTER CATCHER

Haematopus ostralegus

The oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight, it shows a wide white wing-stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a 'V' between the wings. Because it eats cockles, the population is vulnerable if cockle beds are overexploited. Breeds on almost all UK coasts; over the last 50 years, more birds have started breeding inland. Most UK birds spend the winter on the coast; where they are joined on the east coast by birds from Norway.

I now see these birds around Hyde and the surrounding area... Old Womtig saw one flying over the main street in Ashton Under Lyne two weeks ago.

Frog

2008-06-28T00:01:00.000+01:00

Eye Eye

Sky Watch Wales

2008-06-26T13:26:00.004+01:00

Turned Out Nice Again ;O)

Swan

2008-06-26T00:01:00.000+01:00

This one is Ringed

That is one big paddle when seen like this, enlarge to see the claws

A Gaggle Of ...........

2008-06-25T00:01:00.000+01:00

Geese

A large goose, with distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. Introduced from N. America, and has spread to most of the UK. It forms noisy flocks and is sometimes regarded as a pest in areas where large numbers occur on grassland and parks.

It is estimated that there is as many as 82,550 breeding adults in the U.K. at this time of year. The canal where these pictures are taken as many breeding pairs, but it seems that one dominant pair take over the rearing of the young while others help out.

Safety in numbers perhaps

Seed Head

2008-06-24T00:01:00.001+01:00

2008-06-23T00:01:00.001+01:00

Common Seal - Harbour Seal

Phoca vitulina
As their name suggests, these are the most widespread of pinnipeds.

The male common seal as a shorter life span than females, only managing around 20-25 years as opposed to females who live to 30-35 years. This is most likely due to the stresses and fighting by males during the breeding season.

Common seals vary in colour from black, brown, grey or tan, with darker patches. The pattern is unique to the individual. They have a relatively large head with a short body and flippers. They are opportunistic feeders and hunt fish, molluscs and crustaceans. They make short regular dives, usually to less than 100m.

We had some stiff competition whilst fishing, this seal knew an easy meal was to be had by waiting for the fish to bite. As soon as we started to wheel in the line down it would dive, I quick tug and the link went slack.. another catch lost. We think it had around 15 fish from us all.. which for me was a small price to pay to see this beauty. I've been asked about the fish around these shores, it actually depends on the time of year.. but we tend to go down for the Mackerel and the Dogfish... but make good eating.

Aberdaron

2008-06-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

Aberdaron

Wales

More information on Aberdaron to be found HERE

Mackeral Fishing

2008-06-21T00:01:00.000+01:00

Very tasty they are to... :O)

Sky Watch Cross

2008-06-19T15:25:00.003+01:00

Celtic style cross

Aberdaron Bay

Wales

Stable Mates

2008-06-18T22:03:00.000+01:00

Flowers & Bugs

2008-06-18T00:01:00.000+01:00

Baby Shetland

2008-06-17T00:01:00.000+01:00

Trees & Shadows

2008-06-16T10:56:00.003+01:00

2008-06-15T00:01:00.000+01:00

In with the goodness

Out with the badness

Zoom!

Away for some more

Blue Tits Nest

2008-06-14T00:01:00.001+01:00

Blue Tits will nest in a hole in a tree or wall and certainly take well to a nest box. They are well known for nesting in more strange places, like letter boxes and waste pipes.

The nest is cup shaped and made by the female from moss, wool, dead leaves, and even cobwebs, and lined with down. Their clutch size is the largest among the tit family, laying typically 10 to 12 eggs. The eggs are laid at such a time that green caterpillars will be abundant when the chicks hatch. Second clutches are sometimes known.

The eggs are smooth and glossy, and white with purplish-red or reddish-brown spots. They are about 16 mm by 12 mm. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.

Clouds Show

2008-06-12T15:47:00.003+01:00

While out and about at this time of the year I get to see views just like this on many of my daily walks. This day the skies were putting on a show for me as well. I hope you enjoying seeing them as much as I did being there taking the pictures.

Iris

2008-06-12T00:01:00.000+01:00

Yellow Water Iris

Iris pseudacorus

Greater Spotted Woodpecker No.2

2008-06-11T00:02:00.000+01:00

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a pied woodpecker, being black with a large white shoulder patch and scarlet underneath the tail. It is much larger than our other British pied woodpecker, the 'Lesser Spotted'. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is about the size of a Starling, while the Lesser Spotted is more sparrow-sized.

The nest is a chamber in a tree which is chiseled out by both birds. When chiseling, the woodpecker does not tap as quickly as when the male performs its drumming song.
The eggs are white, smooth and glossy, and about 25 mm by 18 mm. Both birds share the incubating the eggs and feeding the young.

Both male and female are feeding the young in these pictures.. a small green caterpillar being the most numerous food taken back to the nest.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

2008-06-10T00:01:00.000+01:00

I've been watching this nest site for a few weeks now and today it paid off... here you can see the head of a young Greater Spotted Woodpecker. I will show more from this site over the next few days.. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Meet Tiny

2008-06-09T00:01:00.000+01:00

I call him Tiny

Because he's 'my Newt'

The Newt is an amphibian of the Salamandridae family, found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Their eggs are laid singly in ponds or slow-moving streams, attached to aquatic plants. This distinguishes them from the free-floating eggs of frogs, that are laid in clumps, or toads, that are laid in strings. The larvae leave the water as a terrestrial form called an eft, returning to the water when mature to live or to breed. The adult form has a lizard-like body and is either aquatic or semi-aquatic.

From Wikipedia

I came across this and many more in a local pond, the pond is stocked for fishing, as a resident turtle that someone as released into the wild as we do not have native ones.. the pond also supports Herons and ducks. I'll post the turtle tomorrow.

Broom

2008-06-08T00:01:00.000+01:00

Broom (shrub)

Brooms are a group of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family Fabaceae, mainly in the three genera Chamaecytisus, Cytisus and Genista. These genera are all closely related and share similar characteristics of dense, slender green stems and very small leaves, adaptations to dry growing conditions. Most of the species have yellow flowers, but a few have white, orange, red, pink or purple flowers.

From Wikipedia

Tree-riffic

2008-06-06T22:17:00.001+01:00

Not to sure about this fungi... I have been trying to suss it out.. any ideas are welcome.

My very own Sun Dog

2008-06-05T15:10:00.003+01:00

SUNDOG DEFOR

A sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, for "beside the sun") is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously. ( From Wikipedia )

Defor's New Coat

2008-06-05T00:01:00.000+01:00

Defor suffers in the hot sun, short hair and black is no match for the sun and he gets very hot in summer. This reflective jacket is just the job... and he seems to like it.

Happy Defor

Duck Tales

2008-06-03T22:38:00.001+01:00

Mallards

Canal Side Walk

2008-06-02T00:01:00.000+01:00

I spend a lot of time walking this canal, but it is still a pleasure.The different seasons and even the hours of a day can change the view and the kind of wildlife I see... I was on the lookout for mink on this day but I was unlucky. I did however get some good information from a fisherman who had been watching one the week before..

Towpath Views

2008-06-01T00:01:00.000+01:00

Walking The Towpaths

Tree Head

2008-05-30T22:49:00.000+01:00

Smile and the tree might do to..

Sky Watch Reflection.

2008-05-29T19:13:00.000+01:00

Peak Forest Canal

Romiley

Waterside Views

2008-05-28T22:11:00.002+01:00

Relaxing by the Water

2008-05-27T21:46:00.004+01:00

Sleeping Giant

Resting Defor

Screaming Curlew

Slaphead Womtig

These are a few shots I took whilst walking around the moor tops of Woodhead, Tom did a series on the river last week and these were taken the same day. He laughed when he saw the few pictures I took of him and I'm pleased it did not mind me showing off his baldy head.. ha!

Baby Robin

2008-05-26T23:19:00.002+01:00

This little fledged Robin was within touching distance at times, it showed no fear at all when I moved around to get a different shot.

I only saw the one but was sure I heard another calling nearby, the parent birds will still be feeding them at the moment so after I took these I walked back the way I came so as not to cause the parents anymore alarm.

Not a sign of the Robins Red Breast at this early stage, speckled browns to help it hide unnoticed in the undergrowth, but it sure stood out some it front of these new leaves.

Woodland Views

2008-05-26T00:01:00.002+01:00

Start the week off with the last of my early spring pictures, these buds are all in leaf now and the trees are many shades of green. It is a great time to be out and about in the woodlands. Tomorrow I'll show you a young Robin I came across, which like most young showed no fear and posed quite happily for me.

Dandelion

2008-05-25T08:01:00.000+01:00

The dandelion is one of the most versatile plants we have. Often classed as a weed the dandelion is in fact native to the UK, and is a true herb. The word herb comes from herbaceous, meaning to die down during the dormant season in winter. It is also used under the secondary definition of herb because it as medicinal properties.

After fertilisation, each tiny flower becomes a seed that is formed with a 'parachute' of white hair attached. The seeds are blown from the plant by the wind, or by small children 'telling the time' or making a wish, by counting how many blows will remove all the seeds. The seeds can travel a long way on the wind, before they land and become a new plant. The taproot also is capable of propagating. If it is severed, all the pieces can grow into a new plant.

The milky sap of the stems can be applied daily to warts, and traditional Chinese medicine makes use of a poultice of the leaves to treat boils and abscesses.

They are also great to take macro pictures of, I practiced on these when I first got my camera.

Canal Views

2008-05-24T23:14:00.000+01:00

Reflections

Sky Watch Fish Supper

2008-05-22T15:27:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Trout For Supper

It tasted beautiful.. well they both did

Evening Stroll

2008-05-21T22:54:00.000+01:00

I thought this looks like a dog swimming in the water

Now it is taking shape

Coot

Tulips

2008-05-20T20:01:00.000+01:00

The Beauty of Macro

Jelly Ear

2008-05-20T08:01:00.000+01:00

Fun With Fungi

Bluebell & Fungi

2008-05-19T08:05:00.000+01:00

If you go down to the woods today...

.....you're sure to sights like these

Tawny Owl.

2008-05-18T08:09:00.000+01:00

Our Tawny is a resident owl and stays in its breeding area all year. Hunting takes place at night and the Tawny is perfectly adapted for this. It has extremely sensitive eyes and ears which help it to locate prey in very dim light. The Tawny's hearing is so good that it can pinpoint prey even when it is too dark for its keen eyes to see. The soft plumage and comb-like leading edge to the wingtips enable it to fly silently. The owl waits quietly on a perch and then glides down and pounces on its unsuspecting victim, killing it with its talons or with a quick bite once it as a hold on its prey.

The Tawny's diet depends on the habitat it is living in. In woodland, mice and voles are mainly eaten with some birds, shrews, worms and beetles. In urban areas, small birds may form the main part of the diet such as sparrows and starlings. They have been known to take goldfish from garden ponds. Then again so have I.. :O) but that's another story.

A Tawny owl spends the day roosting on the branch of a tree as the one I have capture here and is often mobbed noisily by small birds such as chaffinches, house sparrows, blue tits and blackbirds, though they seldom manage to disturb the dozing owl.

I have been back to this spot but I found no trace of it again.. I was sure it would be nesting in a hollow tree not from here. I came across the rough pellets that owls and hawks regurgitate but all of them are old. It seems that it as moved on.

Tunnel Vision

2008-05-17T08:01:00.000+01:00

Peak Forest Canal

Sky Watch

2008-05-16T03:50:00.000+01:00

Sky Watch Silhouettes

Woodland Floor

2008-05-15T08:01:00.000+01:00

Wood Anemone

Bluebells

Drinking Trough

2008-05-14T08:01:00.000+01:00

Stone Horse Trough

Feathered Fun

2008-05-13T08:01:00.000+01:00

Goose Stepping Geese

Sulking Mandarins

Lonesome Duck

Nesting Birds

2008-05-12T08:01:00.000+01:00

Pigeon

Moorhen

Bee

2008-05-11T08:03:00.000+01:00

It always gives me a 'buzz' getting shot like this.

2008-05-09T23:06:00.001+01:00

Peak Forest Canal

Sky Watch Rain

2008-05-08T22:23:00.000+01:00

Wet, Wild and Windy

Canal Heron

2008-05-08T08:01:00.000+01:00

I came away from this encounter feeling humbled that this bird had not taken flight but allowed me to enter into its space,

Grey Heron

2008-05-07T08:01:00.000+01:00

I came across this Heron on the local canal a week or two ago. It was my best opportunity I've had to get a close up shot of one.

It did not seem to mind me or Defor being across the canal watching it. I took as many as I could and then moved on a bit and took more.

It would take off and move further up the canal side and I would walk up slowly and take a few more. I was amazed it felt comfortable enough to preen it self in my company.

The Grey is our largest European heron. It will stand with it's neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunch down with its neck bent over its chest. In flight it will hold its neck retracted, they also have large rounded wings. They are usually solitary although I see several birds feeding together. I'll show a few more shots of this tomorrow

Walking Past Peveril

2008-05-06T08:01:00.000+01:00

Once off the moors we walk past the remains of Peveril Castle which stands in an impregnable position on a clifftop above Castleton. It is an stunning place, with an impressive view in all directions and sufficient ruined remains to get a good idea of how the castle looked in its heyday. The castle bears the name of William Peveril, who was granted the title of bailiff of the Royal Manors of the Peak - in effect the King's agent for the Royal Forest of the Peak - after the Norman conquest of 1066. Peveril is thought to have been the illegitimate son of King William I.

Peveril created Castleton and in 1080 he fortified the site of the present castle and constructed a wooden keep. Later, these buildings were converted into stone. The castle fell into disuse after Tudor times, and by the 17th century only the keep was in use - as a courthouse. When this was abandoned the castle gradually became ruined until what remained was restored this last century.

More here on Peveril Castle

Lowland Views

2008-05-05T08:01:00.000+01:00

Once off the moors the walk back to the car takes us pass farms and farm buildings. The young lambs in the these parts are prone to getting caught out in bad weather, the shepherds fit them with waterproof fleece coats to help keep the cold and rain at bay. They are also numbered as is their mother.

This is a working farm with cattle and sheep, it also has a small building exhibiting wood carving and wood craft. It was for sale. The place also had leaflets about the villages and the moors.

I thought this was very good, behind each door is a small painting of the local wildlife. I always admire other peoples artwork and it inspires me in my painting and drawings.

No deed for a nice warm fleece for this lamb, this lives in a field next to the farm buildings and was one of a few that are most likely orphaned and being hand reared by the farmer and his family. Last pictures from this walk tomorrow and then I can show off a Heron I was lucky to capture on camera.

Coming Down

2008-05-04T08:01:00.000+01:00

We will leave the wind sculptures behind and make our way off from the moors now to the valley below

More tomorrow, Thanks for calling by PP

Moorviews and Peom

2008-05-02T08:02:00.000+01:00

Speak of the North

Charlotte Brontë

Speak of the North! A lonely moor

Silent and dark and trackless swells,

The waves of some wild streamlet pour

Hurriedly through its ferny dells.
Profoundly still the twilight air,

Lifeless the landscape; so we deem

Till like a phantom gliding near

A stag bends down to drink the stream
And far away a mountain zone,

A cold, white waste of snow-drifts lies,

And one star, large and soft and lone,
Silently lights the unclouded skies.

Sky Watch

2008-05-02T03:42:00.000+01:00

Walking the hills which Ravens fly

Even More Rocks

2008-05-01T08:12:00.000+01:00

Blockhead Rock

Tight sqeeze

ET Phone Home

Biggest Pie In the World

Rock Resting

More From The Moors

2008-04-30T08:02:00.000+01:00

Click to make bigger

I had no words to add to these stones

More from this strange landscape tomorrow

Thanks you for visiting

Kinder view & Henry Moore

2008-04-29T08:05:00.000+01:00

I want to show you some of the stones and boulders of Kinder Scout's magnificent plateau. These wind worn boulders take on the look of sculptures done by the master craftsman

Henry Moore

Kinder Scout was the venue in in 1932 of a mass trespass when walkers from all walks of life met to protest at being able to walk the byways and paths that went over private land. Many a walker up until this time was badly beat by the keepers when caught on the land they were employed to protect.
You can read more on Kinder Mass Trespass here.

A Walk Over Kinder Scout

2008-04-28T08:01:00.000+01:00

Join Me This Week For A Walk

I promise you great views from the comfort of your chair.

Kinder Scout is a high windswept upland gritstone plateau, most of which stands at around 600 metres above sea level. The highest point is Crowden Head, which at 631 metres is also the highest point in the Peak District. This is the largest and grandest of the great upland areas of the so-called 'Dark Peak' and it forms an imposing and fascinating area.

The Kinder plateau rises steeply from the surrounding ground and the edges are studded with rocky outcrops and crags. At the western side the Kinder River flows straight off the edge of the plateau in a spectacular waterfall, known as the Kinder Downfall.

The northern edge of the plateau is a long series of rocks and there are several crags on the southern edge too. To the east the level of the plateau gradually lowers and tapers to a narrow neck of high land at Hope Cross which connects Kinder to Win Hill. The edge of the plateau is scored by deep cloughs or river valleys. On the west side the Kinder River and William Clough lead down to Hayfield, on the north side the Ashop and Fairbrook streams and on the south side the various branches of the River Noe, Crowden Brook, Grindsbrook, Lady Booth Brook and Jaggers Clough.

Kinder is most popularly approached by walkers either from Edale village, up Grindsbrook, or via Jacob's Ladder and on to Kinder Low, or from Hayfield up William Clough and on to the north-west corner of the plateau. In general the eastern and northern parts of the plateau are less accessible and therefore less busy. A circuit of the whole plateau is a long day by any standards but a very enjoyable outing. We will be taking the Jacobs Ladder route for our walk.

Tomorrow more from the Walk on Kinder

Mountain Paths & mountain Streams

2008-04-27T08:22:00.000+01:00

Dovestones

Walking Kinder

2008-04-26T21:24:00.000+01:00

Walking With A Friend

Around Kinder Scout

Derbyshire

Galloway Cattle Old Glossop

2008-04-25T08:01:00.000+01:00

The Galloway is one of the oldest and purest of our native cattle breeds. They are famed for their hardiness and can live off the poorest of land. The Galloway female is the ideal suckler cow, and will produce an excellent beefy calf, which produces the highest quality natural grown beef.

Sky Watch

2008-04-24T15:02:00.000+01:00

I dedicate this weeks Sky Watch to a lady who's name I never knew, but you would great me like a friend when I walked by her door. Now sadly passed away. She was a true Sky Watcher from her own fireside seat.

This is the view from her empty and deserted cottage last week... the plants still hang in the windows and the ash of the last fire is still in the grate. The lady who lived here many years and who always offered me and Defor a drink as now pasted away. What will become of this wooded home I don't know but the lady will be sadly missed by those out walking this hill. She was such a trusting, kind person with a smile from ear to ear and always a tale to tell. Her garden a refuge for all kinds of wildlife, I will miss her smile, and the smell of the fire in the distance, I will miss the time spent with her and the sharing of stories over a pot of strong tea.

Mixed Macro's

2008-04-24T08:02:00.000+01:00

Arched Window

2008-04-23T08:04:00.000+01:00

Woodend Lane

Hyde

Tunnel Vision

2008-04-22T08:01:00.000+01:00

Defor Dark

Mill Reflection

2008-04-21T08:04:00.000+01:00

Peak Forest Canal

Hyde

H2O

2008-04-20T08:24:00.000+01:00

We have plenty of surface water about still, this bottom picture shows a local field that is soaked. That much water as fallen around here it as nowhere to go, it is only a foot or so deep and will slowly disappear but for now it makes a good place to spot ducks.

Dampness

2008-04-19T08:04:00.000+01:00

With all the rain we get it is of little wonder that mosses and lichen grows abundantly around here. I see stuff like this on all my walks, I always have. Now that I have a camera this growths have become of great interest. I still do not know all there names... but for this post I show them for their looks only. Strange but beautiful I think.

Sky Watch Weather

2008-04-18T04:10:00.000+01:00

England is known for it's rainfall, and the North-West more so. Well this is what it is like.. The day was bright and sunny, the sun was warm on my back. The dark clouds formed and the heavens opened. The wet roof top reflects the light so well at times like these and can make being caught in an April shower well worth getting wet for.

Thank you all who visit.

Peter