Friday 5 June 2020

30 DAYS WILD : FIVE - A WALK ON WARLEY MOOR

Warley Moor, West Yorkshire showing partly drained reservoir
The water we are looking down on is 1,350 feet above sea level.
I have been for a walk! A walk in the open air! On a moor! Warley Moor in West Yorkshire.

A week ago the government announced that the shielded people (ie those instructed not to leave their homes for the sake of their health) could now think about going out for a walk. The place had to be chosen carefully; somewhere without people: somewhere without a teashop!

I chose Warley Moor.
This was the scene when I opened the car door.

Dry Stone Wall, West Yorkshire

I walked at a sharp pace for half an hour and met no-one. I walked back for half an hour. Still not a soul. Sheep, curlews, brent geese, gulls, a flock of small birds kicking up a high pitched twittering as they flew over a hill. A few walls near the road. And larks.

Probably a skylark. Alauda arvensis
Possibly a skylark.
(Alauda arvensis)
Go to the RSPB site to hear a skylark sing.
Or maybe a Meadow Pipit  (Anthus pratensis)?
Go to the RSPB site to hear a Meadow Pipit chatter.




I think this is a skylark sitting on the wall. It had fluttered around somewhat as I approached. I wondered if it was drawing attention away from its nest. A bird person perhaps will be able to say.

Graeme at Imperfect and Tense suggests 'Meadow Pipit'.

Badge and Link to 30 Days Wild 2020
30 DAYS WILD
Today's Random Act of
Wildness is to
go for a walk.

30 comments:

Adrian Ward said...

I bet that was a welcome break. Looks like a Skylark.

Imperfect and Tense said...

Yay! Freedom! Oh, that must've felt absolutely gorgeous!

I think it's a Meadow Pipit (more of a parachuter than an ascender).

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Adrian. I want to do it every morning now! Not that that would be entirely practical but it's not too far away so I hope I will be able to go often.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Graeme. Thank you. I've added your suggestion of Meadow Pipit into the text.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

What a pretty spot to take your walk. It does feel good to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine. The first scene and photo is beautiful.
Thanks Denise! I will keep looking for the yeast, sooner or later it may turn. I think it sells out as soon as it is put out on the store shelves. Enjoy your day, have a happy weekend!

Adrian Ward said...

It could be a meadow pipit but thy usually hover near their nest at this time of the year. Whatever I usually guess at IDs and say it very loudly if I am sure.

liz said...

What a welcome adventure that must have been for you. Enjoy!

betty-NZ said...

I can feel your excitement! I'm so glad you got to get out and get these wonderful photos!

Thanks for being a part of 'My Corner of the World' this week!

Linda said...

I’m so glad you were able to go for a walk

Diana Studer said...

We plan a second walk to the beach (not on, but to)

How wonderful that they have let you out at last! Would love to hear that Lark Ascending live at a concert. We did see clapper larks - entrancing to watch and listen!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Well, you certainly chose well in your quest to find solitude! I agree with the Meadow Pipit diagnosis.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I am quite sure it is a Meadow Pipit, probably the most common species in the kind of habitat you walked through. It must have been very exhilarating to be outside again. I am sure you can hardly wait to do it again.

Veronica Lee said...

Yayyy! So glad you got to get out!

Happy Sunday!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Lovely place to get out for your first walk for such a long time. Looks like a meadow pipit to me.

Tanza Erlambang said...

natural views...so beautiful

Jutta.K. said...

This is a lark for sure!
I love her singing.
And the landscape is very impressive and lonely, but beautiful
My contribution ..

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Eileeninmd. It's lovely. And I am still getting used to it. It's very different from what it was like in coastal Dorset where I lived right next to the sea. A great adventure!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Adrian. This bird was flapping about as if there was a nest nearby that it was trying to distract attention from. There is definitely a lark in roughly the same place because it sits high in the air singing then comes zooming down to earth. But there was something about this birds flapping that seemed un-lark-like. I suppose it was a bit hopeful that we might be able to tell what it was with such a muzzy photo. I doubt I'll be able to get a clearer one though - it's the wrong sort of camera! (I do have a different one now as well with a zoom lens but what with my glasses, my healing broken arm and getting used to completely different settings it will be a while before I can take useful on-the-spur-of-the-moment pictures with it.)

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Liz. It definitely was a welcome adventure. It's hard to think of easily accessible places where I am unlikely to come across people so it will hopefully become an area that gets more and more familiar as I return to it.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Betty in NZ. Thank you for inviting me to take part in your 'My Corner of the World' meme. I'm visiting some of the other participants on their blogs but I doubt I will get round them all. It's very popular and there are LOTS of them!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Thank you Linda. It's comfortable indoors but not good to be cooped up inside all the time!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Diana. I hope you are continuing to enjoy your visits to the beach. Are you not yet allowed to walk on the beach or is it your choice?

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello John. Someone told me they'd gone walking here shortly before lockdown. They went for four hours and only came across one other person in all that time.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello David.

It's a new terrain for me and I expect I will gradually get to learn what's what. My latest challenge is seeing a bird flying round with a long curved beak and assuming it's a curlew but also hearing the fluting cry of a bird that sounds like a whimbrel.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Veronica. I have always enjoyed the outdoors but I think the lockdown is making lots of people newly enjoy it too.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Crafty Green Poet. I should keep a scorecard for the lark or the meadow pipit!

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Tanza. I am very fortunate to have access to such a place.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello Jutta. The song of the lark is very much of the summer.

Flighty said...

Good for you. Lovely post and pictures. xx

Fremalo said...

It's a very beautiful place !!!
Thx for all the comment on my blog :)