Monday, February 06, 2017

A Walk at RSPB Coombes Valley

Yesterday although the sun was shining in the morning it felt cold that dank, damp cold that seems to get into your bones so you just can't get warm.  We did want to venture out some where for a walk and decided to visit our nearest RSPB site at Coombes Valley.   As we drove out towards Leek we could see a huge pall of black smoke hanging over the north of the city;  the local radio informed us it was a plastics recycling plant that was on fire.


When we reached Coombes Valley we could still see the swirl of smoke although it had changed in density and colour.

We chatted to the warden on duty who had been wondering what the smoke was and she also told us that willow tits had been seen on the feeders.  We did eventually see one but it was too quick for us to photograph.  We also saw blue, coal and great tits on the feeders as well as robins, chaffinch and a nuthatch on the feeders.  Later we saw a jay and a sparrow hawk.
 

I took quite a few photos as we walked around especially of some new additions to the site which we hadn't seen or explored before. 

Rare breed sheep in the meadow

A woven willow mushroom

Music under the trees.  I did have a tap or two at the hanging one but the other looked a bit fragile so I didn't hit it with a stick.

We ventured along the canopy walkway up in the trees, a bit unnerving as it moves around but felt quite sturdy underfoot.  It was wonderful to stand in the lookout and peer up into the branches of the tree.

 When we reached the pond it was frozen over.

 In contrast the river was flowing freely

 Meandering through the valley
 The Yurt
 The Barn
Some more scenes from our walk

28 comments:

  1. I really like the looks of this place. We always play Pooh Sticks when we cross a stream. I'd have enjoyed playing the musical sticks too. Hope it warms up for you soon.

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    1. The last time I played Pooh Sticks mine got caught on a stone and never got to the other side of the bridge:)

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  2. It looks an amazing place to visit, you took us on a wonderful tour. We like to play pooh sticks whenever we get chance.

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    1. It is a good bridge to linger on to play Pooh sticks:)

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  3. Lovely to see some sun even if it's not up to full speed yet. Glad you enjoyed your walk. 😊

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    1. Yes, the sun did come out of hiding a few times during the walk but it was so cold:)

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  4. What a lovely walk.Thank you for sharing it with us especially as I am stuck indoors with an awful cold which is going on and on and on!

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    1. Oh dear so many people have this awful cold, hope you feel better soon:)

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  5. What a great place to go for a walk! The willow mushroom is adorable. Certainly lots to see and do and explore!

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    1. The willow mushroom is something I could imagine in my garden:)

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  6. What a great reserve Rosie - I do like the woven willow mushroom :) You were brave to go on the canopy walkway - looks exceedingly scary to me!! I think the fact that it swayed would just have finished me off!

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    1. I was determined to try the walk as it looked quite safe but the bouncy floor was a bit strange and it was so narrow and the sides so taut but, of course, that added to the safety, as there was no chance of rolling out if you fell over. The willow mushroom is wonderful isn't it?:)

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  7. Looks like a wonderful place to visit with so much to see :) B x

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  8. It's lovely to see clear skies after all this dullness and rain! Jx

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    1. It was quite sunny at times on the walk although very cold and yesterday was quite spring like too:)

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  9. Well done for braving the cold! Quick dashes to the greenhouse is all I'm managing at the moment.

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    1. It was very cold but I'm glad we ventured out:)

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  10. It's good to be out and about even if the weather isn't great. Just being outside makes you appreciate the warmth all the more when you arrive home! x

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    1. Always lovely to get home to the warmth after a day out isn't it?:)

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  11. Always a lovely place to walk :)

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    1. It is, we didn't go round the woodcock trail this time though:)

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  12. Lovely walk Rosie. I love canopy walks -there is something very special about being so close to the trees and seeing the world from a different perspective. Marie x

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    1. Once I got used to the strange feeling of the movement of it, I enjoyed being on the walk especially in the lookout at the end:)

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  13. Love the photo ´meandering through the valley'. Did you take it from a bridge. It looks so serene, unlike today's snowy weather!

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    1. Thank you, yes I took the photo from the bridge across the stream:)

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  14. I like the hanging sticks! I would like a go at those- they sound fun!!!

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  15. Also lovely that you got to see the tits and other birds on the feeder!

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