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