January 31.1.2025.

 Well that's the last of January, it's not been too bad here in Manchester, had snow for a couple of odd days but it doesn't last  long here.

We were at the Bridge view café on Thursday and had Chris singing there, so a good time was had by all.

The water in the canal was just on the edge of freezing, but not quite. 

Picture in the Café. 

Managed to get down to Reddish Vale on Monday (27th) it was nice and sunny but quite cold, good job I'd bought a good coat earlier!.

Plenty of squirrels about, good thing I had plenty of treats and food for them.

The resident pair of swans, hopefully they will be nest building soon.

Squirrel with some apple.

This one with a peanut.

Another one with seed.

This carrion Crow was tucking into some apple too.

Cormorant on the top mill pond.

Cormorant on the lower mill pond.

A pair of tufted ducks on the top mill pond.

Plenty of robins about, they arrive as soon as I do!.

Looks like the box under the viaduct (the one facing the river) is being looked at by a pair of pigeons.

Heron on the top mill pond.

 Nice group of Male Mandarin ducks in water near their favourite trees. 

Then off to Morrisons for lunch.

I've started a new jigsaw today, but it's going to be a long time doing this one!!.

I didn't buy this one, it was a Christmas or birthday  present, "Northern lights over Norwegian village".

Lots of similar colours there isn't there. 

Will take a long, long time to finish this one, but I have a lot of patience and will do it in the end!.

Alfies lamp burnt out this week so it was on to Amazon for a new one, different make, but very similar, with two bulbs!.

So will see how long this one lasts!.

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Wednesday, 22.1.2025.

 Since my last post I've managed to get down to the Vale for a couple of times, today looked a bit dodgy but the rest of the week looks worse so thought I'd better get a visit in before the next storm due tomorrow!.

My earlier visit last week produced these pictures, the weather this last couple of weeks had the river rising and here you can see how high!.

Squirrel with peanut.

Squirrel with apple.

Blue tit 

Great tit

Wigeon.

Nuthatch

Moorhen.

Today it was very quiet in the park which is good for us photographers but not for the wild life, as they are used to people feeding them!. Still it was ok as I always have plenty of seed in the car and people in all good faith don't realise that bread isn't good for the ducks!.

Female swan.

Male swan.

Any more food mate?.

Well cared for bench with floral tribute.

Dunnock in the undergrowth.

Crow with peanut.

Not sure what the collective noun is for these tufted ducks, the males are the ones with white on the sides.

Bathtime.

Couple of cormorants there today.

Plenty of robins that are quite tame and come up to you for food.

Male tufted duck.

Female tufted duck.

Male and Female mandarin ducks. 

How do you get so many colours on one duck, beautiful aren't they.

Then it was off to Morrison's for dinner and a warm up.

So it was another good day down the Vale

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