2005 in the Lake District.......................... one of my first ever digital images

I hope this image doesn't give the wrong impression... It's the Beer Garden of the Heights Hotel Keswick.

It's next to two wonderful campsites... both have fantastic views and modern facilities including cafes.

Full English Breakfasts available in the morning... I love roughing it in the Lakes...lol.

Seriously it's a lovely place to stay... leave the car and backpack around for a few days wild camping.

I have a few goals I need to accomplish... before I regret never having tried.

Reason for the Pint... it's my birthday on Sunday... 56 years young.

I hope to enjoy my weekend with close family... I hope you all enjoy yours.

Cheshire Vs Cumbria home of the Lake District..........................................

I live in the beautiful county of Cheshire.

 Cheshire has a fairly flat landscape.... ideal for long country rambles along a miriad of public footpaths...

...with just the odd outcrop... ideal for a medieval castle.

This is the view from Beeston Castle... flat dairy farmland.

It is the home of Cheshire Cheese after all.

I have had another passion over the years... Hillwalking.

I live quite close to the hills of North Wales but it is amongst the mountains of the Lake District I enjoy myself the most... over 200 tops of note with wonderful views if you catch the right weather.

 The Langdale Pikes.

Bowfell

 The landscape is varied with lovely meadows in the valleys.

 Steep climbs with lot's of ups and downs... I am planning a trip for early spring to visit a couple of remote tarns (a small mountain lake ) I haven't seen before.

 One is about 2000ft above sea level but I the total ascent is over 4000ft taking in the contours of the landscape. I need to get myself fit though... it's been a couple of years since I climbed any thing of note.

I have spent the last couple of visits discovering the highlights of the valleys and wonderful views that can be found without the lung bursting effort of steep uphill climbs.

Surprise View is one... looking over Derwentwater towards Keswick.

Cheshire Vs Cumbria?.... I love them both.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Birds get in the way................................................. of my images of Twigs

 Found during my image sorting.... some of the ones that missed out.

Just the odd twig (or ten) in the way of a clean image... or am I just being fussy.

Chaffinch.

Goldfinch.

Robin in my garden singing his heart out last March.

Redwing in my garden during the big freeze 2010/2011

Wren posing as a Unicorn.

SongThrush

 Blackbird eyeing the last berry.

 Unknown species Moore Nature Reserve.

Robins................................................................. Shakerley Mere in Cheshire

My visit to Shakerley Mere on Saturday produce loads of images... I have already shared some of the birds I saw.... Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits and Nuthatches.

(scroll down to see the two posts after my "One Way" post below to view them)

One species was always present during my visit... the Robin.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)..

They were posing on all the perches available..

Fence posts.

 The barrier at the car park.

 A sculptured bench carved from a fallen tree. 

  ....this little fella joined him on the bench.

and even at my feet.

I have to apologize to the Robins... my favourite little bird on this occasion...

 ...had to be the Long-tailed Tits.

Beautiful little birds to watch.... scroll down three posts.

It was pleasant afternoon.... roll on next weekend.

To see more wonderful birds from all over the planet click on the image below to see:

World Bird Wednesday LXV

We have a new One Way System..................................... the chaos is easing

A few of weeks ago they started to put in a gyratory system to ease the traffic through Northwich.

To be honest it was becoming a real problem with long queues during busy periods.

 The first couple of weeks were chaotic as they closed some roads to relay them during the day.

 I had a stroll into town on Sunday morning to see how it was all coming along.

 The plastic barriers make it all look a bit like a racing circuit.

Looking back up Castle Hill 

The traffic lights are all having to be replaced.

As are the road signs

Although there are still plenty of temporary ones.

Town Bridge. 

Outsiders driving through for the first time have no problems... 

 ... it's the locals that have been struggling.

You should see how tentative they are driving on what is to them the wrong side of the road.

 The outside lane here used to go straight on.

I think the barriers brighten up the town quite well.

 There is still quite a bit of work to be done.

Back at the beginning at the bottom of Castle Hill.

It took me ages taking these images... it was busier than it looks.

I was trying to avoid having vehicles in my images.

A few more images from yesterday...............................................................

Shakerley Mere Cheshire.

 Blue Tit on the peanuts some kind soul had left hanging from a tree by the car park.

There were also a few empty nets from fatballs... as I stated yesterday the peanuts should be removed from the net bag and placed in a proper feeder.. the birds tiny feet can get trapped.

 The manufacturers of these products don't help either... they don't put warnings on the packaging.

 Coal Tit

The birds were enjoying them anyway... regardless of my worries.

 There were quite a few Robins near the car park.

 Nuthatch

Shakerley Mere is a popular place for young families to visit... kids love feeding the ducks.

It was freezing yesterday... the only other people were hardy dog walkers.

I decided to have a quick look in at Billinge Green on my way home.

 Billinge Green.

There are two angling pools here and both were frozen apart from a small area on the far side.

 There were quite a few Canada Geese on the ice... and I had only been there a couple of minutes...

  ...when this noisy lot joined them... another big flock of Canada Geese.

They flew around the lake a few times before landing.

It was a lovely sight... but what a din!  I have added a 30 second handheld video clip.

The swans weren't happy... a few skirmishes took place as I watched.

A lovely walk around Shakerley Mere............................................................

The sunrise as I travelled to work this morning... but it's still freezing.

After work I had a lovely walk around Shakerley Mere... the lake was in the main frozen over.

Lot's of sticks on the ice... it's a lovely place to visit and mainly by dog walkers and young families.

Throwing things onto a frozen lake seems to amuse people.

The Mallards were having a good preen.

 Coal Tit.
There are a few bird feeders in the trees by the car park... someones very kindly looking after the birds.

My only criticism is the nets some of the food is in... birds little feet can get trapped in the netting.

I have also seen images of birds dangling by their tongues after getting tangled.

 Highlight of my day...

 ...the Long-tailed Tits.

 This little coconut shell full of fat was a real success.

 It was also tempting the Nuthatches... the first I have seen this year.

Yes it's ice... the lake is frozen... get over it.

It was a lovely stroll around the mere but I was freezing.... and so glad when I returned to my car.