McMoo

Our walks over the last couple of days, have taken us past a field containing six sheep and two highland cattle.  The two 'coos' are (like all highland cattle), delightful creatures. Shaggy coated and equipped with formidable-looking horns, they attract lots of attention. On both occasions, as we walked by, the larger of the two coos has had his head in a large bucket of mineral lick.

The tub of SUPAlyx "super energy with fish oil" is quite clearly the tastiest thing to be found in this particular field and has caught the attention of this fine animal.

Only when another Highland Cow in a field across the way, began to bellow and the smaller companion of this chap grumbled and bellowed back, did he move his attention away from the task in hand.

With a look which seemed to say "what's all the fuss about?" he paused a for a moment while the bellowing died down, before getting back the more important task of licking the bucket clean.

Anser

A little less cold this morning - at least the wind had dropped and what sunshine there was, was more warming than of late.  So, we set off, splashing through the muddy puddles, for Straw's Bridge. All the usual suspects were there. Mute Swans, Mallards, Coots, Canada Geese and Moorhens were joined by a single Pochard and dozens of Black-headed Gulls. On the bank close to the car park, two Greylag Geese (Anser anser) were strutting about.

One of these geese seemed to be calm and at peace with the world, while the other tended towards the belligerent as it 'goose-stepped' about keeping a sharp eye on Malcolm and me.

It was quite comical at one point, to observe a Moorhen which seemed to be having fun by imitating the goose like a naughty schoolboy as it strutted along behind. Not that the Greylag was bothered at all. He just carried on with an air of haughty self-righteousness, which was undoubtedly well deserved on his part.  A beautiful goose and he seemed to know it!

Bitter

We set out for our walk this morning, all done up against a bitter, biting, face-stinging wind.  Battling against the icy wind, we were to be seen heads down, hands in pockets, all hatted and scarfed as snow and hail showers did their best to persuade us to turn around and head for home. We persevered however and were rewarded once more, by the sight of the drifts of snowdrops on Shipley Hill.

As I crouched among the nodding flowers trying to ignore the numbing of my fingers, Malcolm was to be seen in the distance enjoying the view from the more shoe-friendly footpath.

They really are looking at their best right now (the snowdrops, not Malcolm - who never looks his best in the bitter cold).

As we reached the Derby Lodge, the gardens there were looking pretty good too. Not bad for such a bitterly cold morning.

Gorse

It is said that, somewhere in Britain, there will be at least one Gorse bush in flower every day of the year. Right now, the Gorse flowers are starting to bloom around these parts.

Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is well known to most of us.  It is common throughout most of Europe and its extremely prickly nature makes it an invaluable part of the countryside, providing safe nesting places for a multitude of bird species.  Members of the Pea family (Fabaceae), their flowers have a distinctive smell of coconut.  Unfortunately this morning's cold weather prevented the natural oils in the flowers from releasing their scent, so as they say, "close, but no coconut!"

Following the rather wet weather of late, it was lovely to be out and about in the sunshine this morning and the Gorse flowers were just the icing on the cake.

70 Years On

I never knew my paternal Grandfather. He was killed in action seventy years ago this very day, so I thought a small tribute would not go amiss...

Tom Wear was born in Pudsey, near Leeds on 21 January 1910, the son of Walter, a Bridge Painter and Maud, a Weaver. He enlisted into the Royal Signals on 27 March 1941 and was posted to General Trade Training on 30 April.  On 21 May 1942, Tom was posted to 1st Armoured Divisional Signals - formed in 1937 by Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd and initially called the Mobile Division.
Tom spent time serving in the Middle East between December 1942 and June '43.  He was held as a Prisoner of War in Italian hands before ending up in North Africa on 28th November '43, remaining there until 4 January 1944.
Tom was posted on 29 March 1944, to the 4th Training Battalion and then on 15 April to 2nd Training Battalion.
August of 1944 saw Tom posted to the Northern Command Signals before joining the 115 Construction Section.  Eleven days later, he was posted to 17 Line of Communications Signals.

Signalman 2369649, Tom Wear was killed in action, aged 35, on 23 February 1945.

His grave is one of just 101 commonwealth burials, located at the Schoonselhof Cemetery, in Antwerp.  His page on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website can be seen HERE.

Carpet of Snow

More of those delightful Snowdrops today. The sunshine was certainly having a positive effect on the tiny white blooms and the tight-closed flowers of yesterday were opening beautifully.

These were growing on the western side of Shipley Hill, with the sun filtering through the trees above.

Further round and now on the North facing side of the hill, there was a carpet of little, nodding blooms.

You had to be careful where you trod, so as not to tread on any.

More and more of them...

Just beautiful!

Snowdrops

I said there'd be more photos of the Snowdrops and I didn't lie.

This morning's walk, after several days of dull, damp and frankly rather dreary weather, was sunny and bright. We decided to take in Shipley Hill and the wonderful Snowdrop display to be seen there.

Most of the flowers were still closed tightly shut, despite the sun shining on them - perhaps they would open later in the day.  But for now, they were staying tight-lipped.

There seems to be a fantastic number covering the woodland floor this year.

Getting down to leaf-litter level, you get the full effect.

Beautiful!  And still more to come, I expect.