the 'magna via'

no birding today.
i have started to do more walking from my house to well wherever i can get.
today walked from home through the town center up to shibden park then on to hipperholme and back again via the 'MAGNA VIA' which is the one of the most ancient pack horse routes in the uk.
the route dates from just after 1066,and at places it is worn down to 12ft deep.
the cobbles were added in around 1700,as halifax became a major town for the wool industry.daniel defoe was not impressed with the only 'road' into the town(from the east).what routes are from the west?
its a shame i missed the plaque,but its such an interesting walk,my father told me his great grandmother had mentioned a pub along this track. though i forget its name,but it may be the best pub name in the country!)

magna via
dark lane

halifax

worn feet

the feeding of the 40000

finished work at 10:30 and called in at moore nr.
only spent a few hours,40000 gulls feeding on arpley tip was a fantastic sight,as there is no tip in halifax.
manage to see both iceland gull and glaucous gull both first winters,and for once close up and in good light.
for anyone who likes gulls it is well worth a visit

glaucous gull

iceland gull

quiz id all the gulls!

more photos on my zenfolio site

and have a good Christmas

iceland gull the 'with'

first time here for a while.i was not expecting much.
a few groups of large gulls heading west mostly herring gulls and a few great black backed gulls,back at the car another group went over including an adult iceland gull,my second here this year,keep your eyes open you never know.
also
8 pink footed geese flew west
10 wood pigeons west
1 peregrine
2 carrion crows
1 meadow pipit
1 red grouse

iceland gull

pink footed geese

wood pigeon

home made meat and potato pie

trying to while away the hours until it was time for the pie,i headed to millington to have a go for the rough legged buzzards seen there.
got lost in pocklington,which is one of those small towns with loads of little roads and no signs!
it turns out i parked about half a mile from the usual parking spot but this was for once a blessing,as the rough legged buzzard was drifting over the car.
i headed up the valley to the south of the road,muddy as fuck,then the rough legged buzzard rose up over the ridge,i watched it for 30 minutes at times about 100yds away!
my phone kept ringing,thinking it was the crazy woman i had been seeing i ignored it.it was only when i got to the top of the steepest hill i have ever climbed,and the phone rang again,
da da its only darren ward on the other side of the valley.so back down the hill(i hate fucking hills) and spent the rest of the day walking up and down more fucking hills with daz.
saw the bird a few more times but not as well as earlier.

rough legged buzzard
milington

what a suprise

no car for 2 weeks and the weather was great.car back on the road and yes its a shit fucking weekend(weather wise)
pissed down all day here

time to get spangled

car trouble=no green withens.car mended=green withens

okay hopefully tomorrow i can get up the 'with',had a few car problems in the last month

#1 puncture
#2 puncture
#3 puncture on spare!
#4 cracked alloy wheel
#5 new pads and disc's
#6 puncture

#7 total cost £700!!!

hence no 'with' and me now paranoid about driving!

but tomorrow i'm off up the 'with'

i have found the solution to be.......................my wages are now paid to garage and i now go to the garage on friday for pocket money!!!!

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

skills bill has gone :(

goldcrest

they always look sad

taken at the weekend at salterhebble marina