Blacktoft Sands

A recent evening trip to Blacktoft Sands offered some wonderful Barn Owl sightings as the bird flew overhead with a freshly caught rodent in its grasp, heading off in the direction of its nest box.

The bank sides were covered in the delicate branched flowering heads of Cow Parsley.

We also enjoyed sightings of Avocets on the water.

Bathed in golden sunlight, a striking male Reed Bunting sang from the top of a nearby bush, in feathery resplendence.

As the sun dipped the surrounding foliage glowed, emphasising the cobweb covered bristly seed heads of this clump of Teasels.

A view of the sunset as we made our way out of the Reserve.

Kirkstall teasels

There is a fantastic patch of sharp spiky teasels near the hedgerow of the abandoned allotments just off Queenswood Drive. Backlit with a hint of early morning light. Teasels are a good plant for butterflies during the flowering season and a good source of winter food for goldfinch. Over at our allotment, a stones throw or two away I spotted 15 Goldfinch (collectively known as a charm) in the hedgerow.