Two for Joy

According to the old counting magpies nursery rhyme it is one for sorrow, two for joy ...

We've just had our first significant snowfall of the year and I caught this pair of magpies perching on the snowladen branches of the nearby trees.

A contribution to
The Weekend in Black and White;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Skywatch Friday: Newton Library err sorry Pharmacy

Today's photograph was taken less than a minute after the one I posted last week: Contrails over Talbot Road.

This is the view in the opposite direction over what used to be Newton Library but is now Newton Pharmacy.

If you look closely at last week's photo you'll see an aeroplane coming in on the left en route for Manchester Airport. Here it can be seen in the centre of the sky heading on its way with a couple of birds flying off on the left.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Starlings love Hyde's Christmas Tree

The starlings love the new Christmas Tree in Hyde Civic Square.

For a fuller picture of the tree see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;.
Camera Critters.

Magpie behaviour

The magpie has just dragged leaves out of the guttering and thrown them on the roof.

A contribution to I'd rather b birdin and Camera Critters.

Geese by the River Tame

These Canada geese were by the side of the river Tame in the Jet Amber Fields area between Kingston and St Anne's Haughton.

Dozens more of them were grazing in the fields and trees nearby - see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

A pack of pouncing, pecking pigeons

I was sitting on a bench in the Civic Square when someone either dropped or threw down a bit of sandwich.

Immediately a pack of pigeons descended and pounced on the offering.

However it was a starling that was first to break out of the pack with a titbit in its beak.

A contribution to
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Rook overlooking the Market Place

A few weeks ago I capture this rook perched on the sign for the Clarendon Square shopping centre.

See where he had been with his starling mate a few moments earlier on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday;
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Canada Geese close-up

I recently posted a view of geese on the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal on Hyde DP Xtra.

Here is a closer view.

A contribution to Saturday Critters and
Camera Critters and
I'd rather b birdin.

Pigeons in the planter

The flower-planter on the northern corner of the Civic Square is very attractive to pigeons it seems.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Town Hall Chimney

A close-up view of the red-brick chimney on the Corporation Street side of the Town Hall.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Bill and Coo

I was walking down the TransPennine Trail last week and saw a woodpigeon in a tree below Brooks Avenue.

See the tree on Hyde DP Xtra.

A few moments later and its mate arrived.

A contribution to Camera Critters.

Pigeons in the planter

There are pigeons among the flowers in the planter at the corner of Clarendon Street and Market Street. The newly planted tree obscures the telephone kiosk behind. The Town Hall is on the left and on the right is Greenfield Street.

Wharfinger's House

The three-storey Wharfinger's Warehouse was erected by the Peak Forest Canal Company in 1828. It is a Grade II listed building now used as offices by the Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Mental Health Service.

In the foreground two Canadian geese are resting in Moorfield Place, a housing estate built on the site of the former Automasters Engineering Works.

For Our World Tuesday.

Skyview Friday: Pigeon over the Town Hall

I took a photo of the market last week and it wasn't till I downloaded it that I noticed the pigeon flying over the Town Hall.

It is carrying something in its beak but I can't decide what. As I was using my phone-camera this is the best close-up I can get.

The uncropped original can be viewed on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Pigeons among the Chimneys

There are pigeons amongst the chimneys.

How many can you spot?

"Chimneys" is the CDPB theme for 1st July but at present the portal is down pending a change in hosting company.

News about this can be found on the City Daily Photo Facebook page.

Meanwhile links to other participants to the theme can be found at CDPB Theme Day.

Blackbird by the Trans Pennine Trail

The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) on a tree near the Trans Pennine Trail close to Knott Fold.

The adult male has glossy black plumage, blackish-brown legs, a yellow eye-ring and an orange-yellow bill. It may not immediately be clear why the name "Blackbird", first recorded in 1486, was applied to this species, but not to one of the various other common black English birds, such as the Carrion Crow, Raven, Rook or Jackdaw. However, in Old English, and in modern English up to about the 18th century, "bird" was used only for smaller or young birds, and larger ones such as crows were called "fowl". At that time, the Blackbird was therefore the only widespread and conspicuous "black bird" in the British Isles. (information from Wikipedia)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.


Advance notice: With the CDPB portal currently out of action, Julie of Sydney Eye has created a page where participents in the April 1st theme (Cobblestones) can register their posts on a linky. See CDPB Theme Day

ABC Wednesday: H is for Horses and a Hovering Gull

Horses and a gull on the TransPennine trail.

For a closer view of the horses see Hyde DP Xtra.

For more H posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Skywatch Friday: Top of the Town Hall

I was waiting for a bus from the stop opposite the Town Hall and decided to zoom in on the top of the cupola.

It wasn't until I download the photograph that I noticed the three birds perched thereon.

For more skyward views visit Skywatch Friday .

Pigeon and squirrel under the shadows

I went into Hyde Park last week looking for the new sculpture which I'd shown you at the start of the month under construction. It was intended to complement the earlier wood sculpture of a squirrel.

I wandered around but couldn't see it. The old one was still there and there were a few bare stumps but no carvings. I eventually asked a couple of men who were walking their dogs. "Oh they've chopped it down. It took three weeks to complete and then the council didn't like it and next day it was chopped down. Another five and half grand of our council tax down the swanny!".

It was then I saw a real squirrel streak across the path onto the grass. It stopped at the edge as a pigeon flew down next to it. They both seemed to pause whilst I took their photograph and then speedily departed in opposite directions.

For more shadow shots visit Hey Harriet.

Bluebell Centre Garden

Today's photo is of the garden at the Bluebell Centre which is next door to the Joshua Bradley.

Look to the right and you can see one of the geese popping its head out from the pond.

The coloured version of this photograph can be found on Geograph.