Tag Archives: West Yorkshire

8th February picture(s) of the day…

08 Thursday Feb 2024

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Weather, West Yorkshire

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There’s no day like snow day! Admittedly, I took some convincing this morning as when I woke up and looked out of the bedroom window all I saw was wet roads and sleet, with no indication that snow was going to stick. It was only after I’d been working away in the office for a few hours that I noticed the sleet had turned to ‘proper’ snow and that it was coming down rather heavily. Even so, I decided to stay busy indoors, finished a magazine article I’d been writing, then sorting through yet more stuff for eBay whilst preparing the latest sales for postage. Dawn had decided to cook this evening and needed some fresh veg, so by 14:00 I decided to head down to Sowerby Bridge and take the camera with me in the hope of getting some snow shots. There wasn’t a breath of wind, so the trees around us were coated in a thick layer of the stuff. They looked beautiful, so I was hopeful of finding the same effect alongside the railway in the valley below.

No such luck!

Something I’ve learned to appreciate living here in the Pennines is just how much of a difference a few hundred metres in height can make – especially when it comes to snow. By the time I got down into Sowerby Bridge conditions had changed. I was faced with more miserable sleet and trees completely clear of the white stuff. I’d half-hoped to recreate the picture I posted a couple of days ago but there was no chance. Sowerby station had a light dusting but even the ballast wasn’t covered, making pictures pointless. There was nothing to do for it but slog my way back uphill into the snowline. Here’s a couple of pictures to illustrate the contast.

Our road at 20:00 with the snow still clinging to the trees around a deserted street.
Sowerby Bridge station mid afternoon with just a dusting of snow. All a bit disappointing really.

This evening the weather still remains above freezing with the snow gradually melting. I expect most of it to have gone by morning, which is a shame as I’ll be in nearby Mytholmroyd tomorrow for a catch-up with he station friends. I’ll still be wielding the camera but it’ll be with people, not snow scenes in mind…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Rolling blog. Sallying forth (despite the weather)…

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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10:15

‘Tis yet another wet and windy day here in’t Pennines. Despite that I’m going to get out with the new camera for a few hours. I’ve got to nip down into Sowerby Bridge to post some eBay purchases and pick up some shopping anyway, so I thought I might take a little detour to check out a couple of local rail sites. All will be revealed shortly. But first, it’s time to get kitted-out in waterproofs…

11:15.

It’s just as well I did don the rainwear. To say it’s somewhat inclement out there is an understatement. It’s bin day today. on my walk downhill I oassed thiis clutch of wheelie bins which have all been lashed to a gatepost due to the wind and torrents of water running down the hill.

Having deposited my deliveries at the post office I’m now drying out on the late-running 10:58 to Leeds as far as Bradford, where I’m probably in for another soaking.

13:10.

Yay! Despite the crap weather in the Calder Valley I managed to bail across Bradford without getting wet. Even better, when I arrived in Shipley the weather had broken. For a spell I was treated to patchy blue skies and watery sunshine whilst thunderous looking clouds hung around on the horizon.

Why was I in Shipley? I’d come to look at the site of the old rail connected Crossley Evans scrapyard on the branch from Bradford. This is going to be the site of the new Northern electric train depot that will be home to the company’s class 331 and 333 fleet. It’s very early days yet. Right now the site has been cleared of mountains of scrap and decades of woodland growth. Here’s a couple of pictures.

Thus are used to be covered in mountains of scrap. Now the old tracks are revealed. The main part of the scrapyard is beyond the bridge in the background. Tucked away under the bridge are two old diesel shunters that were used to move wagons in the scrapyard sidings. Unfortunately there’s no way to get a decent picture of them. The plan is to build a four road shed with each road capable of holding a four car set at the left of the site.
Looking down on the still-active scrapyard and rail connection to the Bradford branch with Shipley station in the distance. Regular scrap trains haven’t run from the site for many years. Once, the site was known for having a steam engine which was kept for shunting trains. Blogger Kris Ward has some good pictures of the industrial locos and mainline workings which you can find here. Access from the main line will be retained whilst four dead end stabling sidings will be built where all the blue skips are in the background.

To say this is a rough neighbourhood is an understatement. Even the XL bully’s walk round in twos! So, I was circumspect with the camera as the footbridge I was perched on to take some of these picture was an absolute dump that looked like a hang-out for some of the local ne’er-do-wells. The skilled and semi-skilled jobs the depot will bring to the area will no doubt be welcome to some, although ironically, the local MP is a right-wing Tory who’s not a fan of rail. Quite what he’s ever done for the area (or why they keep electing him) is a mystery as – having had a wander around the place I can honestly say it’s a bit of run-down dump.

17:00.

Whilst I was lucky with the weather in Shipley It was clear that wasn’t going to be the story elsewhere, so having achieved my aim I didn’t hang around other than take a slight detour on the way home to admire other work nearby. Guiseley station on the line to Ilkley is having both platforms extended, so I popped in between trains to have a quick look.

Guiseley, looking towards Leeds.

The extensions will allow 6-car trains to use the Ilkley line in rush-hour. I must admit, I’ve not travelled the line since Covid struck so I really should take a trip up there soon.

Catching the next train into Leeds I changed to get home via Dewsbury in order to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade as far as Heaton Lodge Junction where my train swung off to head back to Sowerby Bridge. There’s a lot of earth-moving around Ravensthorpe but no massive changes that demand another photographic visit just yet. Maybe when the weather improves…

Right, time to bring this blog to a close as I’ve other stuff to keep me occupied this evening, such as writing for a living rather than fun!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

5th February picture of the day…

05 Monday Feb 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Hmm, last week didn’t end well and this week’s carried on in the same vein. Bugger.

Saturday evening saw the fun sight of me having to break into Bigland Towers via the front door, which turned into an ‘interesting’ exercise. The front door lock seized, leaving us with no way in as all the windows and back door were firmly closed, so getting through the front door was the only option. Thankfully, two of our lovely neighbours were at home and Gary had the ideal tool for the job (a mini circular saw) – and the cable to run from their house to power it! Fortunately, we’d returned from an evening out in Halifax at a sensible time so the sound of me cutting out a panel of a pretty solid front door – whilst noisy – wasn’t going to keep anyone awake (just provide entertainment). Having removed said panel I managed to crawl through the gap and open the back door to let Dee in. It’s fortunate that both of us are on the ‘svelte’ side – otherwise we’d have been stuffed (literally)! Having effected a temporary repair overnight Sunday involved a trip to our local DIY chain to buy new timber to reinforce the door. Our plan was to replace it in the future anyway. Now that future’s moved forward.

Today I was meant to be preparing for a trip down South tomorrow in order to be in place for a big media event on Wednesday morning. This afternoon I received an email to say the event’s had to be postponed due to technical difficulties, so that’s this weeks plans up the swannee. Drat and double drat! To add the icing on the cake the weather forecast is looking decidedly ‘iffy’. We’ve lots of rain on the way and maybe even snow – although I’ll believe that when I see it. All this uncertainty makes this week a sod to plan. On the bright side, I do have an event locally on Friday, so come hell or high-water (or even snow) I’ll be able to make that.

So, apologies for the lack of new photos being added to my Zenfolio website. Ironic. I have a brand new, start of the art camera and it’s hardly been out of the bag (except for one job) since I bought it! Instead, I’ve been stuck at home to continue my clear-out, which means there’s now a lot my old railway memorabilia for sale on my eBay site – which you can find here.

Weather permitting, I’m hoping to get out for a couple of hours tomorrow to catch up on some local changes to the rail network. We’ll see. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture. If we’re going to have snow, can I put in a bid for it to be proper snow, like this, not just a dusting that disappears in the blink of an eye? Here’s a train approaching Milner Royd Junction, Sowerby Bridge on the 5th January 2010.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

23rd January picture of the day…

23 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Weather, West Yorkshire

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A very short blog from me today as my time is being taken up preparing for tomorrow’s little work excursion to Birmingham (all will be revealed later) which involves quite a bit of reading. Here’s why. This new bit of kit arrived earlier this afternoon and I’ve very little time to familiarise myself with it before it’s pressed into action tomorrow.

The mirrorless Nikon Z9. It’s a bit of a beast.

Whilst it doesn’t look too dissimilar to the SLR Nikons I’ve been using for decades there’s substantial differences in how it operates and where the controls are. Now I have to unlearn years of experience with the D3-5 family where everything had become instinctive and relearn this new system so it becomes just as instinctive to use as the old cameras. This may take some time!

Expect a rolling blog tomorrow as I begin my travels at silly o’clock. There’s a gale blowing outside again tonight but I’m hoping it’s not going to cause me any travel issues tomorrow. We shall see…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

22nd January picture of the day…

22 Monday Jan 2024

Posted by in Birmingham, Hs2, Musings, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Bugger! Having waited around all day on the promise that Fedex would deliver the new camera today I received the following message late this evening.

It’s frustrating but as long as it arrives tomorrow things will be fine as I’ll still have chance to learn how to use it before my job in Birmingham on Wednesday. Mind you, that’s cutting things fine. This may be ‘on the job’ training!

Still, today’s not been entirely wasted. I’ve got a lot done at home with a mixture of picture editing and paper-shuffling. The enjoyable bit was shuffling a lot of paper out of files and bookcases into the recycling. My shelves are now looking a lot slimmer and cleaner. Plus, one of our local charity shops will benefit from some of the redundant electronic hardware I’m parting with. There’s more stuff to get rid of yet – but that involves digitising various old records and diaries which is going to be time-consuming.

Taking a break from the dust and old paperwork I did manage to get out for my daily constitutional which was challenging due to the weather. We may have been in-between storms but there was enough of storm Isha hanging around to make walking through our local woods feel risky. The amount of broken branches littering the paths and trails was both impressive and a testament to just how windy it’s been. Not that it’s blown over as it’s goodbye storm Isha, hello storm Jocelyn. Please, weather Gods, just let this all blow over by Wednesday as I have to get to Birmingham and back and I really don’t fancy getting stuck on a Voyager! I’ll be blogging throughout that day, which could prove interesting…

Today’s picture is a taster of what I’ll be visiting. The HS2 station construction site at Curzon St, although it’ll look rather different to this July 2023 view now as the platform decks are being constructed atop many of the pillars seen here.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

21st January picture of the day…

21 Sunday Jan 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Railways, Weather, West Yorkshire

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After the freezing temperatures we’ve had recently the weather’s changed dramatically. The snow’s been washed away by torrential rain, assisted by temperatures in double figures. Then the wind arrived – with a vengeance! These weren’t exactly the ideal conditions for performing some external DIY, but when needs must. This afternoon I spent a couple of hours ‘fettling’ the front door frame, which gave me exposure to and appreciation of just how wet and windy the day was becoming. Once everything was ship-shape, secure and protected from the elements I retreated to the office for a couple of hours to catch up on some work. Whilst doing so my email account was regularly ‘pinged’ with messages about the imminent arrival of my new ‘toy’. To be honest, it’s been an interesting lesson in the global marketplace. I bought my new camera online at a very competitive rate compared to established UK retailers whom I’d normally use, but the fact the savings were in four figures made it a bit of a no-brainer. One of the reasons for the price differential is it’s being shipped from the USA, which always had a reputation for keen prices. I had considered buying kit in the US before, but in those days Nikon used to have separate designations for that market. So, for example. My old F801s film cameras were called the N8008s on the American market, so it was obvious where you’d bought your kit. Nowadays all has changed and model numbers are the same. It’s been fascinating watching my purchase make its journey from the US courtesy of Fedex. It started out in Union, New Jersey before making its way to Newark, where it travelled by air to Memphis Tennessee. It’s from there that it began its transatlantic trip to Stansted Airport, where it arrived yesterday. Now it’s making its way North by road ready for delivery in the morning (storm Isha permitting).

This evening I ventured out once more in order to get my daily exercise routine completed. This involved donning full waterproofs as the weather really was foul, with torrential rain and gale force winds. I broke my walk up by calling in at our local for a bottle of alcohol-free Erdinger and chance to dry-out in front of the fire before heading home – a much needed pitstop in such awful conditions.

Now I’m happily settled in for the evening, catching up on some picture editing whilst listening to the howling wind outside. I’ll leave you with today’s picture which is from Manchester. This is the approach to Manchester Piccadilly station. In a few years time the station was meant to have a massive capacity increase as the new HS2 station was due to be built next door to the left of this shot. Now, these ageing tracks are going to have to cope with this governments crippling lack of ambition (and more trains) for the foreseeable future.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

19th January picture of the day…

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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It’s a short blog from me tonight as I’ve had a busy day and it’s late. Today’s been another one where most of my time’s been spent cooped up in the office but I really haven’t minded as I’ve got a lot done and the weather outside’s hardly encouraged me to venture out. The last couple of forays have left me wishing for warmer climes as the weather here’s been freezing. I’m looking forward to the predicted change and double figures we’re supposedly due to be getting as I’ve had enough of sub-zero temperatures.

Whilst I’ve been busy at my desk I have enjoyed watching the birds vying for food on the roof outside. I’ve topped it up every day with a mix of oats, rice and scraps of fat, which has attracted all manner of birds – and in large numbers. Thrushes and Blackbirds are regulars which is hardly surprising as the frozen ground must make foraging for their usual food sources difficult. My feathered friends are gradually getting used to me using the camera and aren’t proving to be too shy. Next week a new toy arrives in the shape of a mirrorless Nikon Z9 camera body. It will be interesting to see what a difference using a silent camera makes with wildlife photography as my conventional Nikons are quite loud when the mirror flips up.

I’ll leave you with one of today’s bird-shots.

This weekend is set to be a wet one weather-wise so I expect to be busy at home. That’s no bad thing as I’ve a lot of travelling to do next week – and I need to learn the ins and outs of a new camera. The Z9’s a progression to my existing kit but there’s going to be some important difference which means using it won’t be instinctive the way my old D5 has been. So, I’m busy going through the manual before the camera’s even arrived – all 940 pages of it!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

16th January picture(s) of the day…

16 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by in Calder Valley, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Well. I didn’t have this on my bingo card when I pulled open the bedroom blinds this morning!

We weren’t meant to be having snow until late in the day and even then it was meant to be mixed with rain. Instead, we had rather a nice dusting of the white stuff. Well, at least at our height. The valley floor didn’t get the same treatment. This was rather frustrating as I’d several hours work planned this morning which I couldn’t get out of so by the time I did get to don my waterproofs (more to keep the freezing wind out than anything else) the snow had already begun to recede, despite the low temperatures. Working on the old axiom of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ I caught a train West to Todmorden, working on the assumption that as the weather was coming from that direction I’d be likely to find more snow. Sure enough, there was more on the ground, even though it still wasn’t exactly ‘deep and crisp and even’. I went for a hike from Tod’ station along footpaths well gritted backroads to Gauxholme, between Tod’ and Walsden then slipped and slid my way uphill to a site that’s one of my favourite locations in the valley. Here’s why…

195005 leads 195019 through Gauxholme whilst working 1J19, the 14:12 Leeds to Manchester Victoria.

I stayed long enough to get several shots but by 15:00 the snow was coming in again from the West and the wind was perishing! Besides, there’s only so many permutations of this shot you can take. Walking downhill with the camera bag on my back was more difficult than ascending. I was kicking myself for not bringing my walking poles but I managed to make it down without going arse over tit. Maybe we’ll get a thicker covering of snow later in the year. Maybe not, but at least I’ve finally got a snow shot from Gauxholme.

Now I’m back home taking it easy for the evening, feeling virtuous as not only do have some useful pictures, I’ve smashed all my exercise targets to boot. Still, it’s strange to think that this time last year I was doing anything *but* freezing. I’d already been in SE-Asia for a week and had just arrived in Kuala Lumpur.

I won’t be venturing out of the valley tomorrow. I’ve too much to sort out in readiness for what’s going to be a hectic time next week as I’ll be doing a lot of travelling with many different events to blog about. But for now, it’s time to say goodnight.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Rolling blog. Sunshine interlude…

15 Monday Jan 2024

Posted by in Liverpool, Photography, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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13:10

Not a bad start to the week! Today we have wall to wall sunshine in the Calder Valley – and sub-zero temperatures to go with it! It’s currently -1 which has warmed up since first thing when it was -3. Despite the cold I’ve been tempted out with the camera as this weather’s too good to waste. I’d like to have got out earlier but I had too much to do. Maybe tomorrow. Right now I’m on my way to Liverpool via Manchester for a flying visit to try and catch the last Class 508 remaining in service – and hopefully grab a shot of 507001 if its running.

13:40.

I broke my journey at Newton-le-Willows to check out the work extending the station’s platforms. Currently tthey can only cope with four-car trains, which is a bit awkward when 5-car TPE services call. Like this one I’m on now.

It seems odd to think this station was once a ‘Motorail’ hub. The Manchester bound platform extension is being built over the site of the old ‘Motorail’ loading bay. Here’s a better view of the work.

16:00.

Bloody hell, it’s cold! I made it to Liverpool at the same time as patchy clouds blew in from the West, which caused a slight rethink. I decided to concentrate on trying to get shots of the last Class 508 as it’s already living on borrowed time as it was due to have been withdrawn the other week. Knowing it was on the New Brighton vircuit I opted to ‘ambush’ it at Liverpool Central then catch it out to the Wirral with the hope of getting some sunshine shots. Sadly, the low sun and clouds didn’t play ball. Still, I managed a few controlled light shots at Central and Conway Park. Frustratingly, the unit has suffered a crap graffiti attack on one of the driving cars. Ho hum.

508104 calls at Birkenhead North on its way back into Liverpool after working to New Brighton.
The return working to New Brighton seen at Conway Park. The half-arsed attempt at graffiti can be seen on the front car. It’s a shame but as the unit only has a day or so left in service before it goes for scrap I can’t see it being cleaned off.

16:50.

I hung around Liverpool long enough to get a handful of library shots then decided to call it a day and head home as I’ve had some picture requests from a magazine that need my attention, plus, it ain’t getting any warmer! Right now I’m on one of Northern’s all-stations services to Manchester Victoria via Earlestown that would have been worked by Class 319s but are now 331s. It’s a busy train but I’ve managed to blag a seat at a table to set up the laptop and begin sorting out today’s pictures. I’ll add some later when I get home.

21:15.

I’m home and thawing out whilst editing a few of today’s pictures. Here’s a small selection as promised.

The new order. 777006 at Liverpool Central earlier today with a service to Ellesmere Port.
The last of its class. 508104 should already have been withdrawn but it has had a charmed life and hangs on. Latest news is that it will be stood down at the end of services on Tuesday 16th January. Here it is working the 14:35 from Liverpool Central to New Brighton.
777019 approaches Birkenhead North with a service to new Brighton.
Despite what the destination blind says, 777005 was very much in service on the New Brighton line. PIS failures are a common and confusing fault on the new trains.
The old order hangs on. Here’s 507010 working the 16:03 service to New Brighton, seen at Liverpool Lime St.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

14th November picture of the day…

14 Sunday Jan 2024

Posted by in Calder Valley, Flora and Fauna, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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We’ve had another quiet day here at Bigland Towers, although it’s been anything but lazy. I was up early and working in the office by 07:30. Admittedly, it’s not much of a commute from the front to the back of the cottage – and I can do it in my dressing gown! Even so, I felt virtuous as I was making the most of the day. The fact the nights are getting shorter helps. There’s nothing worse than sitting there in the dark, not being able to see anything out of the office window but being able to hear the wind and the rain beating down outside. Thankfully, we’ve finally hit a dry spell which is also lightening the mood.

Much of my day’s been spent catching up on picture editing and adding recent images to my Zenfolio website. Click on this link to see which galleries have been updated. I’ve still got many more to add, both from my recent HS2 site visit and also archive shots from Nepal (but those will be taking a backseat for a little while).

Continuing with the virtuous theme I managed to surpass all my exercise targets which has made me happy – and helps me feel ‘dry January’ is proving worthwhile. Now I’ve got to hope the bathroom scales will confirm the results! It’s not that I’m overweight in any way, I’m merely outside my normal parameters so it was time to get back to the weight I feel happiest and most comfortable at.

Whilst working I’ve enjoyed watching the birdlife outside. We have a stone shed roof opposite which is an ideal bird-feeding station. I’ve found that bags of oats make a cheap alternative to more expensive bird-foods and our feathered friends of all sizes love ’em. I’ve had Magpies, Doves, Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Robins, Sparrows and Wrens put in an appearance today, whilst the nut and seed feeders hanging under the eaves have attracted all manner of Tits. As the light’s improved I was even tempted to get the camera out. So, today’s picture is of one of this morning’s visitors. I’m presuming this is actually a Thrush – my bird recognitions not as comprehensive as my railway fleet recognition!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312