Afternoon Walks
A collection of shots from a couple of afternoon wanders this week. I think I'm still recovering from last weeks FluVID as I've been absolutely knackered during these relatively short walks (2-3 miles). I had hoped to get up onto the moors, but reality intervened on that front as just getting to the access gate leading to the moors exhausted me. So instead, I've settled for a couple of wanders around Healey Nab, Anglezarke and The Goit.
All taken with the Z8 and either the 24-70 f/2.8S, 70-180 f/2.8 or 100-400 f/4.5-5.6VRS (on each walk I was carrying the 24-70 plus one of the tele-zooms).
Tree In A Field
This was taken as I walked along to Goit between White Coppice and The Waterman's Cottage at Anglezarke. The treelined hill in the background is Healey Nab.
On The Shores of Anglezarke
Here, I'm looking across the still very empty Anglezarke reservoir to the woods that line the side of Healey Nab.
Anglezarke
Looking across the depleted Anglezarke reservoir from the edge of Spen Cob Wood (which is just creeping into shot on the left) towards the dam it shares with Upper Rivington Reservoir.
Trees At Stronstrey Bank
I took the steep path up to Moor Road with the intention of crossing the edge of the moor along the top of Stronstrey Bank, but by the time I got the gate leading onto the open moor I was exhausted, so instead I followed the road back down to the bottom of Stronstrey Bank and followed the path their back to White Coppice. If the weather is agreeable I may give this moorland path another try next week.
As I followed the path below Stronstrey Bank, the fading light waxed and waned, giving brief mood to the trees that line the bank.
Another shot while I walked along the bottom of the bank, this time there was more direct sun on the trees.
Birches On The Nab
I've been wandering around the top of The Nab quite a lot recently. It's a large featureless area of land with woods at either end, but in the intervening space various birches are dotted sporadically around.
Anglezarke From Grey Heights Wood
At the very edge of the woods the fields run down to the reservoir below. For context, this location is on the western side of the reservoir looking broadly South. The earlier shots of the reservoir were taken from the eastern side of the reservoir.
Back To The Birches
Having made my way back through Grey Heights Wood, my route then took me back across the flattish top of The Nab.
Same Birch, Different Composition
Doe, A Deer, A Deer Encounter
My route back to the car took me through some woods. It was getting dark, so I wasn't really expecting to get any more interesting images, but as I wandered through the woods, I spotted a doe up on the hillside a little way to my left. She was stood watching me, apparently waiting to see what I did next. Slowly I raised the camera and started firing off shots. Usually this is their cue to bolt off into the woods, but she just stood her ground. We held this position for about five minutes.
I tried moving around slightly to get different angles, but I didn't move too far as I didn't want to spook her.
Double Trouble
Eventually, she moved a little way to the left of my frame, so I repositioned myself slightly, surprised she still didn't run. As I did, I spotted movement in the bush behind her, followed by another inquisitive face popping out from behind. I think there were at least three doe behind there.
An Extra Helping
Eventually, I decided to continue on my way through the woods, quite pleased with my encounter. As I made my way along the path, flashes of grey darted amongst the trees, "squirrels" I thought. I stopped to watch them scramble over the trees and as I panned my view over the scene I spotted another doe on the path in front of me. This one was a similar distance to the previous encounter, but on the path directly ahead of me.
Again, she didn't seem particularly fazed by me and just stood there watching me. Eventually, she was distracted by a noise off to the left of the frame, a couple walking their dog through the woods. This was her cue to slowly slink off into the undergrowth.
