Return to Normal

During the fairly long spell of cold mornings there were few sightings of deer on the moor. We assumed they would be on lower ground in the woods. This morning was a little milder and two stags were quietly browsing.

Interestingly the morning westward movement of jackdaws and rooks had also halted presumably because their daytime feeding ground was frozen and unproductive. Almost at the same time as the normal A625 commuter traffic into Sheffield returned after the Christmas break the jackdaws returned to their normal routine in the opposite direction.

Friends of Blacka Moor Walk

Do you want to know more about Blacka Moor, the red deer and current issues about the management of the area? If you're at all sympathetic to the position of this blog in defending Blacka Moor as a largely natural wild area then you are welcome to join us in a short "walk and talk". Friends of Blacka Moor invite you to meet on Blacka on Saturday 10th January at 12 midday. This will be repeated the following Sunday 18th Jan again at 12 midday. Meet at the composting containers down the track from the Stony Ridge car park.

Access and Parking

Since the Highways people deliberately prevented vehicle access to the Piper House parking space those travelling up on the Hathersage Road have been limited to using the small Stony Ridge car park. This gets full easily at weekends and when there's icy weather like today the sloping exit is a disincentive for some without 4WDs. This morning a car had been apparently abandoned just on the slope itself making it impossible to get in anyway. One alternative is now to use the layby below Piper House and enter Blacka via an old gateway. The problem with this is that there is no offical path at that point and therefore you have to forge on through bramble.

Perhaps we should all visit Blacka by walking or going up on the bus.

Rimeless

A dull morning and despite the stillness and cold lacking in tree rime. It had not completely disappeared. Much of it was on the ground where it had fallen.

Two hinds were on Blacka Hill in the poor light.

Winter Spectacle

All that's been missing the last few mornings has been the sun. Today it came - with a sunrise worth waiting for. Then the cold fingers could be forgotten leaving us to admire the range of colours on the rime clinging to trees.

The cold has also thankfully neutralised the mud which had been everywhere. As boots hit the ground there's a satisfying thump only heard after days of hard frost.

Most of this week the A625 road has been quiet without trucks and hard driven commuter traffic. Yesterday was almost silent as people stayed in bed after new year's celebrations but there was rather more traffic this morning and doubtless Monday will be back to normal.

Our feathered stalker followed us much of the way anxious that none of his expected booty should disappear. He may look as innocent as could be but minutes later he was delivering a savage attack on a rival redbreast wanting a share of this morning's treats.

Little Change

The year may be different but it's much the same if you have to spend all your time out in the weather. Minus 1 today against minus 5 yesterday may seem an improvement.

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