A Great Spotted Woodpecker ...

... merrily woodpecking away at the back of my house.  First time I've ever seen one.  Not a great pic but he was about 40ft away hiding in the branches ...

Balance ...

Entry for the "Begins with B" Flickr challenge (Our Daily Challenge - Group 3)

Watching ...

A bit of macro

Another new lens made it's way into my camera bag yesterday - a nikon 85mm micro!  Have to thank Martin for letting me have free reign with the bank account - he knows the way to my heart!  After deleting more shots than I kept, I'm going to have to do some reading up on macro techniques ...

Every season spills its own wonder upon the earth ...

Texture by Kim Klassen

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

... autumn

Inspiring words ...

"i spend my days walking up and down the rugged trails, and in my heart i carry home with me each of earth's embroidered flowers"

 

 Photo by me ... words by Nina Bagley

Where was I today?

 Haslingden of course!  Not much light around but some fantastic cloud formations ...

... and this really strange layered effect ...

The final crop!

This is the image I've decided to enter in the portrait competition tomorrow night at the Bolton club - wish me luck!

On a windy hilltop ....

Made a return journey to the Grane today with my photo buddy, Pat.  Not sure how many mph the winds were blowing but it sure was gusty up on the tops.  Both of us almost lost our footing at times - you really have to question our sanity!  Once we knew there was a derelict farmhouse there was no turning back ...

The deserted valley of Haslingden Grane

Haslingden Grane is a glaciated valley in the north east of the West Pennine Moors.    
It contains three reservoirs: (west to east) Calf Hey Reservoir, Ogden Reservoir and Holden Wood Reservoir.  Prior to the construction of the reservoirs in the 19th century the settlement of Haslingden Grane had a population of 1,300 and was the centre of an illegal whisky distilling industry. The remains of some buildings can still be seen. Much quarrying has taken place in the past and continues at Jamestone Quarry. The valley is overlooked to the north by Oswaldtwistle Moor and to the south by Musbury Heights. The attractive moorland scenery makes it a popular place for walking especially through the well known Fairy Glen beauty spot, there is an information centre, parking and cafe at Clough Head.