Matching Pair.

A slightly extended morning walk today with 3 ladies plus me and 2 dogs.

We walked through the St Ives estate and joined Altar Lane near the top. Looking over the wall we spotted our first deer in the woods. Quite a large number of them all well camouflaged by the trees so I wasn't too hopeful of a good photo and if they were all in the woods we would be less likely to see them in the fields.

Further down the lane we walked across the fields to the woods above Ravenroyd. Below the path is a deep, wooded ravine. There were a couple of deer here again on the trees but these two were heading up the field away from us. Luckily they stopped to have a look which gave me the chance to get a decent shot at last. Best large.

Back through the hamlet of Ravenroyd with its stables, we then walked along the river which was very still and surprisingly low. It had been noticeable on the whole walk how much drier everywhere was than just a week ago.

From Ireland Bridge in Bingley we took a new (to us) path through Mouse Woods. We could hear a woodpecker which S spotted at the top of a tree. That was a first sighting for me although it was silhouetted against the sky so not an option for a photo.

Just over 4 miles - good start to the week.