I cannot remember a summer during which I have had to battle so hard against the weather.

It is a problem to find a day in my diary when I did not mention rain.

Despite this I did follow my usual routine of trying to photograph nesting birds in Lancashire.

Cameras are so much better these days and photographs can be taken without disturbing birds at their nests.

All who love nature should always remember that the welfare of our wildlife comes first.

In 2012 especially our birds have had enough to put up with without being disturbed by photographers. I did manage three pictures and found a lapwings nest on the side of Pendle Hill.

This species has declined in numbers very rapidly, probably mainly due to loss of habitat.

There are certainly more carrion crows and magpies than there used to be which may be a factor.

My nest of lapwings however did produce three chicks to the flying stage. This was despite the weather and predators. I hope then 2013 will be better than 2012.

I also kept a close eye on an oystercatchers nest close to the River Ribble near West Bradford.

Despite the floods the water did not quite reach the nest and “my” pair of oystercatchers raised all four of its chicks. This a very good result.

My ringed plovers nest was on the coast at Knott End.

The pair raised not one brood but two. One of the birds was brave enough to fly up and attack a magpie whilst its mate was sitting right on the clutch of four eggs.

My next project will be to photograph our winter birds during this coming winter.

Skipton ideal for bird picnics

This week I enjoyed an excellent bird watch from Skipton.

I began at the Canal basin where local people usually come with their children to feed the wildfowl.

From the basin a signed footpath leads into Skipton Woods.

This is a wonderful winter stroll following the cul-de-sac springs branch of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.

On the right is the castle and an old quarry.

This stretch of water was built to allow limestone from the quarry to be moved to the developing towns in the West Riding and to the City of Leeds. To the left is Skipton Woods and here I shared my picnic lunch with chaffiches, blackbirds and I provided a bag of peanuts which were eagerly eaten by blue tits, coal tits and four nuthatches.

Way up in the trees I watched jay, great spolled woodpecker and two treecreepers.

The weather was cold and so the birds were hungry.

I went into Skipton and bought some Eccles Cakes and fish and chips for my lunch.

The birds ate all of the Eccles Cakes and loved the crispy batter on my fish which was full of fat which provided them with lots of energy.

I agree with the birds — there’s nowt like good grub to keep you warm!

Foxes make great street cleaners

In my opinion foxes are not sly but they are clever.

Few animals have adapted so well to life in towns as the fox.

They live in drains and old buildings and find plenty to eat by raiding waste bins full of bites and discarded takeaways.

In structures like this they are street cleaners but they do eat rats and mice so in that sense they do a good job!

In the winter you may never see a fox but most people will probably hear one.

January and February is their breeding season and the vixens can often be heard calling for a mate. The sound is not like a dogs bark but a more sustained high-pitched howl.

I have two opinions of foxes. If I was a farmer I would want to see them controlled in order to protect the valuable animals.

In towns, however, I am inclined to think that they do more good than harm.

My view will annoy those who think that all foxes should be destroyed as well as those who think that no fox should be killed.

I stick to my point, however, and think that a balanced view is the best way forward.