Ransoms and more ..

on our canal side walk this morning.
Walking from the Fisherman's Bridge near the Downey Gap locks to Saltaire this morning we had a series of nice surprises.
The first was the sight of Greylag goslings. Almost the same colour as the path down to the water on the far side of the canal so not brilliant for photographs. On the way back the same or another group we’re on the near canal side with 9 goslings, my picture in the extra shows 5.
I’d expected to see some bluebells, which we did, but the wild garlic (ransoms) were extensive between the canal and the River Aire below and in full flower as in the blip, sloping down towards the river.
We walked on to Saltaire along some of the newly upgraded path to find the last part was still being worked on and we had to divert to the path below into Roberts Park - we thought it had been completed and reopened in March.

Stopped at the Half Moon Cafe and sat outside for a coffee. A cold wind today but the canal and park were sufficiently sheltered from it. Returned along the River Aire which is below the Leeds - Liverpool canal at this point. There were lots of rowers from the Bradford Rowing Club above the ruined weir and we spotted both a large grey heron in a tree and a Dipper on the rocks there. ( The weir was washed away in the flood of December 2015)

Again a sheltered area there were more garlic flowers and bluebells on display. There were a few Wood Anemones left but they were mainly gone over. 
A lovely level walk with lots to see, we even bumped into friends M and R taking their visiting relatives for a walk around the area.

Washing out and dried this morning and early evening drinks with friends shortly. A good day.