Wildlife at Foxton Locks

I went to Foxton Locks in South Leicestershire yesterday. I didn't plan it to be a wildlife spot but the cold but bright weather brought out all the wildlife. I didn't see anything new but I did get some cracking moments with some of the more familiar species.

So here is Foxton from an unfamiliar angle. The Grand Union Canal marches south here over the high ground towards the south of the county. In doing so it is lifted by ten locks. Its pretty enough to walk around the locks and watch the boat people twirling windlass' and pushing balance beams but we soon left the busy lock area behind and entered into the wonderful Leicestershire country side round about.

Being used to the north of the county, the excellent view offered from the top of inclined plane was wasted on me because I really didn't recognise anything that I was looking at. Maybe it will be more familiar when I pass through here on the Leicester Round. One thing that I did recognise was the wooded high ground of Billesdon Coplow on the northern horizon.

I spotted this nest of blackbird chicks in a hedge.

Two Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) butterflies were courting in the hedgerow. The male on the left was furiously beating his wings whilst the female (on the right) stood by and observed the spectacle.

Here is one of the Gatekeepers again but with his wings closed.

The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is always a joy to behold. This one was in a meadow just off the canal itself.

Circling overhead was this Buzzard (Buteo buteo) that no doubt has a nest somewhere in the woodland at Gumley. Here is a route map.