Difficult day for me today! I started at the crack of dawn with the monthly bird survey out by the River Severn. I had to wade through long grasses and that triggered my hay fever. Watering eyes and persistent sneezing! A reasonable survey but not that enjoyable! Hopefully I will have a better day tomorrow-aiming to avoid walking through long grass!!!
More wildlife photos from Leighton Moss. Enjoy! I was watching Swifts one day- the first picture though not great I was pleased to get it-they move so fast! The last picture is the head of the Eider Duck on her nest.
What super weather and we are thoroughly enjoying it up here by Morecambe Bay. I went to the hides looking towards the sea this morning. Did manage to see an Eider Duck sitting on her nest and plenty of Avocets. (Phone pictures below)
Clare and I pedalled to Arnside for a late Sunday lunch. So we have done a few miles and plenty of climbing in the last two days. Clare is pleased with her efforts!
Back to sunny Gloucestershire tomorrow and supposedly cricket on Tuesday if it isn’t too hot!!
Clare and I cycled to Sizergh today from our campsite in Silverdale. Those of you who know me know that I am very partial to cheese scones! As Sizergh is a National Trust place I like their scones even use the recipe as a basis for my scones. I think I would only give it 7 out of 10. We had a lovely cycle with a lot of climbing. Found some little lanes to pedal along. A picture of a Mallard and her two ducklings below.
I have taken some decent photos on my camera at Leighton Moss and will share next week. Pictures below are from my phone. Tawny Owl was very obliging!
It is an avian theme today! We are currently in one of our favourite places – near the wonderful Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve. It is the first place we ever camped in our camper van Cedric. We arrived early afternoon and have already enjoyed numerous Swifts whizzing everywhere, Marsh Harriers, Sedge Warblers and much more. The highlight was a Bittern flying past us!
Had a lovely time yesterday with young people from Holbeach Primary School birdwatching at Wick Court- we saw Ringed Plovers on the River.
Hopefully there might be some pictures tomorrow!
Had a delightful weekend with our two grandsons Owen and Robin. However we are now tired out! We carried on our indoctrination with a visit to WWT Slimbridge. They were pleased to see the Woodpecker in the garden- Owen saw two so possibly a young bird as well. Pictures from the weekend below.
On the bird front we may have two pairs of nesting Cranes in the village!
Finally I am seeing many hits on this blog from all over the world-would be good to hear from some of my international readers!
A few pictures from the garden today. We have followed RSPB advice on feeders so we are not putting out seed or nuts for the birds but we do have a suet slab that the Great Spotted Woodpecker loves – so do the Jackdaws! I do love the Starlings if the sun catches their feathers so you can see the assorted specks of colour.
You might ask what has happened to my blog? Well it has been all go here! I am just about to play my third game of cricket in 6 days. A test of the state of my body! I also went down to Bristol on Friday to watch the county play= I might go again this Friday to take advantage of my membership.
Also just back from Exeter seeing our lovely granddaughter Ellen. We have her two cousins staying with us this coming weekend. Likely to be tired on Sunday afternoon!
After a busy week storytelling we went away in our wonderful campervan “Cedric” to have a couple of days in one of favourite places near Wareham. We try and time it to when the Dartford Warblers are showing at Arne (a RSPB reserve). I was lucky to get one of my best views ever (sadly unable to get it on camera). Another highlight was seeing an Osprey dive and catch a fish- magical!
A few pictures below. Little Egret, Stonechat, Linnet, Guillemots and some curious Deer.
