A domestic day with plenty of jobs! Including a tip run and taking down the outside Christmas lights. The highlight of the day was seeing two Wrens at the same time. We often see a single Wren in the garden so this was a rarity. Couldn’t get a picture of both together but three pictures from today below.
Thanks to Lou Reed for today’s title. Today is our wedding anniversary – we have been married many years! We decided to try and beat the weather by cycling to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. We were hoping to see a Glossy Ibis that has been near the canal at Slimbidge.
Yes we saw it! It reminded us of the time about 12 or 15 years ago when 17 of these birds turned up near the river and the village had many bird watchers from all over the country turn up.
Clare had expected me to make sure she saw some wild Common Cranes. No Worries!!!! Miraculously I managed to book two of them to appear.
We were delighted to see two fly overhead (sadly couldn’t get my camera ready in time). Tonight we rounded off with a lovely Indian meal. What a great day!
Last night we went to Splatt Bridge hoping to see a Barn Owl – it forgot to turn up! watched a Starling Murmuration eventually there were about 1,000 birds. Hoping that builds up over the next few days. Watch this space!
A good old Fairport song for today’s title, only because i am listening to it as I write!
I am now seriously getting down to work on finding and developing stories for our Two Severn Bores performances in the Spring (fingers crossed we will be able to!) I am in that faffing around stage as I play with ideas before I start to slog at it. It is important I come up with the themes for the stories so Dan can work on his songs (he is also on tour with Lady Nade in January/February so he will need some time).
In the spirit of helping out I have offered my village school my services if hit by staff absence- more as a Story Teller than a supply teacher!
Still wondering when my football team will next play a game- I think they will be rusty whenever they start again!
I mentioned yesterday I saw a Great White Egret here in Frampton. We have had three types of Egret in the area over the last week. Little, Cattle and Great White.
Little Egrets are now common throughout the country although I remember 30 odd years ago there were a rare sight. Cattle Egrets are gradually appearing over the last five to ten years and Great Whites are now breeding in the South West.
A couple of pictures I took yesterday. The Great White is on the ground and the Little Egret is in flight.
Happy New Year Folks! A quiet last night here in Frampton.
A bird watch this morning with a friend. A Great White Egret was the highlight. (might add a picture tomorrow if the one I took is any good). Plenty of Fieldfares and Starlings in groups. Also saw about thousand Golden Plovers in the distance over Slimbridge.
Another year ebbs away. We have had a lovely family year especially once we were able to meet up enjoying frequent visits to see our grandchildren. Obviously the news from the wider world has been depressing especially the persistent mismanagement of the pandemic.
As a Story Teller the later half of the year was gradually getting back to normal with some school visits and some lovely varied adult gigs but the future still looks uncertain.
In an effort to get my fitness back to where I was in mid December I finished the year with my first decent cycle ride for a week.
The fine looking model above is sporting his Christmas presents from his eldest son. A wonderful crotchet helmet (it is like what a medieval knight wore with a movable visor-you can’t really make out the crest on the top from this photo- perhaps I will take another one in the future and put it into the blog ) and a Napoleonic top both will be used for future Story Telling Gigs!
It has been a delightful few days enjoying being with our family especially the two grandchildren. I have done much crawling across the floor and carrying children everywhere. One of many special moments with Owen (my one year old grandson) was sharing a lovely board book of six birds that played their calls). He did recognise the Cuckoo later when I was reading Goodnight Owl later to him and we often watched the Woodpigeons in the garden.
Finally got a real soaking this morning doing our monthly bird survey out by the River Severn. The birds evidently didn’t enjoy the weather although one highlight was a Woodcock flying over-it was the first one we have seen in nearly 10 years of doing surveys.
Apologies that the blog has been missing over this holiday period. Have had family staying so I have been a hands on grandparent and the body is feeling it! My one year old grandson Owen leaves us tomorrow. It has been delightful having both grandchildren over the holiday. Ellen is now three months old.
Back to regular blogging from tomorrow onwards! Don’t expect any comments about cricket!!!
Season Greetings to all my readers!!!!!