An early start and we were out by the Severn for the monthly bird survey. It was wet and the visibility was poor. Water ran down through my wellies so feet got wet! Had to wade through quite a bit of standing water. Not the greatest conditions for bird watching. However we were treated later to great flocks of lapwings and the evocative sound of the curlew (saw 40 +). Had good views of a male reed bunting picture below of one not mine (I couldn’t get my camera out because of the rain!)
A delightful day at Wick Court taking young people from Ashmole Primary School South London bird watching. One eagle-eyed young person was chuffed to spot a goldcrest– we only see them occasionally at the farm. We also had a chiffchaff nearby.
I am story telling at Wick Court tomorrow with the young people from Ashmole and on Friday morning I telling stories with young people from Bredon School Tewkesbury.
I have the monthly bird survey out by the River Severn early tomorrow morning to look forward to.
England start their tour of India with the First Test on Thursday. Just in case injuries take hold there are some ready made reserves who will be flying out in February to play cricket in Mumbai. This group will be attending the Third Test Match as well! Ok we might be a bit long in the tooth but we have experience on our side!!!!!!! The two pictures below is my baggy cap (the tour date is on the side!) I have to report that the writer of this blog will be the oldest player going (sic)!
Seriously looking forward to it and we will be playing at Bombay Gymkhana ( where many Indian Test cricketers have played and under lights!!!! I have never played a game under lights before! Watch out for bright shirts among the supporters at the Third Test!
A short blog today. Weekend has been busy. We have Sunday and Monday in Exeter mainly looking after our delightful granddaughter Ellen. She is a bundle of fun and good for the soul! More tomorrow!
I am being totally indulgent and adding some more pictures I took this morning of waxwings. Well there are only see in the South West every few years or so. Clare and I went again to Rodborough this morning to see them (not on the bike today). I think the light was better! than yesterday. It was a quintessentially British scene – people patiently and politely in groups waiting for the birds to come into view, Other people are walking their dogs wondering what everyone is looking at.
Off later to the Gloucestershire Seniors Cricket Dinner.
I found them! I had to cycle to Stroud and up to Rodborough Common. It was bitterly cold so I didn’t stay for too long! There are beautiful birds. Still hoping they might turn up in Frampton. There were about 35 altogether. I think it is only the fourth time I’ve seen them in this country- also saw them in Finland.
Had a lovely Story Telling with the young people from Tuffley at Wick Court.
Following an admin sort of day yesterday it was at Wick Court today. Yesterday was getting things like tax returns sorted and attending a cricket meeting down at the County Ground in Bristol. Managed to get home to listen to the Mighty Hatters on the Wembley Trail just scrape home!
Had a bitterly cold day birding at Wick Court with young people from Tuffley (I am Story Telling with them tomorrow). We managed to see plenty of birds on the feeders – they were delighted when a buzzard glided by the hide!
On a cold day I pedalled down to WWT Slimbridge to meet an old school friend Peter. We had a super day moving between hides. Great flocks of golden plover, lapwings, swans and various species of geese were often filling the sky. One highlight was watching a merlin chasing a skylark. A few pictures below!
Curlew
male tufted duck
common crane
bewick swan
two common cranes!
wigeon
Clare and I braved the cold and cycled into Gloucester today to the bookshop. We both had book tokens to spend. We brought back a haul of treasures – a pile of books! So we have plenty to read!
I am off birding in the morning with an old school friend. We are going to Slimbridge so we will see swans and geese!
We have just had a great couple of days. Starting with Friday morning spent playing with our two young grandsons (they are 3 and nearly 11 months!) After leaving Bishop’s Cleeve we travelled North to Burnley. After dropping off stuff at hotel we went to the same cracking pub we visited last year. Plenty of good ales and Burnley fans and many Hatters mixed well.
Really pleased to see our the Mighty Hatters are progressing in all confidence in the Premier League. After an excellent first half it was disappointing to be trailing by one goal. The one thing about the Mighty Hatters they keep going and an injury time equaliser was well deserved! The picture below is the team taking the applause from the travelling supporters.
