Tricia's Tales

Trees...and a lightening strike of an old and great..

2012-01-28T19:52:00.000Z

Today I was on the way to Sheffield Park Gardens (in the sunshine) when I heard on the local radio that one of their trees has been struck by a lightening bolt in the brief winter storm last Thursday night. It was 26 metres high being the 2nd tallest in the garden and 125 years old - even older than me :D

Whilst the sun shone gloriously all the way to the gardens it went into hiding the minute I got there!!

I must have somehow changed my camera setting to black and white.. hence the first picture. However, I thought the building looked quite good in B & W... your views?

It really was quite incredible to see this. The Head Gardner suggested that it had "exploded" when the lightning bolt struck. The shaft of the trunk (on the right of the picture) had impaled itself into the ground!! It was a good two metres long!

Elsewhere in the garden, fortunately, all was calm

The gardens have many many trees and their structure is wonderful!

Having had lunch (Leek and Potato Soup and, I must confess, a chocolate brownie...naughty but very very nice) I headed off. The light was really dull now but en route to home I made a detour to Ditchling Beacon.. the sun was coming out very occasionally.

There's one road across the top and when you go down the road on the other side it's very narrow - a speed of 20 mph is advisable!!

The views at the top are staggering.... and I will have to go back when visibility and light are both much better!!

So not a bad day out and quite rewarding.. lovely to get some fresh air and stretch my legs again!!

London... around Hyde Park and onwards..

2012-01-22T21:35:00.002Z

Well, we were off to the first concert of 2012 and a great one it was too.

We left in the dark and arrived as the sun was coming up. The wind was ferocious and bitterly cold but it was lovely to have very few people around in the park and just the wildlife and views to entertain us!

And, during the course of wandering around the park, we espied a lady clad in nothing but a swim suit and swimming cap coming out of the Serpentine in the freezing cold having been in for a swim!! We were advised by a notice, that swimming was only permitted if you were a member of the swimming club and then you were restricted in swimming between 6.30 and 9.00 a.m. Well...I have a self-imposed restriction on swimming in these temperatures from 12 midnight to 12 midnight!!!!

Just as we were leaving the Park.... pity they were going away from us!

Selfridges... a quite attractive building

From the old to the modern...

One of Selfridges many interesting shop windows..

Through the small gardens on the way to Wigmore Hall

So an interesting and rewarding walk in the park and an excellent concert with the Nash Ensemble.. we shall be seeing them, amongst others, over the next few weeks.... great!

Where have all the birds gone?

2012-01-21T18:32:00.000Z

I visited, what I hope is to be, my new home very shortly before I headed off today and the guy who's selling it to me was extremely helpful and friendly and is hoping, like me, we can get this all finalised in the next 2 weeks......woo hoo

So from there I headed north on the M23 and M25. I was going to go straight to Rye Meads but as I drove the clouds parted and the sun shone. OK then - change of plan - I headed off for Hatfield Forest. Needless to say by the time I got there, the sun has gone shy on me and the rain clouds gathered.

It was lunchtime by the time I arrived so a wee snack-et of a Bacon Buttie was consumed to give me the energy to stay upright in the mud.

Very few birds about - think they had their talons glued to the branches to stay still in the very strong wind! Out on the lake, only two Great Crested Grebes this time; both now in their full breeding plumage but the nest had gone.

A very brief appearance of the sun before I headed off for Rye Meads - so hardly any pictures today!

The water levels at Rye Meads had been raised so virtually nothing from the Draper Hide. However the Tern Hide gave up a Grey Wagtail and that was the excitement for the visit.

Ah well.... tomorrow there is some musical entertainment to look forward to....

Constable Country in the winter sunshine!

2012-01-14T19:16:00.002Z

We had a choice... go to Norfolk for some birding or stay more local and visit somewhere.

Well, it was a thick thick frost; the duvet was warm and I had to face scraping the car... which took forever ;)

We headed off in daylight for Flatford Mill. En-route Pete suggested a detour for some birding at Fingringhoe Wick.

Loads of birds about out on the mudflats exposed by the tide being out. All too far out for pictures but one of the two Mute Swans obliged us at the beginning of the walk.

Avocets, Curlews, Shovelers, Geese and many any more!

Just a flavour for where we were:

And from there we went onto Flatford Mill.... somewhere again I'd never visited before. We had some rather tasty soup and roll with a cuppa before setting off into the wonderful sunshine for a walk.

This is the view where Constable painted "The Haywain"

Before heading off we had a drink and some rather splendid Coffee & Walnut Cake and Victoria Sponge. Well done to whoever the cake maker at Flatford Mill is but they are to be congratulated... :D

The day was still glorious but now the sun was starting to go down so we headed off - we went through Dedham Vale which is a pretty village in Essex. There's a great deal of beautiful countryside in the county of Essex.

St. Marys Church

At the end of all the pews were carvings in a variety of pictures... these three rather took my eye!

and that was the end of the day's outing. It was a glorious day with really warm sunshine, and a sparkling blue sky - and it's still January - wonderful.

Sun, Sky and Reflections and the occasional bird...

2012-01-13T22:07:00.001Z

Today I headed off on the M25 again and, again, the roads were clear as was the sky - clear blue and loads of sunshine.

I bought a sandwich etc at Tesco's and went to Amwell Nature Reserve. Loads of birds about but all too distant for the camera today... except this Canada Goose making waves in the water.

and this Mallard who was happy to doze in the sun..

Having visited a couple of hides I decided to walk along the Lee Navigation Canal (which is a canalised river). Being a totally windless day the water acted as mirror and afforded some rather nice picture opportunities.... as follows:

and to end the afternoon a quick visit to Rye Meads. The light on the water in the later afternoon was lovely; pity these two Mute Swans chose to preen behind a clump of grass!

and tomorrow.. the sun promises to shine again - so out somewhere - as yet we haven't decided where....but...

Widewater Lagoon with a Kestrel, Snow Buntings and Little Egrets

2012-01-11T17:58:00.000Z

Yesterday the sun was out so I decided to go for a longer planned walk along by the Wildwater Lagoon. It was a much calmer day and mostly there were fewer birds around.

Several Cormorants on the middle island and loads of gulls. Several Little Egrets again but no sign of any Little Grebes today - I expect they've moved on.

In addition to the two Snow Buntings that are still about, there's a reported Black Redstart Whilst it had been seen earlier that morning by another birder it still remained elusive to me.

When I got out of the car a Kestrel was hovering high overhead. I grabbed the camera just as a gull appeared and a mid-air fight took place. In the end the gull gave up and the kestrel eventually came back - alighting, very briefly on a post not that far away.

The sign reads "It is an offence not to clean up after
your dog"
I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions about
treatment for birds ;)

I sat and watched the Snow Buntings for a while. Being a Monday I mostly had the beach to myself and only 2 dog walkers this time!

On my way back I came down from the bank and path that divides the sea from the lagoon and walked along the edge of the lagoon. There were 2 Little Egrets together at one point.

and I managed some pictures of the lagoon itself.

These two are taken from the eastern end looking west. The lagoon is split by a walkway into two parts; the first picture representing the first part.

and this taken looking westwards to the 2nd part.

and finally looking eastwards back towards the car park and where I started my walk.

A very pleasant walk in the sunshine... and is it really January??

I expect I shall be returning over the coming months but I would guess that the winter/spring will produce more birds than summer. Equally, the car park is free in winter but, not illogically, as it is a holiday resort, charges apply in the summer months!

Snow Buntings... but further south today

2012-01-08T17:47:00.000Z

I was on my way back from a birdie day with Pete (see yesterday's blog) and decided I'd have a slight detour before I got home so I stopped off at the Widewater Lagoon again.

When I first arrived I a Little Egret flew in at the same time. By the end of my walk I'd seen four of them on the Lagoon. Also saw 8 Little Grebes - reports from other birders were that in excess of 20 had been seen earlier! Lots of cormorants and dozens of gulls and one lonely Redshank.

I walked along the beach and was advised that the two Snow Buntings that have been around for a few days were further up feeding on the shingle. I headed off and was lucky to see them. I'd been kneeling down trying to get some decent shots in the appalling light and they were coming nearer to me all the time - until, that is, a woman with 3 energetic dogs came along the beach and the dogs bounded up to me and scared off the Buntings.

I later learned she's been asked by one of the local Bird Club members to be kind enough to avoid that particular spot - but she refused stating she had every right to walk her dogs on the beach!!

And at the furthest point the Snow Buntings..

A Cormorant gazed out to sea

On my way back I saw several Turnstone on the rocks on the beach, waiting for the tide to go out; and with them was a Sanderling (?) (if anyone could confirm or otherwise my ID I would be grateful)

Sanderling ?

and then home... blew the cobwebs away and was rewarding birdwise..

Snow Buntings, a garden and a church - in the winter sunshine.

2012-01-07T18:41:00.000Z

I somehow got the "new" blogger interface which I DO NOT LIKE! I changed back to the original and now it won't behave and puts my pictures where it wants to.... what I want is disregarded!!

Pete and I set off in the dark; but today I didn't have to scrape the ice of the car! It was incredibly mild! As we drove, the sun rose and the sky became blue.

We started at Salthouse - in the hope of Snow Buntings. Getting out of the car the wind almost blew us away.. it was very difficulty trying to hold the camera still so many pics were deleted!

Turnstones and Snow Buntings

From being blown everywhere (and it was a tadge cold.. especially for those of us who forgot our gloves... eh Pete? ) we decided to head inland and went to Blickling Gardens. My first visit and it won't be my last!

We then went to St Andrews Church at Little Snoring..

The Bell tower is completely separate
from the Church itself

An excellent day out !

A bonus picture from Blickling - rather liked the natural "frame"
for this one!

A spring-like birding day in January!

2012-01-06T20:17:00.005Z

The winds eased today - the QE2 Bridge was open again; the M25 ran easily; the sun shone; the sky was blue...... :D

I arrived at Hatfield Forest where geese were flying.. ..

plus a male Mallard and 'lagging along behind' a Greylag Goose

Most amazingly there were 4 Great Crested Grebes; two of which were an obvious pair and had built a nest - and yes - it's January 6th!!! There was a great deal of calling between the two and some head "shaking".. at one point I thought there was going to be a 'weed dance' but it never really got started.

A Grey Heron peered into the depths hoping for a meal no doubt.

I wonder who or what lives here?

From there a visit to Rye Meads - a Green Sandpiper being the only bird of note today

It was getting late in the afternoon and the low angle of the sun gave some great and soft light on these two Teal

Eventually the Sandpiper came a little closer as the light got better

Lovely soft light

and the beginnings of sunset...

with a very visible moon - not a full moon yet... that will be on 9 January.

A lovely day out - and lunch was a pork burger with cheese and bacon with a coffee eaten whilst sitting on a bench overlooking the lake at Hatfield Forest ... most enjoyable :D

Red Breasted Merganser - what a surprise!

2012-01-04T17:18:00.002Z

I'd been to Woods Mill Nature Reserve in Sussex today - lots of mud and not much else about today. I had time to kill before picking my grandson up from school so decided to have a look at Widewater Lagoon on the way back. I've always thought of this being Shoreham but technically it's Lancing.

I'd been to the Lagoon last year when down on a visit - a Little Egret was the bird of note on that occasion.

I drove into the car park! What are they? Woo hoo 3 male and 3 female Red breasted Mergansers. The sea was very rough so they may have sought shelter in the lagoon. Just a car park separates sea and lagoon.

I managed some pics but the ISO was up as high as a dared... the light was dreadful and in the end rain stopped play.

I understood from another birder that there were 2 Snow Buntings further up on the beach. Pity I hadn't got time (or the weather!) to go and find them.

So some, (definitely record shot) pics!

After a while all six were diving for food... think this one may have caught something - but the jury's out!

Exploring Pagham Harbour...and I shall be returning!

2012-01-02T21:17:00.000Z

Today I decided to explore the areas around Pagham and Pagham Harbour - an area I don't know at all. There was sun and blue sky and it was so warm... about 12 degrees - unbelievable

I arrived and parked at the Visitor's Centre which is closed on a Monday. I was undecided which way to go so whilst I was getting my bearings I took a few pics of the local birds :D

Goldfinch in the sun.

A passing Grey Heron

This is the only hide I know, that is at the edge of the road and looking across it to the water beyond.

and the tide was out...

Huge flocks of birds and in this instance I'm pretty sure they were Brent Geese.

and dozens of Lapwings.

Not being sure how long it would take me to walk to Church Norton, an having been walking for some time now, I went back and went by road..

There were many very large flocks of all different types of birds - one of Sanderlings which was wonderful to see. It was, to me, the Sussex equivalent of Norfolk!

Several Redshank about.

Before I left I had a wander around the church. It's a very small church undergoing some much needed repairs. Hence the scaffolding and the closed door with a notice advising that entry to the church wasn't possible whilst the building works were being carried out.

The Church (St. Wilfreds Chapel) is being repaired and therefore entry was not possible

And to explore further I drove up and around the top of the estuary into Pagham itself. By this time I was hungry and there had been no eating facilities where I'd been. I found a local mini-market and had a couple of Danish pastries to keep me going.

The car park for the lagoon area was shut due to flooding damage, so I parked up and had a quick walk down to the beach.

You would be forgiven for thinking this was somewhere in the Med in July. But, in fact, it was Pagham Beach on 2 January!

So now I know where to go back to. The Visitor Centre will be open more after the holiday break so I might just go on one of the guided walks to know where the best birding bits are.

Either way, I know I'm going to be returning many times now!

Happy New Year for 2012

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000Z

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year

with the hope that it brings you all that you wish for.

Last day's birding of 2011 - a great one it was!

2011-12-31T18:53:00.000Z

Well - the last day's birding of 2011 and it wasn't bad!!

I started off at Pulborough Wildbrooks where I bumped into a groups of people that I know from the London Wetland centre.

As I arrived in the car park I heard, then saw, a male Great Spotted Woodie drumming. He was shortly joined by a female who hotly pursued him. The flew off over the horizon but it was great to see.

We all stood and watched for sometime hoping for a sighting of the Firecrests..we dipped!Loads of waterfowl and numerous Wigeon etc. etc. The light was awful so not any pics from there today.Saw a Treecreeper which was lovely and also stood and watched a Weasel who was having a mouse for brunch! My do they move fast!!

Went into the cafe for a bite to each at lunchtime but, with sandwiches costing in excess of £4.00 and jacket potatoes the same, I chose a very nice piece of Coffee and Walnut cake.. naughty but very nice!

On the way home I decided to try for the reported Short Eared Owls which were nearby. The directions I was given were excellent and I found the spot near the river without problems.

I climbed the style into very boggy terrain (oh for my wellies which were in the car. A way over in the fields was a guy with camera on tripod. As I neared I could see a SEO perched on a branch. In conversation with my new found companion I gathered said SEO had been perched there for at least 3/4 of an hour. I managed some very poor pics in dreadful light and the best of these (record shot only!!) is present here.A great way to end a birding 2011 and if 2012 is as good or better then I shall be a happy bunny.

Just a record shot, but my very first picture of a Short Eared Owl...

Happy New Year to you all and hopefully it will be a "wild" one for you all.

Sheffield Park... and the sun shone for a bit!

2011-12-28T18:10:00.000Z

I'd planned to go birding today but wasn't sure the weather was going to be up to much. So after a quick trip into town I headed of for NT Sheffield Park and Gardens.

I've been many times before in the Spring and Autumn but never in the winter. Today, as I drove there, the sun came out and, for a while, the wind dropped - it was lovely. Unfortunately it didn't last for long and after a very nice lunch of Roasted Vegetable Soup and a piece of Carrot Cake, the heavens opened and that, as they say, was that.

I took a few pictures ;)

The House is not part of Sheffield Park Gardens and is not open to the public. I've often wondered about its ownership and today I discovered this information about it.

Around the gardens there were Christmas decorations... this was the first one!

Previous versions of this view on my blog have
been in full Autumn Colour

Standing on the bridge looking down; the top of
this picture is the bottom of the waterfall

I found this sheep family when I took a detour to the top of the woods; they were at the edge of the cricket pitch!

A quick walk to Cisbury Ring

2011-12-26T16:49:00.000Z

I needed to get some exercise after eating a rather splendid meal of Roast Beef and all the trimmings yesterday (thanks brother David) and managed a very quick walk to Cissbury Ring. Cissbury Ring is an iron-age Hill Fort and been there since about 300 bc. (so a little older than the author of this blog!)

I parked at the base (didn't have time to walk from Mum's) and then took the steep, and very muddy, climb to the top.

After about a couple of minutes, I'd started the climb and the beginnings of a view...

Getting nearer to the top, the "shape" of the hill fort becomes more apparent - this is looking along part of the curve.

At the last stage, just a few more steps - almost vertical now! phew!!

and now over the surrounding "wall" you can look back down from whence you came

(see car park bottom left of the picture - my starting point!)

But the 360 degree views from the top make the climb, not only enjoyable, but very worth while!

And now at the very top!

Very many sheep everywhere it seemed..

Looking through one of the gaps in the surround of the fort

and even more sheep!

and more steps..

and back to Mum's to start the lunch.... great to have a walk to blow away the cobwebs
(rather bird-light however; perhaps there will be more about when we get some much needed sunshine!!)

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000Z

Wishing all of my friends and fellow bloggers

A Very Happy Christmas

andevery good wish for a peaceful New Year

Birding - twas the day before Christmas

2011-12-24T18:06:00.002Z

Firstly - Blogger, in its wisdom!!, has changed the presentation of blogging. I don't like it!! So I'm afraid this is very hit and miss!!

I went back to old haunts today... The London Wetland Centre and Bushy Park.

I'd left in brilliant sunshine but by the time I reached my first port of call, the sun had gone and clouds had thickened.

But nice to see four Pintails. Two of the four males seen here

Feral Pigeons were being affectionate

A couple of Little Grebes

Onto Bushy Park where it was more about birds in flight!

And finally, some seasonal mistletoe!!

Rock Pipit ?

2011-12-22T21:19:00.000Z

Had a very quick 10 minute walk down to the beach this afteroon; was getting late and the light was going but was delighted to notice this wee birdie sitting on a rock.Consensus opinion is that it's a Rock Pipit....

NT Nymans Gardens... in the rain

2011-12-19T20:42:00.000Z

I met a friend at NT Nymans Gardens today.. It was dull and grey when we arrived so we had some Winter Vegetable soup before heading out for a walk around the gardens. The soup was nice but no pieces of veg... just liquid!!

By the time we'd finished the rain had started - gently. We grabbed waterproofs and brollys and headed off.

They often have events and this current one was rather different and interesting:

Advent Calendar of Flowers
Bold and daring new pieces of art will emerge in the garden every day during Advent, culminating in the final piece on Christmas Eve.

After about 10 mins the rain was chucking it down but, despite this, there was a great amount of colour in the Advent Calendar. I shall go back after it's complete and, hopefully, on a sunny day. Today is the 19th so a few more to come.

Taking pictures whilst holding an umbrella is not the easiest of things to do and the lighting conditions were, at least, challenging!!

Swans-down at WWT Welney

2011-12-17T17:14:00.001Z

We headed off for Anglesey Abbey,( thinking we'd have a picturesque stroll around the gardens) - and so did the rain. Change of plan and we went to WWT Welney for some swans. At this time of the year Whooper and Berwick swans start arriving. There was plenty of coming and going.Other species included: Pintail, Snipe, many Pochard, a Kestrel (on a fence post), Gadwall, Tufties, Coots (of course!!), Lapwing, Brent Geese.

The light was dreadful but the sun did eventually come out which was great. BUT it was bitterly cold and the first real "winter's" day.

Good to have some fresh air and stretch the legs though :D and then back for a welcome cuppa!

Shivering at RSPB Rye Meads

2011-12-16T19:10:00.000Z

I believe I can say that today was the first day I was FROZEN as I wandered around Rye Meads.. or rather walked briskly to keep warm.Nothing about very much in the way of birds; managed a quick shot of this Little Grebe. Needless to say the light was appalling and we'd had a "sprinkling" of snow in some areas

There are about 4 Konik horses at Rye Meads; I don't know if it was the sudden drop in temperature but they were in feisty mood and having a nip at each other.

WWT Arundel...the second half of a visit

2011-12-13T17:51:00.000Z

I'd had a busy morning and had had to rearrange meeting a friend as house purchasing arrangements kept me well occupied.

Eventually I became free and decided to pop over to WWT Arundel again given it was around lunchtime by now!

The weather was glorious initially with blue sky and sunshine. Pity it didn't last. Managed to get a quick glimpse of one of the Bullfinches that had been around most of the morning and also enjoyed a very quiet boat ride around the reeds. The young lady taking me and one other around was very enthusiastic and informative - thank you.

As I drove along the road these two were sitting quite comfortably in the road itself. I stopped for a quick picture and then gently encouraged them back into the nearby boating lake and park. Phew!

and then onto WWT Arundel..

These captive cygnets were bathing ..

By now the light was going but the weak sun shone on a distant church..

and time to leave as the black clouds gathered releasing torrential rain..

and a rainbow.

Just a quick trip around one of my new "locals"

WWT Arundel.. a very quick visit

2011-12-10T18:15:00.000Z

Most of my time these days seems to be spent looking for suitable houses/bungalows/flats/maisonettes etc. for my next home. Today I've offered on a house and am now awaiting a visit by my surveyor. Watch this space!!

Between visits today, I managed a very quick visit to WWT Arundel. Not much about (I was advised) and I didn't have time to walk around much of the reserve.

This Blue Tit greeted me on the way in.

A bad picture, but a record of a Red Admiral in December when there was ice on most of the ponds!

A Coal Tit dropped in for a bite to eat

And the sun still has some warmth and great to have sunshine and blue skies!!

As I got nearer to home I stopped to admire the view..

and turned round to watch a Kestrel hovering high above on the other side...

Last month in 2011 - last concert and wander around the Park

2011-12-04T21:10:00.002Z

Before dawn broke, we were off to London - a visit to St. James' Park before a concert at Wigmore Hall - the last concert for this year :(

No doubt you'll be familiar with these subjects if you visit here often; but today I was using the Panasonic GF1 with (initially) the 45mm lens - a first time outing for that lens for me. And the remainder with the 14mm lens. Not a dSLR in sight today - and the light was - dull, dull grey and dull!!

The monument and statues that are outside Buckingham Palace.

Blossom???? in December???

Black-headed Gull

As usual there were dozens of Grey Squirrels around. Mostly they were friendly but wouldn't sit still or pose very much...

the one that got away........

And some of the Horse Guards riding along by Buck House ;)

This sculpture is entitled.. "The Hand of God"

A War Memorial dedicated to all the animals that played their part during the World Wars.

(hopefully you can read the inscription)

and, finally, on the was to Wigmore Hall we passed Selfridges... a shop that's been famous for it's window dressings for many years now... and their Christmas offerings are no exception to the usual high standard!

(pity the pics had to be taken through glass)

And the concert...? Excellent - four talented young Ladies - the Finzi Quartet entertaining us with Haydn's String Quartet in Bb Op 50 No. 1 and Brahms - String Quartet C minor Op 51 No. 1

A most enjoyable day.

So that's it for a few weeks - until the next one that is :D

London Wetland Centre... and a seaside sunset

2011-11-30T19:19:00.001Z

The weather threatened rain on the south coast today so, in a moment of rashness, I decided to head inland to old haunts.

I started off in Barnes... nothing very near to photograph..

My first siskin of the season... female

and for old times' sake :D

A crow sat aloft...

but not for long..

"Be afraid, be very afraid" ...!!

Green Woodie just wouldn't play ball for the camera..

and a Grey Heron decided it didn't want to be photographed either!

Cormorants preened..

The view as you enter the reserve..

and I always like this view as you cross over the first bridge..

The plan was to go into Kingston-upon-Thames to visit a particular shop... I headed up the ramp of the car park... several cars queueing so I turned round and gave that up!!

Where to now? I was getting hungry and wanted to visit Bushy Park.... I got nearly there and - STOPPED!! There had been an accident early morning on the M3 and this had caused a traffic back up for miles around... I couldn't get across the roundabout to Bushy so..... I headed back down south... still hungry.

Stopped at Warnham nature reserve for a quick bite and then headed back towards home. I took a detour around the Shoreham area looking at it as a potential area to buy a house... not that good for me.

But on the way back and travelling westwards I was heading into the setting sun. Managed to park the car before I lost all the light and took some pics of a still very turbulent sea around Worthing Pier.

Some impromptu birding...

2011-11-27T21:30:00.001Z

Having had a good time over the last couple of days, I came back down south to home and had a detour via Warnham Nature Reserve. It's quite a small reserve with a very large pond and three hides.

From the first one, several geese were observed - Greylags and Canada and the usual Mallards, Coots etc.

Having left the first hide I walked through the wildflower meadow where six of these Hebridean sheep have a home. Their job description being to keep the brambles down to allow the regrowth of the wildflowers. I stood watching them and this is about as exciting as it got :D

Had a good day up in Norfolk and came back down home again this morning. On the way back a made a detour to Warnham Nature Reserve

Further around is a long hide where you can watch the birds on several well stocked feeders. Five female pheasants and 1 male were hoovering up underneath the feeders; a nuthatch visited regularly as did Chaffinches, Robins, Blue and Great Tits, a Goldfinch and....

......a Great Spotted Woodpecker

The sun was still shining and it was far too nice to end the day so I headed off to Pulborough Wildbrooks.

Just by the visitor centre, this is the view at the beginning of your walk around the reserve

Lots of ducks and geese; a Firecrest had been seen but despite standing and watching it didn't appear whilst I was there. I saw my first Redwing of the Autumn and amazingly, a Song Thrush was singing in full voice - wonderful!

And it was a great surprise to see a Red Admiral flutter past in the warm sun .... this time last year we had snow!!

Out in the fields and meadows many geese were kept company by large herds of Fallow Deer. They are getting quite numerous these days.

Cattle are being grazed.

A squirrel "If I can't see her, then she can't see me"!!

Norfolk Coastline.. a walk..

2011-11-26T18:02:00.011Z

Today, Pete and I with Pete's colleague Trev, headed off at the crack of dawn for Norfolk. Pete had researched a new walking route and our first task on arrival was to have a very welcome breakfast in Burnham Deepdale. We'd visited this cafe before with friends... and today - well the Full English called ;)

We started out along the coastal path; the side was far out which meant - so were the birds.

Oystercatchers, Curlews, Grey Plovers, Brent Geese, Greylags, Canadian Geese, Redshank, Dunlin, Godwit, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Little Egret, Turnstone and Red Breasted Merganser (very pleased to see about 4 of them) seen today.

Whoever suggested English beaches were crowded??

The lads ;)

and the church at Brancaster

We had soup for lunch here..

and for those who remember these... an old AA (breakdown service) booth; many years ago if you broke down you hoped it was near one of these. You had been provided with a key by the AA (Automobile Association) which enabled you to unlock the door and ring for help - bit different these days.

A really good day with plenty of very welcome exercise in good company - and the breakfast I can thoroughly recommend :)

A foggy day.. in London town...

2011-11-20T21:26:00.001Z

We left in the dark to catch the train (tube) to London... I've never seen one so empty :D We also left in thick fog!!

As we arrived the fog started to lift.. but still misty in some places. The sun, when it arrived, was warm... still difficult to believe it's November; the only clue being I could see my breath in the early morning colder air.

Autumn colour is just about hanging on as there hasn't been much wind to cause the leave to fall from the trees.

Some of the pictures were difficult to take in the low sun.

Queen Victoria.. and yes - she doesn't look very amused does she :D

In St. James' park...

This cottage was originally used by the birdkeeper of the park

A slight detour out of the park to Horseguards Parade

Back in the park..

And then on to the Concert. Today a cellist and pianist playing Beethoven and Franck. They were good but somehow I couldn't get into the music today... The players didn't appear to be so emotionally involved in their playing as I've seen with previous musicians.. perhaps I'm just not a fan of the cello.... but we've got the next concert ere too long :D

Birds and bees - in November warmth!

2011-11-19T20:15:00.001Z

Another Saturday on a traffic free M23 and M25... this can't last!!

The sun shone brilliantly and with considerable warmth for a November day - in fact it was more like a spring day than late Autumn.

I went shopping for a camera bag - with a resounding nil success!

But out in Hatfield Forest the Cormorants, in particular, were entertaining and active.

The Black-headed Gulls were screeching as is their wont..

A couple of Great Crested Grebes were diving for fish

and again, the Cormorants wanted to be centre stage....

A Canada Goose swam lazily

and a lone Greylag goose in amongst all the Canadas...

and sheep may safely graze

(unfortunately behind a wire mesh fence -( hence the rather cropped look to the picture)

and finally - a bee on Ragwort

(originally posted as a "big on Ragwort and now amended thanks to Keith and OC )

Another London Day... :D

2011-11-13T20:53:00.000Z

Today we had another concert in London. BUT...

It was a simply glorious day... wall-to-wall blue sky and warm sunshine.. is it really 13 November??

We left early (tube engineering works and main line trains all akimbo) and drove to Loughton and tubed it into London from there. Wonderful autumn colours enroute.

Having arrived nice and early we walked to Buckingham Palace having started from Marble Arch. Today was the annual Remembrance Sunday attended by all the Royals, Military and dignitaries et al.

Some familiar pics to start with but they looked so much better in the sunshine..

The troops were assembling ready to parade..

Poppy wreaths..

One of the gun carriages going to its starting point.

Walking back to Wigmore Hall we passed this monument to the Canadian Forces who came over here during WW2 - my father (who was killed in action in Italy) was one of them... suddenly it hit me all over again

We walked on through the warm sunshine and through the wonderful autumn colours

This building had a very "green" corner; what a wonderful idea.... perhaps others in our capital town could follow suit?

and finally, outside one of the hotels, poppy-red cyclamen shone out joyfully.

The concert performed by the Parker Quartet was enjoyable and we preferred the Debussy String Quartet n G minor to the Haydn String Quartet in C... a lovely performance but didn't quite live up to the concert of the previous week with the Heath Quartet who were much more involved in playing the music and carried the audience along... that was really good stuff!

Here's to the next one :D

Autumn at Audley House and Gardens

2011-11-12T20:32:00.000Z

It's an Essex weekend again; I headed off for Audley End Gardens and House. Not a place I've visited before, but followers of Pete's blog may recognise quite a bit of the gardens.

The weather has been dire recently with such grey skies that they de-colour nearly everything - today being no exception.

I've recently bought a new camera (Canon 7D) and this was the first time I was able to get out to take any pictures; so it was a good time to judge how well, or otherwise it would perform in poor light.

Despite the greyness of the day, the Autumn colour was wonderful.

These finale two pictures (and the one above) have been cropped and slightly edited - all were taken at Rye Meads; it was very bird-light today and as my visit was now late afternoon, almost twilight!!

Great to get out for a day and tomorrow.... we have more musical entertainment :D

Remembering those who gave so much 11.11.2011

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001Z

Again it is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and, on this occasion, the 2011th year.

Remembering all those who have given their lives so others may benefit - words are never enough. I, for one, will always be grateful and humbled by their sacrifice. Thank you Dad.

Just a wee Robin today..

2011-11-06T16:54:00.000Z

I woke at ridiculous-o'clock this morning and then couldn't get my act together for the rest of the day. I was going to Pulborough Wildbrooks but the sky was very dark grey. I then considered Sheffield Park for some Autumn Colour. But, for the latter, you really need little wind and some very blue sky dressed in sunshine. Erm, erm... all in very short supply today, so that wasn't an option.

The hides (at Pulborough) have quite a distance between them and I didn't want the (non-waterproof) camera to get wet.

Instead I went to WWT Arundel. Very light of birds as seems the case everywhere at the moment.

I sat by the feeders for a bit but they're under trees and in very deep shade so not really conducive to taking pictures.

The feeders in the main, were full.. I couldn't see into this one but judging by the robin's activities, I think it may have been empty.

and that's it for today; I took a massive number of pictures.... 4 of them and 3 discarded!! This is as good as it got today...

And it must be getting colder - my hands wished my brain had remembered to put gloves in the jacket pocket! From now on......

Dull, grey and birdless...where went the sun?

2011-11-05T17:28:00.000Z

It was going to be a wet day but it was reasonably bright when daylight dawned and still dry; I headed north for London Wetland Centre.... it got mistier and mistier and darker and darker!!

By the time I got there it wasn't too bad but the light never seemed brighter than dusk all day.

So a very very few pictures.

A Male Sparrowhawk sat for a long time in the bushes - oh for some decent light.

But the trip was worthwhile because of the company - thanks Rosie, Rick, Gary and Oscar :D

Autumn at Hatfield, Rye Meads and London...

2011-10-30T20:11:00.001Z

Saturday found me cruising up the M25 on it's birthday... yes.. the famed (or infamous) M25 was 25 years old on 29 October 2011... now itsn't that exciting!!

Good journey which ended at Hatfield Forest. I was hoping for birds - which were very scarce - but did have a wonderful walk in the sunshine and some beautiful Autumn colour (and a rather tasty Roast Beef and Horseradish Bap for lunch too...)

From their onto RSPB Rye Meads.. although lots of Teal, Gadwall, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and various other waterfowl, generally it was light of birds.

These horses were out grazing... I think they're Konicks.. (?)

So, after gaining a extra hour's sleep (the UK put the clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night) Pete and I set off for London. We were going for a concert but took advantage of an early start. The sun was shining as we set off for the tube... it wasn't to last!

A sojourn in Hyde Park which was busy with tourists.. ourselves included.

This horse's head is HUGE!!

And I really liked this... I've no idea what it's for (if anything) but somehow it reminded me of Jelly Babies.. it's very jolly and brightened up a dullish day.

And all around were the wonderful golds, browns and yellows of Autumn

Watching the birds on the Serpentine

and a rather wistful looking Black-headed Gull contemplating life.

and lots of statutory..

This final "attraction" left us confused.. I've no idea what it's representing. It looks as though it hasn't been fully built yet so perhaps all will become clear once it had.

and so onto Wigmore Hall..

We'd had some concerns about the first piece of music but those were entirely unfounded.. the "live" version was beautifully played and I didn, in the end, enjoy the music. The quartet playing today was the Pavel Haas Quartet and the piece I've just mentioned...was the Haas, String Quartet No. 1.

This was followed by some Beethoven... the energy expended to play these pieces was amazing and quite emotional in places. It was a shame that, on this occasion, the audience seemed rather noisy at times (a piece of a conversation was heard during the performance!!!) and, rather irritatingly a lady not far from me seemed to enjoy beating out some of the "rhythm" with her hands. Hey ho!

But nonetheless a very enjoyable weekend...

A new local patch..

2011-10-23T21:17:00.000+01:00

Having forsaken Surrey for West Sussex, my local (birding) patches have had to change. RSPB Pulborough Brooks looks like being one of them.

I went over this morning arriving quite early; very few cars in the car park and for the first 45 minutes I didn't see a soul.

Generally very quiet until this flock of Greylags took off.

Later on and further around, something in excess of 200 Canada Geese arrived on the reserve. There's something very magical about hundreds of birds filling sky with their incredibly loud flight calls!!

This is one of two Bulls.... he was bellowing quite a lot after he'd had this drink and I was rather glad of the fence between us!

Back to the visitor centre where Goldfinches were nibbling on teasels..

A good spot for small birds and several House Sparrows there.

Off home for a quick sandwhich before an afternoon walk on the beach as the tide was going out. The gulls I see now are more likely to be on the beach, as this one is, rather than around a pond.

A pleasant outing...

Back up to London Wetland Centre and Bushy Park

2011-10-22T18:58:00.000+01:00

Had a wander along the beach the other day and saw a Wheatear... pity it was so far away.

Today I went back to Barnes... have to travel further to get there now I'm down in Sussex. Few birds around but the Autumn colours as I arrived were lovely.

A robin proclaimed a beautiful day with its wonderful song!

and a Green Woodpecker remained elusive in the distance

I headed off for Bushy in the hope of seeing something of the rut.... all was quiet though.

This Mum and youngster seemed quite agitated... it might have been they were looking for the rest of the herd.

The weather - was glorious and the sun was so warm..... lovely :D

Homeward bound and National Trust Stourhead revisted....

2011-10-19T18:22:00.000+01:00

On the basis "all good things must come to an end"... not only the very welcome break down in Devon but, it seemed at the time, the good weather too. We left in rain and drove through varying amounts of it on our way to Stourhead. Finally, the clouds parted and the sun shone.

I've visited Stourhead many times and now in early Autumn. Mostly I've been in the spring and early summer.

It was very still initially.... and this provided some "reflective" moments.. the autumn colouring was just appearing..

A very welcome and enjoyable few days; accommodation and meals were very good as was the company;) thanks Pete.

Down into Cornwall... Cotehele

2011-10-16T20:59:00.001+01:00

The weather guru's (aka BBC weather people) promised a good day weather-wise for Saturday and it was!! Started off a bit shakily but gradually the sun lost its shyness and dullness gave way to blue blue skies and warm sunshine.... lovely!

We set off to cross the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall (in 1961 it was the longest suspension bridge in the UK).. En route we passed signs to Devonport and the Naval Base. This evoked some memories as, what seems like decades ago (and was!), I was in the Womens' Royal Naval Reserve (WRNR) and every year we had a period of compulsory training... mine always being at the naval base, HMS Drake in Devonport.

We were off to visit Cotehele near Saltash.

We started off having a wander around the old quay..

before setting off to tour the gardens...

and house...

and back out into the sunshine again... these are the Terraces..

which look out over this wonderful valley that, seemingly, goes on forever. We didn't take the valley path as time was getting on... but it looked very tempting.

Another really lovely day....(with no cake!! but we had a "Cornish" cheese tea of cheese scones and cheese.... ) I'm not getting on the scales for a few weeks....