Was it something I said...

I was expecting two callers this morning. As readers of my previous post will know, I've been waiting for the "aerial" man! He was due - again - this morning, between 9 and 10. OK so the phone rang..... "most unusually xxx is ill - and we're very sorry but we will need to re-arrange"!! So he's now due on Wednesday at 9.00

I was expecting a friend this morning but unfortunately he wasn't feeling too well so the visit was postponed. However, he felt a bit better later so we met at LWC at Barnes for a cuppa and a natter.

On the way in, a very young moorhen was having a scratch.


After a cuppa and a chat with some fellow birders with cameras, we wandered along to the Dulverton hide. The Spotted Crake had been seen again that morning but not for a while. We didn't stay but on the way out two hobbies entertained with their aerial flights.

We then noticed some attention being paid to a group of autumnal-colour bushes. Very cleverly camouflaged were two Chiff Chaffs. They were very difficult to see with the naked eye, let alone focusing with the camera, but I managed a couple of shots.



After that, it was time to go, but as we sat and had a final cuppa, this Jackdaw came to keep us company. But as we didn't have any food to offer it, it looked at us haughtily before flying off.





A pleasant time, and I hope you feel better soon H :D

A funny old week; but it got much better

The week that has just ended was not the most productive in most respects. Started off by not feeling well which reached it's critical point by mid-week when I started to feel back to normal.

I've been waiting for a company to come and extend my TV aerial. They were booked for last Tuesday - but I learnt from a phone call that their engineer had had an accident in the van and they were having difficulty with the insurance on the replacement. Subsequently next visit booked for this coming Monday.

I went to Wisley on Friday and towards the end of a chat with Frank, I had a phone call stating that they'd had a cancellation and could come in an hour. So home I went without having even entered the gardens. Engineer arrived - but discovered that, as a result of the injury sustained to his arm in the accident, he couldn't manage with the ladders he had and hadn't got the relevant one with him. So attempt no. 2 aborted!! He's still coming tomorrow morning - at this point in time that is.

So I had a wander around Painshill Park.




More evidence of the changing seasons..







On Saturday I met some friends in the New Forest. It only took me just over an hour and half to get there and although the day was very warm, it was very very hazy.

Around the New Forest



Hazy sun at Keyhaven







Back into the Village where we all had an excellent lunch in the pub's garden sitting next to the stream.

And today I just stayed local and had a wander around (a still very very busy) Bushy Park.

This tree beside the pond has some wonderful fungi growing in it - don't know what it is but it's vibrant colour makes it sound out!





And some other highlights of the walk
(pity about the stick being in the way)!



still practising......

A Centenary, a Bat House and a Spotted Crake

Yesterday I started to feel a bit better (calm before the storm) and as I'd heard there was a Spotted Crake showing well on Sunday at the London Wetland Centre I decided to head on over.

On arrival, I was reminded that 14 September 2009, was the centenary of Sir Peter Scott's birth, a man, without whom, these nature reserves would probably not exist and a man who contributed so much to wildlife and birds in particular. I felt it was fitting that a picture of his statue (on the way into the reserve) should picture in my post today.



In the visitor centre I was advised that the new Bat House was being opened today and also there would be a birthday cake served at 4.00 p.m. if I was still there, I was free to have a piece of cake and a cuppa (As it happened, I'd left before that).

Traffic was quiet for a Monday and I got there about 10.30. The S.Crake had been seen from the Dulverton Hide again but by the time I got into the hide it had gone behind the island.

There was a very friendly group of birders there who advised it had been seen about 10 minutes prior to my arrival. We all sat and chatted and an hour went by. Of the eight or so birders mostly had scopes but a couple of us had binoculars only. Well, eventually I started to get hungry so headed off to the cafe for a sandwich and a drink - both of which I took back to the hide. Still no show and by now I was getting a bit chilly; consequently I headed off for a wander around the reserve.

To coincide with Sir Peter Scott's centenary, The Bat House had been duly opened and this was the view across the Lagoon. It's incredibly white and I'm not sure that I like it. There are a large number of bats around the Wetland Centre and the Bat House is intended to attract two of the species (8 of the UK's 17 native species have been observed at the Wetlland Centre); The Daubenton's bat which likes being near water - had it's own entrance low down on the structure on the lagoon side, and the other being the Pipistrelle Bat - this normally roosts in tree or buildings and therefore the outside of the structure should provide roosting sites.



Further around, the wonder colour of Autumn on this bush and..

its equally colourful fruit.

Out on the lagoon, the two young Great Crested Grebe youngster could be seen with a parent in tow.


Back again now in the Dulverton hide. The sun started to show itself albeit very shyly; it did just about catch the colour of this Lapwing.


We watched entranced as a Hobby spent sometime successfully hunting over the water. We were equally entertained by two Kestrels one of which, a bit earlier on, had landed on the roof of the Peacock Tower. Little did those in the Tower know that a BOP was not that far above them! Great stuff.

And finally, the Spotted Crake showed itself - for a good twenty minutes or so it came into full view and disappeared through the reeds only to reappear a few feet away. I wouldn't have seen the detail (just having binoculars) but one of the birders very kindly let me watch through his scope as he stood there sketching it! It was far to far to get a picture but I was just so thrilled to have seen it (together with a Common Snipe) and I added another lifer to my list!

Finally it was time to go home and en route I espied this rather guilty looking squirrel who had found a hazel nut and looked very determined..


"OK - she's not going to enjoy the hazelnut, I'm putting it away in my larder for the winter. And anyway, I'm hiding in the grass, so she can't possibly see me"


Rather pleasing day.

And today - well I've definitely got a cold, sore wind pipe and little energy! I don't like being below par!! And it's raining!! As a result of being lazy and watching the garden birds I did see a male Sparrowhawk land on one of the branches of the Eucalyptus tree - and it was duly chased off by a Jay which landed next to him! Was the Jay brave or foolhardy I wonder!

This and that

Well I don't know what's up but I suspect I've got a bug of some sort and not the wildlife kind. Sore throat, loss of voice (although that's now returned: oh dear I hear someone comment) and generally no energy whatsoever so everything's an effort. Hopefully this will go soon, as there's plenty that needs doing!!

I had a wander around Painshill last week and there wasn't much wildlife about but it was a beautiful day so I used the landscape lens for a change.

Beautiful pink berries!


and various views from around the lake







The Vineyard is beginning to show the fruits of its labours. Occasional gunfire (recorded) can be heard. This is Painshill's bird scarer. Last year they lost their crop to Ring-necked Parakeets and the weather. This year they're not taking any chances. However, to supplement their wine stock in the shop, they're selling Denbies wine - which I thought was a great idea!


Towards the exit is the wonderful tree - it's enormous



But it's a magical tree that keeps its eye on us


And the Beast of the Tree is always standing guard.


Today I couldn't stay in all day despite lack of energy so went for a walk around Bushy Park. Not much about but the new conkers are now providing food for the Squirrels


The rutting season will be starting very soon but at the moment the Red Deer Stags are still in their all male groups. This rather fine specimen was resting - no doubt conserving his energies for what's ahead!


Black-headed gulls were obvious in their increasing numbers..


as were the Canada Geese - a sure sign that Autumn's approaching.


And today, some enthusiasts were sporting their boats in the Boating Pond.
(This one's worth enlarging to see the driver - the owner of this one is someone with a sense of humour methinks )





And so home and today - it was cold!!