Culture shock for a poor little Norfolk girl, brought up near The Beautiful Broads, and used to tramping about in reedbeds and on the marshes!!!probably got little webbed feet by now, but she had to learn fast how to climb,HUGE mountains, well quite biggish hills,and the little webby feet turned to goaty cloven hooves for about two days!!!!
What a beautiful place ,The Peak District, so much to see and so little time, to be continued
Tuesday 3 April 2012
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Two go to Cantley
Part two of the Glossy Ibis search, and picture the day, dreary dull with a constant drizzle,all of a sudden a little tone on my mobile phone and also the home phone rang, message from a birder friend, the Glossy Ibis four of them have been seen at Cantley down a concrete track in marshy fields behind farm buildings, so off we go park just opposite the sugar beet factory gates and wander along the road and take a left turn down the track, and there a way along the track was a small group of birders and their scopes, we walked slowly and carefully along the track so as not to disturb the birds, and there feeding in pools in the sodden field are 4 Glossy Ibis, really good views, amazing looking birds with long beaks and a reddish rusty sheen to their black feathers.didnt care if it was such a miserable dreary daywe had seen the Glossy Ibis, i wonder if maybe they will end up like the Little Egret and decide they quite like it over here, all the nice wet marsdhy fiekdy type places and more may come lets hope.
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Childhood paths, and hunting the Glossy Ibis!!
So many paths so little time, that was my mantra over the past few weeks, and also hunting the Glossy Ibis unsuccesfully i might add!!
A beautifully warm hazy day on the Halvergate road overlooking Halvergate marshes, not a sign of the Ibis of 5 Ibises i should say!!They are seen briefly usually, then they disappear into ditches, which as Norfolk being so flat is really frustrating as finding high ground to get a good view over the marshes is very difficult, so the only vantage point is the railway bridge on the Halvergate Road.They have also been seen at Burgh Castle, and Reedham , but we will not give up our quest!!!!
One of the old paths i was searching out was a childhood path from Boundary road to Burgh Castle, Gt Yarmouth, nearly 50 years ago now, which as you probably guessed a lot has changed unfortunately, such as factories being built on it, old bridges being demolished, marshes being built on or paths being redirected around a farmers field, old hedges had been dug up, so all in all completely different from the days of walking out over the marshes and jumping over dykes, but it was a lovely sunny day, and we did see three Little Egrets, so that was good.
The Reserve(my back garden and dyke) are doing well, so far we have a male and female Muntjak deer, a male and female pheasant, a dog fox, most of the plants are being eaten by the deer, so thats not so good, I had a Bank Vole last year, havent seen it yet this year, I dont know if they hibernate.
Oh and Smew lots of Smew, musnt forget them, Minsmere and Filby handsome wonderful birds!!!!!
And we have more things to look forward, Spring migration!!!Yey!!
A beautifully warm hazy day on the Halvergate road overlooking Halvergate marshes, not a sign of the Ibis of 5 Ibises i should say!!They are seen briefly usually, then they disappear into ditches, which as Norfolk being so flat is really frustrating as finding high ground to get a good view over the marshes is very difficult, so the only vantage point is the railway bridge on the Halvergate Road.They have also been seen at Burgh Castle, and Reedham , but we will not give up our quest!!!!
One of the old paths i was searching out was a childhood path from Boundary road to Burgh Castle, Gt Yarmouth, nearly 50 years ago now, which as you probably guessed a lot has changed unfortunately, such as factories being built on it, old bridges being demolished, marshes being built on or paths being redirected around a farmers field, old hedges had been dug up, so all in all completely different from the days of walking out over the marshes and jumping over dykes, but it was a lovely sunny day, and we did see three Little Egrets, so that was good.
The Reserve(my back garden and dyke) are doing well, so far we have a male and female Muntjak deer, a male and female pheasant, a dog fox, most of the plants are being eaten by the deer, so thats not so good, I had a Bank Vole last year, havent seen it yet this year, I dont know if they hibernate.
Oh and Smew lots of Smew, musnt forget them, Minsmere and Filby handsome wonderful birds!!!!!
And we have more things to look forward, Spring migration!!!Yey!!
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Snow Day out
Well it had to come didnt it, eventually that flippn white stuff,dont like being cold I need SUN!!!!!
Went for a walk in the snow, yuk, although there were some lovely birds about, so I shouldnt complain, went on a circular path near Martham, lots of fields dykes and hidden little places where the interesting little birds like to go in snowy weather, saw a few Snipe, lots of Sky Larks in a field,a Peregrine flying over scaring off the Sky Larks, we flushed a Woodcock by mistake when trooping along by a small area of scrub.
Tomorrow Wednesday I have put my name down for the new project going on in Gorleston at Beacon Park some woods nearby are being tidied and paths made through, so I shall let you know how that goes, it will be a bit of a change from the Trinity volunteers ,as its not out in the wilds and hopefully not knee deep in mud, my injured foot although feeling better, probably wont take the deep mud just yet.
Went for a walk in the snow, yuk, although there were some lovely birds about, so I shouldnt complain, went on a circular path near Martham, lots of fields dykes and hidden little places where the interesting little birds like to go in snowy weather, saw a few Snipe, lots of Sky Larks in a field,a Peregrine flying over scaring off the Sky Larks, we flushed a Woodcock by mistake when trooping along by a small area of scrub.
Tomorrow Wednesday I have put my name down for the new project going on in Gorleston at Beacon Park some woods nearby are being tidied and paths made through, so I shall let you know how that goes, it will be a bit of a change from the Trinity volunteers ,as its not out in the wilds and hopefully not knee deep in mud, my injured foot although feeling better, probably wont take the deep mud just yet.
Friday 20 January 2012
Back to my beautiful sea!!!
Sunday 15th. January,up early today as it was BTO Bird count,at Ormesby Little Broad and Filby,an air of excitement is all around as Baby is about to be taken out on her first foray into the wonderful world of Bird count, Baby is my little scope, and she now has the use of a tripod!Yey!so no wobbling.Started off well, Ormesby Little had a nice few Ducks about, and lovely Kingfisher, and a distant view of a female Goosander, all very lovely.Filby was a bit more stressful, for me anyway, as i was a bit worried where my zones began and ended, but onward and upward, I did enjoy it and was a bit more confident with the scope than just binoculars.
In the afternoon had lovely treat of going to Alderfen, one of my favourite places, tiny little hide, and loads of birds and no people first thing but as the day became brighter so more people appeared, but got lovely views of Wigeon. I was hoping for an Otter as tyhere had been a sighting written in the little book, but no such luck.
Monday 16th January, felt a bit down,the day seemed to be promising glorious sun, so I packed a little back pack with drink and a chocolate bar, for energy, and decided i needed my sea, the place i go to when i need solace and a fix of happy peaceful places and memories, it was a cool clear sunny day with a gentle breeze, i set off my spirits rising already.I walked from Caister lifeboat to Scratby almost, on the curve near the big rocks i stopped and looked out to sea, and there slap bang infront of me was a lovely seal bobbibg up and down staring at me, holding a huge fish, Gulls were wheeling and crying above it hoping for a scrap once it started gnawing away at the fish. I stood watching for ages, then another smaller seal appeared nearby.Dragging myself away i headed up the beach toward the top path, it was a truly lovely day, all of a sudden to my right i saw a large flock of small birds, with a sudden flash of white as they wheeled around i realised i was looking at snow buntings, and typical for me i had forgotten my binoculars i couldve kicked myself.I stood and watched and listened to their quiet musical little trills, it was magical.I tried to get closer but somebody with a dog was coming along the beach and they moved farther away.I walked back down to the sea i started to do a bit of beachcombing and was very lucky beacause i found a lovely piece of sea glass, which i have recently started collecting.perfect end to perfect day.
In the afternoon had lovely treat of going to Alderfen, one of my favourite places, tiny little hide, and loads of birds and no people first thing but as the day became brighter so more people appeared, but got lovely views of Wigeon. I was hoping for an Otter as tyhere had been a sighting written in the little book, but no such luck.
Monday 16th January, felt a bit down,the day seemed to be promising glorious sun, so I packed a little back pack with drink and a chocolate bar, for energy, and decided i needed my sea, the place i go to when i need solace and a fix of happy peaceful places and memories, it was a cool clear sunny day with a gentle breeze, i set off my spirits rising already.I walked from Caister lifeboat to Scratby almost, on the curve near the big rocks i stopped and looked out to sea, and there slap bang infront of me was a lovely seal bobbibg up and down staring at me, holding a huge fish, Gulls were wheeling and crying above it hoping for a scrap once it started gnawing away at the fish. I stood watching for ages, then another smaller seal appeared nearby.Dragging myself away i headed up the beach toward the top path, it was a truly lovely day, all of a sudden to my right i saw a large flock of small birds, with a sudden flash of white as they wheeled around i realised i was looking at snow buntings, and typical for me i had forgotten my binoculars i couldve kicked myself.I stood and watched and listened to their quiet musical little trills, it was magical.I tried to get closer but somebody with a dog was coming along the beach and they moved farther away.I walked back down to the sea i started to do a bit of beachcombing and was very lucky beacause i found a lovely piece of sea glass, which i have recently started collecting.perfect end to perfect day.
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Nature fix or housework, no contest!!
The last few days after new year was just a whirr of cleaning, but that didnt last for long,fed up with that now, im just not going to be the perfect kitchen goddess,i try, but its just not me, much more 8interesting things to do, like go out on lovely walks, now my foot is getting better.
A little walk around the lanes of Mautby the other evening satisfied my nature fix,with the beautiful golden sun low in the sky just before dusk, shining on reedbeds and a Barn Owl just flew past us like a glowing ghost, intent on its seeking prey, it never even knew we were there.As we walked back to the car, i glanced behind me , the moon was almost full and it was a ghostly haze and huge, behind the black skeletal branches of a big old tree.
Another day another walk, Martham broad, southside, ive never done that walk before, up on the embankment fields one side and reedbed the other, we caught fleeting glimpses of Cettis in the reeds, we heard Cranes in the distance to our left and so stoodlooking accross the reeds, waiting just incase we caught a glimpse, and werentwe lucky, two Cranes side by side glided just over our heads calling out in that distinctive cry.Over to our right, Pink Footed Geese, a dark cloud of them rose into the sky after being disturbed from their foraging, by a microlite aircraft flying over them. We turned back as it was starting to get dark, glancing down we saw a feather, looking at it intently we realised it couldve been a Bitter feather it had a distinctive camouflage effect , but that may have been wishfull thinking, we are taking it to some friends who may know for definite , Something else we noticed the top of the embankment was covered in Deer printsa large and small, it was like a little super highway accross the countryside.
A little walk around the lanes of Mautby the other evening satisfied my nature fix,with the beautiful golden sun low in the sky just before dusk, shining on reedbeds and a Barn Owl just flew past us like a glowing ghost, intent on its seeking prey, it never even knew we were there.As we walked back to the car, i glanced behind me , the moon was almost full and it was a ghostly haze and huge, behind the black skeletal branches of a big old tree.
Another day another walk, Martham broad, southside, ive never done that walk before, up on the embankment fields one side and reedbed the other, we caught fleeting glimpses of Cettis in the reeds, we heard Cranes in the distance to our left and so stoodlooking accross the reeds, waiting just incase we caught a glimpse, and werentwe lucky, two Cranes side by side glided just over our heads calling out in that distinctive cry.Over to our right, Pink Footed Geese, a dark cloud of them rose into the sky after being disturbed from their foraging, by a microlite aircraft flying over them. We turned back as it was starting to get dark, glancing down we saw a feather, looking at it intently we realised it couldve been a Bitter feather it had a distinctive camouflage effect , but that may have been wishfull thinking, we are taking it to some friends who may know for definite , Something else we noticed the top of the embankment was covered in Deer printsa large and small, it was like a little super highway accross the countryside.
Thursday 5 January 2012
Do I like Mondays anymore???
Well, do I or dont I, what shall I do ? you will be wondering what I am rambling on about, well over the past 4 years I have been volunteering doing conservation work started off once a month, but our small group loved it so much we decided to help weekly (Mondays), about 6 weeks ago I hurt my foot really badly, i was in agony, I had to rest it for 6 weeks,it seems to be better now, but even out walking I feel exremely nervous walking over bumpy land( thats how much I hurt it, I actually thought I was going to pass out with the pain). Now I am feeling such a big wuss, it is really ridiculous, before all this I was so happy tramping through the countryside, knee deep in water working at the broads edge, cutting stuff, strimming, brushcutting,using a clearing saw, power tools love em!!!So what do I do, do I hang up my boots, or take the bull by the horns and dive back in??
Well I hope to go back eventually,but by the by, what a scary windy day its been today, the noise last night I couldnt sleep, I hate wind, its horribly damaging, I know compared to some parts of the world its nothing but 70 mph is quite bad .lots of trees have been brought down, some power lines down, roofs damaged.Its going to be calmer for the rest of the week thank goodness!!But now on the news there is flood warnings, due to tidal lock because of the winds on top of high tides, oh well worse things happen.Keep safe everybody!!!
Although i walk quite a lot I need to up my fitness level, dancing seems a good idea, and I quite like the idea of ZUMBA, if youve heard of it, it sounds great, Latin American beats and flinging yourself around to it, have found out about a couple of classes locally,hopefully they are as good as the actual dvd s you can get.
New year new me!!!
Well I hope to go back eventually,but by the by, what a scary windy day its been today, the noise last night I couldnt sleep, I hate wind, its horribly damaging, I know compared to some parts of the world its nothing but 70 mph is quite bad .lots of trees have been brought down, some power lines down, roofs damaged.Its going to be calmer for the rest of the week thank goodness!!But now on the news there is flood warnings, due to tidal lock because of the winds on top of high tides, oh well worse things happen.Keep safe everybody!!!
Although i walk quite a lot I need to up my fitness level, dancing seems a good idea, and I quite like the idea of ZUMBA, if youve heard of it, it sounds great, Latin American beats and flinging yourself around to it, have found out about a couple of classes locally,hopefully they are as good as the actual dvd s you can get.
New year new me!!!
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