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.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
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!!!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Happy New Year, Roll on Spring!!
Just to wish everybody a very Happy New Year, hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas,and now I am looking forward to Spring, my Snowdrops have started to grow, there is gardening stuff in the shops, my Dogwood has a wonderful golden and red glow to it, Im glad it hasnt been too cold, but no doubt that is on its way, the s word, snow. although it does look very beautiful I could do without it.if I could I would hibernate like a little hedgehog, curled up somewhere warm, like bed.and wait for Spring.
Today was a lovely day, golden sunshine low in the sky, shining onto my lovely grasses, they seem to shine in this light.My little Muntjac deer visits most mornings, unfortunately it has taken a liking to the bark on my Japanese Maple tree, so I have taken steps, lemonade bottles tied around the base, also it likes my small Rowan tree, I did like the Muntjac, somebody told me they like bread, and to feed them that and they wont attack my trees, any ideas would be appreciated.
Talking about bad food for animals, I saw a woman feeding dry rice to pigeons in the cemetary the other day, poor things will probably pop when the rice swells.Dont forget to feed the birdies this winter they need you but bird food preferred not dry bread or rice as they willk dehydrate and there is also no nutrition in it.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Today was a lovely day, golden sunshine low in the sky, shining onto my lovely grasses, they seem to shine in this light.My little Muntjac deer visits most mornings, unfortunately it has taken a liking to the bark on my Japanese Maple tree, so I have taken steps, lemonade bottles tied around the base, also it likes my small Rowan tree, I did like the Muntjac, somebody told me they like bread, and to feed them that and they wont attack my trees, any ideas would be appreciated.
Talking about bad food for animals, I saw a woman feeding dry rice to pigeons in the cemetary the other day, poor things will probably pop when the rice swells.Dont forget to feed the birdies this winter they need you but bird food preferred not dry bread or rice as they willk dehydrate and there is also no nutrition in it.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Yellow Browed Warblers,Goldcrest,and munching Muntjack.
Well im back,been unable to do much walking for a few weeks due to a foot injury whilst on one of my Broads Authority tasks, wrung it over on a tree stump.very painfull for quite some time.
Ive been wracking my brains to try and remember some things that have happened over the past few weeks.
Back at the end of summer took the girls to Wheat Fen, we were prepared sort of ,for it being a bit damp, we hadnt read the informative leaflet very well, it is an area which is prone to flooding as it is an area which takes any extra tidal water from Norwich.Damp??? it was partly knee deep in water, but what fun we had, two of us gave up and went back to the car but myself and my other daughter carried on regardless, wading through the flood, we saw lots of lovely little toads, we could just about see where the path was, so we didnt end up walking into a ditch, but it was still a good day out, if you do decide to go there check you have your wellies.
I expect you are wondering what has happened to the great dyke challenge, maybe not, but it is all coming along nicely, I have planted up lots of wild plants and flowers, we had a good plant appear from nowhere, if i can remeber, it was a Nodding Burr Marigold, which is a good native species.I have planted the top area of the dyke with grass,I had lots of lovely dragonflies and butterflies in the summer, and a couple of weeks ago a Muntjack deer appeared in my garden munching on something.well i stood looking at it and it stood looking at me, both very surprised to see each other.
Have had lots of lovely birdies down at *the reserve*( i now call it,) Chiff chaff Goldcrest, Yellow Browed Warbler. a beautiful Song Thrush, Black Cap.so the dyke is coming along nicely.
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Ive been wracking my brains to try and remember some things that have happened over the past few weeks.
Back at the end of summer took the girls to Wheat Fen, we were prepared sort of ,for it being a bit damp, we hadnt read the informative leaflet very well, it is an area which is prone to flooding as it is an area which takes any extra tidal water from Norwich.Damp??? it was partly knee deep in water, but what fun we had, two of us gave up and went back to the car but myself and my other daughter carried on regardless, wading through the flood, we saw lots of lovely little toads, we could just about see where the path was, so we didnt end up walking into a ditch, but it was still a good day out, if you do decide to go there check you have your wellies.
I expect you are wondering what has happened to the great dyke challenge, maybe not, but it is all coming along nicely, I have planted up lots of wild plants and flowers, we had a good plant appear from nowhere, if i can remeber, it was a Nodding Burr Marigold, which is a good native species.I have planted the top area of the dyke with grass,I had lots of lovely dragonflies and butterflies in the summer, and a couple of weeks ago a Muntjack deer appeared in my garden munching on something.well i stood looking at it and it stood looking at me, both very surprised to see each other.
Have had lots of lovely birdies down at *the reserve*( i now call it,) Chiff chaff Goldcrest, Yellow Browed Warbler. a beautiful Song Thrush, Black Cap.so the dyke is coming along nicely.
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Thursday, 7 July 2011
Wheat Fen and the Banded Demoiselle
It was a sweltering hot day (for a change!) unbearably hot long drive to Wheat Fen, over the river from Strumpshaw fen , the home of our famous naturalist Ted Ellis.awkward place to get to from this side of Norfolk but well worth it once you get there, it is similar to Strumpshaw Fen but on a much smaller scale, but just as beautiful, if not more so, not so many people there either, which was good.There are lots of well marked paths through many habitats, and many places for photo opportunities.
We wandered along the lovely little paths stopping to enjoy the scenes one being a Swan with so many youngsters on its back they didnt all fit, one of them had its little bottom and legs paddling in the water behind mum whilst its head was stuffed between its mums wing and tail at the back, many other lovely sights included red eyed damselflies settling on an abundance of lilly pads, and also the wonderful Banded Demoiselle , which i had never seen before the most amazing colours , and a very distinctive flight, the day was very hot, but there were many shaded places to sit and enjoy the views and take a picnic.Definitely well worth another visit.
We wandered along the lovely little paths stopping to enjoy the scenes one being a Swan with so many youngsters on its back they didnt all fit, one of them had its little bottom and legs paddling in the water behind mum whilst its head was stuffed between its mums wing and tail at the back, many other lovely sights included red eyed damselflies settling on an abundance of lilly pads, and also the wonderful Banded Demoiselle , which i had never seen before the most amazing colours , and a very distinctive flight, the day was very hot, but there were many shaded places to sit and enjoy the views and take a picnic.Definitely well worth another visit.
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