Halloween.......for dogs?

Apologies for the 24-hour delay.  I fell asleep on Sunday night!!!

Birding highlights this week?  Well, the Grey Heron standing on the ridge of the house opposite ours was a bit of a surprise.  I know he had a birds-eye view of the fish pond at No 5, but it only took a little tweak of my curtain with my camera and he was off to find another take-away restaurant!!

What WAS spooky was that my son, living 71 miles away had the same thing. He kindly sent me 2 photographs. One of his Heron standing on the apex of the roof opposite, and a second one with what looks like a streak of white paint running down the tiles!! He’d had his lunch I presume.

On the subject of bucket shops despite living for 7 years just 17 miles away in Surrey neither Mary or I had ever visited Windsor Castle. We decided to go pay it a visit and we would combine it with another trip of a meal on board a floating restaurant on the Thames.   

We had dined on a similar trip in July last year from Westminster to Greenwich, but this Windsor to Bray experience was on a smaller boat, in the dark and with a more upmarket meal!! (Well she’s worth it!)

Red Kites

I never cease to appreciate how widely the Red Kite territories are expanding, and on our car journey south the first 2 kites we saw were close to Toddington Service Station on the M1. One near Watford, and one on the M4.

During breakfast on Saturday morning as I was watched the early Heathrow flight arrivals, a single Kite was drifting around just above our accommodation, a Toby Inn. What a wonderful languid style they have, no sense of urgency or direction, just drifting, unlike the great 4 engine jets powering a direct route straight to the Heathrow runway.

I need no persuading to drive on the M40, (the Red Kite route) so in view of the congestion we encountered on the M1 and M25 on the way to Windsor, we returned via the M40 and the A43. Which is how Mary managed to clock 28 Kites between Watford and Oxford. Not our highest count but still impressive.  

Sunday the 28^th did give up one bird for the life list. Near Eton, a flash of a small agile predator added Hobby to my year list, now on 178.

The visit to Windsor castle was worth the journey and the cost. Saturday was the changing of the guard day, and at our visit, the guard was carried out by The Royal Canadian Regiment.  

For the tour, personal audio recorders provide a commentary, and is the ideal way to ensure nothing is missed. Currently, the wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle must be the main attraction, in a glass cabinet and within 2ft from the public.  

We both thoroughly enjoyed what was a 4-hour tour, along with hundreds of Japanese tourists. We overheard them saying that they were doing Windsor in the morning and London (Westminster?) in the afternoon.

A couple of sightings that would not be in the tour brochure!!

A foreign couple sauntering up the path were blissfully unaware of a fast-marching sentry-escort making its way to a sentry box further round the castle walls. They, and everyone else around, only became aware of the presence of the escort party when the VERY loud shout was heard “Make way for the Queen’s Guard”.

It is not uncommon to see people dressed in a strange way, or strange colours, or just strange, enough to make you turn your head and look twice.   This “dog” stopped everyone in their tracks, especially as it was taken only a few days before Halloween. 

Maybe it was a bit unfair on the dog, but it did seem to savour the attention that it was getting from members of the public.

Next Bird walk…. Sunday November 4^th.  BwB Carsington 10.00am

Happy Birding

The new 2019 Carsington BwB leader...Amanda.

Last week really did end on a high note and watching the Grey Phalarope at Old Moor and it’s non-stop ducking it’s head in the water searching for food, reminded me that it was 11 months earlier on 11^th November 2017, that I saw a Grey Phalarope at Cley in Norfolk.  

On both occasions, the bird would busy itself for a period, then dash off to another feeding point. Being so small, if you did not see it when it left, you could spend a long time trying to see which stretch of water it had moved to.  Old Moor, in the wetlands hide, there were enough birders to keep it under observation.

Whereas at Cley, when I arrived at the site late morning, I was told it had not been seen that morning. Spotting the bird within 5 minutes of entering the relevant hide, gave me more than a little personal satisfaction!

In my post after our holiday in Cyprus, I told you about the coincidence of sitting next to Vanessa, a lady who had been on my BwB walk at Carsington some years ago.    IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN!!

On Wednesday, I attended a Patient Group (“Friends of…) for my local GP. My first attendance, I arrived last minute and found myself sitting a little way back next to another late arrival. I just had a feeling I had seen him somewhere before, and when the meeting closed, he said “I’ve been on your bird walk at Carsington, but not for a long time.”     

I think I’ve got to develop a disguise.

I am so pleased (Ed: Yes – that’s OK) to tell you that from January 2019, whilst Keith and Gary will be continuing with the Carsington BwB walks, my conductors’ baton will be transferred to the well-known and popular Amanda Palethorpe. 

Regular birders on my Sunday walk will have met Amanda when they reach the wildlife centre where she is invariably on duty; she has also been a great support to Keith with the BwB checking-in admin when I have been sun bathing in the Royal, or having a bedbath in The Med. (But not necessarily in that order... still a bit confused!!)

As Amanda and me, and also Pat are honorary members of the Carsington 5FT3IN club, I know you will be in safe hands from January 1. In 13 years, we have never varied from the same 12-hour walk (apart from escaping to the classroom) but I don’t know whether Amanda will make any changes - that will be her decision.

Even as I write, an e-mail has just winged its way from Amanda, presently in Scotland, telling me that to-day she has reached her 200 species target for 2018, with Crested Tit. She is chasing Christine, currently on 202, but with a Scottish bird holiday currently in progress I suspect Amanda will be in pole position very soon.

 This picture was taken of Amanda after receiving her 200 club award for a superb year total of 221, which comfortable surpassed her first 200+ in 2016.

Sunday 21^st October  This was my pre-penultimate (Ed: Pardon?)  Bird Watching walk at Markeaton. I will be leading the walks in November and December, but whether a leader can be found to lead from 1^st January 2019 remains to be seen.

8 people turned up for the walk today, a nice sunny and comfortable day, but alas only 19 birds to show for our 90 minutes. A little Egret flew over before the walk started, but our only notables were a Tree Creeper and a Mistle Thrush.  

Dogs running wild near the feeding table inhibited the passerines coming for the food that once again Pamela was generously providing. 

Don’t forget,   Sunday November 4 BwB Carsington Water   10.00am

Happy Birding

Sunshine, Birds and Welsh Scenery

Mary and I had a short break in Llandudno last Monday at the Bay Marine, a seafront hotel that my statistics showed I last visited in 1987.

                           “Slow service at Miss Marmalades, a nice coffee ship in Nantwich!”

The Bay brand is the poor relation of Coast & Country (CC), two of the Shearings brands. Bay is a bit cheaper, but it is basic. Whereas CC has an optional choice at Dinner (for an extra charge) Bay has a straight Table D’hôtel.

One evening I fell out with the Maître D when I was told that there was no more Suet Pudding, only to see it brought out to a couple at an adjacent table who came to dinner AFTER us. I was told that the Chef cooks a quantity, divides it by 3, (say117/3 = 39) and the first 39 at each sitting, has pud as a choice.  Care to tell me how fair that is? 

He said they would have turkey left over as there was a run on suet pud. Mary said, not surprising, the turkey was inedible and over-cooked, and she could not eat all of it anyway.

Going back there?.... rhetorical question.

I must say we did not expect a cheaper hotel to require us to share a room!!  At 7.45am, and again at c5.00pm, an immature Herring Gull would sit on our window sill and look through the glass. Fortunately, not one of the noisy ones. I assume Llandudno has found a way of rendering them mute.

Another guest told us they had the same experience, but their bird knocked on the window.

Really not what I expect…. when you draw the curtains, you don’t stand at the window at 7.45am in the altogether, with a nice cup of Tetley’s and expect 2 beady eyes to be examining you. 

On Tuesday our first full day, we went up Great Orme on the cable car. We had the right weather and a coffee, and the vast panoramic view made the journey well worthwhile. Mary and I have been there in previous years and walked down, but I’m afraid it was cable car each way this time.

Great Orme is a good birding location, but you need to get away from the visitor centre to see what is on the heath and in the gorse and bushes. Spring is undoubtedly the best time.

The good weather continued into Wednesday, for our trip up Snowden on the Snowden Mountain Railway (SMR).

You may recall that we originally planned to visit Llandudno in August, but my pneumonia forced us to change our hotel booking to October, and cancel the SMR trip.

I originally cancelled the SMR trip by a telephone call from my hospital bed and whilst I knew it was not company policy to make refunds, when I explained my situation, the kind lady at the other end said they would refund my money in full, which they promptly did.  It gave me pleasure on Wednesday to tell the booking clerk, to her face, how appreciative we were of her action, and true to my word we had re-booked and come back. A compliment to the company.

These are a few of the photos from which you can see how good the weather and the views were. They don't do justice to the view, which you have to remember from your own experience of the vista. We were surprised at the number of people walking up to the summit and indeed some carrying bikes!!!!

The train journey takes 60 minutes each way climbing c3,500ft. On foot it is about 5 miles (e.w) and takes app 3 hours. The record time, for up and back, is 1hour 3mins!!!!!  

A thoroughly enjoyable day and one off the bucket list.

Moving from good service to disappointing service.    Thursday was “wet-day”, and a round trip of 95 miles included finding the RSPB visitor centre at South Stack “closed for one day for essential maintenance”. I suppose it has to happen, but if the lights had been on and some signs of activity, we might have been… more convinced!! (It does after all include the only available Loos!)

We cruised the lanes around Holyhead hoping to spot a Chough, but had to be happy with a couple of Hooded Crows. (No 175)

Sunday 14^th October was my first birding day for yonks!!  After a group of Carsington BwB birders had a birding day at Frampton Marsh earlier in the year, we agreed to have a similar trip in the Autumn and decided on the Dearne Valley.

Six of us braved the continuous rain for a morning at Old Moor and were rewarded by 49 different species,   The main draw was a very frisky Grey Phalarope with birders competing to see who could find it next! Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were among the good count of 9 waders also including a Spotted Redshank.  

My personal year count moved on to 177, with some of the waders being lifers for some of our group.

We swerved the muddy walk across the field at Wombwell Ings and finished the day with a short spell in the Broomhill Flash hide. … following which it was home for a hot drink and an early bath!

Future Walks:-            
            Sunday Oct 21 BwB   Markeaton Park. 10.30am Craft village/Walled garden  90 mins £4/£2

            Sunday Nov 4 BwB  Carsington Water   10.00am

Happy Birding

PS: More news next week about the future leader for the Carsington BwB. 

           

The Curse of the Ravens

Whilst as a privileged reader of my blog you had a post publication notification of my intended resignation plans, I also had to inform those non-aficionados of my intentions, so (Ed: I thought you had dropped THAT word?) “as a consequence” there have been a few e-mails flying round this week. And the people on my Carsington Bird walk this morning also had to be told.

2 comments added on last week’s blog, some e-mails and some kind words have been very gratefully received and shown that amongst the 1,000+ people who have been on my walk in 13 years, I have converted some people to our wonderful hobby.   You know me as a statistics man, so I can tell you that on the walk this morning, of the 19 people that I was able to check in, we had another landmark the 2,500^th booking for the walk.

Which one was no 2,500?  So sorry! Well I knew from September when the total was 2495, that to-day the fifth person would have that secret unpublished privilege of not knowing they (he or she) was number 2,500.   I know who it is, cos I counted the first 5!!     I’ll give you a hint….it was a lady, and she was new to the walk.

Just while I am on stats, latest count on the 132 posts on my blog in 3 years is 12,275, the top 3 being from countries beginning with U !!

UK – 6,370;  USSR – 2,420;  USA – 1,020      Upper Volta and Uruguay -  Nil points.

Health?   Thank goodness for a bus pass…. 3 hospital medical excursions...        IN > B12 vitamin; Flu Jab.  OUT > Blood    Consultations Cancer; Pneumonia. 

If you read my blog a couple of weeks ago when I did my Wirksworth…….sorry Wordsworth impersonation and wrote it in verse, the poem was printed in the October edition of the Life magazine that gets delivered around much of South Derbyshire. So. AGAIN!!  Consequently, I know what it is like to have poetry printed!

Now then (try this one Ed) Ergo, what has been happening bird wise?   What was a slow week, accelerated so, to become a good week.

I don’t know if you have noticed it, but I seem to be seeing far more jays than I have in the past. Last week-end I saw 3 in a short journey, and this morning I spotted one en route to Carsington and one on the way home. They are butch looking birds, not fast fliers, but the mauve white and blue markings can be quite distinctive. They are very busy right now, collecting acorns and stashing them away for the winter. I mentioned this at the walk this morning and several people commented that they too had seen more than usual.

And drifting completely off the plot, but thinking back to my Dad, he wore a trilby, and tucked in the hat band was a Jay feather. Why? A feather in Fedoras was the fashion in the 40’s (and earlier), and may have come from  “having a feather in his cap”, or a scaled down version of the feather that Robin Hood wore?  (Either ponder or google!!)

By the way (Ed??) I was pleased to see a letter in the Daily Telegraph from a reader commenting on the excessive use of the word So. As you can see above it does so easily slip into conversation, so you are not sure at times why so many so’s are needed. When it is used to stress, like “It has been so hot” that’s OK. that is an acceptable emphasis, but my Portuguese friend (who is shortly to become my French friend) contends that so is interspersed to give a respondee a split second to think about an answer to a question. 

He’s right.  Watch something like the Apprentice and see when Sir Al asks. “how did you decide on how to split the tasks?”, the reply comes. “So I picked…..”.   If you listen carefully to interviews, or unscripted discussions you will find there is hardly any area where a superfluous So does not creep in to the conversation.

Right…………. Off the hobby horse!!

I loved the story in the Daily Telegraph about the swearing Ravens. Did you catch that? Apparently the Ravenmaster in the Tower of London wrote in his new book that he gets embarrassed when the ravens call “B----r off! B----r off!” when he is escorting (schoolchildren).

Sunday 7^th October.  The weather for the BwB walk this morning was crisp but clear, and we had 34 species to show for the morning. Somewhat surprising we had 5 species not seen before this year. Great Spotted Woodpecker on Stones Island, which they don’t visit that often; a Little Egret – voted the Bird of the Day (following a Great White Egret last month); a Pintail near the causeway; Linnet near the Janet Ede Hide, and a nice male Shoveller from the Wildlife Centre. But for me the good number of the flighty Meadow Pipits at the end of Stones Island was a good sight.

So    Right (!!) just future dates..

Sunday October 14  9.45 for 10.00am.  Day trip RSPB Old Moor 10 am > 4pm let me know if you are joining us.  

Sunday October 21  BwB   Markeaton Park.    10.30am Craft village/walled garden  90 minutes £4/£2

Sunday November 4   BwB  Carsington      10.00am., Don't forget to book. 

Happy Birding

The birds of Cyprus? Not in September.

No………………  it’s not been a break down in communications, or computer links, and there is nothing wrong with your receivers.    It’s all down to me, and 14 days in Cyprus during which the only posts were 3 postcards sent back to the UK, which, for the record had still not arrived 5 days after we got home.

I apologise that you have not been bombarded with my words of wisdom for 2 weeks, but this week DOES culminate in some (for me-) significant news!! (see below)*****

12^th September we flew from East Mids airport to Pathos, and therein was the first “happening”.

Quite a surprise was the route taken by the aircraft after leaving Castle Donnington. 7.45am, we left flying west, then banked to Starboard, round Derby, over Hulland Ward…….. and then had an absolutely clear birds eye view of Carsington Water.

Stones Island was very clear, and even the Osprey nests at Lane End. The reservoir was just 73.7% full and the low water level was very evident. Sadly, my camera was in my suitcase, because the view would equal any of the photos I have seen taken from a hot air balloon.

Thanks to a lovely check-in girl at the Tui check-in desk, who changed our pre-allocated seats from 3 rows apart to side by side, towards the end of the flight, I found that I was sitting next to Vanessa. Vanessa, it transpired, lives in the Matlock area, knows Jill H a fellow Carsington volunteer………………. and has been on my Carsington BwB walk 3 times! Yet until we had talked for a while, she did not recognise me. (Ed;  Why should she?) Just proves the statement that you often don’t recognise a person when you see them out of context.  We talked birds for the rest of the flight.

And so to the Cyprus birds. (Stand by for anti-climax!!)   Hooded Crows (many); House Sparrows (many); Woodpigeons (a few); Sardinian Warbler (2); Magpie (1); Hoopoe (Heard but not seen); Swallows (fleeting glimpses – on migration?); Kestrel (1 – calling – seen twice), and a large circling raptor which the bus driver would not slow down for me to look at, let alone stop.     

And that was it. Well at least the Hoody was an addition to my 2018 world list……big deal!

And I did try… well a little bit. On the penultimate day at 8.30am, I did climb up to a scrub area behind the hotel which had been productive in the past, but with temperatures in the early-30’s the scrub was bereft of everything except feral cats, and at 10.00am I was back by the pool clutching an iced drink (or 2).

Our ultra-relaxed two weeks in Amatheus (east of Limassol) was dedicated to liquid (had to keep hydrated), and food, interspersed with one game when the team achieved the maximum score on giant Jenga, 3 times winning the daily quiz (-the 3^rd such win forcing us to sit on our balcony and drink a whole bottle of (-sort of) Champagne before dinner, and generally doing nothing else).

***** It was in those relaxed moments that I finally made the decision that I had been pondering since my pneumonia session, that I would retire as a Carsington Water Volunteer Ranger at the end of 2018.  I have been a volunteer for 21 years, longer than any other volunteer ranger, and only beaten in service by Phil Lemon a PAID full-time ranger for 26 years.  

The fact that January would include a major birthday milestone for me was a contributory factor and had the company rules about retiring at 70 not been lifted 10 years ago, I would have been well down the road by now!! (YOU do the sums!!)

After the joint discussions and deliberations by Mary and I, on the 28th September 2018 I submitted my resignation, giving Severn Trent enough time to plan for a future leader, or leaders, to head the BwB walks from January 2019, a walk which I originated 13 years ago. in January 2006   

If I have not mentioned it earlier, I am doing the same for the Friends of Markeaton Park.

You will appreciate that this is the end of a long, but thoroughly enjoyable era for me, but I will still lead the Carsington and the Markeaton walks until the end of 2018, and the Carsington away-day at Old Moor on the 14^th will still go ahead

There you are…… I’ve come out!!