After a day at work where the only view of the outside I had in twelve hours were snatches of the Showground fields being wheeled over by gulls painted scorching white by the sun, I was glad to return home to dark clear skies.
A chance to get the binoculars out again, and hunt down Comet Lovejoy.
I headed out into the garden, knowing that the comet was now skulking in a very undistinguished part of the sky in the badlands between Cetus and Taurus but thinking it might take a bit of finding. But before I even put my 10x50s to my wind blasted eyes, I felt I could see a very very dim blur with averted vision.
And I must have been right, because the comet was in the field of view as soon as I looked.
The comet looks markedly different with the moon out of the way. Easier to see, obviously, but also more condensed. It is a definite grey-green tear drop shape now, and there might just have been a very faint hint of tail.
As I became more dark adapted, it became clear that the comet was visible to the naked eye with averted vision, although it felt like I was straining my eyes so hard they began to stream. I'd put the magnitude at about 4.5 perhaps a little better, and far easier to see than the open cluster Messier 34 in Perseus not too far away, by means of comparison with another fuzzy object. It looked smaller than Andromeda, but more condensed at its core.
It is past nearest point to Earth now, that was a few days ago when the moon was still a nuisance, but it may still get a little brighter as it reaches perihelion in a week or two.
Saturday, 10 January 2015
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Pochard and the Fleet of Seagulls
Only 7.5km today, but a busy one much interrupted by photo calls and curious peerings. It was also later than I've been running lately, with a very different light.
It was essentially a jaunt round the two lakes, with the hope of getting to snap the two goosander drakes that were around yesterday. Sadly they weren't there, they had taken their bottle green heads elsewhere. But instead, 3 drake and 2 duck pochard had arrived, beautiful red heads apparent even at a distance.
The other main visitor today were the gulls. One minute they were floating on the lake like a raft, then, as the sunset, they look off in a long river or white, heading south for their roosts.
I wonder where they sleep, winter white heads tucked in under their grey wings...
It was essentially a jaunt round the two lakes, with the hope of getting to snap the two goosander drakes that were around yesterday. Sadly they weren't there, they had taken their bottle green heads elsewhere. But instead, 3 drake and 2 duck pochard had arrived, beautiful red heads apparent even at a distance.
The other main visitor today were the gulls. One minute they were floating on the lake like a raft, then, as the sunset, they look off in a long river or white, heading south for their roosts.
I wonder where they sleep, winter white heads tucked in under their grey wings...
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| Sunset sportsground |
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| Gull raft |
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| Swan |
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| Gulls begin to head for bed |
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| Pochard |
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| Additional tenants |
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| Scared by photgrapher |
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| River of gulls |
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| Like a lung against the sky |
posted from Bloggeroid
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Mudsquelching Goosander Hunt
Again I wanted to explore unknown territory today. So rather than head down the Owl Road, it was across the field alongside Hawton Lane, and thence to a path leading down the middle of it parallel to the track.
Rubbish explorer me. The track was a dead end, leading only to the Flowserve fishing pond where I noted that selfishly, access to the cycle path had been blocked off. Heaven forbid any nature lovers intrude on their precious fishing pond.
As always seems to be the case, the lake was sterile, devoid of waterfowl and the cover on the banks ruthlessly chopped back. No goosander, like there were on Balderton Lake for the first time this season.
Such glossy, handsome ducks, goosander!
Backtrack. Back on the cycle path, and through a gateway I've never traversed before. Was this the route to some new, utterly delightful haven of beauty and tranquillity?
No. It led to a cattery.
Cut across the field at the back of Grange Road, past flytipped sofas and through deep, squelching, clagging clinging mud that trebled the weight of my running shoes and made me look like I'd been carrying out veterinary examinations of farm animals with my legs.
No kingfisher or egret along the Hawton Brook, but the old wood at the Sconce was busy with blackbird, dunnock and blue and great tits.
So much easier than Parkrun, going downhill through the wood!
Rubbish explorer me. The track was a dead end, leading only to the Flowserve fishing pond where I noted that selfishly, access to the cycle path had been blocked off. Heaven forbid any nature lovers intrude on their precious fishing pond.
As always seems to be the case, the lake was sterile, devoid of waterfowl and the cover on the banks ruthlessly chopped back. No goosander, like there were on Balderton Lake for the first time this season.
Such glossy, handsome ducks, goosander!
Backtrack. Back on the cycle path, and through a gateway I've never traversed before. Was this the route to some new, utterly delightful haven of beauty and tranquillity?
No. It led to a cattery.
Cut across the field at the back of Grange Road, past flytipped sofas and through deep, squelching, clagging clinging mud that trebled the weight of my running shoes and made me look like I'd been carrying out veterinary examinations of farm animals with my legs.
No kingfisher or egret along the Hawton Brook, but the old wood at the Sconce was busy with blackbird, dunnock and blue and great tits.
So much easier than Parkrun, going downhill through the wood!
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| Busy cemetery squirrel |
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| Track to nowhere |
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| Barren fishing lake |
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| Don't fall into these |
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| Cattery track |
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| Grange Road fields |
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| Hawton Brook |
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| Poor reception area |
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| Sconce old wood |
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| The mudman cometh |
posted from Bloggeroid
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Further Comet Lovejoy Observations
The day shift was running, another 15km along the Owl Road with no owls, past the fieldfare fields between Hawton and Farndon, and watching a huge buzzard being pursued across the Trent to the power station by a couple of brave and naughty crows.
The night belongs to astronomy, and more specifically Comet Lovejoy.
It was easy to find even in a rather barren area of sky, about ten degrees West of Orion's Belt, and in my 10x50s the effect was of a slightly smaller and fainter Andromeda galaxy forming the apex of an isosceles triangle with two 6th magnitude stars in Eridanus. There is a definite teardrop shape about the comet, but there is no tail in view; hopefully it may become apparent in the run up to perihelion.
The magnitude I would guess is about 4.8-5, and in my urban skies there is no chance of it being a naked eye object unless it brightens to 3.5 - 4. But comets are unpredictable, if it outbursts at perihelion, it may appear rather brighter.
It's only a rare comet, like Hale Bopp of 1997, that really looks like the common mental image of one of these magical visitors from the depths of the Oort Cloud. Lovejoy is not such an object, but I always feel great joy in being able to spot a comet, especially from an urban garden.
Si
The night belongs to astronomy, and more specifically Comet Lovejoy.
It was easy to find even in a rather barren area of sky, about ten degrees West of Orion's Belt, and in my 10x50s the effect was of a slightly smaller and fainter Andromeda galaxy forming the apex of an isosceles triangle with two 6th magnitude stars in Eridanus. There is a definite teardrop shape about the comet, but there is no tail in view; hopefully it may become apparent in the run up to perihelion.
The magnitude I would guess is about 4.8-5, and in my urban skies there is no chance of it being a naked eye object unless it brightens to 3.5 - 4. But comets are unpredictable, if it outbursts at perihelion, it may appear rather brighter.
It's only a rare comet, like Hale Bopp of 1997, that really looks like the common mental image of one of these magical visitors from the depths of the Oort Cloud. Lovejoy is not such an object, but I always feel great joy in being able to spot a comet, especially from an urban garden.
Si
Sunday, 4 January 2015
First Sight of the New Comet Lovejoy
A little over a year ago, I was writing excitedly about spotting Comet Lovejoy, a 4th magnitude object seen in the morning sky in Cancer near the famous beehive cluster. It was a bitter night, and it seems I was well dressed and "fortified" against the cold.
Last night was probably colder, and hampered by a near full moon dominating the southern sky. I also had a 6am cycle to work ahead of me and was nervously anticipating another icy and nervy slideathon on untreated roads. I thought I had no chance of spotting it.
But I grabbed the 10x50s, tried to get out of the way of the trees and streetlights, and waved my binoculars underneath Orion like a drunk with a shotgun. I thought I had no chance of seeing it, but below Rigel, to the north-east of a star that may have been 11 Eridani, I came across a grey green elongated blurry patch in the binocular field of view.
Passing through a very barren part of the sky, it was the new Comet Lovejoy, 2014 edition, dallying with the trees and rooftops. Even with the strong moonlight it was easy to see, but harder to describe; it was rather like looking at a more condensed version of the galaxy Messier 33, a ghostly smear on the dark window of the sky. It seemed to be longer in the direction of Rigel and Orion's belt, but it was hard to make out real detail.
But it was a comet, and I don't see many! I suspect in a week or two, as the comet moves higher and further into the evening sky, and the moon gets out of the way, it might present quite an impressive binocular sight although I doubt it will be a naked eye object from my urban garden.
To find it, use this guide ; Position of Comet Lovejoy through January - to put it simply, for the next week, look to the right of Orion in the sky with your binoculars, from the darkest spot in your locality you can find.
Si
Friday, 2 January 2015
Ten Miles of Running, Beyond Owl Road
Today was more of a proper run than a photography expedition - hey, it is allowed - as I felt I needed to see what my actual running pace was for a change.
Plus, these runs slowed down by photo-opp stops do not impress social media contacts. 10km in 65 minutes just screams "PLODDER!!!".
So, I set out along the Owl Road, noticing that with the better weather the homeless guy has packed his tent and stolen away, perhaps heading for colder climes. Owl Road was devoid of owls, but a few goldfinch around, and to up the miles, I headed for Hawton, but then cut across along the Farndon Road.
Lots of fieldfare were in the fields either side of the Farndon road, their slate grey rumps and heads, and pale underwings and breast plain as they flew off if you got too close. On the radio, Mark Steele talked amusingly about Glastonbury, humour being an astonishingly rare event in any 1130am show on Radio 4.
The wind was sharp and icy despite the warm sun, and Willow Holt is still closed for grazing, so it was just a straight drift back in along the river, where geese swam in fleets and I saw a winter dulled reed bunting.
The ducks at the old windmill awoke at my presence, and pigeon flocks clouded about the fields. A lovely run...
Plus, these runs slowed down by photo-opp stops do not impress social media contacts. 10km in 65 minutes just screams "PLODDER!!!".
So, I set out along the Owl Road, noticing that with the better weather the homeless guy has packed his tent and stolen away, perhaps heading for colder climes. Owl Road was devoid of owls, but a few goldfinch around, and to up the miles, I headed for Hawton, but then cut across along the Farndon Road.
Lots of fieldfare were in the fields either side of the Farndon road, their slate grey rumps and heads, and pale underwings and breast plain as they flew off if you got too close. On the radio, Mark Steele talked amusingly about Glastonbury, humour being an astonishingly rare event in any 1130am show on Radio 4.
The wind was sharp and icy despite the warm sun, and Willow Holt is still closed for grazing, so it was just a straight drift back in along the river, where geese swam in fleets and I saw a winter dulled reed bunting.
The ducks at the old windmill awoke at my presence, and pigeon flocks clouded about the fields. A lovely run...
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| Site of the camp |
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| Nice dash on this Triumph Vitesse |
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| Charming and tumbledown |
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| Unrelated, but genius at the library |
posted from Bloggeroid
Thursday, 1 January 2015
The Green Shoots of Renewal
I was allowed a day off running today, but was still out walking early enough, a testament to the 'restraint' I showed on New Years Eve. Ahem.
All the snow was gone today, infinitely preferable to the melt on top of ice conditions that made heading out a baby giraffe on roller skates trial last night. I had two objectives in mind, and achieved the first straight away. Snowdrops pushing through the top in the cemetery, some time off flower yet, but still.
The living world is renewing itself, as many of us intend to. Perhaps this year, I will keep a bird list, for example. or do one of my long walks along, or maybe even up. Much to think about.
Down onto the cycle path, where the ice has cleared the lake, apart from a small floe tenanted by a quartet of seagulls. No winter ducks still, however.
Our new kingfisher gave me a lovely display though. Walking, rather than running, is less spooky to wildlife, and I was able to follow the birds neon blue rump all the way from Barnby Lane bridge to Clay Lane bridge. How long the bird stays here I would imagine depends on whether it can find a mate. But I'd love to have a kingfisher family right in the middle of my patch!
Enjoy the outside, everyone!
All the snow was gone today, infinitely preferable to the melt on top of ice conditions that made heading out a baby giraffe on roller skates trial last night. I had two objectives in mind, and achieved the first straight away. Snowdrops pushing through the top in the cemetery, some time off flower yet, but still.
The living world is renewing itself, as many of us intend to. Perhaps this year, I will keep a bird list, for example. or do one of my long walks along, or maybe even up. Much to think about.
Down onto the cycle path, where the ice has cleared the lake, apart from a small floe tenanted by a quartet of seagulls. No winter ducks still, however.
Our new kingfisher gave me a lovely display though. Walking, rather than running, is less spooky to wildlife, and I was able to follow the birds neon blue rump all the way from Barnby Lane bridge to Clay Lane bridge. How long the bird stays here I would imagine depends on whether it can find a mate. But I'd love to have a kingfisher family right in the middle of my patch!
Enjoy the outside, everyone!
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| Snowdrop shoots poking through |
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| Newark's coat of arms? |
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| Ducks and Gulls |
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| Spot the grebe |
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| Rotting plums (?) attracting blackbirds on old X2 Connect site |
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| The Hunt. |
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| The Men in Red |
posted from Bloggeroid
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