A Water Rail in the Drain

 I've felt much better today, and with the weather good, hopes were high of a productive walk around the park and cemetery. I felt like I had wasted the weekend to be honest, and wanted to see something interesting, and burn a bit more energy.

Well, it was worth it! 15,000 steps, 10km and two hours!

Sconce Park wasn't very interesting, although the blossom is staggeringly beautiful. There were no peacocks on the blossom, and only a few honeybees working the higher flowers out of camera range. The birdsong was incredibly loud however, with the chaffinches really going for it, and two chiff chaffs singing in the park grounds. 

There's some very loud great tits around at the moment too!

After a circuit of the lake - a quiet time for birds there at the moment but the big carp were sunbathing in the lagoon, knowing that no anglers are allowed to do their angling there. 

The cycle path, bizarrely, was where the real good stuff was to be found. I'm saving some of that news for tomorrow, but down past London Road pond, in the drainage ditch, was where I was stunned to get my first ever sighting of a relative of the coot and moorhen.

I was walking along, and noticed a disturbance in the vegetation next to the water. It took a minute for my eyes to locate the source; then I saw the long red beak and dappled plumage of a water rail skulking about!

These aren't rare birds, and there are sightings at RSPB Langford Lowfields, but they are notoriously shy and secretive and so to see one next to a busy cycle path in the middle of town was just mindblowing. Apparently, one has been seen down there a few years ago, foraging among the discarded red bull cans.

So, all in all, a better day, and it has put me in a better frame of mind.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.03.21

More Snowdrops

 The weekend weather was so atrocious that I barely left my home at all, and instead worked out hard on my exercise bike and pondered what my first Christmas alone would be like.

Monday I was able to get myself out and take myself around the two lakes, where I could see that more snowdrops were now in flower, and that also that lots of other shoots were piercing the thick wet soil of the cemetery - lots of crocus spears I think.

Above, two squirrels crashed about in the trees fighting over whatever squirrels fight over. 

On the lake, I was wondering if the goosander were about, and found them relatively close in at the south end of the blue lake, as ever the moment I tried to get my camera-phone the drakes accelerated like Donald Campbell in Bluebird and were in the middle of the lake in seconds.

Powerful paddlers are goosander! Very shy birds and not like obliging mallards or even tufted duck to get a photo of. A little egret hung like an empty plastic bag in the trees overlooking the carp lagoon.

Down on London Road Pond, the depressing lack of anything interesting continued. Best bird I've seen on here is a shoveller, which says a lot really.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.12.20

A Weevil on my Leg

Not long back from a rather stressy evening walk; there was a large party of teenagers next to the Blue Lake, one of them openly displaying the catapult that no doubt will be used to shoot the waterfowl at some point.

It's happened before.

Made me feel very angry, and set off a storm of Tourette tics as I wandered around.

However, there were happier sights too. Bees at work on the allium, mummy and daddy goose with a gosling, the beautifully vivid green weevil that decided to sit on my leg for a bit. Mustn't forget these things when you have a bad day.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.05.20

Running Through an Unseasonal Landscape

Decided to upgrade my walk today into a very gentle run, one I kept purposely very gentle.

Still hurt my hip though, thought I'd left it just long enough to recover.

Springtime in winter is accelerating. I reckon we are now three weeks ahead of the season in what has been a very mild wet and windy winter so far. Today in the cemetery I saw the first crocuses had emerged, and that down by the London Road Pond lesser celandine had emerged in one patch.

Only a single duck goosander on the Blue Lake, but the mandarin drake was there, pretending to be a mallard as it normally does despite being about half the size.

So yes, I have entered "Race to the Stones", the 100km two day ultra marathon along the Ridgeway west of London finishing at the Avebury stone circle. I'm as excited for seeing some wonderful heritage sights like this and the Uffington White Horse as much as I am for the challenge of the event.

I'm also hoping that the training will help me lose weight and as ever, the long walks and gentle runs will hopefully be a big help with my mental and neuro health. Long rhythmic exercise is a big help with my Tourettes, and I love listening to the radio as I make my way through the countryside. Today's Radio 4 play was surprisingly engrossing for a period piece.

And yes, it's in honour of my mother. It seems like a good way of making something good happen from an awful event.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.01.20

Another 20000 Steps

Running, walking, I've done a lot of mileage today, around 11 in total, where the walk took in the two lakes on the way to Lidl, where I bought some new winter running gear.

The Crevit running gear Lidl sells is highly regarded, and the new trail running shoes I went for a 6km run in this evening were initially comfortable and easy; however they have rubbed my heels a bit and must need wearing in. I'm hoping they make good winter trail running shoes.

There's been some pretty views today; lots of gulls on the water but only 3 goosander today. Lots of great tits in the trees along the edge; diving grebes and tufted ducks enjoying the calm surface.

I feel good about being active today, heaven knows I'm out of shape.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.01.20

And now the Aconites are Crazy Early

Thought I'd take a nice long walk out to the Two Lakes today to check on the snowdrops and see if the goosander were still around.

Indeed the goosander were there, unheard of before the New Year, and in good numbers too. About 12 of them on the water, ducks and the magnificently elegant drakes, diving about and staying well out of mobile camera range, as ever. There was even another pair on London Road pond.

It's been an active looking day for the town, lots of families out walking, playing football on the park, trying to bed in their new bicycles and scooters. I enjoy seeing it, I enjoy seeing open space used.

On an inkling, I extended my walk out to Friary Gardens, just on the off chance that there was any aconite in bloom. I wasn't expecting any given that its still December, but lo and behold, there was a fair few in flower under their favourite trees. Couldn't believe it!

I do wonder what is going on, because we seem to be about two weeks ahead of normal seasonality. This hasn't been a cold winter so far, but its not been an unusual one, although I'd have expected a bit more frost. Last year the snowdrops were out on 27th December - which is early enough as it is - but this year it was the 16th!

Maybe I need to call Greta Thunderg.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.12.19