The Owl Land in a Lowering Sun

The weather is suddenly giving us warmth again, and the return of a strong wind from the South.

I headed out in this today, on route for The Owl Land. Since the work on the southern relief road began, the Sustrans 64 has been closed until they build the flyover over the new road; seeing as this was supposed to happen this January and it's still a sea of mud down there, I'm guessing they are waaaaay behind schedule due to the wet winter.

In practical terms, it means running down there entails a one mile detour past the amusingly named "Bantycock Open Cast Mine" where they dig gypsum up, before reaching the Owl Land from the Staunton road.

Of course, the short-eared owls that give the Owl Land its name were not on view, indeed, no-one seems to have seen one their for years. But I did flush out a couple of skylarks - recogniseable from their white tail edges - and also what I think was a snipe from by Cotham Flash pond - this has white streaks on its back to tell it apart from a woodcock.

The light was beautiful on the Owl Land, crepescular rays from the sun emerging from the clouds. It was peaceful. "The Infinite Monkey Cage" on Radio 4 was amusing and educational. Baxter's soup is back at 50p a tin in Asda.

That, my friends, marks a good day.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.01.16

Nuclear Thistles in the Owl Lands

Today's run was an 11km trot via the Owl Road, and the off license where I treat myself to a post run Magnum and Barr's Troopicola.

Barr's is the premiere soft drinks manufacturer in the world in my view. Hopefully if they are reading this might send me a few cases of Irn-Bru or rasberryade. Unlike some, I don't get any freebies through this blog.

Anyway, it was a decent run, flushing up partridges and tweeping little flocks of meadow pipit, and encountering a species of thistle that was almost a glowing blue in colour, as if it was emitting the Cerenkow Radiation (one of my favourite science things) nuclear reactors do - it makes the water glow blue.

Speaking of nuclear, I'm studying a Futurelearn course at the moment on renewable energy. There is some cause for optimism, especially with Scotland's commitment to source 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Here, every time anyone threatens to put up a wind turbine, protests roll in like a petition tidal wave.

They complain about the noise, despite living next to the freshly dualled A46 trunk road...

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.08.15

Library lavender getting a lot of customers

This bee was very lethargic after the wind got up and the temperature dropped

Unrecognised plant on the owl road

Neon thistle

Bee subjects itself to thistle irradiation. The pics don't do the colour justice

Wild plants at Cotham Flash

Butterflies on the Run

It was a grim day yesterday, but today for my first day off the sun was out, and I headed out along the owl road, loving seeing all the butterflies I'd missed in the spring. Lots of ringlets and meadow browns are out along the cycle path, and wherever there are thistles, there are small skipper butterflies making the most of that sweet Scottish nectar!

However, they weren't the only flutterers enjoying a good drink today...

Bonus new friend walking home last night

Back to today, and rosebay willow herb seems to be in flower

Sadly the glorious poppies have faded away

A vetch type flower out on the cycle path

Small skipper, sadly not best focus

Small skipper on thistle

Soldier beetle love.

Small tortoiseshell

Beautiful colours, a beautiful show

Plenty of them now up

Bohemian cuckoo gets in on the act

Skulking meadow brown

Large white

Pretty tiny flowers at Devon Pasture

Sweet Sweet Honeysuckle

The smell of honeysuckle is glorious; sweet yes, but with an added sharpness and freshness that means it avoids the cheap air freshener cloyingness of some flowers.

It is now out, I found a large clump of it in full bloom out near Cotham FLash pond. I've been walking and cycling again today, my injuries still preclude running, and it was a two hour walk I had along the Owl Road.

Grey, cold and windblasted the day may have been, but if anything the rain has freshened up the flowers and the colours on view today were spectacular. They stand out more on steely days like this one. Birds foot trefoil has now also made its first appearance of the year, its little yellow-orange flowers standing out in the grass.

But the bluebells now are over, outlived by the stitchwort and forget-me-nots in the cemetery.

Despite the chill in the air, plenty of bees were out today, including the super furry common carders who's jackets must keep them warmer than the sluggish looking tree bumblebee I met today.

I couldn't criticise the bee; I felt pretty much the same myself.

Si

Giant poppies

Wisteria Lane

Harlequin among the blue

Stitchwort

Buttercup tomb

Fishing in the wind

Cowslip

Birds foot trefoil

Common speedwell

I think this slug has just got married

In a poppy

Glorious honeysuckle

Cornflower

Sneaky carder

Chilly tree bumble

Bright flowers

How glorious is this in Hawton?

Pain and Suffering on the Owl Road

Well, the sun was out, and it was out later on. Sadly, for the middle of my run, it really really wasn't...

It all started well enough, a bright sunny day even if the wind was wild and chilly, and a few more snow drops were out in the cemetery. But in the distance, the clouds were massing and I could see grey curtains of rain billowing along the distant ground.

I resolved to up the pace, but, as ever, I just wasn't fast enough.

So far so good along the cycle path, noticing that the homeless man was camping again, but as I turned onto the Owl Road, those sheets of rain were on me. And in that wind, they hurt.

It really did hurt. I thought it must be hailing, but no, it was just common or garden heavy rain, made into cold steely needles by the cruel wind. My face was exposed, and was red with sting in a few seconds. My clothes were quickly soaked, and as far as looking for owls was concerned, I would not have seen one blowing a fluorescent trumpet  sitting on the path a metre away.

I was shivering, and really struggling. My feet squelched, again, I think it's safe to say my running shoes are dying. But thankfully, as I turned for home, the sun was out again as I ran through Hawton, and the day was cobalt again by the time I got to Rumbles for a life saving tea.

The photographs below are a medley from yesterday and today - I got in a walk later on to spot the kingfisher below Clay Lane bridge and enjoy a good view of a female bullfinch feeding on a birch tree. But I can only apologise for the quality, the Moto G really has a poor camera.

If you click on the photographs, you get a much better view.

Until later,

Si

Snowdrops are up in the cemetery

But the crocuses are surprisingly early

Squirrel at work

Another cluster

Purple this time

Close up

Daff-henge

Daffodils by night

Owl Country

Golden reeds at London Road Pond

Illuminated tree

Mrs Bullfinch

Plenty to eat here

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