Icy Golden Days

 Managed a two hour walk today, walking through puddles that had frozen hard overnight and had then been mined by passing children, carrying away glass like shards of broken ice the size of car windows. 

We haven't had snow, nor does it seems likely we will now. But it is very cold and at night the moon sports angry halos.

Sconce Park was full of robins, one which let me practically walk over it, and squirrels were running riot among the oaks. The good stuff was around Balderton Lake though - 2 drake and 6 duck goosander, 4 of which were close enough in for me to get a quarter decent shot off before they tore off  like powerboats, a kingfisher at the north end of the lake, and a lovely little watch of a goldcrest impersonating a hummingbird.

By now the sun was setting, and we had a firey rosey gold lake again. 15000 more steps.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.12.20

A Muddy Trek to Winthorpe Village

 Decent weather this afternoon meant I felt like taking myself out for a couple of hours, and wondered where I could walk that I haven't visited in a while, and wouldn't be a mud bath.

It was always optimistic thinking anywhere would be an easy walk today, and so it proved, although to be fair my trip to Winthorpe wasn't all that bad, and rather better than Clay Lane, say, would be at this time of the year. 

It isn't an attractive walk at all, it's rather featureless, in common with anywhere maintained for serious angling, I find. It also takes you under various road and rail bridges, and alongside a sewage works. 

Lovely.

However, saw some interesting birds; colourful deep pink bullfinches in the hawthorn heshes, and a lovely group of reed buntings. In Winthorpe village, there were long tailed tits and chaffinches and above isolated gulls rode the breezes. 

Not such a bad trek, occupied a couple of hours, had a nice listen to the radio, and got my 15000 steps in!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.12.20

Christmas Eve

 I was grateful to be allowed to leave work early, and so took a walk to the park, where unlike the albeit very high Trent, The Devon has burst banks.

Happy Christmas everyone, doubly so to all spending the day alone in this insane year.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.12.20

The Power of the River

Today has actually been a pleasant enough day, warm enough in the sun once it had got high enough to take the morning chill out of the air; and it was cold this morning. I've been out and about of course, sat having tea in the park in my woolly hat, my walking route blocked by a flooded River Devon.

The Trent is well over its banks by the marina, and large numbers of waterfowl are loving this on the flooded fields on the other side.

The castle stretch is still about a metre below the edge, but the power of the water flowing  along the reach is formidable. A couple of folk in kayaks were labouring against it today, as large bits of tree were swept past them. Anyone falling in would have had no chance without a life jacket, and not a good chance with one I reckon.

They would have been brained against the bridge!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.10.19

The Power of Water

I ventured down to the weir today, while the weather was still good and heavy rain hadn't put an end to my plans to run tonight.

The noise it makes, the ferocity of it, is something I always find quite awe inspiring at close quarters. If you get trapped in it, I always feel you've had it, but then I have seen folk practicing their canoeing in it, and even scene folk walking across the top of it when you would think that one slip would mean certain death.

Admittedly today, the high water levels you can see in the photographs would have added to its primal power.

There's plenty of himalayan balsam growing down there to add colour, and ivy is now in flower providing feeding stations for late season pollinators. The best think I saw today though, was something I haven't seen in town for a while.

Grey wagtails used to nest under the castle wall a few years ago, but I haven't seen one of these lovely colourful birds since. However, today I came across one on the calm waters the other side of the river wall from the weir.

Typically it flew off before I could get a photo!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.09.19

Blaise Castle Walk

Last week I wrote of my walk to Canford Park and WEstbury on Trym from my sister's  house in Southmead in Bristol. Well, I didn't stop there.

I carried on walking, along a main road and a sharp did, and found myself on what I hoped would be a walk up to Blaise Castle, a feature I'd seen on a map but had no idea what was there.

As it turned out, it was a long, sticky walk along a path along the Hollow Beck, where children damned the stream and the occasional algae filled pond opened up beneath stone bridges.

The stream was at the bottom of a gorge, and high above rock walls stood vertical, lit by late afternoon sun. If there was a castle it was well hidden for sure.

I kept going, passing families out on bicycles and on foot; the path began to spiral.

I'd more or less given up finding anything when abruptly the route opened up onto an open field filled with people enjoying themselves, a cafe, playground and museum.

A crenellated tower was just visible above a stand of very tall trees, but when I tried to walk up to the castle I could find no route. Bugger that, I thought, and had a cup of tea amongst everyone enjoying the warm sun.

It isn't even a real castle - it's a folly!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.08.19

Polish Commemorations

Was it going to be a walking or cycling day today? Well, it ended up being two walks, the Northerly wind put me off cycling today. At least it has been very bright, with blue skies all day, but I think we might be done for buzzers and flutterers now, we've got a possible frost coming tonight. Brrrr.

So this morning I took the sights in around the park - mainly football  - before taking a break in my garden listening to a very strident wren somewhere unseen in the leaf cluttered undergrowth while I digested my lunch.

In the afternoon, I headed out in the opposite direction, at what I was kidding myself was a powerwalk kind of pace. The reasons I was trying to be quick was I wanted to cover a reasonable distance and get to Halffords and Millets in time, as I'd spotted some cycling jackets and fleeces I wanted to grab.

I had been in Millets earlier but wasn't able to get anything due to a distraction burglary by two Russians I walked into the aftermath of.

Meanwhile in the cemetery, a major event was taking place for the local - and not so local - Polish community. I can't remember what it was commemorating, but folk seemed to being bussed in, including some characters in blown up scout uniforms.

There was even a bit of bagpiping!

They had a lovely day, as did I, who got my long walks in and did manage to buy my fleeces.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrakceredNature 29.10.17