After a pub visit last night featuring many creatures let out of their christmas cages by their keepers, I was relieved to get home in one piece rather than several, and happy to note that skies were clear enough for me to get the 10x50s out for a bit of an enhanced stargaze.
Once again had good views of Messier 42, The Perseus Double Cluster and Messier 35 (not 34 as I referred to it previously!!!) in Gemini. The main target however was Praesepe, Messier 44 in Cancer. Even on a fairly unfrosty night, the sky conditions were evidently still good and the cluster was quite easily visible with the naked eye using averted vision, and a good view was had in the binoculars...sees to be 4 or 5 brighter stars in a sort of squared off ring in the centre of the cluster, with the fainter stars surrounding. It does rather look like a mini Pleides.
Orion, especially in the belt area, is alive with stars in the 10x50s and Monoceros is rich too - possibly may have spotted Messier 50;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_50
As a nebulous patch containing 2 prominent stars. But I could be wrong.
I did find that I still struggle to really use both eyes with the binoculars, and found that after my half hour observing session my eyes were strained and I had a dizzy-ish headache, so perhaps observing when not used to it and after a fair few drinks over the day is NOT TO BE BLOODY RECCOMMENDED!!!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Monday, 26 December 2011
Boxing day run
I was good today and yesterday. After a brisk walk for an hour on christmas day, I found today even warmer for the "If you don't do this you will end up as fat as a barrel" run this morning.
With the sun out it felt positively springlike. And I wasn't alone in thinking that.
As I turned on to the path leading onto to the cycle path from London Road by the bridge, a leaf flew up from the ground and bothered my face, before spiralling higher into the air and being blown down the road a little way by the breeze. Noticing the leaf didn't seem quite right, I followed it to where it settled, and found a very foolhardy red admiral butterfly. Foolhardy, but hardy indeed; I have never seen one outside this time of the year. Ever. Judging by the condition, it's a hibernator from last year rather than from a wintering pupa, but I wouldn't really know, to be honest.
I was really rather startled to see it, but it shows how unseasonal the weather it. 12-14 odd today it was.
In other news, I have a new pair of 10x50 binoculars for day and night use. Trying them out last night I had great views of the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy and the Perseus Double Cluster.
With the sun out it felt positively springlike. And I wasn't alone in thinking that.
As I turned on to the path leading onto to the cycle path from London Road by the bridge, a leaf flew up from the ground and bothered my face, before spiralling higher into the air and being blown down the road a little way by the breeze. Noticing the leaf didn't seem quite right, I followed it to where it settled, and found a very foolhardy red admiral butterfly. Foolhardy, but hardy indeed; I have never seen one outside this time of the year. Ever. Judging by the condition, it's a hibernator from last year rather than from a wintering pupa, but I wouldn't really know, to be honest.
I was really rather startled to see it, but it shows how unseasonal the weather it. 12-14 odd today it was.
In other news, I have a new pair of 10x50 binoculars for day and night use. Trying them out last night I had great views of the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy and the Perseus Double Cluster.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Walking and running in the wet
This is a combined report, last night's run and today's 90 minute walk. Not that there was very much to sea...
Actually, to start with, I'll throw in my train trip to Nottingham, where Thurgarton lakes were bust with large flocks of Black Headed Gulls and Tufted Ducks upon the waters. Also there was a small swan, which I couldn't make out properly but might have been a Bewick or a Whooper. No Egrets about, I have seen one in the vicinity before. It's a place I'd lake to take a good look at if I ever get the chance.
Last night, ran not very far in the dusk, my legs aren't used to running again after 7 weeks off and so they are pully, and stiff. As I passed down the side of TK Maxx a bird was startled up from a tree at the back of the new flats there, and arced off into the distance. Judging by the wingbeats, I thought it might have been a kestrel, I know there is one that hunts down by the marina - see a previous post - although knowing me it might have been a pigeon. Silhouette seemed to be wrong build for a pigeon though.
Proper naturalists must read this blog in utter disgust.
Today, walked for 90 minutes past a rained upon London Road Lake - the usual suspects in action here but no Grebe today - and through Beacon Hill. The big attraction here was a large flock of Goldfinches working across the Nursery east to west, the golden wing bars unmistakeable even at a distance. Always a pretty sight, and a more common one with every passing year.
Actually, to start with, I'll throw in my train trip to Nottingham, where Thurgarton lakes were bust with large flocks of Black Headed Gulls and Tufted Ducks upon the waters. Also there was a small swan, which I couldn't make out properly but might have been a Bewick or a Whooper. No Egrets about, I have seen one in the vicinity before. It's a place I'd lake to take a good look at if I ever get the chance.
Last night, ran not very far in the dusk, my legs aren't used to running again after 7 weeks off and so they are pully, and stiff. As I passed down the side of TK Maxx a bird was startled up from a tree at the back of the new flats there, and arced off into the distance. Judging by the wingbeats, I thought it might have been a kestrel, I know there is one that hunts down by the marina - see a previous post - although knowing me it might have been a pigeon. Silhouette seemed to be wrong build for a pigeon though.
Proper naturalists must read this blog in utter disgust.
Today, walked for 90 minutes past a rained upon London Road Lake - the usual suspects in action here but no Grebe today - and through Beacon Hill. The big attraction here was a large flock of Goldfinches working across the Nursery east to west, the golden wing bars unmistakeable even at a distance. Always a pretty sight, and a more common one with every passing year.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Long Tailed Tits Everywhere
I've not really been following any reports on this or anything like that, but if round here is anything to go by, Long Tailed Tits are having a bumper winter. Everyday I get flocks moving through my gardens, nibbling what they can off the sycamore trees and smaller greenery, and today while out walking I saw a flock working the trees by the marina bridge over the river again.
Ever since I mentioned it to Notts Wildlife Trsut however, I have not seen a single white headed Scandanavian variant however. Sods law in action. I never thought I'd see a day where Long Tailed Tits were a more common sight than Greenfinches, that disease seems to have all but wiped them out round here.
Out by the railway line, near where the X2 Connect building is looking really quite interesting in its half demolished form, there are damson bushes (I think, rather than Juniper) which are seemingly so full of juicy blue-purple berries it looks like they've decorated themselves for christmas. I shall risk a muddy ditch to take pictures next time I am in the vicinity.
With warmer weather, London Road Lake is quieter - only a couple of Tufteds and a lot fewer Black Headed Gulls. A couple of Coots made an attractive sight as they cruised abreast down the little dyke, and the baby moorhens are still about.
It is pleasant enough to sit out today, I suggest everyone spends some time outside taking in the sights!
Ever since I mentioned it to Notts Wildlife Trsut however, I have not seen a single white headed Scandanavian variant however. Sods law in action. I never thought I'd see a day where Long Tailed Tits were a more common sight than Greenfinches, that disease seems to have all but wiped them out round here.
Out by the railway line, near where the X2 Connect building is looking really quite interesting in its half demolished form, there are damson bushes (I think, rather than Juniper) which are seemingly so full of juicy blue-purple berries it looks like they've decorated themselves for christmas. I shall risk a muddy ditch to take pictures next time I am in the vicinity.
With warmer weather, London Road Lake is quieter - only a couple of Tufteds and a lot fewer Black Headed Gulls. A couple of Coots made an attractive sight as they cruised abreast down the little dyke, and the baby moorhens are still about.
It is pleasant enough to sit out today, I suggest everyone spends some time outside taking in the sights!
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