For many many years, it was the night of August 12th that was the most looked forward to on the shooting star watcher's calendar; the night of the annual Perseid maximum.
Despite their reputation, the Perseids have many drawbacks as a spectacle. For a start, the radiant, the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate from, rises very late in the UK, and thus the optimum time for observing the meteors is well past midnight. Also, in mid summer, the skies are never as dark as they are in winter, and so some fainter meteors will be drowned out in the deep twilight conditions.
Thirdly, the weather has not been great the last couple of years, with the night of maximum often clouded out.
The Geminids, which will reach maximum this weekend on the night of 13th-14th December, seem to have overtaken the Perseids as the most reliable shower of the year. For a start they have a longer build up, allowing meteors to be seen in the week to ten days prior to maximum. They tend to be slower moving and brighter, and thus easier to see. The winter skies are darker and crisper, allowing fainter meteors to be seen. And finally, the radiant is already reasonably high in the sky by the early evening, and not far from overhead by midnight which makes them a spectacle children can enjoy too.
Unlike meteor showers like the Perseids and Leonids - associated with the comets Swift-Tuttle and Temple-Tuttle respectively - the source of the Geminids seems to be the asteroid Phaeton, an object with an orbit that takes it twice as close to the sun as the planet Mercury, raising its temperature to 750C in the process.
I saw my first Geminid of the 2014 season last night at about midnight, streaking through the constellations of Triangulum and Australia. Just after it did so, a pair of canada geese flew low overhead, softly glowing in the moonlight. It just went to emphasise what magical sights there are to have while meteor watching.
The best time for observing Geminids this year will probably be up to midnight - one am on the night of the 13th-14th - after this, a last quarter moon will start to interfere although plenty of brighter meteors will still be visible. Unlike the Perseids, which tend to be seen closer to the radiant, Geminids tend to wander much further across the sky. Because of this, a reclining chair with a good view of the zenith might well be the best place to watch the meteors from, although remember for the love of all that's holy to wrap up warm this time of year. A good view of the Southern portion of the sky might be best, particularly later on.
Watch for the colour of the meteors. Often Geminids will appear to have a markedly orange hue compared to the Perseids, and often they leave a smokey trail too. They may also appear to "wobble" slightly as they travel across the sky.
So lets hope for clear skies, and not too much in the way of savage frosts or numbing gales, and let us see what we shall see.
Good hunting!
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Monday, 8 December 2014
Owl Hunting in the Badlands
Today I had a doctors appointment, so only had limited time for an adventure. I still managed to have one though, finding land until today untouched by any pair of my trainers.
This was in the scrubby waste ground over the Staunton road off the Sustrans 64 route, next to a cement factory. Nick Crouch has stated in the past that this is prime territory for short eared owls, and I was curious to see what I might find out here. Frankly, however, I'm not sure I'd know a so called "SEO" if I saw one and would probably mistake it for a crow at a distance; seeing as I was running I only had my terrible petrol station pocket field glasses on me.
It is difficult country, muddy underfoot, and filled with scrubby, thorny low cover that I imagine is quite popular with a number of species. A ruined house dominates the area, and around the edges are the metallic, rumbling outcrops of the cement industry. A couple of lads spluttered up to carry out some probably illegal off road motorbike riding, using a rough and ready access road.
This made me rather nervous about having a good look around the site, as there was the off chance that these were lads from the cement factory coming to investigate the erratic stumblings of a blue clad runner amid the quaggy tire tracks.
Of course, I didn't see anything that might have been an owl, but there did seem to be some small birds skittering around in the low cover. Eventually, I ran out of path - I was hoping that there might be a link to the bridleway that leads off to the left beyond Hawton - and I headed back on to the road into town, before turning off to circle Balderton Lake.
That there had been bad weather was evident in the number of black headed gulls that were floating about on the lake - numbers less than a hundred a couple of days ago were now between maybe two and three hundred. Of the interesting winter ducks, there was no sign.
I got home, unmolested by insane inbred bikers, and was shortly afterward able to tell my doctor of the mental health benefits of my running, and how it helps my Tourette's. I may not be much of a birdwatcher, but that is hardly going to stop me from enjoying the benefits of the outside world.
This was in the scrubby waste ground over the Staunton road off the Sustrans 64 route, next to a cement factory. Nick Crouch has stated in the past that this is prime territory for short eared owls, and I was curious to see what I might find out here. Frankly, however, I'm not sure I'd know a so called "SEO" if I saw one and would probably mistake it for a crow at a distance; seeing as I was running I only had my terrible petrol station pocket field glasses on me.
It is difficult country, muddy underfoot, and filled with scrubby, thorny low cover that I imagine is quite popular with a number of species. A ruined house dominates the area, and around the edges are the metallic, rumbling outcrops of the cement industry. A couple of lads spluttered up to carry out some probably illegal off road motorbike riding, using a rough and ready access road.
This made me rather nervous about having a good look around the site, as there was the off chance that these were lads from the cement factory coming to investigate the erratic stumblings of a blue clad runner amid the quaggy tire tracks.
Of course, I didn't see anything that might have been an owl, but there did seem to be some small birds skittering around in the low cover. Eventually, I ran out of path - I was hoping that there might be a link to the bridleway that leads off to the left beyond Hawton - and I headed back on to the road into town, before turning off to circle Balderton Lake.
That there had been bad weather was evident in the number of black headed gulls that were floating about on the lake - numbers less than a hundred a couple of days ago were now between maybe two and three hundred. Of the interesting winter ducks, there was no sign.
I got home, unmolested by insane inbred bikers, and was shortly afterward able to tell my doctor of the mental health benefits of my running, and how it helps my Tourette's. I may not be much of a birdwatcher, but that is hardly going to stop me from enjoying the benefits of the outside world.
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| The badlands under the sun |
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| Long shadow on the scrub |
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| Ruined building |
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| Road to nowhere |
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| Mossy branches |
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| Gulls on the lake |
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| Slightly greater zoom, slightly less quality |
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| Two different mallard hybrid |
posted from Bloggeroid
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Capturing the Magical Light
Today was indeed a special one. As I ran along the cycle path, there was a flash of metallic blue from low down over the clogged drainage ditch.
It was a kingfisher, seen between the Clay Lane and Barnby Lane bridges. The first I've ever seen here. These birds are always a glorious sight, but to see one on the cycle track, well, golly as they say.
I finished up at Rumbles cafe, where I watched peeping wagtails and squawking gulls feed off bread as the sun set.
It was a kingfisher, seen between the Clay Lane and Barnby Lane bridges. The first I've ever seen here. These birds are always a glorious sight, but to see one on the cycle track, well, golly as they say.
I finished up at Rumbles cafe, where I watched peeping wagtails and squawking gulls feed off bread as the sun set.
posted from Bloggeroid
Kilton Raptor Rescue Visit Once Again
Yes, my freezing -4 parkrun was given some feathery joy by the raptors of Kilton I found in town afterwards.
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| Snowy owl |
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| Spreading wings, preparing to carry off child to eyrie to eat |
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| Kestrel, but not a standard one by the look of it. Some kind of Asiatic species? |
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| The unforgiving eyes of a goshawk |
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| Preening peregrine |
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| Red tailed buzzard showing why it is what it is |
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| Red tailed buzzard from the front |
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| Barn owl |
posted from Bloggeroid
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Frozen Newark Running, Night and Day
So, last night I made it out in the deep twilight, for a cooling run around the lakes complete with headlamp.
No doubt I looked an utter fool.
Then after a failed Geminid meteor hunt till 3am somehow made it up for parkrun, in a hard frost and temperatures of about minus 3-4. The world was frosted white, sugar coating the frozen ground.
There is something extra rewarding about running in the cold. As well as a flawed, mistaken and deeply tragic feeling that I am, despite all contrary evidence, a tough guy.
No doubt I looked an utter fool.
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| Across Elm Avenue sports ground |
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| Reflections in a lake |
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| Moonlight paints the water |
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| Cyberman by night |
Then after a failed Geminid meteor hunt till 3am somehow made it up for parkrun, in a hard frost and temperatures of about minus 3-4. The world was frosted white, sugar coating the frozen ground.
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| The white world |
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| Pre park run shivers |
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| My long shadow at the finish. The volunteers must have been frozen. |
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| The finishing drag |
There is something extra rewarding about running in the cold. As well as a flawed, mistaken and deeply tragic feeling that I am, despite all contrary evidence, a tough guy.
posted from Bloggeroid
Thursday, 4 December 2014
A Seasonal Night in Newark
Decided to have a night run tonight, wonderfully cool actually, a refreshing sensation.
The town is lit up and looking rather attractive, white snowflake lights forming a ceiling over Tudor and older streets. No frosted glimmer yet, and no snow.
Just cool air and a curiously peaceful feeling.
The town is lit up and looking rather attractive, white snowflake lights forming a ceiling over Tudor and older streets. No frosted glimmer yet, and no snow.
Just cool air and a curiously peaceful feeling.
posted from Bloggeroid
Monday, 1 December 2014
Farndon Running Under a Blue Sky
The warmth was surprising. Gloved and hatted, I felt very overdressed after a couple of km of my Hawton-Frandon-Home route, and onto the Farndon road I was struggling a little.
Luckily a warm winter's day is a boon to some; as I reached the stand of trees just before the A46 flyover three magnificent buzzards took to the air. Initially they had to flap to maintain altitude, and looked rather ungainly, but as soon as they caught an updraft of some kind they spread their wings and sailed effortlessly upwards in lazy spirals.
I don't think 2014 has been a great year for buzzards locally, so it was a thrill to see these three together.
I tried to find adventure in streets of Farndon I'd never trod before, but this was never going to be terribly exciting. Willow Holt was also closed for grazing, so I had to wait for the Marina for things to get squelchy.
Fishermen were fussing over something in their net, so I had a look and found them happy to display a fine pike they'd caught.
Respectfully treated, the fish - in beautiful condition with its marked green body and red tinged fins - was returned to the river.
The rest of the run was uneventful; sheep filled pastures and damp ground. But I was glad I have done these 12km, for the moment I settled with my tea at rumbles, the sky went instantly grey, and a suddenly unwanted chill was at my bones.
Luckily a warm winter's day is a boon to some; as I reached the stand of trees just before the A46 flyover three magnificent buzzards took to the air. Initially they had to flap to maintain altitude, and looked rather ungainly, but as soon as they caught an updraft of some kind they spread their wings and sailed effortlessly upwards in lazy spirals.
I don't think 2014 has been a great year for buzzards locally, so it was a thrill to see these three together.
I tried to find adventure in streets of Farndon I'd never trod before, but this was never going to be terribly exciting. Willow Holt was also closed for grazing, so I had to wait for the Marina for things to get squelchy.
Fishermen were fussing over something in their net, so I had a look and found them happy to display a fine pike they'd caught.
Respectfully treated, the fish - in beautiful condition with its marked green body and red tinged fins - was returned to the river.
The rest of the run was uneventful; sheep filled pastures and damp ground. But I was glad I have done these 12km, for the moment I settled with my tea at rumbles, the sky went instantly grey, and a suddenly unwanted chill was at my bones.
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| River Devon at Hawton |
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| Looking the other way |
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| Where swallows skimmed the wheat in summer |
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| Farndon church tower |
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| The main body of Farndon church |
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| A closed Willow Holt |
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| The explanation |
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| Farndon marina |
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| Pike |
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| Only a small one, apparently |
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| Power station |
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| Back to Rumbles, and the grey closes in |
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