Saturday 28 February

Cold but we stayed dry

Billy Swan came out of the water after food even though I'd fed them earlier.

 

He sulked and went back in the water when I put the food away.

 

 Happy gang of dogs on Primrose Hill Field

 Little Gromit with the ball

I took this out of Meg's paw, she must have picked it up while I was among the undergrowth looking for new growth, it's from the Hawthorn.

Take Care

Sunday 21 December

A mild morning

 

Waiting for us

New feed is a hit with everyone 

 Tiny waterfall into the Yarrow

 Down by Sunny Bridge this morning

 Female Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch

A few of the birds that came to eat

Take Care

Tuesday 22 April

Really nice again, a few folk about.

Top end of the Big Lodge, the sluice outlet just showing, this is the sluice channel where we watch the Kingfisher when it's doing a bit of fishing and relaxing.

Granny's Bonnets or Columbine - Aquilegia vulgaris buds are almost open, will it manage it before the strimmers arrive ??

One of the dogs we meet on our walks, he's a real character.

Home up Sunny Brow

Take Care

Friday 21 February

Dry & a drop in temperature frost this morning, the weathers so erratic.

A walk on the Lower Burgh Meadow

 Finally flowering, Cherry Plum - Prunus cerasifera

 Dog's Mercury - Mercurialis perennis, male flowers

Thank goodness for the gates, these two are very vocal and sound the part

 Gorse - Ulex europaeus, in flower

 Our pretty Primrose - Primula vulgaris

The Small Lodge

Take Care

Thursday 13 February

Dry and the wind has brought a lot of old branches down. Weather has forecast more wind & rain.

 This is behind the Top Lodge, the cottages would have been behind me and I think the forge stood beyond the old fence.

 Meg posing in one of my favourite views

 Male Blackbird- he has a damaged or deformed wing so we know him quite well, he has no problem flying and fighting his corner, we think he has been like this from birth as he copes so well.

 Female Blackbird

 Male Chaffinch

 Female Chaffinch

 Great Crested Grebe

 Great Tit

 Lungwort - Pulmonaria officinalis

 Tree down on Primrose Hill - the dogs had to investigate, the wind has been bad and we expected more trees down.

The ugly Ash tree is still standing after all the gale force wind

Take Care

Friday 9 November

Damp morning we met Zac and his friend Lucy

No need to say what is happening here, treats are being dispersed.

I should get Lucy to give Meg some tips on how to keep clean.

Take Care

Saturday 8 October

Damp morning we met up with Sue & the tribe plus one

 Toots was still for a moment so I managed a photo of the will o'th wisp.

 Oh no Billy says what with Toots bossing me now I've got Sally.

And here she is Will o'th wisp number 2 Sally - Sue's son's dog she's a collie x springer spaniel so a real live wire.

 Dolly saying did some one say sausages?

Teddy always the gentleman.

Take Care.

Saturday 14 August

Rain again.

It did not put this little fellow off.

Fungi

The Swan Family

Edwina has taken over from Edward and is still trying to see Billy and Lucy off.

Back to Knott End

It was sun shining and Meg wants to go on the beach.

Caravan site from the sea wall.

Take Care.

Thursday 14 January

Cool this morning, with another light dusting of snow on the ground overnight.

It made walking easier. Yesterday was terrible as the slight thaw made the paths like an ice rink, I just kept going and the camera made no appearance.

George arrived this morning with Tinker and we soon got up on to Primrose Hill, waiting for us were Paul & Sue with the tribe.

Arnold catching us up after feeding Pickle (a fat Great Tit), a very pushy Blackbird who we haven't named yet, plus a few more small birds, occasionally a Grey Squirrel turns up.

General chat about the world situation, not that we can do anything about it.

This is the top end of one spring that that runs through Spring Wood, the gully is well protected and the wildlife are reasonably safe in this area.

The grass & brambles are beginning to show once again, I actually saw some Lesser Celandine leaves looking quite fresh this morning, won't be long now before the first flowers.

We managed to pick up the tracks of the dog fox that roams the back of the top lodge this morning, we have not seen him for a few days, his track did not look like he was in a hurry, just on the look out for his breakfast.

Arnold looking at his tracks further up the path, at this point he seemed to double back and head for the lodge.

Meg wondering what all the fuss was about, she's probably thinking that red dog's been about.

A good day we all feel better when we get out and about.

Take Care.