Monday 2 February

The temperature has dropped overnight and the lodges are freezing again

 Ducks are gathering in small pockets of ice free water for feeding

Not a one at this end, at least the Swans are all calm for the moment

River Yarrow

Tree Art no snow

On the rucks no one at home

Take Care

Thursday 22 January

Frosty morning

Some photos of the surrounding area

River Yarrow

Our Youngster

Lots of Coots on the Lodge

Micky still stuck and Griff standing near him, now that's a friend.

Trying to break the ice - failed again

Birkacre Rucks 

Paths & Views

The RSPCA came out in the afternoon and took Micky away more info as it comes

Take Care

Thursday 28 August

Down on the lodges again, plenty of wildfowl on the water including these two who turned up one morning, they certainly did not fly in, they were probably ducklings bought as pets, now no longer fluffy and cute but noisy and needing a bit of space and water (they are now twice the size of normal mallards, these are breed for the farm yard and table) - they hid under the overhanging trees and bushes for a couple of weeks but they are now coming for food and I like them, we have called them Mikki & Griff even though they appear to be two males.

The white one is the boss

Take Care

Friday 3 February

Colder morning than yesterday and the crowd has got bigger

This one stands out from the crowd.

Take Care.

Wednesday 1 February Part one

Had an errand to do so we called at Queen's Park in Bolton, it has a lot of childhood memories for us. I have to say but for the old stonework and bridges we would not have recognised it.


This Crocodile Carving is new to us but I loved it - and it is not what you expect in a park.

White Goose on the cleaned up duck pond - I wonder if it is my imagination but there seemed more ducks and geese of various types years ago.

Quite a few Canada Geese and one Mute Swan - perhaps we could send a couple from the lodge.

We did notice quite a few Moorhens - especially along the river.

Lord & Ladies  - Arum maculatum looked further on than those round the lodges.

Take Care.

Thursday 19 May

Dry Morning.

Arnold & George

By the Big Lodge.

Buttercups & Clover

Daisies

Dandelion

First sighting of the Dipper for ages.

Fly for ID on Oak.

Lucy on her own again - apart from the geese.

The Ducklings still hiding in the reed bed.

Red Campion.

Red Clover

Terns on the raft.

Don't blink or you'll miss the overworked Blue Tit fly out of the box.

Tuesday 3 May

Sunny pleasant morning and plenty of life in all forms.

Apple - Malus sp.

Bog Stitchwort - Stellaria alsine

Bog Stitchwort - Stellaria alsine

Bog Stitchwort - Stellaria alsine

caterpillars, inchworms - IDs most welcome - first two on Apple the last three on Hornbeam.

Dog's Mercury  Seeds- Mercurialis perennis

Greater Celandine - Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine - Chelidonium majus

Large Bittercress - Cardamine amara

Mallard Mum and 11 babies - we hope she manages to keep them all.

Oxeye Daisy Bud - Leucanthemum vulgare

Russian Comfrey - Symphytum x uplandicum

Solomon's seal - Polygonatum multiflorum

Take Care.