Thursday 5 March

Above freezing but again no sunshine

The noise was deafening as we approached the bottom end of the lodges

Looking up I was surprised to see lots of Black Headed Seagulls in the trees, I know they sit on walls, fences etc., yet seeing them perched in trees looked strangely unreal, perhaps I was scarred when younger watching Hitchcock's Birds :):)

Take Care

Sunday 15 February

We had a bit of frost over night but the sun was out this morning and it was a beautiful day.

 Big Lodge

 Tern rafts with Gulls for the moment

The River Yarrow, the sun was blinding through the trees

Take Care

Tuesday 20 Jaunary

Freezing again

 Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis they seem to thrive isn't nature wonderful

 Seagulls on the ice

Swan walking on the ice

 The dark new juvenile swan

 Poor Micky stuck on the ice - he and another we call Griff were dumped on the lodge a while ago - they have been pets and then lost their cuteness, why do people keep doing this buying tiny adorable, fluffy animals and then dumped them when they grow.

Big Lodge

Take Care

Tuesday 13 January

Damp, Cool Morning

 Can't resist the sunrise over the lodge

Tern Rafts waiting for their residents to return - the gulls and other birds make good use of it during the rest of the year

 

Goosanders - males out numbering the females, they seem to avoid all human activity, especially me and the camera.

River Yarrow

 

Just peeping through, Russian Comfrey - Symphytum x uplandicum

 Hazel - Corylus avellana, just the male catkins no sign of the female flowers yet.

 Pendulous Sedge - Carex pendula

Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum

Take Care

Monday 17 November

Mild, damp morning with just enough sun to show the beauty of Autumn.

 Gulls making use of the Tern Raft, until the feisty Terns come again next year and reclaim it.

 This is the time of reflection, not only of the trees in the water but our selves

 to sit quietly and reflect on all things

 I find I sit reflecting on things past, looking back more & more, when young I looked forward, strange how we change as we age.

 I call this no2 bridge in the park, I love to look what is growing from the walls and banks

This White Dead Nettle - Lamium album will flower as long as possible - is there only me that grows this now

Take Care

Tuesday 25 March

We enjoyed a quiet walk the only unusual sight was the pair of gulls on the big lodge, we get lots of black headed but these were bigger, I am informed that they are the Lesser Blackback Gull.

Take Care

Sunday 17 November

Mild & Damp

 Dull this morning, plenty of birds about.

 Footpath on the Rucks

 Holly in flower - Ilex aquifolium

 Snowberry - Symphoricarpos albus

 Our Swans ready and fit for next year - hopefully lots of cygnets

Tern Rafts now occupied by gulls

A video of the birds near the Top Lodge

Take Care

Sunday 21 October

Damp

 Gulls on Tern Rafts

 Candlesnuff on the Lower Burgh Meadow

 Coral Spot 

 Sunny Brow Bridge

 Young Swan

Take Care

Friday 27 April

Damp Morning

 Gooseberry - Ribes uva-crispa

 Japanese Quince - Chaenomeles japonica

 Japanese Quince - Chaenomeles japonica

 Tern & Gull 

The tern has been on the raft a few days - it must be waiting for a mate.

Take Care

Sunday 15 January

Dry & Cool

All taken on the big lodge

Blackheaded Gull

Canada Geese

Coot

Mallard hybrid - looks like one of the small white ducks in shape & the short bill.

Mallard this has no white collar

Swan

Take care

Monday 4 July

Dry Morning

We thought we had a new swan on the Big Lodge

 it was Lonely Lucy, do not know where she has been but it was her, she came straight over for her food, it did not take long before Billy Swan was trying to chase her off.

 Black Headed Gulls

 Picnic Play Area

 Upright Hedge Parsley - Torilis japonica

 Upright Hedge Parsley - Torilis japonica

Marsh Bedstraw - Galium palustre

Take Care.