Attenborough

Another trip into Toton this morning, to have my eyes re-tested at Tesco. It appears that the optician made too great a change to the prescription in my right eye and has now corrected it and sent the specs away to be changed. So, we will see what happens when they come back!
Not wanting to waste the morning completely, we decided to take a stroll around the Attenborough nature reserve nearby before going to Tesco. Seen here in a Google Earth view.

The area is a watery paradise for birds and animal of all kinds. The first of which were making quite a racket out on a small island in one of the lakes. Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) are a rather vocal bird, especially at this time of year when their thoughts turn to romance. The call of the Lapwing give it it's other common name of Peewit. It is also known as the Green Plover and is still fairly common throughout Europe although very vulnerable to encroaching human activity and the destruction of it's habitat.

As we continued on our way we heard the goose-like honking of Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) roosting in a tree. These large wading birds seem a little strange perched in trees, but are quite comfortable there. Their displaying and calling pointed to the fact that they too had seduction in mind.

Avoiding the puddles and mud - of which there was plenty - we were afforded a fine view of the coal-fired power station at Ratcliff. The steam and smoke from it's chimneys were forming vast clouds which drifted over us. Strangely attractive in it's industrial vastness.

More tomorrow....

Dreek

A miserable day today. Dull and overcast, slight drizzle and still cold. No walk this morning, but a quick dash into Toton to take my new specs back to Tesco as I cannot see through the right-hand lens! Why can no-one get anything right any more?
Back home and it's time for cleaning again, so it's out with the vacuum cleaner and on with the mob-cap. Such a scene of domestic bliss!

Having been told I will have to return to Tesco again tomorrow at 12.20 pm for a re-test and needing some cheering up I thought it would be nice to have another video of bird song to lighten the day. None could lighten it more than the sounds made by the most amazing bird mimic in the world, the Superb Lyre Bird of Australasia. What a magnificent creature!

Singing

The birds were singing once more this morning as we set out for our morning 'constitutional'. Weekends are not normally our favourite time for a walk as you are constantly harried by joggers and cyclists, but this morning was not too bad. We had to get out of the way of four cyclists and three joggers, a couple of which mumbled "cheers mate" as we stepped aside. What ever happened to "thank you"? Why does everyone have to say "cheers mate" these days? As Malcolm and I always say, "I am NOT your mate, never have been and never will be".
As we trotted around the 'Bogwash', there were several fishermen talking together and sipping tea from insulated mugs. They talked in very loud tones about the length of those that got away, each one determined to trump the others with a bigger and better one. The sub-text of these posturing, macho conversations would have give Freud enough material for several theses.

Enough of this. Here is another video of bird song. We were treated to the delightful sound of a Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)in full flow as we returned home. One of the most beautiful sounds in the world. Enjoy!

Optimistic

Once again, this morning, we set out in optimistic mood for a wander down past the 'Bogwash' and on to Straw's Bridge. The sun was trying it's best to peek through the clouds and it was a couple of degrees milder than of late.
The birds seemed to have a notion that Spring was in the air. Th Chaffinches were singing their hearts out, the Goldfinches twittered in the treetops and Dunnocks piped their high-toned song in the sunshine.
Within half an hour, the clouds gathered and the rain started to fall. Suddenly the birds were quiet - as were we!
To continue on the Chaffinch theme, here is a video of one, with the song too.

The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is one of Britain's most common birds. The Latin name "coelebs" means 'bachelor' and reflects the fact that they tend to form single sex flocks and for some time it was thought that they were in fact separate species.

Snow....again!

Soon after posting yesterday's blog entry, it started to snow. Then it snowed a bit more. Then it 'chucked-it-down' for a few minutes. Most of the snow didn't settle, but, this morning we woke to a dusting all over and a frozen ground surface. Perfect for walking where it has been too wet to tread for the last few days.
This being the case, Malcolm and I set off for a walk up Shipley Hill to see if the drifts of snowdrops were yet in evidence. The sun was doing it's best to thaw the ground and it was starting to get a little wet under foot once more.
The Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are not yet in full bloom - maybe the cold snap of the last few days has set things back a bit - but the green shoots are pushing up in great abundance.

In a few places, chiefly where the sunlight manages to creep through the tree cover, there are a small number of flowers beginning to open.

It was a bit tricky trying to spot the flowers amongst the dead leaves, dusting of snow and the dappled light, but there they were, few in number, small in stature, but big in their intent to herald the Spring.

Specs

Off to Tesco at Toton again this morning to pick up my new specs. We took the opportunity to do a little shopping while were there - it's almost impossible not to do some shopping! My new specs will take some getting used to as the right eye seems rather blurred and they make me feel as if I am about 8ft tall, but I'll persevere and see what happens.

So, no walks this morning (other than up and down the retail aisles of Tesco). Back home for coffee and to look out at the flakes of snow which are chasing each other around the garden, before settling on the ground.

The forecast for tomorrow is good, so we will hopefully get a longer walk then.

Here is a funny video to be going on with. I must thank my Aunt Mary in Portsmouth for introducing me to 'Simon's Cat'. I hadn't heard of the site since she mentioned it a few weeks ago, but it's well worth a look.. Anyone who has ever had a cat will recognise every aspect of these vignettes.

Babble

I have been trying to get a good photo of some tiny birds which visit our feeding station daily. So small and so active, they are extraordinarily difficult to photograph, as I have found out. I have captured a couple of pictures this morning however, neither of them are very good as you will see, but here they are - The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus).

Looking like a tiny, feathered ball-and-stick as they flit around the branches, they are only 13 - 15cm long, including the tail, which in itself, accounts for at least 7cm.
Their nests are fantastic constructions of moss and spiders' webs. The webs make them rather elastic and they can expand to contain a large number of birds. Up to twelve chicks plus the adults can squeeze into these nests, making them rather crowded places.
During the winter months, many of these tiny birds will, sadly succumb to the cold, but to try to counter this, they will huddle together in large numbers to keep warm, sometimes re-using the nests for added shelter.

Not actually a member of the tit family, they are thought to belong to the exotic, North American Babbler family.