Return

Malcolm and I returned yesterday evening from our nine-day stay in Benidorm. The weather, although sunny and pleasant, was cooler than we had in January. In fact with nighttime temperatures around 4C it was probably no warmer than back home. The sun shone on us however, and it was wonderful to see many flowering plants in full bloom, which we don't usually see earlier in the year.
A few new species for me to cross of my lists of plants and birds, more of which, later. We will start today with a familiar plant to many of us, as we grow it in our gardens, here in Britain. The crown Daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium). The flowers can be almost any colour, and indeed, sometimes you may find more than one colour on a single plant.

Another familiar plant to us in Britain and growing all over the place around the hills of the Sierra Helada in Benidorm, is the Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

A beautiful, small, yellow flower which is in full bloom at the moment is known as Fumana ericoides.

One of the more common bird species t be found around the countryside of Benidorm is the Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). As common as sparrows, they flit about, flicking their tails constantly as they go. Beautiful!

Sunshine!

What a wonderful day! The sun was shining bright and clear as we walked up the hill to Shipley Wood and the old hall. The Snowdrops are in full bloom now, so we thought we would have a look at them before they fade again.

Thousands of these tiny, white flowers were nodding in the breeze and the dappled sunlight on the woodland floor. What a great sight! The Bluebells and Daffodils are also starting to show in great profusion. The 'Daffs' are starting to show a little colour already and will soon be taking over from the Snowdrops, but for now, one last look. Who can resist them?

Keeping Tabs

Remember the ship Vasily Shukshin? Well, after leaving King’s Lynn it went the short distance, up the east coast to the Humber. Along the Humber, past Hull before turning sharp left into the river Trent to a small port called Gunness near Scunthorpe. After a few hours there, it moved back up the Trent a few miles to the even smaller loading quay at Flixborough. There is a large engineering firm there so, maybe it was picking up something to take to it’s next destination. It is now in for a longer journey as it is due to arrive in the Spanish port of Bermeo (Basque Country), near Bilbao on 9th March.

Isn’t it amazing what you can find out on the internet?

Tempus Fugit

On this day last year, Malcolm and I were poking around Barcelona. Where has the last year gone? The walk we had around Shipley Park this morning, was not so 'big' on architecture as Barcelona!

However nice it was to see the sunshine today, it was still wet under foot and the mud was still a bit of a nuisance. Not like last year at this time.

The only similarity with our morning ramble, (albeit a tenuous one) was the "ramble" we had along "Las Ramblas" in Barcelona...

Fight!

Spring must be on the way. The Robins (Erithacus rubecula) are always a little belligerent to say the least, but at the moment, they are positively murderous.

This little fellow is currently standing guard on the grass in front of our window and chasing off almost all other birds which dare to set foot on it's 'patch'. The poor little Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) are being particularly singled out for rough-and-tumble.

While at my mum's house on Monday, there were a couple of Stock Doves (Columba oenas) in her garden, pecking around under the bird feeders, waiting for the smaller birds to drop some tasty pickings. Not always easy to distinguish from other doves and pigeons, these are more commonly seen in open countryside rather than urban gardens like mum's.

Back home and another visitor to our garden. This time, a four legged one who would give the Robin a run for it's money, given half a chance. Oscar, the cat from next-door has grown somewhat larger since I last posted his picture on here, but remains absolutely gorgeous.

And rather photogenic!

Lynn 2

More about King's Lynn again today and as we looked around the docks area, there was a ship being unloaded at the dockside of the Bentinck Dock. The Vasily Shukshin is a cargo vessel, built in 1995. It is 295ft long, 43ft wide and has a dead weight of 3,078 tons.

The ship was off-loading timber from Scandinavia, belonging to the Finnforest Company. The ship had been loaded in the port of Helsinborg in Sweden, from where it departed for King's Lynn on the 26th February, so had done pretty well to get to Lynn by 1st March at a speed of approximately 10 knots (11.5MPH). Vasily Shukshin (the person after whom the ship was named), was a famous, Russian actor, screenwriter and film director).
Information about this and all other ships can be found HERE.
As well as the Docks, King's Lynn has a small fishing fleet, fishing mostly for shellfish.

The silted-up fleet was full of rather rusty and dilapidated boats when we were there, but the ducks and gulls were enjoying paddling through the mud, looking for small crustaceans to eat.

Among the boats still in use, are a number of much older, rotting vessels in various states of decay.

All pointing to the fact that the port and fisher fleet of King's Lynn, have seen better days!

Lynn

Yesterday, Malcolm and I took a trip to King's Lynn in Norfolk, to visit my mum. As mum had an appointment with the chiropractor, we took her there and went on to have a short walk along the banks of the river Great Ouse and take a look at the old fisher fleet and docks.
The river Great Ouse, is the fourth longest river in the UK at about 143 miles in length. It rises in Northamptonshire and passes through such places as Brackley, Buckingham, Milton Keynes at Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Olney and Kempston before continuing through Bedford, St Neots, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, and St Ives.

It has been re-routed, straightened and 'improved' many times over the years but still flows out into the Wash at King's Lynn.

The town of King's Lynn was the third most important port in England by the 14th century and was a great player in the Hanseatic League - a 13th - 17th century trade-based league of cities of the Baltic states, Northern Europe and other states bordering the North Sea.
The Port itself, has long since declined and is now used for the importation of wood from Scandinavia and the dock-side silo complex that facilitates efficient processing of grain.

The large grain silo on the shores of the Bentinck Dock is the tallest building in Lynn and can be seen from miles away as you approach the town.

More of Lynn to follow.