Darley Abbey Dawdle

Darley Abbey Dawdle

June 14th 2019

With the weather forecast not looking too promising and lots of our group with other commitments there were just three of us at Darley Abbey - even Bob and Betty had decided to stay at home and keep dry.

 

Who knew it was such an interesting place

 Strolling from the car park we finally met up - someone didn't read the email and parked in the wrong place.

Despite the grey skies every where was looking very lovely and amazingly it wasn't actually raining.

Of course the first stop is always for a coffee - we even managed to find some dry chairs and sit outside - as always there was plenty to catch up on, swapping tales of our latest travels and gastronomic experiences, grumbling about the weather and speculating about our next Prime Minister - we saved the complexities of Sharia Law for lunchtime. It still wasn't raining and we set off to explore - Helen J really does have a hotline to the weather gods.

Someone seems to be practising for our next photographic competition - however digital effects will not be allowed.

The walled garden is a delight - who doesn't like a lovely herbaceous border and there is a very fine line between needing weeding and achieving the wild look

Lovely euphorbia - or is it splurge!

Lots of insects enjoying the respite from the recent downpours

And the National Collection of Hydrangea's will be a delight in a few weeks

Intriguing view into a secret bit of the garden

 

Can't remember what the bird was but it must be a sign!

Very fine Bugingham Palace

more lovely borders

A wander through the streets of Darley Abbey and a bit of speculation about house prices and what a nice place it would be to live - although this sign is a bit of a worry - perhaps the locals aren't so friendly!

We did manage to restrain ourselves

 

Sadly the pub is closed

Our walk continued along the river and as if on cue to mark Jo's dads birthday we were treated to a perfect sighting of a kingfisher

 

and some grey wagtails

Here we go......



.....round......

.....the mulberry bush - actually it was a tree

Even a bit of watery sunshine

Lunchtime and the café and mugs were coordinated with Helen J's outfit - in fact we had trouble seeing her! The fried egg sandwiches were a great hit and the cheese on toast was jolly good too

 

Our bird list for the day:

 

blackbird

wren
robin

wood pigeon

magpie
crow

longtailed tit
dunnock

jackdaw
pied wagtail

swan
grey wagtail

moorhen

missle  thrush

mallard

swallow
house martin

kingfisher (bird of the day)

gold finch

black cap

(Autocorrect has just turned jackdaw into hacksaw and missle thrush into missile thrush)

 

"It was the Rainbow gave thee birth,
And left thee all her lovely hues......" (W.H.Davies)