Gelly Babes July Jubilation

Trent Lock

July 15th 2014

Numbers for this month's gathering were seriously depleted as Pam, Maggie and new recruit Lynn were otherwise engaged. Nevertheless three stalwart members soldiered on and had a lovely, leisurely afternoon and evening.

Pam had suggested Trent Lock as a venue and an excellent suggestion it was. Helen J had ordered good weather and that too turned out to be perfect after a rather unpromising start to the day.

Two Helens started with a very leisurely (and expertly made!)coffee at Helen J's, sitting in the garden  and having a good old chat.

We then drove to Trent Lock and started a leisurely stroll along the canal.

Very elegant dancing swans - would have been better as a video!

Just as we arrived at this bridge Jo phoned to say she had arrived early and was having a cup of tea in the pub garden so we retraced our steps and joined her.
After our cuppa the three stalwarts set off in the glorious sunshine along the canal towards Attenborough

'Mmmmm - that's an interesting fact'

The beautiful blue waters of the river Trent!

We managed to spot quite a few birds along the way with the help of our resident expert and despite the fact that Jo had forgotten her binoculars.

There's definitely a bird in there somewhere!

Here is the list:

Black headed gull

 Bullfinch (female)

Buzzard (attacking heron)

Canada geese

Chaffinch

Cormorant

Common tern

Coot with chicks

Crow

Goldfinch

Heron with chicks

House martin chicks

Jackdaw

Magpie

Mallard

Moorhen with chicks

Sparrows bathing in dust

Swallows on the wire

Swans with cygnets

Whitethroat with young

Wood pigeon

Wren (heard)

 22 birds and we weren't even trying. Both buzzard and whitethroat are first recorded sightings.  The whitethroat was identified with the help of the special bird on Helen M's phone! Not sure the traditionalists would approve but it is an RSPB app. This brings our total for the year to 60.

At one point there was talk of a bittern - but it turned out it was just Helen J being bitten by an insect! 

There were also lots of beautiful dragonflies but no one had an app to identify what sort they were. 

Swans with six cygnets - they were very entertaining!

We walked back along the canal to the pub where we sat outside in the last of the sunshine for our meal which included a free mini pudding thanks to the voucher which Helen J had found on the interweb. The heron even flew over several times to entertain us a we ate. Another lovely Gelly Babes get together, hopefully we can all make it next time and we may even fit in the art activity!

This was the beautiful sunset as we drove home (taken by passenger not driver!)

Gelly Babes June Jolly

Ogston

June 24th 2014

 

A lovely day for our June jolly, the plan was for a walk, a little light bird watching, an art activity and a nice meal, little did we know that the weather had other plans.

Two Helens were treated to a lovely lunch at Maggie's and perfectly on schedule we set off to Ogston only getting slightly misplaced on the way, it's always nicer to take the pretty route anyway.

The weather was still perfect as we set off for our walk and Sherpa Jackson assured us that we didn't need wet weather protection - in fact a small lightweight lilac umbrella would be ample protection for all three of us. So glad I didn't listen to her!

The walk took us all round the reservoir. The first bit is on the road but very little traffic and opportunities to stop and look for birds.

 

Admiring glances from a passer-by for a fine pair of bins!

 

Shortly after we had walked though Ford and the water treatment plant we spotted a very large black cloud following us, by the time we reached he river the heavens had opened and we were forced to shelter under some trees.

Keep Smiling it will only be a shower

(according to Phillip!)

 

The rain didn't show any sign of shopping so we had to press on regardless, the lilac umbrella really came into it's own!

 

 

 

At least one of us was fully prepared.

 

The walk took us along the banks of the river Amber through a 'cow of fields' it would have been very pretty had it not been chucking it down with rain  and we were also a bit anxious about being trampled to death by the cattle.

 

 

Yes this is the path!

 

Long wet grass and shorts are not a good combination as Helen J discovered to her cost, hopefully she will have learned her lesson and be better equipped in future.

The walk came beck out on the road just outside Brackenfield by which time the rain had almost stopped.

 

Drying out in Brackenfield Church porch.

 

The walk then followed the Ogston New Road along the side of the reservoir which gave us another good opportunity for a bit more bird spotting. Interesting fact: the wall along this stretch of roadway was built with stone from buildings which were demolished to make way for the reservoir.

Back at the car park we had coffee and biscuits, huddled in the campervan feeling quite cold and chilly - but not downhearted! Only very slightly behind schedule Jo arrived to join us and eventually Pam made it too. Sadly Lynn wasn't able to join in the fun this time as she had to go for an MOT test!

 

A bit of a squash but warm and dry

 

A Gelly Bloke!

 

Chris arrived to whisk Maggie away for the evening - we didn't allow him in the van as he can never hope to be a true Gelly Babe but he seemed quite happy sitting on a stool outside.

After Maggie had left we went to the bird hide to see what we could spot. Here is the list for the day:

Common tern (new) if only it had been a posh tern!

House Martin (new)..... all the rest we have seen before and this has helped consolidate our knowledge...... really can't beat a bit of consolidation!

Chaffinch
Bullfinch

Magpie

Mallard
Coot
Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe

Oystercatcher

Greylag geese with young

Canada geese

Tufted Duck

Swallow
Blackbird
Wood pigeon

House sparrow

Buzzard
Kestrel
Heron (not herring)

Crow

Cormorant
Robin

..... and to complete our wildlife tour a jumping fish. 

All the other birds of course were in front of the bird hides which are only accessible to Ogston Bird Club members. Apologies for not absolutely sure about the gull... couldn't see its legs.

 

After all the excitement we retired to the Greyhound pub at Higham where we were able to conclude the days gossip and have two courses for £8 - well most of us are pensioners.

 

We suspect that Pam had been off roading!

 

 

A lovely spot, a lovely day (despite the weather) and free parking too!



 



 

Gelly Babes Birthday Bash

Chatsworth Café Crawl

May 20th 2014

 

 

A perfect May day.

After some initial confusion involving teeth, rampaging cows and lack of mobile phone signal, two Helens and Pam finally met up at Chatsworth garden centre. We enjoyed a very welcome pot of tea and caught up on all the news. Unfortunately all the tea drinking and catching up meant that we had very little time left for the walk which we had planned. We did manage to walk across the road to take in the views and Pam almost managed to take a photograph!

 

Pam proudly showing off her new camera and discovering that it actually works better with batteries!

 

Having aborted our plans for a walk we drove up to the farm shop to meet up with Jo and Lynn. It was lovely to see Lynn especially as it was her birthday and to enrol her officially as Gelly Babe! We were able to catch up with all her news and were especially interested to hear her views on living in Skegness. 

 Jo's very carefully chosen gift for Lynn

 

The second pot of tea of the day

 

We did eventually get thrown out of the café - we did start to get the hint when they started cleaning up around us! And we said our goodbyes to Lynn who was going off for a birthday meal with her family.

 

Wonderful view from the tea shop at Chatsworth Farm Shop

Three birthday girls - and Pam!

 

Helen's lovely birthday bush

The very carefully made plan was to go for a walk before our meal, however once again too much talk and tea meant that there really wasn't time. So we drove back to Beeley to the Devonshire Arms. Helen J got changed into evening attire just in case the Duke and Duchess dropped in! 

We did have time for Helen to give us all a demonstration of Nordic walking which made us all feel much healthier and the raucous laughter helped us work up an appetite for our meal.

 

That's the way to do it!

For some reason the landlord hid us away in the malt vault which meant that we weren't in danger of disturbing the regulars (or the Duke and Duchess for that matter - needless to say they didn't pop in for a pint)

The food was lovely and we had a delightful evening

 

 

Cheers!

 

Next time we really will do a walk - think we had better plan somewhere where there aren't any tea shops! 



Gelly Babes April Amble

Carsington Capers

April 29th 2014

 

 

This month we decided on an evening gathering which meant that Jo would be able to join us. Once again the weather was kind to us.

Helen M, Helen J and Maggie met at four o'clock at the Sheepwash car park but thanks to Maggie's earlier reconnaisance we were able to avoid paying for car parking and made judicious use of a nearby layby - as pensioners we really can't afford to squander money!

We walked to the first bird hide (thankfully nothing untoward was happening in there and we had it all to ourselves) The recently purchased binoculars of the novices were put to good use.

 

Signs of spring everywhere - and a very bewildered goose!

 

We then walked on towards the visitors centre and on the way we met a real proper expert bird watcher who helped us spot a red start. We knew he was a real proper expert as he was wearing camouflage clothing and a hat - please take note Mrs J!

 

Impossible to take her seriously dressed like this!

 

At the next hide we met up with Pam and Jo and our training continued. The redshank was bit of a highlight and there were some delightful little birds on the bird table just outside the hide. 

 

That will be an orange tit warbler!

 

We could all have happily sat in the hide for the rest of the evening but our leader dragged us off to continue our walk and then blamed the poor old fishermen for the lack of birds - but we really didn't do too badly and the goldfinch was a bit of a star! - here is the list:

 

Oyster Catcher

Red Start

Barnacle Goose

Pintail Duck

Great Crested Grebe

Reed Bunting

Tree Sparrow

Moorhen

Chaffinch

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Mallard

Magpie

Red Shank

Black headed Gull

Coot

House crow

Jackdaw

Tufted Duck

Collared dove

Cormorant (not Shag)

Wood Pigeon

Pied Wagtail

Robin

Blackbird

House Sparrow

Blue Tit
Goldfinch

Rook

Swallow

Wren

 

They have obviously spotted a very beautiful bird!

 

The evening was rounded off with a very pleasant meal at the Knockerdown Inn, prepared by an ex Gell pupil whose name I can't remember at the moment! And a lengthy discussion of the dental problems of a generation - amongst other things!

 

A very bad photograph of our last sighting of the evening - Jo wanted to add cock to the list but I have censored that addition.

 

 

 

Gelly Babes March Meander

Four Old Birds go Birding

 

March 11th 2014

 

Today the Gelly Babes are on a mission to become birdwatchers - under the expert tuition of Helen J.

We met at Attenborough Nature reserve and headed straight to the café for coffee and a good chat before we got down to the serious business of bird watching.  The weather was absolutely perfect again, a bit chilly in the wind but lovely sunshine and a real feeling of spring.

Helen had set homework for us and we had all come equipped with books and binoculars. Pam had even dressed for the occasion.

 There was lots to spot before we even set off

Pam looking like a real proper birder

(definitely not a twitcher!)

Helen in action - probably spotting a pintail!

 

We spent quite a long time in a hide (thankfully nothing untoward was happening in there!) where we learned that great tits often pretend to be chiff chaffs, thank goodness there was another birdwatcher on hand to clarify things for us.

 

The view from the hide

 

We headed back to the visitor centre for lunch - soup and pasties followed by cake. Fully fortified we set off for a longer walk, taking in the river.It really is a lovely spot and hard to believe it is only a few miles from the centre of Nottingham.

 

At one point on our walk Helen was accosted by a twitcher who was hunting for pintails - he had the audacity to doubt her knowledge - he was gently but firmly put in his place - Helen knows her pintails!

 

This is the list of birds that we spotted throughout the day:

Tufted Duck

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Mallard

Black Headed Gull

Coot

Red Crested Pochard (doesn't really count apparently)

Egyptian Goose

Great Crested Grebe

Long Tailed Tit

Shelduck

Moorhen

Lapwing

Grey Heron

Carrion Crow

Teal

Pintail

Goldeneye

Wigeon

Gadwall

Great Tit

Reed Bunting

Dunnock

Chaffinch

Robin

Green Finch

Tree Sparrow

Cormorant

Little Egret

Greylag Goose

Pheasnt

House Sparrow

Starling

 



and something small brown and unidentified which is lurking somewhere in this photograph and is probably very rare.

 

 







I can't believe how many birds we spotted thanks to our expert teacher - I just hope that I can remember at least some of them in the future and I am definitely going to get some decent binoculars but probably not Swarovski ones - I think the crystals might dazzle the birds.