The ABC starterpack for 2019

 

Allestree, Birds and Croots

or

Action, Babes, Camera!

 

Friday 11th January 2019

 

A cool, watery sun greeted Jo, Maggie, Julia and the Helens in the round car park at Allestree Nature Reserve.   Over a flask of coffee, mini-stollen  and a brief chat about Christmas presents already opened, wearing, eaten or drinking from, we heard a familiar tweet from up on high. Blue tits are welcome to be first on our 2019 bird list.  But, will we add to our rolling bird count and come closer to our target of the magical one hundred?

 

Shadows prove the sun is out. 

 

We think about Pam skiing in Pamporovo and wonder if Alison is skiing in the Ali-pines. We talk about setting up a WhatsApp group which might be useful in the future when the right word won't come to mind, but a picture or emoji might say it all. It might also help those who don't read their emails properly!

 

Bob and Betty have clearly escaped!

 

We plough on up the hill, waiting patiently for the golfers to do their bit before crossing the green, stop to catch our breath and admire the rather extensive views. The golfers may look small but...

 

.. we didn't wish to be their target for the day!

 

And looking the other way, we spend a bit of time discussing the brick chimney in the far distance and all agreed with Helen M that it must be another...

 

Strutt creation at Milford.

 

Although this may start to sound like an A.A. Milne story, we continue into Big Wood, where, yet again, Helen M's close observation correctly identifies presence of a quarry: Sand Quarry, a Regionally Important Geological Site. In fact, there is a lot of very interesting information on the 'inderby' page about the long-term management of Allestree Nature Park, including lots on flora and fauna, but at over 150 pages long, is a bit much for the blog. Some of us start to see a few more birds, including a cheeky robin, a pair of jays and five magpies...

 

Five for silver.

 

Walking up and down quarry paths is tiring work and worthy of a sit-down ...

 

and a treat...

 

Betty: Quick Bob, swap places and we might get another treat!

 

A gentle downhill walk through mixed trees brings us to a rather impressive tree.  It is time to see if we can find a bird or two.  This pair of ring-necked parakeets capture everyone's attention and are possibly the only birds everyone sees at the same time! Fairly new incomers to the park, whilst looking exotic and colourful, it probably won't be long before there are far more....

 

This old woodpecker hole in the tree looks perfect for a nest.

 

We drift down to the pond, where, courtesy of other dogs and children, we do a quick count and manage a pair of overwintering beauties...

 

Goosander

 

And a pair of regulars

 

Tufted duck

 

Just as we are heading for the car park, a dog-walker, with whom we had chatted whilst talking about chimneys, offers to take a photograph.  Never missing an opportunity for a bit of a pose, we line up.  When she starts to remove all the orange cones and bits of debris, it becomes pretty clear that she knows what she is doing.... 

 

A favour is then asked and without thinking what this might be, we agree. Laura from AF1 Photography then lines us up, repositions us and  snaps away.

 

Result!

 

We finish off our walk, quite excited by the prospect of appearing in Laura's display window in Allestree.  But, what are we promoting?  A wedding,? A family portrait? Or, are we ... an Event!

 

We turn up at Croots, where Lynn has been waiting quite patiently for us.  Once six-soups-a-slurping have been downed, we cover a range of topics.  Amongst these, we do talk..

 

well, Lynn, mostly!!..

 

We talk about seeing, but make no actual plans to see Jane, where apart from seeing Jane, we would have a wonderful opportunity to develop our bird skills and may even see a manx shearwater (and not pretend this time!). We chat about the wonders of cauliflower, soup made from Christmas leftovers and marmite vs brussel sprouts, but not together!  The usual other topics arise: being guardians of family heirlooms (posh for 'stuff', and 'no' Alison, she hasn't!) and Bubbles' next adventures where she's not going to be a jet-setter for all of them!

 

And so, we come to the end of a wonderful day and count up our birds. 

 

black-headed gull

blackbird

blue tit

coot

cormorant

crow

dunnock

goldfinch

goosander

great tit

grey heron

jackdaw

jay

kingfisher (but only by Jo... hmm, was she excited?)

magpie

mallard

moorhen

ring-necked parakeet (new for the record!) Bird of the day.

robin

tufted duck

woodpigeon

wren

 

22 for the day, which is good considering all the talking we were doing.  If only Pam had been with us, we could have added Raven to the list. Courtesy of the ring-necked parakeet we are now on 98 for our running total. We have plenty of birds we wish to see make the first 100 and hope that Bittern and Goldcrest may be there.  But which ones make it,is anyone's guess!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bubbles in the USA (mark 2)

Falls, ponds and trees

 

A Truly Tree-delicious Tansley

14th December 2018

 

We were off to a good start with Maggie, Alison, Jo and the Helens all meeting up according to Jo's very precise timetable of activities.  A good wintry sunshiney day ordered by yours truly. Plus, Betty and Bob promised their very best behaviour too.  Pam would arrive later but Charlotte and Julia were lighting up London, so a bit too far to come.

 

Proof of progress.

 

Clearly, today was going to be...

..a barrel load of fun.

 

The last time the babes had attempted this trip, it were raining a fair bit, with rumours of lashings of water tumbling down the street and from above, drenching the wenches.  So much so, that Lynn (with an alleged soggy bottom) declared an about turn and headed back to the pub.  She made sure this was not going to happen again, so joined us later in the dry. This was as far as some babes got last time.

 

Maggie does a rain-check and declares we can continue.

 

We tootled along with wonderful views of the long and winding road through Tansley.

 

Bob is allowed to take the lead

 

 

Betty: Fancy a luxury holiday, Bob?

Bob:  Nah.  Julia's offered to take us in!

 

We found a path which led us into the woods towards the waterfall.  To liven up our walk we had a little practice of how to watch kiwis in the dark, which involved a lot of very precise military style manoeuvres.  Needless to say, we didn't see any. Perhaps it was because dogs aren't allowed in kiwi areas. We did however see a couple of alpaca which are allowed to live in kiwi land.

 

Versatile alpaca, available for nativities.  Speciality: doubling up as sheep or camel.

 

You've been framed!

 

Babes a bit lost in the wood

 

About turn... it's this way!

 

Whilst trying to get back to the proper path, we try a bit of cloud spotting

 

Success!

 

And we eventually find a bit of a waterfall, but it isn't the right bit. 

 

Good for a tree-creeper though.

 

We do another about turn and end up going in the right direction. 

 

Jo cleaning up the poster.

 

Middle pond reflections

 

Lower pond reflection.

 

And finally, we arrive at exactly the right place, a little further down the way than originally thought. It is a beautiful waterfall and definitely worth the wait.

 

 

 

 

But perhaps it is a  bit too much for one person...

 

Ahhh.. not another one!

 

The ruins of the old, now not working multi-purpose mills: lead smelting, bleaching, saw mills,   of Lumsdale are still quite impressive. A pity the ground is still polluted with little growing on it.  History suggests we should learn from this, but.....

 

 

 

Two ruins for the price of one!

 

We can't linger.  Gotta meet Lynn.  But we do stop to admire the local countryside.  There is a bit of a bark off with a field of sheep.  And despite some very sturdy stares, Betty succeeded in frightening the whole flock away.

 

Up the Rams!

 

We make it in time to the Gate Inn, espying Lynn with her coffee and Pam joins us just intime for lunch.  There is quite a lot of catch up to be had and a lot of advice given.  Stop storing and get rid of stuff!  Just incase you get peckish later, take a doggy box-bag when travelling in the States and NZ. If you've done three morning paper rounds on a round of toast, you are entitled to lunch.  Cook all things at 200 degrees c.  When in Marrakech, check out Yves St Laurent's garden and clothing department... much better than the souks! 

 

Maggie with a man on her head!

 

Further treats awaited us, in of all places the car park!

 

Yep.. seasonal exchanges.  Anyone left out?

 

In convoy, we then tootled down the road to the local church for our next surprise.  A delightful collection of locally decorated Christmas trees.

 

We all agreed with Alison's favourite.

 

Further treats were instore at the local Garden Centre for most babes, but no photos to prove it. The Helens drove off down the somewhat busy A38 in a blaze of a blindingly good setting sun. I passed you Helen, did you see me?

 

A small bird list of 12 for the day, but a rather festive count:

 

Blackbird

Coal tit (bird of the day)

Great tit

Crow

Magpie

Mallard

Mistle thrush

Sparrow

Starling

Tree creeper

Wood pigeon

Wren

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bubbles goes cruising (again) again!

Second Fun Friday

ILAM

9th November 2018

 

First Fridays seem to be turning into second Fridays as first Fridays seem to be popular days for people doing other things! so here we are on the second Friday of the month meeting at Ilam at 11.03 as 11am at Ilam is a bit confusing.

We don't have Helen J to organise the weather for us but we have our fingers crossed that the rain will stay away. 

Maggie, Lynn and Charlotte aren't able to join in the fun today and Helen J is presumably fast asleep on the other side of the world.

Bob and Betty seem very pleased to see each other again but they are both a little bit disappointed when they are put back in their respective vehicles whilst the rest of us go for coffee.

 

We certainly aren't going to lose Julia today!

 

In an attempt to be well organised and efficient Helen M has printed off the walk leaflet - however on closer examination it seems that we have step 1 of the walk and then step 7,the other steps are presumably still in the printer! thankfully Alison has picked up a leaflet and is quickly given the responsibility of walk leader.

What a very responsible dog owner - just don't forget where you have left that little parcel Jo.

We are all trying to remember when the last time we visited Ilam was - Alison has a distant memory of a school trip which no one Lee can remember - apart from Julia none of us have visited recently which seems a bit of an oversight as it has much to recommend it.

 

After a bit of a false start we set off on the correct path - hard to miss when we were on the right side of the river and look we spotted some seagulls in the distance - but then we all heard a voice from very far away say 'There's no such thing as a seagull'

 

Not sure what the languages are or why those ones have been chosen.

Come on Pam its this way.....

.........not this way, although it looks quite tempting

 

For some reason Pam kept very quiet about the fact that she had a proper map in her bag - obviously reluctant to take responsibility

Bob watching the birdie and Betty ignoring it completely - or perhaps she had spotted the dipper which we kept seeing (has to be bird of the day as it is about the only one that we have spotted!)

 

 

There's no doubting who the figure in the distance is

Having reached the stepping stones the question is are we brave enough to cross them with two lively dogs in tow

Of course we are brave enough - and it was all going so well until Betty fell in and had to be rescued by Julia and we had just been talking about the risk assessment we should have completed.

On the way back the rain caught up with us but at least we had managed to stay dry for mot of the time and even though it was grey and damp everywhere looked very beautiful.

Back at the start we said goodbye to Jo and Bob who had to be elsewhere and with a soggy Betty safely in the van we headed to the  café for lunch, cauliflower and stilton soup all round.

Up coming travel plans were discussed and minor scandals were touched upon.

We had hoped to do the short walk round the grounds after lunch but decided to save it for another time 

The tables on the lawn outside looked lovely and we resolved to make this a venue for a hummer visit when we can make the most of them.