Whirling around Willington

Whirling around Willington

Friday 12th July 2019

 

Well trained in time keeping, Helen J was greeted by Maggie, Alison, Jo and Bob, Helen M and a whirling dervish of a Betty at precisely 1015 at the definitely free Willington station car park. A combination of reasons meant Julia, Charlotte, Lynn and Pam were unable to join us. A pity, it were good!

 

With good weather promised by both the BBC and yours truly, we still took precautions and had a spell of waterproofs, now on, now off, now ..... 

 

Definitely not something to do with our age!

 

Feeling a bit adventurous, we started, not with a coffee but a walk along the tow path. Although it was very tempting to have a splash in the canal, there were plenty of other curiosities to investigate. And, in typical fashion,

 

 

Betty's attempts to 'barge' in are thwarted. 

 

Over the bridge and into a field we come across a land art spiral made from local willow cuttings and, once we had found the entrance, couldn't resist seeing where it ended up: in a very snug middle, of course!

 

Maggie daren't sit down in case she gets her white (!) trews dirty!

 

Poetry, sketches and sayings add a bit of humour, but hopefully this was not a prophecy for later on.

 

 

We are now about to enter Mercia Marina, named after the Kingdom of Mercia which came to an abrupt end around 800AD when the Danes deposed of the Vikings and deposited their bodies in Repton.  A pity they didn't sort out the dinosaurs at the same time......

 

 

Alison also checks out other ancestral facts.

 

Mercia Marina has, over the last few years,  developed into a 74 acre marina with shops, restaurants, holiday homes with plenty of boating and walking opportunities..  It also been awarded a gold star for its rich wildlife from David Bellamy, but I bet he didn't expect courtship between a mute and a black swan!! 

 

Pretty in pink.

 

We check out a few of the barges and reminisce a little about barging holidays.  We think about maybe a GB barge trip.  But, if we were to buy one, what would we call it?

 

  'Bwaajigengwaagan'?  'Rampant Rhubarb' ?

 

By now, desperate for a coffee we decide it is definitely sunny enough to sit outside.

 

Helen makes sure we all get a dry seat and a good view.

 

Amongst chat about the usual things, we decide that armchair viewing of music festivals may not be very atmospheric, but at least you get a good view and opportunity for a brew up whenever you like.   We have also decided that Bubbles will now be on a strict ration of  Days of Culture (arts, sport, food... anything to stop her getting on a plane to somewhere exotic).  Assisting at a concert would do very nicely!

 

A cheeky robin poses long enough for a fuzzy photo.

 

Freshened up, in more ways than one, we set off on the next leg of our journey.

 

What, no wifi in Willington?!

 

We spot quite a few more narrow boats.  This one is perfect for Alison: a place to grow her flowers and veg, and if you look very carefully in the window,

 

display her hand knitted crafts!

 

The green paint is obviously the undercoat!

 

Another interesting 'observation'..

 

Crossing the roads in Willington proved to be quite a challenge, and because there had been quite lot of housing development, we were not quite sure where the footpaths might lead.  Perhaps this is why the locals need clear signage

 

for local people.

 

However, a very kindly gentleman helped us out and those of us familiar with the village, have now discovered a new way into Willington Nature Reserve. What a treat! Lots and lots of unkempt flora and fauna. Identifying everything proved a bit of a challenge, but when Helen J asked Alison to hold a plant still for a photo, little did either of them realise that  Cinnabar Moth caterpillars are highly toxic!

 

Should have suspected that stripy things equal danger!

 

At least other creatures seemed to be more friendly:

 

I am not an apostrophe floating in the air; I am a comma

 

If I told you that we saw a rhino in the grass, you woodn't believe me!

 

We pottered down the welcoming shady lane and stopped off at a couple of viewing platforms.  There was some discussion about whether the kestrel was indeed a peregrine, or the peregrine was even a sparrowhawk.  Something didn't 'quite fit'; 'it' had a moustache but later ID (and a Phil comment, which must not be ignored) means that we saw a hobby which for which the reserve is famous!

 

Look, 'it' is even on the poster!!

 

A quiet spot and look how still Bob is..

 

Perfectly still.

 

So, how his lead got completely tangled up with the bench, is anyone's guess! 

 

 Having walked precisely 7.5km each (or an even less scientific few thousand steps), we were a little hungry and Bevington Tea Rooms did not disappoint.  Betty and Bob were greeted with a sausage each and we all tucked into delicious granary bread garnished with something scrumptious and a cuppa tea (mostly). Further cauliflower recipes were shared, as were our concerted efforts to recycle,  freecycle and more attempts at ridding ourselves of plastic.

 

 

The peace and quiet was soon shattered, not just by a barky Bob but by several whirly things in the sky.

 

If only Alison had booked one of these instead of a balloon flight, we might have had a 'fly-by' today!

 

Whilst our wildlife list also included other butterflies, rabbits and a stoat, our bird list was good for the day.  Perhaps this had been a good omen at the start of our walk:

 

 

black headed gull

black swan** (An introduced bird but it fits number 101 perfectly!)

blackbird

blue tit

buzzard

canada geese

common tern*

coot

cormorant (birds of the day for their playfulness and seal-likeness)

crow

goldfinch

great crested grebe

great tit

grey heron

hobby** (I defer to the wise one and gut instinct)  

house martin*

house sparrow

jackdaw

little egret*

magpie

mallard

moorhen

mute swan

oystercatcher*

pochard*

reed bunting (or posh sparrow!)

robin

starling*

swallow

tufted ducks (in eclipse)

wren

 

31 for the day. 60 for the year.  * are firsts for the year. 102 for our running total.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 



Tissington Trail

Twittering about in Tissington

Friday 10th May 2019

 

A good turn out today meant we were six out of nine babes and three out of four dogs meeting at Tissington car park, very much on schedule for a lovely day out. We missed Maggie and Charlotte who were otherwise occupied.  With Helen J assigned to the blog and feeling a little under par, which might mean bits of info missing but there was certainly one birdie faux pas, rectified below.

 

Whilst Betty circles Talitha to see if she will play, Julia notices some dodgy activity.  It being Alison's actual birthday, there are some concerns that she might be after yet another car.

  

You had a car for your 59th, Alison, you can't have Helen J's as well!!

 

 

Ooh, what mischief shall we plan for today?

 

Bob keen to get on with his business!

 

 

First, things first, a trip to the local café.  A slow Talitha stroll  meant we were able to enjoy the beautiful setting, spot our first birds and admire the local waterlife. A few minutes later tiny tots from the local Forest school escape for a bit of fresh air, but with data protection preventing actual proof of their line up, we are only able to publish ...

 

one crocodile....

 

We see Pam driving round in circles, so we know she will be around sometime soon and makes us up to seven.  An 'in tents' conversation follows at the café.  Alison should have been on her balloon trip today but unfortunately had to postpone, so Jo fills her in on how to prevent injury in case of gusty winds and a bumpy landing.   But if Alison's next flight also gets postponed, Pam can always  help out with her newly acquired  inflatable tent.  Chasing its landing might be fun activity for the rest of babes too!

Look into my eyes, my eyes... Bob's eyes!

 

We plan the rest of the day and decide to keep things simple:  do the trail, return to the café for lunch, avoid the rain. Not realising  there is a fault in the plan, we set off back through the village and chat about pension schemes.  For those still working, it appears that contributions towards supply work may not amount to that much.  In fact, the returns are probably worth less than the coins

 

in the undressed, decidedly  naked well.

 

In the car park we hear a song trush... yes, I repeat... I repeat... I repeat, a song, not a mistle thrush greets us. As we start up the trail, Betty is a little disgruntled..

 

Not fair, Talitha is allowed off the lead

 

 

The walk is one of the prettier sections of the Tissington Trail, with views, hedgerow birdsong, lots of flowers  and a striking orange tip butterfly.  And we are not mown down by cyclists, well, not quite.  Use your bell in plenty of time or shout, we all twitter to ourselves.

 

 

Fifty shades of green

 

One shade of blue

 

Lynn and Talitha have already headed back as a discussion on the pronunciation of  words ensued.  Bath or Bath? Castle or castle? Parwich or Parwich?

 

Tis definitely a scone though.

 

 

 

Squashed egg and

 

fungi makes for a Jo sort of breakfast!

 

We then can't quite decide which way to go, but as Bob needs to collect one of his little presents, it is decided...

 

back from whence we had come.

 

The route is a little quicker back down the trail, just with reverse views  

 

One bridge

 

looking a bit like another

 

But we do manage a little bit of a change and with huge, uneven man-sized steps, follow a different way into the village

 

 

With both dogs firmly on their leads, we are able to make it across the fields without any trouble at all. And Betty remarks that it is lucky Talitha has already gone home!

 

 

Seeing double...

 

Naturally, when in Tissington, talk turns to Well Dressings, but it is one of relief that, that is all in the past for us now.  And it is with good knowledge that we know that this beauty will be past its best by the time the Tissington Wells are decorated

 

Scrambling Montana Rubens,

 

Pam gets ideas for her rockery.

 

We enjoy our lunch outside in the sunshine with views of the St Mary's church

 

Obviously noticing its moated fortification

 

We chat about the family which own the Hall and research explains its uniqueness, in that the family who live there are direct descendants of one of its original builders from the 11th century.  The family welcome visitors to their home, but they are also described as 'unspectacular landlords', which apparently is a compliment.  More interesting though, the architect of the wing which houses the library and billiards room is none other than the eminent Arnold Mitchell. So, maybe we have a way in without having to pay.  Helen M... you need to check your chronicles!!

 

 

 

Having a cartload of fun.

 

In the meantime, Jo tried to leave so she could catch a puffin for her supper, but is thwarted by the persuasive tactics of the village's latest ice cream seller.  

 

 

Would you like a flake with that?

 

And then the mischief' reveals itself.  We may not have had the thunder, but we certainly had the rain and hail, arriving so quickly we hardly had time to make ourselves waterproof!  A kindly lady let some of us into her potting shed and a couple of lovely looking plants were bought.

 

 

And so endeth a lovely day, but all is not yet over.  We have a very important announcement for the bird list.  We saw or heard 24 birds today, 52 for the year and this brings our ongoing total to 100.  Our target! So, we have two special entries today: the blackcap for its wonderful song and our prize bird, the linnet (seen by five, but only three of these were babes!).  It therefore has a special entry.

 

blackcap** No 99 ( the icecream bird)

blue tit

buzzard*

chaffinch

chiffchaff*

collared dove*

coot

crow

dunnock

goldfinch

great tit

grey wagtail*

house sparrow*

jackdaw

linnet** No 100 (yeah!  Our target bird!)

magpie

mallard

pheasant (heard)

pied wagtail

robin

song thrush*(heard)

swallow

wood pigeon

wren

 

Upon this leafy bush

With thorns and roses in it

Flutters a thing of light

A twittering linnet

From 'The Linnet' by Walter de la Mare

 

Or, you may like to know that its latin name is Carduelis cannabina.  Perhaps it twitters about because of its liking for eating hemp seeds! Its flight call is also a gossipy chichichichit. 

 

Quacking good information!