Red Deer
Fox Cubs
Monday, 2 August 2010
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Sunday, 1 August 2010
It's the same with fishing, if you don't go, you don't catch anything, you have to have a bait in the water to tempt a fish. The same logic applies to photography, if you don't go out you won't get the shot. It was with that thought in mind I decided on a walk. Firstly I called down the hide to top up the feeders, I wonder why I am bothering at the moment as there is very little showing. Having said that my bird seed is disappearing each day, so something is helping themselves to it, probably Squirrels, Mice, Crows and the like. As I left the hide I walked towards the Manor House, I had not been near it for some time now. Joe had been having an extension to the kitchen area so I was interested to see how it was progressing, as you can see from the image below, it is coming along mighty fine.
Manor House extension
Can you believe those roof tiles are man made, they are a double for Switherland slate, the materiel used for the main house. Looking around the duck pond I noticed three Indian Runner ducks, Sue had told me she had acquired some and was soon to let them out to take their chance in the wild, they reminded me of our runners that succumbed to the fox during the last Winter, although ours were not white in colour.
Indian Runners
I walked towards the little church that sits opposite the Manor House and sat in the grave yards for a while on one of the bench seats provided, it was so quite all I could hear was a Pigeon that was sat in the tree above me, it was making that throaty Pigeon noise that they make and it reminded me of my school days when I used to fish the canal at Newton Harcourt, funny how I always associate this sound with Newton. As I gazed over the fields in the distance I heard the squeal of a Kestrel, as I looked through my bins I caught a glimpse of him just as he landed on a leafless branch of an Oak tree. I watched as it's gaze followed a dog walking woman and her two dog's directly below. Obviously she was unaware she was being stared at, she was in no real danger though, never heard of a Kestrel eating a Human or a Dog come to that. I meandered across the field to bridge number 79 on the Grand Union canal. This bridge was under great discussion when I lived in the village during the 1980's because it was in urgent need of repair, British Waterways wanted to replace it with a modern concrete structure for cheapness I guess, but the villagers campaigned against that design and insisted it be rebuilt as the original was. I am so glad we did as it now stands in all it's glory for us all to enjoy for the next hundred years.
A view from bridge 79
I saw a guy fishing and got chatting a while, he had been retired a week and decided to get back into fishing having stopped around 20 years ago due to work commitments, he commented how it had took him forty five minutes to set his tackle up (sounds like my budgie mate Tuppy) He said when in his younger day's it would take him five minutes, it reminded me of a time in the 1970's when me and my Dad were fishing at Oulton Broad in Norfolk, tie this hook on for me our Mick will you he said, you old fart I thought, I can fully relate to him now. Poor old Dad, I wish I had been more tolerant towards him when I was younger.
Caught owt mate
As I passed under bridge 80 I saw a sign warning me of overhead power cables, there were other signs warning not to fish between two points again because of overhead power cables. It reminded me of a seminar on safety I attended when working, there was a police officer giving a talk on the power of signs, and to emphasise his point he held up a sign that would appear on the ladies toilet door and asked who would pass this sign, obviously the women in the room put up their hands as I did, but no one else. A no entry sign has the same effect, we do not enter, a no right turn etc etc. What a shame the guy who owned this pair of socks next to this sign did not obey it, obviously blown his socks off. I looked around for the rest of him but found nothing, so I guess he will remain a mystery.
Shocking or Socking!
A boat passed and I waved to the two guys sitting at the tiller and then smiled, why does it always seems to be the women that walk the tow path between locks with the lock paddle key in their possession, ready to open the next lock, I often wonder if they ever actually get on the boat at all, other than to cook that is. I watched as she struggled to open the paddles on each side and then pushed the lock gates open, all this while the two blokes were deep in conversation.
Hurry up luv
One thing I have noticed since I retired is that I have time now to actually stop and pass the time of day, something I considered a complete waste of time when I was trying to fit all the things I needed to do into the hours available when working, I walked past the Lock house and on to the far end of the field when I heard the noise of a strimmer in the small woodland that was planted in remembrance of John's Mum when she died, she loved tree's as does John so I guess it was no surprise to find the person on the end of the strimmer was infact John himself the owner of the house. I commented on remembering the day the tree's were planted and how it seemed only yesterday, he reminded me it was over 12 years now, amazing how much growth they had gained in that time. We chatted for some time about all sorts of things, and about how I had tried to purchase the lock house in the early 90's. I have to say then it was a mess, credit to John he has it looking great now. I got off the tow path at the end of John's Mum's wood at bridge 81 and took a photo looking back to the lock house, it looked so Serene.
Idyllic scene
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I returned to my patch having completed a circuit around one side of it, I walked towards the river and sat with my back against a fence post. It was so very quite, a Bullfinch came near but did not hang about long enough for me to get a picture, I was looking at a green woodpecker at distance with my binoculars as it attacked an ants nest with relish, when all of a sudden I noticed a Grey Heron walking directly towards me, It obviously was unaware of my presence, I took a picture of it as I did it heard the shutter click and was away.
Grey Heron
It just goes to show if you sit still long enough, nature will come to you. Did I get the shot? Yeah, I reckon I did.
Manor House extension
Can you believe those roof tiles are man made, they are a double for Switherland slate, the materiel used for the main house. Looking around the duck pond I noticed three Indian Runner ducks, Sue had told me she had acquired some and was soon to let them out to take their chance in the wild, they reminded me of our runners that succumbed to the fox during the last Winter, although ours were not white in colour.
Indian Runners
I walked towards the little church that sits opposite the Manor House and sat in the grave yards for a while on one of the bench seats provided, it was so quite all I could hear was a Pigeon that was sat in the tree above me, it was making that throaty Pigeon noise that they make and it reminded me of my school days when I used to fish the canal at Newton Harcourt, funny how I always associate this sound with Newton. As I gazed over the fields in the distance I heard the squeal of a Kestrel, as I looked through my bins I caught a glimpse of him just as he landed on a leafless branch of an Oak tree. I watched as it's gaze followed a dog walking woman and her two dog's directly below. Obviously she was unaware she was being stared at, she was in no real danger though, never heard of a Kestrel eating a Human or a Dog come to that. I meandered across the field to bridge number 79 on the Grand Union canal. This bridge was under great discussion when I lived in the village during the 1980's because it was in urgent need of repair, British Waterways wanted to replace it with a modern concrete structure for cheapness I guess, but the villagers campaigned against that design and insisted it be rebuilt as the original was. I am so glad we did as it now stands in all it's glory for us all to enjoy for the next hundred years.
A view from bridge 79
I saw a guy fishing and got chatting a while, he had been retired a week and decided to get back into fishing having stopped around 20 years ago due to work commitments, he commented how it had took him forty five minutes to set his tackle up (sounds like my budgie mate Tuppy) He said when in his younger day's it would take him five minutes, it reminded me of a time in the 1970's when me and my Dad were fishing at Oulton Broad in Norfolk, tie this hook on for me our Mick will you he said, you old fart I thought, I can fully relate to him now. Poor old Dad, I wish I had been more tolerant towards him when I was younger.
Caught owt mate
As I passed under bridge 80 I saw a sign warning me of overhead power cables, there were other signs warning not to fish between two points again because of overhead power cables. It reminded me of a seminar on safety I attended when working, there was a police officer giving a talk on the power of signs, and to emphasise his point he held up a sign that would appear on the ladies toilet door and asked who would pass this sign, obviously the women in the room put up their hands as I did, but no one else. A no entry sign has the same effect, we do not enter, a no right turn etc etc. What a shame the guy who owned this pair of socks next to this sign did not obey it, obviously blown his socks off. I looked around for the rest of him but found nothing, so I guess he will remain a mystery.
Shocking or Socking!
A boat passed and I waved to the two guys sitting at the tiller and then smiled, why does it always seems to be the women that walk the tow path between locks with the lock paddle key in their possession, ready to open the next lock, I often wonder if they ever actually get on the boat at all, other than to cook that is. I watched as she struggled to open the paddles on each side and then pushed the lock gates open, all this while the two blokes were deep in conversation.
Hurry up luv
One thing I have noticed since I retired is that I have time now to actually stop and pass the time of day, something I considered a complete waste of time when I was trying to fit all the things I needed to do into the hours available when working, I walked past the Lock house and on to the far end of the field when I heard the noise of a strimmer in the small woodland that was planted in remembrance of John's Mum when she died, she loved tree's as does John so I guess it was no surprise to find the person on the end of the strimmer was infact John himself the owner of the house. I commented on remembering the day the tree's were planted and how it seemed only yesterday, he reminded me it was over 12 years now, amazing how much growth they had gained in that time. We chatted for some time about all sorts of things, and about how I had tried to purchase the lock house in the early 90's. I have to say then it was a mess, credit to John he has it looking great now. I got off the tow path at the end of John's Mum's wood at bridge 81 and took a photo looking back to the lock house, it looked so Serene.
Idyllic scene
.JPG)
I returned to my patch having completed a circuit around one side of it, I walked towards the river and sat with my back against a fence post. It was so very quite, a Bullfinch came near but did not hang about long enough for me to get a picture, I was looking at a green woodpecker at distance with my binoculars as it attacked an ants nest with relish, when all of a sudden I noticed a Grey Heron walking directly towards me, It obviously was unaware of my presence, I took a picture of it as I did it heard the shutter click and was away.
Grey Heron
It just goes to show if you sit still long enough, nature will come to you. Did I get the shot? Yeah, I reckon I did.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Where's Mick gone?
If I needed a reason to go out today it was Jak's pet budgie sitting on my head saying "Where's Mick gone" after hearing it for the fortieth or fiftieth time I could stand it no more, where would I go? Any bloody where to get away from that bird, its getting worse that "Shining White Street if ya don't mind" going around in my head. I was reading about the forthcoming butterfly day where we can all take place in a day of counting butterflies, not sure I can be arsed with that but I could go out and photograph a few. I walked the local canal towpath with little success, but I noticed after a while I was paying more attention to putting my foot down on a clean part of the path trying to avoid the dog poo, rather than looking at what I could photograph.
I decided to visit Saddington Reservoir, well know locally as a good spot for flutterby's. As I reached the turn into the resi I became aware of a blonde girl in the field that the road borders.
Chance meeting
I parked up and went for a closer look, by this time she was kneeling down looking towards the ground, is she taking drugs I thought? I approached her and shouted are you OK? She stood and said she was then asked should I not be here, I replied no problem I just wondered if you were OK. It turns out she was photographing small things, i.e. grass hoppers and small mouths etc that were habitating there. She saw I had a rather large one (Lens, drag ya neck in) and we got chatting about photography, it appears she would like to be a Professional togger and wanted to study the craft in collage. She asked me about my photography and said I had inspired her, I felt very pleased. I said goodbye to Danny and wished her well, she said she was pleased to have met me, I wish all chance meetings were as pleasant as this one.
Walking around the reservoir I became aware of a high number of Damsel Flies, I am interested in these but do not really have the equipment to photograph them properly.
Banded Damesell Female
I may in time invest in a proper Macro lens. I saw some Peacock butterflies, these never cease to impress me with their vibrant colours and massive eye's on their wings to deter predators always amazes me.
Peacock Butterflies
The Cabbage whites which were in abundance never interested me but I did see a few Comma's another strikingly beautiful butterfly. I have never been happy with my butterfly and insect images, one I don't think I have the patience to get the shots I might, also the macro equipment to do the job properly so I guess I will have to make do for now, I just can't resist photographing them when I get the chance though, and it gives me something to do when the birds are scarce which they appear to be at present as far as I am concerned.
Comma Butterfly
Not too many Dragon Flies to be seen around the reservoir but I did see a few Common Darter, i prefer the colouration on the female to be honest but I guess they are both beautiful in their own way.
Common Darter (Male)
Common Darter (Female)
I was getting bored now, giddy is probably a better description spinning around with the camera pressed to my face chasing bloody insects all over the place, so I decided to get myself over to Gumley, but before I did I took one last shot of a Bee on a thistle, when I looked at the pic on the PC I noticed the Hover Fly, hovering. Bonus aye.
Bonus
I know an area in Gumley near the cricket pitch where a large Bramble grows and is a heaven for Dragon Flies for a reason unknown to me. But as I reached my chosen spot I noticed a tractor to my right, the guy inside got out and walked towards me, I said Hello mate to which he replied, you know you are way of the public right of way don't you? I replied no I didn't, he said well ya do now F. Off. I can hold my own in a shouting match but thought it would be fun to watch this guy explode as he appeared pretty much wound up as it was. I asked him not to swear at me, he said he will do as he liked as I had no right to be on his land. I asked him what rights did I have to which he replied you have no F.ing rights now F.off. I explained to him he was totally wrong and that I infact did have a right to be there, is that your car he said, yes I reply (which was parked one metre off the main road. He threatened to get his tractor and remove it, feel free I said and while you are doing that I will call the Police.
Mr Grump
I reminded him that he may well have been the bully at school, it may well have got the results he craved for, but it certainly was not going to work with me. At this point he stormed off muttering to himself and headed back to his tractor. I wished him well and suggested he have a nice day. What a contrast to the start of my day and other chance meeting in the field with Danny. I can't say it did not spoil my day a little, a simple would you get back on the road and I would have been gone. I wonder what wound him up today, maybe one of his cows shit on him at milking, I have to say I don't blame her either.
I decided it was time for home, I was mad, but was not going to let one annoying liaison spoil my day, as I entered the house Jak whistled me as she always does when I get back, Billy flew on my head and said "Where's Mick gone" made me smile.
I decided to visit Saddington Reservoir, well know locally as a good spot for flutterby's. As I reached the turn into the resi I became aware of a blonde girl in the field that the road borders.
Chance meeting
I parked up and went for a closer look, by this time she was kneeling down looking towards the ground, is she taking drugs I thought? I approached her and shouted are you OK? She stood and said she was then asked should I not be here, I replied no problem I just wondered if you were OK. It turns out she was photographing small things, i.e. grass hoppers and small mouths etc that were habitating there. She saw I had a rather large one (Lens, drag ya neck in) and we got chatting about photography, it appears she would like to be a Professional togger and wanted to study the craft in collage. She asked me about my photography and said I had inspired her, I felt very pleased. I said goodbye to Danny and wished her well, she said she was pleased to have met me, I wish all chance meetings were as pleasant as this one.
Walking around the reservoir I became aware of a high number of Damsel Flies, I am interested in these but do not really have the equipment to photograph them properly.
Banded Damesell Female
I may in time invest in a proper Macro lens. I saw some Peacock butterflies, these never cease to impress me with their vibrant colours and massive eye's on their wings to deter predators always amazes me.
Peacock Butterflies
The Cabbage whites which were in abundance never interested me but I did see a few Comma's another strikingly beautiful butterfly. I have never been happy with my butterfly and insect images, one I don't think I have the patience to get the shots I might, also the macro equipment to do the job properly so I guess I will have to make do for now, I just can't resist photographing them when I get the chance though, and it gives me something to do when the birds are scarce which they appear to be at present as far as I am concerned.
Comma Butterfly
Not too many Dragon Flies to be seen around the reservoir but I did see a few Common Darter, i prefer the colouration on the female to be honest but I guess they are both beautiful in their own way.
Common Darter (Male)
Common Darter (Female)
I was getting bored now, giddy is probably a better description spinning around with the camera pressed to my face chasing bloody insects all over the place, so I decided to get myself over to Gumley, but before I did I took one last shot of a Bee on a thistle, when I looked at the pic on the PC I noticed the Hover Fly, hovering. Bonus aye.
Bonus
I know an area in Gumley near the cricket pitch where a large Bramble grows and is a heaven for Dragon Flies for a reason unknown to me. But as I reached my chosen spot I noticed a tractor to my right, the guy inside got out and walked towards me, I said Hello mate to which he replied, you know you are way of the public right of way don't you? I replied no I didn't, he said well ya do now F. Off. I can hold my own in a shouting match but thought it would be fun to watch this guy explode as he appeared pretty much wound up as it was. I asked him not to swear at me, he said he will do as he liked as I had no right to be on his land. I asked him what rights did I have to which he replied you have no F.ing rights now F.off. I explained to him he was totally wrong and that I infact did have a right to be there, is that your car he said, yes I reply (which was parked one metre off the main road. He threatened to get his tractor and remove it, feel free I said and while you are doing that I will call the Police.
Mr Grump
I reminded him that he may well have been the bully at school, it may well have got the results he craved for, but it certainly was not going to work with me. At this point he stormed off muttering to himself and headed back to his tractor. I wished him well and suggested he have a nice day. What a contrast to the start of my day and other chance meeting in the field with Danny. I can't say it did not spoil my day a little, a simple would you get back on the road and I would have been gone. I wonder what wound him up today, maybe one of his cows shit on him at milking, I have to say I don't blame her either.
I decided it was time for home, I was mad, but was not going to let one annoying liaison spoil my day, as I entered the house Jak whistled me as she always does when I get back, Billy flew on my head and said "Where's Mick gone" made me smile.
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Monday, 26 July 2010
Torbay B&FBS Show
My budgie partner and I were invited to judge the Torbay Silver patronage show over the weekend, and what a great event it turned out to be even though the show hall was a little restrictiveat times, it appeared to be bulging at the seams with birds and exhibitors. If this show gets any more popular the Committee will seriously have to consider looking for a larger venue. The standard of the birds throughout the sections were outstanding and it was a pleasure to be able to judge some of them, my only issues was the space restriction when judging, making it difficult for me to access the birds properly, also the light was not great. Having said that we were made most welcome and treated exceptionally well from start to finish.
The major winning exhibits were staged in excellent condition, with the Best in show award going to Brian Sweeting's wonderful Grey Green cock, a real show man just like his owner.
Brian with his Best in show.
Best Young bird in show went to Roger Long's Cinnamon hen, Roger was also awarded Best Opposite sex Young bird with his Spangle cock.
Roger & Kath Long
Intermediate Any Age was awarded to C. Williams and the Intermediate Young bird award went to. P. Huntley.
In the Novice section I was pleased to see Darren Snell do very well by taking both Novice Any Age and Young Bird, no wonder he had a smile on his face all Sunday afternoon.
Darren Snell
Barry Lowe took both Beginner sections, also winning the Light Green Challenge certificate with his excellently staged Light Green cock.
Ronnie Biggs
The Junior section was dominated by Tom Salem, I was so pleased to see Tom do so well after his poor breeding season, I am sure he feels much better about his birds now than he did earlier in the year.
Nice one Tom.
All in all a very good day, rounded off by a BBQ at the lovely home of Sue and Barry Lowe. The woman chatted all night, I wonder where the Guy's were? Oh Yes, admiring Barry's budgerigars.
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.
Jeff Attwood & Ian discussing budgies
Barry inspecting a nest box.
I would like to thank Sue & Barry on behalf of myself and my partners for your wonderful hospitality, but get some bloody tea bags in before our next visit. Please pass on our thanks to your Committee and Members for a very pleasant judging experience and a lovely weekend.
The major winning exhibits were staged in excellent condition, with the Best in show award going to Brian Sweeting's wonderful Grey Green cock, a real show man just like his owner.
Brian with his Best in show.
Best Young bird in show went to Roger Long's Cinnamon hen, Roger was also awarded Best Opposite sex Young bird with his Spangle cock.
Roger & Kath Long
Intermediate Any Age was awarded to C. Williams and the Intermediate Young bird award went to. P. Huntley.
In the Novice section I was pleased to see Darren Snell do very well by taking both Novice Any Age and Young Bird, no wonder he had a smile on his face all Sunday afternoon.
Darren Snell
Barry Lowe took both Beginner sections, also winning the Light Green Challenge certificate with his excellently staged Light Green cock.
Ronnie Biggs
The Junior section was dominated by Tom Salem, I was so pleased to see Tom do so well after his poor breeding season, I am sure he feels much better about his birds now than he did earlier in the year.
Nice one Tom.
All in all a very good day, rounded off by a BBQ at the lovely home of Sue and Barry Lowe. The woman chatted all night, I wonder where the Guy's were? Oh Yes, admiring Barry's budgerigars.
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.
Jeff Attwood & Ian discussing budgies
Barry inspecting a nest box.
I would like to thank Sue & Barry on behalf of myself and my partners for your wonderful hospitality, but get some bloody tea bags in before our next visit. Please pass on our thanks to your Committee and Members for a very pleasant judging experience and a lovely weekend.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Wednesday started with me getting up early and having a walk around Brundall, the Swallows were still in numbers around the marina and a Pigeon was starting the build a nest in a small tree, other than that there was not a lot about, we had decided to visit Whittlingham Country park, this is reachable by boat with a small public mooring for around six boats. We set off up river in both boats, pushing the tide we decided on a nice steady pace, it was a wonderful Summer Norfolk day. As we reached Woods End we started to see a few Kingfishers along the river bank, Geoff pointed one out to me sitting on a rope of an old boat tied outside a farm house, I could not get a good shot but it was not for the want of trying. Jak kept circling the boat maneuvering into position for me to get the best view, the very obliging Kingy must have been peeing himself at our antic's. I happened to look up as we were playing silly beggars on the river to see three strapping Policemen, bloody hell I thought, what now.
Evening all
I apologised for taking up most of the river and blamed Jak, they said OK, we all laughed as they passed us, I wouldn't mind a job like that I thought. We continued our trip to Whittlingham and arrived about forty minute later.
Geoff tied up first and then it was my turn, the girls Jak and Julia decided to sit at the side of the river and have a natter and enjoy the sun, Geoff and I chose to have a walk, maybe not the best idea on such a hot day, it was very warm as we set off and not long before the decision to take my tri-pod seemed a bad one. We went off the beaten track into the wood in the hope of spotting some birds (any birds yes) and dragon flies on the edge of the wood, we were disappointed, even more so when out of the blue we were confronted by a flight of steps made from wood and bark as the path we were following decided it would go straight over a huge hill. We both made it OK but Geoff did admit to Julia later that he thought he may not. On exiting the wood we found ourselves walking along a cut off the main river Yare, here we did see a few Dragon Flies although too nifty to get any pictures of them.
Geoff noticed a different looking bird as we watch some bathing Greylags, we could not recognise what it was but it looked like a cross between a Greylag and some other Goose.
Greylag cross?
Geoff at the half way point
Eventually we arrived at the halfway point around the main Whittlingham Broad, thankfully there was a bench seat where we rested a while, we got chatting to a guy with a camera and large lens about our sightings, I recalled I had spoke to him before at Rockland Dyke I remembered he was very evasive at that time, he was no different today. We did get out of him that the woman he was with was not his Wife, and that the Wife was at home, time to move on we felt. Geoff spotted a Dragon fly that looked like a young Broad Bodied Chaser, the light was wrong for a perfect image but managed a shot anyway.
Juvenile Broad Bodied chaser
We were struggling by now and wished we had taken a drink with us, we could see the boats in the distance although a way off, and eventually managed to reach them and enjoyed a very welcome drink. It was not long before we decided to head off to the pub and get a meal, arriving at Woods End we moored and enjoyed a very welcome shandy, the menu was not to our liking so we decided to move on and eat at the Yare pub.
Moored outside The Wood End
A good day was had by all and another was expected tomorrow as Geoff's Brother Jim was due, time for me to gain revenge in the fishing stakes.
Thurday we went into Surlingham Broad, a lovely little Broad just off the river Yare, but on route we came across a Great Crested Grebe with its babies on its back, such a lovely site.
Grebe family
On entering the Broad where I usually photograph Cormorants that roost and dry their wings after fishing on a dead tree, I was disappointed to discover the tree had fallen down possibly due to being subjected to years of Cormorant poo. I will be interested to see where they choose now to dry. We had a slow cruise around the edge of the Broad and saw a couple of Grey Herons fishing, these birds are very wary and fly off at the drop of a hat. I did manage to take a picture of each one and also saw another hiding in the reeds/tree branches.
Grey Herons at work
It was not long before the silence was soon broken as Geoff turned up with his Brother and the girls, a quick chat then we all set off down river for a cruise.
Meet the Tuplins
Jak likes to drive our boat from time to time, she does what I call religious driving " Across here across there" and when she does manage to keep it straight does so on the wrong side of the river. We moored in Rockland Staite and I got the electric connected so we could have a brew. A fishing match did take place and I regained my title, enough said.
Walking around the Broad I saw a Chinese Water deer, plenty of butterflies and some some Warblers, entering the the bird hide I could here a Sedge Warbler, its very difficult to get a clear view of these. I have the Sedge's call on my mobile and played it to them, in seconds there were four or five flitting around I was unable to get a shot of one though, they just never stay still.A couple of Flutterby's
I was getting a little peckish by now so headed back to the boat, we had decided on a BBQ Geoff said he had never done a BBQ before but was bragging about the fact Julia had won one in some competition. I thought wait until you see mine.My BBQ
Do you think we should join Mick
A great meal, a couple of drinks and some great fun was had by all. Jim, Rene and Kev had to head back home so it was time to get back to the marina, Geoff led the way as we followed in convoy across the wonderful Rockland Broad, it was a mill pond and looked so peaceful.
Rockland Broad
We arrived back at the marina and said our goodbyes to Jim, Rene and Kev, I guess they go back to "Shining White Street" now. Geoff decided on a bit of fishing while I sat on my boat with a cuppa, we chatted about what a great three days we had just had and about when we would be back for more. Tired, and ready for bed I said good night.
Evening all
I apologised for taking up most of the river and blamed Jak, they said OK, we all laughed as they passed us, I wouldn't mind a job like that I thought. We continued our trip to Whittlingham and arrived about forty minute later.
Geoff tied up first and then it was my turn, the girls Jak and Julia decided to sit at the side of the river and have a natter and enjoy the sun, Geoff and I chose to have a walk, maybe not the best idea on such a hot day, it was very warm as we set off and not long before the decision to take my tri-pod seemed a bad one. We went off the beaten track into the wood in the hope of spotting some birds (any birds yes) and dragon flies on the edge of the wood, we were disappointed, even more so when out of the blue we were confronted by a flight of steps made from wood and bark as the path we were following decided it would go straight over a huge hill. We both made it OK but Geoff did admit to Julia later that he thought he may not. On exiting the wood we found ourselves walking along a cut off the main river Yare, here we did see a few Dragon Flies although too nifty to get any pictures of them.
Geoff noticed a different looking bird as we watch some bathing Greylags, we could not recognise what it was but it looked like a cross between a Greylag and some other Goose.
Greylag cross?
Geoff at the half way point
Eventually we arrived at the halfway point around the main Whittlingham Broad, thankfully there was a bench seat where we rested a while, we got chatting to a guy with a camera and large lens about our sightings, I recalled I had spoke to him before at Rockland Dyke I remembered he was very evasive at that time, he was no different today. We did get out of him that the woman he was with was not his Wife, and that the Wife was at home, time to move on we felt. Geoff spotted a Dragon fly that looked like a young Broad Bodied Chaser, the light was wrong for a perfect image but managed a shot anyway.
Juvenile Broad Bodied chaser
We were struggling by now and wished we had taken a drink with us, we could see the boats in the distance although a way off, and eventually managed to reach them and enjoyed a very welcome drink. It was not long before we decided to head off to the pub and get a meal, arriving at Woods End we moored and enjoyed a very welcome shandy, the menu was not to our liking so we decided to move on and eat at the Yare pub.
Moored outside The Wood End
A good day was had by all and another was expected tomorrow as Geoff's Brother Jim was due, time for me to gain revenge in the fishing stakes.
Thurday we went into Surlingham Broad, a lovely little Broad just off the river Yare, but on route we came across a Great Crested Grebe with its babies on its back, such a lovely site.
Grebe family
On entering the Broad where I usually photograph Cormorants that roost and dry their wings after fishing on a dead tree, I was disappointed to discover the tree had fallen down possibly due to being subjected to years of Cormorant poo. I will be interested to see where they choose now to dry. We had a slow cruise around the edge of the Broad and saw a couple of Grey Herons fishing, these birds are very wary and fly off at the drop of a hat. I did manage to take a picture of each one and also saw another hiding in the reeds/tree branches.
Grey Herons at work
It was not long before the silence was soon broken as Geoff turned up with his Brother and the girls, a quick chat then we all set off down river for a cruise.
Meet the Tuplins
Jak likes to drive our boat from time to time, she does what I call religious driving " Across here across there" and when she does manage to keep it straight does so on the wrong side of the river. We moored in Rockland Staite and I got the electric connected so we could have a brew. A fishing match did take place and I regained my title, enough said.
Walking around the Broad I saw a Chinese Water deer, plenty of butterflies and some some Warblers, entering the the bird hide I could here a Sedge Warbler, its very difficult to get a clear view of these. I have the Sedge's call on my mobile and played it to them, in seconds there were four or five flitting around I was unable to get a shot of one though, they just never stay still.A couple of Flutterby's
I was getting a little peckish by now so headed back to the boat, we had decided on a BBQ Geoff said he had never done a BBQ before but was bragging about the fact Julia had won one in some competition. I thought wait until you see mine.My BBQ
Do you think we should join Mick
A great meal, a couple of drinks and some great fun was had by all. Jim, Rene and Kev had to head back home so it was time to get back to the marina, Geoff led the way as we followed in convoy across the wonderful Rockland Broad, it was a mill pond and looked so peaceful.
Rockland Broad
We arrived back at the marina and said our goodbyes to Jim, Rene and Kev, I guess they go back to "Shining White Street" now. Geoff decided on a bit of fishing while I sat on my boat with a cuppa, we chatted about what a great three days we had just had and about when we would be back for more. Tired, and ready for bed I said good night.
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