That was my warm up. We back on to Parc Slip Nature Reserve with a pond and small lake near us. A year ago we were feeding 2 adult swans (birds not white shirt wearing pykies), their 3 cygnets and range of ducks, moor hen and coots. The adult swans returned in the Spring but the male may be a jaffa as no cygnets this year. There was a heron on the lake and he may have fed on any eggs laid. At one stage we had a pair of adult Canada Geese and at least 5 goslings. They disappeared quite quickly so the heron or maybe fox or even mine could have disposed of them. Only a month or so ago we still had the 2 swans, at least 18 greedy ducks, the coot family and a smaller moor hen family. Having been away for a couple of weeks, I braved a walk to Parc Slip after Lidl only to find no swans, only 3 ducks plus some remnants of the other water fowl. Do they have no sense of loyalty after I spent good money on water bird feed?
Went for a last day spin around the posh side of the area this morning - Old Amersham, Penn, Beaconsfield, The Chalfonts (St. Peters & St. Giles) then headed back to give the dogs a last trek around Hughenden Park before we head for home tomorrow. Lovely morning - bright and sunny in the car, then arrived back at Hughenden for the walk and it looked just the same. Got out and headed for the top of the park and it fugging pissed down. I found it quite refreshing but that feeling was not shared amongst my companions. trying to rub down just two struggling dogs is hard enough................ Got back to the cottage and the sun came out again. Didn't fancy the coffee and chocolate biscuits suggested, so 3 Peroni later I'm at peace with the world again.
A couple of days ago the people opposite me put a Niger seed feeder onto their hanger. Sure enough today came the unmistakable racket of Goldfinches squabbling around the feeder. About six of them. Such a joy to see.
We have open feeders in the garden. We get blue tits, great tits, sparrows, blackbirds, magpies, nuthatches, wood pigeons, collared doves, jays (beautiful birds, awful voice), woodpeckers - both types and up to 6 grey squirrels who usually see off the birds. I say unfortunately but they are very entertaining to watch. Our cat has given up chasing them as they fight back. Regrettably he occasionally leaves us feathered presents. Up in the sky we see the buzzard family every year and recently a red kite. There is always plenty to see if you look.
Unfortunately for them, many people are to busy, or just can't be bothered, to look. There is great pleasure to be taken from what is around you. The simple things in life.
You're absolutely on the money. Immediate gratification if you take the time to look. And on top of that, the opportunity for discovering, like seeing a bird you don't recognise and looking it up in a book or online.
When we had the first lockdown and people were pretty much confined to home with little traffic, wildlife ventured further afield. There was so much more to see and hear in our usual domestic settings.
As I've said a few times, I feel fortunate that my hobies put me in the environments to experience nature around us. Twice this year, without looking, Ive had good views of otter, just by being there. Spotted a few fungi yesterday but couldn't remember many. Time to get the book out. One I did recognise was the archetypal, children's book, red toadstool with white spots which I know to be Fly Agaric.
From an early age I’ve had a great love for animals. That’s one of the reasons I haven’t eaten meat for over 60 years. I had always wanted to go on safari in Africa to see the wild animals and for my 60th birthday I did just that. My trip was helped by TUI who were doing direct all inclusive holidays from Gatwick to Mombasa and I must admit that the poverty as soon as we left the arrival airport was hard to witness and we were able to visit a local orphanage where we brought food and paid for their quarterly electric bill which was a small amount by our living standards but so much appreciated by the owners. I had booked a two day safari trip (not long enough) to East and West Tsavo with a local guide and it was all that I had dreamed about. We saw four of the big five, no rhino, and so many different animals too many to mention. The evening was spent at the Kilaguni lodge looking out to Kilamanjaro. Since then I have been back to Kenya many times including a trip to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi to adopt a baby elephant and down the Rift Valley to the Masai Mara, probably the most exciting place to see animals in the wild. Hopefully I can return to this wonderful serene wilderness. My favourite place on earth.
Fantastic read Irish and I have to admit that it's left me quite envious. Hope you get back there soon.
Just hiding out in the tackroom with the dog while Mrs Remote cleans the chickens out. Spectacular thunder storm going on. Went from warm sunshine to cold and dark within 5 mins. Could see the cloud coming on fast with the time between flash and bang shortening quickly as the storm approached. Absolutely bucketing down. Biblical. Something primal about finding shelter when the weather is against you. Not the cosy feeling of being in a house, but being close to the elements. Horses, cows and sheep are all under the hedgerows. Chickens in the cowshed. Got caught out in a storm yesterday while fishing. Waders on and wading jacket with the storm cuffs tight and the peaked hood cinched in. Only my hands got wet as the rain beat the river to a froth.
The ability of people on this thread to paint a picture using words just gets better and better. I know exactly what you mean about finding shelter in a storm. Nothing quite like it. I expect you're glad of the rain.
