More Wateriness

 Sunday saw me taking a long hike out to Hawton and then across to Farndon, looking for winter thrushes along the Hawton-Farndon road.

In the past I've seen a lot of fieldfare in the fields along this lane, but not a sausage. Not seen a single winter thrush yet, but I'm rather more urban in this flat than I used to be. 

Willow Holt was, as expected, very boggy looking, boggy in the sense of being completely underwater in places. No way through here! But hey, it was a two hour walk in the open air, and I enjoyed it.

I'm recapturing the enjoyment of trundling along listening to Radio 4. When the plays are good, and the programmes interesting, I take such joy in it!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.01.21

The Blue Meadow

I've had a more productive day today, thank the stars, getting my bike repaired this afternoon at the local bike shop, and then heading out on a long early evening walk out to Farndon and back.

The himalayan balsam is now in rampant flower along the river in the Willow Holt reserve. This invasive plant, that out competes native species thanks to its voracious seeding habits, provides attractive colour - it is the UK's largest annually flowering plant - but at a cost.

I think they look rather like triffids, personally, although without the blinding stinger and habit of feeding off corpses.

A good view of a fox running across a ploughed field was a bonus.

I went to Cottage Lane reserve in search of dragonflies, but found none. What I did find was a meadow that was absolutely blue with tufted vetch. I've never seen so much in flower in one place.

It made it very much worth the visit. And a two hour walk at times like this is very beneficial to mental health.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.07.20

A Small Tort and a Comet

I had a very pleasant two hour walk to Farndon this afternoon, wandering through the Willow Holt nature reserve and back into town along the river. With only two weeks before I return, nervously, to work, I want to cram in as much outdoors time as possible.

The best sight today was a small tortoiseshell feeding off flowering teasel, while in town I discovered that a small colony of sand martins have nested in a spoil heap created by the excavation of the new marina.

Judging by the huge number of swifts now screaming over town, there's been a successful nesting season!

The most exciting thing I've done in the last 24 hours is spotting Comet Neowise. It's an easy naked eye object at the moment, and looks amazing in binoculars. However, finding it required walking up the street in my pyjamas at 330am to the library gardens in order to find a clear northern horizon, as it is a low object to find.

I rather feared being stopped by the police. Worth it, as it's the third best comet I've seen after Hale Bopp and Hayakutake in the mid 90s.

The planets too were on fantastic form, if big spheres of rock or gas can have form, with the moon and Mars close together, Jupiter and Saturn too a glorious pair, and Venus blazing low in the north-east.

It's been a good day.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.07.20

The Formerly Flooded Farndon

Determined not to waste a Saturday despite a strong breeze as the latest somewhat milder storm blew through, I headed off for Farndon after doing such exciting things as buying a new kettle and toaster.

Living it large eh?

Earlier in the week the Trent at Farndon had burst its banks and flooded right up to the Wyke Lane, leaving the Boathouse pub literally that, although they still let in customers through the back door.

The flood waters however have receded pretty quickly, and now only the Willow Holt nature reserve is still underwater really, which it often is in winter anyway being very low lying. Wyke Lane was blocked though so I had to divert round.

There's still plenty of flowers on view; the verges are full of snowdrops albeit a bit past their best, and the little green by the pub is covered in crocuses. Every so often a few geese flew by, in the opposite directions to the stubby cormorants who always remind me of Star Wars X wing fighters in flight, and are deadlier even than them to fish.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.02.20

A Walk with Work

So, today was the day I took some of my colleagues out for a nature stroll around Newark and Farndon that took in three nature reserves, and a long attractive stretch of the River Trent.

Luckily there was much to see, kestrels, buzzards, reed bunting, goldfinch, cormorants, herons, swans grazing on the land, a few butterflies and bees, and most importantly a pub!

I hope they enjoyed it. It was a different sort of day for me!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.04.17

Snowdrop Run

I was so lazy yesterday I felt that only a really long, punishing run would make up for the inactivity of yesterday. So I decided I would go cross country, out to Farndon via Hawton, to look at the usually very impressive snowdrop displays they have there.

Punish was the word, as it was pretty muddy out there and I nearly went over several times, the worst one on a slight slope by entrance to Willow Holt, when I did a metre long double footed skid in full view of a couple of dog walkers, fully expecting to break my leg or impale myself on a gate post.

Luckily I didn't. Instead I styled it out, looking across to the chuckling pair and their pooch, and knocking on my chest in the age old signal of fear.

As it turned out, I was early for the snowdrops at the back entrance to the village, they are up, but not out! However, there were other nice displays, and over the weekend as a whole there's been plenty to look at.

In a few weeks, Kelham Hall will be the go to place for snowdrops. They are always amazing there.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 06.02.17