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Post by felonious on Apr 19, 2019 17:43:06 GMT
Caution to the wind, 'Ne'er cast a clout' and such be damned. Nice out. Early evening balmy pondering. I'm sure it's a Garden Warbler, on top of the hedge. Ten foot away, giving it his warbling all. 'Nightingale' the neighbour shouted. I'll double check in the Bird Biographies later. But nah.... Songthrush giving it large here and not in a good way. I went outside thinking that the sparrow hawk might need moving on but the source of its displeasure was a buzzard in the adjoining field being dealt with by the crows and the swallows.
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Post by potterinleeds on Apr 19, 2019 17:57:25 GMT
Saw my first bluebells in flower up here on an early morning run today. Then went to the match - frustrating - but a balmy 21C at Middlesbrough, topped up my tan. Plenty of greenery visible in the fields either side of the A19.
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Post by felonious on Apr 19, 2019 18:00:59 GMT
Saw my first bluebells in flower up here on an early morning run today. Then went to the match - frustrating - but a balmy 21C at Middlesbrough, topped up my tan. Plenty of greenery visible in the fields either side of the A19. I saw loads today out exploring Consall country park. I didn't get to explore quite as much as I wanted because one of the footbaths was closed due to pheasant shooting.
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Post by Northy on Apr 19, 2019 19:48:22 GMT
Saw my first bluebells in flower up here on an early morning run today. Then went to the match - frustrating - but a balmy 21C at Middlesbrough, topped up my tan. Plenty of greenery visible in the fields either side of the A19. Plenty out around here two weeks ago, lovely smell of them on a steep bank as we ran past last night. The wild garlic is smelling now
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Post by Northy on Apr 19, 2019 19:50:55 GMT
Found a robins nest in a small bag of aquatic compost round the side of the house, half full bag with a slot at the top. 2 eggs yesterday, 3 today, won't be looking anymore as it's active.
Blackbird nest in the pyrocanthea at the top of the garden.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 5:39:57 GMT
Found a robins nest in a small bag of aquatic compost round the side of the house, half full bag with a slot at the top. 2 eggs yesterday, 3 today, won't be looking anymore as it's active. Blackbird nest in the pyrocanthea at the top of the garden. I noticed a blackbird nest in the pyracantha hedge at the end of our garden too yesterday. Well I didn't exactly notice it myself, I saw our damned cat (it's the wife's pet not mine !) was sitting transfixed in the mixed border in front of the pyracantha just staring up at it.. I then saw a male blackbird making several trips in and out of the hedge. Just hope the babies (and parents) survive the cat's attention once they hatch. The nest seems to be about 5 feet off the ground and looks fairly well protected in the hedge so I hope our little monster doesn't get hold of them. I didn't go close enough to see if there are any eggs.
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Post by Northy on Apr 20, 2019 6:33:29 GMT
Found a robins nest in a small bag of aquatic compost round the side of the house, half full bag with a slot at the top. 2 eggs yesterday, 3 today, won't be looking anymore as it's active. Blackbird nest in the pyrocanthea at the top of the garden. I noticed a blackbird nest in the pyracantha hedge at the end of our garden too yesterday. Well I didn't exactly notice it myself, I saw our damned cat (it's the wife's pet not mine !) was sitting transfixed in the mixed border in front of the pyracantha just staring up at it.. I then saw a male blackbird making several trips in and out of the hedge. Just hope the babies (and parents) survive the cat's attention once they hatch. The nest seems to be about 5 feet off the ground and looks fairly well protected in the hedge so I hope our little monster doesn't get hold of them. I didn't go close enough to see if there are any eggs. Can't the cat have an accident when the wife isn't looking.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 6:52:42 GMT
I noticed a blackbird nest in the pyracantha hedge at the end of our garden too yesterday. Well I didn't exactly notice it myself, I saw our damned cat (it's the wife's pet not mine !) was sitting transfixed in the mixed border in front of the pyracantha just staring up at it.. I then saw a male blackbird making several trips in and out of the hedge. Just hope the babies (and parents) survive the cat's attention once they hatch. The nest seems to be about 5 feet off the ground and looks fairly well protected in the hedge so I hope our little monster doesn't get hold of them. I didn't go close enough to see if there are any eggs. Can't the cat have an accident when the wife isn't looking. Only in my dreams !
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Post by Northy on Apr 21, 2019 19:04:58 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way
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Post by felonious on Apr 23, 2019 18:57:23 GMT
This afternoon's walk was along the canal from Consall Forge to Froghall Wharf. Spotted a grass snake swimming I the canal. Watched while it swam from one side to the other bank.
Bolton's Chimney looks magnificent in that valley. One of the iconic sights in the area.
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Post by Northy on Apr 23, 2019 19:24:43 GMT
This afternoon's walk was along the canal from Consall Forge to Froghall Wharf. Spotted a grass snake swimming I the canal. Watched while it swam from one side to the other bank.
Bolton's Chimney looks magnificent in that valley. One of the iconic sights in the area. Have you retired
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Post by felonious on Apr 24, 2019 5:40:55 GMT
This afternoon's walk was along the canal from Consall Forge to Froghall Wharf. Spotted a grass snake swimming I the canal. Watched while it swam from one side to the other bank.
Bolton's Chimney looks magnificent in that valley. One of the iconic sights in the area. Have you retired Not quite but I'm on a mission to fill in the bits that I haven't walked over the years. I discovered Consall Country Park last year I can't remember anyone mentioning it over the years. There must be so many places within North Staffs that residents don't know the existence of.
I didn't know Berryhill park existed until I did the 10K. I'd never been on Parkhall until I marshalled the cross country last year. There'll be walkers on here that have never been to Apedale, Silverdale country park, Bateswood nature reserve, etc the list is endless. I think we're absolutely awash with fabulous places to go to in the area.
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Post by zerps on Apr 24, 2019 11:55:30 GMT
We rediscovered tittesworth on Friday. A cracking walk followed by a beer and some food in the sun. Awesome.
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Post by felonious on Apr 29, 2019 4:50:31 GMT
I decided to do a late afternoon walk over at Bateswood Nature park and reserve yesterday. For those who don't know it's an expanse of land in the middle of Halmerend, Alsagers Bank, Scot Hay and Leycett. There's a fantastic reveal as you approach from the bottom of Halmerend by the Railway pub end and it opens up to a full view of the lake and the park heading up the hill towards Alsagers Bank.
Yesterday I decided to use one of the offshoot paths which I'd meant to go on for years and ended up going through the most fantastic meadow full of cowslips and through a few miles of woodland ending up in Madeley Heath. Coming back through the enclosed nature reserve section there is a high wet plateau and the noise of the skylarks was almost drowning out the distant hum of the motorway.
If you drive down the M6 from J16 to J15 it's the fantastic piece of greenery on the left all the way to Keele services.
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 29, 2019 5:43:08 GMT
I decided to do a late afternoon walk over at Bateswood Nature park and reserve yesterday. For those who don't know it's an expanse of land in the middle of Halmerend, Alsagers Bank, Scot Hay and Leycett. There's a fantastic reveal as you approach from the bottom of Halmerend by the Railway pub end and it opens up to a full view of the lake and the park heading up the hill towards Alsagers Bank.
Yesterday I decided to use one of the offshoot paths which I'd meant to go on for years and ended up going through the most fantastic meadow full of cowslips and through a few miles of woodland ending up in Madeley Heath. Coming back through the enclosed nature reserve section there is a high wet plateau and the noise of the skylarks was almost drowning out the distant hum of the motorway.
If you drive down the M6 from J16 to J15 it's the fantastic piece of greenery on the left all the way to Keele services. Sounds fab, Fel. Fido would've loved to walk that route with you. Oh! Look at the date! Another couple of days and I'll be able to post the delightful song 'Now Is the Month of Maying' on 'ere again. Can't wait!
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 29, 2019 15:33:31 GMT
Wild Garlic (again!)
Calling Cheesy, calling Cheesy..... Come in Cheesy! O wise one, I crave a boon! Just looked on Az Smile for Wild Garlic, and was delighted to find that you can buy growing leaves/bulbs of it, so I'm going to get some - but can I just ask your advice about growing it? I gather it likes woodlands - ie. darkish and shady, like bluebells - but I haven't really got anywhere like that….. well, actually I have got one shady-ish border, but it's very long (and full of perennial flowers) and the trouble is that one www site I looked at the other day said to restrict Wild Garlic's growing area, exactly as you have to do with mint, because - apparently - once established it spreads like wildfire and, in spring, 'stinks the place out'! So now I've got a dilemma b/c everywhere else I could plant it isn't shady - in fact it's more like full-sun. I know you grow it and do well with it - have you got it growing somewhere shady-ish or out in the open? And does it finish flowering/growing in May? If so, what do the leaves do? Just die down until next spring, ie. like tulip leaves, etc., do? Presumably so, as it's a bulb….. Would much appreciate your advice! Ta ever so! Wild cheering! I know you've all been chewing your finger-ends, waiting for an update……. Delighted to announce that the box of 50 wild garlic plants arrived x post this morning - I ordered them on 15/4 immediately after posting the above note. Haven't they got enormous long stems! Don't know why, but I thought they'd be more squat than that - anyway, no matter. Never tasted wild garlic (as you know) before, so broke off about 1/2" from the tip of one of the leaves and popped it in - mildly oniony, as expected, but nothing more. Then, as soon as it had gone down I felt as though I'd just taken a big bite out of a very large & pungent onion. What a shock - so ferocious! The 'raucous' taste went off after 30 mins or so, but I'll watch that in future! PS: No, the plants really did come by post --- I haven't shot over to Cheesy's ranch, 'the Cheddarosa', to dig up & filch his impressive wild garlic crop the minute he's out of the picture for a few days.
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Post by marylandstoke on Apr 29, 2019 15:59:26 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way Beautiful picture. Very nicely done.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Apr 29, 2019 16:12:19 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way Is it The Weaver?
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 29, 2019 16:31:47 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way Beautiful picture. Very nicely done. Bugger that, Maryl. Send us one of Chesapeake Bay. Pretty please. xxx
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Post by harryburrows on Apr 29, 2019 16:40:15 GMT
Wild Garlic (again!)
Calling Cheesy, calling Cheesy..... Come in Cheesy! O wise one, I crave a boon! Just looked on Az Smile for Wild Garlic, and was delighted to find that you can buy growing leaves/bulbs of it, so I'm going to get some - but can I just ask your advice about growing it? I gather it likes woodlands - ie. darkish and shady, like bluebells - but I haven't really got anywhere like that….. well, actually I have got one shady-ish border, but it's very long (and full of perennial flowers) and the trouble is that one www site I looked at the other day said to restrict Wild Garlic's growing area, exactly as you have to do with mint, because - apparently - once established it spreads like wildfire and, in spring, 'stinks the place out'! So now I've got a dilemma b/c everywhere else I could plant it isn't shady - in fact it's more like full-sun. I know you grow it and do well with it - have you got it growing somewhere shady-ish or out in the open? And does it finish flowering/growing in May? If so, what do the leaves do? Just die down until next spring, ie. like tulip leaves, etc., do? Presumably so, as it's a bulb….. Would much appreciate your advice! Ta ever so! Wild cheering! I know you've all been chewing your finger-ends, waiting for an update……. Delighted to announce that the box of 50 wild garlic plants arrived x post this morning - I ordered them on 15/4 immediately after posting the above note. Haven't they got enormous long stems! Don't know why, but I thought they'd be more squat than that - anyway, no matter. Never tasted wild garlic (as you know) before, so broke off about 1/2" from the tip of one of the leaves and popped it in - mildly oniony, as expected, but nothing more. Then, as soon as it had gone down I felt as though I'd just taken a big bite out of a very large & pungent onion. What a shock - so ferocious! The 'raucous' taste went off after 30 mins or so, but I'll watch that in future! PS: No, the plants really did come by post --- I haven't shot over to Cheesy's ranch, 'the Cheddarosa', to dig up & filch his impressive wild garlic crop the minute he's out of the picture for a few days. Blanch the leaves and stems Murph in boiling water for about a minute then drained and refreshed in ice and water
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 29, 2019 16:55:34 GMT
Wild cheering! I know you've all been chewing your finger-ends, waiting for an update……. Delighted to announce that the box of 50 wild garlic plants arrived x post this morning - I ordered them on 15/4 immediately after posting the above note. The 'raucous' taste went off after 30 mins or so, but I'll watch that in future! Blanch the leaves and stems Murph in boiling water for about a minute then drained and refreshed in ice and water Thanks VM, Harry......... ........ then presumably pat it dry & shred it & put in an omelette, etc? Maybe sarnies? I think Cheesy's said in the past that he likes it in omelettes. I know you can do the blanching trick (even just by soaking in cold water for 10 mins) with sliced onions if you're going to use them raw in a salad. I've gotta say that the real ferocity of a tiny half-inch pointed tip (no more than that) of a leaf 30 seconds after I'd eaten it was a giant shock!
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Post by thequietman on Apr 29, 2019 21:34:25 GMT
Blanch the leaves and stems Murph in boiling water for about a minute then drained and refreshed in ice and water Thanks VM, Harry......... ........ then presumably pat it dry & shred it & put in an omelette, etc? Maybe sarnies? I think Cheesy's said in the past that he likes it in omelettes. I know you can do the blanching trick (even just by soaking in cold water for 10 mins) with sliced onions if you're going to use them raw in a salad. I've gotta say that the real ferocity of a tiny half-inch pointed tip (no more than that) of a leaf 30 seconds after I'd eaten it was a giant shock! Yep the stems are ferocious Murph***. The bulbs even more so. Tbh I only really use the stems for infusing some already powerful chilli olive oil. And then very sparingly. I mainly use the flowers and a few leaves in salads. ***it's not known as "the devil's garlic" and "stinking jenny" without good reason
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 29, 2019 21:57:10 GMT
Thanks VM, Harry......... ........ then presumably pat it dry & shred it & put in an omelette, etc? Maybe sarnies? I think Cheesy's said in the past that he likes it in omelettes. I know you can do the blanching trick (even just by soaking in cold water for 10 mins) with sliced onions if you're going to use them raw in a salad. I've gotta say that the real ferocity of a tiny half-inch pointed tip (no more than that) of a leaf 30 seconds after I'd eaten it was a giant shock! Yep the stems are ferocious Murph***. The bulbs even more so. Tbh I only really use the stems for infusing some already powerful chilli olive oil. And then very sparingly. I mainly use the flowers and a few leaves in salads. ***it's not known as "the devil's garlic" and "stinking jenny" without good reason But it wasn't the stem I ate, JD --- it was just the very tiny tip, 1/2" at most, of one leaf! Thirty seconds later I felt as though if St. George had been around I'd have been a gonner! I shall use it with caution!
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Post by thequietman on Apr 29, 2019 22:16:18 GMT
Yep the stems are ferocious Murph***. The bulbs even more so. Tbh I only really use the stems for infusing some already powerful chilli olive oil. And then very sparingly. I mainly use the flowers and a few leaves in salads. ***it's not known as "the devil's garlic" and "stinking jenny" without good reason But it wasn't the stem I ate, JD --- it was just the very tiny tip, 1/2" at most, of one leaf! Thirty seconds later I felt as though if St. George had been around I'd have been a gonner! I shall use it with caution! Oooh. Maybe a new plant, having had restricted growth opportunities, has suddenly found nutrients and gone "food, sunshine, I'm growing! Release beelzebub's breath toxins and fear all who eat me". I've never found it that powerful but i do blanch the leaves and only pick very small ones. The flowers are lovely, much milder albeit they have a relatively short flowering season. I've meant for years to try making wild garlic soup but just never got around to it, somehow. Oo, oo, just found this link. As a member of the PFPF you're just going to have to try pickled wild garlic capers! theseasonaltable.co.uk/savoury/pickled-wild-garlic-flower-buds/
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Post by marylandstoke on Apr 29, 2019 22:22:25 GMT
As per the request from Murph (kind of) wondered if anyone would like to see our Bay Rays. These are pictures I took from last years return, about a month on from now as the water heats up a little. Reports are that the Bay is in good condition again this year and that the crabs will be very good.
These were shot with the camera phone and, as it was very bright, were very much point and pray. Didn’t dare risk running back to get the real camera.
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Post by marylandstoke on Apr 29, 2019 22:37:03 GMT
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Post by harryburrows on Apr 30, 2019 2:19:53 GMT
But it wasn't the stem I ate, JD --- it was just the very tiny tip, 1/2" at most, of one leaf! Thirty seconds later I felt as though if St. George had been around I'd have been a gonner! I shall use it with caution! Oooh. Maybe a new plant, having had restricted growth opportunities, has suddenly found nutrients and gone "food, sunshine, I'm growing! Release beelzebub's breath toxins and fear all who eat me". I've never found it that powerful but i do blanch the leaves and only pick very small ones. The flowers are lovely, much milder albeit they have a relatively short flowering season. I've meant for years to try making wild garlic soup but just never got around to it, somehow. Oo, oo, just found this link. As a member of the PFPF you're just going to have to try pickled wild garlic capers! theseasonaltable.co.uk/savoury/pickled-wild-garlic-flower-buds/Also as you point out QM only pick the young tender leaves for eating raw , some say only use these before they fully flower
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Post by Northy on Apr 30, 2019 9:45:03 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way Is it The Weaver? Yes it is, inbetween the A49 (leigh Arms) and Saltersford Locks
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Post by Northy on Apr 30, 2019 9:46:11 GMT
Trying to upload a video but can't do it on the phone. Running along the river early this morning the banks were full of the sounds of reed warblers, cettie warblers and reed buntings, behind were skylarks, lovely, not a person in sight either way Beautiful picture. Very nicely done. Thanks, not bad for a 2 year old phone, and sweat in my eyes
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Apr 30, 2019 9:52:25 GMT
Yes it is, inbetween the A49 (leigh Arms) and Saltersford Locks Nice. I think the Weaver once took a different route before the Manc ship canal was built. Something I hope to do some looking into over summer, particularly a place called More, near Frodsham. I suspect was once an ancient port.. Do you know More?
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