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Post by murphthesurf on May 10, 2019 14:06:30 GMT
one of the missing ones? Northwich, Leftwich, Middlewich and Nantwich meaning from saxon times the 'important one' Southfork.............. Cue FX to roll the triple-split screen of Fel running through the countryside like a 1970s Timotei advert..... with a German Shepherd in hot pursuit.
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Post by Northy on May 10, 2019 15:18:17 GMT
My lad has been back on his lighthoue on the skerries off Anglesey for a week or so now, arctic terns are slowly returning, one they call mad max has returned for the 3rd year now. he's also seen a whinchat drop in for a bit of a rest one for Murph Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....... thanks, Northy - that's lovely. Isn't it amazing how something so tiny and delicate can have such a loud-ish voice? Gorgeous. What, like most women?
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Post by Northy on May 11, 2019 7:19:33 GMT
Black browed albatross seen flying past Blackpool yesterday, and honey buzzards seen heading north past Portland observatory. Summers nearly here
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Post by potterinleeds on May 13, 2019 16:49:02 GMT
Massive swarms of greenfly in Leeds today - air is thick with them. Hopefully army of ladybirds will follow. Spotted a Common Blue or Small Blue in the back garden - don't see many of them around here.
May is definitely my favourite month of the year. Over the last week, the whole world has turned green - running this morning through a beech wood with fresh leaves, dappled sunshine - magical.
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Post by felonious on May 13, 2019 18:16:53 GMT
I've just got from Rudyard. A few months ago I discovered the stream path that takes you from Rudyard Garage to the dam so today I decided to do the opposite walk to Ladderedge, what a stunning piece of countryside along the Staffordshire Way. I walked back through the estate and picked up the old railway path back to Rudyard which I know well because it's the end bit of the club Christmas/ New Year run.
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Post by thequietman on May 14, 2019 11:42:28 GMT
Massive swarms of greenfly in Leeds today - air is thick with them. Hopefully army of ladybirds will follow. Spotted a Common Blue or Small Blue in the back garden - don't see many of them around here. May is definitely my favourite month of the year. Over the last week, the whole world has turned green - running this morning through a beech wood with fresh leaves, dappled sunshine - magical. Indeed, got in my car to drive home after work & there were loads of greenfly in there. Is it pc to have a shower when you get home & drown the swines that have refused to escape from what's left of your hair?
Just seen my first ladybird of the year hopping around an entrance to an ants' nest in the sunshine. Kept flying off & then flying back to it. I guess the ants had found something sweet & left a trail when taking it down into the nest.
Early May and late September are my favourites. The colours out & about are spectacular.
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Post by thequietman on May 16, 2019 11:17:08 GMT
Sun's out but a bit cooler, lots of bird life in evidence. Sparrows having dust baths this morning. A young thrush perched on my window ledge at work bashing a snail. And the parched earth watered by the tears of a multitude of Leeds fans. Doesn't get much better than this.
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Post by Northy on May 20, 2019 13:03:52 GMT
Robin's have fledged, had to chase a cat away yesterday grr.
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 20, 2019 18:31:35 GMT
Wonder if we'll be getting any of these Eagles they're letting back into the wild. Big buggers.
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Post by harryburrows on May 20, 2019 18:41:15 GMT
Wonder if we'll be getting any of these Eagles they're letting back into the wild. Big buggers. 8 ft wingspan apparently,
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Post by thequietman on May 21, 2019 11:39:10 GMT
Wonder if we'll be getting any of these Eagles they're letting back into the wild. Big buggers. 8 ft wingspan apparently, 8 feet? Giant flying spiders with a razor sharp beak and talons. Eeek.
Blackbirds mobbing magpies in the trees in the garden last night. Nest protecting, I suppose. Clever how they'd leave an individual guarding each nest and the rest join together to separate out one magpie, drive it off, return to pick out another single etc. Astute gang warfare. Haven't seen them chuck any trainers over telephone wires yet, though.
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Post by potterinleeds on May 21, 2019 14:15:16 GMT
Out running this morning, what a pleasure to be along the hedgerows rich in hawthorn blossom and cow parsley in early morning sunshine. Came back through a nice bit of woodland to the rear of what used to be the Third West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Menston (latterly High Royds Hospital, now posh flats - think the Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian have done songs about it) and whilst taking a short ( ) breather, was able to observe a nesting nuthatch going in and out of an old woodpecker hole with food. Orange Tip butterfly in the garden this afternoon. My cardoons are doing well this year - finally got the massive feathery leaves I have been after, rather than lots of flowering heads.
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Post by Northy on May 22, 2019 8:30:53 GMT
A pair of storks nesting in sussex, first time in 300 years they've nested in England
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Post by Northy on May 22, 2019 9:33:39 GMT
Swans with 9 cygnets, last year was 6. Taken on last night's run along the canal.
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Post by felonious on May 24, 2019 19:04:21 GMT
I had a real treat on Monday. Went up to the viewing platform on the 27th floor at the Latvian Academy of Sciences and was able to look down and across to a squadron of swifts. Enjoyed about 10 minutes of them coming fairly close to the building with their fabulous squeals piecing the silence.
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Post by Northy on May 30, 2019 13:14:43 GMT
Couple of greater black backed gulls having rabbit for breakfast.
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Post by franklin66 on May 30, 2019 20:57:56 GMT
Ahhh the RSPCA,Fire service, network rail and dozens of others spent 6 days trying to "rescue" a cat. Turns out after all that they failed and it walked off of it's own accord 🤔
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 31, 2019 21:21:01 GMT
Couple of greater black backed gulls having rabbit for breakfast. Apart from the rabbit once being fluffy I'm trying to incorporate the sweet aspect into the image. 🤔🐰🦅
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 1, 2019 12:40:41 GMT
Brewing day today. The Well water has been blessed {pissed it down momentarily for the ceremony}, and the May Queen has had a sup. Elders are flowering, hopefully a sunny afternoon for the picking, and a jar of Green honey at the ready. 40 pints of Bitter started by the end of the day. Fingers crossed.
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Post by felonious on Jun 1, 2019 16:57:40 GMT
Down on the canal down from the Brit today and three sets of Canada Geese came swimming past each with chicks of varying sizes. Chaffinches and Jays about and the whole bank of yellow irises out all the way to the fish pools looking magnificent.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 1, 2019 21:15:58 GMT
TE Hulme- Staffordshire Poet. Died during WWI, memorial plaque to him in Endon, of Horton.
Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy, In a flash of gold heels on the hard pavement. Now see I That warmth’s the very stuff of poesy. Oh, God, make small The old star-eaten blanket of the sky, That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.
The booze has been named Hulme's Hubris.
My brewing partner is a big fan.
Hulme 'The Father of Imagism'...
"On 28 September 1917, four days after his thirty-fourth birthday, Hulme suffered a direct hit from a large shell which literally blew him to pieces. Apparently absorbed in some thought of his own he had failed to hear it coming and remained standing while those around threw themselves flat on the ground. What was left of him was buried in the Military Cemetery at Koksijde, West-Vlaanderen, in Belgium where—no doubt for want of space—he is described simply as 'One of the War poets'."
Next fermentation will be in honour of George Heath of Gratton.
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Post by felonious on Jun 2, 2019 10:50:38 GMT
Forgot to add there are now a fair few signs on the canal warning of the danger of the giant Hogweed.
The Genesis of the giant Hogweed.
Turn and run Nothing can stop them Around every river and canal their power is growing Stamp them out We must destroy them They infiltrate each city with their thick dark warning odour
They are invincible They seem immune to all our herbicidal battering
Long ago in the Russian hills A Victorian explorer found the regal Hogweed by a marsh He captured it and brought it home Botanical creature stirs, seeking revenge Royal beast did not forget He came home to London And made a present of the Hogweed To the Royal Gardens at Kew
Waste no time They are approaching Hurry now, we must protect ourselves and find some shelter Strike by night They are defenceless They all need the sun to photosensitize their venom
Still they're invincible Still they're immune to all our herbicidal battering
Fashionable country gentlemen Had some cultivated wild gardens In which they innocently planted the Giant Hogweed throughout the land
Botanical creature stirs, seeking revenge Royal beast did not forget Soon they escaped, spreading their seed Preparing for an onslaught Threatening the human race
Mighty Hogweed is avenged Human bodies soon will know our anger Kill them with your Hogweed hairs Heracleum Mantegazziani
Giant Hogweed lives!
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Post by felonious on Jun 2, 2019 10:52:16 GMT
Couple of greater black backed gulls having rabbit for breakfast. Apart from the rabbit once being fluffy I'm trying to incorporate the sweet aspect into the image. 🤔🐰🦅 I think the good news is that another rabbit bites the dust
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Post by Northy on Jun 2, 2019 14:50:09 GMT
Stopped at the bird hide at Marbury mere hide this morning during a run and spotted a blackcap, first one I've seen.
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Post by Northy on Jun 2, 2019 15:25:33 GMT
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Post by felonious on Jun 2, 2019 16:03:51 GMT
Stopped at the bird hide at Marbury mere hide this morning during a run and spotted a blackcap, first one I've seen. I spotted one feeding at Tittesworth last year it let me watch for a few minutes before clearing off.
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Post by potterinleeds on Jun 2, 2019 18:55:05 GMT
A pair of storks nesting in sussex, first time in 300 years they've nested in England I'm just back from a week on the northern edge of Frankfurt, travelled around a fair bit. One day we went to Rothenburg Ob Der Taube (beautiful restored medieval town where part of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was filmed, bit touristy but still plenty of quiet spots and excellent pubs). We climbed to the top of one of the highest gate towers to get a view over the town, and there were four or five storks circling over the town centre. It was an amazing sight, and two pairs were nesting on the top of old medieval buildings right in the middle of the town. I've seen them nesting in fields in Germany before, on purpose-built platforms set onto the top of tall poles, but never within a town. Was walking along a local river one evening and was surprised to see a couple of coypu swimming down the middle. Apparently there were released illegally there a few years ago and have settled in. Heard plenty of cuckoos too, a couple very close by, but never managed to catch sight of one.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 2, 2019 20:21:03 GMT
A pair of storks nesting in sussex, first time in 300 years they've nested in England I'm just back from a week on the northern edge of Frankfurt, travelled around a fair bit. One day we went to Rothenburg Ob Der Taube (beautiful restored medieval town where part of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was filmed, bit touristy but still plenty of quiet spots and excellent pubs). We climbed to the top of one of the highest gate towers to get a view over the town, and there were four or five storks circling over the town centre. It was an amazing sight, and two pairs were nesting on the top of old medieval buildings right in the middle of the town. I've seen them nesting in fields in Germany before, on purpose-built platforms set onto the top of tall poles, but never within a town. Was walking along a local river one evening and was surprised to see a couple of coypu swimming down the middle. Apparently there were released illegally there a few years ago and have settled in. Heard plenty of cuckoos too, a couple very close by, but never managed to catch sight of one. Wotcha doin' over there, Leedsy? Work or hol? PS: Seen storks nesting in India......... just to name-drop........
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Post by potterinleeds on Jun 3, 2019 9:18:20 GMT
I'm just back from a week on the northern edge of Frankfurt, travelled around a fair bit. Wotcha doin' over there, Leedsy? Work or hol? PS: Seen storks nesting in India......... just to name-drop........ Hols, Murph. Mrs Leeds is from Frankfurt, and her Mum lives there now, although originally most of the family is from Hamburg. Her mum doesn't fly anymore now, so she goes over as often as she can to see her, and we all generally go over once a year, usually for the Spring Bank week. Hesse (the area of Germany where Frankfurt is located) is very pretty at this time of the year - very green, lots of forests, lots of orchards, lots of wine, beer and the local cider Apfelwein. India is on my list, most definitely.
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 5, 2019 15:29:06 GMT
So....Mrs Md spotted a ruby throated humming bird last Friday as she left for work at 6 am. He let her watch him feed until she tried to get a camera (of course) Usually once they have found the feeders that’s the charm but nothing more yet.
In other news we have a pair of skinks. I had thought that they were blue tailed skinks but, apparently, the blue tail skink is native to Australia. The North American skink is just a skink with a blue tail. Anyhoo, they were having a lovely bask in the stone chips next to my (cough) “water feature” so I am hoping to get a few nice pictures if they will co-operate.
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