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Post by murphthesurf on Jul 11, 2019 12:30:29 GMT
I was over at Dimmingsdale late afternoon and had the pleasure of watching a Kingfisher diving for about 5 minutes. It spent a couple of those minutes diving straight down from a low branch and back again. Bonus was that the Dipper was on the usual stretch of rapids at the bridge by the Rambler's Retreat. Had a very nice chat with Moira from Fenton on the way back to the car park Life in the old dog yet then 😁 It's ever since he started on the ginseng, mate - there's no stopping him..... Go Fel Even my GSD couldn't catch him last week and it's usually no prob.
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Post by Northy on Jul 15, 2019 20:15:09 GMT
My lad messaged from his island today to say they'd spotted the first puffling to emerge from the burrows.
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Post by Northy on Jul 16, 2019 6:47:07 GMT
And then this happened 😥
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Post by Northy on Jul 16, 2019 6:54:49 GMT
Spotted this parasitic wasp with a huge spikey thing about to lay it's eggs in one of the bee nests, poor bee grubs will get eaten alive.
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Post by bathstoke on Jul 16, 2019 7:14:58 GMT
Spotted this parasitic wasp with a huge spikey thing about to lay it's eggs in one of the bee nests, poor bee grubs will get eaten alive. Well tw@t it them🦟👎🏻,🐝👍🏻
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Post by Northy on Jul 17, 2019 7:47:53 GMT
Spotted this parasitic wasp with a huge spikey thing about to lay it's eggs in one of the bee nests, poor bee grubs will get eaten alive. Well tw@t it them🦟👎🏻,🐝👍🏻 It's just nature
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Post by bathstoke on Jul 17, 2019 8:16:33 GMT
I’ll remind the wife of that when someone wants treating for malaria
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Post by thequietman on Jul 18, 2019 11:19:23 GMT
My lad messaged from his island today to say they'd spotted the first puffling to emerge from the burrows. Harry must have got his summer Meerschaum out.
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Post by Northy on Jul 24, 2019 19:34:01 GMT
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Post by harryburrows on Aug 2, 2019 16:51:32 GMT
Just had a week in the mountains on the Romanian/ Ukraine border wonderfully picturesque , had a walk in he woods nearby yesterday and in half an hour filled 2 carrier bags full o wild mushrooms . Having chanterelle risotto dinner tonight l😋😋
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Post by Northy on Aug 5, 2019 19:11:16 GMT
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Post by chuffedstokie on Aug 6, 2019 10:03:25 GMT
Out in the sun this morning up a beautiful Welsh valley taking photos of the steam railway and just dive bombed by a red tailed kite, fantastic bird. Tranquility then disrupted by a Hercules flying low doing the Mach loop. Loads to see. Work at 2PM which is a shame on such a gorgeous day.
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Post by potterinleeds on Aug 6, 2019 17:39:03 GMT
Sat in the back garden last night, about 9pm, sun setting to one side, watching the waxing crescent moon becoming brighter in the sky. There were about 4 or 5 swallows or swifts high up, chasing insects. Summer is going now, you can feel it quite distinctly.
We've had a few of the millions of Painted Lady butterflies that crossed the sea up here in the garden and local countryside, but not as many as I've seen footage of elsewhere, like Hartlepool. Have any made an appearance round and about the Potteries?
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Post by thequietman on Aug 7, 2019 11:32:11 GMT
Not seen a single Painted Lady in South Leeds. Other than the usual Friday night chavettes.
Cabbage whites definitely more common than recent years. Also much larger numbers of common blues than I've seen since I was a kid. Lovely, they are.
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Post by Northy on Aug 7, 2019 13:15:43 GMT
Sat in the back garden last night, about 9pm, sun setting to one side, watching the waxing crescent moon becoming brighter in the sky. There were about 4 or 5 swallows or swifts high up, chasing insects. Summer is going now, you can feel it quite distinctly. We've had a few of the millions of Painted Lady butterflies that crossed the sea up here in the garden and local countryside, but not as many as I've seen footage of elsewhere, like Hartlepool. Have any made an appearance round and about the Potteries? had a few painted lady butterfly's in the garden and lots of peacocks at the moment, plenty of thistles in flower now all around us in the parks and woodlands for them, think I also saw a gatekeeper on Sunday in the garden
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Post by thequietman on Aug 7, 2019 15:46:04 GMT
Sat in the back garden last night, about 9pm, sun setting to one side, watching the waxing crescent moon becoming brighter in the sky. There were about 4 or 5 swallows or swifts high up, chasing insects. Summer is going now, you can feel it quite distinctly. We've had a few of the millions of Painted Lady butterflies that crossed the sea up here in the garden and local countryside, but not as many as I've seen footage of elsewhere, like Hartlepool. Have any made an appearance round and about the Potteries? had a few painted lady butterfly's in the garden and lots of peacocks at the moment, plenty of thistles in flower now all around us in the parks and woodlands for them, think I also saw a gatekeeper on Sunday in the garden Oooh, gatekeeper. Images of Sigourney Weaver there. Can't say I've ever seen her in my garden. What would I need to plant to attract her?
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Post by harryburrows on Aug 7, 2019 15:47:47 GMT
had a few painted lady butterfly's in the garden and lots of peacocks at the moment, plenty of thistles in flower now all around us in the parks and woodlands for them, think I also saw a gatekeeper on Sunday in the garden Oooh, gatekeeper. Images of Sigourney Weaver there. Can't say I've ever seen her in my garden. What would I need to plant to attract her? A huge Venus flytrap should bring her in
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Post by Northy on Aug 7, 2019 16:36:47 GMT
had a few painted lady butterfly's in the garden and lots of peacocks at the moment, plenty of thistles in flower now all around us in the parks and woodlands for them, think I also saw a gatekeeper on Sunday in the garden Oooh, gatekeeper. Images of Sigourney Weaver there. Can't say I've ever seen her in my garden. What would I need to plant to attract her? It was on large daisy like flowers a companion with the herbs
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Post by felonious on Aug 11, 2019 16:01:51 GMT
I spotted a crow over at the fish pools at Dimmingsdale this afternoon swooping down to the middle of the pool and lifting a piece of bread out with it's beak, feet trailing into the water before it lifted off again.
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Post by felonious on Aug 14, 2019 19:06:34 GMT
I was over at the sportsground at Oakamoor yesterday evening. I sat outside after the race enjoying a drink and bite to eat overlooking the wonderful view over the wooded hillside, what a spot. Later on as we left looking down over the greenery towards the towers at the bottom of the valley the moon was just sitting there perfectly
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Post by Northy on Aug 15, 2019 7:29:14 GMT
I was over at the sportsground at Oakamoor yesterday evening. I sat outside after the race enjoying a drink and bite to eat overlooking the wonderful view over the wooded hillside, what a spot. Later on as we left looking down over the greenery towards the towers at the bottom of the valley the moon was just sitting there perfectly The moon has been on show and quite low early on these last few nights (not last night)
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Post by thequietman on Aug 19, 2019 11:28:21 GMT
Discovered a ragwort plant in the front garden at the weekend but I'm leaving it as is for now. It's smothered in cinnabar moth caterpillars.
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Post by thequietman on Aug 19, 2019 11:28:37 GMT
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Post by harryburrows on Aug 19, 2019 19:15:08 GMT
I was over at the sportsground at Oakamoor yesterday evening. I sat outside after the race enjoying a drink and bite to eat overlooking the wonderful view over the wooded hillside, what a spot. Later on as we left looking down over the greenery towards the towers at the bottom of the valley the moon was just sitting there perfectly Was in oakamoor last week staying with friends , lovely . In lullworth cove this week 😁😁
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Post by potterinleeds on Aug 25, 2019 20:32:03 GMT
'Walking Home'Did something last week I had meant to do for a long time; walked home from Leeds city centre to see my old Mum and Dad in Stafford. About 80 miles in total if you go over the Pennines, stopping in pubs and YHAs. Did it over 5 days via Huddersfield, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Marsden, c.20 miles of the Pennine Way, Glossop, Hayfield, Buxton, Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill, Longnor, Crowdicote, Pilsbury castle, Hartington, Manifold valley, Waterhouses, Cauldon, Oakamoor, Alton, Greatgate, Stramshall, Uttoxeter, Stowe-by-Chartley, Stafford, Doxey marshes, then home. To be honest, I think much of the Pennine way is for purists only; I've been lucky enough to work in all of the areas the route crosses in the Yorkshire Dales and I honestly think I've seen the best of it there. I enjoyed the day between Buxton and Hartington very much, and would recommend the YHA Hartington Hall; haven't stayed in a YHA in many, many years and thought it was excellent. As far as wildlife goes, saw a green woodpecker by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a kingfisher on the Manifold and buzzards right down through the county. Had a day off in Stafford on Friday and then took my Mum to her first ever football match to see Stoke v Leeds on Saturday. Never been so hot in the Brit / Bet 365 before, sat near the front of the Tile Mountain Stand. Shame about the result, but she thoroughly enjoyed it and says she'll come again. My Dad decided to watch on a screen in The Gardener's Retreat. Train back Saturday evening accompanied by beery Leeds fans all the way back to my doorstep, more or less .
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Post by potterinleeds on Sept 1, 2019 20:41:57 GMT
Was in Cloughton, north of Scarborough over the weekend. Lots of excited twitchers in the vicinity as an avocet had been spotted wading around the edge of a small, local pool. One lent me his binoculars to have a look - I've never seen an avocet before. A Minke whale sighted off the coast early the same morning too.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 1, 2019 21:38:11 GMT
Was in Cloughton, north of Scarborough over the weekend. Lots of excited twitchers in the vicinity as an avocet had been spotted wading around the edge of a small, local pool. One lent me his binoculars to have a look - I've never seen an avocet before. A Minke whale sighted off the coast early the same morning too. Emblematic bird the avocet, priviliged to visit the lower reaches of the Exe estuary seeing flocks of them. Shags on pylons etc.... The yomp sounds mint. Not done a few day walk for ages.. I did a loop fom home in Stoke to Hathersage, Waterhouses way there, Wincle back. Sauntered over two weeks. Seem to remember the Hartington YHA having Bonnie Prince Charlie connections. The dorm was pannelled and impressive, but one of my mates' dad ran the cheese factory so I didn't use it I don't think. Crashed there. A few moons back. I've walked stretches of the loop many times since. On an approach to the summit of Chrome Hill I saw two Stoats roll from the hedgerow vege into the path. Oblivious to me, in battle I reckon, ginger whirlwinds. I like the contrast between the almost moonscape of High Edge, and then the folds of the lower Peaks and moorlands. As dramatic as you can get in the right light from the Mermaid/layby/Thorncliffe across Ramshaw and the Roaches. Dolmans etc. Just found out, wasn't aware that the site of Alton Towers is what is acknowledged as Britain's largest 'Iron Agew' hill fort and settlement. Pretty much the centre of Britain {depending on how it's measured, which islands, submerged and/or reclaimed land is included}.
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Post by potterinleeds on Sept 2, 2019 10:07:43 GMT
Was in Cloughton, north of Scarborough over the weekend. Lots of excited twitchers in the vicinity as an avocet had been spotted wading around the edge of a small, local pool. One lent me his binoculars to have a look - I've never seen an avocet before. A Minke whale sighted off the coast early the same morning too. Emblematic bird the avocet, priviliged to visit the lower reaches of the Exe estuary seeing flocks of them. Shags on pylons etc.... The yomp sounds mint. Not done a few day walk for ages.. I did a loop fom home in Stoke to Hathersage, Waterhouses way there, Wincle back. Sauntered over two weeks. Seem to remember the Hartington YHA having Bonnie Prince Charlie connections. The dorm was pannelled and impressive, but one of my mates' dad ran the cheese factory so I didn't use it I don't think. Crashed there. A few moons back. I've walked stretches of the loop many times since. On an approach to the summit of Chrome Hill I saw two Stoats roll from the hedgerow vege into the path. Oblivious to me, in battle I reckon, ginger whirlwinds. I like the contrast between the almost moonscape of High Edge, and then the folds of the lower Peaks and moorlands. As dramatic as you can get in the right light from the Mermaid/layby/Thorncliffe across Ramshaw and the Roaches. Dolmans etc. Just found out, wasn't aware that the site of Alton Towers is what is acknowledged as Britain's largest 'Iron Agew' hill fort and settlement. Pretty much the centre of Britain {depending on how it's measured, which islands, submerged and/or reclaimed land is included}. Yes, there was a panelled Bonnie Prince Charlie room at Hartington YHA, but I think that is rented out as a family / private room now. I was crashing in one of the dorms - good value at £13 per night. Totally agree about the panorama from Mermaid/layby/Thorncliffe across Ramshaw / Roaches - from some places round there, it feels almost like the whole world is laid out in front of you on a good day, views into Shropshire and distant Welsh hills etc. Good for the soul. Bunbury Hillfort at Alton must have been very impressive in its day. Link below has handy map showing surviving scheduled portions of bank and ditch. historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1014686Next time I take teen daughter & friends to the Towers, I might get a cheap advance ticket to get in and go and have a snoop around what is left.
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 6, 2019 13:35:31 GMT
thats weird, a lady at our running club had one in her kitchen today, she's given it water and fruit to eat and its perked up and flew off tonight She didn't have to feed it (but nice that she did) to get it to fly back out, Northy. A lot of hysterical screaming did the trick on the one we suddenly had zapping all round the sittingroom one summer evening a few years ago….. I still get the collywobbles every time I think about it. See what I mean....................... oh, btw, this is a criss-cross over from the post I just put about bats on the 'Dragonflies' thread. (PS: The above posts were preceded by:)Jul 9, 2017 at 5:49pm cheeesfreeex said:
Me mum rang to say she'd found a living and breathing baby bat on her kitchen floor this morning. Read more: oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/user/12235/recent?page=4&q=bat#ixzz5ykdjt4hC
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Post by potterinleeds on Sept 8, 2019 18:28:05 GMT
Out running on the Leeds -Liverpool canal this morning, just before 7a.m. Down to about 5-6C here last night, and it is the first morning I have noticed that thin mist just rising off the surface of fields and valley bottoms. Saw a heron on the bankside, looking like a grey ghost in amongst all the dark green. Also, where the sunlight was filtering through trees and shining on the water, the canal was alive with rudd, none bigger than maybe 7 or 8 inches but loads of them. I assume this is a sign that the water is reasonably clean? I like looking into canal and rivers when the water is clear; a bit like a magic mirror, a view into another world. I find it very calming.
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