That Ruddy! Shelduck
by Paul | September 15, 2020 | Bird Watching, Birds, Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Short walks, Summer Leys | 0 Comments
Summer Leys LNR July 2020
by Paul | July 24, 2020 | Aircraft, Birds, Countryside walking, Days Out, Mammals, Nature Reserves, Short walks, Summer Leys | 0 Comments
A Day of Two Halves
by Paul | July 14, 2020 | Birds, Countryside walking, Nature Reserves, Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Short walks | 0 Comments
Harrington Airfield
by Paul | April 16, 2020 | Birds, Countryside walking, Days Out, Place, Walks | 0 Comments
The Birds and the Bees
by Paul | March 27, 2020 | Birds, Days Out, Mammals, Photograph, Summer Leys, Walks | 0 Comments
Yesterday I visited Summer Leys Nature Reserve thinking huge space no problem, there were lots of people and in some parts of the walk you cannot avoid them. Anyway some great photography and good bird spotting. Especially the Common Snipe, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Finches, Tits and Chiffchafs. That evening the BCN WT closed the car park for the time being.
Day 1 – Monday March 16th 2020
by Paul | March 20, 2020 | Birds, Days Out, Place, Ravensthorpe Reservoir | 0 Comments
The Week before Storm Ciara
by Paul | February 8, 2020 | Aircraft, Birds, Moon and Stars, Photograph, Walks | 0 Comments
Moons, Rain and Birds
by Paul | January 25, 2020 | Birds, Days Out, Photograph, Walks | 0 Comments
Ravensthorpe, Mud & Damage
by Paul | November 11, 2019 | Birds, Days Out, Photograph, Place, Short walks, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
RSPB Frampton Marsh
by Paul | September 9, 2019 | Birds, Days Out, Long Walks, Nature Reserves, Place, RSPB, Travel, Walks | 0 Comments
Summer Leys Nature Reserve
by Paul | August 17, 2019 | Birds, Days Out, Photograph, Place, Short walks, Walks | 0 Comments
Summer Leys Nature Reserve is part of the The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire. It is a place I now visit very regularly for two reasons, a very nice walk and good opportunities to see and photograph wildlife. It is situated on Hardwater Road near Wollaston.
RSPB Minsmere
by Paul | August 10, 2019 | Birds, Days Out, Long Walks, Nature Reserves, Photograph, Place, RSPB, Walks | 0 Comments
I started by taking the woodland walk to find the Bittern Hide and eventually the Island Mere Hide. Just into the woods and there in front of me a Tree Creeper. I still have not got a good image of a Tree Creeper and failed on this day as well. Good to observe it though. Once in the Bittern Hide, no sign of one (another day then). I did see a Marsh Harrier in the distance.
Dungeness Kent
by Paul | July 6, 2019 | Architecture, Building, Coastal Walking, Days Out, Dungeness, Long Walks, Photograph, Place, Travel, Walks | 0 Comments
I was advised that I would enjoy Dungeness for its photographic opportunities and strangeness.
I researched the area before visiting and writers often use colourful language to describe it, using words like dystopian, bleak, stark and wild. I had looked at a variety of images of the area and therefore had a sort of preconception about it.
Stortons Gravel Pits
by Paul | May 24, 2019 | Birds, Days Out, Nature Reserves, Photograph, Place, Short walks, Walks | 0 Comments
Anyway just a few yards from the car park and you are on your own, and rarely see other people walking about. Some days you will see very little wildlife but others and you may see lots. On one occasion I have seen otters in the river.
Lanzarote Canaries
by Paul | May 17, 2019 | Countryside walking, Days Out, Long Walks, Place, Short walks, Travel, Walks | 0 Comments
Lanzarote, is one of the canary Islands off the coast of Africa. Close enough for the Sahara sand to blow to the islands in huge amounts. It is largely volcanic and in relative terms has has recent eruptions
Osprey at Ravensthorpe
by Paul | May 9, 2019 | Birds, Walks | 0 Comments
I decide to pop! along to Ravensthorpe to maybe sit in my car and watch for birds etc. As I arrived it stopped raining and the sky cleared a little with even some sun peircing through the clouds. I judged that I had time to walk around the reservoir, which I did.
Rutland Water
Nikon D7200 – New Camera!
by Paul | March 23, 2019 | Birds, Photograph, Walks | 0 Comments
London Days Out
by Paul | February 14, 2019 | Architecture, Building, City, London, Photograph, Place, Walks | 0 Comments
There are so many photo opportunities in London, people, animals, buildings, transport, flowers and plants, the river and objects. If I am on my own I tend to wander aimlessly and try to explore streets I have not been along before (I lived there for 12 years). However, for example, just on my last trip I found a hidden pub in the heart of Covent Garden that I did not know existed.
North Norfolk
by Paul | February 13, 2019 | Coastal Walking, Countryside walking, Days Out, Long Walks, Norfolk, Place, Short walks, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
Although I love walking/climbing mountains and hills one of my favourite places to walk is the beaches around the Brancaster/Wells area of Norfolk.
The Seven Sisters
by Paul | February 2, 2019 | Coastal Walking, Days Out, Hill Walking, Long Walks, Place, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
Who needs to go to Cumbria, Wales or Scotland to climb mountains? You can do it on the south coast. I read about this walk in a walking magazine. So over the summer holidays 2011, decided to do it.
Week 28th January to 3rd February
Helvelyn
by Paul | January 3, 2019 | Days Out, Hill Walking, Long Walks, Mountain Walking, Place, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
Ahead now is Striding Edge it is clearly visible. Follow the path towards it. Below to the right of you is Red Tarn and opposite is Catstye Cam.
Scafell Pike 2011
by Paul | January 2, 2019 | Hill Walking, Long Walks, Mountain Walking, Place, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
Snowdon
by Paul | January 1, 2019 | Hill Walking, Long Walks, Mountain Walking, Place, Walking and climbing, Walks | 0 Comments
In effect you are starting at almost sea level and the walk is 6 km. After crossing the road you enter straight in a wooded area. The walk is pleasant and rising gently. If you turn and look back there are very pleasant views of the surrounding area.
The Mountain
If the mountain seems too big today
then climb a hill instead
if the morning brings you sadness
it’s ok to stay in bed
If the day ahead weighs heavy
and your plans feel like a curse
there’s no shame in rearranging
don’t make yourself feel worse
If a shower stings like needles
and a bath feels like you’ll drown
if you haven’t washed your hair for days
don’t throw away your crown
A day is not a lifetime
a rest is not defeat
don’t think of it as failure
just a quiet, kind retreat
It’s ok to take a moment
from an anxious, fractured mind
the world will not stop turning
while you get realigned
The mountain will still be there
when you want to try again
you can climb it in your own time
just love yourself til then
Author Unknown
