A Pony and Trap in Chatteris

I was doing my usual rounds in the village of Chatteris on Sunday morning. I like the village on Sundays. It is so quite and one can get a lot of work done because almost everyone is still in bed. As I was going about my work a couple of blokes came along the village high streets with their ponies and tarps. I've seen them on many occasions and always meant to get a photo shot. This time I did. 

    

Wonderful England Makes Me Swoon with Joy!

Even Carole might knock her head

Wonderful England Makes Me Swoon with Joy!

We went to the animal sanctuary in Godmanchester today. I had received a positive reply to my enquiry about Dusty, the little Bantam cockerel. We are going for a trial adoption in the hope that he stops the bickering among our seven hens. Especially where a fiery matriarch hen is concerned.

We put the paperwork in and he has a course of treatment for louse on the 26th October. Then we can collect him on Sunday 30th. Everything was in order and we paid him a little visit before going back to the car. He sounded off with a cockle doodle doo, which was encouraging from our point of view. He did not sound as loud as some of the bigger roosters. In fact, I doubt the neighbours would be able to hear him. We are semi rural anyway. The opposite side of the lane is all farm land right up to the River Nene.

We hope little Rusty will settle in among the hens and bring a harmony to the ladies of the coop. They are Rhode Island Reds and much bigger than he is. However, he lives with Rode Island hens in the sanctuary and he has proved he can stand his ground with them.

On the drive back we stopped in the town for a coffee. It was very picturesque and we wandered along the river into the high street. There were many old houses with thatched rooves from around four and five hundred years ago. They looked very quaint indeed.

Carole and I had a little wander about and a walk along the river bank. We decided Godmanchester was a very agreeable place indeed. We do love our little slice of England.

On Our Way To The Manea Bird Hides In Fenland England.

Carole, Imi and Jessie

Today was very hot but also rather blustery. We have two granddaughters staying with us this week – Jessie and Imi. They were playing around with Carole’s huge dolls house that has all the furniture and so on. Our other granddaughters often like to play with this dolls house and it is a favourite among all of them. We have eighteen grandchildren now.

After a while, Carole and I decided to take Jessie and Imi to the bird hides. We had a collection of binoculars, a couple of telescopes and some food and drink. Also, I took my camera with me. It passed a couple of hours and for a while, the girls enjoyed looking out across the fen from inside the bird hide. We saw a multitude of swifts or swallows, two egrets that appeared to be a courting couple, a cormorant, kestrels, swans and the Marsh Harrier, which seemed to be everyone’s favourite.

There was also an abundance of dragon flies and butterflies too. It passed a couple of hours before we returned home. I managed to get various shots of birds and insects during the little outing.

Kestrel

Crossing the old bridge

Along the pathway

Passed the rickety old cottage

A dragon fly stays still long enough for a click 

Seems to be a lot of thistles

The River Delph

Swifts move so fast it is hard to catch them in the camera

Marsh Harrier makes its cameo appearance

Probably hunting for rodents in the long grass

Patrolling its hunting grounds

A love struck egret has something in mind

Hello - just dropped in

Do you come here often?

Oh not too often.

The Marsh Harrier returns

The Cormorant takes off

On the way back there are more butterflies and thistles

All in all

A nice nature ramble

     

Fenland Dog Walking (Waiting for the Promise of Spring and Summer)

The Owls are appearing in daylight again.

The old iron bridge along the dog walk 

The Canal Boats are mooring.

Trying to get a good photo shot of buzzards and hawks is always difficult.

As soon as the suspect my interest they are off.

They are easily spooked by the camera lens. Even at distance.

Head for the trees and better cover.

Sasha and Dotty patrol the back and side and bark at anyone coming to the gate.

The Herons are always about

A land of rainbows too.

Sasha enjoy the canal walk

Sasha wanted to go into the canal

Here a click, there a click - everywhere a click, click...

Here a click, there a click and every where a click, click...

Today's dog walk in the Fens. Don't worry, I'll not do this everyday, but I might do it often... :)