The Fenland Garden in March, Cambridgeshire, England - UK.

The flowers are beginning to bloom now. Lots of little delights. The wife is in her element because she loves the garden. The fish are multiplying. The various breeds of birds are coming to the feed tables. With this comes the Sparrow Hawk who seems to know that birds tables mean Sparrows or other types of small birds to eat. 

Wicked aspects of nature when we see fledgelings emerge and fall victim to the Sparrow Hawk. The bees are out too. A usual thing when flowers bloom. It is all very tranquil in some ways. Also cruel from the predator and prey point of view. But then nature must take its course.

Today is going to be a splendid day. I just know it. The sun is out and old retro aircraft are flying over from the Duxford air show. All kindly things for a relaxing afternoon.

The Unexpected Day Off.

The Unexpected Day Off.

I had to take an unexpected day off work today. It was quickly sorted out because I still had leave days from last year’s holiday allocation and the full set of this year's to do. After the problem was solved, my wife and I had the rest of the day to do what we desired. It was a very hot day in the upper eighties. So we decided to go to one of the many market towns about our area. We settled upon St Ives in Cambridgeshire. We had not been here for some time and we always like to walk the town square and then along the river to the church. It passed a few pleasant hours and we unwound a little before making our way home via the village of Ramsey.

We drove down all the country lanes, then on to Benwick as the flat Fens started and further on to the village of Doddington, Wimblington and eventually, our Fenland town of March. Here we stopped and bought a few more things for supper. I had Chinese and Carole went for a Vegetarian Biryani.

Then into the garden to enjoy the lovely summer evening in England's Fenland.

Baby Goldfinches Evicted from Nest by Sparrows.

In an earlier blog, I mentioned a male and female goldfinch that were building a nest in our magnolia tree.

All seemed to be going well and as the days progressed we realised that the goldfinch couple must have had fledgelings. They were coming backwards and forwards and we could hear the chirping birds as they were being fed.

Today my wife called me from the garden, instructing me to catch Bob, our big fat Ragdoll cat. He had reacted to a little fledgeling bird falling from the nest of the magnolia tree. I managed to rescue the bird as he dropped it when I scolded him. Then as we looked up into the tree, there was a commotion occurring with common sparrows attacking the goldfinch nest. More baby goldfinches started to fall through the leaves and branches of the tree. They seemed robust and fluttered to the grass. I say fluttered, but it was more a mishmash of falling while fluttering. Enough to lessen the impact upon the soil. 

We managed to rescue four out of five fledgelings. The fifth was dangling upside down and close to the nest. It was caught between the branches and had suffered an attack by the common sparrows. I got my ladders and tried to rescue it. However, the little goldfinch was already dead with blood about its head. I think it had been pecked to death. The other fledgelings had abandoned the nest - desperately throwing themselves from the nest.  

The four survivors have been put into a box with a towel and we have phoned the local wildlife sanctuary of the Fens to see if anyone can help. I got an answer and someone will phone back at around 9 am. 

Let's hope the poor little things can be saved. They seem rather traumatised and we have been told to keep them warm and in a dark place. Therefore, they are in this box awaiting attention from a wildlife rescue centre.

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.

A Shop of Fine Wines and Whiskies with a Picturesque Riverbank Stroll

Carole and I decided upon a trip to St Ives where a car showroom was. I am thinking of buying a new car, so we had a look at some. We left with some thought on what we might like but did see one vehicle that ticked many boxes.

Afterward, we decided to walk around the town center of St Ives. It is a typical picturesque English town and I've mentioned it before on other blogs. We stopped at a small cafe and had a panini each with a cup of coffee. Afterward, we decided to walk further along the high road and out of the town center. We usually cut down an alleyway leading to back streets where our car is parked.

I said to Carole. "Let's skip the alleyway and walk along the main road. I think there is at least one more alley further up and closer to the car park."

Carole agreed and as we strolled along we came upon a wine supermarket. The shopfront was modest to look at with a display window either side of a central doorway. However, upon looking through the open doorway, we noticed it went back a very long way with row after row of wine shelf displays.  

I decided to go in and have a look around. It was like an Aladdin's cave for wine lovers. There was everything from all the various winemaking nations of the world. I then saw some of the various spirit displays and looked at the fine whisky selections they stocked. Some of it made the eye widen with delight and repulsion. There seemed every type of scotch whisky, but there is a particular Irish one I was looking for. A good old regular Irish Whiskey. I found it easy among the Irish stocks.

As for the one that made me grimace with a touch of repulsion, well...?

I might be writing unfairly because I never tasted such a thing and being an Englishman, I don't like to sound unpatriotic. However, English whisky does fill me with doubt. I'm of the opinion that it should be left to our Gaelic neighbours. I might be wrong, but I would not chance an English whisky against Irish or Scotch. Even as an Englishman, I'm shuddering at the thought. Heaven only knows what Scotsman or Irishman might think. I would add that some of them were priced at usual levels so it was not cheap or over expensive.

Carole called me over to look at one bottle of whisky that was well over £1,000. I suppose one would be very worried about drinking that. It would be more of an investment I think. We continued looking around the establishment and I was delighted by the selections of French red wine. I have earmarked a fine box of six Clarets for nearer Christmas.

Before leaving, I bought a bottle of my favourite Irish whiskey as I do have a soft spot for this particular tipple. One might notice that Scottish whisky is spelled without an e in the word, but Irish has the e (as in whiskey) I think American whiskey does so too.

We continued to walk along the main road passed the museum and saw the river make way towards the road. Neatly running along parallel with us as we walked the lovely river bank. We found the next alleyway that came out directly from our car park. However, curiosity had the better of us and we decided to explore further along the river. Up to an old church and a walkway bridge.

It was a most scenic stroll before we went back to the car and drove back to our little hamlet town of March. We spoke of options concerning the car along the way.

I Went to Manea Bird Reserve in Cambridgeshire with a Camera.

I had my usual Saturday morning wonder into the town centre of March, and bought a few items from the high street. When I got home, I decided to head over to the village of Manea and look for the bird hide sanctuary. Before setting off, I got my camera and took a few snaps at home and then got into the car and drove out into the Fens. I was listening to Kate Bush's Fifty Words for Snow album as I drove along the lanes looking out into the fields and crossing the various bridges, canals and rivers. Also under a railway line with a tunnel so low; I thought the car roof would scrap the bottom of the bridge.

Finally I entered the little village of Manea. I collect the bins here every Wednesday and had seen a sign post about an RSPCB reserve. I followed the bumpy road along and turned onto an uneven tarmacked road running parallel with a canal. It led to a small dame where there was a car park. I used the facility and grabbed my camera. There was a small bridge across the canal, which I crossed following the signs to the bird hides. They were spaced at about 300m apart along a raised dike wall. On the other side of the dike was a scarp that dropped down to another smaller river running parallel with the canal and only the dike separating them. This was the sanctuary view. A neat little place with window shutters and stools. I was alone in the hide and looking out across the Fen towards Ely.

The hide was in a very tranquil setting and I relaxed looking for the various types of birds one can often see. As usual there were not many about for me and when they did appear; I was often to late with the camera.   

My first snaps before getting into the car and heading for Manea village. I always go for my much coveted Red Hot Pokers.

...and the Australian Bottle Brush...

I like things that cascade and look a bit unkempt. I don't like neat rows of flowers and symetrical patterns etc. 

I don't know what this one is called but I like it all the same. It looks like something one might find growing under the sea clinging to a rocky reef.

 

Caught a dragonfly on the window frame. Good start. :D

As I approached the RSPCB reserve, I passed this old barn with a door that is well and truly passed its sell by date... lol 

There was an abundance of wild flora growing everywhere. Its always like this during spring and summer. Wild flowers take over.

Wild Daisy flowers and the purple stuff. I don't know what its called but it looks grand.

I was like an old aircraft gunner trying to catch flying things in the spot light. Sometimes it comes off and on other occasions it blurs out on me. 

It was very tranquil inside the hide. However next time, I'll remember to bring binoculars too. Plus a flask of tea and a cheese roll. One could spend a rather pleasant afternoon in here. 

I could not help drifting from the bird watching to click the flora. It really was something.

I saw a kestrel at some distance and started clicking away. Most shots were too far and were waisted but as it dived; I managed to get something. The bottom two shots were taken as it swooped down upon some prey in the long grass. Gradually it dropped and then dived into the foliage. I never see it lift off, so I'm not sure if the attack was successful.

The kestrel's final dive into the grass. 

I saw a grey Heron get into a flap too. 

Then quite again and attention moves back to the flora. It is every where.

Then my attention is caught by, what I think is, an Egret, skimming across the water and the Lillies. 

Halloween on the Bin Round in March, Cambridgeshire.

The Fenland's are battling against the oncoming winter and, for the moment, the flat lands are holding their own. 

At work, we all like Fridays on the Bin round. I like it because it is the last day of the week and the bins are in my own market town of March. 

Our works' yard is also there, so we finish and work close to base. 

Today was a very strange Halloween day indeed. All week the weather as been exceptionally warm for autumn. Well, today it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The last day of October, in Britain, and we have 70 degrees! We worked till dusk which is around 16.30 and it was like a summer evening around 21.30. It even smelt like summer apart from the leaf fall around the streets.

Still make the most of it, because it will not last much longer. I wonder if we'll get back pay in the summer?

Barn Owl Hunting in the Fens

Taking Sasha, our puppy German Shepard, for a walk along the Creek Fen Road, there were loads of things of interest. The field were fool of poppies growing in the wheat. We met a farmer who said they were a pain but did not do a great deal of damage to his wheat crop. He was checking for black grass, which he said was more of a danger for his wheat. 

There were various wild flowers growing along the hedge rows and loads of birds. We spotted a number of barn owls but they were to far for me to capture on camera. That is, until I got close to the River Nene. Carole saw one by a grassy mound and called, "Look at that."

To my delight, there was a barn owl hovering about where we had seen young rabbits scatter into the long grass. They were obviously trying to evade the bird of prey.

I must have got about thirty shots, but only a few come out with any clarity. We also saw another barn owl at distance, across the River Nene. It was flying across a field. The picture is good because of the wheat crop and the cottage etc. The barn owl is hardly noticeable, but it gives some idea of how many owls are in the Fens now days. Their population is increasing and farmers are encouraged to put up owl boxes to attract them.

Of course there were lots of other good things going on as well, besides the delight of owls hunting. We had a lovely summer afternoon walk from our house into the Fens, chatting away and clicking the camera at this and that.