Neil Baldwin's personal blog

Set off for a walk from the National Trust car park under Steps Hill. Facing into a strong wind for the first leg, so we altered the route and headed off across fields.  Looked in vain for yellowhammer but got a chaffinch instead. Almost got run over by an Aston Martin in a narrow lane (what a way to go!) and wended our way up through the woods behind the Beacon.  A flock of long tailed tits skirted along the hedgerow next to us.  Tried to find the tree where the treecreepers nested but no luck. Sunny and surprisingly warm where sheltered from the wind. 

It was recently my Dads 70th birthday and we all went away to Nantwich for the weekend. We styed in a nice holiday rental, next door to a farm.

The weather was reasonable and we all had a good time. Kev and Ron made a cake.

Back to an old favourite for the weekend, a trip to the Eels Foot in Suffolk to meet up with Helen & Nik. Met up first with Helen & Nick at Grimes Graves and the former employed some emotional blackmail to get the other Helen down a long, steep ladder into the bowels of a prehistoric flint mine.  Then on to Eastbridge via Southwold.  A good dinner, some beer and an early night in anticipation of our 9.30 am bird walk at Minsmere RSPB.  The stars at the Eels Foot had once again stocked up on the vegetarian sausages for us, for a hearty pre walk breakfast.  Then an excellent walk courtesy of our guide, Derek.  He took us out to Island Mere hide where we saw marsh harriers, a Great White Egret and then…to the astonishment of Helen who had, due to their previous non-appearance, instisted that the bittern was a mythical creature, we saw in the space of five minutes, four appearances by bitterns.  Three of these were flypasts, one right in front of the hide.  Headed up to Dunwich heath afterwards and saw some deer.  Walked back through the woods and saw lots of mushrooms, but not brave enough to harvest any.  We had met a lady earlier though with a basket of huge ceps.  Back to the Eels Foot for dinner and many jugs of Adnams.  Another early night was required, then up to a greyer, blustery morning. Paid up (& once again we manage to exceed the food bill with the drinks bill!).  Drove to Minsmere and braved a walk out to East Hide.  En route, the prophesied strong winds and lashing rain arrived, and we were soaked when we reached the hide.  However it did turn out to be nice weather for ducks and there were lots of teal and some snipe being very animated in the rain. Then its was a quick march back to the visitor centre for a change out of soaked trousers and a much needed hot chocolate.