Walk – Page 24 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

8 and a half miles in as many hours

We arrived at Southwold on Friday and went for a shop round town then a quick tour of Minsmere. Then we went to the Eelsfoot Inn at Eastbridge, booked in. There were a family of Swallows sat under the metal stairs outside our room. All weeknd they were there sometimes all sometimes just a one or two. The parents were doing lots of swooping about, and would roost next to the young at night.

On Saturday we woke up in good time and thought we would have a go at our day record to celebrate our recent wedding. So we got up for an 8:30 breakfast at The Eelsfoot Inn, and were on our way down to the Minsmere sluices via the path that goes directly to the sea from Eastbridge. The weather was bright with a stiff wind from the north east but the air temperature was pleasant. Saw some great beetles and butterflies on the way. Saw a spotted flycatcher on top of a tree. When we got down to the sluice bushes we paused for a while in hope of a Pied Flycatcher but it was not to be, although the lesser and common Whitethroat we adequate compensation.

On to the public hide to see some Knot, Dunlin, common Sandpiper, and Redshank. Then on to the East hide, where some Sandwich Terns appeared. We were soon sat outside the Coastguard Cottages fighting off the wasps while we ate our lunch of toasted cheese sandwiches. The wasp I trapped in a bottle was really mad, even after Helen freed it. A bit of sea watching produced Common Scoter, but nothing else the winds was probably blowing them all off shore.

Over to Dunwich Heath we did not rate our chances of seeing any Dartford Warblers after the hard winter they have suffered, but there they were loads of them. The Heath was looking good the heather was bright purple and the gorse was starting to flower giving a contrasting bright yellow. We walked to the far north end of the heath before turning round and walking along the west boundary back towards Minsmere.

Lots of different mushrooms were out a sign of the recent damp weather and Autumn approaching, the light was really bright so it was a great opportunity to get pictures. We strolled along back to the visitors centre back at Minsmere via the west hide to share a portion of carrot cake. We headed off back to Eastbridge stopping off at the Bittern Hide (not much action except a juv. Marsh Harrier) then on to the Island Mere hide, where a few more ticks were recorded. We saw a very yellow warbler in a willow tree but could not make Icterine from it.

The sun was low in the sky as we headed down the Minsmere road back to the pub, we had a great day out, but had not managed to beat our record. August can be quite a quiet, we managed 61 quite a reasonable tally. There is always tomorrow when we plan to head slightly in land then out to Dunwich and back through Minsmere again. What a great day!

Rose bedeguar gall (Diplolepis rosae)

On my way to work this morning I noticed a Rose bedeguar gall, so I thought I would tell you all about it. What it is is a sort of ball of hairy growth found on rose plants, in this case I think it was a Dog Rose in the hedge row.

Apparently they are created by a type of wasp called the gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae), they lay eggs in the leaf buds and when the larvae (almost all female) hatch and they start to eat the leaf bud then some magic happens. It is not full understood but it is belived that a chemical is realesed that causes the plant to grow in the strange way it does, which provides more food for the growing larvae.

The fully developed gall was used in days gone by a a medicine, to cure baldness, and cure a toothache.

If you want to know more why not check out Wikipedia. Picture blow show a new one from this year and an old one from a previous season.

Homing Pigeon

On my way home from work today I came across a pigeon that did not fly away as I got close, he/she was really trusting. On closer inspection it was in a poorly state but seemed to be looking for food. I took quick video with my trusty camera and you can see the footage here.

On reflection I think he was probably a tired homing pigeon, as I noticed he had no less that 4 rings on his two legs, and I have never see a feral pigeon with rings. He also looked in really good state i.e. his plumage was neat and tidy no tufty bits.

The Old Swan

Helen and I decided to take some time out of our preparations, to go on one of our favourite walks from The Old Swan at Swan Bottom. You take the gravel track from the left had side of the pub do a big circle then end up back on the other side of the road after passing along the outskirts of The Lee.

After the first woods we noticed in the field where the Yellow Hammers hang out that there were quite a few Beatles and Long legged spiders about. We usually do the walk in the Autumn/Winter/Spring time so it was a treat to see it in late summer mode. The blackberries are starting to become ripe, so you had to be careful to find a sweet ripe one if you did not want to end up with a real sour one.

Further round we came across a bare patch in a field that had more that it’s fair share of butterflies, quite a few browns, and a definite Holly Blue amongst the blues that were there. I made a mental note to learn a bit more about butterflies so that I could at least identify the common ones. I guess it is a bit like bird watching you need to start to identify them and after a while becomes second nature and you wander why it was so difficult.

We then crossed the horse field where you can often see Meadow Pipit, Red Wing, and Fieldfare in the winter and then took a wrong turning in the woods. I recognised we had stumbled across the edge of The Lee. Following our nose we eventually got back on track, I will remember that route in future it made a change to pass through some civilisation for once. Perhaps we could start the walk from Lee Common pub instead another time. I thought it is called the Cock and Rabbit but apparently is it called Graziemille . We also passed an old closed pub which looked a bit run down call The Bugle .

Back on track we headed through the farm and along the usually muddy bit, and it was muddy, then onto the final stretch along the arched hedgerow path up towards the big house, which is opposite the pub.

We decided to treat ourselves with a pub lunch, as usual we had veggie burger and chips accompanied by a pint of real ale. Helen had tribute and I had Chiltern Ale, both were great pints especially sweet after our longish walk.

Close encounter with a hare

My walk to and from work takes me along a strecth of the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union. The farmers have been recently cutting the grass to make hay and I noticed this morning that this means that the hares have no where to hide, and so it makes them easy to spot. In one filed I saw around 6 or 7 all sat together in a group, in a field next to the A41 Aston Clinton bypass.
Whilst I was walking along the canal tow path I noticed ahead on me a hare, which I assumed was running away from me because he had spotted me first. On close inspection it turns out he was running towards me, so I stepped back towards the hedgerow and stood still. Eventually he came to within two metres of me, but seems only slightly phased by may presence. He kept on eye on me whilst he sat there wondering whether he should gamble on past or turn back. He turned round, wandered off and eventually disappeared in to the hedge.

New day record

Last day so we decided to try to beat our one day bird list record of 65 species. Dunnock, wood pigeon and sparrow were in the garden of the cottage. Jackdaw, herring & blackheaded gull, and pheasant en route. First to Cley-spy for their country walk talking us through arable farmland and oak woodland. Magpie, swallow, goldfinch, chaffinch, blackbird, blackcap, robin, willow warbler, coal tit, crow, kestrel, blue tit, robin, oystercatcher, treecreeper, red legged partridge, mute swan, mallard, tufted, moorhen, grey wagtail and greater spotted woodpecker. Then coffee stop at Natural Surroundings at Bayfield Hall, where Neil spotted another treecreeper. Then back along the fields to the ford, seeing coot, greenfinch, collared dove & swift. We then headed back to the coast to Cley, where the weather had turned a little and chased by a large black raincloud to the hide. Avocet, shelduck, marsh harrier, greylag, bearded tit & sedge warbler on the way to the hide. Sheltered from the rain and freezing wind seeing black tailed godwit, gadwall, redshank, sand martin, linnet, turnstone, lapwing, dunlin, ringed plover, cormorant, common sand, curlew, teal, ruff, shoveller, pied wagtail, canada & brent goose, common tern, turnstone, LBB gull, 3 temmincks stints & wheatear on the single bank. Walked to the shelter looking out to sea, and Neil got gannet despite being blasted by the north easterly wind. Then back via meadow pipit, egyptian goose, rook, reed warbler, pochard & whimbrel. Success despite blimmin challenging weather!

Common Crane

Got the Coasthopper from BOS to Holkham, then walked down Queen Anne’s Drive toward the beach. Saw something odd flying towards us (my description of “it’s big with legs” is probably not going to win any ornithological awards!) and as it went overhead Neil recognised it as a common crane! We let RBA know and then walked along the beach to the George Washington hide, from where the crane was clearly visible. Some other birders turned up and we all admired the crane for a bit. Then through the pines where we searched for goldcrest. I could hear them but it took ages to finally spot one. We checked out the other hide but no sign of the Spoonbills unfortunately. Willow warbler and chiffchaff from the footpath then into the dunes. Sat and watched a flock of linnets in the sunshine then back to BOS.

Blakeney Point

Finally a still day so we took the Bean’s seal trip from Morston Quay and saw lots of seals on the Point. Neil was very excited to see the son of the original skipper Mr Bean (not Rowan) who featured on the BBC documentary A Wild Winters Day. Then we were dropped off at Blakeney Point, a quick look around the National Trust managed Lifeboat station, then a long walk back on the shingle spit to Cley. Lots of sun and little terns flying along the spit. Sandwiches half way along the spit on a convenient piece of driftwood.

Then back to Cley NWT for emergency hot chocolate & cake, as the shingle was a bit tiring.

Red Neck Grebe

Still a bit windy so we parked at Titchwell and got the excellent Coasthopper bus back to Burnham Deepdale. Walked along the coastal path past Brancaster and then out to the beach to try to walk along to Titchwell. Unfortunately the thin blue line on the OS was not the wadeable stream we had hoped for but a rather wide, deep inlet. So we went back round the headland and picnicked overlooking the marshes – Marsh Harriers & skylarks to watch. Then walked inland towards Gypsy Lane and spotted a strange looking bird in a pool. Some confusion as to what it might be so we headed back to Titchwell and went through the bird book till we found the fella, a red necked grebe, and checked with Titchwell RSPB folks if they were seen in the area. They are but are fairly rare so we tipped off RBA and for the next few days were rewarded by reports of the grebe still being where we had spotted it. Always nice to share! Went around Titchwell and saw pintail, red crested pochard, ruff, common scooters on the sea and sanderlings on the beach.

Windy walk round Cley NNR

Decadent croissants courtesy of Helen and Nik, then a jaunt to Big Blue Sky for some light shopping. Went to Cley NWT for lunch but is was packed so Neil had the bright idea of popping down the coast to the Dun Cow at Salthouse. Excellent veggieburgers all round (Nik managed a double one!), and Adnams for some. Back to Cley NWT where sadly Helen & Nik had to leave us. We went for a wild windy walk around the reserve and our bravery was rewarded with sandwich terms, bar tailed godwits & common sandpipers.