Watch the hummers!!

Reading my BBC wildlife magazine I came across a reference to a webcam in Ecuador
through which I can go birdwatching in Ecuador anytime I like!! Hooray!
Link via title.

I also browsed from that website to http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/ The Internet Bird Collection,
where lots of video clips of various birds may be found! I shall add a link on the side panel for that one!!

To Stodmarsh

Whilst in Kent for my February break I took a trip northwards to Stodmarsh,
a little spot of wildness that I first visited many moons ago with Charlie Benson,
Jonathan Wright and others in my youth. It made a definate contribution to my
love for occasional birdwatching expeditions.


When I first visited it was alive with wintering ducks, and had recently become
a place for Cetti's warblers to inhabit in their colonisation of the UK from northern France.
Here I heard and saw snipe "drumming" for the first time, there were reed buntings,
and bearded tits, sedge and reed warblers......and marsh harriers!!!
All very exciting.



Today it was very much quieter than times I recalled, but no less wonderful as a Kentish wild place.





There were a few ducks....teal, widgeon, tufted duck, mallard, shoveler.
There was a big flurrying flock of lapwing that flew up from a field and swirled about
for a time......I wondered were the predator was but saw nothing obvious.
On the lake, as the sun set, I watched great crested grebe and a cormorant fishing.



And did I espie the lesser spotted Nature Writer of Note Simon Barnes,
he of recently read and much enjoyed "How to be Wild"??

As the daylight faded, mist began to spread up the Stour valley from seawards....and drifting

across the reed beds, in search of a roost for the night came two marsh harriers, as of yore!

But time for me to leave Stodmarsh again to the mists of time and memory....

all very refreshing!!

A Wild time I had of it.

Renewing

Before I forget how to do this, I thought I'd better create a new post!!
As this was a gloriously sunny day, albeit still chilly,

I decided to visit Wesonbirt Arboretum once again.

Winter is coming to an end, life is in renewal....

In the sunshine, the midges were dancing, and with my "fireworks" setting

on my camera little golden ribbons appeared.......

Remembering

Harry Patch 109, survived Paschendale

Alfred William Carter died of Wounds 14 April 1917

Stourhead

I made a very enjoyable visit to Stourhead, despite the fact that the sky was clouded and the house was closed for the winter,

It was for the grounds, and the autumn colours within, afteral, that I planned the trip.

I was in no way disappointed!

Sculpture trail

During the school half term week I ventured, as did crowds of family groups, into the Forest of Dean, to walk the "Sculpture Trail" and enjoy the autumn colour (although it was a rather cloudy day)

I enjoyed the sculptures: these in particular...

Corsham and Corsham Court

The "Tour" continues...
Corsham Court is a grand looking building built up around a smaller Elizabethan manor house
by Paul Methuen in the 1700's and displaying his collection of Old Masters' paintings, and Chippendale furnishings within.
After visiting said collections on display in the ground floor rooms withing I took a look around behind the house, to quickly admire the gardens before the house closed for the day.
It has an interesting little Bath House

of which some decor details.....

Leaving the garden I took a look at the surrounding streets of Corsham, with a pleasantly olde worlde feel to them.