Canal trips to the Holy Isle

Just back from a bit of a tour-ette of England. As it was my parents Golden Wedding last week we had a trip up to see them this weekend, up in sun kissed Tyneside.

Before that however on Wednesday I had a 4am start from the house as I had to get to WWT Slimbridge before 5am. Having gone to bed at 9.30pm then woken by the hire car company dropping the keys through my door at 10.50pm, I finally managed to stagger out and be bright eyed and bushy tailed by 4am. I was met by the head of WWT press and publicity who looked (well it's ungallant of me to say so) but looked as though she'd had a good night avoiding sleep in any form, as she drove into the carpark holding a mug of coffee in one hand. As it transpired she'd been up editing until 1am, so we'll let her off..

I was here to record a piece about re-introducing cranes into the Somerset countryside. This project is in its first year, a collaboration between the WWT, RSPB and Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park. 25 eggs were brought across from Germany in April. The cranes have been reared and now in August the 21 survivors have been given a new life at a secret location down in Somerset before being released into the wider countryside later in the year. By 7.00 am the cranes had been loaded into the crates and we were off in convoy down the M5.

And by 10am the cranes were in their new enclosure alive and well. All went smoothly and I'm now looking forward to visiting again in a month or so to witness the release.

As you may imagine by 1pm that afternoon when I'd got back home I wasn't in best form so after a snooze, my mind was made up to have a day off the following day, Thursday, as I had already booked Friday off. A long weekend was what I needed.

So Thursday woke bright and cheerful. I'd not been for a bike ride in ages, and as I only had my folding bike with me, where better then than to pedal myself along the Kennet and Avon canal, not 1 mile from home. Flat scenic and exciting, the canal that is, not me on a bicycle.

From home it's a short ride over to the Crofton Beam Engine, the highest point on the Kennet and Avon canal. This pumps water 18m up from a spring fed lake called Wilton Water and helps supply the canal in two directions. East from here down to Reading and west from here down to Bradford upon Avon. It is the oldest pumping house still in use in the country.

I arrived on the opposite side so instead of crossing over a lock gate, I decided to cycle to Great Bedwyn along the tow path, have some refreshments and then back via the pumping station.

I don't know much about canals, except they're wet and long, but I do have to say they make a pleasant cycle ride with lots of interesting things to photograph. Such as these locks above. Or this bridge below.

After about 4 or 5 pleasant and sedentary miles I reached Great Bedwyn, where a local shop caught my eye. Travelling at that speed makes me hungry.

Purchasing an all day breakfast wrap (egg, bacon, sausage and beans) I tootled off to the local church to eat it. But before reaching the church I passed a monumental mason yard and local shop, where gravestones and plaques cover the walls. Too many to itemise, but I particularly liked this one.

But enough of this frivolity, I was off again, legs like egg whisks along the back lanes to the Crofton Pumping House, and a pot of tea.

Who's have thought dark satanic mills would be visible in Wiltshire's rural countryside?

Following a splendidly cheap cup of tea (£1.30 and 3 full cups squeezed from the pot) I had to cross under the main line railway and in doing so spotted a bank of teasels. Closer inspection revealed a myriad of insects, of which the 2 photos below of ladybirds are but a taster.

It was now nearing 4pm and I had to head home, so I push-walked the bike back over the recently cut stubble fields as the clouds gathered menacingly around me.....

...............as I descended into Dark Lane (yes it is called that) and back home.

By Saturday I was nearly 400 miles further north. This far north in fact, Holy Island. That's me on the Island with the mainland behind. It wasn't that far from here that the first of a series of strange animal encounters happened.

Firstly, we (I was up with Julie) were walking along the coast of the island when we heard a seal calling, to another. And there, not too far from shore were the pair of seals, occasionally calling to each other. I can not remember hearing seals calling before in the sea away from their breeding grounds. It does happen, but I can't remember it myself.

As I said hearing and seeing those two seals was the beginning of a series of strange and unusual natural encounters last Saturday. Later we were in the Ingram Valley and a Brown Hare was in the road, taking a lot of time to move off into safety. Further down the valley another hare. Brown hares aren't uncommon, but usually they scamper off pretty quickly. These two were quite lackadaisical, especially the first one who seemed to be in no hurry to leave.

I then parked up by the river Breamish and as if by magic a rainbow appeared and ended not more than 20 yards away, sadly too far away from us to reach the pot of gold, but an interesting phenomenon nonetheless. I tried to photograph it but failed to do it justice.

Later that night driving home just as it was getting dark, we spied a tawny owl on a telephone wire which just watched us as I stopped the car and watched it from inside the car for quite a while. Another remarkable encounter I'd say as their feet are poorly adapted to gripping wires. Just a few miles further on another tawny owl flew over the car. Then when it was totally dark out there, we startled what I think was a skylark who flew low in front of the car for ages, landing on the road to be picked up by the headlights, then flew on a bit more, stopped, flew on etc for a good while before flying off. Lastly a mile or so further on a roe deer hind was in the road and we had to follow it for a long while before it too decided to eventually leave the road and let us continue our journey unhindered.

All in all quite interesting encounters with otherwise shy and retiring animals and all in one day. I've travelled across the length and breadth of Northumberland for decades and not seen so many animals in a single year as I saw in a few hours. I wonder if they were welcoming me back after so many years since my last visit .... I like to think so!!

I digress. Sorry. Back to Holy Island. The tides were good on Saturday, as safe crossing time was 11.20am then after 3.45pm. So we got on my 11am and then relaxed as the tide came in and cut us off from the mainland.

A fair few other people had the same idea as us so we decided to ignore them and walk to and along the north shore. This always happens. The village is heaving with flip flops, the north shore not a soul in sight.

Giving plenty time for a few arty photos.

Eventually though after a good 3 hour walk the scent of a teashop beckoned and we headed back into the village, to be ambushed by this cheeky little fellah. Hoy that's my chocolate chip shortbread you're pinching, me "ole cock sparra".

I have been coming to Holy Island since in nappies, and it never ceases to draw me in. Its not the quiet place it once was, but if I ignore the busy carpark and pack-a-mack brigade, I can still hear the sounds of the fishing boats of old hauling out to sea and the likes of "Shiney Shoes" walking down to the harbour in their black woolen fishing attire. There are a few boats left on the island but now it's a tourism and christian retreat island. No bad thing in itself, just different.

We left the island, and as mentioned above, headed up the Ingram Valley for an hour or so, just to refresh the airwaves with clean unpolluted Northumbrian air, before meeting my parents for a wonderful meal at the Tankerville Arms, in Eglingham, just a few miles from where I lived 30 years ago as a 16 year old farm student near Glanton.

A busy day, so on Sunday we just had a leisurely morning down at the coast in Tyneside.

The view north past Marsden rock and to the Tyne

Father and son. I'd drunk my coffee already!

A day later I was back in Bristol and work, reflecting on 4 days of travelling to many diverse places and many strange and uplifting natural encounters with wildlife. I've not been a fan of August before, but August 2010 has so far been wonderful. I'd love to see that brown hare again in the Ingram valley, just sitting there watching us, watching him, watching us..... truly uplifting.

Northern Delights, whey man it's canny!!

Well it's Saturday 8th November, and it only seems like a few days since I signed off and said see you in three weeks. So I'm back. And so as I listen to the fireworks going off around me, just a brief photo-summation of some of the highlights of the last 3 weeks. Well actually only a record of my week and a bit "up't north. Don't suppose you wish to know about the other stuff, Christmas Shopping, laying a carpet, DIY and the likes..... click on an image to enlarge if the mood takes you.

Lets kick off with this holly tree. Those of you with a keen eye will notice this is a) quite big and b) covered in berries. It's in my parents garden and believe it or not, 3 years ago it was cut down to about half of it's size. Every year it crops berries and every Christmas time my parents give away tons of the stuff for friends.

Speaking of my parents garden, they have inherited a partial leucistic Carrion Crow. It arrived a few weeks back and semi-tame, coming to the feeders and so on. I tried to get closer to it and bring it to me, but it wasn't that keen, who can blame it. But whilst watching the crow, this juv Grey Wagtail flew into the garden, presumably it was passing through to a more suitable area.

While up at Boldon, a visit to Boldon Flats NR produced a single Whooper Swan (which a guy at Rainton Meadows didn't bother looking at thinking it was a Mute - timely lesson in never assume, as assume make as ass out of u and me), also 10 Bean Geese amongst the Greylags) Over at the coast, huge numbers of Eider and Gannet flying north, which I phoned in for the Autumnwatch team on the Farnes 90 miles north but the weather prevented any filming.

Although the weather up there was generally more depressing than my jokes, on the bright days, it was "reet canny". And where better to be on a sunny autumnal day, the Lake District.

These two above are sort on near the Eden Valley, near Kirkoswald, but if you look closely at the hills, actually the Pennines, they snow covered. So didn't drive that way.

Ullswater on the left looking super, and because my mother was had been naughty (these 75 year olds are a handfull I tell you!!), made her get the bus home, mind you not a bad view from the bus stop.

Ullswater again from Glenridding side, and the parentals by my new car purchased 2 days before, I think my father wanted to pinch it!!

Sun setting over the hills near Dockwray, which is where my mother was evacuated in 1940, to this very farm, sadly no one at home but at least we found it...... can you believe it, in those days she walked 3 miles over that hill to school in wooden clogs and back again, come snow or rain. Children would get counselling these days for that.

Just a view of Durham Cathedral, as I went to a service there and well it was wonderful. Sadly for this photo, the light was dull and dark so apologies for the white sky. Did meant to photoshop it, but well you know how it is.....

Coming back from Durham, stopped at Rainton Meadows NR, part of the Durham Wildlife Trust Portfolio. by now, it being 2pm, it was almost dark, so this is all I took, a photo of Joe's Pond, the original reserve, started in the 1950's from a Coal Board subsidence pond. Couple of Snipe, some Lapwing and Teal and that was about it of note.

Holy Island - or Lindisfarne if you prefer.

I was sitting watching the rain fall while having breakfast and thought, well there's nothing for it, the weather won't break so just go to Holy Island, pack an overnight bag and just go whatever the weather. So I did and by the time I got to Belford, the sun was out and at Holy Island, not a cloud in the sky. I've been coming here since 6 months old, and it never ever disappoints. Last Tuesday, as I joined the causeway, this flock of what I thought were Brent Geese were flying over the car just long enough for a photo, however while I stood there I thought hang on these are surely Pink Feet as they're flying in a classic V and the noise was deafening. Double checking the photo later, although not exactly clear, they are. A great start to an even better day.

From the vantage point here, I had Bar-Tail Godwit, Grey Plover, Curlew, Redshank, Eider, Oystercatcher, Red Brested Merganser, Brent Geese, to name a few, as well as Grey Seals patrolling the water and hauling out onto some of the far sand bars. Later in the day walking along the Lonnen, I spied 3 Waxwing in a hawthorn. Camera out, they were off before a record shot and flew over 3 "twitchers" with all the gear. I walked up the them and said how long have the Waxwings been here? Not one of my better opening lines as they'be been standing there for half an hour and hadn't seen them, having come to the Island because their pagers had gone off to say they were here. Then they complained I'd not called them out. I felt like pointing out welfare of the birds come first, and maybe if they'd been looking at the berry covered trees behind them it may have been better than across a field. Another classic "assume" as one of the Trio said we saw those bushes were full of birds but thought they'd just be sparrows and Redwing. Never mind eh.

But lets not forget the common birds, is this House Sparrow above not just beautiful? Mind you he was trying to pinch my carrot cake. Also on the Island were Lapland Bunting (apparently!!) and Snow Bunting, which I eventually saw but only from 400 miles away, so could have been sweet wrappers in the wind.

So as the weather was just perfect, I booked myself into the Rose Villa B&B, I'd recommend it, top breakfast, and as the sun set, went for a walk. Above the Castle from the Harbour, and "Shields" or upturned boats used as sheds. Not many left now, but used to be common.

Spiders web in sunshine and of course Eiders (must be British ones, the male is waddling 10 feet behind the female)

Just glorious over to Ross Links and Bamburgh Castle, and with the sea like a mill pond, the sun setting over St Cuthberts Island provided gorgeous reflections.

However I inherited this ES Spaniel, which came up to me, growled, waged it's tail and then proceeded to wade through the water, destroying the mirror like effect..... so I decided to catch his deed on camera. Finally back at the B&B a House Martin flew around for a couple of minutes, very late, and I'd be surprised if it survives it's migration, this late.

Finally, the next day, following a few too many whiskys in The Ship in the evening, and that recommended full English breakfast, another walk along the Lonnen. Sadly the weather was quite frankly awful. But nothing ventured. No sign of the Waxwings today, but a large number of Fieldfare and Redwing, plus 5 maybe 6 Goldcrest.

Anyway I was watching a Reed Bunting when this Short Eared Owl shot past. Someone had said yesterday all 5 species of Owl were on being regularly seen on the Island at the moment which I find astonishing, but one cant beat a shortie, not least as it's daylight (11am to be precise). Cracking views for 15 minutes before hypothermia got the better of me. Sadly though again, as the light was so bad, these were about the best photos. Later flying over the sea, Common Scooter, a Chiffchaff at the Lough, handfull of Stonechats and that was about all really.

But I don't really mind, just being on the Island as the day-trippers leave, and the sea cuts it off from the mainland, is just fabulous. The double whisky chasers helped too.....