Change of scenery

As my C&DAA membership expires at mid-night, tonight, I needed to get across to the HQ, in Sturry, in order to renew it for another year. It made sense, therefore, that Grove Ferry NR would be a sensible place for today's Bruno walk. Parking at the gateway, we walked to the Marsh Hide, and back again, in splendid sunshine. Three more additions to my year list were Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tit and Water Pipit, yet there is always something to see when wandering around this jewel of a reserve. Displaying Marsh Harriers were putting on quite a show in the skies above the reedbeds, whilst a dozen, or so, Cattle Egrets were associating with the herd of Galloway Cattle over by the Ox-bow.

This smart little male popped up, very briefly, beside the main track.
I'm once again indebted to the technology housed within the EOS 90d for obtaining a record shot. 

On our way to Sturry, by 10.45hrs, I was not the only member seeking to renew their ticket, so I spent a good half an hour chatting with the other guys also present in the waiting area. As is usual, Jo was on her own, but doing a sterling job of renewing tickets whilst also answering a barrage of phone calls. £120 later, we were on our way home, my C&DAA fishing secured for another twelve months.

Early morning Osprey

It doesn't matter how many times I've experienced the Spring & Autumn clock changes, they still cause me issues with sleep patterns which take several days to adapt to. So, despite the clock telling me it was 07.00 hrs, my body didn't agree but Bev needed some medication, so it wasn't up for discussion whether I got up, or not! Bev sorted and the first coffee of the day consumed, it made sense to get out with Bruno with the clock now approaching 08.00 hrs. I'd just got Bruno into the van when the local gulls erupted over the adjacent area and, on raising my binoculars, I was absolutely delighted to espy an Osprey, away to the south, being harassed by a local Carrion Crow. The EOS 90d did it's magic, allowing me to obtain a few useable images for the blog.

Buoyed by this sighting, I drove down to Minster Marshes for our daily meander around the threatened area of set-a-side fields. The wind was brisk, and from a WNW direction, ensuring it felt pretty chilly despite the glorious sunshine. I did manage to see a couple of noteworthy birds, but it was generally quiet. The only obvious new migrant was a singing male Blackcap, although there was no shortage of Chiffchaffs as we walked our usual route. A Red-legged Partridge provided my second "year tick" of the day and one of the local Common Buzzards seemed desperate to grab my attention as it flew low, and slow, over our position.

This area will dominate my birding, locally, as it allows me to let Bruno off the lead safe in the knowledge that I won't encounter any other dog walkers whilst we're out there. How long will it continue? Your guess is as good as mine!

Bruno's favourite entertainment whilst wandering the marsh.

Early morning stroll

As it is the weekend, Bruno and I can get out earlier than during manic rush-hour/school run period which dominates Monday to Friday. So it was before 08.00 hrs that I'd parked the van besides Jade Lake where we'd begin our walk around the marsh. I was hoping that there might be a few, newly arrived, migrants yet, Chiffchaffs apart, it was very disappointing. All was not lost, however, as I managed to grab a few images of a pair of Grey Partridges beside the Asparagus field at Sevenscore. Only the second pair I've recorded on the marsh this year.

Although the sun was shining brightly, the NW wind had an edge to it as it pushed across the open areas of the marsh, however, in sheltered spots there was considerable insect activity around any vegetation with blossom on display. This is something I'm hoping will provide scope for exploring the opportunities to play around my macro kit in order to add more species to the SMM database.

I want to end this offering with a sad "Farewell" to Steve Gale. As a fellow inhabitant of "Blogland" we have shared many experiences over these past fifteen years. I wish him all the best and thank him for his superb BWKm0 efforts which helped us cope during the pandemic lockdowns.

Shape of things to come?

Whenever Bruno and I are out, on a walk, my binoculars are around my neck and the EOS 90d & long lens hung over my shoulder. Under no circumstances could this be construed as serious birding yet, on the odd occassion, I have been fortunate to encounter birds worthy of note. My involvement with The Save Minster Marshes gang has meant that images which haven't been used on the blog are still shared with others via the various media platforms used by the group. With the situation as it is, currently, I feel sure that my Minster Marshes stuff will feature prominently in my blog offerings. 

A displaying male Skylark 

One of the local Buzzards eyeing up Bruno as a possible meal?

The garden Moth Trap (a 125w Robinson MV model) will also play a key role in providing content all the while Bev's health remains central to our daily routine. So, as to illustrate what I mean, a Dark Sword-grass was discovered on the egg trays, this morning. In itself, nothing particularly noteworthy, apart from the fact that it's still March! Is it a migrant? 

Dark Sword-grass

Then I have still got the garden feeding stations to fall back on if I'm really struggling for blog content. Last night there were two Foxes visiting the feeding bowl and, despite the double glazed window, allowed me to play around with the camera kit.

I'll end it with another sorry tale of a broken system. The cancer team had a meeting on Thursday, which resulted in a Friday morning consultation for us. The only problem being that no-one bothered to contact us with the info, thus it didn't happen. Dr. Podder phoned this afternoon, apologising for the error and explaining what he wants to happen next (very quickly!). As I said in the previous post, I will use the blog to tell my side of this story, as it unfolds, warts and all!.

Everything is on "hold"

 I've not posted anything since Sunday because of Bev's health issues. What was originally thought to be a trapped nerve in her back, is actually a cracked vertebrae and it's required two days in A&E, at QEQM Hospital, Margate, plus a parking fee of £17.60 for the privilege, before discovering that it might actually be bone cancer. This is still to be confirmed, but the doctors seemed sure that it was having reviewed the MRI scans of her back. Obviously, this is now top priority in our world and thoughts about Carp, or anything else for that matter, have to play second fiddle to this singular issue. I would guess that the garden will now feature highly in my natural history experiences, whilst my Bruno walks will have to be restricted to Minster Marshes, just because they are closest to home should Bev need my assistance at short notice?

Tufted Tortrix - Acleris cristana

I will continue to use the blog to tell my version of the story, as events unfold, purely because it helps me to cope with the situation. I don't expect everyone else to see things the way I do, but if by sharing our journey I can assist a single other individual experiencing the same type of trauma, then it is worth doing?

Sill regularly visiting the garden feeding station

Moth trapping and Save Minster Marshes recording might be all I have to offer over the coming weeks/months. I'll do my very best to remain positive, yet might have a few wobbles along the way?

I wasn't expecting this

 I've been running the garden moth trap, on and off, for the past couple of weeks and to be honest it has been a total waste of electricity for the most part. However, these past couple of nights have certainly seen an upturn in the numbers, and variety, of moths to be found on the egg trays each morning. Yesterday I discovered a Tufted Tortrix (Acleris cristana), which is the first garden record, then today it was a Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) which took centre stage. 

Perusing the Kent Moths website, it would appear that this is a very unusual date for the latter species. If only they'd cease using lethal id techniques, I'd happily support their data gathering. So it is a shame, but my moth record won't be appearing on any database - ever?

Awakening reptiles & Aldi?

 As I take Bruno for his morning walk out on the Minster Marshes, it makes perfect sense that I send any sightings worthy of merit into the team at Save Minster Marshes. Obviously the vast majority of what I report is bird related but, over the past couple of mornings, I have been fortunate to see (and photograph) both Common Lizard and a Slow Worm. In itself, not particularly noteworthy, but if it adds new species to the database, then so much the better. 

Common Lizard discovered under a sheet of corrugated tin

As a member of C&DAA I already have vehicular access to the area of marshland threatened by the plans of The National Grid to build the infrastructure for the import of electricity generated by the off-shore wind farms. I am fully aware of the urgent need to produce sustainable, green energy, but should that be at the cost of a National Nature Reserve (Pegwell Bay) and the associated SSSI areas? I'm confident that a compromise can be found and will continue to support the folk behind the SMM project with any records which I feel are worthy of note

This morning's Slow Worm

So where the bloody hell does Aldi fit into this post? Well, if you've been following my angling plans, you'll be aware of my Carp project which is now about to get started. As an angler, of a certain vintage, my total belief in the effectiveness of particle baits is not up for debate. Although I have seen the light, in respect of modern boilies and pellets for hook baits, the ability of a spread of particles to attract and hold feeding Carp remains as true today as it did when Jack Hilton was plying his craft back in the day. As I wrote, recently, my "party mix" is prepared at home, in a slow cooker, and is of a recipe which few others could be bothered to copy. One ingredient which I use, yet don't prepare myself, is sweetcorn. Is there a Carp swimming which will avoid this bait? And so, that's where Aldi comes into the mix. We have a local store less than a mile from our front door and, last year, I was buying 340grm tins for 72p each. No complaints, it worked a treat, so I needed to purchase a fresh supply for this season's endeavours. Not a shop I visit on a regular basis, I was completely blown away when I discovered that the same tin (although re-labelled) of sweetcorn was now 7p cheaper, than last year, at just 65p. I purchased a dozen cans and will probably repeat this in the next couple of weeks. I have already been out with the Carp gear, down at the local club Carp Puddle, landing two scamps for my efforts. I am experimenting with a new rig presentation, which I'd seen on a Korda YouTube offering. The "shot on the hook" rig has been about for twenty-odd years, yet it was only when Danny Fairbrass and the gang were able to show the effectiveness of this presentation, via an underwater offering, that it became something I needed to explore. To this end, I have got a couple of "Sundowner" sessions planned at Sandwich Coarse Fishery before embarking on that quest for a wild "thirty".