tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76426910887381357552024-03-08T08:00:37.432-08:00Holywell BirdingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-20559176873359777322015-06-11T04:09:00.001-07:002015-06-11T04:09:21.348-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 10 - Patch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L97QMOjmWNg/VXlqyYpmU-I/AAAAAAAABbQ/3Q-wjO5M0Y8/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L97QMOjmWNg/VXlqyYpmU-I/AAAAAAAABbQ/3Q-wjO5M0Y8/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having a patch is where it all began for me, starting from the bottom up, learning the basics, learning the patterns of annual cycles and seasons, and the idea of migration. It gives you a sense of belonging, a second home, and personal relationships with its inhabitants. There's no greater tool for learning, appreciation, or the development of a passion than a patch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The excitement of seeing a new species, or behaviour never ceases on a patch, and it always seems to know when to deliver, reminding you of that spark, where it all began.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtBc_rzhemM/VXlsL2hv-kI/AAAAAAAABbY/yXj_6wfKzfE/s1600/IMG_9733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtBc_rzhemM/VXlsL2hv-kI/AAAAAAAABbY/yXj_6wfKzfE/s640/IMG_9733.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Holywell Long-Eared Owl!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-81568336131556493162015-06-11T04:01:00.001-07:002015-06-11T04:01:34.265-07:0030 Days of wild - Day 9 - Subtle pieces of magic...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPJ22scwOBs/VXlqUDYoLRI/AAAAAAAABa4/5mDpQrP6KcU/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPJ22scwOBs/VXlqUDYoLRI/AAAAAAAABa4/5mDpQrP6KcU/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_09.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FkOFj7Xguw/VXlqegrxk7I/AAAAAAAABbA/R8LVGLrHtEI/s1600/IMG_9755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FkOFj7Xguw/VXlqegrxk7I/AAAAAAAABbA/R8LVGLrHtEI/s640/IMG_9755.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNrR8-d3dt4/VXlqeyszHSI/AAAAAAAABbE/DYO4NewTlwA/s1600/IMG_9775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNrR8-d3dt4/VXlqeyszHSI/AAAAAAAABbE/DYO4NewTlwA/s640/IMG_9775.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-68108622342650390352015-06-11T03:58:00.001-07:002015-06-11T03:58:42.677-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 8 - The Skylark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW7xOpbhY_4/VXlo2Ufo11I/AAAAAAAABak/lCVndcr3EbQ/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW7xOpbhY_4/VXlo2Ufo11I/AAAAAAAABak/lCVndcr3EbQ/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_08.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At this time of year, the Northumbrian hills, meadows, grassland, farmland and dunes are full of song. One song dominates all, usually heard from high above, at unbelievable heights the Skylark makes itself known. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;">The rolls and harrows lie at rest beside</span></div>
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The battered road; and spreading far and wide</div>
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Above the russet clods, the corn is seen</div>
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Sprouting its spiry points of tender green,</div>
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Where squats the hare, to terrors wide awake,</div>
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Like some brown clod the harrows failed to break.</div>
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Opening their golden caskets to the sun,</div>
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The buttercups make schoolboys eager run,</div>
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To see who shall be first to pluck the prize—</div>
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Up from their hurry, see, the skylark flies,</div>
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And o'er her half-formed nest, with happy wings</div>
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Winnows the air, till in the cloud she sings,</div>
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Then hangs a dust-spot in the sunny skies,</div>
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And drops, and drops, till in her nest she lies,</div>
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Which they unheeded passed—not dreaming then</div>
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That birds which flew so high would drop agen</div>
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To nests upon the ground, which anything</div>
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May come at to destroy. Had they the wing</div>
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Like such a bird, themselves would be too proud,</div>
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And build on nothing but a passing cloud!</div>
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As free from danger as the heavens are free</div>
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From pain and toil, there would they build and be,</div>
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And sail about the world to scenes unheard</div>
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Of and unseen—Oh, were they but a bird!</div>
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So think they, while they listen to its song,</div>
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And smile and fancy and so pass along;</div>
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While its low nest, moist with the dews of morn,</div>
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Lies safely, with the leveret, in the corn.</div>
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The Skylark by John Clare</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-84096666303625776352015-06-11T03:52:00.000-07:002015-06-11T03:52:02.490-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 7 - Twitch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jorp7MKQD6o/VXllZu8KOsI/AAAAAAAABaQ/yFMmBscAHZ4/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jorp7MKQD6o/VXllZu8KOsI/AAAAAAAABaQ/yFMmBscAHZ4/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_07.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitching is always fraught with opinions and personalities but it's a brilliant way to observe the movements of none UK species. It allows you to see the global connections some of these species travel in, and how far out of their way they can get. Tracking the individual journey of certain species, through the use of modern technology and personal observations by birdwatchers all over the UK, Europe and the World builds the possibilities of some of the best travelling stories. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoonbills, sleeping at Cresswell Pond.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-26206307574852488672015-06-10T04:23:00.003-07:002015-06-10T04:24:46.295-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 5 & 6 - Immerse yourself...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn6I501tCnM/VXgb7mLokQI/AAAAAAAABZw/0Ud-a2kBJfM/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn6I501tCnM/VXgb7mLokQI/AAAAAAAABZw/0Ud-a2kBJfM/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_05.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j79d6xnCSVw/VXgb7k8ZOSI/AAAAAAAABZ0/4fZtVWKulmo/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j79d6xnCSVw/VXgb7k8ZOSI/AAAAAAAABZ0/4fZtVWKulmo/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_06.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Flowers are everywhere, the meadows are in almost full bloom. I've spent quite of a bit of time loosing myself in meadows over the past couple of years, and I'm pleased to be back in them. At first glance, a few pieces of colour catch your eye, enough to draw you in. Once your in thats it, you can't escape, your mind and senses can't stay still. Where to look? What to smell? Who's buzzing? Where to begin? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before you know the surrounding world has been lost, and you've arrived on a completely different planet. You haven't flown here, you haven't took the train or boat, you haven't even driven here, you've simply stepped in, and your mind and perceptions have been opened for you. Thats the beauty of it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wild Flowers seem to be abundant this year in the North East, and with new local efforts, you can experience meadow like environments almost everywhere. Some of those road verges are looking stunning!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><centre><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/98683654" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/98683654">Hay Meadow Story</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/cainscrimgeour">Cain Scrimgeour</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<centre/></div><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-59189214895177264772015-06-10T04:13:00.000-07:002015-06-10T04:13:05.874-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 4 - Citizen Science<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_pUjpnuMGo/VXgadnqCClI/AAAAAAAABZo/X6EP2gavK7w/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_pUjpnuMGo/VXgadnqCClI/AAAAAAAABZo/X6EP2gavK7w/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_04.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Citizen Science has never been so accessible, or so valuable. Our world is beginning to change at a rate we can't keep up with, but citizen science projects are helping to gain vast quantities of data across the board. Last week we began recording some of Mull's plant species, with the <a href="http://www.npms.org.uk/">National Plant Monitoring Scheme</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXhEMj_UmNc/VXgaWwJttSI/AAAAAAAABZg/-PdJ0Zesgr8/s1600/IMG_9007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXhEMj_UmNc/VXgaWwJttSI/AAAAAAAABZg/-PdJ0Zesgr8/s640/IMG_9007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-19686244273450944362015-06-03T11:02:00.001-07:002015-06-03T11:04:00.273-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 3 - The Unexpected<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9G4nAcbhZI/VW89opisF5I/AAAAAAAABYY/FkEFXqnwh-4/s1600/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9G4nAcbhZI/VW89opisF5I/AAAAAAAABYY/FkEFXqnwh-4/s200/TWT%2B30%2BDays%2BWild_countdown_03.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I headed down to the Co-op today to buy some dinner, I struggled to find somewhere to park, squeezing into one of the smaller bays. I cross the road and joined the hustle and bustle of the busy high street, bumping shoulders with a man coming out of the shops. The Co-op was chocker, everyone stocking up, shoulder to shoulder in the clearance section. 10 minutes in the que for the tills and I was out, back onto the bustling high street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the distant I spotted a distinctive shape, logging on the surface of the water. An Otter! Two steps out of the door of a Co-op, on a bustling high street. This Co-op is on the Isle of Mull, and does outlook onto Tobermory harbour, but it reminded me how important it is to never switch off.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-83939064075774109612015-06-03T02:35:00.002-07:002015-06-03T02:35:56.812-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 2 - Sunsets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday was another wet and windy day, as fragments an Atlantic storm passed over the Isle of Mull. We had left in heavy rain, watching Red Breasted Mergansers, Great Northern Divers and White-Tailed Eagles in the breaks of the heaviest down pours.<br />
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Clouds hung low over Mull's hills, the sky was dark, although light could be seen on the horizon. Steadily the dark clouds passed over head and revealed the setting sun, casting its like across the hills of Ulva, showing the subtle contrasts of the landscapes, and the depth of these Hebridean landscapes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The setting sun, casting its rays over the island of Ulva.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-49468492101976166932015-06-01T15:49:00.000-07:002015-06-01T15:49:09.258-07:0030 Days of Wild - Day 1 - Spending Time in Storms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snow and hail fell as
I travelled through Glencoe last night, a sense of uncertainty hung in the air,
was Spring being halted once again?</span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atlantic squalls tore
across Mull’s westerly facing sea lochs, amongst these wild weather patterns we
feel our place on this earth, a tiny minuscule piece of a grander plan,
although still an important part of it. Weather like this has the ability to
shed all of kept up cobwebs in one go, and refresh our outlooks.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wildernesses’ distinctive waterfalls heavy with rains inverted on the horizon.<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-43225124788907393002015-04-22T11:26:00.003-07:002015-04-22T11:27:06.315-07:00American Wigeon - Public Hide - Holywell Pond<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-68117609720167457902015-04-13T10:46:00.002-07:002015-04-13T14:31:15.186-07:00The Pond<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of visits over the last couple of days has brought me a few firsts for the year; two drake <b>Red Crested Pochards</b> stayed for the day on Saturday, accompanied by an <b>Otter</b> in the evening, yesterday a lone <b>Swallow</b> flew low over the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today 2 <b>Chiff Chaff</b> sang from the North Wood, along with a pair of drumming <b>Great Spotted Woodpeckers</b>, on the pond there were 11 <b>Mallard</b>, 6 <b>Canada Geese </b>(one on nest), 6 <b>Pochard</b>, a pair of <b>Teal</b>, 19<b> Tufted Duck</b>, 4 <b>Little Grebe</b>, 4 <b>Moorhen</b>, a pair of <b>Mute Swan</b> (one on nest), 15 <b>Herring Gull</b>, and 2 <b>Lesser Black Backed Back Gull.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 <b>Curlew </b>flew in from the North as two <b>Swallows </b>hawked over the pond. A <b>Kestrel</b> hunted to the East, and a <b>Common Buzzard</b> was mobbed by <b>Carrion Crows</b> over the Obelisk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Reed Bunting</b>, <b>Great Tit</b>, <b>Robin</b>, <b>Song Thrush</b>, <b>Blackbird</b>, <b>Dunnock</b>, and a female <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> were present in the feeding station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heading down the Dene, I was pleased to find the <b>Dippers</b> doing well.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-58312051326137778192015-03-29T13:20:00.000-07:002015-03-29T13:20:49.234-07:00A day in the Pennines...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a stream of reports coming from the North Pennines, with the presence of a White-Tailed Eagle, myself and Phil decided to head down for a much needed days birding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we didn't manage to find the WTE, we did have a brilliant few hours in the company of Red Grouse, Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Skylarks and the showy Great Grey Shrike at Stanhope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how desolate they are, there's something quite inspiring about the moors in the Spring.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-54098676224579832122015-02-28T11:11:00.001-08:002015-02-28T11:11:41.283-08:00Masters of the Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-75134218667653808482015-02-24T13:55:00.001-08:002015-02-24T13:55:15.455-08:00Hybrid Aythya<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My attention was grabbed by a funny-looking <i>Aythya </i>duck at Holywell last Friday, it had me running back to my car for the scope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> My heart was racing, but when I got the scope on it, I realised it wasn't the Lesser Scaup I had hoped for. Instead, after a few minutes of grilling its features and comparing it to a variety of sources, I suspected it was a <b>Tufted X Pochard</b> hybrid, which was confirmed by a text from BD (it's been around for a few weeks).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I had a brief chance to revisit this stunning hybrid and capture some record shots. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-61928597728260377232014-12-20T04:13:00.001-08:002014-12-20T04:14:49.972-08:00Islay Goose Management Strategy<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scottish Natural Heritage have again done themselves proud by announcing this goose management strategy on Islay. Every time I read 'strategies' like this I can only think, when will the human population going to be culled? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The three aims of the strategy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Meet the UK's nature conservation obligations for geese, within the context of wider biodiversity objectives. (That's a great box ticking line)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Minimise economic losses experienced by farmers and crofters as a result of the presence of geese. (i.e. reducing crop damage by 25-30% by lethally controlling Greenland Barnacle Geese)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Maximise the value for money of public expenditure. (Money/Greed)</span></div>
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To achieve these aims there are a further list of points, but my favourite line being:</div>
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'Maintain a viable population of barnacle geese at a level which meets our conservation obligations.' </div>
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Our conservation obligations, shifting baseline syndrome?</div>
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Not far into the report you'll find this gem of a paragraph. </div>
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'The average Greenland barnacle goose population wintering on Islay has risen from c.3,000 in 1952 to a peak of just under 50,000 in 2005-2006 (Figure 1) (Mitchell & Hall, 2013). That long term increase since the 1950s was due to a combination of breeding success, reduction in hunting following legal protection and changes in agricultural management providing good quality winter feeding. However, the numbers have fluctuated over recent years. There was no significant growth in the Islay population between the last two population censuses in 2008 and 2013 and there was a drop of just under 6,000 geese since winter 2012/13. Analysis by WWT suggests that the population trend has have levelled off (Hilton et al. 2014)'</div>
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So it seems that Scottish Natural Heritage would prefer to return to a time when numbers were reduced by hunting. On further reading it appears they are thinking about it:</div>
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'Possibilities for sporting tourism may be considered during the period of the
strategy.')</div>
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But its all ok, they've added a silver lining, they're investing in the Greenland White Fronted Geese, aiming to increase the population, minimise disturbance, improve their traditional feeding areas, and provide diversionary feeding.</div>
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I understand that in this day and age that its becoming increasingly difficult to live, in terms of money, but the constant bright idea of <b>culling</b> species is ridiculous. </div>
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It's as much their home as it is ours.</div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">You can read the article and find links to the report here: </span></span>http://birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4772</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-36488209330536530502014-12-12T06:13:00.001-08:002014-12-12T06:13:07.226-08:00Wander in the Woods<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a little wander in the woods this morning, stunning blue skies, fresh cold winters air and that stunning low sun. Accompanied by a cast of Roe Deer, and a little surprise flash of blue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsZP5XyNJxk/VIr316wrEQI/AAAAAAAABSc/dPd4dyucE_A/s1600/IMG_5188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsZP5XyNJxk/VIr316wrEQI/AAAAAAAABSc/dPd4dyucE_A/s1600/IMG_5188.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgqsnHSMyJM/VIr32vxmcKI/AAAAAAAABSg/HvKMo2gsIaE/s1600/IMG_5194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgqsnHSMyJM/VIr32vxmcKI/AAAAAAAABSg/HvKMo2gsIaE/s1600/IMG_5194.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-63394719169735160682014-12-07T10:28:00.000-08:002014-12-07T10:28:00.394-08:00Quick Visit<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quick visit to Holywell this morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the pond, a pair of Mute Swan, 4 Wigeon, 32 Mallard, 16 Pochard, 19 Tufted, 3 Greylag, Black Headed, Great Black Backed, Herring and Common Gull, 6 Moorhen. 4 Lapwing and 20 Curlew overhead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A flock of 30+ Yellowhammers is still hanging around by the old dump, and a pair of Kestrels hunted in the dene.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dyOvyeUjNJE/VIScAkLW9tI/AAAAAAAABSM/G0uwPOmJicU/s1600/IMG_4911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dyOvyeUjNJE/VIScAkLW9tI/AAAAAAAABSM/G0uwPOmJicU/s1600/IMG_4911.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-41901248567151196642014-10-02T05:41:00.001-07:002014-10-02T05:44:25.176-07:00A Suburban Wilderness<div data-mce-style="text-align: justify;" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0.825em; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This past Summer I've been working with BBC Inside Out close to home, in an area close to my heart. The place which developed my interest and passion for the Natural World, the place you can say I found myself. My suburban wilderness.</span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_6663.jpg" href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_6663.jpg" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_6663" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-27 aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_6663.jpg" src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_6663.jpg" height="454" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; color: #222222; display: block; font-style: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="660" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've grown up in Whitley Bay, on the edge of the Green Belt, the forefront of housing development. My passion for the natural world developed in areas of land which were left around the housing estates, wastelands as some people call them. I've always seen them as wild, but it wasn't until reading Feral by George Monbiot, that it dawned on me, these areas are wildernesses. After the initial act which creates them, either planting, surface works, or just dereliction, they are by majority, left free to naturally grow and develop.</span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_3261.jpg" href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_3261.jpg" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_3261" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-28" data-mce-src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_3261.jpg" src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_3261.jpg" height="439" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #222222; font-style: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="660" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately these are seen as wasteland sites, and sites which are said they can't be built on, in the end are. We have two larger areas left, one a mix of concrete bricks, grassland and hawthorns, the other a planted wood and a now stunning meadow. The rest consists of fragment 30-40 year woodland, and 20 year old shelter belts. One of these fragmented woodlands I've been familiar with since a child. Although its size is deceiving this is the wildest place I know, its like stepping into a place that had been forgotten, by man anyway. In the summer the floor is dominated by greenery, sticky weed up to your chest, giving home to the Fox, but also species which are associated with old woodland, such as the Speckled Wood Butterfly. The only pair of Blackcaps in my estate breeds there, and its also home to my most treasured species, the Sparrowhawk, raising its family undisturbed here for as long as I can remember.</span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_60181.jpg" href="https://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_60181.jpg" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="Mr" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30" data-mce-src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_60181.jpg" src="http://cainscrimgeour.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_60181.jpg" height="439" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #222222; font-style: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="660" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the beginning of the year a new development began to change my suburban wilderness, an area directly connected, a corridor into the surrounding green belt was steadily removed. Not only effecting the wildlife on them particular fields, but also the wildlife of my patch, the place which had let me grow. I found myself angry.</span></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Progress I’m told, progression to what, the end?</span></em></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Green Belt is a brilliant idea, its unfortunate that it doesn’t live up to its name, it should be called the ‘progression zone’, or more aptly encroachment zone, with every sq metre of green land steadily getting encroached upon, with the blight of an urban lifestyle.</span></em></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">‘Suburban’ estates which are increasingly devoid of green, 3 metre front gardens, gravelled, with big steel fences enclosing them, wider tarmac paths and roads, houses squeezed side by side with just enough space to fit a wheelie bin down. Boxed back gardens with huge fences, like mini fortresses designed to keep everything out out and everything in in. Like the buildings themselves, no holes, no chance of a gap in the eaves, facer boards, or tiles, nowhere for insects to make their homes, never mind, House Sparrows, Starlings, Swifts, and Bats.</span></em></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At least there’s still some wildlife corridors, the little voice in my head says, unfortunately not, wildlife corridors to what, monoculture crops? Wildlife unfriendly farms? And with 200 houses brings at least two hundred people, more like 800, and where do their gardens back onto? Where do they walk their dogs? The bottleneck that is now the ‘wildlife corridor’, 10 metres wide at the most, cleared of any greenery. The wildlife has nowhere to go but up or down, no escape into the impenetrable fortresses.</span></em></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So in the end, a fragmented habitat, loosing its possibilities of what ifs, changing behaviours of its resident species, and cutting off those childhood lands. You can only hope that the time its been given has been enough, enough to develop those unique habitats, developed them enough to inspire people to protect them, or the endless goal of progression (greed) continues.</span></em></div>
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<em style="line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I watch those dark storm clouds pass over ahead and the brilliant orange sun sets, I know all will be well in the end. It won’t be the end they were expecting, nature will reclaim its lost lands.'</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was nothing I could do to stop the development, but I wasn't going to sit back and watch my suburban wilderness become the next victim of man's 'progression'. Maggie Latham from BBC Inside Out contacted me after reading one of my suburban wilderness blogs, commissioning a short film on the area. I had a platform for my voice. Behind the scenes I began gaining a greater picture of the site, recording all that I found, constructing a report with the data.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The site held:</span></div>
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<li style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Three Newcastle and North Tyneside BAP Priority mammal species (West European Hedgehog, Otter and Common Pipistrelle); two of which are also UK BAP Priority species.</span></li>
<li style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One UK and North Tyneside BAP Priority species of butterfly (Wall).</span></li>
<li style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One Newcastle and North Tyneside and UK BAP Priority species of amphibian (Common Toad).</span></li>
<li style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Six Newcastle and North Tyneside BAP Priority bird species (Dunnock, House Martin, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Starling and Swift), plus four UK BAP Priority species (Common Bullfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This report is now with North Tyneside Council, in the hope that the area can be protected, gaining a Local Nature Reserve status, which will hopefully protect the areas wildlife, but also help introduce more people to the area, building a community of people who appreciate its wonders. These areas are vital for children's connection to nature in an urban environment, but also vital for nature itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watch my BBC Inside Out short film below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/107801230" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/107801230">BBC Inside Out - Suburban Wastelands</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/cainscrimgeour">Cain Scrimgeour</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Read my feature in the Journal <a data-mce-href="http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/whitley-bay-wildlife-photographer-aims-7700161" href="http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/whitley-bay-wildlife-photographer-aims-7700161" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">here</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-70867964015107068932014-09-30T05:03:00.000-07:002014-09-30T05:03:19.866-07:00Dissipate<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in March me and my little sister had an idea, an idea to to try something new, turning my imagery into wearable artwork, through the use of dye-sublimation printing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGlrp31zHf8/VCqZxFbqXmI/AAAAAAAABRo/TKBlUmCtsFw/s1600/Design_Proof_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lGlrp31zHf8/VCqZxFbqXmI/AAAAAAAABRo/TKBlUmCtsFw/s1600/Design_Proof_FB.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since then Honor has developed Dissipate, a brand new and fresh approach to the world of clothing, sharing inspiring moments and adventures, through distinct and abstract artwork.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgF-KyFqYIw/VCqaXciQzSI/AAAAAAAABRw/BaGNk_CskKA/s1600/Design_Proof_FB_SycamoreGap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgF-KyFqYIw/VCqaXciQzSI/AAAAAAAABRw/BaGNk_CskKA/s1600/Design_Proof_FB_SycamoreGap.png" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Honor doesn't want Dissipate just to be another clothing company, she wants to build a community, a community filled with adventures, moments and inspiration. She wants you to share your adventures, your moments and your inspiration, to inspire and to be inspired. By using #dispersefromsociety we can begin to create the dissipate community. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GEim28hGxSo/VCqbFpbNt1I/AAAAAAAABR8/iB14ADm_BOw/s1600/Design_Proof_Golden_Grass.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GEim28hGxSo/VCqbFpbNt1I/AAAAAAAABR8/iB14ADm_BOw/s1600/Design_Proof_Golden_Grass.png" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dissiapte needs to raise £1800.00 in order to produce the first line of clothing, so we've setup a crowd funding campaign on Kickstarter. Through incentives you can purchase the first t-shirts and hats, helping Honor reach her goal, and chase her dream.</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/666800487/dissipate/widget/video.html" width="640"> </iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Visit the Kickstarter Campaign here: http://kck.st/1C4fLIl</span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-26040726523733870882014-09-24T07:32:00.000-07:002014-09-24T07:32:37.271-07:00Patch Visit<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had walk along the backtrack to Holywell this afternoon. The Public Hide was busy, predominately with <b>Greylag Geese</b> (93), <b>Black-Headed Gulls</b> (250+), <b>Lapwing</b> (55), and <b>Teal</b> (57). </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r1_vYu0g2Lw/VCLUSGrHgRI/AAAAAAAABRY/kidw-OR0snc/s1600/IMG_1331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r1_vYu0g2Lw/VCLUSGrHgRI/AAAAAAAABRY/kidw-OR0snc/s1600/IMG_1331.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hiding amongst them all were 3 <b>Wigeon</b>, 2 <b>Barnacle Geese</b>, 1 <b>Snipe</b>, 3 <b>Dunlin</b> and 2 <b>Ruff</b> (a reeve and a male). The two <b>Ruff</b> constantly interacted the whole time I was there, with the male chasing and displaying to the smaller reeve. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RItvVLG2N4M/VCLUNsNNe9I/AAAAAAAABQ4/-DWr9pBufkE/s1600/IMG_1191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RItvVLG2N4M/VCLUNsNNe9I/AAAAAAAABQ4/-DWr9pBufkE/s1600/IMG_1191.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b7mg-5f7zSw/VCLUNBnf-QI/AAAAAAAABQ0/52b4pV3t9gE/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b7mg-5f7zSw/VCLUNBnf-QI/AAAAAAAABQ0/52b4pV3t9gE/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcsiw96EI34/VCLUNGwwlXI/AAAAAAAABQw/q9NBy6vK2YU/s1600/IMG_1306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcsiw96EI34/VCLUNGwwlXI/AAAAAAAABQw/q9NBy6vK2YU/s1600/IMG_1306.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6F9OTpIWvKw/VCLUQhdYbMI/AAAAAAAABRI/-27YjtaX1DU/s1600/IMG_1325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6F9OTpIWvKw/VCLUQhdYbMI/AAAAAAAABRI/-27YjtaX1DU/s1600/IMG_1325.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XX-FZLb07N8/VCLUQsaWEwI/AAAAAAAABRM/CplaBoUxF20/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XX-FZLb07N8/VCLUQsaWEwI/AAAAAAAABRM/CplaBoUxF20/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wandering round to the members hide, 27 <b>Pink-Footed Geese</b> flew North overhead, dropping over the North Wood. The pond held, 1 <b>Mute Swan</b>, 61 <b>Mallard</b>, <b>Water Rail</b> (heard), 11 <b>Canada</b>, 14 <b>Tufted</b> (8 male, 6 female), 14 <b>Gadwall</b> (8 male, 6 female), 46 <b>Wigeon</b>, 6 <b>Little Grebe</b>, 4 <b>Moorhen</b>, 3 female <b>Pochard</b>, 3 <b>Shoveler</b> (a male and 2 females), 36 <b>Coot</b>, 5 <b>Teal</b>, 18 <b>Black Headed Gull</b>, 65 <b>Herring Gull</b>, 6 <b>Great Black Backed Gull</b> and 1 <b>Cormorant</b>.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-54966533408986209242014-09-23T08:12:00.000-07:002014-09-23T10:07:01.254-07:00Misty Owl<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last Thursday I seen some stunning images of the long staying Cairngorms Snowy Owl, I couldn't resist having a look at the weather forecast, by Friday evening <a href="http://thedenofwildintrigue.blogspot.co.uk/">Heather</a> and I were heading North.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The mist never left us. We arrived at Loch Morlich at about 23:30, pulling up into one of the lake side car parks, we pitched the tent in the light of the car beams, accompanied by a Daubenton's, hunting in the beams, it gave us some stunning views, whirring its wings and clicking as it went.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We started our climb in the mist, the calls of Red Grouse haunting the hidden landscape. This was my first venture into these glens, the terrain was completely new. The mist aided the idea of mystery and discovery, as we climbed, areas cleared briefly and then were shrouded again, only offering fragments of the landscape at a time, unwilling to reveal its full face. The most impressive of these fragments was the steep back corrie wall of the Cairn Lochan, complete with a few patches of snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The weather gradually cleared as we continued further into the hills, showing bits of blue sky here and there, it turned out really nice by the time we got to our home for the night, on the edge of Lochan Buidhe. Passing a few birders on the way up, we had a better idea of exactly where the Snowy Owl was haunting, so after pitching our tent, watching the comings and goings of the many walkers and few birders on the hunt, we headed up onto a small boulder covered hill. A quick scan and there it was, a large white object in a landscape of browns and greys.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7paj0-dIWlQ/VCGMu2G1oQI/AAAAAAAABQE/qQeQwgoJ664/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7paj0-dIWlQ/VCGMu2G1oQI/AAAAAAAABQE/qQeQwgoJ664/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moving down hill we stumbled upon a Mountain Hare, sporting its finest Summer threads. Leaving my bag behind we moved closer in fine sunny weather, we must of only moved 100 metres when the clouds came in, everything was lost to the mist. The Owl was perfectly suited to this harsh landscape, briefly ghosting out of view, before appearing on a nearby ridge. What a beautiful bird.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVsoDgSPeu0/VCGMu8yJTtI/AAAAAAAABQA/c9bnLSfKMwU/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVsoDgSPeu0/VCGMu8yJTtI/AAAAAAAABQA/c9bnLSfKMwU/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUoAlSpaD9E/VCGLpVeP1uI/AAAAAAAABOs/K9cX2TcoSoU/s1600/IMG_0680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUoAlSpaD9E/VCGLpVeP1uI/AAAAAAAABOs/K9cX2TcoSoU/s1600/IMG_0680.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We managed to pick up a few feathers for our collections, and <a href="http://thedenofwildintrigue.blogspot.co.uk/">Heather</a> collected a couple of the birds pellets !</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qG2mXZxo2SI/VCGMxuwM9NI/AAAAAAAABQY/uGGXkcBnfoQ/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qG2mXZxo2SI/VCGMxuwM9NI/AAAAAAAABQY/uGGXkcBnfoQ/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The mist never left us, it only gave a brief window as the sunset. Ptarmigan called in the background, building upon that eerie feeling the mist creates, and a number of Pink-Footed Geese picked their way through the glens.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPOWGCzn1ec/VCGMvOKbcKI/AAAAAAAABQI/4MPawDUvtIQ/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPOWGCzn1ec/VCGMvOKbcKI/AAAAAAAABQI/4MPawDUvtIQ/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPXY2C1V32A/VCGMyLw9L1I/AAAAAAAABQg/MqWRtNMAkgI/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPXY2C1V32A/VCGMyLw9L1I/AAAAAAAABQg/MqWRtNMAkgI/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sun returned as we headed back to the car, allowing us a few Ptarmigan sightings before we met the lower hills.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-90151835132455753502014-06-09T14:01:00.001-07:002014-06-09T14:01:56.146-07:00Sparrowhawks and Ducklings<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been lucky enough this year to be able to follow the story of our local Sparrowhawk pair at the nest, today I've spent the majority of my time in the little hide. The first chick hatched this morning, allowing me to witness some of its first feeds, I also had the privilege of seeing the musket at the nest, a rare sight !</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZvL5323aU4/U5Yf7UyhGPI/AAAAAAAABNg/djzIdn_XEeg/s1600/Musket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZvL5323aU4/U5Yf7UyhGPI/AAAAAAAABNg/djzIdn_XEeg/s1600/Musket.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This evening I had a quick trip along to Holywell, the pond held 17 Mallard, 2 Grey Heron, 13 Tufted, 5 Pochard, 3 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen, 1 Canada Goose with 5 goslings, the cob Mute Swan, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, and 5 Gadwall including this female with 9 ducklings !</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OafF7wYFm24/U5YglmFg5fI/AAAAAAAABNo/nL_5K96Qw0I/s1600/IMG_1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OafF7wYFm24/U5YglmFg5fI/AAAAAAAABNo/nL_5K96Qw0I/s1600/IMG_1838.jpg" height="318" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-78809086554106244272014-05-03T13:16:00.001-07:002014-05-03T13:16:27.346-07:00The Shed Roof<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I spent some time sitting on our shed roof today, watching the comings and goings of our feathered garden inhabitants.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pq0lYKlU-Y/U2VNM2knMlI/AAAAAAAABL0/_kZ2KwGhMps/s1600/IMG_7389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pq0lYKlU-Y/U2VNM2knMlI/AAAAAAAABL0/_kZ2KwGhMps/s1600/IMG_7389.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After 10 years, the House Sparrows have decided to pitch up in the terraced box !</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dbn549Bl0Ak/U2VNNn6lfKI/AAAAAAAABMA/9EIZ-1AqmpU/s1600/IMG_7410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dbn549Bl0Ak/U2VNNn6lfKI/AAAAAAAABMA/9EIZ-1AqmpU/s1600/IMG_7410.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi263H9EMWg/U2VNNR8tOjI/AAAAAAAABL4/RG3qOLRxRwM/s1600/IMG_7425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi263H9EMWg/U2VNNR8tOjI/AAAAAAAABL4/RG3qOLRxRwM/s1600/IMG_7425.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RW8-eCstmEw/U2VNP7ye2PI/AAAAAAAABMM/KyvjfCzKXB8/s1600/IMG_7439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RW8-eCstmEw/U2VNP7ye2PI/AAAAAAAABMM/KyvjfCzKXB8/s1600/IMG_7439.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Starlings have made use of this box since we put it up, sometimes having up to three broods.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMR2Rz7KeBg/U2VNP5fqbcI/AAAAAAAABMQ/GwaUqucKr-c/s1600/IMG_7462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMR2Rz7KeBg/U2VNP5fqbcI/AAAAAAAABMQ/GwaUqucKr-c/s1600/IMG_7462.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GiizPkMGFI/U2VNUGNdZNI/AAAAAAAABNI/NRJlFl5Xv2c/s1600/IMG_7534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GiizPkMGFI/U2VNUGNdZNI/AAAAAAAABNI/NRJlFl5Xv2c/s1600/IMG_7534.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY6EQOFmlTI/U2VNUvTr8qI/AAAAAAAABNQ/Ramse73fTYY/s1600/IMG_7539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY6EQOFmlTI/U2VNUvTr8qI/AAAAAAAABNQ/Ramse73fTYY/s1600/IMG_7539.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYEhZMutZY4/U2VNRULZYhI/AAAAAAAABMg/0xRnBW3oWOg/s1600/IMG_7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LhZyn14MCO4/U2VNR676aFI/AAAAAAAABMo/aqFfk153dVA/s1600/IMG_7507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LhZyn14MCO4/U2VNR676aFI/AAAAAAAABMo/aqFfk153dVA/s1600/IMG_7507.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYEhZMutZY4/U2VNRULZYhI/AAAAAAAABMg/0xRnBW3oWOg/s1600/IMG_7500.jpg" height="426" width="640" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFPXJRHeIS0/U2VNQHNnOtI/AAAAAAAABMc/ze005nUNImE/s1600/IMG_7490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFPXJRHeIS0/U2VNQHNnOtI/AAAAAAAABMc/ze005nUNImE/s1600/IMG_7490.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Collared Doves are busy prospecting our tree in the front, as are the Woodpigeons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-90764534742184112882014-04-28T14:20:00.000-07:002014-04-28T14:20:06.327-07:00Nice little end to the day ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrcPpwyZ4so/U17F4H_kCuI/AAAAAAAABLk/VRInUomTUDE/s1600/IMG_6766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrcPpwyZ4so/U17F4H_kCuI/AAAAAAAABLk/VRInUomTUDE/s1600/IMG_6766.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This stunning Wryneck was showing well at Whitley Bay Cemetery this evening.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7642691088738135755.post-45984398608302194572014-04-25T05:51:00.001-07:002014-04-25T05:51:58.436-07:00Unleashing the Wild Side of Belsay<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I'm beginning a work based blog at </span></span><a href="http://cainscrimgeour.wordpress.com/">http://cainscrimgeour.wordpress.com</a> , giving a behind the screens look at some of the projects I get involved with, with the thoughts and ideas that they create.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's my first post from earlier in the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7642691088738135755" name="OLE_LINK1"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For the
past two days I’ve been privileged to spend some time working with Chris
Harman, from The Den Building Experiment, as part of English Heritage’s ‘Unleashing
the Wild Side of Belsay’, producing a promotional film for future events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chris is the first person I’ve
met whose title reads,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘The Den
Builder’, and the first person I’ve ever heard of whose profession is building
dens. When I first met Chris back in February I couldn’t get past the thought
of how sad it was that his job had to exist. It took me back to my school
Summer Holidays, where almost everyday, from dusk till dawn, was spent
buildings dens, making fires and exploring our small patches of woods. I was
under no illusion that few kids build dens, or even spend time in the woods in
this ‘modern’ age, so much so that just last week when I spotted a little
lean-to den in the woods, it brought a huge smile to my face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spending time in the woods on
my doorstep, building dens, making fires, wandering observing nature, has been
one of the main influences on my development as a person, on my career and my
life. I still walk in those same woods today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why, once you look past what we have lost, you can
see why Chris’s job is not only amazing, but essential! The Den Building Experiment
site states <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">‘We believe that the experiences of den building is fundamental to
children’s development, allowing them to learn through play and exploration.
Despite the proven value of den building activities, research suggests that it
is dying out. Through engaging and inspiring people, our aim is to preserve the
art of den building, providing opportunities to learn a broad range of skills,
including team work, problem solving, mathematical skills and creativity’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not only is Chris inspiring
the younger generations, but he’s also re-inspiring the older ones too. Today
we’ve had the weather on our side, blue sky and a lovely warm sun, in the
beautiful Quarry Gardens of Belsay Hall. Its attracted a variety of people out,
from young to old, very few walked past without engaging in conservation about
the Belsay Wildman, the Den itself, but mainly (from the older generations)
reminisces of there childhood dens. You could see their eyes light up as they
recounted their experiences, digging underground dens with roofs of corrugated
iron, cooking on metholated spirits and fires, every little detail describe as
if it was yesterday. Dens had obviously played an important, and happy part of
their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When was the last time you
seen children in the woods building dens? Childhood is now mainly an indoor,
structured lifestyle, with very few ‘wild’ children kicking about. I feel that
its important not to forget about the older generations, mainly parents, when
you talk about inspiring children, as they are the main part of the problem,
along with schools, public perception and the police. On Easter Sunday an
article was published in the Chronicle, titled ‘Mum hits out after police
called to deal with children building a den in Warkworth Woods’. Taking the
article with a pinch of salt, the main problems still ring true, local
residents complained (public perception) and the police responded telling the
children to dismantle the den and ‘leave the woods’. I was in a similar
situation a few times when I was kid, once being put in the back of a riot van,
suspected of taking drugs when I was out looking for a Sparrowhawk nest, and
told to ‘not go in the woods again’, thankfully I didn’t listen, but where
would I be if I had? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lack of kids outdoors
isn’t a recent trait, it’s been slowly building over the years and has been
heavily documented in America by authors such as Richard Louv. William J Long
spotted the trend back in 1903! Despite this, I feel trends are changing,
thanks to a number of organisations and individuals making a difference.
Children are starting to become wild again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVRiPZUYJb0/U1pZsI7mExI/AAAAAAAABLQ/55cjiWAgBLI/s1600/img_6341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVRiPZUYJb0/U1pZsI7mExI/AAAAAAAABLQ/55cjiWAgBLI/s1600/img_6341.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unleashing the Wild Side of
Belsay will be running all Summer, inspired by the story of the Wild Man, the
Middleton’s protector for over 600 years, an uncivilized, hairy and strong
being that live in the forest and mountain wildernesses on the edge of
civilised society. By the 17<sup>th</sup> century it is said that the Wildman
had come to be seen as a noble savage, protecting civilised society. Changing
the perception of the wilderness from frightening to celebrated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chris will be back for ‘Wild
Week at Belsay’ from Sat 24<sup>th</sup> May- Sunday 1<sup>st</sup> June, helping
(and inspiring) children build their very own Wildman Dens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939728459683869937noreply@blogger.com2