In raptures over raptors

Well its been a month since my last post and I have been watching a Sparrowhawk family grow now
fledged and leaving the nest in the flooded Alder wood affectionately known as the Everglades,where some wag has placed a plastic Alligator.
The weather has been good for the hunting Accipters as both parents seem to have hunted successfully.

Sitting tight at first now left to wing stretch and fly hop short distances through the trees as the water
levels recede below them.

At first covered in down and considered vunerable the Sparrowhawk makes a good parent,with all
four fledged the food source must have been good that coupled with good flying days has helped
no need of sibling rivalry and cannibalism  at this site.

Watching them grow has been a pleasure for most of us ,as they gradually they lose their
down and grow feathers,some distractions was a fine male Lesser spotted Woodpecker in the plantation and the singing blackbirds.

Back to our raptors as these fine youngsters find their feet over the Alder swamp ,dragonflies and
butterflies dance in the sunshine as the temperature soars to the hottest day for years in Herts.

Yes its four any offers on five , that's that settled  then ,well if you've gone over the weekend
its been a pleasure thanks for the show.

Woodoaks Wagtails and Maple Lodge

Well a trip to the farm with Paul Lewis was a nice change  , first up a pair of greenfinch and a
pied wagtail in  the farm yard with linnets and yellowhammers.

moving towards the dung heap we were soon viewing up to 4 Yellow wagtails amongst
linnets an rising skylarks.

A number of raptors obliged Kestrel,Sparrowhawk and Red Kite,returning back past the
dump we moved on to Maple Lodge now with Christine Bessant in tow.

Maple Lodge held a breeding Sparrowhawk,we could see the tail of the bird in the nest.

Wildfowl in good numbers produced breeding Pochard before we left for home.

Finally a Lesser Black Backed Gull took a juvenile Coot ,just a snack.

return to Barne Elms fisherie

On the 6th of May it was blowing a gale as we negotiated the M25 and M3 towards Reading,some of us never even got here down to  traffic and work,I was with my neighbour Richard Gilmore and an old work colleague Peter Halward.

I managed one fish Peter blanked and Richard had 4 that's how it goes sometimes ,we drank
tea and coffee as the  weather got worse provided by Rosemary.

House martins and swallows obliged as they took flys off the lakes ,the wind sent our flys to the
bushes and trees.

Heres Pete trying his best oh well theirs always next time.Tight Lines

Spring at Moor Park

Spring arrives at Moor Park along the drive daffodils are in resplendent yellow as the chiff chaff sings high in the canopy.Leaves are slow to form,but the buds are bursting forth.
The Green Woodpecker yaffles in undulating flight across the fairways.Jackdaws are now nesting
amongst  a variety of trees in particular sweet chestnut which has many nooks and crannies to nest in.

As the sky turns blue, red kites and buzzards soar on the thermals with perfection and ease.
What a distraction from the competitive world of golf.

Ashmere Spring outing with Croxley Green Flyfishers

Well its Spring again and we were off to Ashmere fly fishing,first up lunch by the Thames at Walton
in the hot sunshine,then late afternoon we headed to the fisherie where we tackled up.

We waited for the off and we were all soon in to our first fish in the first lake of our choice.

The boys posed for the usual pictures new boy Vinnie from Hemel was guesting today,along
with Carl Bolding the fly tyer ,Richard et al .

The chairman even caught a few fish and landed one for me.Tim Bone came along
today ,Tims been ill it was nice to see him back ,he caught a 3lb Brownie.

So ended a nice evenings fishing only spoilt by another early exit,the meal was
supposed to be the social part.

Albury Fly fishing

Spring has sprung this week so my friends and I negotiated theM25 and made our way towards
Guildford where breakfast in the pub beckoned.

Jeff the Kiwi was smiling but Kev was a bit quiet ,we tackled up and I soon got my only
fish ,Alan and Jeff did much better but it was not Kevins day.

I noted Buzzards, Raven heard Chiff Chaff  and saw some nice primroses growing in the
woods.

Around 1300hrs we knocked it on the head and went home in the afternoon sunshine.

Berlin to Wolfsberg

Up early again this morning a morning stroll took us over the river Spree at Oberbaumstrasse.

Next we had a tea and coffee at The Pirates before we headed by taxi to the HaupBanhof
train station.

We were taking the Ice train to Wolfsberg which is almost in Hannover,it takes about an
hour to get there.

All aboard the Hogwarts express in comfortable carriages,we were on our way.

We arrived and walked to the ground it was about a mile maximum passing the VW factory.

At the ground we picked up a few souvenirs and had some beers before kick off.

In the ground for kick off we were seated fairly high up and the atmosphere was good amongst the
crowd as Stuttgart started their singing.

The game picked up pace in the second half and Wolfsberg won 3-1 we left the ground and made
our way slowly back to the train station.

The train arrived a little late ,we got on the Ice train and were soon back in Berlin,
had a beer and burger and we were off for another night of fun in Berlin.