2nd Feb.
With limited time still throughout January I still managed to visit some
very special habitat, including the Northumbrian coastal sites of Druridge Bay,
Ross Bank Sands and in the uplands Geltsdale.
This brought some good sightings of species, although in my opinion, of
equal importance to the species seen is the enjoyment of the habitat
visited. Today was World Wetlands Day so
it was appropriate that we visit an area with some wetland and it was off to
Gosforth Park Nature Reserve for Sam and me.
I have to admit that until Sam told me I hadn’t been aware of the
significance of the day. Despite the
good weather we still had to plodge carefully through mud and water along the
pathways. I can’t say I remember too
many dry paths in the reserve over the past couple of years and today water was
at one point half way up my wellington boots.
Sadly some of our wetland sites in the UK have taking quite a bashing this
winter.
Blue and Coal
Sam had some new equipment to try out today (I’ll allow
myself to be a little envious) so we spent a bit of time in the feeding station
hide. It was fairly quiet as was the
rest of the reserve. We did find the
usual woodland birds here which eventually included the Great Spotted Woodpecker and a couple of Nuthatches, but rather unusually for this site no Treecreeper. Jays were the only birds
of any significance that we found on our walk around the reserve, although
there were numbers of Redwing and Mistle Thrushes feeding in the fields
some distance from the perimeter. I was
unable to definitely make out any Fieldfare.
The pond held about one hundred and forty Wigeon, a few Teal, Gadwall,
Shoveller and Tufted Duck. A Grey Heron flew in the area. We saw no sign of the Bittern that had been
found briefly flying over the reed-bed before our arrival at the pond.
Nuthatch
Goldfinch
We were winding down at the feeding station again when I
received a call from AS informing me that he had been watching a female Scaup on Killingworth Lake. We made back to patch soon afterwards and had
a decent sighting of the Scaup (a
patch tick for Sam), although by now it was dozing and the good light of
earlier in the day had been lost. A
small number of Goosander remain on
the lake, but most appear to have moved on.
Other birds seen included the pair of Little Grebe, Pochard, and Goldeneye. The flock of Canada Geese have also returned to the area. I’m thinking it may not be long until we see
the return of the Great Crested Grebes.
All in all it had been another enjoyable day, allowing me to
add a further four species to the year list.
I’d only felt cold whilst in the hide at the pond and find it surprising
that I’ve rarely found the need for gloves so far this winter.
I’m looking forward to the talk on the history of Whaling
and its association with the North East.
A presentation at the NHSN, Hancock, 7.00pm Friday 7th Feb.
3rd Feb.
Fifty-five years ago today that Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. Also killed were Ritchie Valens, J P Richardson
and the pilot Roger Peterson. As Don
Mclean said ‘the day the music died’. The memory and the music live on…….
My introduction to Buddy Holly was as a youngster when my
elder brother purchased an EP (extended player, for those too young to remember
such archaic vinyl objects). It was purchased at the Newcastle Quayside Sunday Market (how things have changed on the quayside since then). It took
until some years afterwards for me to appreciate the music, but as my brother
owns every LP (long player) that was made by Buddy (many I think produced after
his death) I gained a slow, but definite liking for it. I was at the time more into the British
groups dominating the charts, many of whom I came to learn were so influenced
by Buddy Holly. I used to laugh at my
brothers taste in music! It was Sam who
reminded me of Buddy Holly’s death all those years ago. I’m pleased to say that Sam himself has
discovered the music of Buddy Holly and I understand his younger brother has a
laugh about it. Such is the lasting
quality of the music I reckon the laughs will turn into appreciation too in the
future.
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Well, you give me all your lovin' and your turtle dovin'
All your hugs and kisses and your money too
Well, you know you love me baby
Until you tell me, maybe
That some day, well I'll be through
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Courtesy of Buddy Holly.
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