Things are Starting to Fall into Place!

Right well not sure where to start! Had a busy hectic few days and some good news!

I'll start with the weekend. I actually finished a knitting project - quite an accomplishment for moi! I volunteered myself to knit a tea cosy for the teapot we use for our teas on our Monday tasks. Below are a few nearly finished photos and the finished article!

The last row...

Blue butterfly (adonis blue) representing the KWT logo

The teapot ready to be dressed

A quick break for a dog walk....

Then taaaadaaaaaa....

I wanted to finish it before volling on Monday. Everyone was impressed and I must say I am fairly impressed too!

Everyone working hard - probably in need of a nice hot cup of tea!

Tea cosy in a more natural setting!

Everyone said how much hotter the tea stayed - in my eyes that is a success!

Anyone know what this is??? Edit: Cobalt Crust (Terana caerulea) a saprobic crust fungi

After the task, we went to check on Oare Marshes after the tidal surge last week. I didn't see the damage on the day but it is still very much under water compared to how it usually looks.

Evidence of the debris washed into the marsh from the creek. Water was flowing so quickly it dragged reeds as well

Water pouring from the ditches

Excess water gushing from the marshes back into the creek via the sluice

A beautiful calm day

On Tuesday I went on an Emergency First Aid at Work Training day. A really handy qualification to have when applying for jobs etc. It was a very informative and hands on day. I feel confident that I may one day be able to help someone if they were in trouble.

Yesterday We had our first proper frost. It still wasn't a proper proper one but the heaviest we've had yet.

Not too sure about that ice...

Give it a little sniff...

Then eat it!

I took Bracken down to the marshes with my camera and tripod slung over my shoulder. I needed an hour or so to clear my head because later on in the day I had an interview. The interview was for a trainee post with KWT and I was told to prepare a 3 minute presentation about a habitat or species group. I decided to talk about falcons! What better way to learn a presentation than go and give it to a falcon! We always see kestrels down at the marshes so that is what I did. A nice hovering kezzie listened very well to me rambling on about him!  I really wanted a nice photo of me and Bracken down there in the lovely morning light, hence why I took my tripod. I got a couple of shots that I quite like...

Anyway I went for my interview, it went okay but I was quite nervous. It obviously went better than I thought because I received a phone call when I got home and they offered me the job!! Truly ecstatic! The position involves working on the water vole project which I have already been doing for a while. I am just happy to be able to have a more formal role in the project!

This morning we went on another lovely walk. Well a normal kind of walk apart from the fact I saw my first little owl!! I wish wish wish I'd had my camera because it was no more than 2 metres away from me and looking directly at me!! I'm sure most birders see lots of these stunning little birds and I'm not quite sure why it has taken me so long to see one. It was well worth the wait though! I will always remember my first sighting of this smart little owl!

Right now I must apologise again for taking so long to catch up on blogs, that is my task for the next few days! I hope you are all having a great week! I couldn't wait to share my good news with you all!

Daily Life

December already! Although it is still feeling quite mild here in this part of the country. I'm eager for a nice frost as I've missed a nice crunchy walk!

Yesterday after I took Bracken for a walk I spent some time catching up with blogs and watching the birds who were coming and going in the garden. I have been inspired by Mike Dilger's new book to watch the behaviour of the birds who visit the garden and I've been writing a little bird diary. Something which I am sure most naturalists do.

Over the weekend I had a go at making my own birdy fat treats. Ages ago I bought one of those coconut halves and obviously they demolished the contents within a few days, however it was the perfect vessel to refill. I bought some white vegetable fat and melted it down, firstly putting a layer of mealworms, then some of the melted fat, then some oats and some more mealworms until it was packed with yummy bird treats. I also used a plastic pot which was destined for the recycle bin, and filled that with the same selection of morsels. The garden birds are still checking it out, making sure it isn't going to jump off the tree and eat them. There were 5 blue tits all inspecting it from afar, but still just a little too scary to nibble.

The weekend before, we went and explored some woods nearby which we hadn't been to previously. The walk was okay, but it was quite difficult to follow the woodland path. We encountered some lovely free roaming piggies which luckily Bracken didn't notice, so I was able to call him back and pop him on his lead. Probably not a footpath we shall use again, but that is what is great about using the OS map - we can find which places we like and which we aren't likely to return to. My camera's battery died after a few minutes so that was quite irritating.

Usual volunteering activities have been taking place, along with a dormouse check which resulted in just one wood mouse which had taken over the intricate dormouse nest. We then made a hasty retreat back to the truck as it started to tip down. Hopefully all the little dormice gained enough weight to survive the winter and have found a nice little hidey hole to hibernate in.

Anyway that is probably enough of my ramblings. Here are a selection of photos from the last few weeks worth of walks.

21st November

21st November

21st November

23rd November - Walk along The Saxon Shore Way
 

Bracken having enormous fun with a plastic sheet.

Kestrel

Flock of  roughly 170 brent geese

Flock of linnets and goldfinches

Linnets and goldfinches

Another shot of the finch flock

Reed bunting

Poignant pose

Sanderling

Last Monday I took this cake along to our volunteer task for the Warden's Birthday. Usually no more than 10 people turn up so I cut the cake into 10. You can guess how many people turned up to that task....

Delicious Birthday carrot cake

The changes in the sky on today's afternoon walk...

Lime tree leaves

I am playing catch up with all your blogs, I haven't forgotten you I promise! I hope you are all well :)

Thanks for reading and any comments you take the time to write, I truly appreciate what you have to say!