Sublime Music

I know it's hard for some people to believe but I had some holiday I had to use up.

Today was a concert day but I slipped a camera in my jacket pocket.

And the egg! Pretty eh

Another one!

And this looked interesting!

So let's look around Wesley's Chapel

Wesley's tomb.

No idea why I took this! Looked interesting I guess.

The Concert was at the LSO St Luke's

Nicola Benedetti - Violin
Leonard Elschenbroich - Cello
Alexei Grynyuk - Piano

were playing

RACHMANINOV Elegiac Trio No 1 in G minor
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Trio in A minor Op 50

It was an excellent concert both places were beautiful with great interplay between the artists.

A couple of pics of the hustle and bustle at Liverpool Street Station

The changing state of Garden Birds

The BTO have just published there latest Garden Birds Survey.

The big mover up is the Goldfinch which has moved in to the top 10 of most commonly reported birds. In 1995 it was seen in 12.2% of gardens and now is seen in 57.9% of gardens. It replaces the Greenfinch which is in decline.

According to Dr Tim Harrison:

Greenfinches are being affected by a disease called trichomonosis.

During 2011, their numbers were down by a tenth compared with the average over the last two years, and this is is despite a fantastic breeding season that year.

Goldfinches have probably benefited by people putting a greater variety of food out.

You can read more here.

Norfolk!

Well off to Norfolk today with Trish and Trevor.

The forecast wasn't good but the weather was better than expected.

We stopped for breaky at the excellent Deepdale cafe - thanks Trevor.

Trevor had a target bird and that was Corn Bunting, well Choseley Barns it was then....

There were also lots of Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Red Legged Partridges.

And so to Titchwell.

We started off with Water Rail and then ran into a Spotted Redshank.

Lots of waders including Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin, Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit and Avocets...

I do like the Pintails

Along the walk to the beach we saw Marsh Harrier, Smew, Curlew, Little Egret, Reed Bunting and Stonechat.

On the beach were a Grey Plover and Sanderling....

Bar-Tailed Godwit

See a Bar Tail!!

The Spotted Redshank again

Brent Goose

Didn't see the Arctic Redpoll but did see Lesser (below), Mealy and Siskin.

Oh and a few of these!!

Then onto lunch at the Jolly Sailors Brancaster Staithe. Trish and Trev had huge bowls of Mussels I had the burger!

Then onto Sculthorpe Moor. Lots of Siskins and Redpolls, alas no Willow or Marsh Tit or Brambling but we found Trev a Bullfinch.

Redpoll (Lesser)

Long Tailed Tit

A good day thanks to Trish for driving and putting up with Trev and my sense of humour :)

Things to do before you die....

There are lots of books about lately with titles like 101 Things to do/see before you die.

I'm not planning on dying anytime soon but I thought I'd compose one of those lists....

1. See all 1000 churches in THE book ...... I don't expect to it but an ambition.

2. See 300 species of birds in the UK. 45 to go but I haven't seen a new one for a while ........ might happen but unlikely as I seldom twitch!

3. Retire at 50 or at least before the normal retirement date....... before the normal retirement date is a shoe in! At 50? please god!!

4. See a ballet.... I don't why this is here! But for some reason it is! I do like the music so....... a chance I guess.

5. Go to Paris ........ I'd like to go Versailles, Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle etc etc etc you could add a number of French Cathedrals to this list! Chartres, Reims, Troyes ..... decent chance.

6. Go to Rome ........ oh come on who wouldn't!! an outside chance

7. Go to one of Florence/Milan/Venice....... see 6!! outside chance

8. Visit every National Trust house and garden in England and Wales - by definition tea room! We aren't talking property! I think this one I can do :D

9. See a Hummingbird in the wild!! - no chance but....

10. Go to an opera - what do you mean I don't like Opera!! I mean see Carmen in Paris or Puccini in Italy..... chances? hhhhmmmmmmm