My TV is starting to feel a bit depressed. It is turned on rather a lot less now and been replaced by the radio and an MP3 player.
My MP3 player is now stuff full of classical music. When I got the classical bug I had expected to fill it with the big name works, the sort of things that features on the Classic FM hall of fame, but that hasn't gone exactly to plan.
Yes there are some big name pieces on there but I've sort of gone my own way. I've listened to some pieces on the radio and from that discovered other things. Classic FM's playing of the David's Violin concerto recorded by the Hyperion labels has got me looking at their Romantic Violin and Piano series which has lots of lovely music by people I've never heard of.
Reviews in magazines and newspapers have led me to some gems that now get regular airings.
And waking up at silly o'clock with the radio on as seen me add an album of Swedish Violin Concertos to my wish list!
This is another that is on the download list!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
This 'n' that
Yes Yes I know I'm getting to be a bit tardy at this blogging lark! Luckily the National Trust start to open their properties this weekend with Wimpole Hall opening. If the weather is wet I may pop in and take some pics (but you've seen it before) and try out the new restaurant!
Spring is on the way though, there are buds about, birds are singing (the blackbird is much more evident now) and the Snowdrops are out in their usual spot on my way to work. Oh and its lighter of an evening!
Highlight of my week so far? Little Egret at Abridge. There's been one in the river a few times this past year.
Jo Nesbo's Redbreast is improving. Its not the first in his Harry Hole series (its the third) but it is the earliest in English. Unless it tails off badly I'll read some more. He is definitely not the new Stieg Larsson!!
I do seem to have developed an annoying habit of falling asleep with the radio on, I then wake up to Chopin or some such at 2am!!
Spring is on the way though, there are buds about, birds are singing (the blackbird is much more evident now) and the Snowdrops are out in their usual spot on my way to work. Oh and its lighter of an evening!
Highlight of my week so far? Little Egret at Abridge. There's been one in the river a few times this past year.
Jo Nesbo's Redbreast is improving. Its not the first in his Harry Hole series (its the third) but it is the earliest in English. Unless it tails off badly I'll read some more. He is definitely not the new Stieg Larsson!!
I do seem to have developed an annoying habit of falling asleep with the radio on, I then wake up to Chopin or some such at 2am!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Signs of Spring
Apparently my car is red! I found this out after washing my car early this morning! There was also a pair of Blue Tits, a Great Tit and my Robin in the front garden - probably in shock at me washing the car!!
After this exertion I had to decide where to go, as it was dull (sunshining now!) I went to Ickworth (expect lots more photos later in the year).
Lot of snowdrops about.
As you can see signs of spring about!
Birdwise lots of Tits and Blackbirds about and I was pleased to see a pair of Nuthatches (seemed to be gathering materia) a Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodies and Goldcrests.
After this exertion I had to decide where to go, as it was dull (sunshining now!) I went to Ickworth (expect lots more photos later in the year).
Lot of snowdrops about.
As you can see signs of spring about!
Birdwise lots of Tits and Blackbirds about and I was pleased to see a pair of Nuthatches (seemed to be gathering materia) a Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodies and Goldcrests.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
All hail a marvellous little songster
I am reading a book called Redbreast by the Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo.
The book is set in a Norwegian Winter and one of the characters says:... look there is a Robin. They are quite rare this time of year about 90% of Robin's migrate at this time. If they stay they risk freezing to death but if the gamble pays off they get the best nesting spots.
We don't think of the Robin migrating in the UK as we see them the all year and lets be honest they aren't secretive.
I like Robins and only just because they are so nice those of us with a camera!
Another thing about the Robin is it is the only (or at least one of a very few) songster that sings all year - there is one that sings outside my bedroom window.!
The Robin is also known as Robin Redbreast curiously it was known just as Redbreast and the Robin was a later nickname which is now the species name.
Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross the Robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain. The blood from his wounds stained the Robin's breast, and thereafter all Robins got the mark of Christ's blood upon them.
The book is set in a Norwegian Winter and one of the characters says:... look there is a Robin. They are quite rare this time of year about 90% of Robin's migrate at this time. If they stay they risk freezing to death but if the gamble pays off they get the best nesting spots.
We don't think of the Robin migrating in the UK as we see them the all year and lets be honest they aren't secretive.
I like Robins and only just because they are so nice those of us with a camera!
Another thing about the Robin is it is the only (or at least one of a very few) songster that sings all year - there is one that sings outside my bedroom window.!
The Robin is also known as Robin Redbreast curiously it was known just as Redbreast and the Robin was a later nickname which is now the species name.
Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross the Robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain. The blood from his wounds stained the Robin's breast, and thereafter all Robins got the mark of Christ's blood upon them.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Radiation causes smaller brained bids
An interesting study around Chernobyl (the site of a big nuclear accident) of 550 birds of 48 different species found that the birds in the area have 5% smaller brains.
Brain size was significantly smaller in yearlings compared with older birds. Smaller brain sizes are thought to be linked to reduced cognitive ability.
Interesting to note that insect diversity has also fallen.
You can read more here.
Brain size was significantly smaller in yearlings compared with older birds. Smaller brain sizes are thought to be linked to reduced cognitive ability.
Interesting to note that insect diversity has also fallen.
You can read more here.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Grey and Windy
You wait all week for the weekend and do you get sun? No its grey and windy!! The later put play to the idea of heading to Ickworth to snap more snowdrops.
And so I went patch watching at Rye Meads. Of course I expected to see little and photograph even less. But there were plenty of finches (green, gold and chaff) about and tits (blue and great).
At the Draper the water was high, loads of shovelers about and AH the unmistakable sound of a Little Grebe and coming into breeding plumage. They are a lovely little bird. Think there was a second about.
The Tern hide is at the moment one of the best hides. Lots of ducks(shelduck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, mallard, teal, tufted) and gulls (oh if you insist black headed, common, lesser black backed and Herring).
And this little chap. Grey bird under grey skies on a grey back ground is not helping the photos but I do like the Green Sandpiper.
There had been talk that a Kingfisher was seen at the Kingfisher hide (apt!) but not by me it wasn't. Still I'm hardly going to moan when it had a substitute.
Yep a Bittern, doing what Bitterns normally do .... i.e. not much!
Well it had a stretch.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. I added Redwing to the days Thrush list to join Blackbird.
On the drive up the toll road out of the centre were 4 Egyptian Geese. A surprisingly productive litte stroll.
And on this grey almost Autumnal day really its hard to believe that a rather plain and non descriptive little bird is starting to think of heading North and with its unassuming little song herald the start of Spring.
Frankly I can't wait to hear him!
And so I went patch watching at Rye Meads. Of course I expected to see little and photograph even less. But there were plenty of finches (green, gold and chaff) about and tits (blue and great).
At the Draper the water was high, loads of shovelers about and AH the unmistakable sound of a Little Grebe and coming into breeding plumage. They are a lovely little bird. Think there was a second about.
The Tern hide is at the moment one of the best hides. Lots of ducks(shelduck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, mallard, teal, tufted) and gulls (oh if you insist black headed, common, lesser black backed and Herring).
And this little chap. Grey bird under grey skies on a grey back ground is not helping the photos but I do like the Green Sandpiper.
There had been talk that a Kingfisher was seen at the Kingfisher hide (apt!) but not by me it wasn't. Still I'm hardly going to moan when it had a substitute.
Yep a Bittern, doing what Bitterns normally do .... i.e. not much!
Well it had a stretch.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. I added Redwing to the days Thrush list to join Blackbird.
On the drive up the toll road out of the centre were 4 Egyptian Geese. A surprisingly productive litte stroll.
And on this grey almost Autumnal day really its hard to believe that a rather plain and non descriptive little bird is starting to think of heading North and with its unassuming little song herald the start of Spring.
Frankly I can't wait to hear him!
Thursday, February 03, 2011
You can't always infer A from B.
Apparently the Songbird Survival Trust have asked the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to carry out a cull of magpies and crows. Their logic?
Now I hate to disillusion them but because Crows have increased you can't infer that that is why smaller birds have declined. I think you'll find that nature normally allows compensates for such imbalances. It has probably got much to do with pesticides and lack of hedgerows etc. As a number of farmers in Norfolk have shown if you provide the habitat then the birds will come back.
edited for accuracy - thanks to the Wessex Reiver.
For example, the crow population has increased 200 per cent in the past 50 years but some smaller species have declined.
It’s about getting balance. Our job is to do this work and make recommendations because our science is well respected.
It’s a small-scale experimental study designed to improve the breeding success of small farmland birds, like buntings and yellow hammers,
Now I hate to disillusion them but because Crows have increased you can't infer that that is why smaller birds have declined. I think you'll find that nature normally allows compensates for such imbalances. It has probably got much to do with pesticides and lack of hedgerows etc. As a number of farmers in Norfolk have shown if you provide the habitat then the birds will come back.
edited for accuracy - thanks to the Wessex Reiver.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
What?
I was glancing down my twitter feed this evening when I saw a tweet from the ever excellent GravesyNT
Now I was rather intrigued by this and a quick google search came across a story in the Daily Mail (stop laughing) that the National Trust has put extra security measures in place to protect snowdrops from being stolen.
I didn't notice much in the way of labelling Friday, unless it was the little boards saying what variety the Snowdrops were!!
Just so you know. we haven't 'increased security' for snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey, and our garden guides help people enjoy their visit
Now I was rather intrigued by this and a quick google search came across a story in the Daily Mail (stop laughing) that the National Trust has put extra security measures in place to protect snowdrops from being stolen.
The conservation group is so concerned about thefts of the valuable winter flowers that gardeners at one of its properties are labelling bulbs to keep track of them.
I didn't notice much in the way of labelling Friday, unless it was the little boards saying what variety the Snowdrops were!!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Ye Gods it was cold
I met up with Trish today and we headed to Norfolk, it looked promising when we arrived at Salthouse and the sun was shining. No Snow Buntings but we had a few standins.
Turnstone
Redshank
The sun soon went in and the wind blew AND IT WAS FREEZING!!! So we decided that we would head inland!! We saw a nice flock of Brent Geese and I spied a Marsh Harrier.
As we headed to Sculthorpe Moor there were loads of pheasants but then a bird few along by the side of the car and I was well chuffed to see it was a Grey Partridge!!
At Sculthorpe we saw a couple of Buzzards and a nice selection of woodland birds.
The pics aren't good just for the record.
Long Tailed Tits
Male and Female Bullfinch
Brambling
There was a Water Rail that crept along for ages and when it came out into the open it ran like billyo into cover on the other side!!
Other nice spots were Marsh and Coal Tit.
A couple of Buzzards on the way back.
Good day pity about the weather!!
Turnstone
Redshank
The sun soon went in and the wind blew AND IT WAS FREEZING!!! So we decided that we would head inland!! We saw a nice flock of Brent Geese and I spied a Marsh Harrier.
As we headed to Sculthorpe Moor there were loads of pheasants but then a bird few along by the side of the car and I was well chuffed to see it was a Grey Partridge!!
At Sculthorpe we saw a couple of Buzzards and a nice selection of woodland birds.
The pics aren't good just for the record.
Long Tailed Tits
Male and Female Bullfinch
Brambling
There was a Water Rail that crept along for ages and when it came out into the open it ran like billyo into cover on the other side!!
Other nice spots were Marsh and Coal Tit.
A couple of Buzzards on the way back.
Good day pity about the weather!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey
Well I'm off today, it wasn't the day I planned but I'm not complaining as something very odd happened the Sun came out!!
I dragged myself out of bed and headed for Anglesey Abbey. Well it's Snowdrop season! Reports a few days ago were that only 3% were out so I was a bit nervous but we'll see...
Oh the Parsnip Soup was very nice and I had a lump of chocky cake!
I dragged myself out of bed and headed for Anglesey Abbey. Well it's Snowdrop season! Reports a few days ago were that only 3% were out so I was a bit nervous but we'll see...
Oh the Parsnip Soup was very nice and I had a lump of chocky cake!
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