tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83286532749443900622024-03-13T00:27:59.513+00:00HUGH MILES - WILDLIFE ADVENTURESHugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-77621633131334410772024-02-26T11:00:00.000+00:002024-02-26T11:00:18.790+00:00IF CARLSBERG BREWED BEAUTY<p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ4Gcbf90x8RnPhXcWdf2eRotYy_1dBPKecI4nxd3AFjXyjHXmbj_rJG24eHL6F32vae4vd08nMhnoNXzN2__Ro16XiKCRAIx4XotxgHNPeQxGKW9bUjboDNSbScvaxK70Hc5eL5z7BKuquLUwCQ0DuAetyIp52ascHDI6vSWBEnPTBsnTJriW8P93sg/s1542/AUTUMN%20SCENIC%20REFLECTIONS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1542" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ4Gcbf90x8RnPhXcWdf2eRotYy_1dBPKecI4nxd3AFjXyjHXmbj_rJG24eHL6F32vae4vd08nMhnoNXzN2__Ro16XiKCRAIx4XotxgHNPeQxGKW9bUjboDNSbScvaxK70Hc5eL5z7BKuquLUwCQ0DuAetyIp52ascHDI6vSWBEnPTBsnTJriW8P93sg/w640-h434/AUTUMN%20SCENIC%20REFLECTIONS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are so many horrors in the world right now that I badly need some mental medication and one way of recovering is to remember some of the inspiring natural beauty I've enjoyed around the world.</span><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAdXP4n_-PpwEq8P_xSGWTKNu3jr00SzgcBquHslme51vQ5e7ROVvW0Wtot9MOC9UYJua-cy7vbFv82fSDVmovYzMFkFUvpa7e24FkELEJIeO8uhrQkxpVTgAUIXArh8uv8jOY6hA9BhP1Uve0a4zEeQp8FvtwdZ1hfWKu7yq0EIYsI4Z52qYalu1x-I/s6273/HM%20FILMING%20+%20MT.%20BG.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6273" data-original-width="4150" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAdXP4n_-PpwEq8P_xSGWTKNu3jr00SzgcBquHslme51vQ5e7ROVvW0Wtot9MOC9UYJua-cy7vbFv82fSDVmovYzMFkFUvpa7e24FkELEJIeO8uhrQkxpVTgAUIXArh8uv8jOY6hA9BhP1Uve0a4zEeQp8FvtwdZ1hfWKu7yq0EIYsI4Z52qYalu1x-I/w424-h640/HM%20FILMING%20+%20MT.%20BG.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Having been privileged to visit some remarkable places during my sixty years making wildlife films, and even though concentrating behind a film camera, my basic happy-snapper clicks away when time allows.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEyLQmVFNVXxSnmDXLfms7mPDXb70H1ofXd3m6EYcOJvh4nuv00NMlLOkVZ0unUGZc6uWo4qcfDzWN3yJp_jXdIrr-5csDj2GZH0i8q8o12NIYkjBBxMTYCukiVCBYzKnz53mQOT4fykrFEQMe5NNoJkIDeCZoQbtIUYdjO0gFxFXacns23AD60wtr3U/s1480/MOODY%20LAKE%20REFLECTION.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1480" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEyLQmVFNVXxSnmDXLfms7mPDXb70H1ofXd3m6EYcOJvh4nuv00NMlLOkVZ0unUGZc6uWo4qcfDzWN3yJp_jXdIrr-5csDj2GZH0i8q8o12NIYkjBBxMTYCukiVCBYzKnz53mQOT4fykrFEQMe5NNoJkIDeCZoQbtIUYdjO0gFxFXacns23AD60wtr3U/w640-h432/MOODY%20LAKE%20REFLECTION.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Choosing the first place to visit in my '</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Carlsberg</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Beauty' idea is easy because the Andes Mountains in Patagonia are so stunning, especially in the Torres del Paine National Park. I was lucky to camp here in the wilds with my assistant and good friend Donaldo Maciver on and off for more than two years. Donny was a </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">gaucho from Argentina, well versed in the challenges of surviving in the wilds and a great companion, though n</span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">ow most sadly departed.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: x-large;"> </span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5RQQPCqTjm90V2Le-tILyZ7HOFVEZZWtJ0JLnUAYGUzPawBHoVd1ZRdd-tjnJna6FA_b2Ngpdba96kRfv-1Tf5WFQSrvJH-wAkQa0LWYGbJwdSVURioPrFZSZjwy_shHznBxc4AiT120WrDxSGPCf1I3SjR4RBG9XZHaUEKE_bgZaxVLKA268EPuiz0/s3780/torresdelpaine6a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5RQQPCqTjm90V2Le-tILyZ7HOFVEZZWtJ0JLnUAYGUzPawBHoVd1ZRdd-tjnJna6FA_b2Ngpdba96kRfv-1Tf5WFQSrvJH-wAkQa0LWYGbJwdSVURioPrFZSZjwy_shHznBxc4AiT120WrDxSGPCf1I3SjR4RBG9XZHaUEKE_bgZaxVLKA268EPuiz0/w640-h416/torresdelpaine6a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTuoEE2hCjYfuoo2xZ4PdZgYT8UGDva5IHq1uWPOLRBIa30PuDrB7YIVyNXX41ERwWt1Z__DT4RVULNjxTE6FJN68kt2mYQnx47oOsUc4Y_CRkMdciEc-0Mj8hxn6noZ_FzUH8iphtCO0MzxCFQ4Aue_VVlTXqroAY5TOLUSgcpIVXO7Ri-n-AExdWps/s1612/TENTS%20IN%20SNOW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1612" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTuoEE2hCjYfuoo2xZ4PdZgYT8UGDva5IHq1uWPOLRBIa30PuDrB7YIVyNXX41ERwWt1Z__DT4RVULNjxTE6FJN68kt2mYQnx47oOsUc4Y_CRkMdciEc-0Mj8hxn6noZ_FzUH8iphtCO0MzxCFQ4Aue_VVlTXqroAY5TOLUSgcpIVXO7Ri-n-AExdWps/w640-h424/TENTS%20IN%20SNOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our task was to try to make a first ever film on pumas for National Geographic television. Pumas are also called mountain lions or cougars in North America and the adventure with these big cats was as memorable as life gets, for even finding them was a relentless though rewarding challenge. </span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapv5gP37tC5Jx5z0XN_Nahmsux9x7hE0pHAUWa57lVPt2MxoykGna_4MGyKII3GrubcR5EQytVnuj4LFwun5YXd1MtbeaiTMOFZmfvUxRzBCDB1YshuGAV0Tn497BIZ-EXs05oR7sid5t3J_KBZgziu_Irovstt4wyZXeWj71hMS2h77QyCy5ifaTLgU/s1628/HM%20IN%20SARMIENTO%20DAWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1628" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapv5gP37tC5Jx5z0XN_Nahmsux9x7hE0pHAUWa57lVPt2MxoykGna_4MGyKII3GrubcR5EQytVnuj4LFwun5YXd1MtbeaiTMOFZmfvUxRzBCDB1YshuGAV0Tn497BIZ-EXs05oR7sid5t3J_KBZgziu_Irovstt4wyZXeWj71hMS2h77QyCy5ifaTLgU/w640-h468/HM%20IN%20SARMIENTO%20DAWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Ruthlessly persecuted by the gauchos, these pumas were terrified of humans and during the first few weeks, they simply fled on even sensing our </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">presence</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> and despite being protected by law, the local gauchos infiltrated the National Park while we were filming and shot at least three pumas. So it took me four months to try to befriend and eventually win the trust of just one cat, this beautiful lady we called Penny. After several more months of tense relationship building, she allowed me the privilege of following her around the mountains while she looked for prey.</span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NPRXwqUJGxeG28IZg93YHIke_PWy9mBKu7Te3HrEIYYX88NBg-1H-ZN8pPFhdtDFQv7KDzw2rIKU4k_Hn-3UFTQHFW4bt5-U-aAZ4lpJY3mjZX94yzAbQrQbC2aZ9RKeJ9Rrf7LS_Eei0CVRBJeZ_prIh95U_NioPk6v_Dbxr5AJbzal9J_Ru9HA6zM/s3780/puma26a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2457" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NPRXwqUJGxeG28IZg93YHIke_PWy9mBKu7Te3HrEIYYX88NBg-1H-ZN8pPFhdtDFQv7KDzw2rIKU4k_Hn-3UFTQHFW4bt5-U-aAZ4lpJY3mjZX94yzAbQrQbC2aZ9RKeJ9Rrf7LS_Eei0CVRBJeZ_prIh95U_NioPk6v_Dbxr5AJbzal9J_Ru9HA6zM/w640-h416/puma26a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I was writing a book about her adventures and as I’m not a good enough stills photographer, I asked my good friend and ace photographer, Laurie Campbell to join me in Chile and take some proper pictures of her. So these </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">beautiful</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> pics of Penny are Laurie’s work and though </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">several of the pics of the park and scenery are mine, the good ones are Laurie's!</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> We had a great few weeks out there together, trying to find the cats and do justice to this stunning place, so I should crack on and finish writing that book.</span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ViURT3ZwNJ7E98UQqPVHRM-M-q5Rb3YNQd9RRXwESLmyLNTW1uk-IvbAqCj2s6ojUhIsIdykh1xtilUYne7Nomnu7tNaQ1BSSH4q8Ej8jjWiyOFEsw8r8_aoIjsvrMgaD7yO0ccXZxpWjleotKB_fKhOb4Lqwzx5OljBHcZUBzD-zdjbad_UvFIFxtQ/s3780/puma23a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="2458" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ViURT3ZwNJ7E98UQqPVHRM-M-q5Rb3YNQd9RRXwESLmyLNTW1uk-IvbAqCj2s6ojUhIsIdykh1xtilUYne7Nomnu7tNaQ1BSSH4q8Ej8jjWiyOFEsw8r8_aoIjsvrMgaD7yO0ccXZxpWjleotKB_fKhOb4Lqwzx5OljBHcZUBzD-zdjbad_UvFIFxtQ/w416-h640/puma23a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="416" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Mountain lions are notorious in the Americas for killing one or two people each year, so I hoped that when she looked at me like this, she wasn’t thinking ‘dinner’!</span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFyx6cTP78FZIW6WM4UC-QuaTfcTh4MOUyhrbXrdhw0udiRoREN3XHlYZ920W1UjoN8mi29___ZG25lQD6DEQE792AAhJyUFMgp7KEqMsyM2u4XEutJ3CSkHQlmiyI3MbHJu2vy_36pesVR3zSFn8N5KXzH7LbuZtyD6zFg9Q9hbbSq1i8VFIrSszlYo/s3780/puma6a%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2457" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFyx6cTP78FZIW6WM4UC-QuaTfcTh4MOUyhrbXrdhw0udiRoREN3XHlYZ920W1UjoN8mi29___ZG25lQD6DEQE792AAhJyUFMgp7KEqMsyM2u4XEutJ3CSkHQlmiyI3MbHJu2vy_36pesVR3zSFn8N5KXzH7LbuZtyD6zFg9Q9hbbSq1i8VFIrSszlYo/w640-h416/puma6a%20.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />In fact, soon after I had finished my film in Torres del Paine National Park, a fisherman was killed down by the lake where I had been filming and if it had happened while I was there, I certainly wouldn’t have been following her around in the middle of the night!</span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7MVUuqUpNjobiEEJleG0vYta4wS27KXZsM_7Zssk06BAy0c9FbVEM8kc_-hTt7eHupjlRjIfcv7KeyollGnb9XaledpUYEDs3_d74eS2y98MqaAfMPDFNtMufoW0qw6vmpO07idhs0FR9mlJDR7xuam5yd_PLfSjbd2c52koDBJNP1fhTTyHA7j-HhE/s1434/HM%20IN%20MOONLIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1434" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7MVUuqUpNjobiEEJleG0vYta4wS27KXZsM_7Zssk06BAy0c9FbVEM8kc_-hTt7eHupjlRjIfcv7KeyollGnb9XaledpUYEDs3_d74eS2y98MqaAfMPDFNtMufoW0qw6vmpO07idhs0FR9mlJDR7xuam5yd_PLfSjbd2c52koDBJNP1fhTTyHA7j-HhE/w640-h494/HM%20IN%20MOONLIGHT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />On one occasion, I was filming her eating a kill when the moon became hidden behind thick clouds, and as there was no light for my special lens, I curled up in the heather to catch some sleep. But curiosity got the better of her and she crept up to sniff my head. She gave me a hell of a fright and I certainly didn’t risk that nightmare again, so sat on a stool instead!</span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRy0rSRLiORcxwslfAVXhvPBVpxkkifXnSQcNidln3wauGZmKQkMBHZdzhmuu5kw5YilUtjJnML1-hl6ivXv4BphMzV76-gKrlCMvwzPqE_JKdKEun7t1mX8AdFURfycDHQq9uipyiIEkmWnEm7TTCAah0zxUulTyBW2Qmb73Cr-nzdZThyphenhyphenMQRwcoLDs/s3780/puma30b%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2496" data-original-width="3780" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRy0rSRLiORcxwslfAVXhvPBVpxkkifXnSQcNidln3wauGZmKQkMBHZdzhmuu5kw5YilUtjJnML1-hl6ivXv4BphMzV76-gKrlCMvwzPqE_JKdKEun7t1mX8AdFURfycDHQq9uipyiIEkmWnEm7TTCAah0zxUulTyBW2Qmb73Cr-nzdZThyphenhyphenMQRwcoLDs/w640-h422/puma30b%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The bond of trust we had between us was remarkable, for she was relaxed enough to allow me to follow her as she hunted and when resting in the sun,</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I was allowed to sit quietly by my camera </span><span>just a few yards away. S</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">he would even curl up to sleep .</span></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xH0-kuc9xKCVQ-hBISmv8cHW8hTD3EGM1c9m1QyJH0N_q33_jX_G0pogxnEafe5Ll28DMzvow1ANDUkRG1BOnCUHKkSX__sAfkrLIblNIzHwAC_99WD2ba_scj9uZs-LjWw9AwQZHoOQfsVxnezqojkVzvT8EZIrTzOxin338e2u6W0dbajXVs6aaDM/s3780/puma25a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xH0-kuc9xKCVQ-hBISmv8cHW8hTD3EGM1c9m1QyJH0N_q33_jX_G0pogxnEafe5Ll28DMzvow1ANDUkRG1BOnCUHKkSX__sAfkrLIblNIzHwAC_99WD2ba_scj9uZs-LjWw9AwQZHoOQfsVxnezqojkVzvT8EZIrTzOxin338e2u6W0dbajXVs6aaDM/w640-h416/puma25a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIPoSrj6bpnoiuQI4Hy4hw0dkMRiHH12GoTv1l_1HIHIbQT_1DqokEynrUfxOck4HMC7G1mAF58z53Bc6slc2X9ihxv-8qV5UkdaLrNOQ7EYkgsGT2yAvjnga62yyAx9mjaFRhV4gSdMwf05rLzv47OUOVwTYMVq7hTQ55HfXK0f4W7e7lPBzMqFqqiQ/s1608/SCENIC%20MTS%20+%20FLOWERS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1608" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIPoSrj6bpnoiuQI4Hy4hw0dkMRiHH12GoTv1l_1HIHIbQT_1DqokEynrUfxOck4HMC7G1mAF58z53Bc6slc2X9ihxv-8qV5UkdaLrNOQ7EYkgsGT2yAvjnga62yyAx9mjaFRhV4gSdMwf05rLzv47OUOVwTYMVq7hTQ55HfXK0f4W7e7lPBzMqFqqiQ/w640-h430/SCENIC%20MTS%20+%20FLOWERS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br />Even though pumas are the star attraction in the park, there are many more critters, some of which are on the big cats menu, the most notable being the guanaco, the direct ancestors of lamas and surprisingly perhaps, also related to the African camels before the continents separated.</span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fuuYMYYygJ7sWdJAydvD-HdmtC1O_lEf57R2Rul2JiPtd6Y7UnXrW90sT7h1z6j2h0cuzRL-_80Ud9R-8AMoK1T7KXtesBFepuw4oW5Pa7oHR-p6gzoty8QppCsykTAHPCa3GcIFVY_r0aI3xhadOYyrEkeLIPG0Lb24hVqA3Fqxlt7QmkO6J97BZBE/s1563/SKYLINE%20G%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1563" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fuuYMYYygJ7sWdJAydvD-HdmtC1O_lEf57R2Rul2JiPtd6Y7UnXrW90sT7h1z6j2h0cuzRL-_80Ud9R-8AMoK1T7KXtesBFepuw4oW5Pa7oHR-p6gzoty8QppCsykTAHPCa3GcIFVY_r0aI3xhadOYyrEkeLIPG0Lb24hVqA3Fqxlt7QmkO6J97BZBE/w640-h426/SKYLINE%20G%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">They are formidable animals, tall and muscular and weigh twice that of pumas, so hanging onto them when and if they catch hold of one is a dangerous mission and can lead to injury. </span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnBDkUHuSgElBjb3XHkV08yegajfkOsHqWCTe2jo8qG_TFgU78pmNXjHiX5sSGKRcVLlVblgPqX_xHgiFMSpYZhLFFz-9y3gJrZR-LTeqOTW2dOIWpzKH0DR77qO86K1i4ooCLEeStSwddjXjq4eAo5k5Yo_XWmKc6WE_HkjMHiPUTXhuotuHtW2W-kw/s3079/guanaco40a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="3079" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnBDkUHuSgElBjb3XHkV08yegajfkOsHqWCTe2jo8qG_TFgU78pmNXjHiX5sSGKRcVLlVblgPqX_xHgiFMSpYZhLFFz-9y3gJrZR-LTeqOTW2dOIWpzKH0DR77qO86K1i4ooCLEeStSwddjXjq4eAo5k5Yo_XWmKc6WE_HkjMHiPUTXhuotuHtW2W-kw/w640-h508/guanaco40a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br />Success is hard earned and one in maybe eight attempts a winner but once achieved, they provide a meal for several days, or a lot less when Penny had two cubs to feed.</span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA7BLMZUQmN5H3PIE8iPegV8yOgv-89cfTmWzn_FuffD4qkmb-MmX4aNvEH00GfYvuNoFJLpv32Ptsf5fMq4CGe2iAN_Bd7Acnmn3z-XI4-h4bMblOXf_Ty-tmBTRVpktM2BO6UOIZ9qedap8DO0CQgxbccJ3TS_MYiPGSddo9iaoC-fr-SGUCHLm4PU/s3780/andeancondor3a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA7BLMZUQmN5H3PIE8iPegV8yOgv-89cfTmWzn_FuffD4qkmb-MmX4aNvEH00GfYvuNoFJLpv32Ptsf5fMq4CGe2iAN_Bd7Acnmn3z-XI4-h4bMblOXf_Ty-tmBTRVpktM2BO6UOIZ9qedap8DO0CQgxbccJ3TS_MYiPGSddo9iaoC-fr-SGUCHLm4PU/w640-h416/andeancondor3a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br />Worse still, she had competition from the numerous Andean Condors, so had to be careful to cover the carcass before dawn to hide it from preying eyes. I was lucky to film her scraping paw fulls of vegetation for twenty minutes or so while the cubs played rugby scrum wrestling until she had covered the carcass. They then took an interest in my huddled form and it was slightly alarming sitting there in the dark surrounded by three large cats looking intently at a slightly nervous me! They would leave as dawn approached and if she hadn't done a good enough job, the condors would devour several days of cat food in a few hours.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDyWOofFeDlVoIrBsyYIoKqmz6PxC4cRN11-tn5COusYlaPLWwOF59lnvM7M-m8sgedWZJgQxIVMRp560k3xfrOzJvrGRJr-jMwu1yS8ITOSXW9f_zWRRRGt948XkQ26_2L41UR8wLxxhwARtSIMaDA_RUBXPc2tYFESbf2iMYuYqLSyiP4eGd2w8oEM/s3780/andeancondor6a%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDyWOofFeDlVoIrBsyYIoKqmz6PxC4cRN11-tn5COusYlaPLWwOF59lnvM7M-m8sgedWZJgQxIVMRp560k3xfrOzJvrGRJr-jMwu1yS8ITOSXW9f_zWRRRGt948XkQ26_2L41UR8wLxxhwARtSIMaDA_RUBXPc2tYFESbf2iMYuYqLSyiP4eGd2w8oEM/w640-h416/andeancondor6a%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9hqJe2QP0I1naHJJTXDgrHFYpC03bcfWkPqIBHH6OYVAta7SC2J-KgMPzkfTjklIGCegR6eaFeU93HT3EMLtrrls6_KRikWsPVxGLRuT1X1wGBJwactLRE5-RRaquXjINakfE83xvFc4pGdqPTK913q9W5Sif4eH72k1HPN06fol0mNaQUdWQWQONtY/s3780/HM%20+%20FOX%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3780" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9hqJe2QP0I1naHJJTXDgrHFYpC03bcfWkPqIBHH6OYVAta7SC2J-KgMPzkfTjklIGCegR6eaFeU93HT3EMLtrrls6_KRikWsPVxGLRuT1X1wGBJwactLRE5-RRaquXjINakfE83xvFc4pGdqPTK913q9W5Sif4eH72k1HPN06fol0mNaQUdWQWQONtY/w640-h416/HM%20+%20FOX%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The ostrich like rhea is also on her menu, foxes too if they aren't quick enough when scavenging her kills, and foxes never missing an </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;">opportunity for a meal, they learnt to hang around camp for scraps. Taming them was easy, dog biscuits being very welcome, though little bits of cheese were so desirable that I had them eating off my knee.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1aiKB731uRcynVUW8S-n3h8jRySkPGtZ8Oi5L4A5K6tDNheEOir_A9YYV6lh9da3C2GYJXK_1oV6BQz2CSxIgsyZ0LbiRCp8BNKUK1jQDvn1-5bn-F0SWKMM803FMb1MaNiiATwmG_setUASrfPj_ayQEwjeVZ8mE5F2PCqe3BlHi3VNxCmCiAo47ew/s2356/HM%20+%20TAME%20FOX.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2356" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1aiKB731uRcynVUW8S-n3h8jRySkPGtZ8Oi5L4A5K6tDNheEOir_A9YYV6lh9da3C2GYJXK_1oV6BQz2CSxIgsyZ0LbiRCp8BNKUK1jQDvn1-5bn-F0SWKMM803FMb1MaNiiATwmG_setUASrfPj_ayQEwjeVZ8mE5F2PCqe3BlHi3VNxCmCiAo47ew/w640-h482/HM%20+%20TAME%20FOX.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">They dug an earth close to our camp, their 'supermarket', so Laurie was able to set up a hide and photograph the charming little cubs.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1w_1AsUebt5K5Qq2VliPMYLVvEpMABJIYAe0NcY2HAvoeOXe3GW0EmmsFxb18jQ3iJsKEQBNZnNE42Cg7nGGvNbEG2SmBvj4Gm3YHm1bSWr7kK2F4I1AbqxydN9GkCJ5sqQIXokUnppCRdxUhqrJOsPNLMmfBLLwLjN4JyXB-yfh5l4gNZEDcykUnnI/s3780/greyfox2b%20L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2507" data-original-width="3780" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1w_1AsUebt5K5Qq2VliPMYLVvEpMABJIYAe0NcY2HAvoeOXe3GW0EmmsFxb18jQ3iJsKEQBNZnNE42Cg7nGGvNbEG2SmBvj4Gm3YHm1bSWr7kK2F4I1AbqxydN9GkCJ5sqQIXokUnppCRdxUhqrJOsPNLMmfBLLwLjN4JyXB-yfh5l4gNZEDcykUnnI/w640-h424/greyfox2b%20L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrWZ_q-ZOwayOO7XPDOtvB9bOXP-pgFSkp2_SBIy_AEEQzrc82g6gVZaqvED2b81l3kKuWmJkBVs5Qsd8n6Q1dLIzW34ofrRVxFF2dR7rAqWJ71cHovbXODCW5aNSafty91xL-n5omRIM717xz-c9yKmYltmtuHeZL3YwofZkEHPS5CvOlTyrH7iDIfc/s1584/GREY%20LENTICULARS%20OVER%20PAINE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1584" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrWZ_q-ZOwayOO7XPDOtvB9bOXP-pgFSkp2_SBIy_AEEQzrc82g6gVZaqvED2b81l3kKuWmJkBVs5Qsd8n6Q1dLIzW34ofrRVxFF2dR7rAqWJ71cHovbXODCW5aNSafty91xL-n5omRIM717xz-c9yKmYltmtuHeZL3YwofZkEHPS5CvOlTyrH7iDIfc/w640-h438/GREY%20LENTICULARS%20OVER%20PAINE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_kic7cz5aYZuF0SIS1YhAoLE_b_NYmqebRxB2bY1Fu5uIMOvmzfMWdsECKyR-7LhTUg0gQanYOahvAstWTaTjIvbZCmAS9lUoRx8jPS_4IZLAYR5csQ6xR5KhCdpwwtZfNy5Lv57Oms0ciQ0U4cWYD65rhyHRzckQnIV3hN3DSM-qkKLXcSISWsWYTU/s1484/SKYLINE%20G%20+%20CLOUDS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1484" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_kic7cz5aYZuF0SIS1YhAoLE_b_NYmqebRxB2bY1Fu5uIMOvmzfMWdsECKyR-7LhTUg0gQanYOahvAstWTaTjIvbZCmAS9lUoRx8jPS_4IZLAYR5csQ6xR5KhCdpwwtZfNy5Lv57Oms0ciQ0U4cWYD65rhyHRzckQnIV3hN3DSM-qkKLXcSISWsWYTU/w640-h446/SKYLINE%20G%20+%20CLOUDS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />All this was unfolding among this stunning scenery, come rain, snow or shine … or storms. These 'lenticular' clouds are whipped up by the cold from the largest glacier in South America, hidden just behind the </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mountains</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">. They create wind ... and I mean WIND, so fierce that it has blown </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">roofs</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> off hotels, rolled L</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and Rovers</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> and lifted water off lakes into the </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mountains.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> There is a famous saying ‘that if you want to see Patagonia, you just stand still and it will all blow past you’!</span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6OYP659buISO5Lr-a8T1OEjr0qr10D_UK2gQfLehYvzorlhjza4Hn65TzaFUb4yVp29Syu4k3EvtmScsWHomwpgLUS2g_wFWcJKG41BQPLGNmdA_rzAqHQHtgcltq3iMlD_75xluepMu0XvOe6GA_yAUfDPn5b5uiAUsvF0EhUvdG_phpSIdsqdj2KY/s1450/WIND%20LIFTING%20WATER%20OFF%20LAKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1450" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6OYP659buISO5Lr-a8T1OEjr0qr10D_UK2gQfLehYvzorlhjza4Hn65TzaFUb4yVp29Syu4k3EvtmScsWHomwpgLUS2g_wFWcJKG41BQPLGNmdA_rzAqHQHtgcltq3iMlD_75xluepMu0XvOe6GA_yAUfDPn5b5uiAUsvF0EhUvdG_phpSIdsqdj2KY/w640-h428/WIND%20LIFTING%20WATER%20OFF%20LAKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Missing Sue and our two children at home, I would always go home for important occasions, especially Christmas, so I was away from Penny for a few weeks. Then upon returning, and despite not seeing me for a while, she walked up and greeted me with a meow. It was unforgettable because that trust, even affection between human and wild animal is as good as life gets, especially if you’re a wildlife film-maker. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy39ypP1kulo1NO_aPNhawaq295sYHSBDmpjW2IeH7osq2MTbgsyYozRDEHD4m_utVKPEUHKA5sm5sk07E15nEu8IEY_pJPtrX1e3UFevXKNo6tSIrOvdlUd6ad4Jq7_00_sb7BemHxTliR0HUp0oz2m8EHMHKcqvfK4VeZ9rY9KowmvkJUUCUNnSDtXI/s4134/puma20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="4134" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy39ypP1kulo1NO_aPNhawaq295sYHSBDmpjW2IeH7osq2MTbgsyYozRDEHD4m_utVKPEUHKA5sm5sk07E15nEu8IEY_pJPtrX1e3UFevXKNo6tSIrOvdlUd6ad4Jq7_00_sb7BemHxTliR0HUp0oz2m8EHMHKcqvfK4VeZ9rY9KowmvkJUUCUNnSDtXI/w640-h428/puma20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"> Even now, remembering that moment brings tears to my eyes.</span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEut2gWpX8YDkp82b2xTiaI145k8-XWb6CJDHYs4lALeS-wpRrKpknWjPcxtSYFClTEOXPfDRTQP_B74-xFpY6dABJO7ZovCw7NzLy93Qj3VFPbP3AgbfWnrf0R9nkd0lb7wVcqMtLapZZJ09KPV3uTbBrqPVwDP5py2Wjdoez0xbptKYcNfKz-Cu_DOo/s1502/PENNY'S%20TRACKS%20IN%20SNOW.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEut2gWpX8YDkp82b2xTiaI145k8-XWb6CJDHYs4lALeS-wpRrKpknWjPcxtSYFClTEOXPfDRTQP_B74-xFpY6dABJO7ZovCw7NzLy93Qj3VFPbP3AgbfWnrf0R9nkd0lb7wVcqMtLapZZJ09KPV3uTbBrqPVwDP5py2Wjdoez0xbptKYcNfKz-Cu_DOo/w430-h640/PENNY'S%20TRACKS%20IN%20SNOW.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">And there’s a happy ending to this adventure, for our film was so admired by the local hotels and lodges in the National Park that on rainy days, they would show it to their guests. And when visiting six years later for a holiday with my soul mate Robin Pratt to celebrate my sixtieth birthday, I was recognised by the staff and my brief moment of fame resulted in gifts of food and wine. </span></span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What kind folk the </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Chileans are, especially those in our </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">hosteria</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> on this beautiful lakeside island, with views to die for.</span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrFmJgLNoUpKAb8pT2ZrxH5UxNe2Sv9ZAlDPq9P468HNYPfIf7fPy3hSPZyJ63W2brjtH4oda5ix3edIBiWccMnaOQyOfMmUBCfFJPhgSI08Y2oQbfsRx4q51ysyARDQn7HF97DNPUQWC4kdJwaHwpy5_d8zHcnLcyM0ZGijqpf7fCPKHNDpZVkMmw5Q/s3289/HOTEL%20+%20MTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3289" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrFmJgLNoUpKAb8pT2ZrxH5UxNe2Sv9ZAlDPq9P468HNYPfIf7fPy3hSPZyJ63W2brjtH4oda5ix3edIBiWccMnaOQyOfMmUBCfFJPhgSI08Y2oQbfsRx4q51ysyARDQn7HF97DNPUQWC4kdJwaHwpy5_d8zHcnLcyM0ZGijqpf7fCPKHNDpZVkMmw5Q/w640-h456/HOTEL%20+%20MTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L2m32I8roZJ359wUPbBPWha4NviMXh8nGr5Fn4Y7oTGUKlbsfBYQYfTG_HWzo6qblrRx4zGGnKR6kiagtp0rRNnmoUMZqJw6Br5cB4QD_AXdWTAqaPR4YiX88M9Fuw-_WF4aL70ux_D4U571-T1q_j6GlkrYK8jiWh3iNz9erzHHra8fc8UuCRZGhNo/s6329/ROBIN%20SITS%20BY%20MTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4338" data-original-width="6329" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L2m32I8roZJ359wUPbBPWha4NviMXh8nGr5Fn4Y7oTGUKlbsfBYQYfTG_HWzo6qblrRx4zGGnKR6kiagtp0rRNnmoUMZqJw6Br5cB4QD_AXdWTAqaPR4YiX88M9Fuw-_WF4aL70ux_D4U571-T1q_j6GlkrYK8jiWh3iNz9erzHHra8fc8UuCRZGhNo/w640-h438/ROBIN%20SITS%20BY%20MTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I had known Robin since my </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">teenage</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> years at school, for he and his two sisters lived up in the remote hills of central Wales </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and their love of wildlife was an inspiration, so I spent memorable holidays with the family, walking the hills looking for red kites. </span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lqDJftZOyTmY2jgAt-rB6u7PJUEsFE3lDXGX6yJcjd4xWjt1LcQK-RVd6LLfYHZEsAbrRVJIF2RhqrzqkIlVctIcbMKfgdPpUq0tCuBD6wCjxoZVYD-8rHRQ5XUsYdTFMjkDLS_YhVMFVdvEGztEU8AnrBKVvzlgt4fBj_jcaJZ_wUiY_3AfqJHQXfc/s1280/RED%20KITE%20UP%20IN%20TREE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lqDJftZOyTmY2jgAt-rB6u7PJUEsFE3lDXGX6yJcjd4xWjt1LcQK-RVd6LLfYHZEsAbrRVJIF2RhqrzqkIlVctIcbMKfgdPpUq0tCuBD6wCjxoZVYD-8rHRQ5XUsYdTFMjkDLS_YhVMFVdvEGztEU8AnrBKVvzlgt4fBj_jcaJZ_wUiY_3AfqJHQXfc/w640-h434/RED%20KITE%20UP%20IN%20TREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They were very rare then, down to just a few pairs, so their recovery is a remarkable good news story.</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1jJL-lskCIUGM6GQuG5Jk0PYMroDrmFo54hQ4EQqD_CHV0nO49kiSmUtx0Y4CoFPGMEmRfvWVEhV_OxtqgQ822XM5Y1AV4teYkg8RwyYZbkx9hazJyMWkxCwhI1VMTN58x869eo9ADsl_qbr52iMTLRF7H2b2gedFkZYRpbpZhjlvRs_oII2uyNVMT4/s1280/RED%20KITE%20IN%20C.WALES%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1jJL-lskCIUGM6GQuG5Jk0PYMroDrmFo54hQ4EQqD_CHV0nO49kiSmUtx0Y4CoFPGMEmRfvWVEhV_OxtqgQ822XM5Y1AV4teYkg8RwyYZbkx9hazJyMWkxCwhI1VMTN58x869eo9ADsl_qbr52iMTLRF7H2b2gedFkZYRpbpZhjlvRs_oII2uyNVMT4/w640-h442/RED%20KITE%20IN%20C.WALES%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Robin became RSPB warden on Ramsey Island and when not mending stone walls, we'd dive among the seals for lobsters and count choughs. Robin met and married Judy and they raised three daughters on Ramsey, farming red deer on the island until school dictated a move to the mainland, and in case you're wondering where this story is going, he started breeding guanacos in Wales and it became the largest such farm in Europe. His visit to Chile with me to study the Park's guanacos helped him to understand their complex behaviour and his herd grew to about two hundred and fifty, providing some of the finest wool scarves in the world. Guanaco fleece is wonderfully warm - and they need it!</p></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRihe8XVMplLbmGQNkW6aBnLtdg97eI-yZPb5YfW2JYhSjkk8U_lSESIYVxBbM85E73iQEkZP9UEh0Ak2DNJdyTqGyLr4d-7MLCEmI5xjHbfkrpH2MMw7jLGICo2evNDAz73SUmHXhcZOXlSvYeLDO72MqZtohLasAupI0n8Tj0v4lq9H_TGoLJNfsHtw/s1450/SKYLINE%20G%20+%20SNOWY%20MT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1450" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRihe8XVMplLbmGQNkW6aBnLtdg97eI-yZPb5YfW2JYhSjkk8U_lSESIYVxBbM85E73iQEkZP9UEh0Ak2DNJdyTqGyLr4d-7MLCEmI5xjHbfkrpH2MMw7jLGICo2evNDAz73SUmHXhcZOXlSvYeLDO72MqZtohLasAupI0n8Tj0v4lq9H_TGoLJNfsHtw/w640-h428/SKYLINE%20G%20+%20SNOWY%20MT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">And there's another </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">happy</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> ending to our filming because I'm told by our </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">friends</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> in Chile that, because of the film, it didn’t take long for the estancia owners to realise that tourists were worth more dollars than sheep, so stopped killing the pumas and provided 'home stays' on their estancias so their tourists could enjoy watching wildlife, with pumas the star attraction. Since then, a</span></span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">ll the wildlife has flourished, there’s many more pumas now and they’ve become so tame that large film crews can stand among the big cats and are ignored, even with drones flying over the cats heads.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The resulting films of these beautiful big cats and their hunting and family life are truly remarkable, not least the recent Attenborough series on the BBC called ‘Dynasties’. So it’s a win, win result, our pioneering film not only saving pumas but proving that wildlife on television can indeed have a positive effect on our natural world and its' wildlife. </span></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So some good news instead of bad. Excellent!</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: large;">And if you still need some more beautiful photography for happiness </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">medication</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">and would like to admire more of Laurie Campbell's lovely images, you can visit his website. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIv6rQoHEqFpLk4jF3s57xpkf4rIOxnvthLexXokvZYabtSEOmvczLnOIDrDDHeJ4oS_bGvITdOFd6MGVjLTMXaAwwhyxpkk5pwlxDMXiYQ04fnPBceo1jfXMBtzuOKJHoyneNQdUfYEBqPKvfqDhEFSiQS-aGn-IsiAOhs2aeyBqiQt6TwWvEf84FQk/s1280/WEBSITE%20HEADER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIv6rQoHEqFpLk4jF3s57xpkf4rIOxnvthLexXokvZYabtSEOmvczLnOIDrDDHeJ4oS_bGvITdOFd6MGVjLTMXaAwwhyxpkk5pwlxDMXiYQ04fnPBceo1jfXMBtzuOKJHoyneNQdUfYEBqPKvfqDhEFSiQS-aGn-IsiAOhs2aeyBqiQt6TwWvEf84FQk/w400-h225/WEBSITE%20HEADER.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7IgzHfv1Ym2szGU7a43Vv1J4maE4vardevr8hqQZHlsk-r_TM6TGu6R0EM6VYK1yolyqlEUmvKnoxGA7S_Mz1CXzQlnV4WwyKCIzA9ABY0Dw58sd-ntxmStbrk0nuL6EnqX3P7IOMNWYsm6vWspJw8NzyRhEm6taU2XdM9s6rb8rSqim1r3ZEqo42_w/s1280/GOLDEN%20EAGLE%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1280" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7IgzHfv1Ym2szGU7a43Vv1J4maE4vardevr8hqQZHlsk-r_TM6TGu6R0EM6VYK1yolyqlEUmvKnoxGA7S_Mz1CXzQlnV4WwyKCIzA9ABY0Dw58sd-ntxmStbrk0nuL6EnqX3P7IOMNWYsm6vWspJw8NzyRhEm6taU2XdM9s6rb8rSqim1r3ZEqo42_w/w640-h358/GOLDEN%20EAGLE%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: large;"><br />There's hundreds of stunners ... and he's illustrated and written many lovely books such as ' Otters - Return to the river', 'Highlands - Scotland's <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wild Heart'</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> and 'Golden Eagles', even contributing to one of mine, 'The Great Wood of Caledon'.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptFwU_OCnADuvks-wzcdmHPlySWNoLCnKE8eslCoaSzIfKYrqSggJCP4D068KnH6gMhMSBniO6atW9sQqpQjAL-WKJo7l9pS0O5mNdRzHCE8OiUXkOYRw1wq9gWUBjY6ax5LvhxXMsTfOq9f-OdUsPl6_CEs2afkzQsBEzJmnFQT82AEi4zJwsDZcyds/s1280/OTTER%20BOOK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1280" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptFwU_OCnADuvks-wzcdmHPlySWNoLCnKE8eslCoaSzIfKYrqSggJCP4D068KnH6gMhMSBniO6atW9sQqpQjAL-WKJo7l9pS0O5mNdRzHCE8OiUXkOYRw1wq9gWUBjY6ax5LvhxXMsTfOq9f-OdUsPl6_CEs2afkzQsBEzJmnFQT82AEi4zJwsDZcyds/w640-h484/OTTER%20BOOK.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I have other </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">friends who are 'Carlsberg' photographers, so I'll add some more of my stories from the wilds and from some great cities too when time allows. So watch this space and enjoy the spring beauty out in the fresh air.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-31669359167321267912023-12-04T14:46:00.003+00:002023-12-04T17:18:41.303+00:00KALEIDOSCOPE<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i> <br /></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYgDRjK7de1Y8mfN_CE7QrIPXOVAxAAJspIZ2ML1S0D2HLidMhEFtijCU7OqSzodxu7O7IPpG-C5iLyD664RPDCqvWcHbwAVcoE6_v0AKXoLDndak-_Knkaz9RSoGAx25ai2tm3JDPtXY180w2Oo2FTRvMGVjr8wxuM2zhnFPlxnFOYyd61bcQPUOFDw/s1280/ACER%20CU%20+%20COTTAGE%20B:G.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYgDRjK7de1Y8mfN_CE7QrIPXOVAxAAJspIZ2ML1S0D2HLidMhEFtijCU7OqSzodxu7O7IPpG-C5iLyD664RPDCqvWcHbwAVcoE6_v0AKXoLDndak-_Knkaz9RSoGAx25ai2tm3JDPtXY180w2Oo2FTRvMGVjr8wxuM2zhnFPlxnFOYyd61bcQPUOFDw/w480-h640/ACER%20CU%20+%20COTTAGE%20B:G.jpg" width="480" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>'The wonder of the world </i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The beauty and the power </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The shapes of things</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Their colours, lights and shades </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">These I saw</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Look ye also while life lasts' <br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1nNP0lnnoR2mnchBIRdj8SRmEiCccb-gg32zXcBIXL3y224vcRiZAWphcE3Vhedzk5SsbTOWw-fmU787LtpY3oRrpyzEsyzse8aI9kJ0oDOqPUgngZNFt3YjMwf05zvqxm2fSTE8Ht2B-5rSmohtkplSClJl-Vwp67uZZz4ioDa4n5F_jJUnEy48cIY/s1280/BEECH%20LEAVES.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="962" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1nNP0lnnoR2mnchBIRdj8SRmEiCccb-gg32zXcBIXL3y224vcRiZAWphcE3Vhedzk5SsbTOWw-fmU787LtpY3oRrpyzEsyzse8aI9kJ0oDOqPUgngZNFt3YjMwf05zvqxm2fSTE8Ht2B-5rSmohtkplSClJl-Vwp67uZZz4ioDa4n5F_jJUnEy48cIY/w301-h400/BEECH%20LEAVES.jpg" width="301" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Those evocative words, carved on a gravestone and written by an unknown author, encourage us to observe the wild places and wildlife that surrounds us. They also imply the need to nurture as best we can. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So when two of my close friends died, I was asked to provide a eulogy and these words, spoken with a tear in my eyes, perfectly described what they had achieved throughout their lives. They were both champions of the need to save our world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Autumn can be a moment for reflection, remembering those who’ve left us for a more peaceful world and there’s no finer time to remember them than this season, when the countryside becomes a kaleidoscope of colour, a celebration of the past, the present and the future. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoySCGpIWGSLJGQdKHI-FfEPu0PGjM7fgWpLkf0gbAjwdUuIkKzedEZJKflDYuIVlb3MCP12CVTyJqFj-Po5DxippxOg5ebCKymj59YAROknwg4C-DQwGn_psl60CkT1nku3B7eDvkZ3bp1oWuyGdhfmpLcL1WDrgYire0snAfKwifmqr0iJa_1WBYbpg/s1280/RED%20ACER%20BY%20KITCHEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoySCGpIWGSLJGQdKHI-FfEPu0PGjM7fgWpLkf0gbAjwdUuIkKzedEZJKflDYuIVlb3MCP12CVTyJqFj-Po5DxippxOg5ebCKymj59YAROknwg4C-DQwGn_psl60CkT1nku3B7eDvkZ3bp1oWuyGdhfmpLcL1WDrgYire0snAfKwifmqr0iJa_1WBYbpg/w640-h480/RED%20ACER%20BY%20KITCHEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Every year, Sue and I marvel at the glorious colours that our garden provides and though we had to wait a while for the show to start this year, our patch is as beautiful as ever. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSSIGqaylVF7GErw0GS23TX9jSgUeNAAah-BKgygXWnrwvvEXHUKh9hvlxXrsSZcBgbbQu8S6V0AuAVUf0Yru1vqVVmwx1LK_hNf5ku9LP64KyoSqR5hFUCuioW1dFyzHLayyVb7x4Iudq4Ydi83chfEL6MKbHavbDrkLKWw6dK4uX5WPETgP-hcJcgE/s1280/YELLOW%20ACER%20+%20SKY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSSIGqaylVF7GErw0GS23TX9jSgUeNAAah-BKgygXWnrwvvEXHUKh9hvlxXrsSZcBgbbQu8S6V0AuAVUf0Yru1vqVVmwx1LK_hNf5ku9LP64KyoSqR5hFUCuioW1dFyzHLayyVb7x4Iudq4Ydi83chfEL6MKbHavbDrkLKWw6dK4uX5WPETgP-hcJcgE/w640-h480/YELLOW%20ACER%20+%20SKY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We’re always blown away by the explosion of colour and as sharing is a vital part of our life, I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with yet another pictorial celebration of this magical season. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All these happy snaps have been taken within the last three weeks and we're becoming increasingly aware that there are so many more seasonal overlaps in our plants now, so we're assuming this must be reflecting our changing climate. I won’t use those ‘climate crisis’ words as it sounds like bad news and with all the madness going on in the world right now, we’d rather not be reminded. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEjCCEPmGtK29-T0cR1g3Yty_SomkP4seYWOYmZljAlfmTCZNH4W4-miOynY-x18MqD488TX-08Fxt3PXA7FufltxC8uBlUnn_IP7dt7eIu2L1lf8bCFCYppqAjgdrF0YS6lSb_igDFmZ1k1NHBgt8sHCdxYI7WBAxHlvcoh6YHCwN1m8qSPCk3zGTm8/s1280/LUTCHENS%20SEAT%20BY%20POND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEjCCEPmGtK29-T0cR1g3Yty_SomkP4seYWOYmZljAlfmTCZNH4W4-miOynY-x18MqD488TX-08Fxt3PXA7FufltxC8uBlUnn_IP7dt7eIu2L1lf8bCFCYppqAjgdrF0YS6lSb_igDFmZ1k1NHBgt8sHCdxYI7WBAxHlvcoh6YHCwN1m8qSPCk3zGTm8/w640-h480/LUTCHENS%20SEAT%20BY%20POND.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We treat our two acre garden as a sanctuary, for both us and our wildlife, the birds, butterflies and bees, the fish in our ponds and the dazzling dragonflies and damsels, the grass snakes and foxes. It's a refuge for us too, an escape from the ever more crowded life outside. So enjoying our garden in all it's seasons provides a welcome relief. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmzqO71JF8yWf8A-Aqrunk4RZIuLmfW2R_hraEi5HYHdx45EKlqDKUwtR1i7F73hTc_kME5bUsDycs2agWKBbGLZSZ_uvfp-UhorBv36WgV6dG5No3MXf85JHpATOq8uouYdZzI3m366eXLkSwBSrWXANNmZ03g9_5gVJlVuaN40chjrb1h812ej4pJo/s1280/PC041377.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1280" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmzqO71JF8yWf8A-Aqrunk4RZIuLmfW2R_hraEi5HYHdx45EKlqDKUwtR1i7F73hTc_kME5bUsDycs2agWKBbGLZSZ_uvfp-UhorBv36WgV6dG5No3MXf85JHpATOq8uouYdZzI3m366eXLkSwBSrWXANNmZ03g9_5gVJlVuaN40chjrb1h812ej4pJo/w400-h306/PC041377.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was my boyhood hero Sir Peter Scott who said “The most effective way to save the natural world is to cause people to fall in love with it again." And by loving our gardens and caring for its huge variety of animals and plants, each one of us is doing our bit to save the planet.<br /><br />Of course, we have to thank the Plant Hunters of old for the huge variety of colour that we enjoy today and surprisingly, even in 2,000 BC, the Pharaohs were collecting plants. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU5wQR5qaBaHoxDCgOtuaEPjrS9ap7U8ZP8imMZCP48voObsKyxDz5qxZqlf_1hVZoyNan8UopCZ6X0uLbD7RYhn9zcUIlj5MqIvItALQ3j8cgI_gqePeA5GnnhkY-Hjunz4ipbbQYAYiOwvTFicee9pX63ixM_mTGqqf8VQgjD5ShAlUkYLjzvFhpCg/s1280/PC041378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU5wQR5qaBaHoxDCgOtuaEPjrS9ap7U8ZP8imMZCP48voObsKyxDz5qxZqlf_1hVZoyNan8UopCZ6X0uLbD7RYhn9zcUIlj5MqIvItALQ3j8cgI_gqePeA5GnnhkY-Hjunz4ipbbQYAYiOwvTFicee9pX63ixM_mTGqqf8VQgjD5ShAlUkYLjzvFhpCg/w640-h430/PC041378.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j82hWCZkVWTcThFkWxmCxij1ckboRAdDosO3C4haRuyjQxiCf_124lpPvXLe701qXdoREwesGRM0ElhOFza6eSZoAGswjvIdFRKiq6pPkXOv9mAjaLLbgwtInG8GusLulvq3imqCWumZvaLy2vzz3DrONeVnwdlLZ6WlH70ddfXcCPBmoa1lKIxwGU4/s1280/PC041379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1280" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j82hWCZkVWTcThFkWxmCxij1ckboRAdDosO3C4haRuyjQxiCf_124lpPvXLe701qXdoREwesGRM0ElhOFza6eSZoAGswjvIdFRKiq6pPkXOv9mAjaLLbgwtInG8GusLulvq3imqCWumZvaLy2vzz3DrONeVnwdlLZ6WlH70ddfXcCPBmoa1lKIxwGU4/w640-h362/PC041379.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
artisans who painted the Pharaohs tombs had their own small tombs and
would paint the walls with pictures of useful plants to take with them
to the after life. I filmed some of them for the BBC in the '60's but
this picture isn't a good example of their simple beauty.<br /></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alexander
the Great’s expeditions established the ‘Silk Roads’ to the Far East
and we probably have him to thank for some of our glorious maples. </span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2UXzjrRIFNIlfhaj2NUfOfhRMn57F9O4soTg0384NVHfl9jAAuYzhPYhzlol_UJVvjr43NtMfsf7T_0UXRjM0mzq3OJpbb8TQmWhaq8ECISLgB9s1DnJZTmBNdLLq8yzHGzOg6nh-Y-1RWj6q-TgHUR4YE9LU3CKlKeXY8RxB1MiK6yacAXeAGjhECA/s1280/RED%20ACER%20IN%20WOOD%20BACK%20LIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2UXzjrRIFNIlfhaj2NUfOfhRMn57F9O4soTg0384NVHfl9jAAuYzhPYhzlol_UJVvjr43NtMfsf7T_0UXRjM0mzq3OJpbb8TQmWhaq8ECISLgB9s1DnJZTmBNdLLq8yzHGzOg6nh-Y-1RWj6q-TgHUR4YE9LU3CKlKeXY8RxB1MiK6yacAXeAGjhECA/w640-h478/RED%20ACER%20IN%20WOOD%20BACK%20LIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></div>Aristotle’s collecting even led to the establishment of botanical gardens, so places like Kew and the RHS have long roots.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvBhXckdfYFtXfY1VgU4f9LGspk4OeY3aHrPfwp_GppGGniQxwBNJIwMWATAxvvMLPoqrDFs8lax19oRzYvsTHxFtQuyZnb6mPRpbOUutQluhQQCllv6dWX1BUDN4T3BOCqwEcgRr6ThGTUv6sPD3WZkVpYY0LZl3DP_5jyldZ3H7yecUZUxmvM3EEkg/s1280/PC041372.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1280" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvBhXckdfYFtXfY1VgU4f9LGspk4OeY3aHrPfwp_GppGGniQxwBNJIwMWATAxvvMLPoqrDFs8lax19oRzYvsTHxFtQuyZnb6mPRpbOUutQluhQQCllv6dWX1BUDN4T3BOCqwEcgRr6ThGTUv6sPD3WZkVpYY0LZl3DP_5jyldZ3H7yecUZUxmvM3EEkg/w640-h384/PC041372.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The famous expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804 to’06, travelled from St.Louis across America through native American lands to the Pacific Coast, and back. They collected plants and artifacts while ostensibly looking for the legendary North West Passage and all this was an eye opener to the world.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoml7wbJDm0Ewb0Ug5XFWOxCAx_tBgiy9r8iPjdTAkAr1P5YhG4PWFcxAotzCLy-sqvjpZzWtvDjy-2aNMW2aylhsZTg1H76IYvqLDoHy6HHWDd6tXu1GwHwdWd0IrLqg1bY1H3lzA3kmv9I7hDesLeWRGCgyrqmzqLTSLfJF5615nnkjy0syvtg8Lds/s1280/PC041374%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1280" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoml7wbJDm0Ewb0Ug5XFWOxCAx_tBgiy9r8iPjdTAkAr1P5YhG4PWFcxAotzCLy-sqvjpZzWtvDjy-2aNMW2aylhsZTg1H76IYvqLDoHy6HHWDd6tXu1GwHwdWd0IrLqg1bY1H3lzA3kmv9I7hDesLeWRGCgyrqmzqLTSLfJF5615nnkjy0syvtg8Lds/w640-h410/PC041374%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>They were exploring a new frontier and were helped by local Indians while collecting yet more colourful and interesting plants.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeDmjR8oFbBckCzS7FiUrKDP4qmjwWL7JCkanjBHYtT5kORxvFaWBrgH9QUU7mvZd7l84apsJvcXvo2t46q6JL9SErrpInsnoEK3rBzVIJbcPmUnB4cCiV5zGJ0LR724ZbHyO-wn9O_MSMfGuPYYhIKR3qWFFxrr3C473N5Kz2AG4mKWYDnxDGRP9ny4/s1280/PC041373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1280" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeDmjR8oFbBckCzS7FiUrKDP4qmjwWL7JCkanjBHYtT5kORxvFaWBrgH9QUU7mvZd7l84apsJvcXvo2t46q6JL9SErrpInsnoEK3rBzVIJbcPmUnB4cCiV5zGJ0LR724ZbHyO-wn9O_MSMfGuPYYhIKR3qWFFxrr3C473N5Kz2AG4mKWYDnxDGRP9ny4/w640-h486/PC041373.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6zQa5sDZcZ8DAuBcKifbxfO9ffOhMpcwFcncqsIWapaiUMFW9FzcH7Trq-gi2FCiU57slV6HJWsWtFmj5LUbHH-9ZNcIYmQ3m8_O5LMpkmOpQFNU_ezqOIcabQHeTLA9f1x7OUMVQgMl86j2q40l3BjaCNP6Ia4BZx9VvzcXTHC2oDLN1pxxN-899To/s1280/CALICARPA%20-%20PURPLE%20BERRIES%20UPRIGHT.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6zQa5sDZcZ8DAuBcKifbxfO9ffOhMpcwFcncqsIWapaiUMFW9FzcH7Trq-gi2FCiU57slV6HJWsWtFmj5LUbHH-9ZNcIYmQ3m8_O5LMpkmOpQFNU_ezqOIcabQHeTLA9f1x7OUMVQgMl86j2q40l3BjaCNP6Ia4BZx9VvzcXTHC2oDLN1pxxN-899To/w480-h640/CALICARPA%20-%20PURPLE%20BERRIES%20UPRIGHT.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
maybe it was them who brought Calacarpa, the American ‘beauty berry’ to
our shores. The purple berries are loved by birds, thus distributing
the seeds, and we wish they’d do this more often as it looks so exotic
in our sunny Dorset garden.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa3rargLVUIwXsLJZbr7DU11E8avrUtp-k9RxjxD2ZBJj2-5MgH94kLzaZepv6aTCXRzTcgbP6UotcOVWT7qiBRDlxSzpUEvinY7j0EtxHM9dQ-qasxEjLVPkHsKJVFADEp9FcmV9kB7JlohmqpwbHOK_Ezcr-MC9k-GLJJfbGb3rH4UfqFPiADEjDe0/s1280/MAHONIA.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1026" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa3rargLVUIwXsLJZbr7DU11E8avrUtp-k9RxjxD2ZBJj2-5MgH94kLzaZepv6aTCXRzTcgbP6UotcOVWT7qiBRDlxSzpUEvinY7j0EtxHM9dQ-qasxEjLVPkHsKJVFADEp9FcmV9kB7JlohmqpwbHOK_Ezcr-MC9k-GLJJfbGb3rH4UfqFPiADEjDe0/w321-h400/MAHONIA.jpg" width="321" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The genus name of mahonias derives from one of the plant collections from the Lewis and Clark expedition and it’s one of the earliest flowers to appear in the growing season. But ours are coming out earlier each year and we wonder if our invertebrates can adapt quickly enough. This was photographed in early November and surely indicates a changing climate? The berries look tasty and the bees appreciate them in the early spring but I can’t remember ever seeing a blackbird tucking in, maybe because if we eat them, it makes us throw up! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M1oTYG_jG9W0kBkG7nWi-Txs8PTGnfP-dUxaoHf-zrVPD2a895lUlXlZ_A15c16toqUGJN4DtezKNvXRfiWgo_A9gMhfp407eLpGIcNCaQVn-kyLIFy3AX9uEN2Itc_x1a2BUxeunMi5F2UYwxs0xdxcQTCPOqDdNcvBLLuYpfYVhLRrDFpO3Bh5WCg/s1280/WITCH%20HAZEL%20-%20HAMAMELIS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M1oTYG_jG9W0kBkG7nWi-Txs8PTGnfP-dUxaoHf-zrVPD2a895lUlXlZ_A15c16toqUGJN4DtezKNvXRfiWgo_A9gMhfp407eLpGIcNCaQVn-kyLIFy3AX9uEN2Itc_x1a2BUxeunMi5F2UYwxs0xdxcQTCPOqDdNcvBLLuYpfYVhLRrDFpO3Bh5WCg/w640-h480/WITCH%20HAZEL%20-%20HAMAMELIS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Witch-hazel [or hamamelis if you want me to be smart,] also originates in America but one species is from Japan and one from china [h.mollis]. We have Wikipedia to thank for assuring us that the name doesn’t mean it’s a practitioner of magic but means ‘pliant’ and ‘bendable’. It can though be made into a cream to treat nappy rash!<br /><br />I do enjoy learning where our garden plants originate as it reminds me of filming expeditions to far off lands and though rhododendrons aren’t in flower this month, many of the cultivated varieties we have in our garden come from the Himalayas, this one photographed on a high pass as I climbed my way up towards Everest.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdDRcUm8ncFW5keMl89j3Oi48wr1ClVuSLOlhQ37362_rmf6lUU4PvhiwwuBc93PUls0TiUAtTFR9KBIG1xxjp70TIU4pZ_3n6VllCWI3PYbD9J734ex3zLkvKKszNJMGg18W5ZmyZal0CWToBB9NSYhPr-O-L-Sb1dckhQC9h7m3Gb-1uSXHzPRSCCE/s1499/BIG%20RHODO%20+%20SCENIC%20MTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1499" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdDRcUm8ncFW5keMl89j3Oi48wr1ClVuSLOlhQ37362_rmf6lUU4PvhiwwuBc93PUls0TiUAtTFR9KBIG1xxjp70TIU4pZ_3n6VllCWI3PYbD9J734ex3zLkvKKszNJMGg18W5ZmyZal0CWToBB9NSYhPr-O-L-Sb1dckhQC9h7m3Gb-1uSXHzPRSCCE/w640-h446/BIG%20RHODO%20+%20SCENIC%20MTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXWS27DmtGwsN1sDT1hWauyTOSTL4ppoXKlKjXk7usm6D-Zi6xXZYzt6octt0iw0locv6ywS9UfsnXVtfh90N2lst0zMz-M4ljkRaewuXK-b6OJl3fPP8Qq27A_pAdkAu7FwQ-UtG3D4AONSyaXBk6-PZetyq6YwHQym5jYThBBo5CLPXbsmnMst9THE/s1280/FUCHSIA%20CU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="855" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXWS27DmtGwsN1sDT1hWauyTOSTL4ppoXKlKjXk7usm6D-Zi6xXZYzt6octt0iw0locv6ywS9UfsnXVtfh90N2lst0zMz-M4ljkRaewuXK-b6OJl3fPP8Qq27A_pAdkAu7FwQ-UtG3D4AONSyaXBk6-PZetyq6YwHQym5jYThBBo5CLPXbsmnMst9THE/w429-h640/FUCHSIA%20CU.jpg" width="429" /></a></div>I love our beautiful fuchsias because my Gran grew lots when I was a child and I vividly remember their exotic colours. They are natives of Central and South America, even as far south as Tierra del Fuego, thriving in the cool temperate climate. Their colours attract hummingbirds that pollinate them. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The little birds whizzed about the Torres del Paine National Park in the high Andes while I filmed mountain lions but I never had time to snap them as they flew by too rapidly. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gCOBcSjZik0scRPkbfrW_Zn3W8HL8CXotxrJeLRpulXupG7N-TMw3g66B4T06CMv_XWxhOim2qxc_10TNATEsNeDg81eUa004YgBp_NEthu4Wcju53FeCtnHnDgA54vga2ijusFqdH9DbkxT_oLB4_2bpt4CtgU3xSmskENXKONINq22S9dmOTiRc3s/s1280/MOUNTAINS%20+%20ORANGE%20FLOWER%20F:G.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gCOBcSjZik0scRPkbfrW_Zn3W8HL8CXotxrJeLRpulXupG7N-TMw3g66B4T06CMv_XWxhOim2qxc_10TNATEsNeDg81eUa004YgBp_NEthu4Wcju53FeCtnHnDgA54vga2ijusFqdH9DbkxT_oLB4_2bpt4CtgU3xSmskENXKONINq22S9dmOTiRc3s/w640-h430/MOUNTAINS%20+%20ORANGE%20FLOWER%20F:G.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcpk47JLf2IFLXxuNskUHomK0XPrmAcbybdx4wwcTVT5MHJdcyPaiV0QtSsagPBXHnx6SqGVPB4FbBukbSWQdls1rpP5qwMXL9V6WTSrLWQhLmB2hNnqXJcGElUhZiVnOt0BM0ARRHkJALeH_8K7keYQ75EEr-WfiHaJT6KB4W3KQ3izEI67yPaMyWU/s1280/RED%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcpk47JLf2IFLXxuNskUHomK0XPrmAcbybdx4wwcTVT5MHJdcyPaiV0QtSsagPBXHnx6SqGVPB4FbBukbSWQdls1rpP5qwMXL9V6WTSrLWQhLmB2hNnqXJcGElUhZiVnOt0BM0ARRHkJALeH_8K7keYQ75EEr-WfiHaJT6KB4W3KQ3izEI67yPaMyWU/w400-h300/RED%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Another of our garden treasures are hydrangias, a genus of more than seventy species, native to the Americas and particularly to China, Korea and Japan. They flowered well into autumn this year and we love their range of colours.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2HnepEwn3TcDQBzWkpxqohH5Xa7q0Ej4r2OJRLUOByk_rc0FhuLuPWSLpdOGlwrqAZdmCh5MMRJJExZTgCeyOlrq89CG0YviG0iI4SIpMuR-UtF_rfTcR7zhpTLJcOdV6CM9s_ZDY5kV9SWNSIbuCu30XctWrbNGLKLGGcNdegHWIFJ-oHCEcyJ66Y/s1280/DELICATE%20PINK%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2HnepEwn3TcDQBzWkpxqohH5Xa7q0Ej4r2OJRLUOByk_rc0FhuLuPWSLpdOGlwrqAZdmCh5MMRJJExZTgCeyOlrq89CG0YviG0iI4SIpMuR-UtF_rfTcR7zhpTLJcOdV6CM9s_ZDY5kV9SWNSIbuCu30XctWrbNGLKLGGcNdegHWIFJ-oHCEcyJ66Y/w640-h428/DELICATE%20PINK%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbzIT0XFuctaa7x3sm3xOuCroC418Hi7iRs39uzHPSc6hVRD4f5bPEPu1ArtRhGxVVuXey0IsybaIdYMfTKE8gZSnjTLojMEf99AVwhqK2IxO1Hy7VXoiRGvYQlaaVGBggTsrppbvlOCn21t1Ve1ufKgktoouaYX4eOL_R_hh4lT7a9DXZpSW6pbZLYI/s1280/BLUE%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbzIT0XFuctaa7x3sm3xOuCroC418Hi7iRs39uzHPSc6hVRD4f5bPEPu1ArtRhGxVVuXey0IsybaIdYMfTKE8gZSnjTLojMEf99AVwhqK2IxO1Hy7VXoiRGvYQlaaVGBggTsrppbvlOCn21t1Ve1ufKgktoouaYX4eOL_R_hh4lT7a9DXZpSW6pbZLYI/w472-h640/BLUE%20HYDRANGEA.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />They are pink when growing in alkaline soil and blue in acidic earth and luckily we have pockets of both, so they thrive in our damp and birch shaded garden. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So too our autumn joy, the Japanese maples, developed over centuries of breeding, their fine tracery of spreading branches, some weeping or cascading, others with finely divided and lacey foliage are always a delight.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wjkpa-onB6Fl-KZaFhS_onP3Uw1o-PmJ2PlN-BbsjSzk3Q6o07WJ-CjPELVZxkXATQpiNcu1RxJG0XMJJywxYf9TBznH_ckGkDNv9rO45VE_oRwtxs4Ph3RXEag9JLK2G_zjkNBoMAcq9Mm0HZ-V7CihGYnoHyWCt1M3ZyEHKZEOi2V79VuSaDCarfU/s1280/ACER%20AVENUE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wjkpa-onB6Fl-KZaFhS_onP3Uw1o-PmJ2PlN-BbsjSzk3Q6o07WJ-CjPELVZxkXATQpiNcu1RxJG0XMJJywxYf9TBznH_ckGkDNv9rO45VE_oRwtxs4Ph3RXEag9JLK2G_zjkNBoMAcq9Mm0HZ-V7CihGYnoHyWCt1M3ZyEHKZEOi2V79VuSaDCarfU/w640-h480/ACER%20AVENUE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtn9Mf8KV5b4iWye9kJZ_s4s2gDsYPgLAmiPwRtHQdW5Mo2g4Z6KSFDYqGkSeUG6Ct-e7ssgwkXnrh7JdmK-8EJrFdOV3Mk_izMVwhwx8fQFXT2ghxHcR5g4PoweeFl9xLBtMrNh-zHRNeyZc3T7_kIlAbE-TDTzm0qXMEOkkV4ufCE6BYJtsWrtk2sE/s1280/SPLIT%20LEAF%20ACER%20AND%20LEAVES.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="997" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtn9Mf8KV5b4iWye9kJZ_s4s2gDsYPgLAmiPwRtHQdW5Mo2g4Z6KSFDYqGkSeUG6Ct-e7ssgwkXnrh7JdmK-8EJrFdOV3Mk_izMVwhwx8fQFXT2ghxHcR5g4PoweeFl9xLBtMrNh-zHRNeyZc3T7_kIlAbE-TDTzm0qXMEOkkV4ufCE6BYJtsWrtk2sE/w498-h640/SPLIT%20LEAF%20ACER%20AND%20LEAVES.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>Adding to our collection is dangerously addictive but luckily we’ve virtually run out of space, so our piggy bank doesn’t suffer like it used to. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have our local nursery to thank for our enjoyment each year, Barthelemy & Co., close to Wimborne. They supplied our beautiful collection and they grow taller and more colourful every year, reaching for the sky between the birch trees.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQLqRPl_RlLL0QLfApGpeeev_PJgM12xseqp0cIF85dm8AgT_lyabDhi1kVe-wPKCPhyphenhyphenBoqmMzOdX-r-scGpjQuwmVUQrm9i3gw_7O3yFaKec6nCcOZzzk7oB2WVuUk0mJbl06D4sMjSv9-k4wnsqogd4iZIeDW9DLYbwa-G8fJUOLh8PSRbHUNC7Go/s1280/YELLOW%20ACER%20IN%20WOOD%20BACK%20LIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQLqRPl_RlLL0QLfApGpeeev_PJgM12xseqp0cIF85dm8AgT_lyabDhi1kVe-wPKCPhyphenhyphenBoqmMzOdX-r-scGpjQuwmVUQrm9i3gw_7O3yFaKec6nCcOZzzk7oB2WVuUk0mJbl06D4sMjSv9-k4wnsqogd4iZIeDW9DLYbwa-G8fJUOLh8PSRbHUNC7Go/w640-h480/YELLOW%20ACER%20IN%20WOOD%20BACK%20LIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">They were late providing our firework display this year but in the end they delivered in spades. Do you like our kitchen window display?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxhSRdUQUln-b9xbFRC9d18BewcdUGElOVApk2gNeaHyRp_DWbPHre77pJauefms_uHN7MvB-QrYMJh4m6I-O4QDOr-s8cPuyRgfATa_CSImGcraT6gfCJT55P9fTbxa-CRZVAlLcVa7DQOdTKPS3Ug46u9PZO4LD4skjn0Rb2xi6GfMvkQyYPYb-VQI/s1280/ACER%20FROM%20KITCHEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxhSRdUQUln-b9xbFRC9d18BewcdUGElOVApk2gNeaHyRp_DWbPHre77pJauefms_uHN7MvB-QrYMJh4m6I-O4QDOr-s8cPuyRgfATa_CSImGcraT6gfCJT55P9fTbxa-CRZVAlLcVa7DQOdTKPS3Ug46u9PZO4LD4skjn0Rb2xi6GfMvkQyYPYb-VQI/w640-h418/ACER%20FROM%20KITCHEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYhA9qWzpIpV9tNMN_cWUhD1lH6MvLcaWVnuC-ax0tksHtBIDCfFEfsBa_UmjbW2OFKSV7-KD1Gx_4eDYuKZ-VCzDy3VuObfQOXpwudimQQaK3JvqRTs_C8Eb4rWCBrAM-y5oTx2T-qKOvl9JTYbQs6A0y63_FaPlV6Y_rrnSFY5vhXbr4kqmUpm4wKQ/s1280/HOLLY%20BERRY%20CU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1280" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYhA9qWzpIpV9tNMN_cWUhD1lH6MvLcaWVnuC-ax0tksHtBIDCfFEfsBa_UmjbW2OFKSV7-KD1Gx_4eDYuKZ-VCzDy3VuObfQOXpwudimQQaK3JvqRTs_C8Eb4rWCBrAM-y5oTx2T-qKOvl9JTYbQs6A0y63_FaPlV6Y_rrnSFY5vhXbr4kqmUpm4wKQ/w400-h255/HOLLY%20BERRY%20CU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sue and I do hope you have a wild Christmas and that the new year is kind to you all. We’re praying that all our wildlife survives and hoping that the delegates at Cop28 do the right thing and make meaningful attempts to start saving our planet, before it’s too late. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgWiLmcvcVZe6UFmudn3-YTKr032uw2GYFcRRF7AUJtSG02QsDkmblElDW_a-3E_O-5z8aDHR_id8At88uV8swfKlnGfWQAk-wwPv1PQrWZiAUDgf8xFBcvbZOjNo7UELYnUNckJqtI1oYU8mhuNmj835-wXDBzJsJGrn6RAbdfK74imSoKGnUzamaw0/s1280/SALVIA%20AMISTAD%20CU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1280" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgWiLmcvcVZe6UFmudn3-YTKr032uw2GYFcRRF7AUJtSG02QsDkmblElDW_a-3E_O-5z8aDHR_id8At88uV8swfKlnGfWQAk-wwPv1PQrWZiAUDgf8xFBcvbZOjNo7UELYnUNckJqtI1oYU8mhuNmj835-wXDBzJsJGrn6RAbdfK74imSoKGnUzamaw0/w400-h388/SALVIA%20AMISTAD%20CU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are so many alarming indications of climate change, even in our garden, with salvias still in full flower in late November. The bees are pleased, but shouldn't they be hidden away now?<br /><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYJ76PZZZcDh1-IK2fw-UxomujUDFyM7wz6mxeKzsJQKsQlW3yWXcrO31jM6XQYpqdNN72tyFbiECDOcYlsLN07jBwJhpPawGMLQTx44Q_AwJa3r47m2FfjANzXitK-2CB-ipP1AEhKPjiQuzJSa2nU5v0gXxs6pVJg58zRa4bN41uheniyXwFCPmUoU/s1280/FROST%20COVERED%20IRIS%20-%201ST%20DEC'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1081" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYJ76PZZZcDh1-IK2fw-UxomujUDFyM7wz6mxeKzsJQKsQlW3yWXcrO31jM6XQYpqdNN72tyFbiECDOcYlsLN07jBwJhpPawGMLQTx44Q_AwJa3r47m2FfjANzXitK-2CB-ipP1AEhKPjiQuzJSa2nU5v0gXxs6pVJg58zRa4bN41uheniyXwFCPmUoU/w540-h640/FROST%20COVERED%20IRIS%20-%201ST%20DEC'23.jpg" width="540" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And while thinking about our changing climate, how about our summer flowering pond side iris, frosted but still in flower on Dec.1st, the first official day of winter. The colours are a joy but I’m off to find my thermals. It's snowing now too.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAeoVLAq-Sa3QFIBJmek6XilO-rPMQgX2iBz46m7zfb26uZX0663kO1yAcdzVZNCzGk9qCe6QQ-xvypoRXDatpMu71uU5uYms75LdEdL7rNwtw_L_PUDmUg6tDFXDQQ70fH708GB_AhPN_h9n4FVBqUYwZtsEh0gGwbnlk_ouDKnE7aQ9ioZU852MTGk/s1280/SNOWING%20-%2030TH%20NOV'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAeoVLAq-Sa3QFIBJmek6XilO-rPMQgX2iBz46m7zfb26uZX0663kO1yAcdzVZNCzGk9qCe6QQ-xvypoRXDatpMu71uU5uYms75LdEdL7rNwtw_L_PUDmUg6tDFXDQQ70fH708GB_AhPN_h9n4FVBqUYwZtsEh0gGwbnlk_ouDKnE7aQ9ioZU852MTGk/w640-h480/SNOWING%20-%2030TH%20NOV'23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-41610461363132320472023-11-05T17:58:00.001+00:002023-11-06T13:42:51.796+00:00<p> <span style="font-size: large;"> FRIENDS FOR LIFE</span> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VuDaLYCWJbBBOQmB3TBq8KLiMgMCJWQ4bN6rzQfZDdX2v2_UCm55ZpaR2wGTUwaSugbCpupkuHT7cjO6BAe71yZ9XbaorlYq_jkgpunTKiH-w8nITlkndJ3C_AsWdkFfAhFAfExs0r6chFPNU1rQ60K5DEMv4fv8miny7_TP1rNz1cDTiBfoT6XQaTA/s1280/PURDY%20WITH%20TAWNY%20OWLS%20-%20ARCHIBALD%20AND%20SUZIE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1280" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VuDaLYCWJbBBOQmB3TBq8KLiMgMCJWQ4bN6rzQfZDdX2v2_UCm55ZpaR2wGTUwaSugbCpupkuHT7cjO6BAe71yZ9XbaorlYq_jkgpunTKiH-w8nITlkndJ3C_AsWdkFfAhFAfExs0r6chFPNU1rQ60K5DEMv4fv8miny7_TP1rNz1cDTiBfoT6XQaTA/w640-h444/PURDY%20WITH%20TAWNY%20OWLS%20-%20ARCHIBALD%20AND%20SUZIE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">With the rain hammering down outside, I feel it’s an ideal time to write a happy story about my schooldays friend, Kevin Hawkes. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplPpSZLZHPbImUtEb-nGAPnBtJjH6BJBQRpm2sRF5jXDBnmGs8OS57CJDdtHkAWwlhMOHzbO-Eudhd8jllA_7y0ZFPW4viO0tOtTD0TprZP6QklkBu7Lig6carpKnd40pZFSOXy39XcXxp1dEhRAcbJVlRLEkS7ZnFZFWTdv1kJBAba2aRRFTqpe5BEY/s3523/ELY%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="3523" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplPpSZLZHPbImUtEb-nGAPnBtJjH6BJBQRpm2sRF5jXDBnmGs8OS57CJDdtHkAWwlhMOHzbO-Eudhd8jllA_7y0ZFPW4viO0tOtTD0TprZP6QklkBu7Lig6carpKnd40pZFSOXy39XcXxp1dEhRAcbJVlRLEkS7ZnFZFWTdv1kJBAba2aRRFTqpe5BEY/w640-h366/ELY%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">But how did we meet? Well, when I was a youngster, my Dad was the conductor of the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, and because music was in my blood, I won a scholarship to sing in the choir of the magnificent cathedral at Ely. So in 1951, at age eight and a half, I was sent away to the King’s School to earn my keep. I remember a friend once asked me, "Didn't your parents love you?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbsrtqditXvkrWc1Ur_mmzDS51dA5nroFzGg7GE9YSWOKQcYD6soz1RdSkdt-hHvlXZPEAXnUB3mvO9rxX9lp0tZF0D2Igbc3zRDac-sQVGL1Bb4UKoWshQY0pEMaCB0zLZbJBVZLyZWV7HwsBkP3-RxNF6xr_X7MO63tmHsGCRbIqD7Q9b_1S6qZxVg/s1308/Young%20Choir%20Boy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="990" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbsrtqditXvkrWc1Ur_mmzDS51dA5nroFzGg7GE9YSWOKQcYD6soz1RdSkdt-hHvlXZPEAXnUB3mvO9rxX9lp0tZF0D2Igbc3zRDac-sQVGL1Bb4UKoWshQY0pEMaCB0zLZbJBVZLyZWV7HwsBkP3-RxNF6xr_X7MO63tmHsGCRbIqD7Q9b_1S6qZxVg/w303-h400/Young%20Choir%20Boy.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOTG0D8pOcd_drFu94y2-nilZzAdD_n55NdHgqnoZUkp0P5zvvV_cdoU585tqPceo6YQqUSskZg8gwQgrzJVu9dTEiQV_05JhGBr_PCFwklJcA9fF3tAOCzf4X_vKEnfAnJa-GN2vTh8rh6RnGNMZ7092sQATANsG1qq4vDFfGUkXTA7t9jQUAc_GNU0/s1280/CHOIR%20LOOKING%20WEST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOTG0D8pOcd_drFu94y2-nilZzAdD_n55NdHgqnoZUkp0P5zvvV_cdoU585tqPceo6YQqUSskZg8gwQgrzJVu9dTEiQV_05JhGBr_PCFwklJcA9fF3tAOCzf4X_vKEnfAnJa-GN2vTh8rh6RnGNMZ7092sQATANsG1qq4vDFfGUkXTA7t9jQUAc_GNU0/w480-h640/CHOIR%20LOOKING%20WEST.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Our singing in such a spectacular building was inspiring, even if intense, with choir practice and choral evensong every day except Tuesdays and with the added burden of rehearsals and matins on Sunday mornings, there was little time to be lonely. The disciplined work helped me to recover from the shock of being alone and away from home for much of the year, though I soon learnt to love the flat Fenland landscapes and this inspiring ‘land of skies’. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbd_w8nSeJmtuS1iPbrG5rbRjKjRIkP5hu7nmdcDnkh1Ao3wcFlmWWSiOpGpkzXCj2cuSdbfslnIa5ZAZjNkgJgT01thaBi3Kkk2m2XU4l0adVl-YptJA62iSwajM-DXp0jRKMUF6v51VHgxuZ1_llzpExe49VSeWzA1gR7ribWPZYXApLuAPHgIf1pg/s3648/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbd_w8nSeJmtuS1iPbrG5rbRjKjRIkP5hu7nmdcDnkh1Ao3wcFlmWWSiOpGpkzXCj2cuSdbfslnIa5ZAZjNkgJgT01thaBi3Kkk2m2XU4l0adVl-YptJA62iSwajM-DXp0jRKMUF6v51VHgxuZ1_llzpExe49VSeWzA1gR7ribWPZYXApLuAPHgIf1pg/w640-h480/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />School work, music and sports filled most of the days, so time to escape into the great outdoors and admire the abundant wildlife that enhances every corner of these beautiful wetlands was scarce.
However, encouraged by my grandfather and the old fly rod and reel he gave me, I soon became a keen fisherman and being out there by the river Great Ouse, I marvelled at all the birdlife and the fishing potential. In those days, it was everywhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Co-VndwWPPhiqOltF2X3kjQSxEPy_u_DQuflB6abn3kAkxpRcKq1sk9qb6TRMKJYlGw_T-oe_hoPlVtyjBPAX0YGR8NHfVBsZiokTtiML5YAUxU5r01IxHxWH7f3WI3fGdSYzP_q0P_Zpih-brWNr3PdcvDTIUZmPNcFBPrb0waU64duP9uUumefHIk/s3352/SWANS%20CHASED%20FROM%20TERRITORY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2528" data-original-width="3352" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Co-VndwWPPhiqOltF2X3kjQSxEPy_u_DQuflB6abn3kAkxpRcKq1sk9qb6TRMKJYlGw_T-oe_hoPlVtyjBPAX0YGR8NHfVBsZiokTtiML5YAUxU5r01IxHxWH7f3WI3fGdSYzP_q0P_Zpih-brWNr3PdcvDTIUZmPNcFBPrb0waU64duP9uUumefHIk/w640-h482/SWANS%20CHASED%20FROM%20TERRITORY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Friends are always precious, especially when away from home for long periods, their loyalty and trust so important when sharing common interests. I treasure all the friends I’ve been blessed with over many years at home and abroad and try to keep in touch with them all, sharing some of my life while living in the wilds for months at a time. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, I lost touch with one special school friend when I left in 1961 and his whereabouts remained a mystery for the last sixty plus years, though how he became my main school pal is also a mystery. I guess we were both inspired by the Fens when sharing the birding and fishing and he seemed to be beside me so often that we became what might now be described as ‘soul mates’. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin was as keen as I on those boyhood pursuits, though he was only known to me at school by his nickname ‘Purdy’. Mine was Luty [don’t ask], and because of our passion for wildlife, we became known for being capable bird vets, so the Ely locals would bring us any injured birds for care. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5yrIx8pQxO1k6Md9JZ_DTjI7ZtlwTC17z6fJ-bOpmaePJQQTiOlmuDSmRCVNNqUx6mr-ixz7jv5GGCfbSVw8JiabgBWPla6g3BUGODiqSigHAfR83F-6J8DaWPNiQlrbGGxXXk2X-kxJfQ0QEFKlPneDrDFINZsl6XL526VHe3kN7Tk04Akxg5Gizow/s1280/ELY%20CATHEDRAL%20TOWER.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5yrIx8pQxO1k6Md9JZ_DTjI7ZtlwTC17z6fJ-bOpmaePJQQTiOlmuDSmRCVNNqUx6mr-ixz7jv5GGCfbSVw8JiabgBWPla6g3BUGODiqSigHAfR83F-6J8DaWPNiQlrbGGxXXk2X-kxJfQ0QEFKlPneDrDFINZsl6XL526VHe3kN7Tk04Akxg5Gizow/w314-h400/ELY%20CATHEDRAL%20TOWER.jpg" width="314" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />On one memorable day, two tawny owls chicks were brought to us. They had fallen out of their cathedral tower nest, so Purdy and I spent many weeks raising them in the school garden. At night we kept them in the rugby boot store, though our rugby team weren’t too enamoured when they found coughed up owl pellets in their rugby boots! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k4dYgk8yasdnEMnAJpJJmgcT0y5GhqyW5U1UUChyphenhyphenx0aDiKPY9qp8-S3DCBvH_ovXqqKu9lqfRg9n-sGoUWp9WZoA_PRXRxWY2VqqI489oAI1T83LMWcmpzmbh8TDY2MwDrU5IGb2b-l4eESstqb8iJfBFDxYzIPYssuEkIjJO7wuGjyuGTRL3d4-IUU/s3257/TWO%20TAWNIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="3257" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k4dYgk8yasdnEMnAJpJJmgcT0y5GhqyW5U1UUChyphenhyphenx0aDiKPY9qp8-S3DCBvH_ovXqqKu9lqfRg9n-sGoUWp9WZoA_PRXRxWY2VqqI489oAI1T83LMWcmpzmbh8TDY2MwDrU5IGb2b-l4eESstqb8iJfBFDxYzIPYssuEkIjJO7wuGjyuGTRL3d4-IUU/w640-h448/TWO%20TAWNIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This is Purdy with our pair of lovebirds, observed one day in their roosting bush, beak rubbing and murmuring affectionately to each other, so we named them Archibald and Susie.
We became very fond of them and they trusted us too, so after several weeks they learnt how to fly, spending the day in a giant beech tree in the school grounds and magically, when we called them in the evening, floating gently down to take food from our hands, clicking their beaks in delight at the school dinner left overs, an unforgettable privilege.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSFiIAgpNLh86CZ0OLbno2bgKUTZMBKZQJXBRFutjJIRxzqU1CrTYmJrWYi1UwfQWoUfoEDk5oO9QOsn8oEGKMFMPjtR3LZoaxSCv3FTXdxAB6sQs-3d7RzD5LDqQJmMSDLuzQMil7s0gus70PooWGPef9n0O3J3I2KG_HkJiHvpH4yyo13rFpsISMmE/s1280/OUR%20JACKDAW.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1280" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSFiIAgpNLh86CZ0OLbno2bgKUTZMBKZQJXBRFutjJIRxzqU1CrTYmJrWYi1UwfQWoUfoEDk5oO9QOsn8oEGKMFMPjtR3LZoaxSCv3FTXdxAB6sQs-3d7RzD5LDqQJmMSDLuzQMil7s0gus70PooWGPef9n0O3J3I2KG_HkJiHvpH4yyo13rFpsISMmE/w400-h293/OUR%20JACKDAW.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Among others, we also nursed back to health a jackdaw with a broken wing, a delightful pet while he healed before eventually flying free, so effectionate as he nibbled our ears. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeTuAdL8CCAgDM38PSaIaIIoLZJh-XvSnUt0dPZCiWg_oKXaD2eKROsPwTZPDC0zW1mM0VthOCTAf6bzEv4OXsOUcZbWVc2W3nkSegaoCMr7rmh34FPkcrWD7pyJRDqZhA4zJYCwhyphenhyphen4iJUP5CuAUIg4FdYGIm2vptYPE_tJ1XIHgw7d0KymSu_0pQLvc/s3517/WICKEN%20FEN%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="3517" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeTuAdL8CCAgDM38PSaIaIIoLZJh-XvSnUt0dPZCiWg_oKXaD2eKROsPwTZPDC0zW1mM0VthOCTAf6bzEv4OXsOUcZbWVc2W3nkSegaoCMr7rmh34FPkcrWD7pyJRDqZhA4zJYCwhyphenhyphen4iJUP5CuAUIg4FdYGIm2vptYPE_tJ1XIHgw7d0KymSu_0pQLvc/w640-h458/WICKEN%20FEN%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We had other birding adventures too, cycling round the Fens trying to find as many owl nests as possible. Almost every field was lined with ancient willow trees, pollarded for making baskets and eel traps, so they were knarled and offered many cavities for hole nesting birds such as jackdaws, stock doves and our most sought after barn owls. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSVESFkYBelLAdXfb7KEbxDN4NfuC2aaN1YJ24dgWNNIzqheydUMHximk1ymgNPLNY84d3UODt2h_ELx68kYW2MERHB_pKeCrU2_zV1ZdBT_zd9hhyphenhyphenQpkDL50U6F4lIcq_fGaUi7dBM6-agZ79VXFfk9qQc6Z508d02XionvV3tLfQwg9V8USqJ0an70/s1024/BARN%20OWL%20FLIES%20TO%20CAMERA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSVESFkYBelLAdXfb7KEbxDN4NfuC2aaN1YJ24dgWNNIzqheydUMHximk1ymgNPLNY84d3UODt2h_ELx68kYW2MERHB_pKeCrU2_zV1ZdBT_zd9hhyphenhyphenQpkDL50U6F4lIcq_fGaUi7dBM6-agZ79VXFfk9qQc6Z508d02XionvV3tLfQwg9V8USqJ0an70/w640-h424/BARN%20OWL%20FLIES%20TO%20CAMERA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We took to mapping their nests, counting their eggs and even pencil marking them to study their age related hatching. On several occasions, the incubating female would refuse to get off her eggs, so armed with a bent spoon on a stick, we would very carefully lift her to one side so we could count her clutch. She would be annoyed, clicking and hissing at us, though as soon as we’d finished our attempts at ‘scientific’ analysis, she would shuffle back onto her eggs and continue incubating. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0pm2KLFyNiiiXMcSbuaNVTafjZt1DpU8gNEr-PdzajviIaLTSkt8YWjssl7GU8DAxbQYQoeU5jZ52hHH6ATx5i_qTJV3WZndGBF5MlxMk-WX26SrL19gZEm5WfklUpi8eqSc8gm-f9gFjCC1-yoSOisA2A0M-FDMV13VF0UplRiVpzK0zp-yy1sglKY/s1280/PURDY%20WITH%20YOUNG%20STOCK%20DOVE.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1273" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0pm2KLFyNiiiXMcSbuaNVTafjZt1DpU8gNEr-PdzajviIaLTSkt8YWjssl7GU8DAxbQYQoeU5jZ52hHH6ATx5i_qTJV3WZndGBF5MlxMk-WX26SrL19gZEm5WfklUpi8eqSc8gm-f9gFjCC1-yoSOisA2A0M-FDMV13VF0UplRiVpzK0zp-yy1sglKY/w398-h400/PURDY%20WITH%20YOUNG%20STOCK%20DOVE.jpg" width="398" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We also found young stock doves which were measured and returned unharmed of course and tawny owl nests in the large elm trees and ancient oaks but never tampered with them due to their reputation for attacking humans. The famous bird photographer Eric Hosking was a victim of a particularly feisty tawny that he was photographing and lost an eye when it attacked him, the consolation being that this provided him with the perfect title for his autobiography, “An Eye for a Bird”. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzvADVwQzP_mjwd8E0huXNWNsZtbOpPVmyk97L1xRrXLFKbugDahZbURTnqC1y-tONOTXQTLCFQWkK6VnKYeKrwveD7ahjhL2S_WJhXqq3Sg4fJ04hdhrtFYO9QWfURWwBBrehgKmPk-IluScJGdfy6mfppD1_E8GKHmkG1E7E_oqLuKWQe-iZllgVAk/s1280/THE%20CUTTER%20INN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1280" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzvADVwQzP_mjwd8E0huXNWNsZtbOpPVmyk97L1xRrXLFKbugDahZbURTnqC1y-tONOTXQTLCFQWkK6VnKYeKrwveD7ahjhL2S_WJhXqq3Sg4fJ04hdhrtFYO9QWfURWwBBrehgKmPk-IluScJGdfy6mfppD1_E8GKHmkG1E7E_oqLuKWQe-iZllgVAk/w400-h325/THE%20CUTTER%20INN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Fishing of course provided us with lots of birding opportunities, though initially our favourite fishing spot was beside the Cutter Inn in the centre of Ely. This is where a small drain ran into the Ouse, the protecting wall providing a smooth well polished seat to sit on as several of us lads dangled worms and bread for the perch and gudgeon and if we were lucky, small roach. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My wife Sue and I revisited Ely and the old school a few years back and the ‘Cutter Inn’ is still there, the well polished wall now replaced by a footpath. The spot was being fished by young lads as we watched and will no doubt provide happy memories for them too. It certainly does for us, especially as when fishing there with Purdy one day, I cast out much further than normal to an old weed covered wagon wheel and baiting with a big lump of flake, caught a large roach. It was all of ten inches long and a monster for us when young so a fire was lit and I’ve been a passionate roach angler ever since. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IpoJyzk47KIrMkmnfGBg22hR-IY7yoQi1NMEkPbvFvHVTXJEUfi6ecc3ko9AAiC7vJwWjWFnP4crb2tvutYwmirV5yOEnbm3ay6bqcsec5y7UnihI1ojTKlchV8tpuaGDwsVOS4_LgJVFIrgD1lWPDr7fgVsKhaZdMMGIvLjuPwoUk7H_z5pJFdb7Xk/s1280/MR%20CRABTREE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IpoJyzk47KIrMkmnfGBg22hR-IY7yoQi1NMEkPbvFvHVTXJEUfi6ecc3ko9AAiC7vJwWjWFnP4crb2tvutYwmirV5yOEnbm3ay6bqcsec5y7UnihI1ojTKlchV8tpuaGDwsVOS4_LgJVFIrgD1lWPDr7fgVsKhaZdMMGIvLjuPwoUk7H_z5pJFdb7Xk/w640-h480/MR%20CRABTREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I had become a disciple of Bernard Venable’s classic book ‘Mr. Crabtree Goes Fishing’ and in it he teaches young Peter how baiting up over several days could attract large shoals of bream. The Great Ouse at Ely is bream heaven, so Purdy and I scrounged stale bread from the school kitchen and chose swims alongside beds of lilies in deep water.
According to Mr.Crabtree, being there at dawn was essential but that created a problem, for we were trapped within the monastic buildings and the large Roman gates called 'The Porta' were always locked at night.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUZoVmz62khjXvTeCv0mQ3eBrV5jdBiXU7Rc8bEsm7ad8eBmkPgDuReFj_bNWLl3OKdHR6YeP0RZvWvluG8KQIIAc8gNGalXxBc9BJn2kTsvKSd_Eohlg_ztcjYLsA8ZnieePhNZ6m_Cv5Vt5sfFborZeqnfJNGv4OWPoGitd-fHnEwuoFIxCbm1xZEs/s1280/THE%20PORTA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1280" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUZoVmz62khjXvTeCv0mQ3eBrV5jdBiXU7Rc8bEsm7ad8eBmkPgDuReFj_bNWLl3OKdHR6YeP0RZvWvluG8KQIIAc8gNGalXxBc9BJn2kTsvKSd_Eohlg_ztcjYLsA8ZnieePhNZ6m_Cv5Vt5sfFborZeqnfJNGv4OWPoGitd-fHnEwuoFIxCbm1xZEs/w640-h314/THE%20PORTA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Searching diligently, we found one unlocked gate, but that was in the Headmaster’s garden and required us to wheel our tackle laden cycles across his lawn.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so stuffing our beds with our pillows so that snooping prefects would think we were sleeping, Purdy and I would rise in the dark and creep out as silently as possible, though how the wheel tracks on the dew covered headmaster’s lawn were never noticed we’ll never know. Or maybe he did see them and cut us some slack? Yes, he might have thought fishing was an admirable hobby for young boys, though I doubt it! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAAs0CFMzvl_ywXqwgn8NH7QDjXq4RlhiPpDwEf913y2M1cRWjKyxEjy1_4i1ISOFw9l2cNVotaJzrND314cAw059ov4LBIN8DjubxFOye8_ZjBpj03MDJHKwJlV7if_G4NsGyxjaOS3SJlsXhX3U8EyufpgEmkAwAI3THqC7wlX_S6PqZDX8Sv9sjTA/s1280/PORCUPINE%20QUILL%20FOR%20BREAM.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="703" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAAs0CFMzvl_ywXqwgn8NH7QDjXq4RlhiPpDwEf913y2M1cRWjKyxEjy1_4i1ISOFw9l2cNVotaJzrND314cAw059ov4LBIN8DjubxFOye8_ZjBpj03MDJHKwJlV7if_G4NsGyxjaOS3SJlsXhX3U8EyufpgEmkAwAI3THqC7wlX_S6PqZDX8Sv9sjTA/w220-h400/PORCUPINE%20QUILL%20FOR%20BREAM.jpg" width="220" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The excitement on finding bubbling bream by the lilies on arrival was unforgettable and we’d fish with large lumps of breadflake under a large porcupine quill. This is the <u>exact</u> float I often used, a bit mouse nibbled now but still effective, and if the swims were mid-river, we’d use a drilled bullet and float-ledger, catching numerous beautiful bronze bream of around three pounds, even up to four pounds if we were lucky, before cycling back to school in time for breakfast. I still love early mornings, even after sixty years, the best time of life by far, with birds singing and the whole day to look forward to.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdyTGEmgilNoXOf-ox_fR7DgolAEriMERUkh7_TjVfFhHCYpcvb-EhItEHE2oSreViGQHpPHwIbJnamkRw7FWZPggWWkuePbfHpRQF_RRqSUM6t4ub4ZPwonqe4t-E6WLeLz5DyoWQc9dS4RN5hFZsOT7gTowXAq6TjhW8MDDyEaYK05B_-sPT8QH6jM/s1280/5:2%20BREAM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdyTGEmgilNoXOf-ox_fR7DgolAEriMERUkh7_TjVfFhHCYpcvb-EhItEHE2oSreViGQHpPHwIbJnamkRw7FWZPggWWkuePbfHpRQF_RRqSUM6t4ub4ZPwonqe4t-E6WLeLz5DyoWQc9dS4RN5hFZsOT7gTowXAq6TjhW8MDDyEaYK05B_-sPT8QH6jM/w640-h480/5:2%20BREAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt6XA3suRcRTPIpk5WJLh5xursUbNkebrLGRmxPkzh7KW0dgtGsBVsxT4Wus7IeqapSJrDHyVlX3CRZQNXxfIFXOX5s9yYzkqdBJD7KRQFQ-InT193mF4kYnEA5FOIJaotEGS_wZgX1da4R5JJm30tltF6oUNUy701mDcJ101pwySjBZTg-X85w9tldk/s1280/RIALWAY%20BREAM%20SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1280" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt6XA3suRcRTPIpk5WJLh5xursUbNkebrLGRmxPkzh7KW0dgtGsBVsxT4Wus7IeqapSJrDHyVlX3CRZQNXxfIFXOX5s9yYzkqdBJD7KRQFQ-InT193mF4kYnEA5FOIJaotEGS_wZgX1da4R5JJm30tltF6oUNUy701mDcJ101pwySjBZTg-X85w9tldk/w640-h540/RIALWAY%20BREAM%20SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We were particularly drawn to this deep swim </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">across the river beside the lilies </span>where the swan family are feeding, [now very busy and overgrown] but getting there in the 1950's required us to use a small chain ferry from the rowing club, difficult to operate silently, even in the dark. Knowing no fear, we pulled our way across and so big were the bronze bream that we risked the madness a few more times until, one day, the whole school were summoned to a Headmaster’s meeting, and that means someone was in trouble.
He said, “Would the two boys who have been using the chain ferry on the river please come forward.” Purdy and I looked at each other and shrunk! There was no way we were going to own up and as no-one else knew we were the guilty ones, no boy could tell on us and get us punished, though sadly, we couldn’t fish that bream filled swim any more. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iv4x-V5RIlbIBE4Cwgs38AQHkmXSoCkSCzr5K_u5miEQ9T5JOYQQfVq85bqglBgkZNIn9V9T6gNtggUw8CZXUtKYqCe-yXkbKZ-3YIycLCLGyuv5OvdX1Pb5mHZR-GfceJ1Iz3dgX95RoCD4Lyo5XfjMHb7QBxiWN6QeLxvib1sOmKQxBJfG-dn27yE/s1280/ROSWELL%20PITS%20+%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iv4x-V5RIlbIBE4Cwgs38AQHkmXSoCkSCzr5K_u5miEQ9T5JOYQQfVq85bqglBgkZNIn9V9T6gNtggUw8CZXUtKYqCe-yXkbKZ-3YIycLCLGyuv5OvdX1Pb5mHZR-GfceJ1Iz3dgX95RoCD4Lyo5XfjMHb7QBxiWN6QeLxvib1sOmKQxBJfG-dn27yE/w640-h456/ROSWELL%20PITS%20+%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Roswell Pits where I learnt to sail were an easy cycle ride just to the north of Ely, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">[it's now a nature reserve], </span>so we fished there for rudd amongst the reed beds and also pre-baited a spot for bream, though this story has a tragic ending.
I had been invited to swim by my cricketing pal John Goodey in the ‘Blue Pool’, a crystal clear and deep blue clay lake at Roswell Pits. Just the afternoon before, the school cricket First Fifteen had remarkably beaten a Cambridge University team and John had made a great catch of their best batsman on the boundary off my bowling, so we were both happily triumphant. However, I declined his swimming invitation because Purdy and I were going to fish our carefully prepared swim, which by then was a jacuzzi of feeding bream. We did catch lots, though they were mainly what we now call ‘skimmers', up to a pound or two.
Upon returning to school in the afternoon, we were told that John had drowned, overcome by cramp and the pal he was swimming with wasn’t strong enough to keep him above water. I was a very strong swimmer and the likelihood of me being able to save him if I’d been there haunts me to this day. It was our first shock of learning how fragile life can be and the school’s cathedral service to honour his passing brought tears to our eyes, even now. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, the adventures with Purdy continued and got more adventurous, cycling off to far flung spots to fish for new species and bigger fish. We had been told by a farmer when searching for owl nests about an old clay pit dug for brick making that contained tench and we badly needed to catch a tench, so one day headed out on a long cycle ride across the Fens to find this magical spot.
As we arrived, nesting redshank and snipe sprang out of the ditches in alarm and hiding our bikes in a hollow, forced our way through the dense brambles and stingers to reveal two pools separated by a thick strip of phragmites, the water surrounded by dense hedges of hawthorn and blackthorn. The delightful cooing of turtle doves filled the air and it is sad to know that all these once common birds have declined so much in just a few years.
The fishing was wonderful, tempered by a relentless deluge of rain, but as tench anglers know, especially as we found this year at the Tenchfishers Masterclass in Surrey, heavy rainfall can certainly turn them on and using small porcupine quills with large bread flake hook baits, we caught about thirteen perfectly plump tench of about two to three pounds.
Fishing doesn’t get much better than that, though it did, for while trying to shelter from the rain in the blackthorn thicket, we disturbed a long-eared owl, the first we had ever seen, so we cycled back to school smelling of tench and very wet, but very happy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ_w85Ud-CsoLpSmfaD6aae1TA5BU-RDKu7j_BbmPqG-O_khyl_tV7jhfsuRdjtnN5dTn07r5HcUGkPK0vn1z0gnnejlxX3A3rCL2neBxorD6qd1TD8I_ySS0XATlU_VSltub-EEY0CUFkt6mVasDBq1zBWHcjuclTt4Ot6aqa9JVnCJOSaUkVBtiqx8/s1280/FENLAND%20TENCH%20WITH%20PURDY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1280" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ_w85Ud-CsoLpSmfaD6aae1TA5BU-RDKu7j_BbmPqG-O_khyl_tV7jhfsuRdjtnN5dTn07r5HcUGkPK0vn1z0gnnejlxX3A3rCL2neBxorD6qd1TD8I_ySS0XATlU_VSltub-EEY0CUFkt6mVasDBq1zBWHcjuclTt4Ot6aqa9JVnCJOSaUkVBtiqx8/w640-h440/FENLAND%20TENCH%20WITH%20PURDY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We always tried to catch bigger fish, as keen anglers do, and as I was a member of the LAA, they had fishing in some wonderful, almost impenetrably overgrown gravel pits down the A10 at Landbeach. They were crystal clear and a perfect place to birdwatch, warblers, grebes and ducks being numerous. Moorhens too, and if we found a nest with fresh eggs, we’d steal a few and boil them up for lunch. All good clean boys own stuff!
While birding, we couldn’t help noticing the fish life, especially the huge carp that leapt out of the water, a golden rocket in the sunshine. They were too big for our tackle and ambition but the lumpy tench looked very catchable, bream too, though the fish that gave us the biggest adrenalin rush were the enormous Rudd.
Climbing out onto an overhanging willow branch, we looked down on a shoal of about a dozen glorious specimens drifting gently through the weed stems as they slurped in our bread offerings. We guessed they must have all weighed two pounds or more but we couldn’t drop a baited hook down to them because it was the closed season. As Arni would say, ‘we’d be back’ and on June 16th we were cycling the ten miles as fast as we could, full of anticipation for the catch of a lifetime. But you’ve guessed it, they must have known this was the first day of the fishing season and had simply vanished.
We remained silent and patient and eventually one or two drifted ghost like through the weed below us, attracted by our bread flakes. Lowering a free-lined chunk on a big hook, a Rudd grabbed it without hesitation and all hell broke loose as we held on tight and prayed as the big Rudd attempted to win it’s freedom. After a brief moment of panic when trying to net the fish without falling off the branch and joining it in the lake, the prize was ours, at least two pounds of golden beauty.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRRAn44AoLygDINolu5WiI4hAnggXLzjxp4xmBqGgW11rvvFWoey76As_Jsvr_pUvIMwHZI6HZCTq2QjzT1QIgWRdVm-Ul-Z2wfjfxnWn3OiVvRyaqIYLVpsu1D793lG6zzOUwHFv-gX1hzuWk-7Bu8_5Atap5rET-88mSMC_RXlPbMSmwos3Z0iaQv0/s3283/IMMACULATE%20TWO%20POUNDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3283" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRRAn44AoLygDINolu5WiI4hAnggXLzjxp4xmBqGgW11rvvFWoey76As_Jsvr_pUvIMwHZI6HZCTq2QjzT1QIgWRdVm-Ul-Z2wfjfxnWn3OiVvRyaqIYLVpsu1D793lG6zzOUwHFv-gX1hzuWk-7Bu8_5Atap5rET-88mSMC_RXlPbMSmwos3Z0iaQv0/w640-h480/IMMACULATE%20TWO%20POUNDER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>We took it in turns to lower the bait down to them and caught several more before they were spooked and disappeared, but in the years that followed, the lakes produced Rudd of over three pounds, so despite being chuffed with our catch, we had only scratched the surface of these magical lakes. Sadly, those wonderful havens of wildlife are now buried under concrete and named the Cambridge Research Park. Humans call it progress. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Winter in the Fens provided another world of wonder, not least the skating when the flooded water meadows iced up and we could ‘skate’ speedily up and down on smoothly slicked runways. We only had wellies while the locals slid for miles on skates. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffKXYEMKXFwj1DKEMCq9IgjHwd08hqzSNB9JljYoZAxVx8c1ykWthQ57kFXLEYo0i4NeqKAB_wQpnw9onZl5PiALulyKBkX_eGgCTM8qvyNhnPlev-HZNNypcfZRANcl8HzmanJ3VDLmgwMIkkPnnmPbVXj_BOpi3z50Yrb-wiY0JDB7BpmmTUh9w9ic/s3283/shepherd's%20delight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3283" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffKXYEMKXFwj1DKEMCq9IgjHwd08hqzSNB9JljYoZAxVx8c1ykWthQ57kFXLEYo0i4NeqKAB_wQpnw9onZl5PiALulyKBkX_eGgCTM8qvyNhnPlev-HZNNypcfZRANcl8HzmanJ3VDLmgwMIkkPnnmPbVXj_BOpi3z50Yrb-wiY0JDB7BpmmTUh9w9ic/w640-h480/shepherd's%20delight.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The fishing had potential too, so Purdy and I started pike and perch fishing, particularly in the Stuntney Drain, for we could usually get a strike or two on spinners from jack pike, our best being a moderate fish of seven pounds. However, on one memorable day I hooked a tench, cleanly hooked in the mouth on a Mepps spinner. It weighed
3lbs 10ozs and because neither of us had ever tasted tench, I whacked it on the head, rolled it in a cloth, stuffed it in the cycle seat satchel and after catching a couple more small pike, we cycled back to school.
Un-wrapping the tench in a sink to clean it off, you can imagine my surprise when having been ‘dead’ for several hours, it wriggled free and splashed us. Whacking it again, then finding our penknives were too blunt to cut the skin, we borrowed a scalpel from nurse and skinned it ready for cooking … and if you’ve never tried eating tench - don’t! Even after soaking in salty water for an hour, it tasted of mud and little else, though you can’t fault those lovely fish for clinging onto life, even when ‘dead’. Tough critters! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, the story doesn’t end there. Purdy and I had returned to Roswell Pits to fish for perch and had success with small roach ‘livelies’, catching several over two pounds to a best of about 2lb 12ozs, and wanting to share our success, I sent the story of our perch success into the Angling Times and as an aside mentioned the remarkable tench of 3lbs 10ozs caught on a spinner. Next week, there it was on the front cover, “Schoolboy lands great catch of perch, topped by a specimen of 3lbs 10ozs” What a shame it wasn’t true. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZY3-mcKCH2KUWIREsd4jxREdHTGkeZ_Dt6QJnno9v1zzX8bikr_kRoFXBTBj9S8_ZnnYJuAP1Gzj9tIFl177ZJQIFSkfGUn1pG3a7TPCXUh7KY3za4da4i0O3YwC7bAtYpSqyVTqeyWNv5uj-87ztnPbZ1yGHpIuFhZ5xfitEbmVow45Bv3veA4IWxU/s1280/THE%20BIG%20PIKE%20SWIM%20ON%20ROSWELL%20PITS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1280" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZY3-mcKCH2KUWIREsd4jxREdHTGkeZ_Dt6QJnno9v1zzX8bikr_kRoFXBTBj9S8_ZnnYJuAP1Gzj9tIFl177ZJQIFSkfGUn1pG3a7TPCXUh7KY3za4da4i0O3YwC7bAtYpSqyVTqeyWNv5uj-87ztnPbZ1yGHpIuFhZ5xfitEbmVow45Bv3veA4IWxU/w640-h444/THE%20BIG%20PIKE%20SWIM%20ON%20ROSWELL%20PITS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Purdy and I turned our enthusiasm towards trying to catch a big pike and because it was in those days that Fred J Taylor was proposing the bizarre idea of fishing for pike with frozen herring or mackerel, we had to try it. Roswell Pits had a good reputation for good fish, so it wasn’t long before we were flinging a dead bait as far out as we could, then waiting for action in our old duffle coats in the freezing cold. It was Fred J who spoke those immortal words to Dick Walker “I’ll be glad when I’ve had enough of this!” Though we hadn’t reached that stage to get cold enough when our silver foil indicator rose slowly up to the butt and I struck as hard as my little ten foot rod would allow. The resistance out in the distance was substantial but I remember little of the fight apart from seeing Purdy net our biggest pike to date. It weighed 16lbs and these are pics taken with my box Brownie, the exact swim we caught from above and our splendid catch.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpWqtCVLPTcryZFWX4-qwQLdBgcIxXHb1g9gav0r54p7IuyciIGcJJ38y9L8gzUhzQQISee4UOCmYCse0-zU54_iUr_U3J8i486J82pz-XGnSqG6zb4TKWfan4ExAeQvX0z4OytUXdQysQJ4lOATyoQKedY42qZo-hWJaaeWZPcoVtCDRtvvDojB-fpE/s1280/16lb%20PIKE%20WITH%20TAPE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1280" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpWqtCVLPTcryZFWX4-qwQLdBgcIxXHb1g9gav0r54p7IuyciIGcJJ38y9L8gzUhzQQISee4UOCmYCse0-zU54_iUr_U3J8i486J82pz-XGnSqG6zb4TKWfan4ExAeQvX0z4OytUXdQysQJ4lOATyoQKedY42qZo-hWJaaeWZPcoVtCDRtvvDojB-fpE/w400-h279/16lb%20PIKE%20WITH%20TAPE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Having tried pre-baiting for bream, we reasoned that it might work for pike too, so gathering some scraps of fish from our school dinners, we baited a spot several times just along the bank from our previous biggie and were excited when we eventually lowered our dead fish bait into the spot. The response was almost instant, the float bobbing once before sliding decisively into the depths, so I tightened up the slack and struck into an irresistible force, far more powerful than the sixteen pounder we had caught two weeks ago. The pike simply kept swimming ever faster into the depths and I was powerless to stop it until there was a loud crack when the line parted. That loss of a monster still hurts even now because we’ll never know just how big it was - ever. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7_noIJ21SqySG5Z2b-BooYLhUSeLlsYp5KIPXf1DrVHMWy9anMMlpKvU3Hp6Imq9TJp1tztP2zmCIulTAnJVNfpRbLdXA7rQg_ic5nQAJxJVdkrgIsdkMVaChdgp3ELZ6sMXe7QM2Wc4ZpdNrrhSpfpdu92MeLyTMZCsb9wE2VU-vugPbDM55XATKc4/s1280/PURDY%20ROWING%20ON%20THE%20OUSE%20AT%20ELY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7_noIJ21SqySG5Z2b-BooYLhUSeLlsYp5KIPXf1DrVHMWy9anMMlpKvU3Hp6Imq9TJp1tztP2zmCIulTAnJVNfpRbLdXA7rQg_ic5nQAJxJVdkrgIsdkMVaChdgp3ELZ6sMXe7QM2Wc4ZpdNrrhSpfpdu92MeLyTMZCsb9wE2VU-vugPbDM55XATKc4/w640-h456/PURDY%20ROWING%20ON%20THE%20OUSE%20AT%20ELY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />How we ever made the time for all our fishing and birding I can’t imagine, for Purdy [No.2 here on the school four] was busy with rowing and rugby and I played in the school orchestra and brass band, sang in our madrigal society and practiced my French horn every day to prepare for my life as a professional musician. I guess our habit of getting up before dawn helped us to win a few extra hours in each day, even if only to do our studies and home work. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The birding was always rewarding, even in the Fenland winters, with lots of wildfowl to enjoy, especially when we’d made the long cycle ride over to the Ouse Washes, unknown to all but wildfowlers then but now celebrated as one of England’s most famous birding spots. In those days there were no hides, so we’d just crawl up the flood banks and peer over on our bellies to avoid spooking the flocks.
However, our best duck was seen on the sugar beat factory settlement pools after creeping up the flood bank ‘Red Indian’ style, for there below us was my first ever shoveller and I’ll never forget the excitement of seeing such an exotic looking duck.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2oeNnoGUNIkO-9qo3ZRvbAzQzGmKanRu7H07JdRzdMr2dOUDNLKbeyT7IhHSte5Z66uA-UHt2Ll5P4DZifSv9Yimu-zvLGNl3iEOpMvAD7fJNe7w3fe1HCrJA6yghPj8PRTABDf4QTd9NlZPRaSTnSFL-431elAVPnoLB1zb_t58tyNMnHeICK0z_KQ/s1280/SHOVELER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1280" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2oeNnoGUNIkO-9qo3ZRvbAzQzGmKanRu7H07JdRzdMr2dOUDNLKbeyT7IhHSte5Z66uA-UHt2Ll5P4DZifSv9Yimu-zvLGNl3iEOpMvAD7fJNe7w3fe1HCrJA6yghPj8PRTABDf4QTd9NlZPRaSTnSFL-431elAVPnoLB1zb_t58tyNMnHeICK0z_KQ/w640-h494/SHOVELER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also remember with pain the quirk of Fenland winds, for when cycling out we’d always be facing a head wind but on return, we never enjoyed a tail wind because it had swung 180 degrees and was blowing into our faces - again. It certainly got us fit for our sports! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcws4Rv-9B7jPOp8tCJHiM_P5z8prbRkQFqbO_-Xe5yp2msQl-zO4IrHUeIE5JYbLwO6kknUw9b91BZDgk5nq_IibsbXjzK-1PWV-aNiqIE7gXV8GtlxDg0W1Fzc92xXas5kDveHKeNqJRBXd8CXLNoWfIqzjd2KagpS9qIBrH6bHNLMzQIepEQjIjJ0/s1280/PURDY%20WITH%20GOOD%20PIKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1280" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcws4Rv-9B7jPOp8tCJHiM_P5z8prbRkQFqbO_-Xe5yp2msQl-zO4IrHUeIE5JYbLwO6kknUw9b91BZDgk5nq_IibsbXjzK-1PWV-aNiqIE7gXV8GtlxDg0W1Fzc92xXas5kDveHKeNqJRBXd8CXLNoWfIqzjd2KagpS9qIBrH6bHNLMzQIepEQjIjJ0/w400-h285/PURDY%20WITH%20GOOD%20PIKE.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Purdy and I tried another spot for pike fishing, a long thin pit alongside the railway line, connected to the Ouse and full of fish.
On one memorable day, the pike were feeding voraciously and having caught a few small rudd for bait, every cast was smashed by a pike as it hit the surface and splashy battles commenced. The fish were just jacks up to eight pounds but we caught so many we almost lost count, at least a dozen, providing exciting violence for us both.We reasoned that there must be bigger ones there, so once our school exams were complete, we headed out there and caught a fat and beautiful specimen of 18lbs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgl32cHhjvRCgLO1k49o1zHLOp9wjmHVwYAj46xc-u0feyz1A9lbuktA7TSqZKwR9XHrqK1lU_6BDaNxr0ObqwikY45TYYddrC4djeIP4yJz8YIalls3hw_rMn0Zt_2E4zaahvXvDqmzttcr5z-7yqr4fmlq2tVba5x10wmEJqY9MzO6e5WSvU2_zJs8/s642/Hugh's%2018lb%20Pike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="642" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgl32cHhjvRCgLO1k49o1zHLOp9wjmHVwYAj46xc-u0feyz1A9lbuktA7TSqZKwR9XHrqK1lU_6BDaNxr0ObqwikY45TYYddrC4djeIP4yJz8YIalls3hw_rMn0Zt_2E4zaahvXvDqmzttcr5z-7yqr4fmlq2tVba5x10wmEJqY9MzO6e5WSvU2_zJs8/w640-h486/Hugh's%2018lb%20Pike.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I had forgotten my camera and while Purdy held the pike in the edge tied to a rod bag, I cycled the short way back to school for the Box Brownie so that we can admire our catch to this day.
And while mentioning our exams, I passed my A levels, Purdy too no doubt, though the only response I received from the Headmaster upon leaving the school was, “A pleasant surprise”! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He obviously thought I was always ‘out there’, birding and fishing, but we did work hard as well as play hard and both enjoyed lots of sport, Purdy rowing for the school, me playing cricket. We also shared our success in the school’s rugby fifteen, winning all our matches one year, bar one draw, thanks to our great coach and history master, John Lund. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tXcifKGS00lLZrBXZ8U866-DCyxB06aLwqfYhUCcjdtMevSkT4mWxSHtCMzNvWQkD2xHCQahDaiDSH-7Q4PlVuPllVr559wBLtN06r10ZyxT_igXjaVITv0KKxJNvJiYM5B8M5GYCStmA8aqGZht2bwc9OTH87CHs2n6E8oJToqFytDD6myJFurGO2U/s1280/SCHOOL%20RUGBY%201st%20FIFTEEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1280" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tXcifKGS00lLZrBXZ8U866-DCyxB06aLwqfYhUCcjdtMevSkT4mWxSHtCMzNvWQkD2xHCQahDaiDSH-7Q4PlVuPllVr559wBLtN06r10ZyxT_igXjaVITv0KKxJNvJiYM5B8M5GYCStmA8aqGZht2bwc9OTH87CHs2n6E8oJToqFytDD6myJFurGO2U/w640-h524/SCHOOL%20RUGBY%201st%20FIFTEEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I’m the little squirt on bottom left, small but fast and pugnacious. Purdy [in glasses on top right,] was our fearless wing forward and a rugby star, tackling opponents out of the game, flying through the air like an Exocet missile. In the recent Rugby World Cup, the All Black Ardie Savea comes to mind!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We both left Kings Ely in 1961 and just moved on in life and as neither of us were followers of the ‘old school tie brigade’, we lost touch. Sue and I often wondered where Purdy was, always hoping that one day we might meet again. We even thought of trying a search, though not knowing his surname, or that he was called Kevin made it impossible. He was just my best school pal nicknamed ‘Purdy’, so when a few months ago we received this letter from Norway, we were excited to find that it was from the man himself. He had found us through our blog and that has got to be the best and only reason for ever writing a blog! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFCsrvdKGow-7S2tdKYpUClctTbu8pEuHvHEh07u5V4sDsGE-eIB3IJGvhj332toN4XbCHKg3PXft33im_A-J8j69Z6TnBtJeCt5VKz6b0b57luzBF5QrfpYDW1t25uYZKCde-60Yy7uetZNofeaJMS15JEbmpOrPu0oMflxPzBToDHgJQL2JGWeB0B8/s1280/PB051218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1280" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFCsrvdKGow-7S2tdKYpUClctTbu8pEuHvHEh07u5V4sDsGE-eIB3IJGvhj332toN4XbCHKg3PXft33im_A-J8j69Z6TnBtJeCt5VKz6b0b57luzBF5QrfpYDW1t25uYZKCde-60Yy7uetZNofeaJMS15JEbmpOrPu0oMflxPzBToDHgJQL2JGWeB0B8/w400-h371/PB051218.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Purdy has been living in Norway for 45 years and this letter included an email address, so we could finally catch up with stories of his life since leaving school. Sue had heard many of our childhood tales about fishing and birding and was most impressed, even surprised that Purdy had vividly remembered the details of our best catches too and as they echoed what I’d told her, she had to accept that the stories were true! Our children Katie and Peter were excited because all the tales I’d told them about our Fenland adventures had made Purdy part of the family, like a brother that I never had. I did have two loving sisters but they didn’t fish! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, via a series of email exchanges I learnt that Purdy/Kevin worked for the Royal Insurance Co, so he had loads of friends and had kept up his sporting prowess by playing lots of golf, so well in fact that his handicap was six. Eventually he returned to his Jordie roots in Tyneside and was covering a large area of Northumberland and all of Durham when he met a Norwegian nurse called Liv and in May ’72 they got married, coincidentally just six months after Sue and I had tied the knot.
By chance, Liv saw an ad. in a Norwegian newspaper for a Matron at an old folks home in Norway, she got the job and they and their three boys packed their bags and have happily lived in Norway ever since. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3mYrIykpK2KJ3rmEkc8fDtTfKN7A2g3pIFROK1p2Vg2gd2A6E6g6nHbJmfV5Fa6d_9TOCdSYYXBPJXfjueOZKmRkGX41KXu4e2C351ySQjvt1UaguE8A58svXdbDzhOJQGA0Sg9JFG-soLMLsA6jP0urQ9z9XV1M4K56U3TdqEeMtXFJVrO35aH_fB4/s4032/KEVIN'S%20HOME%20IN%20WINTER.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3mYrIykpK2KJ3rmEkc8fDtTfKN7A2g3pIFROK1p2Vg2gd2A6E6g6nHbJmfV5Fa6d_9TOCdSYYXBPJXfjueOZKmRkGX41KXu4e2C351ySQjvt1UaguE8A58svXdbDzhOJQGA0Sg9JFG-soLMLsA6jP0urQ9z9XV1M4K56U3TdqEeMtXFJVrO35aH_fB4/w300-h400/KEVIN'S%20HOME%20IN%20WINTER.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Their lovely home lies close to this large mountain, the same height as Ben Nevis, so a far cry from the Fens of Purdy’s childhood. He’d given up golf too as there’s not enough flat land!
Kevin’s love of wildlife continued, he learn’t to paint and here’s three of his delightful water-colours of an eagle owl, an osprey and a coloured pencil sketch of a barn owl. We are very impressed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmzP0vHmxGJ8pA00Vj1a4B5CXoB0JPESETzFcaFz5pYHhtOpfqvTjfTeBDJS1nXYtlaoAX2pi-wlv3ghUwrTfmHP4aBS_OsLYjm-HMSuX4u_5QXvk0AsFChacl8G9ZdYjF6yUjU066l1EzPEz56_ANgyYWXfJ0XaFq8ZtUhBOmTNbLBx0swkwH3LFYM/s4032/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20EAGLE%20OWL.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmzP0vHmxGJ8pA00Vj1a4B5CXoB0JPESETzFcaFz5pYHhtOpfqvTjfTeBDJS1nXYtlaoAX2pi-wlv3ghUwrTfmHP4aBS_OsLYjm-HMSuX4u_5QXvk0AsFChacl8G9ZdYjF6yUjU066l1EzPEz56_ANgyYWXfJ0XaFq8ZtUhBOmTNbLBx0swkwH3LFYM/w480-h640/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20EAGLE%20OWL.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8JssV94F6aQNvFC0ttBX6dRsR-yyDaAYooV3matG99yWn9YUv8nUkDYn3ZCpj_LdXtghncSgOlVhPXuGGRvnuhkLPxlFwOElN3p8o02youKh38x5rZ7lWaZBU98YzmeJvTDytRJ5tz_aV8GT8W2y82TJZvNhzzNg0ZIHPux8gIls1opgniTHf2M_bz4/s4032/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20OSPREY.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8JssV94F6aQNvFC0ttBX6dRsR-yyDaAYooV3matG99yWn9YUv8nUkDYn3ZCpj_LdXtghncSgOlVhPXuGGRvnuhkLPxlFwOElN3p8o02youKh38x5rZ7lWaZBU98YzmeJvTDytRJ5tz_aV8GT8W2y82TJZvNhzzNg0ZIHPux8gIls1opgniTHf2M_bz4/w480-h640/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20OSPREY.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUiBKWEcJ4oXGvCeHjpLnxGppWFs_qsXG3XFfI_e6P4ejbH4kUIPsHRaWlhyphenhyphen6bOh0LwHSEHU5KpuK-5uhERyaWF3C8WDxaBYAU9XEZ5-bdEvLp-hS5JynDSLI7ntbRAezKKIpR4uLjPCSE9K7AO1iU8sgV-5FXAgkOmOonH78ujBUuIcNdpU0NPzb0xI/s4032/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20BARN%20OWL.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUiBKWEcJ4oXGvCeHjpLnxGppWFs_qsXG3XFfI_e6P4ejbH4kUIPsHRaWlhyphenhyphen6bOh0LwHSEHU5KpuK-5uhERyaWF3C8WDxaBYAU9XEZ5-bdEvLp-hS5JynDSLI7ntbRAezKKIpR4uLjPCSE9K7AO1iU8sgV-5FXAgkOmOonH78ujBUuIcNdpU0NPzb0xI/w480-h640/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20BARN%20OWL.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Kevin had always liked painting and once Liv had started running the old folks home, he started painting houses and that included helping a team to paint the largest wooden building in Europe, the impressive and beautiful Kviknes Hotel alongside Sognefjord, seen below. That's a lot of painting!<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtDmdpLTpgi9S2HNkHHo3sonPo8RR_X37TAdWQUvAydhEArREFCNJAJzT8SwczArp3VywoLQjpKrIkgDBWVbpseHse6aJPiy6Nico4jGZ0PBiuiYiz3cDbSEEjCzv85idIh-oWUzmecF9rBNTo-KjaFV_mLqYpe-CnvPWGqk8UODdzYTWectC6kGs_h4/s1280/KVIKNES%20HOTEL%20SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1280" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtDmdpLTpgi9S2HNkHHo3sonPo8RR_X37TAdWQUvAydhEArREFCNJAJzT8SwczArp3VywoLQjpKrIkgDBWVbpseHse6aJPiy6Nico4jGZ0PBiuiYiz3cDbSEEjCzv85idIh-oWUzmecF9rBNTo-KjaFV_mLqYpe-CnvPWGqk8UODdzYTWectC6kGs_h4/w640-h372/KVIKNES%20HOTEL%20SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Now freelance, he eventually built their own home in Kvammen and had a roaring business enjoying restoring old wooden buildings when a bombshell struck. He was diagnosed with primary progressive MS. It was not too bad at first but became worse after the Covid crisis, a cruel blow for anyone, but particularly for such a sporting and active father. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4dvMqJCLDOB_HN8E3ZtJ5MtBdSypc-myw7Ob02y-lGyOKoVGWFGHKBt5JVIwJHXXMwXYwMbVFfJaDvlMxbUzqpdwxHZ212UTrZuqasjHRMlVP4s5tRvQTNc6crwyLS4agZvX_Y3ATeFj1JEekzE-mnxZjs2TwmmkTmJuEsa-OCSRisz3C2w7KIwNUEk/s1272/KEVIN'S%20HOME%20ON%20WINTERS%20NIGHT.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1272" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4dvMqJCLDOB_HN8E3ZtJ5MtBdSypc-myw7Ob02y-lGyOKoVGWFGHKBt5JVIwJHXXMwXYwMbVFfJaDvlMxbUzqpdwxHZ212UTrZuqasjHRMlVP4s5tRvQTNc6crwyLS4agZvX_Y3ATeFj1JEekzE-mnxZjs2TwmmkTmJuEsa-OCSRisz3C2w7KIwNUEk/w640-h478/KEVIN'S%20HOME%20ON%20WINTERS%20NIGHT.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRwPdLlClqUGC3Dtpyn8AsM4v17jucLJ10ak9K6anXlUzqM3Huj2Eo6XU_kiC86k0cpe02vg8ju3UE7pHfpKeMIkY88iNJe7tVcpRm6cXrGbjZFLo7qY2p32TJCN24d94Ykp7xzYq3KssJP67LViwssTOhlDV5azzuScH_OdDDo5SM6txR1YG2xGmTtU/s2592/KEVIN%20-%20CROSS%20STITCH%20IN%20MARKET.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRwPdLlClqUGC3Dtpyn8AsM4v17jucLJ10ak9K6anXlUzqM3Huj2Eo6XU_kiC86k0cpe02vg8ju3UE7pHfpKeMIkY88iNJe7tVcpRm6cXrGbjZFLo7qY2p32TJCN24d94Ykp7xzYq3KssJP67LViwssTOhlDV5azzuScH_OdDDo5SM6txR1YG2xGmTtU/w478-h640/KEVIN%20-%20CROSS%20STITCH%20IN%20MARKET.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The family had a single story house built that allowed Kevin to continue his creative work, including these remarkable cross-stitch
marvels, one of a carpet market ... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">the other a ‘work in progress’ of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I reckon that Michelangelo had an easier task painting it than Kevin had stitching it, tho' I'm guessing that he too will have to lie down when it's completed!<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIT5ELW2nS_gSm_AmGvDbRfMl7MIXdtD_tj93BfYiq1TMA_R0aAdF6dImB6g8GroDDs7Nu6UO_TABZngcZ775k6YzjxAgip5_WG3J4hLubUoK5r0hgIE5lsZ_prwWgAF_J8688dE89U2FbYbMUX1KH0Rb-UB2wGlf5fsH1XyK760xrqJZYpfRdXRPbx0/s2000/KEVIN'S%20CROSS-STITCH%20SISTINE%20CHAPEL.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2000" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIT5ELW2nS_gSm_AmGvDbRfMl7MIXdtD_tj93BfYiq1TMA_R0aAdF6dImB6g8GroDDs7Nu6UO_TABZngcZ775k6YzjxAgip5_WG3J4hLubUoK5r0hgIE5lsZ_prwWgAF_J8688dE89U2FbYbMUX1KH0Rb-UB2wGlf5fsH1XyK760xrqJZYpfRdXRPbx0/w640-h478/KEVIN'S%20CROSS-STITCH%20SISTINE%20CHAPEL.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It strikes us as remarkable that Kevin, in spite of his handicaps, still has the patience and determination to be so creative and so it felt appropriate that I should share one of my creative results since leaving schooland sent him a copy of our BBC series, ‘A Passion for Angling’ in the hope that he might appreciate re-visiting UK fishing. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ks3cABMLAvsU2dyM8RtNZM-3El6seD4qZSwYg3Y_iEj11fywATrzm-PrbcHjESRAwgabFna8k7jnC0jFxKtZaaRlXrGBI8ehBgPoBCLTlnuThI5W7_I8UGRst_6J78X1wLITG-EVhkvrqFdvhVsG5G3Q7zdracikKW7ilj7MblJVIK5cFSKOC6cATrc/s444/PFA%20%20DVD%20+%20FLOATS%20%20-%2017.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="444" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ks3cABMLAvsU2dyM8RtNZM-3El6seD4qZSwYg3Y_iEj11fywATrzm-PrbcHjESRAwgabFna8k7jnC0jFxKtZaaRlXrGBI8ehBgPoBCLTlnuThI5W7_I8UGRst_6J78X1wLITG-EVhkvrqFdvhVsG5G3Q7zdracikKW7ilj7MblJVIK5cFSKOC6cATrc/w400-h300/PFA%20%20DVD%20+%20FLOATS%20%20-%2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">He enjoyed our adventures, though I'd forgotten to tell him that Peter in the first programme was in fact our son, so I was delighted to learn that Kevin's youngest son is also a keen angler and he enjoyed the film’s stories even if surprised by the ancient tackle that Mr. Yates was using. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It’s as if Kevin and I have come full circle and if you suspect I've been seeing our schooldays together through rose tinted glasses you'd be wrong, because the 'good old days' were in fact good because we made the most of our opportunities, even if the school wished we hadn't and had spent more time studying! In spite of choosing not to be academics, Kevin and I have done OK, so I hope and pray that we will still be exchanging stories of the past and present and sharing his art, long into the future.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVYlQg261RYo-bF2yLu_9CX4c3BdPkYbrjAYHfOBm_TKrsXkpgwOm2l7vbWORJg9qx-Z6eF02yDt3WMFiX4u1MIFA5jannD4U7rGf6-rwgz85yIOzwjYakMWxjwBOoDxNyjx6UJLqYDORzXQysDJ0opHfhWBX_J3qbttB9thFCvnIfBjso8RDWyyZ1z8/s4032/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20KESTRAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVYlQg261RYo-bF2yLu_9CX4c3BdPkYbrjAYHfOBm_TKrsXkpgwOm2l7vbWORJg9qx-Z6eF02yDt3WMFiX4u1MIFA5jannD4U7rGf6-rwgz85yIOzwjYakMWxjwBOoDxNyjx6UJLqYDORzXQysDJ0opHfhWBX_J3qbttB9thFCvnIfBjso8RDWyyZ1z8/w480-h640/KEVIN%20PIC%20-%20KESTRAL.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Friends for life. Yes, most certainly.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLqCeZvEJf1YjiZR95TvBZC5Wnxu7UAE-kh2KIPWT-oAA0lRr_Og-S1i_jld7XWoOOnp0ylzyggGxx6vfAxv2_PoHWmJkuMPSFlAEPtMUkzKV7uZsYAcFrFtzrWLtv4kpw1inPzv9Abk2iwRJ7iNPaJTC5wgjh-uhpoUfg5M2O2Pycbuo0aiZ9yeuZPE/s1280/ELY%20CATHEDRAL%20AT%20SUNSET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1280" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLqCeZvEJf1YjiZR95TvBZC5Wnxu7UAE-kh2KIPWT-oAA0lRr_Og-S1i_jld7XWoOOnp0ylzyggGxx6vfAxv2_PoHWmJkuMPSFlAEPtMUkzKV7uZsYAcFrFtzrWLtv4kpw1inPzv9Abk2iwRJ7iNPaJTC5wgjh-uhpoUfg5M2O2Pycbuo0aiZ9yeuZPE/w400-h339/ELY%20CATHEDRAL%20AT%20SUNSET.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-36678989394737669842023-06-25T18:22:00.000+01:002023-06-25T18:22:46.448+01:00CELEBRATING SUMMER<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77iK2lZB_RVhCgP1qSm7MEbg8NbBgjVNlxNM3gMslIP8Iur9ZPvDE3kfRbh3PFRhn7G0YrXg-LxZzvVPBHEydJ_X2FFBZjkq5XgSZEQCwIFzR_qyGl8QFq3BPykHcHl30VeGkBi8W1mfhxDaWdcLERU0tnnkc7PYbH0iH4GTNeGqJagX3uZcgXad1JB0/s1280/MEADOW%20AND%20SHRUBS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77iK2lZB_RVhCgP1qSm7MEbg8NbBgjVNlxNM3gMslIP8Iur9ZPvDE3kfRbh3PFRhn7G0YrXg-LxZzvVPBHEydJ_X2FFBZjkq5XgSZEQCwIFzR_qyGl8QFq3BPykHcHl30VeGkBi8W1mfhxDaWdcLERU0tnnkc7PYbH0iH4GTNeGqJagX3uZcgXad1JB0/w640-h480/MEADOW%20AND%20SHRUBS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Isn’t summer wonderful, the sun shining from a cloudless sky and insect treasures out on the wing, non more jewel like than the beautiful demoiselle. Yes, it's true name does include beautiful!<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n8HXRPGEtLAw_1MlSdEliH2NtzAQY_R6HiUSBLNPsFdHNc9IFA8waG4Yp3SlHsFw0fw2bDnW50R9_TbJENWg8c1p9Cc1XL5N4veZYvlPdEbymYuqcp-s4UmPC3OVtFZasiQeVP7kh57zo4EwtVW7EyGEX0CYZuQmJNecupzcgwa3J5a8cuz2igEhqD0/s1280/BEAUTIFUL%20DEMOISELLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1280" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n8HXRPGEtLAw_1MlSdEliH2NtzAQY_R6HiUSBLNPsFdHNc9IFA8waG4Yp3SlHsFw0fw2bDnW50R9_TbJENWg8c1p9Cc1XL5N4veZYvlPdEbymYuqcp-s4UmPC3OVtFZasiQeVP7kh57zo4EwtVW7EyGEX0CYZuQmJNecupzcgwa3J5a8cuz2igEhqD0/w640-h494/BEAUTIFUL%20DEMOISELLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />These damselflies love running water and we are blessed with a small stream running through our patch, so it provides a welcome for these lovely dragons and damsels. However, it’s been two months since I wrote anything about our lovely garden in Dorset and I blame it’s size for that, because two acres of wild beauty requires lots of time to keep it wild and welcoming.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaXQNwSHb-oQvpr8p5fQ90qic9vtzRVqs53f-IJ1FWbhNkqXOJ8kgi-afrTZQNX4cd8AGEEleAAj1obJkcAV_-r0Ehtp0fXUSPfA938P2pUrmjUAKoiR5HtRoTvbPDFfOb-Iea0ufx1PIS4J1OGtyD_FsTnxDOeXrTMeOYxYkRSkvzhjxQ28oo0bW-FQ/s1280/ROSE%20SCENIC%20FROM%20EIREE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1280" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaXQNwSHb-oQvpr8p5fQ90qic9vtzRVqs53f-IJ1FWbhNkqXOJ8kgi-afrTZQNX4cd8AGEEleAAj1obJkcAV_-r0Ehtp0fXUSPfA938P2pUrmjUAKoiR5HtRoTvbPDFfOb-Iea0ufx1PIS4J1OGtyD_FsTnxDOeXrTMeOYxYkRSkvzhjxQ28oo0bW-FQ/w640-h486/ROSE%20SCENIC%20FROM%20EIREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />From day one, our forty years gardening here has been driven by the desire to make it as wildlife friendly as possible. So I guess, for ages, we’ve been doing what is fast becoming so fashionable, even at that traditional garden festival, ‘Chelsea’, the catch-word ‘re-wilding’. And even though we’ve been letting nature take control at every opportunity, there is still a lot to do to move seamlessly from spring to summer and provide flowers for all our bees and butterflies.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36t6DunM_OJHpaRFONrpKZSmV74YjG8fZAYgsm7dR5Y-XqEkc3yaNcK07_mo1LWNHktji5hcGBWuoOPWkaE-O6Bxm-3KWPTR_6kFrMZw4YjADtl8U4AXVD03mATA3tHGESnEuEgEN7tXhq-3qhUgOjnEJ_zfTX_I7aJ71u71vo3SiDlxqdBe_KfbUJfQ/s1280/P4120792.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1280" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36t6DunM_OJHpaRFONrpKZSmV74YjG8fZAYgsm7dR5Y-XqEkc3yaNcK07_mo1LWNHktji5hcGBWuoOPWkaE-O6Bxm-3KWPTR_6kFrMZw4YjADtl8U4AXVD03mATA3tHGESnEuEgEN7tXhq-3qhUgOjnEJ_zfTX_I7aJ71u71vo3SiDlxqdBe_KfbUJfQ/w400-h313/P4120792.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The snow drops, daffs and tulips have retreated, likewise the bluebells, so ‘changing the guard’ by re-planting all the pots with insect friendly annuals and perennials such as gaura ‘whirling butterflies’ and that star salvia, ‘amistad’ has kept us busy.<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP2d4kgMZW-QJtvqLoff9LKS8IKxmJAHtHD7VMyaOKtmrbPoByq7MSXsN7wgSaPsTUWVhgDPjPkyKMLT1LWpn1Uf3VjR3jyxlHOs39Gfc0RiGOeMI_3v07090K8InbADvAIhbPivfBP_30_XrrrWKv2mggJuMLBGyuUTIDrJotBb1M9ed4s3wjdI0xYM/s1280/POTS%20BY%20POND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="962" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP2d4kgMZW-QJtvqLoff9LKS8IKxmJAHtHD7VMyaOKtmrbPoByq7MSXsN7wgSaPsTUWVhgDPjPkyKMLT1LWpn1Uf3VjR3jyxlHOs39Gfc0RiGOeMI_3v07090K8InbADvAIhbPivfBP_30_XrrrWKv2mggJuMLBGyuUTIDrJotBb1M9ed4s3wjdI0xYM/w482-h640/POTS%20BY%20POND.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnwxCKAOrzYHGm14qjNz5QjkK6xrUYeytCwdtumbnptJsUAw2uXhKPbdqcVy8_U738q_CZYwhM0aMVTjWc7zM3xNDhua_0vfHLAIi2OK1uWM9Sw9WhxApRZHgcbVuktYMWEkJNZmOQgjRGJGWymvXgZwmLrGEjW5WCi6HHLRwMRJawos-mttdQPBAWBk/s1280/BTB%20ON%20CANTERBURY%20DAHLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1280" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnwxCKAOrzYHGm14qjNz5QjkK6xrUYeytCwdtumbnptJsUAw2uXhKPbdqcVy8_U738q_CZYwhM0aMVTjWc7zM3xNDhua_0vfHLAIi2OK1uWM9Sw9WhxApRZHgcbVuktYMWEkJNZmOQgjRGJGWymvXgZwmLrGEjW5WCi6HHLRwMRJawos-mttdQPBAWBk/w640-h460/BTB%20ON%20CANTERBURY%20DAHLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Later in the summer, t</span>he more open flowered dahlias such as the ‘Bishops’of Oxford, Llandaff and Canterbury provide nectar for squadrons of bees and butterflies, so we have much to look forward to.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pZaToAmlRz4OUo1lk1LsbAHa_aolyDJ-NaEfl0koD3S8Y269YJAhL065kzNO1G_E9tYYzhTYul_zJ0SL1viAlVvwF6gDajRUInFu3PL7J9VmrMvKFs-dp5hpFIfuHYzrXgK1uqvJejNsN01wscC0tuR5BBPV1rcj1or2rylysGAD8h5MpTY7sMfDTqI/s3600/BRIMSTONE%20BUTTERFLY%20CU%20ON%20DANDELION.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pZaToAmlRz4OUo1lk1LsbAHa_aolyDJ-NaEfl0koD3S8Y269YJAhL065kzNO1G_E9tYYzhTYul_zJ0SL1viAlVvwF6gDajRUInFu3PL7J9VmrMvKFs-dp5hpFIfuHYzrXgK1uqvJejNsN01wscC0tuR5BBPV1rcj1or2rylysGAD8h5MpTY7sMfDTqI/w640-h480/BRIMSTONE%20BUTTERFLY%20CU%20ON%20DANDELION.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36dB_yluCMcYOkq5fb891u-dAht1a-gs4iP1oRgpRRxmC7hJ3CfH0SastcWIVEkl_9ZwsVO42tOEqk4bayOpoSLYDX-4gawPZG1yTKRLiUKLiLJsUERPpnr0P-jNczuM8BZ7-OiOwpsnSJoc-cpFK-PkzEo9tww21LXBXOsUoCp93qLs6jZfXTn_OrR4/s1280/HOLLY%20BLUE%20ON%20PURPLE%20L.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36dB_yluCMcYOkq5fb891u-dAht1a-gs4iP1oRgpRRxmC7hJ3CfH0SastcWIVEkl_9ZwsVO42tOEqk4bayOpoSLYDX-4gawPZG1yTKRLiUKLiLJsUERPpnr0P-jNczuM8BZ7-OiOwpsnSJoc-cpFK-PkzEo9tww21LXBXOsUoCp93qLs6jZfXTn_OrR4/w376-h400/HOLLY%20BLUE%20ON%20PURPLE%20L.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>Despite the climate extremes, we enjoyed a great spring for butterflies such as brimstones and orange tips, followed by holly blues and just recently, our first red admirals, though not many commas this year.<br /><br />We had a fascinating winter ‘event’ in our dark and dry wood shed when the underside of a propped up wheelbarrow was chosen by thirteen butterflies and two moths as the perfect place to hibernate, even as early as last July. There were both peacocks and small tortoiseshells and they clung on stoically until this spring, the final ones flying free on April 17th. So we enjoyed their company for a short while as they recovered from their long winter sleep - very long.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5a_sIBJOSz351EC4y1WpHM-gEaIe_IfBIF8F7Lw4dtB4PO-DvuHz902pcEqcSJOYuD787shtPdo-IUf4s__TGKJLfaJQ4lMZyJmXK_xkADAP-_5_XDA-p1RRwEi-kKD6c_ZYtpGmJUvA1hCbUYWOZuvkE_peg5NODBuXJsGgs7nfYiEUAGov9kLcQb8/s3839/PEACOCK%20ON%20AUBRESIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="3839" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5a_sIBJOSz351EC4y1WpHM-gEaIe_IfBIF8F7Lw4dtB4PO-DvuHz902pcEqcSJOYuD787shtPdo-IUf4s__TGKJLfaJQ4lMZyJmXK_xkADAP-_5_XDA-p1RRwEi-kKD6c_ZYtpGmJUvA1hCbUYWOZuvkE_peg5NODBuXJsGgs7nfYiEUAGov9kLcQb8/w640-h482/PEACOCK%20ON%20AUBRESIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtzdtkhqPDgOHU3oNbLISsPPfM-094n3MyCs03OUqnsVqQGBJ2Ci64ATJF89ucr578nLQUr1entE3DCFBrYVfWKNM16zi4YGciLTACplCsGjsABPJdvQheGM_11H-SAYDgd3DS8ibwfG8EVPMLYkqKsLhobFQLNgHD__Y_9JJ4tQDr-S0YcRvojovdpU/s1280/FOUR-SPOTTED%20SKIMMER%20DRAGONFLY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtzdtkhqPDgOHU3oNbLISsPPfM-094n3MyCs03OUqnsVqQGBJ2Ci64ATJF89ucr578nLQUr1entE3DCFBrYVfWKNM16zi4YGciLTACplCsGjsABPJdvQheGM_11H-SAYDgd3DS8ibwfG8EVPMLYkqKsLhobFQLNgHD__Y_9JJ4tQDr-S0YcRvojovdpU/w640-h480/FOUR-SPOTTED%20SKIMMER%20DRAGONFLY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This recent spell of warm weather has seen the emergence of our four-spotted chasers, broad-bodied chasers and beautiful demoiselles, a southern hawker and several emperor dragonflies too, so our six ponds are providing lots to marvel at, not least the hundreds of mating southern damselflies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw7ZFZvWsD1iJtBIFBwrHLlWCwqxiB4aoqWVrLQ4ltxbeZm4c7T9dKFhi6mZWU051boCzB-bx0XU7EJjYyYyGPt6CjoztVNiLgNJtlNWc9JUFVk0Ks4B_UdyR-iWRxriVQHXLR5d4YZ1h5wAPQH0M0gsJd7E7r83iNMnE1kWZNezs1IYFMYagg6ltKhs/s1280/SOUTHERN%20BLUE%20DAMSELS%20ON%20LILY%20LEAF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1280" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw7ZFZvWsD1iJtBIFBwrHLlWCwqxiB4aoqWVrLQ4ltxbeZm4c7T9dKFhi6mZWU051boCzB-bx0XU7EJjYyYyGPt6CjoztVNiLgNJtlNWc9JUFVk0Ks4B_UdyR-iWRxriVQHXLR5d4YZ1h5wAPQH0M0gsJd7E7r83iNMnE1kWZNezs1IYFMYagg6ltKhs/w640-h502/SOUTHERN%20BLUE%20DAMSELS%20ON%20LILY%20LEAF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLQCtOBt7dEwX50u-hlHwVirPHZiUlTL6Kk5hjk-qz5iFw7ecHi7ymq24P9taa7bW2eHcW68S9ykoZHOOO36GaJHPu0D5agwqyQv3vkV3fXLgUfTLExsDo8qMj94Mf5O56tXlUWwKBvtRP7gSaPb0FyqdgsEnNhMTNHc1g_AeEdOsTXv4JgIQmM0GSjk/s1280/DAMSELS%20MATING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLQCtOBt7dEwX50u-hlHwVirPHZiUlTL6Kk5hjk-qz5iFw7ecHi7ymq24P9taa7bW2eHcW68S9ykoZHOOO36GaJHPu0D5agwqyQv3vkV3fXLgUfTLExsDo8qMj94Mf5O56tXlUWwKBvtRP7gSaPb0FyqdgsEnNhMTNHc1g_AeEdOsTXv4JgIQmM0GSjk/w640-h472/DAMSELS%20MATING.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One of the garden treasures that I particularly cherish are our glorious shoals of rudd, out warming their golden backs as they enjoy the sunshine. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7vcOfWM0TEYBi4KKWch-lJIarNdHTCqb_M506jwLjuxiJ7hXOTTbp4EhHHLwgwCAFWOtGEadGfTI7mgJGyIDBrZM9_gFPE37-QHzR1r64GQ-l_n7k4Zh5NNsJ23GrER2KnsN5erJDpffKk08I9Z-SRcxXk6vqkpyyRSJ7hTlLWECg1dfyj8obac4Ut0/s4000/GOLDEN%20ORFE%20+%20RUDD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7vcOfWM0TEYBi4KKWch-lJIarNdHTCqb_M506jwLjuxiJ7hXOTTbp4EhHHLwgwCAFWOtGEadGfTI7mgJGyIDBrZM9_gFPE37-QHzR1r64GQ-l_n7k4Zh5NNsJ23GrER2KnsN5erJDpffKk08I9Z-SRcxXk6vqkpyyRSJ7hTlLWECg1dfyj8obac4Ut0/w640-h480/GOLDEN%20ORFE%20+%20RUDD.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Why many gardeners have a hostile attitude to including fish in their garden ponds is difficult to understand, unnecessary too, for we enjoy dozens of dragons and damsels that egg lay above our rudd and orfe every year, even mayfly, so the fish seem to do little harm. What’s more, fish <u>are</u> wildlife, beautiful and fascinating in their own right, until our visiting otters make a night raid and eat them all. Well, it did eat the golden orfe. The rudd have survived - so far!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvEbXXLIbRybdfpdiTcylI9q_IEauf4ez-MzaQexKC3IZ1z-OSjWLl9xETLecdKZN_KPBE03d92-LSjDJplGkj26EYgRMzBIqESgQd3Gid10GTvLmIEz09ru2qqUX6j3dvICtkZqaPFFzjfrRqLk5KwrClfW-qZykqkLW_a6YO3yBW0fodJncwQ-_1RE/s1280/OTTER%20CU%20AT%2008.15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1280" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvEbXXLIbRybdfpdiTcylI9q_IEauf4ez-MzaQexKC3IZ1z-OSjWLl9xETLecdKZN_KPBE03d92-LSjDJplGkj26EYgRMzBIqESgQd3Gid10GTvLmIEz09ru2qqUX6j3dvICtkZqaPFFzjfrRqLk5KwrClfW-qZykqkLW_a6YO3yBW0fodJncwQ-_1RE/w640-h534/OTTER%20CU%20AT%2008.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5QoFu3QWyZUFWX1UqOPr9Rbo85vhYtxrb2h-bRNIbDgvXD-7gVm3xYx0opeoSksgSapAvdaTkZ7qeDS6KAvIFA2TXz9fDwDjrTDxfIOeKbK3GuCiiPxTEU1wBSdVyK0ihoVPXOOL3vBFA28yAd2Ab0u87rpl6k-EddoeB2uwhUCSaCltWJlKP1L8zLU/s1280/EMPEROR%20DRAGON.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5QoFu3QWyZUFWX1UqOPr9Rbo85vhYtxrb2h-bRNIbDgvXD-7gVm3xYx0opeoSksgSapAvdaTkZ7qeDS6KAvIFA2TXz9fDwDjrTDxfIOeKbK3GuCiiPxTEU1wBSdVyK0ihoVPXOOL3vBFA28yAd2Ab0u87rpl6k-EddoeB2uwhUCSaCltWJlKP1L8zLU/w466-h640/EMPEROR%20DRAGON.jpg" width="466" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the treats of summer and a reason why everyone should dig a pond is that they can become alive with dragons and damsels and we always enjoy these flying marvels over the ponds when the weather is warm. Emperor dragons are numerous and we even enjoy the occasional visit from gold-ringed dragonflies ...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbUsLbi80cl8E8B1ht_yTKmSKstb4wW83iEUKEldZk5vxAXiYLHvvl-pqBoMH_z6jNEH_W99rXEgXm3YXVpgXxXFDItiqBvjNmP6O2T_a2pIJXzA2JK-aBKZNFItG64zfikaWR8kpoUJcDLSUDAIEWxNghgEbJPJnfQO4obuAUtGO9K6Lv_AcWUY3WN8/s4000/CU%20GOLDEN%20RINGED%20DRAGON%20-%20CU%20-%20V.GOOD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbUsLbi80cl8E8B1ht_yTKmSKstb4wW83iEUKEldZk5vxAXiYLHvvl-pqBoMH_z6jNEH_W99rXEgXm3YXVpgXxXFDItiqBvjNmP6O2T_a2pIJXzA2JK-aBKZNFItG64zfikaWR8kpoUJcDLSUDAIEWxNghgEbJPJnfQO4obuAUtGO9K6Lv_AcWUY3WN8/w640-h480/CU%20GOLDEN%20RINGED%20DRAGON%20-%20CU%20-%20V.GOOD.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">... though this one in the happy snap was zapped soon after by that glorious falcon from Africa, a hobby that flashed past in front of our eyes as we enjoyed a cuppa. Amazing or what!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo46J9e56vKGLfF9YdGOsuU_wy3dPoddSRWrhv-W5Mz5p116e7KtYVH0G44zU41KqLPb8KW9ALWDi8ebEeA2XINodM5sLKKKFIvL0BPkPinLz10YgVlgfYMInlidGV-6_S-uqhpjI2h-ARvuwkdsm2rvXZbK3gFKxM_hAVOFdK5GWTrjqMyMl5v2wJlzk/s1280/GT.%20SPOT%20W'PECKER%20+%20CHICK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo46J9e56vKGLfF9YdGOsuU_wy3dPoddSRWrhv-W5Mz5p116e7KtYVH0G44zU41KqLPb8KW9ALWDi8ebEeA2XINodM5sLKKKFIvL0BPkPinLz10YgVlgfYMInlidGV-6_S-uqhpjI2h-ARvuwkdsm2rvXZbK3gFKxM_hAVOFdK5GWTrjqMyMl5v2wJlzk/w640-h474/GT.%20SPOT%20W'PECKER%20+%20CHICK.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We always enjoy our bird visitors and provide food for many blackbirds and tits, bullfinches and nuthatches too, along with a regular pair of great-spotted woodpeckers. Mum brought one of their chicks for a coconut feast a week or so ago and learning quickly which side it's bread is buttered, it's coming along by itself now.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNm_owe17OAedFGtoojdK3A0LlnMD2DPO1GwROxtPMrG1yodzVFb3owX_PLdtzmUyom3M2uDD1ADE5GakY-g5I5X-tMxV0iGoke0tQkAQGTwy5dKWIiclRnnj2Ww5Y2bwbXuxrbOHXc9V8Eo3QEuKseBnO5YKhcDdcc_toauDwHjas376opdO_tUq8So/s1280/MINNOWS%20HEADING%20UPSTREAM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1280" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNm_owe17OAedFGtoojdK3A0LlnMD2DPO1GwROxtPMrG1yodzVFb3owX_PLdtzmUyom3M2uDD1ADE5GakY-g5I5X-tMxV0iGoke0tQkAQGTwy5dKWIiclRnnj2Ww5Y2bwbXuxrbOHXc9V8Eo3QEuKseBnO5YKhcDdcc_toauDwHjas376opdO_tUq8So/w640-h488/MINNOWS%20HEADING%20UPSTREAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The birds use our little streams for drinking and bathing, even the buzzards and sparrow hawks enjoy bathtime, and our
minnows have been spawning in the flowing water for weeks, ensuring
that the kingfishers have plenty to eat when they visit - soon we hope,
though I fear the winter’s long cold spell and flooded rivers will have
reduced their numbers, because if they don’t eat anything for thirty-six
hours, they die!<br /></span> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOHQ3JLHtNa3OL8LipxHEDThlb8lAB0WT-3-c65k-3tcE23NgGW3ULGjaLWFqlKRJ7Ymk1y0YhI5ulQjHGUpvEVez2E_MPh6nnMS-XmC5m-XTB6jCItQtH1gyow1MqTl7YVej3i7STOt6Bc59XIWYpfVp0hvRHRDgVoKKHumAN69U2gfmdGR3ssuGwmI/s1280/KEVIN%20LOOKING%20COLOURFUL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOHQ3JLHtNa3OL8LipxHEDThlb8lAB0WT-3-c65k-3tcE23NgGW3ULGjaLWFqlKRJ7Ymk1y0YhI5ulQjHGUpvEVez2E_MPh6nnMS-XmC5m-XTB6jCItQtH1gyow1MqTl7YVej3i7STOt6Bc59XIWYpfVp0hvRHRDgVoKKHumAN69U2gfmdGR3ssuGwmI/w636-h640/KEVIN%20LOOKING%20COLOURFUL.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscw3mDCpN-v7QGz3hRB_pumvUppFok-xbc2ums3xos09OYI4EzZNkspTAeTfSo7dNxgg5YaDEYKTvgx9YfMskos3HuY_1E-DUC-Ztu5mzmphphDaupQUkpW_GganpCAF2ek_-Kx-LTSjLzQoD1yZmEdGCqCSgpt7mPU8ehED7Jiu7BzbarIuz6zYyL7I/s1280/SILVER%20WASHED%20FRITILLARY%20ON%20HEBE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscw3mDCpN-v7QGz3hRB_pumvUppFok-xbc2ums3xos09OYI4EzZNkspTAeTfSo7dNxgg5YaDEYKTvgx9YfMskos3HuY_1E-DUC-Ztu5mzmphphDaupQUkpW_GganpCAF2ek_-Kx-LTSjLzQoD1yZmEdGCqCSgpt7mPU8ehED7Jiu7BzbarIuz6zYyL7I/w620-h640/SILVER%20WASHED%20FRITILLARY%20ON%20HEBE.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br />Sadly, the excess rains followed by a long cold spell killed our butterfly loved hebe’s and that happened to even the great’s like Monty Don of BBC ‘Gardeners World' fame. But how the combination of excess rain and cold effected many of our trees and shrubs is a mystery, for this year, the garden has been garlanded by vibrant and floriferous blooms as never before.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHbuTZVCJdC7_EhM2dg-cozeg6mIeuy07Qeyj4oeQIAttEKaL3lG-2STqz7ngqrOaCSGkjVm8_8HAvwHRVZzXY1RjRtOxzaRrri769PEjT4iFdpssfsfkiYBQXZxfg5qBfF48tyFBGoKFA45_wsPNvAT_EPmFHdTLS0UtZwYViUmsfZJhbY6Dio11xaw/s1280/COLOURFUL%20SHRUBS%20ON%20TOP%20LAWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHbuTZVCJdC7_EhM2dg-cozeg6mIeuy07Qeyj4oeQIAttEKaL3lG-2STqz7ngqrOaCSGkjVm8_8HAvwHRVZzXY1RjRtOxzaRrri769PEjT4iFdpssfsfkiYBQXZxfg5qBfF48tyFBGoKFA45_wsPNvAT_EPmFHdTLS0UtZwYViUmsfZJhbY6Dio11xaw/w640-h480/COLOURFUL%20SHRUBS%20ON%20TOP%20LAWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Natures gift ... glorious ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIahR3hR5oDpWC4hZqhnAjknCQhfOMxLoG5R9bZxX8SNAXRT3K87pr0OGxnwNjtTCapsutnAJauNrb5qn-iTzCP-9lMQM39gViTxQ-J-pfG91GgYK_5n5peVGF_E0bSA4DKOU3jGk7DaVraJKQLtBSUVqILGiFXNdlaMRy5YglOiYQTA-_DscAyFbyszs/s1280/P5180916%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIahR3hR5oDpWC4hZqhnAjknCQhfOMxLoG5R9bZxX8SNAXRT3K87pr0OGxnwNjtTCapsutnAJauNrb5qn-iTzCP-9lMQM39gViTxQ-J-pfG91GgYK_5n5peVGF_E0bSA4DKOU3jGk7DaVraJKQLtBSUVqILGiFXNdlaMRy5YglOiYQTA-_DscAyFbyszs/w640-h480/P5180916%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aaJCfLHW6-j-NuwQsNeEjozR_FWGojKlI3fKICrH9S9Ks-wFiwv7anfKnskK9D8Mgo5nvZMhHKLVa7g06wsTIardzZPZksaXZ8DGpS6GHr3TYVncePwV0WxYYGtbUt3QT-RgTYT2Gcl1UC8KrNa85iBE1TkhG0iE8G809JPOTCh8COEfUYqcXB-EycQ/s1280/MEADOW%20+%20COTTAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aaJCfLHW6-j-NuwQsNeEjozR_FWGojKlI3fKICrH9S9Ks-wFiwv7anfKnskK9D8Mgo5nvZMhHKLVa7g06wsTIardzZPZksaXZ8DGpS6GHr3TYVncePwV0WxYYGtbUt3QT-RgTYT2Gcl1UC8KrNa85iBE1TkhG0iE8G809JPOTCh8COEfUYqcXB-EycQ/w640-h480/MEADOW%20+%20COTTAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2OzH4u4d67G7i_6cTWcx4F2m0WwIvdd8_wA8F-Os4RJ9JkRkSaejC_zvVJR_RkVNnhU1du_4bsJxbhwP9vs3BDfnmbcVa5_rS-6rvf1mSPmZuSF4Esc44yNFusakG7MsKhxL5fQmGBXD4aT7-0AYRGlpcqWaGj49cW2TzW1kGQ3ebz28teU4ZRSw5ak/s1280/SOUTHERN%20MARSH%20ORCHID.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1175" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2OzH4u4d67G7i_6cTWcx4F2m0WwIvdd8_wA8F-Os4RJ9JkRkSaejC_zvVJR_RkVNnhU1du_4bsJxbhwP9vs3BDfnmbcVa5_rS-6rvf1mSPmZuSF4Esc44yNFusakG7MsKhxL5fQmGBXD4aT7-0AYRGlpcqWaGj49cW2TzW1kGQ3ebz28teU4ZRSw5ak/w368-h400/SOUTHERN%20MARSH%20ORCHID.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br />Just in front of the cottage and beyond one of our six ponds, the wildflower meadow has flowered impressively this summer, the southern marsh-orchids particularly tall and numerous.<br /><br /> </span><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RaAZFoResuKD9iq2xD_dpbcA0_QhpIRZlNNcAqqXnGpblQlGAR0jOfwfABusf2TrMHnGDer0-SX5rdnfUVKpo4aqbwzrj8zXI2AKtHQYGcKeCUROYlI6mGVa46V5GfKH9KyHUx3SAssnyQWXtkaaeyJSa8tPB5B0vuA5y2fGDPChcHwRRR4RgGhg2dc/s1280/P6191113%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1057" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RaAZFoResuKD9iq2xD_dpbcA0_QhpIRZlNNcAqqXnGpblQlGAR0jOfwfABusf2TrMHnGDer0-SX5rdnfUVKpo4aqbwzrj8zXI2AKtHQYGcKeCUROYlI6mGVa46V5GfKH9KyHUx3SAssnyQWXtkaaeyJSa8tPB5B0vuA5y2fGDPChcHwRRR4RgGhg2dc/w330-h400/P6191113%20(1).jpg" width="330" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have other orchids too, a few common spotted-orchids and pyramidal orchids and all have mysteriously appeared since we stopped mowing the lawn. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘No Mow May’ is an admirable principal, for you never know what delightful treasures will appear on your patch. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2va0u5jA3tbbcC3MGYyuy1XS92z8FJVV752eWJL4Nn_fqtyhMow3cWS22KADajAxHECRH7ZIvsl4ibqlzeVLal8dexyJ3utpMNbwr6iObJMgdsQZ5_Wc803W0SLXG_hQ0u8YXlbw6HPggQk62IxGtiEmcEdOMXJEAoINfKwqUA0mmXZ9BhvPFi-IkqNo/s1280/BCU%20S.M-ORCHID.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1280" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2va0u5jA3tbbcC3MGYyuy1XS92z8FJVV752eWJL4Nn_fqtyhMow3cWS22KADajAxHECRH7ZIvsl4ibqlzeVLal8dexyJ3utpMNbwr6iObJMgdsQZ5_Wc803W0SLXG_hQ0u8YXlbw6HPggQk62IxGtiEmcEdOMXJEAoINfKwqUA0mmXZ9BhvPFi-IkqNo/s320/BCU%20S.M-ORCHID.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />However, we’ve had very few butterflies enjoying the meadow flowers, not many bees either and like our friends nearby, we suspect the cold nights and chill winds this spring have delayed their arrival. As a form of compensation, little grasshoppers have been numerous.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhaKGQbV1f--oV_YbqJZeP_jg4_Gggqiad2GsvmWZkNR-I2ThRNPNoj_hUQ2R8TAh2ahRoV5cL-blBuH-uQ9FzGJWWRm401_s6EOd3wsH4nRleqKkcEO8SB5zIhnI-c_ygJwUfmbXLzdHREXwDsX1GuOwdGIzbW5Ytv6OMDmYslbP6-zZVWsQIyqfP0A/s1280/P5160887.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1280" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhaKGQbV1f--oV_YbqJZeP_jg4_Gggqiad2GsvmWZkNR-I2ThRNPNoj_hUQ2R8TAh2ahRoV5cL-blBuH-uQ9FzGJWWRm401_s6EOd3wsH4nRleqKkcEO8SB5zIhnI-c_ygJwUfmbXLzdHREXwDsX1GuOwdGIzbW5Ytv6OMDmYslbP6-zZVWsQIyqfP0A/w640-h502/P5160887.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBdXGkl_1U8wUCx51tuW5yUxzVZoz3iTEb_g4vdXX12amliEl7Q8UeWwWc7IutF35RdSdXBCfAAqrbrqUGO-u4qmygIb0TOuT_wCBrAuP_ydx-Sz9v3p8VLaIHiw-MfQcdOLLzf-2DSkL_jZcSd7DjThQ6WQUg-6jcDKqPqjWQElotkWa-kGs4AczGcM/s1280/P5160888.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBdXGkl_1U8wUCx51tuW5yUxzVZoz3iTEb_g4vdXX12amliEl7Q8UeWwWc7IutF35RdSdXBCfAAqrbrqUGO-u4qmygIb0TOuT_wCBrAuP_ydx-Sz9v3p8VLaIHiw-MfQcdOLLzf-2DSkL_jZcSd7DjThQ6WQUg-6jcDKqPqjWQElotkWa-kGs4AczGcM/w400-h300/P5160888.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Even better, the usual spring frosts didn’t kill our wisteria blooms this spring, so their flowers were smelling gorgeous as they draped delightfully all over our arches and pergolas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9M4psyGHXbm9UFOnQeWTHHYAFD3mNMjwZVyFEIS9QexO8Sy-V_43opRzHrRhMz9Q-dZPBY4JrPC4j30ahNM3b65ynlJiP3yv-nMdH_QfQ6-RKXTbHdIyXNr2iic9iRsMcRMG9227xb5dvaGKuXOhTJi-BAXt-r0LN0jTBtj3uqeQJoVNqIhGWN3qTI8/s1280/OSPREY%20+%203%20CHICKS%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9M4psyGHXbm9UFOnQeWTHHYAFD3mNMjwZVyFEIS9QexO8Sy-V_43opRzHrRhMz9Q-dZPBY4JrPC4j30ahNM3b65ynlJiP3yv-nMdH_QfQ6-RKXTbHdIyXNr2iic9iRsMcRMG9227xb5dvaGKuXOhTJi-BAXt-r0LN0jTBtj3uqeQJoVNqIhGWN3qTI8/w640-h426/OSPREY%20+%203%20CHICKS%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our happy news doesn’t end there, for our local ospreys, female CJ7 and her mate 022 have returned safely from their winter sojourn in West Africa and are now caring for their three rapidly growing chicks in Poole Harbour. They are doing well because their dad is doing what his name suggests [I’ve nicknamed him ‘Catch 22’], providing salmon, grilse, sea trout, big brown trout, bass, mullet, flounders, chub and a big roach.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcV0LlsnsLqsvHNPXW1jrJlPpYimTP80XziHkH57EUL_chxwbOyqbetgXLYdBOzLdotg2j_NVhwhrIDyy6ZLUbJI3pyLYt3XgMVNDQWDxSKA-Ce7A5vKTELPqquULZ696A-vJb3jn4U40FHg02hLohKOgZuhpQiC3W5q9vFuD-ddmFAP_231nmziGimM/s1280/WT.T.EAGLE%20+%20MARSH%20HARRIER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1280" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcV0LlsnsLqsvHNPXW1jrJlPpYimTP80XziHkH57EUL_chxwbOyqbetgXLYdBOzLdotg2j_NVhwhrIDyy6ZLUbJI3pyLYt3XgMVNDQWDxSKA-Ce7A5vKTELPqquULZ696A-vJb3jn4U40FHg02hLohKOgZuhpQiC3W5q9vFuD-ddmFAP_231nmziGimM/w640-h534/WT.T.EAGLE%20+%20MARSH%20HARRIER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our local pair of white-tailed eagles are seen in the harbour almost daily and we hope they might even breed locally in the next year or two, so we share an exciting future with our friends just up the road, Jane and Andrew Adams. <br /><br />If you want to follow the osprey’s progress and see the daily news on the eagles and other wildlife sightings, then please check out the truly excellent “Birds of Poole Harbour” website. The charity are doing a wonderful job and in these days of climate crisis, they are proving that not all wildlife stories have to be bad news!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q4m9H6FpkaKxJK1ycgWVoAr_cBjqGOC8EB3_NA6DWyzqhoCdgD9Aj2GvKXcBZsSSx4oNffSH60uqr6u0gQY7_QcQfoelfnpOSg-cgT6Fcj6TjIndOynDvllYIwT0Uvcs4jdeXbPesjvMyRRqo23kmN8PPkWeBNhPH0L0Rk0-ZE3rfzwk3IWcSlV1XE0/s2259/RED%20KITE%20BY%20RICKIE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2259" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q4m9H6FpkaKxJK1ycgWVoAr_cBjqGOC8EB3_NA6DWyzqhoCdgD9Aj2GvKXcBZsSSx4oNffSH60uqr6u0gQY7_QcQfoelfnpOSg-cgT6Fcj6TjIndOynDvllYIwT0Uvcs4jdeXbPesjvMyRRqo23kmN8PPkWeBNhPH0L0Rk0-ZE3rfzwk3IWcSlV1XE0/w640-h498/RED%20KITE%20BY%20RICKIE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Only last weekend a red kite flew over our garden but even better, bearing in mind that during my childhood, seeing even one surviving kite in their Wales HQ was a rarity, yesterday our daughter Katie and Simon were in their garden just up the road when ten red kites circled over them. Yes, TEN! Now, that's good news!</span><br /><p></p><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-78052709442343394652023-06-14T11:16:00.000+01:002023-06-14T11:16:49.714+01:00TIME FOR TENCH<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOQVogqNDtI6eFkPPhbuU7rc12-2l2A7xvstxWD4rf6VyE5obJYc9jwAYnMZNDfkBqTVu0eWcILwyIZulkd9m6Vmlq8R6Jq6RrAxJtVMuBCJ-aiZAJpn3jBZ3XApo1rs94YkLH2xGihY7xpc5s5mFAlYysPtcLCia-0UDXq0L5PCVMb3keDztU1E/s1280/BIG%20TENCH%20FROM%20'A'%20LAKE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOQVogqNDtI6eFkPPhbuU7rc12-2l2A7xvstxWD4rf6VyE5obJYc9jwAYnMZNDfkBqTVu0eWcILwyIZulkd9m6Vmlq8R6Jq6RrAxJtVMuBCJ-aiZAJpn3jBZ3XApo1rs94YkLH2xGihY7xpc5s5mFAlYysPtcLCia-0UDXq0L5PCVMb3keDztU1E/w640-h478/BIG%20TENCH%20FROM%20'A'%20LAKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">There’s something very appealing about tench, a quietly living fish of limpid waters, beautiful to behold with their golden scales and bright red eyes. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu_SJiO7rhLriV2-SK6DxAyyWlwv2zWApAw0WZjtuB8FqL8fwoLZHCcFxEeD7NkP3VG1GRdsO8ZXUoylQjeRJZELVEFrwo9Nn8MPk1jR-jDozPZOIyKBQ-7SfXrBEaB5k2aZrO5r1J6RGxXfqgFYm0WBPXUoSOENa3OCQjpslECKMnqVFnZjBve7/s1280/CU%20RED%20EYE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu_SJiO7rhLriV2-SK6DxAyyWlwv2zWApAw0WZjtuB8FqL8fwoLZHCcFxEeD7NkP3VG1GRdsO8ZXUoylQjeRJZELVEFrwo9Nn8MPk1jR-jDozPZOIyKBQ-7SfXrBEaB5k2aZrO5r1J6RGxXfqgFYm0WBPXUoSOENa3OCQjpslECKMnqVFnZjBve7/w640-h480/CU%20RED%20EYE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Rotund and muscular, they provide us anglers with an exciting challenge, difficult at times to trick into taking our bait but if we get lucky, fighting very hard for their freedom.They are true tackle testers. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xt9YbjLr_iV-_vnWoDXswMoXjKGZB8l6S0VehauAJk1Bklga18rdSHPDE0ElSEjUztzm-Xyj2P60Gfkyk-Fy7W0as89oZ_OeGGDKFghMwLkzYHWtGX3X68BDkZgJ-ohMIywe96jZ4gZdAkrIFBB4NEtSggmOLz8m-rZdxCcQZkeg7ULndV6VIDpH/s1280/8:13%20+%20KEBAB%20HELI%20RIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xt9YbjLr_iV-_vnWoDXswMoXjKGZB8l6S0VehauAJk1Bklga18rdSHPDE0ElSEjUztzm-Xyj2P60Gfkyk-Fy7W0as89oZ_OeGGDKFghMwLkzYHWtGX3X68BDkZgJ-ohMIywe96jZ4gZdAkrIFBB4NEtSggmOLz8m-rZdxCcQZkeg7ULndV6VIDpH/w640-h478/8:13%20+%20KEBAB%20HELI%20RIG.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />My tenching starts when the roaching and river season ends, the first gold bar a cause for celebration on chill March days.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-wB71EqwW0EAvwh_wUaSArm9Nh_OWiB9LNwztasj8IznlVYJzl051Qk_GGCnEiV-TE6Hu7XacCWz9qBPl9oD7I9-1OCRZkjIWehkEZau44lTaBKzsaxDYZRuLSq8AnSD4x5zcy1PZvh7LPswwHfDHzzNir-Znbp2wmjklVXMzp-T_XJIdFoTPvcF/s3283/HOLTWOOD%20-%202:3%20TENCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3283" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-wB71EqwW0EAvwh_wUaSArm9Nh_OWiB9LNwztasj8IznlVYJzl051Qk_GGCnEiV-TE6Hu7XacCWz9qBPl9oD7I9-1OCRZkjIWehkEZau44lTaBKzsaxDYZRuLSq8AnSD4x5zcy1PZvh7LPswwHfDHzzNir-Znbp2wmjklVXMzp-T_XJIdFoTPvcF/w640-h480/HOLTWOOD%20-%202:3%20TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjnbYr1yFovU5lO3zcA9o_3Yz2XmtqYUpDAAY2lh_Lc10AAgtCVU5HjgsW2Cir4AQzBmSfsqnLnEdi7WvR7xhbQJAG4ICokz2ZuSXUSw2wHJpQjp54L1Z-xEyIqT8V1O7e9N7XXAcpRTLjaLYFryVq0Tm2gyfKY5TozsVWImfuIA2EruqGIB36Omi/s3648/HOLTWOOD%20SCENIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjnbYr1yFovU5lO3zcA9o_3Yz2XmtqYUpDAAY2lh_Lc10AAgtCVU5HjgsW2Cir4AQzBmSfsqnLnEdi7WvR7xhbQJAG4ICokz2ZuSXUSw2wHJpQjp54L1Z-xEyIqT8V1O7e9N7XXAcpRTLjaLYFryVq0Tm2gyfKY5TozsVWImfuIA2EruqGIB36Omi/w640-h480/HOLTWOOD%20SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Three small lakes not far from home provide peaceful dawn fishing and now the club have stopped destroying the ecosystem by killing the weed with chemicals, the fishing has increased our chances of some serious pole elastic stretching. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHfTRewe7PcKs_5buE_KcDcnCuUUWSMY92nvapJ23emsnzf3KlaFUizhXnMjrxhJ6EVL4PrPf9Ey8XiOPkF44fhzkZVuE8dyY_ujcspb2ledEicjXs6LNrlV7ZFbnuohcCWcYp41XAAFyFtJieJvcETSV4ZpMHsBolt8Bwp8FrvUxATZJ9l_YELeM/s2721/HOLTWOOD%20MONSTER%20TENCH%20+%20HM%20-%206:4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2721" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHfTRewe7PcKs_5buE_KcDcnCuUUWSMY92nvapJ23emsnzf3KlaFUizhXnMjrxhJ6EVL4PrPf9Ey8XiOPkF44fhzkZVuE8dyY_ujcspb2ledEicjXs6LNrlV7ZFbnuohcCWcYp41XAAFyFtJieJvcETSV4ZpMHsBolt8Bwp8FrvUxATZJ9l_YELeM/w640-h476/HOLTWOOD%20MONSTER%20TENCH%20+%20HM%20-%206:4.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />The fish aren’t big by modern standards, two to three pounders being the norm, though I once caught one of 6lb 4ozs, a good ‘un by any standards and a serious challenge when it stretched my elastic so far that it nearly circumnavigated the nearby island. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8vV_OC7ghfh-hUJexv0AnUYFkwmF5D7B64pMJLRefdGtu9zVU7_iqwJrg9wLrrydVtGG8fsTdAAgO0nSpr8_oznEPxw-9hQXr9hrjFQyzAUfMXmDnxoMyoyr3cPwtwEYPjSgarLVb6N0RvkkZXxZvGCb1XTo6BhIM0ap4mICmT4hRGTjWsMzoXD5/s3648/HOLTWOOD%20-%20CHRIS%20CONCENTRATING%20-%20JUNE%202018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8vV_OC7ghfh-hUJexv0AnUYFkwmF5D7B64pMJLRefdGtu9zVU7_iqwJrg9wLrrydVtGG8fsTdAAgO0nSpr8_oznEPxw-9hQXr9hrjFQyzAUfMXmDnxoMyoyr3cPwtwEYPjSgarLVb6N0RvkkZXxZvGCb1XTo6BhIM0ap4mICmT4hRGTjWsMzoXD5/w640-h480/HOLTWOOD%20-%20CHRIS%20CONCENTRATING%20-%20JUNE%202018.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />My pal Chris and I have bagged as many as twenty tench in a mornings session but that was in the good old days before the previously mentioned weed killing removed their cover and provided the cormorants with a free meal ticket. Stupid! Luckily, the club have seen the light and stopped the chemical treatment that removed their food and the fishing and tench are already improving. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eBMDnj9ZcDuAXwggrnA0AE7m1I29I1QAs4VSgLkqJnjiFFhpZAUv9DNBnGP4ikm0FI6nP0h2T96imvyNkZ8gfxF4GJd20aoi8Ad4M8FI3Z3UeQgwroD_xWlhPWckWKeIacPXDaQ27kS7I9kJuYX0xNMZSSGt47PWhUVigtfulgqhWgW5K1yip-7w/s4509/CHRIS%20WITH%20FIRST%20TENCH%20OF%20SEASON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="4509" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eBMDnj9ZcDuAXwggrnA0AE7m1I29I1QAs4VSgLkqJnjiFFhpZAUv9DNBnGP4ikm0FI6nP0h2T96imvyNkZ8gfxF4GJd20aoi8Ad4M8FI3Z3UeQgwroD_xWlhPWckWKeIacPXDaQ27kS7I9kJuYX0xNMZSSGt47PWhUVigtfulgqhWgW5K1yip-7w/w640-h484/CHRIS%20WITH%20FIRST%20TENCH%20OF%20SEASON.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Our catches might reach six in a few hours now and though some are scarred by the cormorants hooked beaks, tench are thick skinned and tough. I call them ‘Popeye Tench’, obviously fed on spinach because they fight so hard! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKKaLjaKCSmiyvUHI4Evgvhd7DPNI3wnd9TQ-ZhU-uMhwJlP6k_iLV64OUJ5tVWVoHkxZErqfdnYtGWNCKxD0Zn9Tw8yrvIlN6MEWbHtXUGuTNDos3LUPhA-6YIHVenYfFYFsWbyS4cCJjDKSW7I65iIg1HhYgx3EvWiIntK6rUeBtXdIA_yZs5ME/s1280/P5170901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKKaLjaKCSmiyvUHI4Evgvhd7DPNI3wnd9TQ-ZhU-uMhwJlP6k_iLV64OUJ5tVWVoHkxZErqfdnYtGWNCKxD0Zn9Tw8yrvIlN6MEWbHtXUGuTNDos3LUPhA-6YIHVenYfFYFsWbyS4cCJjDKSW7I65iIg1HhYgx3EvWiIntK6rUeBtXdIA_yZs5ME/w640-h480/P5170901.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I soon promoted myself to tougher challenges and started fishing another local water where the fish are bigger and more elusive. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CFE_NkIhHzUnsJ1B9l9taoLu7VU25fY6GptdBoJNGc6doUMl7Qcp42MrkRZ1qlTSIYXwKzqWLjrtrtp3UOv_vSN4a3EhmPN4kxk9qUxcumkqkfXC3dH9W9_N_a1Pj2ygAOWJqNv1or-a3XfcwQsrcNQooU9J1WgZOGiapiiuA78AMbijKvkhPnew/s800/JOHN%20S%20+%204lb%2014oz%20TENCH%20-%20MOCKB%20-%2029th%20March%20'23%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="800" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CFE_NkIhHzUnsJ1B9l9taoLu7VU25fY6GptdBoJNGc6doUMl7Qcp42MrkRZ1qlTSIYXwKzqWLjrtrtp3UOv_vSN4a3EhmPN4kxk9qUxcumkqkfXC3dH9W9_N_a1Pj2ygAOWJqNv1or-a3XfcwQsrcNQooU9J1WgZOGiapiiuA78AMbijKvkhPnew/w640-h412/JOHN%20S%20+%204lb%2014oz%20TENCH%20-%20MOCKB%20-%2029th%20March%20'23%20.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />My pal John has been catching some good fish in the three large lakes these past couple of years, some ledgering, many others on the float or pole.
I’d hardly ever tried there, so this year I was determined to join him, if only for the chance to natter to an old friend. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">That should read ‘friends’ because the three lakes are part of a local syndicate that I’ve shared for years, so fishing too little and talking too much is part of the fun. John, Brian, Pete, Mike and Rodger provide news of catches and wildlife sightings.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VVNFqO6RFZObhgTxZ0YrdUsmI7Q-KzUSjUdzV1Drpz6YXmas03Qdi7gLbYFG2IfTQ5yR7QHpQrWU84aui60AjtVkpntqjf0npqaiKTffMwrGqd_nesDPnI_PgXX0vxiltk15lNuepAtdTJcoELL9JJn1mFnZekJbi4UWDxscnmbALXZdZblNAcvX/s1280/RODGER%20WITH%20SPLENDID%20TWENTY%20PLUS%20COMMON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VVNFqO6RFZObhgTxZ0YrdUsmI7Q-KzUSjUdzV1Drpz6YXmas03Qdi7gLbYFG2IfTQ5yR7QHpQrWU84aui60AjtVkpntqjf0npqaiKTffMwrGqd_nesDPnI_PgXX0vxiltk15lNuepAtdTJcoELL9JJn1mFnZekJbi4UWDxscnmbALXZdZblNAcvX/w640-h456/RODGER%20WITH%20SPLENDID%20TWENTY%20PLUS%20COMMON.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodger with a splendid twenty plus common carp<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNvr3dqnEAkYNa1De81oDQfQJ0H1HUnwctf2-CWYaJbYaE_edeLNrgISSpR7fcsmGRxUETmdC-G1uysYr0AzVq1oB8LaDeQPrfnHJc9HW67fVyBM9alDgdvzUSYPRM7u96UmpwSAyBuLFBhXs_f9SjkaofHcDInoB2G41Jcp4lxzYvncGj0AxpAd/s1024/OSPREY%20OVERHEAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNvr3dqnEAkYNa1De81oDQfQJ0H1HUnwctf2-CWYaJbYaE_edeLNrgISSpR7fcsmGRxUETmdC-G1uysYr0AzVq1oB8LaDeQPrfnHJc9HW67fVyBM9alDgdvzUSYPRM7u96UmpwSAyBuLFBhXs_f9SjkaofHcDInoB2G41Jcp4lxzYvncGj0AxpAd/w453-h640/OSPREY%20OVERHEAD.jpg" width="453" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />The lakes are magical, so peaceful but also noisy with bird song and blessed by regular visits from ospreys, marsh harriers, kingfishers and red kites. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPVaH3hiKyCwXGOhoL6XAGX9okHMY0GL18FcKPUMEbv2gM3FFPmOV7suc2aFO1-vLMlZ1B7Ie1Oik7dYW1xQN_0Muq4fz-kVy0rGxAdOJ2-BOPURmZJbQFRGrE0k5aQSqKQ-VkXi71sep0KuUsjnoEmh8tn8IiGcSERLKpVwJ2RzwVNs72ui9s6_s/s1280/SCENIC%20SUNSHINE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPVaH3hiKyCwXGOhoL6XAGX9okHMY0GL18FcKPUMEbv2gM3FFPmOV7suc2aFO1-vLMlZ1B7Ie1Oik7dYW1xQN_0Muq4fz-kVy0rGxAdOJ2-BOPURmZJbQFRGrE0k5aQSqKQ-VkXi71sep0KuUsjnoEmh8tn8IiGcSERLKpVwJ2RzwVNs72ui9s6_s/w640-h480/SCENIC%20SUNSHINE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />I decided to start trying to catch the elusive tench by using full on modern tench tactics with two rods, bite arms, spombs and ‘wrap sticks’, light carp methods really but very effective [sometimes!], baiting a tight spot and using worm kebab rigs. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YkAltNGI8pD2cfpaQiCPKmg0wRtZuvXl65dogCrD4xLeY83hyhZ2GXW1tAkU0c5dziWmwP-ZatSMzVqa8fGLRE0gNOz2s8bPl6csruPOsZ3y705UyCWzEIFVxtnEcUIWewpujp2GP2BAHN3zS6y7HWWPBn8G5M5_mFFaqCRxjKRD3hmOkiEoHULY/s3385/TENCH%20-%20SOMERLEY%20-%206lb%202ozs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2541" data-original-width="3385" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YkAltNGI8pD2cfpaQiCPKmg0wRtZuvXl65dogCrD4xLeY83hyhZ2GXW1tAkU0c5dziWmwP-ZatSMzVqa8fGLRE0gNOz2s8bPl6csruPOsZ3y705UyCWzEIFVxtnEcUIWewpujp2GP2BAHN3zS6y7HWWPBn8G5M5_mFFaqCRxjKRD3hmOkiEoHULY/w640-h480/TENCH%20-%20SOMERLEY%20-%206lb%202ozs.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />And so far I’ve been lucky enough to catch 19 tench to over 6lbs in just three visits and with all the wildlife and friends thrown into the mix, it has made very enjoyable fishing, even more so because these are ‘Popeye Tench’ too and in the shallow waters, they fight exceptionally hard. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8haA7Tz8wOxmpWH_vDtfQhWbPO7HeSNYtzkcoW81lm9bgmcp36cWhECE6SMbAubZ9fkc3XocfuSzPFW9VMYymqMsubbGrQnohLEJnmQtuud5GDkxthsC2w_C9MVBj_WoTLGie8z7GtKaXQ0wuJVCg5RVu8Vg46p506Umnnb8ARj6LD4i7h9RK8fc/s1280/SUNRISE%20CALM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8haA7Tz8wOxmpWH_vDtfQhWbPO7HeSNYtzkcoW81lm9bgmcp36cWhECE6SMbAubZ9fkc3XocfuSzPFW9VMYymqMsubbGrQnohLEJnmQtuud5GDkxthsC2w_C9MVBj_WoTLGie8z7GtKaXQ0wuJVCg5RVu8Vg46p506Umnnb8ARj6LD4i7h9RK8fc/w640-h480/SUNRISE%20CALM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Another of my favourite tinca spots is the Cotswold Water Park, marvellous for wildlife and the lakes I fish hide much bigger tench, if you can catch them. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I’m sure all tench fishers have been cursing the cold nights and relentless NE winds this spring and my pal John is one of them. Being a local, he fishes the lakes regularly and we shared several happy days there last season, both of us catching several big tench, John’s best being this one that I was privileged to share, a stunning beauty of 9lbs 5ozs.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wPR-N9WCQx1AkmD10IaiHPCRh6vFiFOSHFPokYBtgYlrYJebLtW3W5lZ65fzSMrlVnO0l2p61l0_OCHFRyZxl7sd7B4vliHFUjvsuWhlg_mFmxzWZ4IFSZS72ZZxT3on2wvgA_Le1gOcWkERbhbhZxSUzlYoA-Cv9HqXUEFYPaiwuFdTPdYZ8Vu5/s5184/JOHN%20C's%209lb%205oz%20TENCH%20-%208th%20JUNE%20'22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wPR-N9WCQx1AkmD10IaiHPCRh6vFiFOSHFPokYBtgYlrYJebLtW3W5lZ65fzSMrlVnO0l2p61l0_OCHFRyZxl7sd7B4vliHFUjvsuWhlg_mFmxzWZ4IFSZS72ZZxT3on2wvgA_Le1gOcWkERbhbhZxSUzlYoA-Cv9HqXUEFYPaiwuFdTPdYZ8Vu5/w640-h426/JOHN%20C's%209lb%205oz%20TENCH%20-%208th%20JUNE%20'22.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DY8uRSfGi2kRgBAbpcrevAsNwCIjiEjHFu-WycxFqkhnDGAMrAWcoFOlCoIoS_SBYg1w7nnL_UrERUm1NnSY6rba3u8Hsp29fwCS0yrJlzzMlIXj6XyjCvcj6249YGRn5BDliSNSzo96mMsGTwmpai2UIZTlPfePeA2OtbQy0QQ9jgelTLVGFpXE/s1280/8:13%20PB%20END%20ON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1029" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DY8uRSfGi2kRgBAbpcrevAsNwCIjiEjHFu-WycxFqkhnDGAMrAWcoFOlCoIoS_SBYg1w7nnL_UrERUm1NnSY6rba3u8Hsp29fwCS0yrJlzzMlIXj6XyjCvcj6249YGRn5BDliSNSzo96mMsGTwmpai2UIZTlPfePeA2OtbQy0QQ9jgelTLVGFpXE/w514-h640/8:13%20PB%20END%20ON.jpg" width="514" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />I was lucky enough to catch a few ‘eights’ to this best of 8lb 13ozs, both of us benefitting from a lovely spell of warm south westerly winds to cast into and leaving me to catch that elusive nine pounder this year. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">However, this cold spring has suppressed the tench’s enthusiasm in our lakes and in spite of John being a very fine angler, he has struggled to put any significant catches together, though not nearly as much as I have! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4x0EhW688b2nmFrRotqQ_ks-32NR5ySNwhF8h31ffDHUaUdgh_3U060Ydmak2C6gWAji3c3T8jKhB9A10KK0PtK3-o-x-jzFLIQ4jDpZY3cyzclfjzLfpUgOXWHxHE9X1fwdQ1CN-dw05_gY7VPUuAi6ry73UiwagZPcy5OtnOk7FMJb7pLcCoki/s1280/SUNRISE%20FROM%20LAY-BY%20SWIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4x0EhW688b2nmFrRotqQ_ks-32NR5ySNwhF8h31ffDHUaUdgh_3U060Ydmak2C6gWAji3c3T8jKhB9A10KK0PtK3-o-x-jzFLIQ4jDpZY3cyzclfjzLfpUgOXWHxHE9X1fwdQ1CN-dw05_gY7VPUuAi6ry73UiwagZPcy5OtnOk7FMJb7pLcCoki/w640-h480/SUNRISE%20FROM%20LAY-BY%20SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Choosing to face into the icy wind on the opposite side of the lake, I reasoned that the hot sun would warm the water and wake the fish, the breeze driving them into my swim. But I was wrong and almost all I caught was hypothermia. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7IZERT_qtbfLCBPq25RAqbdknqo0tN5dVKr1OHLUM5i7Hmg-pUTvUU-ctqGQ40l0s_86BCSGMTJregQ2AGYVELLGeXVh8ES3qs7ofEL_0O0BGQbNEcPkNBg_QNsVMAxcCPiiL8E2Zp_bk8vL9KkOTXoYUVWwNwrSFZfWPhDrN6MP2fHYzCw0b9xD/s1280/6LB%201OZ%20MALE%20TENCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1280" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7IZERT_qtbfLCBPq25RAqbdknqo0tN5dVKr1OHLUM5i7Hmg-pUTvUU-ctqGQ40l0s_86BCSGMTJregQ2AGYVELLGeXVh8ES3qs7ofEL_0O0BGQbNEcPkNBg_QNsVMAxcCPiiL8E2Zp_bk8vL9KkOTXoYUVWwNwrSFZfWPhDrN6MP2fHYzCw0b9xD/w640-h470/6LB%201OZ%20MALE%20TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />One male tench of over six pounds plus two small pike was all I managed in two visits, though I was so convinced the swim would come good and produce a biggie that I stoically stuck to my guns instead of moving to the sheltered side. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAZtC-4ioadTrA94M6TKfF1fc7Djf4GlYsjDf84RpuJ0S7dm4i79sGvUaol3IDnXGlBrMvBr6RwepvQ6rpfIQu6fyBL-8O6upjmkq9y1p7CmD_J4aeRdusFlB9gm0OFyhNgXB88uMEp9Jn5wZC0Q1Zl-rZK_xxo88pssFlVsQwLcHUByxCObwQ5W9/s1280/WEED%20MOUNTAIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAZtC-4ioadTrA94M6TKfF1fc7Djf4GlYsjDf84RpuJ0S7dm4i79sGvUaol3IDnXGlBrMvBr6RwepvQ6rpfIQu6fyBL-8O6upjmkq9y1p7CmD_J4aeRdusFlB9gm0OFyhNgXB88uMEp9Jn5wZC0Q1Zl-rZK_xxo88pssFlVsQwLcHUByxCObwQ5W9/w640-h480/WEED%20MOUNTAIN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />A brutal three hour work out clearing the thick weed at forty yards was intended to improve my chances but all I did was shiver for my obstinate foolishness and carried on blanking. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iKvlpMcHi9emqnV6OXb_SgW8zbykSxFxtRaZAv3BMnzgPHvuGZsjnSnzG0fMegD8bmjY9fc5dCEe9aWkpaj_l_u5CuqWx0Pc1J-5a0tyJ9L_khQ_vuLmwpt3196fRq4vcQeLCInK82WWjyiIWPkgSDs3eVEMBHfmE5l8Y2cBOaO44BC_A8Dtmj2q/s1280/'B'%20LAKE%20SCENIC%20FROM%20LAYBY%20SWIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iKvlpMcHi9emqnV6OXb_SgW8zbykSxFxtRaZAv3BMnzgPHvuGZsjnSnzG0fMegD8bmjY9fc5dCEe9aWkpaj_l_u5CuqWx0Pc1J-5a0tyJ9L_khQ_vuLmwpt3196fRq4vcQeLCInK82WWjyiIWPkgSDs3eVEMBHfmE5l8Y2cBOaO44BC_A8Dtmj2q/w640-h480/'B'%20LAKE%20SCENIC%20FROM%20LAYBY%20SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpQQnwbsAsT6gMuSbcs2A640lNG06XlawlkM7kMatOWPNgXWn2dyyfmSTvRK3UqKY0tf4NPlPjyaCYzroG0IlSo9XggXFtn2W-natqAcz0o8rfVq-KKbFOo1Cn-BFv93XnJEWpYSlVLjm4mNgZ3sJO5CIvAGHmrymk-PPigbRwQAqwnlNPS1uXaN_/s2259/RED%20KITE%20BY%20RICKIE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2259" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpQQnwbsAsT6gMuSbcs2A640lNG06XlawlkM7kMatOWPNgXWn2dyyfmSTvRK3UqKY0tf4NPlPjyaCYzroG0IlSo9XggXFtn2W-natqAcz0o8rfVq-KKbFOo1Cn-BFv93XnJEWpYSlVLjm4mNgZ3sJO5CIvAGHmrymk-PPigbRwQAqwnlNPS1uXaN_/w640-h498/RED%20KITE%20BY%20RICKIE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">However, I love the swim because the wide views provide the best birdwatching on the lakes, with endless cuckoos, buzzards and red kites passing by. A bittern kept calling too, even landing in the reeds beside John's swim as he struggled to catch. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">‘Tench Time’ it was but unfortunately, they hadn't set their alarms.</span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-19973476113123637992023-03-01T18:42:00.005+00:002023-03-07T11:31:48.029+00:00SPRING IS SPRUNG<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATTpVmzq9t5CXbsGJE692VJiazpVMLqClBs1vzPdn0aWSJ_GmqUK81UtYGszmRpW0p3Z-qnpV7Vs3RktJJcp7dQdUFmfW3zo7KL21Ci3qlwlOP9nEiIwLMWClWy5D720Tawhm66jM-FM3LbA7IlnCmZKbPB11QvDkx4HsdMqCaCIJN_U4Uv4QD8AJ/s1280/PINK%20CAMELLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATTpVmzq9t5CXbsGJE692VJiazpVMLqClBs1vzPdn0aWSJ_GmqUK81UtYGszmRpW0p3Z-qnpV7Vs3RktJJcp7dQdUFmfW3zo7KL21Ci3qlwlOP9nEiIwLMWClWy5D720Tawhm66jM-FM3LbA7IlnCmZKbPB11QvDkx4HsdMqCaCIJN_U4Uv4QD8AJ/w640-h418/PINK%20CAMELLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />St. David’s Day. March 1st. The start of our meteorological spring, so by way of celebration, we wandered around our Dorset garden yesterday to take a few ‘happy snaps’ of the beauty that surrounds us. And what we saw made us smile. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AKEdGX4l4ZxhpmVlyKSUeda1hzx5VpiJ9GK-yZ-iUXWiEzrVSysjtL5zCh-uNFLSZNiB7F4Q7QtIvG_6VVhqMt7OMVJy3zOJEPKtbA5q_6JUTa9BgG6KI2B9jzwiw7lYolxUDjyqwX9oRiZAVt6QCP5LZ1JC4Yh5hGhzs18vgDTQ_aWi8oBzoM39/s1280/RED%20WAX%20CAMELLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1280" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AKEdGX4l4ZxhpmVlyKSUeda1hzx5VpiJ9GK-yZ-iUXWiEzrVSysjtL5zCh-uNFLSZNiB7F4Q7QtIvG_6VVhqMt7OMVJy3zOJEPKtbA5q_6JUTa9BgG6KI2B9jzwiw7lYolxUDjyqwX9oRiZAVt6QCP5LZ1JC4Yh5hGhzs18vgDTQ_aWi8oBzoM39/w640-h458/RED%20WAX%20CAMELLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>First of our treasures to shine aren’t the symbolic snow drops but camellias, some of the many varieties we have gathered over the years even start flowering before Christmas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_A9SUxgrdhdhlZ04vqZgPBhDchHs3zXq_hlWFwdejxORJRwNV1RCVDE8QpG_-Hf5V881zJUjWHGLWXNOcb3o4lVgle_9ax9QB_02_jBsskEskGzvUYkfle8ivnF5Tu61PkK6-RNF92icmZsHKUdO8GNK2MAeuF9EGREzVu7ghZyfEF_SpeGuzlJ_/s3781/RED%20CAMELLIA%20+%20THORNS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="3781" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_A9SUxgrdhdhlZ04vqZgPBhDchHs3zXq_hlWFwdejxORJRwNV1RCVDE8QpG_-Hf5V881zJUjWHGLWXNOcb3o4lVgle_9ax9QB_02_jBsskEskGzvUYkfle8ivnF5Tu61PkK6-RNF92icmZsHKUdO8GNK2MAeuF9EGREzVu7ghZyfEF_SpeGuzlJ_/w640-h490/RED%20CAMELLIA%20+%20THORNS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJO5EUAqXXkAp05_YHDH40FFbUGEolOVMz60yE8ziTajfWgXEdBMQp7-qqkqW5qP9aj-UWITSr2T6NkNaOtf6vRA9wzIf5X5Z6GyBDjDR7jgQ8foTEY48G1tqWrIzrVdgi0SEubjXTvUW9kB44Jxe8mqmnREDpNvIbALaibEKhvTlf8IUhLo1UHaU/s1280/CAMELIA%20+%20BTBjpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1280" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJO5EUAqXXkAp05_YHDH40FFbUGEolOVMz60yE8ziTajfWgXEdBMQp7-qqkqW5qP9aj-UWITSr2T6NkNaOtf6vRA9wzIf5X5Z6GyBDjDR7jgQ8foTEY48G1tqWrIzrVdgi0SEubjXTvUW9kB44Jxe8mqmnREDpNvIbALaibEKhvTlf8IUhLo1UHaU/w640-h464/CAMELIA%20+%20BTBjpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />They don't just look pretty, they provide sustenance for emerging insects such as this queen BTB, [buff tailed bumblebee if you need the detail], and these glorious blooms are followed quickly by the bee friendly mahonia, providing a meal<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>for those insects that venture out early in the year.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaJnOcc28FWy4r0gi5kyiZrpvTKvcWCZ_hv0dRoyDYHCcj6FV9yHZNuuEeWwYiuWKZW4ulgVF0_h-LVqdCKnPF_UdzypKeEI0fIZaDc11Emq9Mwkhfi5ZHLFCe200wcFu67FQFb_qjZDPGSfFn8NJOTjzFlKTxcoVzEjKQL30s2eRs3vAWWz4hVl6/s1280/MAHONIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaJnOcc28FWy4r0gi5kyiZrpvTKvcWCZ_hv0dRoyDYHCcj6FV9yHZNuuEeWwYiuWKZW4ulgVF0_h-LVqdCKnPF_UdzypKeEI0fIZaDc11Emq9Mwkhfi5ZHLFCe200wcFu67FQFb_qjZDPGSfFn8NJOTjzFlKTxcoVzEjKQL30s2eRs3vAWWz4hVl6/w614-h640/MAHONIA.jpg" width="614" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Somehow</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> though</span>, it always seems to be the snowdrops that herald in our spring, their sparkling white blooms forcing their way up through last year’s leaf fall and lighting up our woodland.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaM9qwNzmiwK0RbwCQGMGXK7mJikFG8VHtKTIOq96j0bJVc8StUuKAXL-SDsUfpmWaEzAGfkjb3CCiuvWbliDjnkXzsmlJ9u9nYICIr8kez3H9FqGFZHayM5Gd24yMQz9sBCP83GO_UfyyJmIHsJWx0tVcgYHX9LealMSMItMV3Bvnn8dmmheZKgx/s1280/P2270752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1280" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaM9qwNzmiwK0RbwCQGMGXK7mJikFG8VHtKTIOq96j0bJVc8StUuKAXL-SDsUfpmWaEzAGfkjb3CCiuvWbliDjnkXzsmlJ9u9nYICIr8kez3H9FqGFZHayM5Gd24yMQz9sBCP83GO_UfyyJmIHsJWx0tVcgYHX9LealMSMItMV3Bvnn8dmmheZKgx/w640-h444/P2270752.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA_NoGR_iuDRUGS4K1KZ8zcVIL-G0erxHRcCX4VWFd8PkQphN3FPal2r7x0Dz0L3d7Yq4oya1Qvqx2mhKTzO8NzqQ6d5Wbo2zzB7CWe8yN6EluqddYOZ4KgZ9okVpzgvTJKhY6STTmyknj7wex4vkJW3yfAp6RgHbJ6eKkvMZ9O8Ay905pCKcg-L-/s1280/WITCH%20HAZEL%20WS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA_NoGR_iuDRUGS4K1KZ8zcVIL-G0erxHRcCX4VWFd8PkQphN3FPal2r7x0Dz0L3d7Yq4oya1Qvqx2mhKTzO8NzqQ6d5Wbo2zzB7CWe8yN6EluqddYOZ4KgZ9okVpzgvTJKhY6STTmyknj7wex4vkJW3yfAp6RgHbJ6eKkvMZ9O8Ay905pCKcg-L-/w640-h480/WITCH%20HAZEL%20WS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhSnVVdwhDsNBUD4BulMrX30_JeTu7Vb1AViTZyeUD1qTOZAj-P6EHkULVWFZZbhxHx__DG1YCO7BCVXia8Ra1N5aY3u_YJwYeRTzbXx4I9xbrP8sBGq9Cuj5k231bOUUrZtRRW1FDBw7p2XCJXY1bYTj7a6-_qU8pop3n1K1oJ1qMn9KqfMigV6y/s1280/WITCH%20HAZEL%20CU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1280" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhSnVVdwhDsNBUD4BulMrX30_JeTu7Vb1AViTZyeUD1qTOZAj-P6EHkULVWFZZbhxHx__DG1YCO7BCVXia8Ra1N5aY3u_YJwYeRTzbXx4I9xbrP8sBGq9Cuj5k231bOUUrZtRRW1FDBw7p2XCJXY1bYTj7a6-_qU8pop3n1K1oJ1qMn9KqfMigV6y/w400-h278/WITCH%20HAZEL%20CU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Our witch-hazel have been blooming wonderful for some time, though their blooms aren’t created by witches, even if their powerful scent is magical.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbcAKOOiU7d2dD6ot0Hj1bLj7tF1rtIWFStFZ1MZvYj4QtiO4jeYv2NrPkbtBCbCSfhqQDY_k5Rpd04ntv2elHbx6LKJpwhh3npUQji5bADwgPJ9L-5VKoPWFb_R6u0gen8-W5Ly-wYfhlip3NBEMrYVcdeclYY4-E7Bt2baNiDJtUvZlFtBkH9xX/s1280/DAPHNI%20WS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbcAKOOiU7d2dD6ot0Hj1bLj7tF1rtIWFStFZ1MZvYj4QtiO4jeYv2NrPkbtBCbCSfhqQDY_k5Rpd04ntv2elHbx6LKJpwhh3npUQji5bADwgPJ9L-5VKoPWFb_R6u0gen8-W5Ly-wYfhlip3NBEMrYVcdeclYY4-E7Bt2baNiDJtUvZlFtBkH9xX/w640-h480/DAPHNI%20WS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Even more nose curling is our daphne, a shrub that thrives in our damp soil, the scent drifting all over the garden and so strong that even a covid sufferer should be able to enjoy it’s sweet offerings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAHNKpRDGKmZIH-xQv_seVrnNVvQZih_avCj1tPQCFnQ151b8PGHIPIQdeadzXHHwPZZJLbHbtwqGMwJZLSxMbsv9Knz5pF9osDCcy07o478UIqzBU6pIpGlyFw8lbbILAHcnuwJpFLK99DYBSseTJ0hy7PRcZO3aLed2zH0as9ZKcdqT2Kg7dzR0/s1280/DAPHNI%20MS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1280" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAHNKpRDGKmZIH-xQv_seVrnNVvQZih_avCj1tPQCFnQ151b8PGHIPIQdeadzXHHwPZZJLbHbtwqGMwJZLSxMbsv9Knz5pF9osDCcy07o478UIqzBU6pIpGlyFw8lbbILAHcnuwJpFLK99DYBSseTJ0hy7PRcZO3aLed2zH0as9ZKcdqT2Kg7dzR0/w400-h244/DAPHNI%20MS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CT93Ng3jkp0jVBJLQ-rgy57eJxGZyf5TukpQaoas_-cezV1Bdnqz-7IpGErFts3g41PfoLzhRNj79IPo0BBexljCpaAMT3MirfYnYJr6e0BeyjFojUY7N70NKwrugZuidP3cGEDxO0hClJigmtMHGBAK4wYyv_YvbY-CR4LSnQwqG8PC-NTOJes6/s1280/GLADE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1280" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CT93Ng3jkp0jVBJLQ-rgy57eJxGZyf5TukpQaoas_-cezV1Bdnqz-7IpGErFts3g41PfoLzhRNj79IPo0BBexljCpaAMT3MirfYnYJr6e0BeyjFojUY7N70NKwrugZuidP3cGEDxO0hClJigmtMHGBAK4wYyv_YvbY-CR4LSnQwqG8PC-NTOJes6/w640-h446/GLADE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />A few years ago we cleared a patch of sprawling brambles and tangled honeysuckle in the wood to create a sunny glade and planted it with snow drops.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHVCdGZQ1_hlTZ1wAmBZwvColZKBYmVQBuHeidoGBZRpvgrziDaNFh8tGXrReLA2FrFVTYV4HUPS81Yx8Je_sdXB6HQkqVc2Tm2QfUQlEGxH6toy7RB_FTUh7NYkh0eGnLCPp3Lj9RQEZTWuq9UFaIJ3PNx37uCy3pE-fJx0nUuJbF9qUxIvS4l8v/s1280/P2270752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL4xh9jkwEtpkbP7XCtwSTPCWqqBEDQbalehZxaC7co9lIcV3wtgOFJhebMFMFv1AoiLu26UF10CLKNnc2hT3f_IO_yylL2eXDH-mxovs_EujwnQiSmjuAobtzgtXn3w6ex1a34vh5X0HbRxGlkWGViXzXHNq-TWm-EKosM7_awA-G-7C4XzinguD/s1280/CYCLAMEN%20CU.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1280" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL4xh9jkwEtpkbP7XCtwSTPCWqqBEDQbalehZxaC7co9lIcV3wtgOFJhebMFMFv1AoiLu26UF10CLKNnc2hT3f_IO_yylL2eXDH-mxovs_EujwnQiSmjuAobtzgtXn3w6ex1a34vh5X0HbRxGlkWGViXzXHNq-TWm-EKosM7_awA-G-7C4XzinguD/w400-h284/CYCLAMEN%20CU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>We added native bluebells and old English daffodils, along with these delightful cyclamen ... hellebores and aconites too, and though these yellow stars have been flowering for a while and are past their best, this is how the glade will look in a couple of weeks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zj-5EHwwZVLf8-iXeUoRG5YJnQQj0wFFVdxYt8CtZlTCGdI19G98KKTozT5AvzZ2FVu9uSCoYGoTw0mJlNJr8e8sts_jZy6MpIKZVI3l_ViwY4iDhuQDb8UADrhcaO_xq9-IHycVmmDEc3tfjF32Ss6NjOwtVNnQz4o2qigLBERbMPuSMHqBQHaB/s1280/WOODLAND%20GLADE%20+%20HELIBORES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zj-5EHwwZVLf8-iXeUoRG5YJnQQj0wFFVdxYt8CtZlTCGdI19G98KKTozT5AvzZ2FVu9uSCoYGoTw0mJlNJr8e8sts_jZy6MpIKZVI3l_ViwY4iDhuQDb8UADrhcaO_xq9-IHycVmmDEc3tfjF32Ss6NjOwtVNnQz4o2qigLBERbMPuSMHqBQHaB/w640-h480/WOODLAND%20GLADE%20+%20HELIBORES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QAgVM5fODRPJPAWbVNKaP3kjNQbLAREgzywYDN-Pf94A4iB0axrJfLPTs5r1H1N_rzuPgN10679VS5sGSxPwVZtUn1UBO8xMRQiiopVsbrCKMJu7YjCJ73DDLRnFHjZA3Bp5ytsggG5kBnwiqrM7zicb5gyE92MgRqLLdcjgGTFkhEcy9QcZW5Vb/s3373/MALLARD%20SLEEPING.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="3373" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QAgVM5fODRPJPAWbVNKaP3kjNQbLAREgzywYDN-Pf94A4iB0axrJfLPTs5r1H1N_rzuPgN10679VS5sGSxPwVZtUn1UBO8xMRQiiopVsbrCKMJu7YjCJ73DDLRnFHjZA3Bp5ytsggG5kBnwiqrM7zicb5gyE92MgRqLLdcjgGTFkhEcy9QcZW5Vb/w400-h291/MALLARD%20SLEEPING.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We're pleased that our annual pair of semi-tame mallard have set up shop on our big pond, though we suspect they might have already eaten the frog spawn in our marsh which isn't so welcome.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz8o0dsDhWEKySgHj25TS3g2PFaiuIPwJkCPXTkBK-O-sFsIjA675HxChB9yn5-Qwql6nsply7PACwS-Hx3vndUaovmKnT1pxN-0qdod7vpVA2XK40MAVMJrfJwSxeTsbZ9r9x0BcE6a1jY0WmtR00huBkYADwEB-MJx4-vShyzA_dbMjc1jBmxLE/s3489/FROG%20IN%20MARSH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3489" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz8o0dsDhWEKySgHj25TS3g2PFaiuIPwJkCPXTkBK-O-sFsIjA675HxChB9yn5-Qwql6nsply7PACwS-Hx3vndUaovmKnT1pxN-0qdod7vpVA2XK40MAVMJrfJwSxeTsbZ9r9x0BcE6a1jY0WmtR00huBkYADwEB-MJx4-vShyzA_dbMjc1jBmxLE/w640-h440/FROG%20IN%20MARSH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TKVSp9cM7kI_fdnEAe8fNduLVhTVNmxL8IRuXTCMec96qJ323uEJUd2P3yQv96dezmaunZUuh6Vzfc5VF9NXGqalYqUMPBQ2FP-lhLDAox9AegwP2cHdClTGkCywFEP_WKziZjbdCm9nYExQHnW-2_9JtScTtA-XlFVVi6PaPWQqJbmKlozkF6IZ/s2064/ROBIN%20AT%20FEEDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="2064" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TKVSp9cM7kI_fdnEAe8fNduLVhTVNmxL8IRuXTCMec96qJ323uEJUd2P3yQv96dezmaunZUuh6Vzfc5VF9NXGqalYqUMPBQ2FP-lhLDAox9AegwP2cHdClTGkCywFEP_WKziZjbdCm9nYExQHnW-2_9JtScTtA-XlFVVi6PaPWQqJbmKlozkF6IZ/w640-h526/ROBIN%20AT%20FEEDER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />While mentioning confiding birds, I have been trying to tame this robin and it's taken me since Christmas for him to trust me enough </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">to eat from my hand. He certainly played hard to get and I haven't even managed a picture on my hand to confim my success!<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXl-AajITI2XSIWE6uR7PrewQfEquKXoklwPmLOYnW69t4soMDAyEE7hdi4lNNinqzdmHV1FYePWtJjGbw_8sEiQk0lRKkUu-ZVfqyxVwEBLP6JWiOPj94hLjo7ZE7QhrlSnybIhtChBnKc7r9kVQz762HzRVoAdfCgeNl7yaaaCq3eqk_MINBrsW/s2708/SP.HAWK%20CLOSER.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="2681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXl-AajITI2XSIWE6uR7PrewQfEquKXoklwPmLOYnW69t4soMDAyEE7hdi4lNNinqzdmHV1FYePWtJjGbw_8sEiQk0lRKkUu-ZVfqyxVwEBLP6JWiOPj94hLjo7ZE7QhrlSnybIhtChBnKc7r9kVQz762HzRVoAdfCgeNl7yaaaCq3eqk_MINBrsW/w396-h400/SP.HAWK%20CLOSER.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I feared he'd been zapped by one of our resident sparrow hawks when I found robin feathers by the bird-table yesterday, but my friend came for his breakfast hand outs this morning, so all is well, especially for the long-tailed-tits that gathered the feathers for their nest. I suppose I'll have to try to find their miraculous construction now.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezra_sliGDM2QxLfZVvZKdkyt5dYL3f0ctFlzEWX_T_Vl24P8-oAloobSuMFpiQduxxxhriCd7OCRiFxOZ_kTpInuV6khwAxVPHwYSyMw0l1zjevN-t6LMT_2Y_IRYHKdAGtC5IMnnXcWHZVSbiEts-rGBD-zrHcysDw5MnEFkLRpTvxYdSstENhd/s1280/L.T.TIT%20WITH%20NEST%20MATERIAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="883" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezra_sliGDM2QxLfZVvZKdkyt5dYL3f0ctFlzEWX_T_Vl24P8-oAloobSuMFpiQduxxxhriCd7OCRiFxOZ_kTpInuV6khwAxVPHwYSyMw0l1zjevN-t6LMT_2Y_IRYHKdAGtC5IMnnXcWHZVSbiEts-rGBD-zrHcysDw5MnEFkLRpTvxYdSstENhd/w442-h640/L.T.TIT%20WITH%20NEST%20MATERIAL.jpg" width="442" /></a></div>Here's one with lichen nest material for it's beautiful birch tree construction, photographed near an osprey nest when I was making a film about them for the RSPB in the mid '70's. I guess that means I'm old now ... and here's the nest almost complete. What a work of art.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuwz1R8d51TMXoGh9C171ZglnaPsJpt9OEyNTXY9s2HcmLzGoAZz4v_XAM33endvMza7QHyySBho1UnluZGL8_gvZeIhBhGEoJ2yUnMdlhphfPOGpDtblItoPr1YbjQY-kdVORD7PGQCVgiv6fpnjHbm41LKK3tfDwygMMGQbndk-Kxs9GzLbadjQ/s1052/L.T.TIT%20IN%20NEST%20CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1052" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuwz1R8d51TMXoGh9C171ZglnaPsJpt9OEyNTXY9s2HcmLzGoAZz4v_XAM33endvMza7QHyySBho1UnluZGL8_gvZeIhBhGEoJ2yUnMdlhphfPOGpDtblItoPr1YbjQY-kdVORD7PGQCVgiv6fpnjHbm41LKK3tfDwygMMGQbndk-Kxs9GzLbadjQ/w640-h618/L.T.TIT%20IN%20NEST%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72o0lf3uF4gNbhVsohjcBunlTIkrkLIPYD1O9vcCglwAApTBFxy0IxlM55YB9Foo68ZZTNFtmeL8_FrdIJDaHzEEu1jJJvr9n6-tpjDHrSJ8hkmXbYf4niwlae6EG8BiY8FuZUqQPkgSRTlSrcgT2POUFWW22GVKECz5wC5rkt-HQNKBW1Oj210HJ/s1635/LONG%20TAILED%20TIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1635" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72o0lf3uF4gNbhVsohjcBunlTIkrkLIPYD1O9vcCglwAApTBFxy0IxlM55YB9Foo68ZZTNFtmeL8_FrdIJDaHzEEu1jJJvr9n6-tpjDHrSJ8hkmXbYf4niwlae6EG8BiY8FuZUqQPkgSRTlSrcgT2POUFWW22GVKECz5wC5rkt-HQNKBW1Oj210HJ/w640-h430/LONG%20TAILED%20TIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKb4ugo5JTQFt7B01_IBHydcMh4Wrpz3HimG-XWOBC9qKp60IFVzKbE5etDjihLov3waSbQMDia24ZNIaZJNzlvclEuFQD7gk_tKc3AsmrgpLxpPwDaYTi2v_dTTq7a-5_cJ7bwHF34IxyoUkapcIITJ3Tjs4dreQ7LFHLSkaoBAafx3uKr-9WXJ23/s1280/BLACKBIRD%20WITH%20BEAKFULL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKb4ugo5JTQFt7B01_IBHydcMh4Wrpz3HimG-XWOBC9qKp60IFVzKbE5etDjihLov3waSbQMDia24ZNIaZJNzlvclEuFQD7gk_tKc3AsmrgpLxpPwDaYTi2v_dTTq7a-5_cJ7bwHF34IxyoUkapcIITJ3Tjs4dreQ7LFHLSkaoBAafx3uKr-9WXJ23/w400-h269/BLACKBIRD%20WITH%20BEAKFULL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So nest-building suggests the seasons are moving on, especially as those finest of songsters are now in full voice, the blackbird, though this one won't be singing with a mouthfull of grub.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I’m sure like Sue and I, your spirits lift when you hear their beautiful song,
so even if the winter drags on as it always seems to, there is already lots to enjoy out there. What's more, on March 21st, the Spring Equinox will mark the moment when days and nights are the same length and we can look forward to tulips and warm sunshine.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ef2lPP736LObmP_3fRu28z_7RfyZbJLZ6cGBGVyNITre7lwgbTjckcHTJ0AGH475NCfvn2k3SkKdzCnqdM1bwfP1qVBmrKOIVTeKCuYqyABwj3MwyRW_D7IalPhOVt449QUGrRnDaCbPhbVWWXBLLj-_8XmA_Pb6Qyx9uGl9991067ODmvJ9W2-O/s1280/SUNNY%20TULIP%20SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ef2lPP736LObmP_3fRu28z_7RfyZbJLZ6cGBGVyNITre7lwgbTjckcHTJ0AGH475NCfvn2k3SkKdzCnqdM1bwfP1qVBmrKOIVTeKCuYqyABwj3MwyRW_D7IalPhOVt449QUGrRnDaCbPhbVWWXBLLj-_8XmA_Pb6Qyx9uGl9991067ODmvJ9W2-O/w640-h480/SUNNY%20TULIP%20SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnuvx14jhm8YpQH3-T5AmDiC4bzhndyPlBgRFpsylnZ7PderpuObZZ-zcthftC_z3rf8p7TAou1CCTkMy0X1Tote3A-Du3bDWeMLkK1jnXNsJaGF7kaUyW_uo06bbg1nQBFuN43uKqxqLkWnig1GOrwUa9B9Jm_MbIkfbQvNjwacx6I8rlXeG0Pw9/s4000/BRIMSTONE%20LINES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnuvx14jhm8YpQH3-T5AmDiC4bzhndyPlBgRFpsylnZ7PderpuObZZ-zcthftC_z3rf8p7TAou1CCTkMy0X1Tote3A-Du3bDWeMLkK1jnXNsJaGF7kaUyW_uo06bbg1nQBFuN43uKqxqLkWnig1GOrwUa9B9Jm_MbIkfbQvNjwacx6I8rlXeG0Pw9/w640-h480/BRIMSTONE%20LINES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, like us and this brimstone butterfly we saw last weekend, you could fly out there, find a sheltered corner in the sun, take a few deep breaths, soak up the vitamin D and dream of summer days when your roses bloom and the air is filled with their scent and the hum of pollinating bees. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heaven is out there in our gardens, waiting for us all to enjoy.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9nPI8uxe_n-k9ccy4nlQryzTWdNqVG-O5dXziAtfC-kajkXV7l3uPEZsbwLaYJqPEpAG747kvKCoaFlWNHzVIJksvq9DED0zWdW7LkLop9WSPODslSJXUfcrcsSdKTB_GCa-EtrQRo-xDlHQIdzqL1FKNpIKjdQp16tIqzNy5NvPX4WHZprbgwfr/s3827/ALBERTINE%20SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2903" data-original-width="3827" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9nPI8uxe_n-k9ccy4nlQryzTWdNqVG-O5dXziAtfC-kajkXV7l3uPEZsbwLaYJqPEpAG747kvKCoaFlWNHzVIJksvq9DED0zWdW7LkLop9WSPODslSJXUfcrcsSdKTB_GCa-EtrQRo-xDlHQIdzqL1FKNpIKjdQp16tIqzNy5NvPX4WHZprbgwfr/w640-h486/ALBERTINE%20SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPz4-L38OXEFYNCtQRi01i8qYPgUxEF9Xc-It86-CmNHIJmIDEodsI3gBBPRKvJnIX0x_XQzCZRAJwHFcxbLoEMeFtbrXSkD4YDF0H1GnxQSbBt2cleNqvFtYeVhQC3lCsCiE1_socWkcMnyzDZejcvhs6056AgsxZiNWUjyHOrVYhEBRRtwD59k1/s1280/NATURE'S%20WONDER%20-%20JANE'S%20BOOK.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPz4-L38OXEFYNCtQRi01i8qYPgUxEF9Xc-It86-CmNHIJmIDEodsI3gBBPRKvJnIX0x_XQzCZRAJwHFcxbLoEMeFtbrXSkD4YDF0H1GnxQSbBt2cleNqvFtYeVhQC3lCsCiE1_socWkcMnyzDZejcvhs6056AgsxZiNWUjyHOrVYhEBRRtwD59k1/w314-h400/NATURE'S%20WONDER%20-%20JANE'S%20BOOK.jpg" width="314" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />If you’re still reading this ditty, then I guess like Sue and I, it means you’re keen on wildlife, so we have a book to recommend you … and it’s no ordinary book.<br /><br />Our friend and near neighbour Jane Adams has just completed a book for The National Trust called ‘NATURE’S WONDERS - Moments that Mark the Seasons’ and you’ll be hard pressed to read a more enjoyable book on wildlife because it is full of fascination facts and will inspire you to go out and enjoy nature even more. In fact, if you can remember all the wonderful info, then you’ll be the winner of every pub quiz this year. Buying it is a no brainer. Like us, you’ll love it. <br /></span><p></p><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-69557128462663325282022-12-15T17:36:00.005+00:002022-12-20T21:54:36.133+00:00<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>- KINGDOM OF THE ICE BEAR -</u></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcbkjIaqxabk-RnBJqwra76jK1F4MGCOUzi7Heb84FoeSIRuWw4D9kn1xKBgFXHc-CkuW6gNfbpDSkms2VFrBoRj8qrw6Nv6oaw_e0Nl0KpEimMOxtvsw2pWLreMGAXY62ARaKFO4sKcSUHcuCAVfAgrgLPe2L6Rry39WcWkt2UMifKA-Yy49CGcw/s1280/SKIDOO%20IN%20BIG%20LANDSCAPE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1280" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcbkjIaqxabk-RnBJqwra76jK1F4MGCOUzi7Heb84FoeSIRuWw4D9kn1xKBgFXHc-CkuW6gNfbpDSkms2VFrBoRj8qrw6Nv6oaw_e0Nl0KpEimMOxtvsw2pWLreMGAXY62ARaKFO4sKcSUHcuCAVfAgrgLPe2L6Rry39WcWkt2UMifKA-Yy49CGcw/w640-h404/SKIDOO%20IN%20BIG%20LANDSCAPE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">'<span style="font-size: large;">Far north, in the icy regions of the Arctic lie some mountainous islands. A gale-ridden sea, hundreds of miles wide, separates them from the nearest mainland, and the forces of nature, in all their strength, have free play around them. From the north and east the polar ice exerts its pressure, and every autumn the ice attacks and, together with the cold, the snow storms and the polar night lays siege to the islands, folding them in its chill embrace.’<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XjnV7TvAkzrond1vzE4_g01SKVMa7tgKOh9WkcqMAfw6TYuYbrs7DTrF9dlT55CqT-zdMwxZA4tbwuTpM5qnUExXOLm4cchp6bTo2KKUC1hB4D1Mmby3kbfUtPTD9gbtLQkXQ94MfUYH8vmZoZZq2s7XIAzzbbZW2tFv9k6y3xq7EMvfyx4Y7MQa/s1562/CARIBOU%20ANTLERS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1562" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XjnV7TvAkzrond1vzE4_g01SKVMa7tgKOh9WkcqMAfw6TYuYbrs7DTrF9dlT55CqT-zdMwxZA4tbwuTpM5qnUExXOLm4cchp6bTo2KKUC1hB4D1Mmby3kbfUtPTD9gbtLQkXQ94MfUYH8vmZoZZq2s7XIAzzbbZW2tFv9k6y3xq7EMvfyx4Y7MQa/w640-h414/CARIBOU%20ANTLERS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc__NQpe4x2MMY8XCIF_syOnQxsz9W0exnVjT_8K5JTfeGdvHfX0B9IrCBExNxpEkK1UFJc1y45_G72MnfJKYvIdO5NPaTlGdeNQFdRv7XXgEXHKFa7LBOo2pS2w191FxO3A_NobjoVlj4MklhGOy-P-IKqlhgjDcXKT7UKCuvqga0lxYaxQ9XWTn/s1280/MAP%20OF%20ARCTIC%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="916" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc__NQpe4x2MMY8XCIF_syOnQxsz9W0exnVjT_8K5JTfeGdvHfX0B9IrCBExNxpEkK1UFJc1y45_G72MnfJKYvIdO5NPaTlGdeNQFdRv7XXgEXHKFa7LBOo2pS2w191FxO3A_NobjoVlj4MklhGOy-P-IKqlhgjDcXKT7UKCuvqga0lxYaxQ9XWTn/w458-h640/MAP%20OF%20ARCTIC%203.jpg" width="458" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So wrote an early explorer of the group of islands known as Svalbard. Placed as they are some 3,000 kilometres north of London and only 1,200 kilometres from the North Pole, the coast is indeed cold, the sea frozen for all but four months of the year.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-XLKiA6XuN5H63HLBJcdhTbuMRFxSF1CHW-6CM12dPGPxptED1MYxxVEfW0vVzrSaqpW9YlbLz3JHm44LjdaNDgVOTYTujOU5U2GXlwwa5wyXUhBBKg1lUtJmH-KbM1Q4lqy6B4zBY_pUwgoNOGTY2jOpYGYIhROxRWkhMg8c69q0IK4A9NhLcR/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20SKIDOO%20IN%20SUNSHINE%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1280" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-XLKiA6XuN5H63HLBJcdhTbuMRFxSF1CHW-6CM12dPGPxptED1MYxxVEfW0vVzrSaqpW9YlbLz3JHm44LjdaNDgVOTYTujOU5U2GXlwwa5wyXUhBBKg1lUtJmH-KbM1Q4lqy6B4zBY_pUwgoNOGTY2jOpYGYIhROxRWkhMg8c69q0IK4A9NhLcR/w640-h402/ARCTIC%20-%20SKIDOO%20IN%20SUNSHINE%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was there in the winter of 1984 and this recent cold snap in the UK reminds me of the hardship we had to face in the hope of filming polar bears as they emerged from their winter dens. As I write this blog in Dorset, it’s just two degrees below freezing but when filming in Svalbard, we faced daily temperatures of down to minus 37ºC, plus the wind chill of course. It. Was. Cold.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqdPovKT-bU3s-KCaRWFKDzBIapkyoPyuA3e-1Mjeu9486capbjZRjXMrFzt64FWDpv0bAZ8Rdy2IBV1moKXTVDCQQhTl5Sbnr6KMW-eU822KC73SR_UAwiRrdoRoR2_VIfJeeiYiISKQMuz3d2ma76IClOS3es2qm7k4tFZGo9IoK9r2jg1EufD1/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20HUGH%20SMILING%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqdPovKT-bU3s-KCaRWFKDzBIapkyoPyuA3e-1Mjeu9486capbjZRjXMrFzt64FWDpv0bAZ8Rdy2IBV1moKXTVDCQQhTl5Sbnr6KMW-eU822KC73SR_UAwiRrdoRoR2_VIfJeeiYiISKQMuz3d2ma76IClOS3es2qm7k4tFZGo9IoK9r2jg1EufD1/w640-h426/ARCTIC%20-%20HUGH%20SMILING%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFqBTRJtvSlQJ4kqi-PUOPZ-51Gso0IddTDXHmtzrTkZMnSow8hUfIKPniyWDY2ar-bF2y8yPbH7pLASjkQvpZXO1ldnOAwhTfmmyoKXN9QiL24OTRizgZShs3Pzr9oX0JKvvWrxJGmHBZHyCExfs1M8B2akVR2jd35qYgxagAI1UKAvRMGMtNVbl/s1280/BOOK%20COVER%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="943" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFqBTRJtvSlQJ4kqi-PUOPZ-51Gso0IddTDXHmtzrTkZMnSow8hUfIKPniyWDY2ar-bF2y8yPbH7pLASjkQvpZXO1ldnOAwhTfmmyoKXN9QiL24OTRizgZShs3Pzr9oX0JKvvWrxJGmHBZHyCExfs1M8B2akVR2jd35qYgxagAI1UKAvRMGMtNVbl/w472-h640/BOOK%20COVER%202.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />Our team of four included BBC Producer Mike Salisbury and we wrote a book about our two Arctic years and the seventeen expeditions we made to the far north when making a series of three one hour wildlfie films for the BBC, so I’ll use some excerpts from the book:<br /><br /> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEvYacleEYncfdDCSCZbdpr_Y6FVTFDwsa3qYcJwlBFxOSBRif3eQnNXwzBuHS2xfb0zTxpFmBVHFAzOtJgFWYN0txHibAKU-EudqnPVLRLQNeqGfHpAUbR01csTcD6M7Z_ARi8_XF1F4iHRArmvl9y-VV4axzkTMNXYQCqcv10O888vCrWkrK8Ig/s1280/HUGH%20AND%20MIKE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="981" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEvYacleEYncfdDCSCZbdpr_Y6FVTFDwsa3qYcJwlBFxOSBRif3eQnNXwzBuHS2xfb0zTxpFmBVHFAzOtJgFWYN0txHibAKU-EudqnPVLRLQNeqGfHpAUbR01csTcD6M7Z_ARi8_XF1F4iHRArmvl9y-VV4axzkTMNXYQCqcv10O888vCrWkrK8Ig/w306-h400/HUGH%20AND%20MIKE.jpg" width="306" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />‘Mike and I are alone, surrounded by a frozen world in which humans become totally insignificant. The awesome expanse of landscape and sky merge into blankness, the complete horizon lost in a white infinity. From this spot there is nothing but ice and snow, all the way to the North Pole.’<br /><br /> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our challenge was to film the Arctic’s most charismatic animal at its most critical time of their year, our chapter heading illustrated by this delightful Inuit art: “Island of the Waking Bears”.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N_Nep7y1LULsCDxcxZe_XebGykJRw3RxEDgqrXLax49hyvlpJgVdOPXDd-FQuq9OdSZ_CVpeArzoVhOfWxxQHOnsVx5kQ5v_7H1_xGPHzqYsdPP5TdJOQYnAyuyn2etkiEINsp_Y3Jn3NexbVvFTeSEjfRXulDkDpXIFCyt33yyYJ_REo7OeKov4/s1280/ISLAND%20OF%20THE%20WAKING%20BEAR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1280" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N_Nep7y1LULsCDxcxZe_XebGykJRw3RxEDgqrXLax49hyvlpJgVdOPXDd-FQuq9OdSZ_CVpeArzoVhOfWxxQHOnsVx5kQ5v_7H1_xGPHzqYsdPP5TdJOQYnAyuyn2etkiEINsp_Y3Jn3NexbVvFTeSEjfRXulDkDpXIFCyt33yyYJ_REo7OeKov4/w640-h396/ISLAND%20OF%20THE%20WAKING%20BEAR.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> ‘It was 4th March 1984 when we were just setting off on a six-week expedition, but just as we left Svalbard’s capital, Longyearbyan, our overloaded sledge overturned on a steep snow bank. Our wilderness adventure was of great interest to the local residents, so they had come to wave us off but, I suspect, now thought we wouldn’t make it. They were driving trucks, we four were on skidoos, dragging seven sledges between us, heading for the distant island of Edgeoya, some 200 kilometres to the east over a glacier and then frozen sea ice. We had only travelled one kilometre, so the possibility that we wouldn’t make it crossed our minds too!<br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnl9jUb1i-NRG4sVICJxMdJb1pwUnAvWFLdJUHX1fJft9OvabztREHOG6iGJWg6v0-zh6muG2K1IOBC1afYMzIT6Mwxrgjnt8ESXmSLangecpuqTWCktTPtSlONgqEkHiIPNE2B5ZWKvMnBeNogh6fcPPNRMMDT5Hxv5-QxnCZk8wr7nxeBbQyTkD/s1280/MAP%20OVERVIEW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1280" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnl9jUb1i-NRG4sVICJxMdJb1pwUnAvWFLdJUHX1fJft9OvabztREHOG6iGJWg6v0-zh6muG2K1IOBC1afYMzIT6Mwxrgjnt8ESXmSLangecpuqTWCktTPtSlONgqEkHiIPNE2B5ZWKvMnBeNogh6fcPPNRMMDT5Hxv5-QxnCZk8wr7nxeBbQyTkD/w640-h424/MAP%20OVERVIEW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We were in no doubt of the risks of the trip, both financial and physical, for the conditions would be unrelentingly harsh and we might not even be able to cross the sea ice with our heavy sledges. When and if we reached the island, we would then have to find an active polar bear den with cubs, and that is nearly always difficult. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphhKV2KARXpivhEj5B-obQAcg0pPAFgEIZHkuOcdhi0IEAfairbSVEZXFb27lpbpzJvChqi3zPjrVI0gavW7ZFZZe5PcPZaiQGPllKc-KTENd1LHwj7uu1dey9JzqYD2cwU6GZPfmlGGHvdTcjReuWUeXniRezTN1N9msX7DaSd3MDIgJ88XlyhvW/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20THREE%20MUSKETEERS%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphhKV2KARXpivhEj5B-obQAcg0pPAFgEIZHkuOcdhi0IEAfairbSVEZXFb27lpbpzJvChqi3zPjrVI0gavW7ZFZZe5PcPZaiQGPllKc-KTENd1LHwj7uu1dey9JzqYD2cwU6GZPfmlGGHvdTcjReuWUeXniRezTN1N9msX7DaSd3MDIgJ88XlyhvW/w640-h430/ARCTIC%20-%20THREE%20MUSKETEERS%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our companions on the expedition, Norwegian scientists Rasmus and Birger described the problem. ‘Female polar bears leave the sea ice in the autumn and head inland, finding a suitable snow bank high up in the mountains, They then dig out a den and let the snow blow over the entrance, sealing themselves in against the intense cold. Having been mated by a male out on the summer ice, the females give birth to one or two cubs at about Christmas. They nurse them until the weak sun appears, then, responding to the light, break open the den and within days, lead the cubs down from the mountains and out onto the sea ice to hunt for seals.’<br /><br />It was this brief period of activity, when the female breaks out of the den with her cubs that was vital to our story of the Arctic but it’s one of the most difficult of any wildlife sequence in the world, so the four of us had everything we needed to film and survive for six weeks, including as much fuel as we could carry. We would be totally isolated from other humans. Our sledges, but not our minds, groaned under the burden.<br /><br />We righted the overturned sledge and motored on, for it was the 4th March and an important day, the first time the sun had climbed above the horizon for 110 days. It’s appearance over the sea ice struck us as a symbol of hope - spring was on the way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW-FIuuvvr46UAQBJBxRPe6aua_5posEIHEF-25-3fBLpq4c0jZZsmdDvfSwgKpX73x8cgM2l1-nruPefMIVw6Zj6IoLsPoOS5OovopS3730ZlZXbENx_-YmvP9_rJfYzgU0fcxnzC7cH1exzpTHZENwVYi_JKbEJ6W77VZltUG76FRBJcj_K0gED/s1280/P.BEAR%20IN%20SUNSET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW-FIuuvvr46UAQBJBxRPe6aua_5posEIHEF-25-3fBLpq4c0jZZsmdDvfSwgKpX73x8cgM2l1-nruPefMIVw6Zj6IoLsPoOS5OovopS3730ZlZXbENx_-YmvP9_rJfYzgU0fcxnzC7cH1exzpTHZENwVYi_JKbEJ6W77VZltUG76FRBJcj_K0gED/w640-h422/P.BEAR%20IN%20SUNSET.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Travelling by skidoo, wrapped in numerous layers of clothes, masked against the frosty wind, deafened by the roar of the engine, the mind becomes isolated from your fellow travellers. However, on reflection, I know we were all feeling the same - a sense of anticipation, excitement, adventure, a little overawed and apprehensive perhaps, but, even though it was -28 degrees C and darkness was falling, we all felt lucky to be there.<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QgTafjs-cNnyLRkzeuCCldyRH7Emy3mWT_yGljri6YDfWiIFfy1nzjV1L1hOaCOglbYW8X5TxOE4n8EpWVK4JWJeTbhCiN7rSpU4U0IIqmb7XCqS-70ZQ9vwxEolIyEnocsiAd7KI4BpqciYev0CCABtCzP1Y9Ij4-7UBgIweIJYFhrFo-DXeX5O/s1445/SKIDOO%20IN%20LOW%20LIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1445" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QgTafjs-cNnyLRkzeuCCldyRH7Emy3mWT_yGljri6YDfWiIFfy1nzjV1L1hOaCOglbYW8X5TxOE4n8EpWVK4JWJeTbhCiN7rSpU4U0IIqmb7XCqS-70ZQ9vwxEolIyEnocsiAd7KI4BpqciYev0CCABtCzP1Y9Ij4-7UBgIweIJYFhrFo-DXeX5O/w640-h418/SKIDOO%20IN%20LOW%20LIGHT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The valley headed east, up into the mountains but our problems didn’t start until we reached the glacier that lay across our path. The twilight of night was upon us and the next three hours proved to be a sweaty struggle. We floundered in deep snow, man hauled loads, righted overturned sledges, burnt out drive belts on the skidoos, looped back and forth to drag the sledges over the pass, roped them through narrow gaps in the moraines and over the mountain top, all in polar darkness, but, largely unscathed, we made it to the far side and all that ‘Scott of Antarctica’ stuff certainly kept us warm.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Once over the glacier it was plain sailing, though it was several hours before we found the little trappers cabin in the blackness of the night, lit up by our headlights. The hut lay on the edge of the frozen sea but there was little to see, for snow drifts obliterated all but the roof. Once we’d dug our way in, the little stove lit, food simmering and sleeping bags laid out it made a cosy roost and for a first night in this beautiful country, it was memorable. We unpacked the sledges under the glorious glow of the Aurora Borealis, the atmospheric flares streaking and shimmering from one horizon to the other, drifting across the midnight stars. The Aurora was brighter than the moon and we stood enthralled in the icy air - sleep came easily that night.<br /><br />After the days of planning, preparation and travel we woke reluctantly. We had been warm in our sleeping bags but were pleased it had been a cold night, for we hoped the sea ice we had to cross was frozen solid. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWxCVzAJF9--Y7pn_gUVUzsdZGrMsF-tGtoqWWsJroGwDLnN7Wy13IUr9uueJf0Ovt9JXc0LY9G04EfrSmP4FNIjWHL5fupk_npX9EJPR9jFw0Ja0rEUrq8FzzXmwreGE5b5xtDXRejx-SChuuG1RsyjthEhnPpGlAum4_yQJ3AiTb8xjtXyqPiRE/s1280/MIKE%20CU%20ICED%20UP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1280" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWxCVzAJF9--Y7pn_gUVUzsdZGrMsF-tGtoqWWsJroGwDLnN7Wy13IUr9uueJf0Ovt9JXc0LY9G04EfrSmP4FNIjWHL5fupk_npX9EJPR9jFw0Ja0rEUrq8FzzXmwreGE5b5xtDXRejx-SChuuG1RsyjthEhnPpGlAum4_yQJ3AiTb8xjtXyqPiRE/w640-h466/MIKE%20CU%20ICED%20UP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsj6vzPJhyYTSQV9GONKDcHFcqyceTOx_-aMdmXbRfoe8yAUwZoidZ9sVV_w4D4vXBodF6JrK0eEG9X4AD8bLJR4sKS-KDJ02njYfqOpRJYFdBHStmLcTLhyBzJwdmjp0E_KffSoKizt9bAXKUWOSnlKvyb3E3jTpesjC-T9nbBtLaLy3-uKNr0go/s1017/PB%20BIG%20MALE%20TO%20CAMERA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1017" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsj6vzPJhyYTSQV9GONKDcHFcqyceTOx_-aMdmXbRfoe8yAUwZoidZ9sVV_w4D4vXBodF6JrK0eEG9X4AD8bLJR4sKS-KDJ02njYfqOpRJYFdBHStmLcTLhyBzJwdmjp0E_KffSoKizt9bAXKUWOSnlKvyb3E3jTpesjC-T9nbBtLaLy3-uKNr0go/w640-h500/PB%20BIG%20MALE%20TO%20CAMERA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Just as we headed out towards our filming location of Edgeoya we were seen by our first bear, a big male who came across the ice to check us out. Before we could release the camera from the sledge, he took fright and ran off, a disappointment - and a relief, for we were still tuned to the streets of home and with our heads full of the stories of aggressive killer bears, we were not ready for a full on confrontation. It was good to see that at least one bear was afraid of humans.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIco4kc3TIZCKHqbKCkuNAzyGNUpVe2D-4SEGHPHefP7TOwyr2Wb4xG8Y_jXNAFtL5D6-cua4nxiYUGq5XcoMSY5jIPRgMXNPldQTatCnZxEh1oe_WjNWOVgPnTvT_fmivHFVab-OrfqnTyz1WZkQbYHEmzKUMxmS8X-0DnsdZuc9rQAJdwzqszyY/s1280/OVER%20THE%20FROZEN%20SEA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1280" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIco4kc3TIZCKHqbKCkuNAzyGNUpVe2D-4SEGHPHefP7TOwyr2Wb4xG8Y_jXNAFtL5D6-cua4nxiYUGq5XcoMSY5jIPRgMXNPldQTatCnZxEh1oe_WjNWOVgPnTvT_fmivHFVab-OrfqnTyz1WZkQbYHEmzKUMxmS8X-0DnsdZuc9rQAJdwzqszyY/w640-h370/OVER%20THE%20FROZEN%20SEA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Full of optimism, we headed due east, but after five kilometres were confronted by an impenetrable jumble of broken ice, before finding a gap in the ice that had only just refrozen and was too dangerous to cross. We motored back and forth but failed to find a safe way through this tortured landscape, so headed back to shore when darkness threatened and set up our tents on the sea ice, the only flattish place around. As we did so we saw five more bears and carefully set up the trip-wire system around the tents and sledges. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QWS2JB8fp64yvsByf0-2-krK6tG8FNhnVBdUNgA56twlIQIJQIphELYapsKAOwcbLqjifDMhQYn3TpwKuPARnKWv20vm87kmB4HlU5Ijzz41u_DVMNA7KyDC-fadryG_wO67pcXZXVEj0fnu6-mqBbLgfixUbNkD2nZ_JU3xb3j7pR88Exv2uP0c/s1280/ARCTIC%20%20-%20CAMP%20ON%20ICE%20+%20FLASHERS%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1280" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QWS2JB8fp64yvsByf0-2-krK6tG8FNhnVBdUNgA56twlIQIJQIphELYapsKAOwcbLqjifDMhQYn3TpwKuPARnKWv20vm87kmB4HlU5Ijzz41u_DVMNA7KyDC-fadryG_wO67pcXZXVEj0fnu6-mqBbLgfixUbNkD2nZ_JU3xb3j7pR88Exv2uP0c/w640-h382/ARCTIC%20%20-%20CAMP%20ON%20ICE%20+%20FLASHERS%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The theory is that when a bear comes to investigate in the night, the trip-wire sets off a thunder flash. This frightens the bear - and wakes us up - so if the bear returns, we would be able to defend ourselves. It’s important to remember the trip-wire is armed when leaving the tent in the dark for a pee, because once tripped, you have to shout to your trigger happy colleagues not to shoot!<br /><br />However, that night was extremely cold and after a preliminary doze, I lay half conscious, with bones chilled to the marrow laying on the frozen sea ice. Suddenly I was very much awake, aware of the footsteps of a bear just outside the tent. Not sure whether Mike was awake, I whispered my fears to him and we lay there and listened - another creak in the snow, and another. He agreed there was indeed a bear stalking closer and we made the rifle ready by our sides, realising that if it charged it would be on us before the trip-wire did it’s work. The creaks continued spasmodically - the bear was still there and our ears strained to hear it breathing - the only other sound being our beating hearts as we lay there freezing and frightened.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We decided the fear was irrational and we had better sleep but just as we dozed off, another series of creaks re-alerted us to the threat. So the hours passed by until we finally decided that our imaginations had run riot in the darkness and the noises were merely the sea ice cracking under the tent. Thus reassured, we slept soundly until dawn but on reflection, it amuses us that we were not concerned about the ice cracking underneath us. Only polar bears loom large in the wild dreams of Arctic adventurers.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJYkCBCXv8sOAwD2mDHbf4aSAH6fbf2WMuSU4tPGLwwATpJ8REiHYpvCV8ON5Vk_2WijP0QMC79IfIZLwK4W70xrtkdSAi3Im_XOXnbwFbhOfJb-AsiqI5MZih5SirdJ2bKmzU6d-GixHN9NrutfHNFVWPCAnq6aIQLi8-DJxlk1HzwJKTGKspgD/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20RASMUS%20AND%20MIKE%20LOOK%20OUT%20+%20BEAUT%20SKY%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1280" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJYkCBCXv8sOAwD2mDHbf4aSAH6fbf2WMuSU4tPGLwwATpJ8REiHYpvCV8ON5Vk_2WijP0QMC79IfIZLwK4W70xrtkdSAi3Im_XOXnbwFbhOfJb-AsiqI5MZih5SirdJ2bKmzU6d-GixHN9NrutfHNFVWPCAnq6aIQLi8-DJxlk1HzwJKTGKspgD/w640-h374/ARCTIC%20-%20RASMUS%20AND%20MIKE%20LOOK%20OUT%20+%20BEAUT%20SKY%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />To cut a long story short, our attempts to reach our destination were thwarted by impenetrable pack ice and open water, so we had to hunker down on a neighbouring island in the hope the sea would refreeze. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9624KNGX8EKcvA0nXcVrrI-CkbZNJOJBzTNI4-mPP4wujwJMEUgCHjuTL7UDHzhubJ981OsL2V0XQuvNcXG_w9xhWMhqX0g_a4KCSRvLubS5dT4G5RmmTOMmYCg0pfeNLemfRqxFTkE7I7Nq4KZb3Vcqv5zEszM1_2P7yV6cWJvoZvh9D6Ono4a_T/s1280/MIKE%20CHOPPING%20LOGS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9624KNGX8EKcvA0nXcVrrI-CkbZNJOJBzTNI4-mPP4wujwJMEUgCHjuTL7UDHzhubJ981OsL2V0XQuvNcXG_w9xhWMhqX0g_a4KCSRvLubS5dT4G5RmmTOMmYCg0pfeNLemfRqxFTkE7I7Nq4KZb3Vcqv5zEszM1_2P7yV6cWJvoZvh9D6Ono4a_T/w640-h482/MIKE%20CHOPPING%20LOGS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We sheltered in a small cabin that had to be repaired before we could live there because a bear had vandalised the front wall. But when we’d dug out all the snow and ice and rebuilt the windows, it proved quite cosy. However, bad weather meant we had to waste seven days there and the clock was ticking. If we were to capture the film we needed before all the bears left their dens, we needed to move fast.<br /><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPpItmeC8s4sfJiclvQw6cNLhMGhwi3VzJc0EVO9IYlUuuvNwlTw6wZRL2l3HFcloI0ovIBst7hMVCuCO5_On72zUI_mrNIm3VgKrxI1Mo4mZ1uxSe2rZXWRsDkVFxqh626ujiVK-K__Wcx0a2ViMxPPXpTb6J-an94YK_0dwh1w-B-HjgmtXT4RJ/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20THREE%20WALKING%20OFF%20ICE%20IN%20FAILURE%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1280" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPpItmeC8s4sfJiclvQw6cNLhMGhwi3VzJc0EVO9IYlUuuvNwlTw6wZRL2l3HFcloI0ovIBst7hMVCuCO5_On72zUI_mrNIm3VgKrxI1Mo4mZ1uxSe2rZXWRsDkVFxqh626ujiVK-K__Wcx0a2ViMxPPXpTb6J-an94YK_0dwh1w-B-HjgmtXT4RJ/w640-h420/ARCTIC%20-%20THREE%20WALKING%20OFF%20ICE%20IN%20FAILURE%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after a long search, we were tired and defeated by the impassable gaps in the ice<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Desperate, we chartered a large helicopter to carry all our skidoos, camera gear, fuel and food supplies across the open water to Edgeoya so that we could commence our search. When we landed at Kapp Lee we found ourselves thwarted once again, for a bear had broken the substantial door of the cabin and left it slightly open. No problem you might think, but the gap had allowed snow to blow in and fill the area behind - this had then frozen. All we could get through the gap was an arm, but after two hours using an ice axe to chip away, we were no nearer opening the door. The wind was now blowing hard, we were cold and hungry and darkness was closing in, so we reluctantly broke in through the window, then cut the ice away from the door from the inside.<br /><br />Once we’d entered, we were relived to see that the bear had not wrecked the sleeping accommodation and after a ten day journey we were finally set up to start work in earnest - we had lost valuable time but were in good spirits. It was my lucky turn for the top bunk - warm air rises - and as I snuggled down, I noticed the scratches of a previous visitor in the ceiling. It was the great claw marks of a bear, a true “who'se been sleeping in my bed moment.” I had sweet dreams that night.<br /><br />14th March was foul, blowing hard from the north, the air now very cold, and the comparatively warm sea-water steamed, so it was a good time to test the camera gear and remove some of the snow from inside the hut.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We planned to divide into two search teams to improve our chances of finding bear dens but we now had a fifth team member because an arctic fox had befriended us and with half an hour was inseparable. We called him or her ‘Lief’, and it soon learned that responding to that name resulted in a reward of a few raisins or bits of biscuit. Lief became hand tame in a few minutes - foxes have to exploit every food source if they are to survive the extreme cold and he became a charming mascot throughout our stay.<br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lXx8_H_yKPHTx0xrQz4hBoVy2JfLtLjvmg1YnG5tpuHhotLwNAbcBK_ttiP2DOx5Iil5pJlG_tOcpvmFLyXn9nj-b1tw-9V-Spoo-ezE86RLPxnGV_C68cx0-rDg7TE2gGxmvAGZ4xMBftu0IKdsr6ukM5cjNipPPQVSBeFtqxJO7v1McOyMIRrb/s1280/'LIEF'%20THE%20ARCTIC%20FOX.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lXx8_H_yKPHTx0xrQz4hBoVy2JfLtLjvmg1YnG5tpuHhotLwNAbcBK_ttiP2DOx5Iil5pJlG_tOcpvmFLyXn9nj-b1tw-9V-Spoo-ezE86RLPxnGV_C68cx0-rDg7TE2gGxmvAGZ4xMBftu0IKdsr6ukM5cjNipPPQVSBeFtqxJO7v1McOyMIRrb/w640-h456/'LIEF'%20THE%20ARCTIC%20FOX.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />In fact, it was he who maybe saved our lives, for when distracted as we packed our sledges for a camping expedition next day, with Lief on the boxes searching for hand outs, he suddenly fled with his tail between his legs. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsxEYDhFyQKfU5GpLtBu69INxV_MAWJwdqqnn70YQkEQPWbqFScenOXFZVcVso_PEstidhzKbouxUo1mhdMskOPSha9TixYx-_tkbcg9Mk16ATpeG9St1Od3wvGFCBGQ-yyxyFrhDDiO2Au3-h9vPkyHzMkMfTRvCabV_GqDf9GameVb8XmrsFh4_/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20P.%20BEAR%20WALKING%20RIGHT%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsxEYDhFyQKfU5GpLtBu69INxV_MAWJwdqqnn70YQkEQPWbqFScenOXFZVcVso_PEstidhzKbouxUo1mhdMskOPSha9TixYx-_tkbcg9Mk16ATpeG9St1Od3wvGFCBGQ-yyxyFrhDDiO2Au3-h9vPkyHzMkMfTRvCabV_GqDf9GameVb8XmrsFh4_/w640-h432/ARCTIC%20-%20P.%20BEAR%20WALKING%20RIGHT%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Spinning round, we saw a large bear marching purposefully into camp, so Mike rushed into the hut for a thunder flash and rifle while I leapt behind the skidoo for cover. This sudden burst of activity frightened the bear and it fled off over the ice as fast as it had approached. Lief returned and was rewarded with extra raisins for alerting us to the danger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZVzlgOalq5rnYpUwT1_Im_9VYj_yNoOcah9K1WysjNPaobJYiVp8ZIvPq0dZsm5tc6-WHyMYb0p7fyUqqzyui0KujNhPsHTrSMWZeil4Wgnw63DXZcQ_nJcZKhQwCVj7USK5dUlBozQ0TITX4sMzM54r5VgWBVqQb4JKvUPB9K3fN_CY3NStF-K/s1280/BIRGER%20WITH%20LIEF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1280" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZVzlgOalq5rnYpUwT1_Im_9VYj_yNoOcah9K1WysjNPaobJYiVp8ZIvPq0dZsm5tc6-WHyMYb0p7fyUqqzyui0KujNhPsHTrSMWZeil4Wgnw63DXZcQ_nJcZKhQwCVj7USK5dUlBozQ0TITX4sMzM54r5VgWBVqQb4JKvUPB9K3fN_CY3NStF-K/w640-h466/BIRGER%20WITH%20LIEF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It’s tempting to brag about the dangers of working with polar bears to show how brave we were, but to put it in perspective, our scientific consultant and leading authority on polar bears Dr. Ian Sterling of the Canadian Wildlife Service has worked closely with bears for twenty six years and never had to shoot one. However, as all the stories we’d been told confirmed, there are certainly risks, so being family men, we were armed to the teeth with rifles, magnum pistols, flares and thunder flashes. In fact, the locals joked that we probably had more firearms than the Norwegian army!<br /><br />God forbid if we ever had to harm a bear for a mere TV show, that would be unforgivable, so we’d been told how to minimise the risks and distract them if and when they approached, giving us time to retreat to a safe distance. In fact, having started with an underlying fear of the bears, I grew very fond of them over time and would let them get very close so my film shots were as striking as they could be. They hadn’t invented ‘Health and Safety’ in those days but I still dream about them, even after nearly forty years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZvN9hYEe5BcIrP6bCbHPLiv4blOc9SYzlL4KLHBIL2TWZxmOZ8bmvJ__UnBwL8BodxqFRHhiHZcisg98KKxw4B9UWBF6pBK7PF2DjS934S7g27MiwfWkERo79KwmXzVxh7RT8zKcIedgIH5WBLxW6_Hi87YqACQa6HYAXdHuPfR20NrQAgg-Isq3/s1280/P.BEAR%20CU%20IN%20SUN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZvN9hYEe5BcIrP6bCbHPLiv4blOc9SYzlL4KLHBIL2TWZxmOZ8bmvJ__UnBwL8BodxqFRHhiHZcisg98KKxw4B9UWBF6pBK7PF2DjS934S7g27MiwfWkERo79KwmXzVxh7RT8zKcIedgIH5WBLxW6_Hi87YqACQa6HYAXdHuPfR20NrQAgg-Isq3/w514-h640/P.BEAR%20CU%20IN%20SUN.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SXe-msNUM8hcTqkLCfeq7arFDFf95_OFJuTZECFWs5sMsL2T0OVub8vAYa035WG37ZuxRrY_V5xnb0FjuY1NGq-nyfymLruwGrMyRcEPI409tg-YoZAtqPbuC-xQs8w5TzZ8z1cu2BrFVzOzWWLyyc75BAjTiu4B4ZHC5qCF1i6I5hzf5xpIYlKV/s1280/MAP%20OF%20TOP%20HALF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1280" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SXe-msNUM8hcTqkLCfeq7arFDFf95_OFJuTZECFWs5sMsL2T0OVub8vAYa035WG37ZuxRrY_V5xnb0FjuY1NGq-nyfymLruwGrMyRcEPI409tg-YoZAtqPbuC-xQs8w5TzZ8z1cu2BrFVzOzWWLyyc75BAjTiu4B4ZHC5qCF1i6I5hzf5xpIYlKV/w640-h476/MAP%20OF%20TOP%20HALF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">searching routes for the northern half of the island and sites of den failures<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP6fdCVQs0N9RFFLP-BSANurYA7qMhoZYjBtLF_UDMiYlMmZyTy2SPSkXr5xNz9cwkQPR2M3iiKuAxGP__RO19mv3FXq7TS1V73EswuhQs9fvI-mlYpm82BZkUQhBC5umSuL1rwISZq2NgLEBkJMLE-19KfGzrpM4-e5-tcPC1xRpYDXtp4L23shy/s1280/FAILURE%20LIST.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1280" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP6fdCVQs0N9RFFLP-BSANurYA7qMhoZYjBtLF_UDMiYlMmZyTy2SPSkXr5xNz9cwkQPR2M3iiKuAxGP__RO19mv3FXq7TS1V73EswuhQs9fvI-mlYpm82BZkUQhBC5umSuL1rwISZq2NgLEBkJMLE-19KfGzrpM4-e5-tcPC1xRpYDXtp4L23shy/w640-h224/FAILURE%20LIST.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">our failure list</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Anyway, back to the search for bear dens and the next three weeks were as frustrating and disappointing as any filming could ever be. Both teams were finding the occasional bear den but these were either one year olds sheltering with mum from the storms, failed breeders or worse still, we were just too late, one family having left only two hours before we found their footprints. Soon after, we found another den, and this entry in our book describes our feelings of despair … <br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH5J-MLknFm8gkybOhKNiTLbRcDkZCVH0ltJTJ4YI1Lzkd8YMZxtxxJKdwTqa1VSRSDioyX4_bfvk_82d_sPyGj6rnPS7egp74aOpwpwJVA0Ex2GJpFZr47h8t-WRezVpRKSc7ThtE6DLRT9i3qs9Pgs4EhTGs4W9hLZs1a9fNpYyeGGyy4ubqk5S/s1588/CAMERA%20BY%20POLAR%20BEAR%20DEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1588" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH5J-MLknFm8gkybOhKNiTLbRcDkZCVH0ltJTJ4YI1Lzkd8YMZxtxxJKdwTqa1VSRSDioyX4_bfvk_82d_sPyGj6rnPS7egp74aOpwpwJVA0Ex2GJpFZr47h8t-WRezVpRKSc7ThtE6DLRT9i3qs9Pgs4EhTGs4W9hLZs1a9fNpYyeGGyy4ubqk5S/w640-h430/CAMERA%20BY%20POLAR%20BEAR%20DEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />‘Next morning we’d had no sighting of the bear, so Rasmus went up the mountainside to the hole and discovered that it had indeed been a maternity den, though female and cubs had left maybe two days before. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDfvia_JwYVIOCcLFIuP41g89JHefboyfLlJZuYOb1jYG9DlvAirJDyaoeUVmUZdo5ABG5fNOF4P2h_-wnxXO4DG-KVkGmDojFD-E2w6ee8ZL4ypAGwVAD7qvjcXxQYI6aky_T_Ag8MsvHI_Z3QiEqRpXV_2_q14qB1QFMEO66StCRnKi6PP6OuQh/s1280/INSIDE%20DEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1280" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDfvia_JwYVIOCcLFIuP41g89JHefboyfLlJZuYOb1jYG9DlvAirJDyaoeUVmUZdo5ABG5fNOF4P2h_-wnxXO4DG-KVkGmDojFD-E2w6ee8ZL4ypAGwVAD7qvjcXxQYI6aky_T_Ag8MsvHI_Z3QiEqRpXV_2_q14qB1QFMEO66StCRnKi6PP6OuQh/w640-h504/INSIDE%20DEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4MZSE5_JrpMQ2b5KT9Co7u6AfC2LF-7Tt7EBJQNKbJqPGn37J4T418xOmaWxYLZrdD8oYl2VF2WBd0IJI2rP9BkptSLWJExqwYyyZtTRarLisxOEM8vjYBmAngYKboRDg2joobTQL-Ga-fwgMbQVUUxIV6tA9ARxhIl5ezHRaoJ4U7W1HwDlM_I3/s1280/RASMUS%20BY%20BEAR%20DEN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4MZSE5_JrpMQ2b5KT9Co7u6AfC2LF-7Tt7EBJQNKbJqPGn37J4T418xOmaWxYLZrdD8oYl2VF2WBd0IJI2rP9BkptSLWJExqwYyyZtTRarLisxOEM8vjYBmAngYKboRDg2joobTQL-Ga-fwgMbQVUUxIV6tA9ARxhIl5ezHRaoJ4U7W1HwDlM_I3/w480-h640/RASMUS%20BY%20BEAR%20DEN.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">too late - Rasmus just above one of the dens - it's a searchers nightmare<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">We had to stomach yet another disappointment, and such a feeling is like physical sickness, a deep dread that we might fail in our quest. However, determined to succeed, we quickly packed camp and did a long search of the northern part of the island before heading back to Kapp Lee.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YB38-kOexWjbuPBzwFcjvk6lgGmBR4DkT1bDhKhl-sFu0VB61rFnqi__nRjBrRjqlgBrs7Bzj-8yeGRtcouRU_Tk4xzLCDIafpbrX1SgvLzTu9V5OSk1YL7o0XTktR_m4P13vn6CoctZ3n6XwXoVtdrMprR2eKc90j9VVJecqzZg5xgYk94T_9LJ/s1280/DOUBLE%20SUN%20+%20DISTANT%20SKIDOO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1280" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YB38-kOexWjbuPBzwFcjvk6lgGmBR4DkT1bDhKhl-sFu0VB61rFnqi__nRjBrRjqlgBrs7Bzj-8yeGRtcouRU_Tk4xzLCDIafpbrX1SgvLzTu9V5OSk1YL7o0XTktR_m4P13vn6CoctZ3n6XwXoVtdrMprR2eKc90j9VVJecqzZg5xgYk94T_9LJ/w640-h448/DOUBLE%20SUN%20+%20DISTANT%20SKIDOO.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skidooing into an ice crystal double sun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had covered 228 kilometres in four days and seen just one bear, but on the way home we met two big males, one a really superb animal who stood on his hind legs and towered above us as we approached, then baked off into the pack ice. The other suddenly surprised us on a ridge just above the skidoos. He was blooded and determined and we wondered if he had fought with the other male. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12ratGpGV1_BQ4W7x7xTuuJnKu7ft5IzL_uo-2HmkVixX25pfOhIMSyHt8mqqfZlWccnTOfK2y-YoDbdOurOuC-mh-jffk-mMLf53Xj6_hxq8YurtTU-V809Uc7NnnJF3vVF-H5_jJyJ0UuCgV4Ghpmjqdg8TX_uJmMdjQ1akdoyuK7S4PFROaX0i/s1354/PB'S%20ARGUING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1354" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12ratGpGV1_BQ4W7x7xTuuJnKu7ft5IzL_uo-2HmkVixX25pfOhIMSyHt8mqqfZlWccnTOfK2y-YoDbdOurOuC-mh-jffk-mMLf53Xj6_hxq8YurtTU-V809Uc7NnnJF3vVF-H5_jJyJ0UuCgV4Ghpmjqdg8TX_uJmMdjQ1akdoyuK7S4PFROaX0i/w640-h480/PB'S%20ARGUING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Such fights can be vicious if the prize is a female in heat. He followed us and had to be dissuaded with two flares. But each time he came forward again and in the end it was us who had to back off! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMp_tRuLpxRaGZmoTjEXya7TCsY3BIwjOCjeKVUcJlZy77c_HXF4A3r2GAwG-xfRYTLI08ztEzRMXIsUrNiBIi_jDKslonn2KYMvcczvGIanpdiKFuC4qRVd_r4iOBXhigX5aab52Ce4F1msVpBpYzobTdvnbj22DP-QybzKtzhMclsRk4UjBa0_v/s1032/PB%20COVER%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMp_tRuLpxRaGZmoTjEXya7TCsY3BIwjOCjeKVUcJlZy77c_HXF4A3r2GAwG-xfRYTLI08ztEzRMXIsUrNiBIi_jDKslonn2KYMvcczvGIanpdiKFuC4qRVd_r4iOBXhigX5aab52Ce4F1msVpBpYzobTdvnbj22DP-QybzKtzhMclsRk4UjBa0_v/w618-h640/PB%20COVER%20CU.jpg" width="618" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Within half an hour we were back at Kapp Lee. Perhaps it was one of those big male bears that woke us at 5.30 a.m. by banging into our trip wires, but at least he ran off.<br /><br />Next day, apart from the delight of a thorough wash, we had some hard thinking to do. It was already the 25th March and we had taken very little film. Time was running out. We had searched all the areas on the northern part of the island and the only place we had not ventured was the southern part, very remote from base camp. So it was with a mixture of reluctance and trepidation that we headed south with seven days’ supplies and a sledge load of fuel.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhBGrCVwFv-iql6a3L4Im92G_WgPJWWL5y5_nNxeZHIvlz3WcRL0ZeLr9fr-OPl4twm75ZuB1H1ig6E3MdLv_YSjPY81mcGdQnVpELATYr_4vFJPzSntrGgetEq4aoJ6pXHFeBjlKzUuT2zsZbBtNZ4qWzg1CS9LUwQX1PRRGDlPCzEm4W0fxLs2U/s1280/SKIDOOING%20IN%20BLIZZARD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhBGrCVwFv-iql6a3L4Im92G_WgPJWWL5y5_nNxeZHIvlz3WcRL0ZeLr9fr-OPl4twm75ZuB1H1ig6E3MdLv_YSjPY81mcGdQnVpELATYr_4vFJPzSntrGgetEq4aoJ6pXHFeBjlKzUuT2zsZbBtNZ4qWzg1CS9LUwQX1PRRGDlPCzEm4W0fxLs2U/w408-h640/SKIDOOING%20IN%20BLIZZARD.jpg" width="408" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The journey was extremely difficult, for it was very windy, creating not only extreme cold, but a complete white-out. We all used compasses but, even though on exactly the right route through the mountains, we nearly plunged to our deaths into a crevasse which lay hidden in our path. Rasmus was leading and suddenly had a sixth sense there was danger ahead. He signalled us to stop immediately and saved our lives. After that we collected the black droppings of reindeer and I walked in front of the leading skidoo, throwing the black markers ahead. If the dropping disappeared, there was a precipice or crevasse. Thus we made slow but safe progress and eventually crossed over the mountain pass.<br /><br />After that narrow escape, the rest of the journey was long but easy and we were delighted to find the cabin at the southern end had not been wrecked by bears, though the sight on opening the door was stunning. Every surface, tables, chairs, books and bunks were covered in several centimetres of hoar-frost. It looked like a fairy-tale scene from a movie and it seemed appropriate that the hut had been christened ‘Permafrost City’.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLKZMLaqR2RHKtLxKD3K5A_W0_hISQSSEQCxaQ-r5Uu-ZN6etPghNnAJMieMrpyb9XyQEFahDSZ3LgVVu-fCuC--K9M8VaAc25U376ZcVAmf8uJ0FwU_lJ1TXPthvVmE0Lpn8Xzm2Vp2VQv1Z-TG76H_GUerAK03pUm0rUh-q50tMRzwt_0M54iW7/s1280/CABIN%20+%20SMOKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1280" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLKZMLaqR2RHKtLxKD3K5A_W0_hISQSSEQCxaQ-r5Uu-ZN6etPghNnAJMieMrpyb9XyQEFahDSZ3LgVVu-fCuC--K9M8VaAc25U376ZcVAmf8uJ0FwU_lJ1TXPthvVmE0Lpn8Xzm2Vp2VQv1Z-TG76H_GUerAK03pUm0rUh-q50tMRzwt_0M54iW7/w640-h520/CABIN%20+%20SMOKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />With numerous logs available on the nearby shore we soon changed the interior from Arctic chill to tropical damp, but by next morning the Arctic had lost some of it’s glamour, for the temperature had dropped to -31ºC, and during the next ten hours of searching, the cold wind was almost unbearable, with frostbite threatening nose, face and fingers and watering eyes freezing up. <br /><br />But at 4 p.m. we thought our luck had finally changed, for we found a mother and cub on a snow slope above the sea ice. The cub was playing, climbing up the steep hill and sliding down, colliding with its resting mother. I stalked closer, using an iceberg for cover, then just as I was in position for some good film, mother and cub fled onto the sea ice. I was downwind and found her departure difficult to understand when suddenly the skidoos of Mike and Birger appeared round a bluff. They had been searching areas ten kilometres to the north and failing to find anything, had appeared at the worst possible moment. It was the cruellest bad luck, and with such unbelievable coincidences apparently stacked against us, I lost heart, and for the first time in four difficult weeks started to believe we might not succeed in filming a bear with cubs after all.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, 28th March was a new day, and by facing adversity comes triumph. After Rasmus and I had searched all the likely terrain on the coldest day so far, with the temperature at minus 34ºC, we headed along the sea ice to the most southerly tip of Edgeoya and just as Rasmus was gazing out to sea, dreaming perhaps of his far off Norwegian homeland, my heart lept with joy, for there above us was a polar bear den. A large plug of snow lay by the entrance, and fresh tracks led 30 metres down the slope, then back up to the den.<br /><br />We shook hands and smiled with joy, then remembering all the other disappointments, tempered our enthusiasm by thinking the worst. Surely a female would not have cubs in such a dangerous spot as this, close to the sea ice where numerous male bears would be hunting seals. No, it was more likely to be a temporary den as bears do ‘hole up’ for two or three weeks, to rest or weather a storm.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-TWNvt5tO6-8PXpbM8sTrfPgfwnPBXhSf4I5Z9TwtHsc-Jxp6rgqHdYUmr1nPivoYbeuh8zwX1-3Ne8r7E6GJOGICpvM1HKYU3SZ0Mn3JVoC46hkF7v_l109W4qLPLcNV2dCLpT8SZlsNWA3BGw-E-i5WbgRHSvwHc89tT3dh856IK28cFb3E6im/s1280/RASMUS%20EATING%20IN%20HIDE.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1280" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-TWNvt5tO6-8PXpbM8sTrfPgfwnPBXhSf4I5Z9TwtHsc-Jxp6rgqHdYUmr1nPivoYbeuh8zwX1-3Ne8r7E6GJOGICpvM1HKYU3SZ0Mn3JVoC46hkF7v_l109W4qLPLcNV2dCLpT8SZlsNWA3BGw-E-i5WbgRHSvwHc89tT3dh856IK28cFb3E6im/w640-h458/RASMUS%20EATING%20IN%20HIDE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Rasmus melted snow for hot drinks and we waited in thick sleeping bags to keep the cold at bay</span><br /><br />However, we couldn’t be sure, so built a snow shelter out on the sea ice for filming, about 100 metres below the den. As we did so, a head appeared and watched us briefly, but there was no further sign of her and we pulled out at dusk, anxious to return as soon as there was enough light to skidoo back at dawn.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KF1n-O0s1rm0eejPTUruM-1MbjW-FRdgQzb8uu2nJHRLL8GZQi0LixxT9pibxArmHcFtXgdaxirvN7dLREIIcIhMkvuWbi7N2hMcHjHqiuvwVxKJBnF8BMwRYsmzkjU2CYsOs3fye35HXNwLR2fnrtG_p_iVCgXP_jFhPByjGAxImt8-5IIezbgn/s1280/ARTIC%20-%20%20HUT%20AT%20SOUTH%20END%20+%20LATE%20SUN%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1280" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KF1n-O0s1rm0eejPTUruM-1MbjW-FRdgQzb8uu2nJHRLL8GZQi0LixxT9pibxArmHcFtXgdaxirvN7dLREIIcIhMkvuWbi7N2hMcHjHqiuvwVxKJBnF8BMwRYsmzkjU2CYsOs3fye35HXNwLR2fnrtG_p_iVCgXP_jFhPByjGAxImt8-5IIezbgn/w640-h402/ARTIC%20-%20%20HUT%20AT%20SOUTH%20END%20+%20LATE%20SUN%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We rose at 5 a.m. to a beautiful clear dawn. It was now minus 37ºC but we urgently rushed towards the den, afraid of missing the female, in case she chose to leave on such a fine morning. <br /><br />As we approached she did leave the den, walking down the hill before investigating our ice hide. She sniffed around, climbed in through the gap we’d left in the back, found the thunder flash we had left in a crack and eat it, then inconsiderately crashed through our front wall! Even more disturbing was the way she failed to return to the den but instead headed out onto the pack ice. It had been a temporary den after all, and now, used to these setbacks, we grabbed the camera and set off in rapid pursuit to film her activity.<br /><br />Our disappointment at yet another useless den changed to happiness when a large male bear appeared in a mirage and as he walked the frozen sea in search of seals, we were able to film the female giving him a wide birth. Then they both drifted off into the haze.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3wvDm7nDV5dGI1cgKlnlqohFcgsJMfakh_eGXbLQglO7D76PCzpISHp6OMV9ev7iTVlIrtBEGlLv4hX0NG4Azde1qxHj_GHnAJuFJZuEHTvPcQkaCJ7reAROowgUywq0wj43dw7ZomaNVIfHBgH5DnZ-8FXoXDCU2o5D6a82ExH6VRTPT3qUVW8Y/s1280/P.BEAR%20WALKING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3wvDm7nDV5dGI1cgKlnlqohFcgsJMfakh_eGXbLQglO7D76PCzpISHp6OMV9ev7iTVlIrtBEGlLv4hX0NG4Azde1qxHj_GHnAJuFJZuEHTvPcQkaCJ7reAROowgUywq0wj43dw7ZomaNVIfHBgH5DnZ-8FXoXDCU2o5D6a82ExH6VRTPT3qUVW8Y/w640-h428/P.BEAR%20WALKING.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Returning to our hide to inspect the damage, I suddenly became aware that we were being watched, and looking up at the den, saw a bear’s face blinking at us in the bright sun. It was a large female, so the other bear had been a visitor and we were still in business. We dived into the remains of our snow hide but had to wait until mid-afternoon before her head appeared for just a few seconds. By then the sun had gone and the wind further chilled us. We had been out on the sea ice, filming for ten hours in minus 37º C.<br /><br />However, we had taken the precaution of doing an Arctic survival course before venturing north and one message the Marines had stressed was “Cold Can Kill”. They also taught us how to read the signs of hypothermia: drifting concentration, uncharacteristic behaviour, shivering, stumbling, defects of vision and unconsciousness, [normal for me now at age eighty, but not in 1984!]. Sitting still all day in an ice hide had taken me to hypothermia stage three and I was in trouble, so we reluctantly abandoned ship and motored rapidly home to our cabin where I climbed into my sleeping bag with a hot drink and slowly thawed out. I was really cold, but within a couple of hours some warmth had returned to all except my hands and feet, and I slept soundly.<br /><br />Next day the female’s head appeared just twice in ten hours of waiting, but at least she looked relaxed and we still hoped she had cubs. Just in case we had got it wrong yet again, Mike and Birger continued searching other valleys for alternative dens.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58PUznKQZvBJNoRfG_o-Ac0_zYlvXBRprm3CA9fdv6ALq0j0MqzrqM18WgisC27hIXpRqQj0CXxL4j69UOfuwGFoHnDBf2LkxvKFnhOG6SqiiuuMX6Wc2QnSfOhUVHRL0WjP0uR3nCIubqIl77SW-8iqxuaPVYNhzre7YXhMPMST8kTRBacJetfQh/s1280/SKIDOO%20IN%20BEAUT%20VALLEY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58PUznKQZvBJNoRfG_o-Ac0_zYlvXBRprm3CA9fdv6ALq0j0MqzrqM18WgisC27hIXpRqQj0CXxL4j69UOfuwGFoHnDBf2LkxvKFnhOG6SqiiuuMX6Wc2QnSfOhUVHRL0WjP0uR3nCIubqIl77SW-8iqxuaPVYNhzre7YXhMPMST8kTRBacJetfQh/w640-h456/SKIDOO%20IN%20BEAUT%20VALLEY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />31st March was once again cold, clear and crisp - a beautiful spring day, and as if in response to the sun, the female appeared at 9.30 a.m. and immediately climbed out of the den. She yawned and stretched and her joy at release from four months entombed in an ice cave seemed very evident. She slid down the mountain towards us on her back, head wallowing in the powder snow, legs waving in the air. She rubbed her back to and fro, then rolled on to her front and rubbed her belly, eventually stopping her rapid descent by pushing her huge paws in front and snow-ploughing a deep furrow.<br /><br />It was a wonderful bit of film but I wasn’t sure I'd filmed it correctly because my eye had iced up and so had to rely on my instinct as the bear slid towards the camera. What’s more, we wouldn’t know if I’d judged the focus correctly until we were back home in England. <br /><br />Our star looked very thin, a sign she did have cubs, but when she came down onto the sea ice in front of us and disappeared to the north until only a speck, we really felt in more despair than ever before. Rasmus had never seen a mother travel far from a den in which she had cubs and our female was now four kilometres away.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We just sat in silent prayer and waited and, as if somebody up there loved us, the female did finally turn round and within three hours was back in the den. It had been a long three hours! <br /><br />In the afternoon she popped out again, briefly, and there between her legs was a cub. Rasmus and I danced a discreet jig, shook hands, hugged and screamed silent cries of triumph. The sense of elation was intense, and though she didn’t appear again that day, we felt sure we would finally capture our vital sequence. We celebrated with Mike and Birger that evening, then watched a large male bear walk past the cabin in the twilight of an Arctic night. Life felt wonderful again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKNML53gfXjEL842AYaGDzm6-FNXNv2eVbKIf3E_HqlMD3bppFGlnklyVH2hcCjZ5MzFLIi1OnKYlgxQPF3c2g1c60yn8-wy_XFcgQ-PMnqckA3WSQ0mZmEcG3L58DZ3GSr59O5KpskNYyBIxp9CKz4F77xkm4fsJQM-IKc5bOh0wDX_NFhcR0rbo/s1280/ARCTIC%20-%20CAMERA%20LOOKS%20AT%20DEN%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKNML53gfXjEL842AYaGDzm6-FNXNv2eVbKIf3E_HqlMD3bppFGlnklyVH2hcCjZ5MzFLIi1OnKYlgxQPF3c2g1c60yn8-wy_XFcgQ-PMnqckA3WSQ0mZmEcG3L58DZ3GSr59O5KpskNYyBIxp9CKz4F77xkm4fsJQM-IKc5bOh0wDX_NFhcR0rbo/w640-h428/ARCTIC%20-%20CAMERA%20LOOKS%20AT%20DEN%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next day was the 1st April. What twists of fate would play their hand today we thought, conjured by some evil troll? Surely we cannot be sure of succeeding even now? But another wonderfully calm, sunny day gave us a chance and at about 8.30 a.m. the female appeared, blinked briefly in the bright light, then climbed out and sat by the den entrance. A cub soon appeared, then another, and as Mum walked amongst them I felt sure I saw a third. Within moments it was confirmed; there were three cubs, a most unusual phenomenon, for one or two cubs are more usual. So lady luck had at last turned in our favour.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFCCmCJ7mDluRkUNCAkN8oEMaTsfq2UDTrahmATZu2HD-fKQCz2wHQG-O2o2zBJf6dNgIEcG_ukFbPjWxCx9CF5pc2jDk8EnSYeyTR0PBVhqhaG0VqswPBPXzIAqig2_A8ZNt8wHKv-mjNWtVPUv57MZXl3odBRlKrkwyWU6grKwFSNN9me0ya7Ky/s1280/P.BEAR%20CUB%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1280" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFCCmCJ7mDluRkUNCAkN8oEMaTsfq2UDTrahmATZu2HD-fKQCz2wHQG-O2o2zBJf6dNgIEcG_ukFbPjWxCx9CF5pc2jDk8EnSYeyTR0PBVhqhaG0VqswPBPXzIAqig2_A8ZNt8wHKv-mjNWtVPUv57MZXl3odBRlKrkwyWU6grKwFSNN9me0ya7Ky/w400-h373/P.BEAR%20CUB%20CU.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The smallest cub was hardly the size of a little terrier, whereas the other two were a more normal dumpy dog size, and quite white, certainly paler than their rather yellowy-white mother. Their first sight of the outside world was greeted with terrified squeaks as they looked down the steep mountainside with trepidation. The den was about 150 metres above the sea ice, and somehow they had to get down. The female fussed over them, then walked a few confident paces down, whilst two of the cubs followed gingerly, sliding backwards, with claws clutching the snow. The other stayed in the den entrance and cried so loudly that the female returned and suckled all three in the sun.<br /><br />They slept for an hour, then clambered up and down the slope, slowly growing in confidence before returning to the den. We hoped they would be around for what is normally two or three days so I could film the cubs playing and suckling, but at 2 p.m. the female emerged purposefully and started down towards the sea ice, followed protestingly by the little cubs. Perhaps she realised how vulnerable they were in this spot, for they had already been visited by two bears and probably seen others too. Or perhaps she was really hungry, for she hadn't eaten for four months and suckling three cubs must have placed great demand on her reserves. Whatever the reason, her determined move out onto the sea ice was a last disappointment, but we followed discreetly on foot, and interspersed with sleep and suckling, the family were soon three kilometres from the shore and deep into the cover of the pack ice.<br /><br />Among the chaos of ice blocks she would probably be able to hide the cubs from marauding male bears, and she was now in the realm of the seal, and within sight of her first meal. We bade them a fond farewell and watched their departure into a white haze, feeling very sad it was all over. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiVQAJNsTm2ZUnFV-cVB85p7CPMSxkiSOUpiLvszDgoy6gmRn7B4VtNLGNw1cMFPJWoS8r-qY8RsnogXekEYknEZrfOVEXYOScZt9BjYIOxr6y3P_UuhXt7ThPygygvoGJRFT0zIJDzrgZnwaZxfS5GLMShKPxY_d8yXc3OP9_h490wOlu1wifmFE/s1280/TOTAL%20JOURNEY%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="921" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiVQAJNsTm2ZUnFV-cVB85p7CPMSxkiSOUpiLvszDgoy6gmRn7B4VtNLGNw1cMFPJWoS8r-qY8RsnogXekEYknEZrfOVEXYOScZt9BjYIOxr6y3P_UuhXt7ThPygygvoGJRFT0zIJDzrgZnwaZxfS5GLMShKPxY_d8yXc3OP9_h490wOlu1wifmFE/w460-h640/TOTAL%20JOURNEY%202.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR1Z3LxNtt3SSYKP5rkw8gNwGAiNKuk7XbBcbc_QNRlkotHrgjQfRfsGyQFge-3c6JytA_rCsPDDhHjuHlSdrcG6TEKBTkF3X4usl5lniibNJhX2pZtF9EusrOaD4b7oU-o5r38blq-t2xblTgQAt4pArDHAgPhj9Dq18F8Mt6QywFG9P8kQxy5vI/s1280/KEY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1280" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR1Z3LxNtt3SSYKP5rkw8gNwGAiNKuk7XbBcbc_QNRlkotHrgjQfRfsGyQFge-3c6JytA_rCsPDDhHjuHlSdrcG6TEKBTkF3X4usl5lniibNJhX2pZtF9EusrOaD4b7oU-o5r38blq-t2xblTgQAt4pArDHAgPhj9Dq18F8Mt6QywFG9P8kQxy5vI/w400-h246/KEY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We had travelled 8,000 kilometres to capture about ten minutes of edited film; that is about 500 kilometres sledging per minute; we hoped the audience would feel it was worthwhile. And as for us, we had seen the Arctic at its best, and its worst, for it had been a tough but exhilarating trip. It was an adventure that few others could ever hope to experience and every moment, however cold, however difficult or depressing, even dangerous, now seemed worthwhile. It had been a rare privilege to share that remote island with the bears, and we knew how lucky we had been.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMSXevpPxBnNh8RTpiDe_pKb7hSVBKXyjQ8-_-MuVQ57mN2X8-JbALPE4muT3SUW0ncuu7C_DUAL5sOMNzsP_o0aNRxiBpo8XyFo6WT1YCMqtnIObFft5HptODMR_4iMfW5kwel_Rjh2_wJ9WidsUssGk9nuooSmcLO7ws8dvSEIpdLcksO8kdSIh/s2430/POLAR%20BEAR%20ON%20MIDNIGHT%20ICE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="2430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMSXevpPxBnNh8RTpiDe_pKb7hSVBKXyjQ8-_-MuVQ57mN2X8-JbALPE4muT3SUW0ncuu7C_DUAL5sOMNzsP_o0aNRxiBpo8XyFo6WT1YCMqtnIObFft5HptODMR_4iMfW5kwel_Rjh2_wJ9WidsUssGk9nuooSmcLO7ws8dvSEIpdLcksO8kdSIh/w640-h480/POLAR%20BEAR%20ON%20MIDNIGHT%20ICE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As for the audience with whom we shared our adventures, the three one hour films went down a storm and even won us six British Academy Award nominations, along with, rather bizarrely, a medal from the Royal Geographic Society for exploration. I suppose we qualified by travelling to places that other folk had never been to, but it was a pleasant surprise for us adventurous film makers.<br /><br />As for the film of the mother bear sliding down the mountain on her back that I couldn’t see due to a frozen eye, I did get lucky and follow the focus correctly. What’s more, the scene became a fixture for many years in the BBC’s ‘highlight reels’, so it was always nice to be reminded of that magical moment, shared with our lovely polar bear and her cubs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EXFg8xhVUJqUuV5NTOk_AstsqjZy2TtfdRWhXbHjJLdqlDOpzIq9g6v49--X1vfY9Fd3xDqyYH5RfaMPCu7HhnoK7Ezt7SO0_KJtudWWRk2L787z_gvZnqqoxMz_TUtv6Mb_1WjwoUdK0sSU3bBnjgEg04knM20tZ4ptPYl0RQ0ykZev_U1XvrEf/s1280/BEAR%20CUBS%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1167" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EXFg8xhVUJqUuV5NTOk_AstsqjZy2TtfdRWhXbHjJLdqlDOpzIq9g6v49--X1vfY9Fd3xDqyYH5RfaMPCu7HhnoK7Ezt7SO0_KJtudWWRk2L787z_gvZnqqoxMz_TUtv6Mb_1WjwoUdK0sSU3bBnjgEg04knM20tZ4ptPYl0RQ0ykZev_U1XvrEf/w584-h640/BEAR%20CUBS%20.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>If you have the patience to read more of our book 'Kingdom of the Ice Bear' ... for what I've included are just a few excerpts, then I would imagine your local library might find a copy. It was translated into three languages and was in The Times best seller lists for several weeks, so there must be a few copies around.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, Sue and I wish our readers a rewarding and happy Christmas and hope that life is kind to you all next year.<br /><br /></span><br /></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-79359218025865653892022-10-22T10:18:00.001+01:002022-10-22T10:22:39.976+01:00<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;">AUTUMN'S HOPE AND HAPPINESS</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d75Z0gJP6fsRw8NvmIJ0njwEFJDbMT65WKgEGFdcIdywUWKYQkMIaJuAyH76nTmJDwOiZb8CHCgcDntEslv0EmTprfIGIp5jtemUZqSUmtBrwc1K92rnc0aYazjQoRtoyYfJQ3aPIBFoycwVMAQRR8i-USnQJqizotokIbJyhytUH0KxzaiuSd71/s3648/10:15%20CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d75Z0gJP6fsRw8NvmIJ0njwEFJDbMT65WKgEGFdcIdywUWKYQkMIaJuAyH76nTmJDwOiZb8CHCgcDntEslv0EmTprfIGIp5jtemUZqSUmtBrwc1K92rnc0aYazjQoRtoyYfJQ3aPIBFoycwVMAQRR8i-USnQJqizotokIbJyhytUH0KxzaiuSd71/w640-h480/10:15%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Autumn, a season of change, of beauty, hope and happiness.
And if you’re a fisherman, there’s no season that provides so many exciting challenges. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tench might be starting to slink away, the trout season fading but barbel are now at their best and wildlife doesn’t get any more beautiful than these bronze beauties - if you can catch them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18YFLrBArREBOXYi9jvAQdkjHCrrCUfOJxZzf6j_zs0RllgbKUyh0TVDMjM6zCeI2-d1lAhq8t0spjkyhFvMsgspTmn9--dJS8etBerohXJBMeactKoWZvYi1-o-dK2UNy7xa3yxzH007S1o_q43CPA44JE1NGaMkKjW08E7ssptNO81DnDV5pO9V/s3778/HUGH%20BATTLING%20BARBEL%20ON%20RIVER%20WYE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2456" data-original-width="3778" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18YFLrBArREBOXYi9jvAQdkjHCrrCUfOJxZzf6j_zs0RllgbKUyh0TVDMjM6zCeI2-d1lAhq8t0spjkyhFvMsgspTmn9--dJS8etBerohXJBMeactKoWZvYi1-o-dK2UNy7xa3yxzH007S1o_q43CPA44JE1NGaMkKjW08E7ssptNO81DnDV5pO9V/w640-h416/HUGH%20BATTLING%20BARBEL%20ON%20RIVER%20WYE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Which reminds me of a particularly enjoyable day with good friend Martin Bowler on the River Wye a while back. The barbel were very hungry, grabbing our baits so enthusiastically that our rods needed to be held tight if we weren’t to lose them. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The added spice was the pressure to succeed because Martin was writing one of his excellent Angling Times features about our day and as the sun was shining, the extreme beauty of the riverside ensured our few hours together provided happy memories. You can’t beat sharing a day with a good friend. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYFZMxNTEuSUoSqld6jqtYa_xyXo5lx_JsWZ4S6oaRpYAu5tyr7_2cC5lN_vJNEEY76Gxn8YyzMjwpLl2PQA42gTMGQQyAjV7oedsqB0eJl2oiMNQ0UokeneJuAiAd-oNJ1JZvDvog136D6eC-shJ6MzHDXmn4wX13v3QSWSYCFNhjTZEVX9moh8T/s3034/HUGH%20AND%20MARTIN%20+%20WYE%20BARBEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="3034" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYFZMxNTEuSUoSqld6jqtYa_xyXo5lx_JsWZ4S6oaRpYAu5tyr7_2cC5lN_vJNEEY76Gxn8YyzMjwpLl2PQA42gTMGQQyAjV7oedsqB0eJl2oiMNQ0UokeneJuAiAd-oNJ1JZvDvog136D6eC-shJ6MzHDXmn4wX13v3QSWSYCFNhjTZEVX9moh8T/w640-h422/HUGH%20AND%20MARTIN%20+%20WYE%20BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Autumn also signals the start of the challenge to find big roach in our rivers and as trotting down the flow with a centre-pin reel and ‘Topper Haskins’ float is my favourite type of fishing, it’s a treat to be doing it again.
I tried for the first time last week on a beautiful stretch of the Hampshire Avon and the precision and concentration required is what makes it so appealing. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xw3fWrI1w1nRPorsghx0ZIrxXL6VdIHlphaAXnqfSJOXts8z1fit0MqIe_J6MGL3LeeoPMV9TKATG1i9Q-kUtqbZXHY-NZXZN35bIJAbhWAgNkm_kbtNRttchHId6mJQghYho66txqBjViNAzq0LgFpvkZj7F3ResccSR_WwgyD4xxDcDiZNgIHV/s1280/SUNNY%20AFTERNOON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xw3fWrI1w1nRPorsghx0ZIrxXL6VdIHlphaAXnqfSJOXts8z1fit0MqIe_J6MGL3LeeoPMV9TKATG1i9Q-kUtqbZXHY-NZXZN35bIJAbhWAgNkm_kbtNRttchHId6mJQghYho66txqBjViNAzq0LgFpvkZj7F3ResccSR_WwgyD4xxDcDiZNgIHV/w640-h480/SUNNY%20AFTERNOON.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bright sun made the afternoon a quest of hope rather than expectation but when ‘the magic hour’ arrived and dusk made seeing the float difficult, the big roach started rolling and in my book, there is little else that is so exciting. Any minute now ... and thump, thump as the float plunges under.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYXvUnt2cRyQpkEy4Yc3KZV7MiM47YQOJXlz7yc78AwBbuQm0cFLcG28AbUCP8FTbvpLO_6nzht_-XzxLymJ3zgnR8W9tuUSEhXXSHTyfsKwPbEchEeKUqNLC9PYBGO7d3jioH-QCBzr_YOMYRxqVwXsu2LC3gruiCLMBTFX3N2cVcfVaRNcXEXm1/s2940/BRACH%20-%201:7%20ROACH%20IN%20NET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2022" data-original-width="2940" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYXvUnt2cRyQpkEy4Yc3KZV7MiM47YQOJXlz7yc78AwBbuQm0cFLcG28AbUCP8FTbvpLO_6nzht_-XzxLymJ3zgnR8W9tuUSEhXXSHTyfsKwPbEchEeKUqNLC9PYBGO7d3jioH-QCBzr_YOMYRxqVwXsu2LC3gruiCLMBTFX3N2cVcfVaRNcXEXm1/w640-h440/BRACH%20-%201:7%20ROACH%20IN%20NET.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I failed to catch a roach weighing over two pounds and though there seems to be a growing trend that pours scorn on the idea of weight being a measure of the quality of a catch, a two pound roach remains the ultimate prize for a river angler. It certainly does for this passionate angler and as for a three pounder, dream on. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Catching such fish in a lake is somewhat easier, so I have friends that suggest a still-water two or even three pounder is only worth half it’s weight! But in my book, any roach is a good roach. I love ‘em all, whatever their size.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HKH2pZNNxdamsBghvTZ_90q9TztAt6pgTFStwu-O8Lj6HcRlUaSv4dawVQ56cR0xINUTHIlBX-Vvgv02X77tvCGImrXSm2_y5ZgNpPueJSQvIAzDQh92wYqZOteZZoeAfrJZp1roPGgzgvTHzlBzuPJWHf-JcvkEg9lET1fF65KT_CZAz95dHcMt/s3014/HAPPY%20ROACH%20ANGLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="3014" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HKH2pZNNxdamsBghvTZ_90q9TztAt6pgTFStwu-O8Lj6HcRlUaSv4dawVQ56cR0xINUTHIlBX-Vvgv02X77tvCGImrXSm2_y5ZgNpPueJSQvIAzDQh92wYqZOteZZoeAfrJZp1roPGgzgvTHzlBzuPJWHf-JcvkEg9lET1fF65KT_CZAz95dHcMt/w640-h512/HAPPY%20ROACH%20ANGLER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Another species that comes onto anglers radar in
autumn is the perch and if
only I had more time to go fishing, I’d target a stripy or two every day
as they are so beautiful. <br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUC0jnfTMC4B9aS8bUR_K0Bp98wkOZoMnK9L2dc1E8YEXFg_TYjrebMC4fBMFHmcogX_5Gwm5mTqggPR7qCuyG_9HpxjiFBbMhckaAjs5vY23HIYSxBndxyN1YKsITtXqNKDfUjjDFdpR9nWN_RqqbAiBA8GO7EmouhuLnJqKRfmYiYu99jdTlKX5/s1809/Hugh's%20Brace%20of%20Perch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1809" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUC0jnfTMC4B9aS8bUR_K0Bp98wkOZoMnK9L2dc1E8YEXFg_TYjrebMC4fBMFHmcogX_5Gwm5mTqggPR7qCuyG_9HpxjiFBbMhckaAjs5vY23HIYSxBndxyN1YKsITtXqNKDfUjjDFdpR9nWN_RqqbAiBA8GO7EmouhuLnJqKRfmYiYu99jdTlKX5/w640-h450/Hugh's%20Brace%20of%20Perch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcFCBHWOORTA5zRhu-Hk-muGn8mKmBya9Nvm8uTiAuN47SKLNP3i64f5AvhnNCQ1DUSiEuwqYL86HpoNUZKik-jpjmV7ZaS_BOTU3JxVKga6FwNZ72AfG8Zwe1_Stl6gavmKjAhBrleOu0ZC9KOi9FFYjIhcZyd56bIph21xI82osZa_vHwveXWP5/s720/U:W%20PERCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcFCBHWOORTA5zRhu-Hk-muGn8mKmBya9Nvm8uTiAuN47SKLNP3i64f5AvhnNCQ1DUSiEuwqYL86HpoNUZKik-jpjmV7ZaS_BOTU3JxVKga6FwNZ72AfG8Zwe1_Stl6gavmKjAhBrleOu0ZC9KOi9FFYjIhcZyd56bIph21xI82osZa_vHwveXWP5/w400-h320/U:W%20PERCH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_dy8Mgb6VWzgyEKwDmTOYxyYmZ2r6Wf3sFZjqehkQHsELbrHbjKN8sT1IJ3Ewt-279ENCaIktwSbolhS911qwXXiZ_pA7CjHYJn6ub3NRv30RA9ZWNzOw7GP-Ooj5quP0rqcZ5W04GRmZOrjVTwEx-TlafbGaHfpv344kNX1CKuNd4NzAuzdy-Db/s5616/CHRIS%20Y%20+%202LB%20PERCH%20-%20MILTON%20ABBAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_dy8Mgb6VWzgyEKwDmTOYxyYmZ2r6Wf3sFZjqehkQHsELbrHbjKN8sT1IJ3Ewt-279ENCaIktwSbolhS911qwXXiZ_pA7CjHYJn6ub3NRv30RA9ZWNzOw7GP-Ooj5quP0rqcZ5W04GRmZOrjVTwEx-TlafbGaHfpv344kNX1CKuNd4NzAuzdy-Db/w426-h640/CHRIS%20Y%20+%202LB%20PERCH%20-%20MILTON%20ABBAS.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />I’ve made time to fish for them with Chris Yates in the past and whenever we catch a good ‘un, we always promise ourselves to try for them more often. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But no doubt like us all, I find it difficult to find enough time to go fishing, which is a shame as it's the surest way of escaping the madness of the world we find ourselves in, those endless layers of insanity that keep on piling up and threatening our equilibrium. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t depress myself by listing them all but no doubt you know the score and have your own ways of trying to stay positive against the odds and for me, going out to be with wildlife is one of the most rewarding ... and you can't get any closer to nature than when fishing because you actually get to touch it. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNrtbTHvfaT5_JAhT_LDCIlZ_LGS4dzadV6Nbh_8vPco6ceQ2bNPJ-4TiPJE5OXPuwUP3a4mvWjllnL6ZibvIdE54YMGbzDGfPj2MkVeROsTEUqLvIjzokYC3kVL7m-GBOaWwMGj7q3JoxVp_vmFuWNLmLp3t5SfKSkPJjnQWYx1VDUaUQYcaZAJJ/s2272/R.KENNET%20BRACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNrtbTHvfaT5_JAhT_LDCIlZ_LGS4dzadV6Nbh_8vPco6ceQ2bNPJ-4TiPJE5OXPuwUP3a4mvWjllnL6ZibvIdE54YMGbzDGfPj2MkVeROsTEUqLvIjzokYC3kVL7m-GBOaWwMGj7q3JoxVp_vmFuWNLmLp3t5SfKSkPJjnQWYx1VDUaUQYcaZAJJ/w400-h300/R.KENNET%20BRACE.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj6Gzh-ZCIT5nXhKbPbB_eS2yXpGKc9s6zfSHPyzIfStFGpp6bu7K7HQ5h-aaj5vr5YcrGrcRRq0KD-SvBGOvCrsYPp2wDBegOv0ED_BCw6bTVGXNiQ7KAEkojHXCVJNSoVgK0zg07l2HtXJ5EbFU1Ii74zhzZfoDkIxfXancO_1zw4aTX47_AA0f/s640/STEWART%20-%20WATER%20VOLE%20EATING%20-%2023.4.09%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj6Gzh-ZCIT5nXhKbPbB_eS2yXpGKc9s6zfSHPyzIfStFGpp6bu7K7HQ5h-aaj5vr5YcrGrcRRq0KD-SvBGOvCrsYPp2wDBegOv0ED_BCw6bTVGXNiQ7KAEkojHXCVJNSoVgK0zg07l2HtXJ5EbFU1Ii74zhzZfoDkIxfXancO_1zw4aTX47_AA0f/w400-h268/STEWART%20-%20WATER%20VOLE%20EATING%20-%2023.4.09%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Another added bonus of fishing is that it means you stay out in the countryside longer and being still and quiet, see more creatures than you ever would if walking.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB5Oc7OSmnaPEnAHkf9VmaAwe9Q312eXTT3R5whnHYOdSP6ZLVVprxf791ruqA0nf1fojtPlj-qmVHgpiFfRegCgAS4rG5IbmAgbpBp2qXeZTc7zDYr7pszZ1v61NdBPzFE5j-GgNXhkLbHKC6RqJ2s3NSUTLol7mkfoyjEiqEubI84wzVsiyD4kr/s3291/BARN%20OWL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2004" data-original-width="3291" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB5Oc7OSmnaPEnAHkf9VmaAwe9Q312eXTT3R5whnHYOdSP6ZLVVprxf791ruqA0nf1fojtPlj-qmVHgpiFfRegCgAS4rG5IbmAgbpBp2qXeZTc7zDYr7pszZ1v61NdBPzFE5j-GgNXhkLbHKC6RqJ2s3NSUTLol7mkfoyjEiqEubI84wzVsiyD4kr/w640-h390/BARN%20OWL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4E9kZDSlAey7mG92mzCmvIA07D4fm79mdBtIDU1hhijqvstSx2O6O1q2f9rbd6qrSkmYoFUP1TAK9TIz_tOP3UcYIoPfVAgjsvhxkmePeirhzzXqtzoXHroNMyXL2XMdgS6O2FsuZfDVsRU2B4hrc0aGJ2OkivB7L3iK3GfOfQHhONxvwo-rsDHF/s1280/MAGIC%20HOUR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4E9kZDSlAey7mG92mzCmvIA07D4fm79mdBtIDU1hhijqvstSx2O6O1q2f9rbd6qrSkmYoFUP1TAK9TIz_tOP3UcYIoPfVAgjsvhxkmePeirhzzXqtzoXHroNMyXL2XMdgS6O2FsuZfDVsRU2B4hrc0aGJ2OkivB7L3iK3GfOfQHhONxvwo-rsDHF/w640-h478/MAGIC%20HOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And if you have time to stay until that ‘magic hour’ when the world wakes up and nature forgets to be fearful, the declining day will reveal secrets that lift your spirits and might even make you feel pleased to be alive. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA04c0ZUt_NWJeaQ6sCzRwOC-hAhhq9kWZbVg2QKA2tuQu2gGUTb-cJ-itpnXYtHO0c_71ze7xWa4V_SmvyabJEGsHFx4erKW-IjDcCmJOsE0b4twjbsoBZJtjW7Ot6-BnWZFldjXSz-8UyVz01J8tHMswegiv-LjjFc0Wjv79iGwuj1L0hXoPL_EG/s1024/HUGH%20AND%20CHRIS%20+%20KELLY%20KETTLES%20ON%20UPPER%20STOUR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA04c0ZUt_NWJeaQ6sCzRwOC-hAhhq9kWZbVg2QKA2tuQu2gGUTb-cJ-itpnXYtHO0c_71ze7xWa4V_SmvyabJEGsHFx4erKW-IjDcCmJOsE0b4twjbsoBZJtjW7Ot6-BnWZFldjXSz-8UyVz01J8tHMswegiv-LjjFc0Wjv79iGwuj1L0hXoPL_EG/w640-h480/HUGH%20AND%20CHRIS%20+%20KELLY%20KETTLES%20ON%20UPPER%20STOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So it's simple - to live happily - just go fishing with friends!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdEojL8C5HxE-lBnBMElQfFJmPDaDP0ZVtkoLHs0xct8HizEIklpwcVIUeK6d1PHkXIhZVGq-xSDBZLnQyVbZtNE5fkSbVnTcVLHW3jKeGOy_uCbdswFuGevBCs-K2dImvdQU-ErIFC0PPPN8Dz6UwuAZGcuiN_mlXHw-dH7rWo5EikujA-j02E_w/s5111/HUGH,CHRIS%20AND%20MARTIN%20WITH%20MILTON%20ROACH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3322" data-original-width="5111" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdEojL8C5HxE-lBnBMElQfFJmPDaDP0ZVtkoLHs0xct8HizEIklpwcVIUeK6d1PHkXIhZVGq-xSDBZLnQyVbZtNE5fkSbVnTcVLHW3jKeGOy_uCbdswFuGevBCs-K2dImvdQU-ErIFC0PPPN8Dz6UwuAZGcuiN_mlXHw-dH7rWo5EikujA-j02E_w/w640-h416/HUGH,CHRIS%20AND%20MARTIN%20WITH%20MILTON%20ROACH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-36849816483676483932022-09-06T17:26:00.002+01:002022-09-06T17:45:36.184+01:00<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">WE’RE BUZZING FOR BEES</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY11ofXZFlpt4DXiO0ujo0V31it4LkjDRQZywvvyR9qThAZW3Bnyg8PXkq8rWT3sjjnOMsnyw-20F1UHxoUQX6Oq5U-9WkExZA6Ugxw37IAn9TtEvnNizWvHL1C55FIlE-c9xCxMC7t3z7w0uz4v4ZvSUuBt_yLP5IARziILzo__CiVNfEZMOWTJK/s1280/SCENIC%20POTS%20FROM%20DAHLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY11ofXZFlpt4DXiO0ujo0V31it4LkjDRQZywvvyR9qThAZW3Bnyg8PXkq8rWT3sjjnOMsnyw-20F1UHxoUQX6Oq5U-9WkExZA6Ugxw37IAn9TtEvnNizWvHL1C55FIlE-c9xCxMC7t3z7w0uz4v4ZvSUuBt_yLP5IARziILzo__CiVNfEZMOWTJK/w640-h480/SCENIC%20POTS%20FROM%20DAHLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Please don’t fear the worst. This will be a good news story because even though Britain is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, there are things that we can do to make life better for wildlife - and for us humans too, like planting flowers for bees and butterflies. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-ouYCgDaRxYlkNTnzN3qkiqF3egegJESAdw-3s4C1BR9v4HHRzkVOexwtaegGf7ShKmCnA9bQFwQlSP3s4AHqpMNMs9jNxn1F3CBVl5PhoPiNvhRrDDWG070-BVKJeIVc4au_HeRuBFibm5MOKnSCytIGSrkub98vg5mEBxLQ1xrCCZwv-9qRAEL/s1280/B&B%20LOOKING%20LOVELY%20IN%20AUGUST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-ouYCgDaRxYlkNTnzN3qkiqF3egegJESAdw-3s4C1BR9v4HHRzkVOexwtaegGf7ShKmCnA9bQFwQlSP3s4AHqpMNMs9jNxn1F3CBVl5PhoPiNvhRrDDWG070-BVKJeIVc4au_HeRuBFibm5MOKnSCytIGSrkub98vg5mEBxLQ1xrCCZwv-9qRAEL/w534-h640/B&B%20LOOKING%20LOVELY%20IN%20AUGUST.jpg" width="534" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />After one of the worst years of widespread climate chaos in living memory, most wildlife enthusiast will have noticed that this has also been a sadly depleted summer for bees and butterflies. We don’t really understand why they haven’t shown up here in sunny Dorset, but my wife Sue and I were determined to do what we can to attract them to our patch and if all of us helped them a bit, the world would be a better place. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mcdTsAF2JIgVr4esiRxeUJR3dQrsQMekXVblS7dqCZCE5tH6eRBB3-D9vPEKkJ1qtsMu8sJ0IBMKydemUQnZUeXDXP1R7DzPvb7WgdBKPevnn5oSMc9nDw11U5il1-bCjvS5x-UQIKOW_GofdC7k3uyt25F-A6H6g_LhvseIbEppR-RJMHeTetrt/s1280/B&B%20FLOWERS%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mcdTsAF2JIgVr4esiRxeUJR3dQrsQMekXVblS7dqCZCE5tH6eRBB3-D9vPEKkJ1qtsMu8sJ0IBMKydemUQnZUeXDXP1R7DzPvb7WgdBKPevnn5oSMc9nDw11U5il1-bCjvS5x-UQIKOW_GofdC7k3uyt25F-A6H6g_LhvseIbEppR-RJMHeTetrt/w300-h400/B&B%20FLOWERS%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We do appreciate living in a lovely big garden, creating places for wildlife with a spade, and we didn’t need to spend much cash at all, simply planting in gravel patches or mending old pots, even finding containers that could be filled with compost, peat free of course, then planting them with buzzer friendly plants. Most of these plants were carefully stored perennials from last year and once re-potted and watered, they burst into life in a kaleidoscope of colour. Re-cycled wildlife. Perfect!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA1CQsOQTpOEfFPQl7ekcd_v4gVlffAhqiyEAM8yW3P7WcHXQaMcSIf4ALhO4UW0t4yX6r_SyoWefZmuZOiijlSqglPZWfhBl7IsFJ3iTllO1L7b1rmxSXg-aiz5yrjdHQxR6gf05xE1p6ZtJzy5giHHuYE5IfUhe0IPPLbMzuswKNaIAkktvElM0/s1280/SALVIA%20+%20CARDER%20BEE%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1280" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA1CQsOQTpOEfFPQl7ekcd_v4gVlffAhqiyEAM8yW3P7WcHXQaMcSIf4ALhO4UW0t4yX6r_SyoWefZmuZOiijlSqglPZWfhBl7IsFJ3iTllO1L7b1rmxSXg-aiz5yrjdHQxR6gf05xE1p6ZtJzy5giHHuYE5IfUhe0IPPLbMzuswKNaIAkktvElM0/w640-h488/SALVIA%20+%20CARDER%20BEE%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMPzKIoZyWIu0tYVBNSdWmwCkKZMR6jNG7604r46UoNlocKrYQDczZx1OjQ1Q0Y-hChEFUlavoX7JihSms98RxBbT6qOkXCfcLR6Q7R8QJreZj3HuiLowKLF2AkIuxRokl33spLYwTjmo4aL6o1GMou7Zhd80Qcb7U87I7AmjJOnOkj9ng_u3Lv2q/s1280/3X%20CARDER%20BEES%20ON%20DAHLIA.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1280" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMPzKIoZyWIu0tYVBNSdWmwCkKZMR6jNG7604r46UoNlocKrYQDczZx1OjQ1Q0Y-hChEFUlavoX7JihSms98RxBbT6qOkXCfcLR6Q7R8QJreZj3HuiLowKLF2AkIuxRokl33spLYwTjmo4aL6o1GMou7Zhd80Qcb7U87I7AmjJOnOkj9ng_u3Lv2q/w400-h335/3X%20CARDER%20BEES%20ON%20DAHLIA.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />During our forty years living here and tending the garden to attract wildlife, we’ve gathered pots one by one, so over time we have lots. But all anyone needs to do is find just one and plant it with a salvia or dahlia and the bees will zoom in, three at a time. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA9li7VwmvSD8uBGrm97Sm13SjRV3WWiKih0R3IBxHhuWX9lHLF_frxPaVWp7ZN2Ptym-kOG8rh-3WaluSAjPi6McEd-bLxzQCbcRn-7uLum4w6IwFUf_IuaPAKvogMwddDYGvFRT1pQ9NCQVDWRPOmP0imvOGKQPmqH5cEOTeno7PjnlOrr9lyy6/s1280/SALVIA%20-%20BLUE%20BUTTERFLIES%20MASSED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA9li7VwmvSD8uBGrm97Sm13SjRV3WWiKih0R3IBxHhuWX9lHLF_frxPaVWp7ZN2Ptym-kOG8rh-3WaluSAjPi6McEd-bLxzQCbcRn-7uLum4w6IwFUf_IuaPAKvogMwddDYGvFRT1pQ9NCQVDWRPOmP0imvOGKQPmqH5cEOTeno7PjnlOrr9lyy6/w640-h430/SALVIA%20-%20BLUE%20BUTTERFLIES%20MASSED.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfszaHJJBdQU4BF_92BvMp0deE83fkqbZkbDFopJjzGg07RJAm7n6an7xXEbF6E34wBHbJOEG0evUPdMXRzYDMV4sfDPRiEV4VFhg3nSRiYMUOcVv1aZIwrtKufcz5d6vU6Z3neUFYdY_K9OcRAA9TXwugbdTJgwxrravGTRBAUTYR6q_XjkOBZ92/s1280/BTB%20ON%20RED%20COSMOS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfszaHJJBdQU4BF_92BvMp0deE83fkqbZkbDFopJjzGg07RJAm7n6an7xXEbF6E34wBHbJOEG0evUPdMXRzYDMV4sfDPRiEV4VFhg3nSRiYMUOcVv1aZIwrtKufcz5d6vU6Z3neUFYdY_K9OcRAA9TXwugbdTJgwxrravGTRBAUTYR6q_XjkOBZ92/w400-h300/BTB%20ON%20RED%20COSMOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The good news is that you only need one pot to make a positive difference and they don’t even have to be big to attract and feed lots of buzzers. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xV2rVG-ru7VoBtC4_Qx4J23I2zhZGDJ8afch8exjSUzwg4vuOklpCeuBfpqsHDvEPGppFkHr80xZRaDlVBpCOo7bteGGI3wVpD-nw9g4Mdd6oV_GSF0I1M0DOKR39L9XnADgyFb1I13X4TCH1TlI4ttvFRHaT6oBRgfBRz0bKr7jo6fvU8Ld_11S/s1280/LITTLE%20FLOWER%20POTS%20FOR%20BEES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xV2rVG-ru7VoBtC4_Qx4J23I2zhZGDJ8afch8exjSUzwg4vuOklpCeuBfpqsHDvEPGppFkHr80xZRaDlVBpCOo7bteGGI3wVpD-nw9g4Mdd6oV_GSF0I1M0DOKR39L9XnADgyFb1I13X4TCH1TlI4ttvFRHaT6oBRgfBRz0bKr7jo6fvU8Ld_11S/w640-h478/LITTLE%20FLOWER%20POTS%20FOR%20BEES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This little cluster of three inch tall vases, a present from a good friend, is decorated with a fresh group of flower cuttings every couple of days so that, when placed on a table by our garden seat, we can enjoy close encounters with the many winged wonders while sipping tea.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyEGwlS7qxvutye7zaE0Kxd0LFq4GcZVRqrLJV83rwEtdwXiMTzle_UxQ_6pzPhlOOQ4mjHYfYPbtlypTKxYtv16Yy5fet-iAgxEmeFsno8ZRc92vr8LGNnMcA6af83oac2O-uUFnWcnL0NXayXJc2QpsMH5YgBHfG1Ew8eHwohncUwfC9znjRH51/s1280/BEE%20INSIDE%20NASTURTIAN%20FLOWER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyEGwlS7qxvutye7zaE0Kxd0LFq4GcZVRqrLJV83rwEtdwXiMTzle_UxQ_6pzPhlOOQ4mjHYfYPbtlypTKxYtv16Yy5fet-iAgxEmeFsno8ZRc92vr8LGNnMcA6af83oac2O-uUFnWcnL0NXayXJc2QpsMH5YgBHfG1Ew8eHwohncUwfC9znjRH51/w640-h496/BEE%20INSIDE%20NASTURTIAN%20FLOWER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Pink persicaria is an ace attractor, nasturtiums too, though the best magnet of all is the yellow daisy like blooms of this more subtle version of a sunflower, helianthus ‘lemon queen’.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP-RVIax5p-2imPVbdPNi3qBkeLGBlNV_zPHGeCcTyfUIZ-VuVZPu-uIZwiYbFOOXzl0FrodIFXAkw6hQeUkxvnANe-m3Ls18lGHIv0F6IAk2-61HjTMYfk69Ia251S5Cov0weVqcALgxp40KaVZ3pZ5kFwTB_zA5LSHIszA-I5VgyuhXHPVed15M/s1280/P9030530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1280" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP-RVIax5p-2imPVbdPNi3qBkeLGBlNV_zPHGeCcTyfUIZ-VuVZPu-uIZwiYbFOOXzl0FrodIFXAkw6hQeUkxvnANe-m3Ls18lGHIv0F6IAk2-61HjTMYfk69Ia251S5Cov0weVqcALgxp40KaVZ3pZ5kFwTB_zA5LSHIszA-I5VgyuhXHPVed15M/w640-h624/P9030530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qxQ8XZxpXuXsM7-guwMjhUzOgBdKMaNc8Uvjlv5C5Pdij_oX4tv3EBhs3VHLpOODSJzZFpjr3NFvnX0Yk9oUnAfQk3fhHkPSa02PXbUVEWI9MBBG5cqXbd63-2a8eKiv5ivuk41FQ6bQSAAgXUH-aBOJuOWtIdrX044VthSj9rzwMO81xRql-5mc/s1280/BEE%20ON%20COSMOS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1146" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qxQ8XZxpXuXsM7-guwMjhUzOgBdKMaNc8Uvjlv5C5Pdij_oX4tv3EBhs3VHLpOODSJzZFpjr3NFvnX0Yk9oUnAfQk3fhHkPSa02PXbUVEWI9MBBG5cqXbd63-2a8eKiv5ivuk41FQ6bQSAAgXUH-aBOJuOWtIdrX044VthSj9rzwMO81xRql-5mc/w359-h400/BEE%20ON%20COSMOS.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All cosmos are beautiful, attractive to us <u>and</u> the bees and a little packet of seeds provides a garden full of joy. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFMxiD-zqnUbLusZuONzmVz0WeiiGpxuvLDo9EPk61mZ0kNXQgzvuxnY73lsDHMe-RoI5ml4pnI_1Qmahzn-0Lx3z3lMDk1ooFTKFJFxEdHhzwuL3bgaIMVtnxWjT-R6OyLFVVEJ9GlRgpyoUY-VYuRoHsRxZMm_Yb7rM5iM4XFD437eBYHkNAerz/s1280/BTB%20ON%20TALL%20PINK%20COSMOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1129" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFMxiD-zqnUbLusZuONzmVz0WeiiGpxuvLDo9EPk61mZ0kNXQgzvuxnY73lsDHMe-RoI5ml4pnI_1Qmahzn-0Lx3z3lMDk1ooFTKFJFxEdHhzwuL3bgaIMVtnxWjT-R6OyLFVVEJ9GlRgpyoUY-VYuRoHsRxZMm_Yb7rM5iM4XFD437eBYHkNAerz/w565-h640/BTB%20ON%20TALL%20PINK%20COSMOS.jpg" width="565" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKQWcz1X5aY-d-F3Y893UOcXgr0i_3sIYOaYyD_XO8XPBuyZulooFDa5xJSwDWY9uJiMBSRnK6GcewSV_nbeeri76wqL6kkv_6s1GteIV6Ev5n_x3oESr5cLun6q2EWcFaxEjvm9bgXtMey0vL9LTaHkGuX0GYzzSLJJ_ppZ82e_NQQOGzFdPubIB/s1280/POTS%20BY%20POND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="962" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKQWcz1X5aY-d-F3Y893UOcXgr0i_3sIYOaYyD_XO8XPBuyZulooFDa5xJSwDWY9uJiMBSRnK6GcewSV_nbeeri76wqL6kkv_6s1GteIV6Ev5n_x3oESr5cLun6q2EWcFaxEjvm9bgXtMey0vL9LTaHkGuX0GYzzSLJJ_ppZ82e_NQQOGzFdPubIB/w482-h640/POTS%20BY%20POND.jpg" width="482" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />In our larger pots, salvias such as white ‘whirling butterflies’ and this gorgeous ‘blue butterflies’ thrive.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtHlBUU3EY42hvx0Nd96CZlzR_y3atb-vd7QEESydlxQOuE32VAIWZ7iNxuVdb6c9beol_4bNdv_m_r17zV7SDx5fimglfuMyFDLijIcrOUh2MNh-S6BVGLxjqv2WieX4pfTpqSLH-uSkTl8GnNmGQoO1cgYUTFA85p4FaCMs0scJK4Y9O1s89EiW/s1280/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20BLUE%20B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1190" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtHlBUU3EY42hvx0Nd96CZlzR_y3atb-vd7QEESydlxQOuE32VAIWZ7iNxuVdb6c9beol_4bNdv_m_r17zV7SDx5fimglfuMyFDLijIcrOUh2MNh-S6BVGLxjqv2WieX4pfTpqSLH-uSkTl8GnNmGQoO1cgYUTFA85p4FaCMs0scJK4Y9O1s89EiW/w596-h640/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20BLUE%20B.jpg" width="596" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMZcTMLLZKGs-ELoBQNx8F4SpiIKxDGdIPrVTnpDflT6OPGFndVrPxkHQElc494UODFH6PJztJhCDa7MOai4lyEvfj49HdNTf0KLs3hotb5QujcAUYLPPr3QOSrRR8q5MpiCaxT2r8yx53Meyy2icOdOnQhGyq5zKZ3YUMoFqX3itRzIHVe_697BQ/s1280/BTB%20UP%20ON%20DAHLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1280" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMZcTMLLZKGs-ELoBQNx8F4SpiIKxDGdIPrVTnpDflT6OPGFndVrPxkHQElc494UODFH6PJztJhCDa7MOai4lyEvfj49HdNTf0KLs3hotb5QujcAUYLPPr3QOSrRR8q5MpiCaxT2r8yx53Meyy2icOdOnQhGyq5zKZ3YUMoFqX3itRzIHVe_697BQ/w640-h460/BTB%20UP%20ON%20DAHLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And dahlia’s such as ‘Bishop of Canterbury’ and ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ prove irresistible to honey and carder bees as they provide a snow storm of pollen and nectar.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk6ZDAf-tHB3IJ728yDJFME3fLZEgk3oSlVr68h0leR7aij82rgK4B-e56i4vgP-F5NrAro2xZ-QLYVHogJjqYfF5B0SDrZpnwHfCOf4tWOFsHQCjGaJTHiPBfvplMPD4LQxUx8ohXJSjb-idKP1mz7IQNKBoLFuXDqDwGOHQr62hYRd0p_u8j1sM/s1280/BTB%20+%20POLLEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk6ZDAf-tHB3IJ728yDJFME3fLZEgk3oSlVr68h0leR7aij82rgK4B-e56i4vgP-F5NrAro2xZ-QLYVHogJjqYfF5B0SDrZpnwHfCOf4tWOFsHQCjGaJTHiPBfvplMPD4LQxUx8ohXJSjb-idKP1mz7IQNKBoLFuXDqDwGOHQr62hYRd0p_u8j1sM/w640-h456/BTB%20+%20POLLEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQQB1NyQ7VjkHuStroMMoQeXjq7sfbf-tKMgDw7buBLPCbJVeONGZCTW0jE4Y5GLznib3nv38EvgGpM7510xzqjmeGhlyK17nsCNXsDoJq5XUbLPuij5MItd_oko1_A9w8wnN22CFJmQd1OvUyEDXWWSadUnJuyWUWoR_6j2LWhO47sRP6FsZR_4n/s1280/HOVERFLY%20CLEANING%20PROBOSCIS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1280" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQQB1NyQ7VjkHuStroMMoQeXjq7sfbf-tKMgDw7buBLPCbJVeONGZCTW0jE4Y5GLznib3nv38EvgGpM7510xzqjmeGhlyK17nsCNXsDoJq5XUbLPuij5MItd_oko1_A9w8wnN22CFJmQd1OvUyEDXWWSadUnJuyWUWoR_6j2LWhO47sRP6FsZR_4n/w400-h293/HOVERFLY%20CLEANING%20PROBOSCIS.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hoverflies are always good value too, especially exotic looking critters such as ‘helophilus pendulum’, sometimes called the ‘footballer’ because of it’s kit!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S1ECk9s8gHafkkdeHWG0pihfolB8_BJ2DIREWdRO5YRPbpplqfQ-KSwCdau5Fgo5ZCclqqzoGbxvPb08Vp4HM2NoEW6vSRaQx6lwkohVP0NfDpd4Qk12T_CTqoA9UkYwtrAUV_FbgDLpY9kjSAeIj6aP8Ku3hhDvgvksokGQ0AcWTVxAIxpW7YTA/s1280/HELOPHILUS%20PENDULUS%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1121" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S1ECk9s8gHafkkdeHWG0pihfolB8_BJ2DIREWdRO5YRPbpplqfQ-KSwCdau5Fgo5ZCclqqzoGbxvPb08Vp4HM2NoEW6vSRaQx6lwkohVP0NfDpd4Qk12T_CTqoA9UkYwtrAUV_FbgDLpY9kjSAeIj6aP8Ku3hhDvgvksokGQ0AcWTVxAIxpW7YTA/w560-h640/HELOPHILUS%20PENDULUS%20.jpg" width="560" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S1ECk9s8gHafkkdeHWG0pihfolB8_BJ2DIREWdRO5YRPbpplqfQ-KSwCdau5Fgo5ZCclqqzoGbxvPb08Vp4HM2NoEW6vSRaQx6lwkohVP0NfDpd4Qk12T_CTqoA9UkYwtrAUV_FbgDLpY9kjSAeIj6aP8Ku3hhDvgvksokGQ0AcWTVxAIxpW7YTA/s1280/HELOPHILUS%20PENDULUS%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtuBSCqj-fg0KwdEbEC8R-gAYzenxPua7YBFgdQp1rfoCjBhTqNOJQbWpFYOfFwwq_ur30l2wy1NN8zdiK32gq4QxtFWRusZO4R2VHweTst0ZksmCv3LTv1NlJswHxwJAGtjhXwERKx72ujImYRs3N4sPHHn3Vjn09OAwx-i8_hn24jJVxyyc6tcG/s1280/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20DBSCABIOUS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1116" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtuBSCqj-fg0KwdEbEC8R-gAYzenxPua7YBFgdQp1rfoCjBhTqNOJQbWpFYOfFwwq_ur30l2wy1NN8zdiK32gq4QxtFWRusZO4R2VHweTst0ZksmCv3LTv1NlJswHxwJAGtjhXwERKx72ujImYRs3N4sPHHn3Vjn09OAwx-i8_hn24jJVxyyc6tcG/w349-h400/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20DBSCABIOUS.jpg" width="349" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Devils-bit scabious are an essential plant to have in your pots and gardens and purple loosetrife is a winner for many weeks, providing food for bees and butterflies, including this delightful holly blue. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hsb_4b9SQc0VmZKt55c-3Ekp08UUrxljOei-0QC84ByKsGODFhaaYb_GK9Y3krJyPjH_WKkwuGSrkb9Vlwx_9O9dlsI2EjRQ2FusQU9jel-ZzYW66CsQsxXe2d2TX1WcQXZoOdmbtoTVOPWco-aDUfoAAPyxnJgUAyco8RaJfEH7so9bbyS2aBBD/s1280/HOLLY%20BLUE%20ON%20PURPLE%20L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hsb_4b9SQc0VmZKt55c-3Ekp08UUrxljOei-0QC84ByKsGODFhaaYb_GK9Y3krJyPjH_WKkwuGSrkb9Vlwx_9O9dlsI2EjRQ2FusQU9jel-ZzYW66CsQsxXe2d2TX1WcQXZoOdmbtoTVOPWco-aDUfoAAPyxnJgUAyco8RaJfEH7so9bbyS2aBBD/w602-h640/HOLLY%20BLUE%20ON%20PURPLE%20L.jpg" width="602" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Of course, every public library in the country is stacked with gardening books filled with gorgeous plants that attract and feed our buzzers and the few examples we have selected and enjoyed here have hardly opened the honey pot of choice. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0Q5wBMyuCIXbrxwCMOiA9_JQmU9NABjGHx76yIMIpaqWC84TWLowHPq8vdAgPwPHk_I8rrfm43SxfErTrE28T4w9CFescVuFuQxlVwHe9HfvzHUhgb_Hp5zlXaW7AiJRjlPhvY6vZiy2VHhgyTNUFyOluYLMOEK25NswNfanBd2dnxQ5gd5fpxu0/s1280/P1060115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0Q5wBMyuCIXbrxwCMOiA9_JQmU9NABjGHx76yIMIpaqWC84TWLowHPq8vdAgPwPHk_I8rrfm43SxfErTrE28T4w9CFescVuFuQxlVwHe9HfvzHUhgb_Hp5zlXaW7AiJRjlPhvY6vZiy2VHhgyTNUFyOluYLMOEK25NswNfanBd2dnxQ5gd5fpxu0/w640-h480/P1060115.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So, if everyone in your neighbourhood planted just one pot of flowers, our gardens and yards, window sills and dusty corners would be filled with the delightful sound of buzzing insects, forever grateful for our kindness in providing them with pollen and nectar. It needn’t cost the earth because all it needs is some earth, a few seeds and a little patience. And do leave the nettles ... they come free.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtp2eslpInlDZFM7IcMpg1cLCD7BkhQ1M9uxShtvQ8Z3PfJZK000lZuTqblA3FtsWEuhezkZlWavK_xdizw9ryOpcwfptLxewehap01aRhU1HtuF-jW4Hla3R55UDVwGSQ2w8c3Ees1GaUgWIvSEO_AWrz6tz7GfWcZR0FLWtj1Uk7-WfrcgBUwq9/s1280/RED%20ADMIRAL%20%20ON%20NETTLES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1280" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtp2eslpInlDZFM7IcMpg1cLCD7BkhQ1M9uxShtvQ8Z3PfJZK000lZuTqblA3FtsWEuhezkZlWavK_xdizw9ryOpcwfptLxewehap01aRhU1HtuF-jW4Hla3R55UDVwGSQ2w8c3Ees1GaUgWIvSEO_AWrz6tz7GfWcZR0FLWtj1Uk7-WfrcgBUwq9/w640-h536/RED%20ADMIRAL%20%20ON%20NETTLES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">So just give it a go. It’s a win, win treat and the bees and butterflies you're helping will make you smile.</span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-6752645993741751472022-07-28T16:31:00.001+01:002022-07-28T19:14:14.102+01:00BERNARD CRIBBINS<span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfPcHskj66h12Y9zTyP4pE2FLJJsB9Jy02hePsFn0MF-MlWx4cDzbggvlKb6GDzEr5bttEuu9SqHnrcudy1XsDiIo4toj9mqHsE07JrDyx81ITfcqXD1w87p2NHFzudXltwknoLeSIwtAivbcr22vRD9_SVlJCeuyV0Y3JgwmUHWrx21knzQnyfw5/s780/BERNARD%20AND%20MARTIN%20+%2022LB%20PIKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="780" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfPcHskj66h12Y9zTyP4pE2FLJJsB9Jy02hePsFn0MF-MlWx4cDzbggvlKb6GDzEr5bttEuu9SqHnrcudy1XsDiIo4toj9mqHsE07JrDyx81ITfcqXD1w87p2NHFzudXltwknoLeSIwtAivbcr22vRD9_SVlJCeuyV0Y3JgwmUHWrx21knzQnyfw5/w640-h424/BERNARD%20AND%20MARTIN%20+%2022LB%20PIKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Such a sad day for so many of us because Bernard’s death means we will be denied his extraordinary talents to make us laugh and cry … and cry laughing. Sue and I still fall about when seeing him playing the ‘hotel inspector’ in Fawlty Towers.<br /><br />His story telling skills were unmatched by anyone and he was never recognised in the way many of us felt he should be. Yes, he was awarded an OBE but no one could doubt he richly deserved the title Sir Bernard Cribbins. <br /><br />The joy he provided for us millions along with inspiring so many children was wonderful, not least in ‘Old Jack’s Boat’. He told me many times how much he enjoyed telling those stories and during his hundred episodes, grew very fond of his doggy companion, Salty, who in turn loved Bernard. But then, didn’t we all.<br /><br />I first had the privilege of working with him in the mid ’70’s when I asked him to narrate our RSPB film about Robins. He spoke our star robin’s thoughts so amusingly that he had them rocking in the isles at the Festival Hall and for years the film became a prime time fixture on BBC1 at Christmas.<br /><br />When creating our ‘Passion for Angling’ series for the BBC, it was a no brainer to choose Bernard to describe the adventures of Chris Yates and Bob James and it was his dulcet tones that contributed so much to the success of the series.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBPpnrzvQ-10yNtsnyoQ3tkzezfMVV-XSP8fzngAYM6ZFexE5G0kJFPzedyucuISoOked8P-b9YQjIITLn2ByV26KgMe0sRbZ9lI_FjIwyLeG5JzxAoCcNLiUZPAZLfchuSHzLi8cp_B9l7f67oaQEQhD-4syx7VzGi4V9l1gFWqzIIX_-GYGqWnJ/s3648/MARTIN%20AND%20BERNARD%20ON%20CHEW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBPpnrzvQ-10yNtsnyoQ3tkzezfMVV-XSP8fzngAYM6ZFexE5G0kJFPzedyucuISoOked8P-b9YQjIITLn2ByV26KgMe0sRbZ9lI_FjIwyLeG5JzxAoCcNLiUZPAZLfchuSHzLi8cp_B9l7f67oaQEQhD-4syx7VzGi4V9l1gFWqzIIX_-GYGqWnJ/w640-h480/MARTIN%20AND%20BERNARD%20ON%20CHEW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Following that up with Martin Bowler’s ‘Catching the Impossible’, I wanted Bernard to be Martin’s angling companion and because he is such a good angler, he never failed us when required to catch a particular fish. We all became great friends and would have included Bernard in every ‘impossible’ challenge but he was very busy at the time, chasing David Tennant’s Dr.Who round the film sets at night. Even worse, he was suffering from cancer and had to put up with chemo every week. How he managed to successfully battle big carp and twenty pound pike after all those challenges was remarkable.<br />As the years rolled on, he became a bit lame due to his habit of jumping out of aircraft with the Paras and getting shot at in Palestine. He loved the Paras but hated the bullets!<br /><br />When he came to stay with Sue and I and our two children, we naturally became even more fond of him. Katie and Peter just reminded me that Bernard has been making them laugh and smile all their lives and are tearful at this news, along no doubt with so many of todays children. He was such a lovely man, so kind and generous, amusing too of course and I wish I had the space to tell you some of his stories. <br /><br />Oh, alright, just one then. Bernard described playing celebrity cricket with Fred Trueman at Lords when a naked lady streaker ran onto the pitch and Fred said “That’s the only thing that’s swung all day!”… and of course, all told by Bernard in a perfect Yorkshire accent.<br /><br />Bernard has been described as a creative genius and non of us could ever doubt that. His extraordinary variety of talents means he will be missed by us all and having had the privilege of sharing a tiny portion of his life, his passing brings tears to my eyes. Rest in peace Bernard and catch another one for me please.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPIXG_KgUFRMycLORnU_dgR4NnKPmkXA6Z6KTaNF89F_Vz80hQ6BLomBW9TDpg3INCwSAnEarUKv1cctAYn2zFQ3y30wejxMeNe4PqqR9AC4QxcgjceK9C4blglRc4JEt9Q0I6uF5MFj-bX4m1aHVhaI3OeS3eO3WtHltwfAhyFMakGh4Y8Sz1TQ8/s3648/BERNARD%20THUMBS%20UP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPIXG_KgUFRMycLORnU_dgR4NnKPmkXA6Z6KTaNF89F_Vz80hQ6BLomBW9TDpg3INCwSAnEarUKv1cctAYn2zFQ3y30wejxMeNe4PqqR9AC4QxcgjceK9C4blglRc4JEt9Q0I6uF5MFj-bX4m1aHVhaI3OeS3eO3WtHltwfAhyFMakGh4Y8Sz1TQ8/w640-h480/BERNARD%20THUMBS%20UP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><br />Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-52220865166951646052022-06-27T15:05:00.003+01:002022-06-27T15:05:35.284+01:00I LOVE TENCH<p> <span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrzAG8-q_w-KMTjyA56_T-_NvfS38SimKCGjUO0xHUQv-hu3BU2kRR-4aO8hIiG63WljZvG5FK7skwOeyb7EqWw1Q9EecZrYDGmomWuIu_RkY82EJA0kIkxPW28kInkBvbCvPBP3Cu4_2InjK5Y1mYISCWk_zzB57Wvb7VPdksNidAqQPgCSaBeBw/s1280/8:13%20PB%20END%20ON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1029" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrzAG8-q_w-KMTjyA56_T-_NvfS38SimKCGjUO0xHUQv-hu3BU2kRR-4aO8hIiG63WljZvG5FK7skwOeyb7EqWw1Q9EecZrYDGmomWuIu_RkY82EJA0kIkxPW28kInkBvbCvPBP3Cu4_2InjK5Y1mYISCWk_zzB57Wvb7VPdksNidAqQPgCSaBeBw/w514-h640/8:13%20PB%20END%20ON.jpg" width="514" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I LOVE TENCH</span><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtmLVu0SQRmwKYrnTggO20wYgiOLKWAs2y5AAipcCN_GLFJVxywk2efdYBzNGQ9oLHqnsGw36kpFEONjHmvAqYqUyJ87mEuhVmswUhIVI4ziQXOAH3GpCDqZPAfaJsHjlHwKDcd1IDRkHH7NhIv-BATw_E4KrwW-qs8KHEAKosuUUspJnfrOKtb94/s1280/8:13%20TENCH%20BCU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtmLVu0SQRmwKYrnTggO20wYgiOLKWAs2y5AAipcCN_GLFJVxywk2efdYBzNGQ9oLHqnsGw36kpFEONjHmvAqYqUyJ87mEuhVmswUhIVI4ziQXOAH3GpCDqZPAfaJsHjlHwKDcd1IDRkHH7NhIv-BATw_E4KrwW-qs8KHEAKosuUUspJnfrOKtb94/w400-h300/8:13%20TENCH%20BCU.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />‘Amo, Amas, Amat’ are the few Latin words I remember and mean ‘I love’. So if like me you were unfortunate to suffer fifth form Latin lessons at school, then you would know that the latin name for these most iconic freshwater fish with red eyes is ‘tinca tinca’.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij45uFgBs_NGqTv8IFZqGJlyUAtd16AVTsLAt3K-wpmYa9i6wBPB7ZSuL6_uuS_JLK3rL7yLDpV3XNZldH6jTAfOLP6qBxwVE0XjZW6uQ8bUgieuh7GFZR85CVQ54jEKFYMxVAZBwk4CtTczAURtvzEOMxbrrKFu40wmJhdt_9xDEJPnxtSplA-Lxx/s1280/MY%20TENCH%20SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij45uFgBs_NGqTv8IFZqGJlyUAtd16AVTsLAt3K-wpmYa9i6wBPB7ZSuL6_uuS_JLK3rL7yLDpV3XNZldH6jTAfOLP6qBxwVE0XjZW6uQ8bUgieuh7GFZR85CVQ54jEKFYMxVAZBwk4CtTczAURtvzEOMxbrrKFu40wmJhdt_9xDEJPnxtSplA-Lxx/w640-h480/MY%20TENCH%20SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Tench live in some of our most beautiful countryside, thriving in lily decorated lakes, weedy canals and gravel pits, slow flowing rivers, even very small ponds and in recent years, these rotund, golden scaled, muscular fish have been voted our most popular fish. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1Gt2tP9T1uCdtida89Xpi5dcdffXLQLHp3t-YpqCwaqsBRAqe6PYKLiIGL-ES_o6z-BKQBoqjWl0cde6_qKd0Bqh_2Yb38bvOe9d0kGJbMOvQAopvbYFaqMpjb7HcY6_SqvW1CQj_inzOkJ0Nx1SblokjfoGSsnrM94bIIepHXm99eifbGmR6W9o/s1280/PRINCE%20CHARLES%20BACK%20LIT%20BEAUTY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1Gt2tP9T1uCdtida89Xpi5dcdffXLQLHp3t-YpqCwaqsBRAqe6PYKLiIGL-ES_o6z-BKQBoqjWl0cde6_qKd0Bqh_2Yb38bvOe9d0kGJbMOvQAopvbYFaqMpjb7HcY6_SqvW1CQj_inzOkJ0Nx1SblokjfoGSsnrM94bIIepHXm99eifbGmR6W9o/w640-h474/PRINCE%20CHARLES%20BACK%20LIT%20BEAUTY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What’s more, their homes are havens for a rich and diverse wildlife and the enjoyment of sharing the wilds with nature is one of the most important reason for being an angler and as is often said, ‘there is more to fishing than catching fish’.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYxK1rJN2gNh2UEwZELJiYOUOgjMKaLRCel17KD60a7oqEst_8USgWFEntygLdAw0RdgGtLBaSTDCSc9oev1UiyelI56oMAKSakzqq0LweEjOtmHTxMTif9LINIUT2w56If2TYbwHUyJk1QMJZvq-rfHleReWxJ0qnBt-Z_Eyu4OjGYeIGz1KaPIL/s921/OSPREY%20flying%20with%20RUDD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="921" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYxK1rJN2gNh2UEwZELJiYOUOgjMKaLRCel17KD60a7oqEst_8USgWFEntygLdAw0RdgGtLBaSTDCSc9oev1UiyelI56oMAKSakzqq0LweEjOtmHTxMTif9LINIUT2w56If2TYbwHUyJk1QMJZvq-rfHleReWxJ0qnBt-Z_Eyu4OjGYeIGz1KaPIL/w640-h538/OSPREY%20flying%20with%20RUDD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Tench have of course been a favourite angler’s quarry for centuries,</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> [I wonder if the Romans fished for them?</span>] and I love tench, not just because of their beauty but because they can be tricky to catch, especially the big ones, and we all like a challenge don’t we? <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LY0FOYJGccb9bizgbgapOiVvWNIo_hBDpst18Ffqoo55tD_b0bx7I7kVGYDe7DuHEY7Utb9EHehreMCm4kCwixqN1IqzVepzefVkVBMx6pC40mff-M948bX_bnetovoLQ5EklOj5E1YRGO6I4ZXlmCYPrYRRG9fvPbNnOle2KM8AuGbOvOLq3uHf/s3207/U:W%20OF%20FIGHTING%20TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3207" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LY0FOYJGccb9bizgbgapOiVvWNIo_hBDpst18Ffqoo55tD_b0bx7I7kVGYDe7DuHEY7Utb9EHehreMCm4kCwixqN1IqzVepzefVkVBMx6pC40mff-M948bX_bnetovoLQ5EklOj5E1YRGO6I4ZXlmCYPrYRRG9fvPbNnOle2KM8AuGbOvOLq3uHf/w640-h486/U:W%20OF%20FIGHTING%20TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What’s more, if we’re lucky enough to hook one, they fight like mad for their freedom and using their large rounded fins, they make it a proper contest before we’re finally able to admire them face to face. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg734NLMDx6CZc81iaBYm4UhGcP92YaweX9oQeMg5UsOC1w1x6-Kb_dMMR_4dN3PB9a23RNxE33skvFwIrgbmOeRPtUUmEgWIGzW1lwzGemD6wQd8j8OszBpQXbSByqfEMzM4m0nlDdJDTl1X0EGYurHzmpY7SrMMORbA6UcYl_wlYkUNzcmG6cIv-1/s3648/HUGH'S%208:2%20BRADLEYS%20TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg734NLMDx6CZc81iaBYm4UhGcP92YaweX9oQeMg5UsOC1w1x6-Kb_dMMR_4dN3PB9a23RNxE33skvFwIrgbmOeRPtUUmEgWIGzW1lwzGemD6wQd8j8OszBpQXbSByqfEMzM4m0nlDdJDTl1X0EGYurHzmpY7SrMMORbA6UcYl_wlYkUNzcmG6cIv-1/w640-h480/HUGH'S%208:2%20BRADLEYS%20TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9MreZNKNNMx8McCQBtBnS_4i0Jchw15WWdL3niNn8tD9NNk9z19gIOGlmF7ZF5-mC2SBPKXib8FrLVvSw2yiXjwOc1jamSu0gkYlsl1aWdznqv47wC0cNqdEXztuB9I10bbAmfyoZ0gaherq4SUu9cbeo9xluIh2rwL5pHwOrP6UTJiVQrHiO-K2/s3523/ELY%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="3523" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9MreZNKNNMx8McCQBtBnS_4i0Jchw15WWdL3niNn8tD9NNk9z19gIOGlmF7ZF5-mC2SBPKXib8FrLVvSw2yiXjwOc1jamSu0gkYlsl1aWdznqv47wC0cNqdEXztuB9I10bbAmfyoZ0gaherq4SUu9cbeo9xluIh2rwL5pHwOrP6UTJiVQrHiO-K2/w640-h366/ELY%20CATHEDRAL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I first clapped eyes on a tench when still a schoolboy at Ely in the Fens. My pal, nicknamed ‘Purdy’ Hawks and I were very keen birders and fishermen, cycling long distances over that inspiring ‘land off skies’ to find wildlife.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8kr6BvobYaE-0lKmJL-MeTLIvzAvLUoGPSSGbNsLB-CN-LBUG4-E_evhkxVbXS-bBgnlD-u0dU8TbRySQFQreEUsmoi2sGT1Nlni5b_b_PBdiBXjrPLIQ9A6OPpc7_GDbtoD3i3egQqJn0G_OohrxTSdB88gGv2avoWoHyY7jErAzAom-f75Qm5v/s3648/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8kr6BvobYaE-0lKmJL-MeTLIvzAvLUoGPSSGbNsLB-CN-LBUG4-E_evhkxVbXS-bBgnlD-u0dU8TbRySQFQreEUsmoi2sGT1Nlni5b_b_PBdiBXjrPLIQ9A6OPpc7_GDbtoD3i3egQqJn0G_OohrxTSdB88gGv2avoWoHyY7jErAzAom-f75Qm5v/w640-h480/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQetl5cDaEHiBwQN8qjyfLEz4mxH6lQEAvQPjezYDS1tbyc0bTOeJ6nrwMvtCn9aZE-G6yfs4PcdXOmv-S3mwJeyWPASrSfAnYnVXVJx2g4gb2tmXQ0tEhhqmJn0TUpOE71f7NvskB43b8soz7yQCGnVeF5y5YdocfgmVIwLUW3nAnokQuhcryH9pn/s3257/TWO%20TAWNIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="3257" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQetl5cDaEHiBwQN8qjyfLEz4mxH6lQEAvQPjezYDS1tbyc0bTOeJ6nrwMvtCn9aZE-G6yfs4PcdXOmv-S3mwJeyWPASrSfAnYnVXVJx2g4gb2tmXQ0tEhhqmJn0TUpOE71f7NvskB43b8soz7yQCGnVeF5y5YdocfgmVIwLUW3nAnokQuhcryH9pn/w640-h448/TWO%20TAWNIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Here’s Purdy with our two tawny owls called Archibald and Susie. We acted as the Ely bird hospital, these two owls falling out of the cathedral tower and brought to us for rehab. A few weeks later they fledged successfully but even after flying free they would float down to us from the nearby trees to be fed. Magic! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Back to our tench because when a farmer told us about a small pond off the beaten track that provided a home for tench, we were there as fast as our bicycle wheels would spin. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT6Rd9I5ldtfSOpjn5DC34n3yC5zb4NLdVxpw1FNSWH5e9PHnoHkkwOuWjC-KKF3tJ7LblsA3Xxy5QEEy5Fp6cwskoKQ0O0p7Y2Gr-IkQorbeByjJerPKhfRDTTmWRaXd_uCg_5dfQdfzFvNcqfzIE7C8ecnXaAJjSkyD8jHWY7WSMRs2YLTqieIR/s3648/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT6Rd9I5ldtfSOpjn5DC34n3yC5zb4NLdVxpw1FNSWH5e9PHnoHkkwOuWjC-KKF3tJ7LblsA3Xxy5QEEy5Fp6cwskoKQ0O0p7Y2Gr-IkQorbeByjJerPKhfRDTTmWRaXd_uCg_5dfQdfzFvNcqfzIE7C8ecnXaAJjSkyD8jHWY7WSMRs2YLTqieIR/w640-h480/LAND%20OF%20SKIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The pools were dug long ago to provide clay for bricks, their banks now overgrown with willows, hawthorn bushes and brambles, the perfect home for the sadly now rare turtle doves and even a pair of long-eared owls. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we arrived with rods strapped to our cross bars, redshank and snipe jumped alarmed from their nest sites in wet ditches, so we were careful as we approached the water, forcing our way through brambles and stingers before a mysteriously dark pool magically appeared, separated into two by a thick strip of phragmites [latin again], from which sang several reed warblers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were excited by the possibility of catching our first ever tench, so hurriedly assembled our ancient cane rods and threaded on little porcupine floats, adding a small shot that would rest gently on the muddy bottom. We’d scrounged some old bread from school, mashed some of it up and flung it beside the reeds before casting out a lump of bread flake. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our tackle and methods were basic but it wasn’t long before both floats slid below the surface and we were battling with fiesta little tench of about two pounds, maybe more as some were very plump. I remember our joy so vividly that it’s as if it was yesterday. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVu_jdqpA48p5T-69rQvGzNqhtxEq8_-LI42TSti_us6vityOZ_tJeJjPJbysMJDUMQeItWVnO3m-EYRMB6yrW_KXMKm76dxGuUahzCZu1uYz0S1vxsOt55WqxL1-5Bb5_RKpAFjzraJ9Ptgbak3DHf5rbkV2akCUFTSXqsTWLPSYMSJgD7YvQCwc/s3526/STORMY%20SKIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2587" data-original-width="3526" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVu_jdqpA48p5T-69rQvGzNqhtxEq8_-LI42TSti_us6vityOZ_tJeJjPJbysMJDUMQeItWVnO3m-EYRMB6yrW_KXMKm76dxGuUahzCZu1uYz0S1vxsOt55WqxL1-5Bb5_RKpAFjzraJ9Ptgbak3DHf5rbkV2akCUFTSXqsTWLPSYMSJgD7YvQCwc/w640-h470/STORMY%20SKIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We continued catching several more, hardly noticing the increasingly heavy rain and with the fishing so good, choosing to ignore it. But by the time we had caught enough we were throughly soaked and cycled back across the Fens to school, chilled but happy, our catch totalling thirteen tench.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIovlELnstanHsDZ-D7G83zHVLHhFmZs5FU8spe8XtLh5YkmDycdL6Am-37L-vUSega7Bsu5m901tVeY27QrqVBUHaGwtWBl8wK7ObS_wgdkkRzc2IIt8odTQXlr-hxa3k_lb41aqbn9hX5kaoAAgl4cTsxTqtKdeewYd0Ar0Lyd3agObRqusbzjX/s1280/P1060556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIovlELnstanHsDZ-D7G83zHVLHhFmZs5FU8spe8XtLh5YkmDycdL6Am-37L-vUSega7Bsu5m901tVeY27QrqVBUHaGwtWBl8wK7ObS_wgdkkRzc2IIt8odTQXlr-hxa3k_lb41aqbn9hX5kaoAAgl4cTsxTqtKdeewYd0Ar0Lyd3agObRqusbzjX/w640-h442/P1060556.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyu9A1f5Ov4SChjGjxpmVQgLRj8QDW2vkxFWGao_elzhjv99L4tlCpAWbNYEej5omngEMU7KaOne2lgZIFN6PGWNL__ihV3c_JBLZVewdpsF0jwYvdCUjq4BKLge9ZUXNDXlZVqDnofGo3Koikxq5uXZKa7-Fl9iKZ6IBpNdM38lNfBto0wpCfFHV/s1280/P1060555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1280" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyu9A1f5Ov4SChjGjxpmVQgLRj8QDW2vkxFWGao_elzhjv99L4tlCpAWbNYEej5omngEMU7KaOne2lgZIFN6PGWNL__ihV3c_JBLZVewdpsF0jwYvdCUjq4BKLge9ZUXNDXlZVqDnofGo3Koikxq5uXZKa7-Fl9iKZ6IBpNdM38lNfBto0wpCfFHV/w640-h440/P1060555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My Box Brownie recorded some of them and no tench will ever be as memorable as our catch, shared with the best pal a schoolboy could ever wish for. I wonder where Purdy is now? </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-76964499909442773362022-05-18T14:30:00.008+01:002022-05-21T06:57:40.331+01:00TASTING TROUT<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmI60RnGsoBASrNdem06gNpTAp-wlM7HFm_7ET9zmanPWoP9K7i3RWTzhkaSMpMfiqnoPpePwAZWycaM95q0acaLrNJjKePEDayY8srLErCMzOJBUTc8YxYr9A0Nye7w-l51LOEG-2o5I_F8fTrnY4-Y5FXFN8hnNFppI8WkU2jMbtPhA_8leWqYx/s4032/WZ%20-%20WDAC%20%20TROUT%20LAKE.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmI60RnGsoBASrNdem06gNpTAp-wlM7HFm_7ET9zmanPWoP9K7i3RWTzhkaSMpMfiqnoPpePwAZWycaM95q0acaLrNJjKePEDayY8srLErCMzOJBUTc8YxYr9A0Nye7w-l51LOEG-2o5I_F8fTrnY4-Y5FXFN8hnNFppI8WkU2jMbtPhA_8leWqYx/s600/WZ%20-%20WDAC%20%20TROUT%20LAKE.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> ‘Variety is the spice of life’ and that’s never truer than if you’re an angler. So when our local Wimborne club offered us members a ‘Trout Taster Day’ to learn how to catch one, I jumped at the chance to learn about fly fishing and move closer to nature. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our location was one of the club’s trout lakes just a few minutes drive west of Wimborne at rural Winterborne Zelston, the village’s name identifying the source of the crystal clear chalkstream water that creates the perfect home for the many trout that, as we arrived, encouraged us with their swirls. Watching the cruising fish as they swam in a garden of colourful aquatic weed, it looked very beautiful - and the fish were big! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ2GS2sY0DkXfMHFz-heOwQl4qQkz2KOKdNK3JvoAX2b27m_mZkrDMekFpGL0C5v8ZL_rAWNjtEzal4n94aSKQsu87aSruEbjkT1YlQvUpqnHsRRvQsXSsdiHOFR6NHii_jWL9tR1tl-2-O_EzujsYXXG5ccEaPsKqvx5IBvR9uBiPyNJZjlwXSDt/s1280/CU%20MIKE%20DEMO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ2GS2sY0DkXfMHFz-heOwQl4qQkz2KOKdNK3JvoAX2b27m_mZkrDMekFpGL0C5v8ZL_rAWNjtEzal4n94aSKQsu87aSruEbjkT1YlQvUpqnHsRRvQsXSsdiHOFR6NHii_jWL9tR1tl-2-O_EzujsYXXG5ccEaPsKqvx5IBvR9uBiPyNJZjlwXSDt/w640-h480/CU%20MIKE%20DEMO.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Our tutor for the day was the renowned guide Mike Bilson. He’s fished all over the world for a wide variety of species, so we were lucky, indeed privileged to receive the best possible advice to help us get started.
After essential health and safety instructions, most notably to wear glasses to protect our eyes, he gave us sixteen beginners guidance on the most suitable tackle to use, on how to identify what the trout might be eating, then how to cast the imitation flies to fool the fish. </span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFtyPuU3h1NF-DcS7bgyHCqlfSwDRziWLU-KWpi2ridhFnTdRpBDqyBXZMb7XT6RaeTTH-yry9gmmbHdCLtQRpPMd5yCgByfUXsSv1BPUDS-G2rGjg3FN1kMTmY-mfCUVL7YM6RIjsz1H96kRahV1QqHrC9dYO-H50GDoPDLhhXluFkDuaprccaBZ/s1280/FLY%20SELECTION%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFtyPuU3h1NF-DcS7bgyHCqlfSwDRziWLU-KWpi2ridhFnTdRpBDqyBXZMb7XT6RaeTTH-yry9gmmbHdCLtQRpPMd5yCgByfUXsSv1BPUDS-G2rGjg3FN1kMTmY-mfCUVL7YM6RIjsz1H96kRahV1QqHrC9dYO-H50GDoPDLhhXluFkDuaprccaBZ/w640-h472/FLY%20SELECTION%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROhSFfbKi6f_hik9mjOzM8QaT4eWByaJxuaBpPIDCWTY8cVGMmMHAiF9trCpO0HrwhwH65tNIzv65bxq7kVpbW21nYdq1reByRcaslBkoa1_wEZpkZDnv7I67wWwHLbR9IB2mYtOHWxJfCh5-nYbK3tTANxO3rjKrXbJ9BxfRiSaxM_XSK4uB2qRf/s1280/TANK%20OF%20CRITTERS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROhSFfbKi6f_hik9mjOzM8QaT4eWByaJxuaBpPIDCWTY8cVGMmMHAiF9trCpO0HrwhwH65tNIzv65bxq7kVpbW21nYdq1reByRcaslBkoa1_wEZpkZDnv7I67wWwHLbR9IB2mYtOHWxJfCh5-nYbK3tTANxO3rjKrXbJ9BxfRiSaxM_XSK4uB2qRf/w640-h480/TANK%20OF%20CRITTERS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There’s a bewildering selection of invertebrate life in the lake, from damsel nymphs to cdc's, sedges, upwing olives, daddies, floaters and sinkers but learning the lingo is all part of the fun and some of the great books that were brought along for us to study will impart the knowledge we will need as we develop our skills. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3jiqF5Z2zzn0OqdkYEHxTkLc2zOVmT03N-c5uS4aF7D7kLf7KAO7QKw4x5CYNpiRHuKHWVkqz_qYa0gtRhVD-oIYmgBL2gaA_5AUjy6d9mG_IVk7zJHrD9f9keAZL4V58Pq2tAEgyTVYLwldANFO-swQPr-g28DXJmtzZQilsmDj7ih3euxsXwj8/s1280/MORE%20FLIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3jiqF5Z2zzn0OqdkYEHxTkLc2zOVmT03N-c5uS4aF7D7kLf7KAO7QKw4x5CYNpiRHuKHWVkqz_qYa0gtRhVD-oIYmgBL2gaA_5AUjy6d9mG_IVk7zJHrD9f9keAZL4V58Pq2tAEgyTVYLwldANFO-swQPr-g28DXJmtzZQilsmDj7ih3euxsXwj8/w640-h480/MORE%20FLIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />John Goddard was a god of fly fishing during his life and has written a few bibles in his time and of Peter Lapsley’s many books, ’Matching the Hatch’ is one of the most useful. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqWz76A80qOXY387_hBSTCUegInG5TvQ9-FiU-p8yQFrjYgrD1M2DnnOhpp9Ffz5lq9V8iwCnHrsnEMYVuTeuuhN_pxTBD_7zufjlmw8zMuKyo55acS_KtoX460wthXLx-nYFS3_JKEDEjET46opNXm7cCBKznDFnQ9jHNvhGYOZahi7iqwx6wUtF/s1280/WS%20GROUP%20INCLUDING%20PAUL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1280" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqWz76A80qOXY387_hBSTCUegInG5TvQ9-FiU-p8yQFrjYgrD1M2DnnOhpp9Ffz5lq9V8iwCnHrsnEMYVuTeuuhN_pxTBD_7zufjlmw8zMuKyo55acS_KtoX460wthXLx-nYFS3_JKEDEjET46opNXm7cCBKznDFnQ9jHNvhGYOZahi7iqwx6wUtF/w640-h420/WS%20GROUP%20INCLUDING%20PAUL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Mike, and Mike Hirsh our chairman alongside him and our Game Secretary on the right, Paul Baker who organised the gig, said that the most suitable tackle for this lake was a 6wt rod with middle to tip action, a reel with a good clutch loaded with 30yds of backing and a weight forward floating fly line attached to a tapered leader of 9ft. Along with a few flies, this lot will cost you about £100, so it’s not too expensive to get set up and start a lifetime of thrills and if any further help is required, then Paul is always on call, when he's not catching trout!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRg6STyVoHHkJG-MNK3h5GEJD7dThNRdyJGNTFdThyPZZJKtiaJttIjXFAro83d9qCyGI416xh0KRiUhaI8hkIhA6nEo-fB1udqkdprNouPmIlUsV7xxL-TQIQmP8PSQO4fdHVgzU71Ef3u3rsRIyU6HdAY_XwdeGbP6MRyI_AswIJPD_gz-I3MZX_/s1280/MIKE%20DEMO%20CASTING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRg6STyVoHHkJG-MNK3h5GEJD7dThNRdyJGNTFdThyPZZJKtiaJttIjXFAro83d9qCyGI416xh0KRiUhaI8hkIhA6nEo-fB1udqkdprNouPmIlUsV7xxL-TQIQmP8PSQO4fdHVgzU71Ef3u3rsRIyU6HdAY_XwdeGbP6MRyI_AswIJPD_gz-I3MZX_/w640-h480/MIKE%20DEMO%20CASTING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUM52lypEm3-1qr6_xu2RnCEuHT0wqlVd_PUkeunbi-dgqT4OO5IZQ5Go0b40PwMRwRCd9ep2fg7vPiZiKGa4Bo9GW2Vh1TvSKHkVhIiSHJc_-0QoMMIgKt8kWldJM1XpHWlcp70qKvKvaqguRH1ioWghQ-uUHknU1OPmybqzZuOpE8Tt1JBrNxcyG/s1280/MIKE%20DEMO%20TO%20GROUP%20B:G.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUM52lypEm3-1qr6_xu2RnCEuHT0wqlVd_PUkeunbi-dgqT4OO5IZQ5Go0b40PwMRwRCd9ep2fg7vPiZiKGa4Bo9GW2Vh1TvSKHkVhIiSHJc_-0QoMMIgKt8kWldJM1XpHWlcp70qKvKvaqguRH1ioWghQ-uUHknU1OPmybqzZuOpE8Tt1JBrNxcyG/w640-h480/MIKE%20DEMO%20TO%20GROUP%20B:G.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Once Mike had taught us enough to make it more likely that our casting would result in the fly landing on the water instead of the hedge, we were each promoted to our personal instructor for one to one coaching.
The club’s Game Secretary Paul had masterminded the event superbly and had pulled together a large team of volunteers to ensure the day was a success. So when twenty of us ‘students’ arrived in perfect sunshine, we were able to admire an immaculate fishery along with a host of willing guides and their tackle. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many of the clubs trout fishing stalwarts had given up their day to help us in our faltering steps to become fly anglers and the quality of Mike Bilson’s instructions and our guides was proven by the fact that everyone caught at least one lovely rainbow trout and all were big enough to put a serious bend in our rods. One lucky tyro even caught a monster of eleven pounds! The smiles of triumph from both young and old made it a delightful day for us all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y-xc4Zs3eYSm5dDEvWZKUOjqJrPIpdW5L9LOc4HIllV558rl8wSYzwsBdaZOyoVbd2Q5U81xx4vSXSPtpCKOzpDPfOQC6vN2vSIMJbWn-94BS4bba5D8ByxGPkph3HZ0ewShmLbFddLAYG0zOPYebUsV_LiBjhWfzX6ll_3fZIQBocRz3Qs8Ccpo/s4032/WZ%20-%20BOY%20WITH%20LOVELY%20RAINBOW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y-xc4Zs3eYSm5dDEvWZKUOjqJrPIpdW5L9LOc4HIllV558rl8wSYzwsBdaZOyoVbd2Q5U81xx4vSXSPtpCKOzpDPfOQC6vN2vSIMJbWn-94BS4bba5D8ByxGPkph3HZ0ewShmLbFddLAYG0zOPYebUsV_LiBjhWfzX6ll_3fZIQBocRz3Qs8Ccpo/w480-h640/WZ%20-%20BOY%20WITH%20LOVELY%20RAINBOW.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweHKC0uQEmoz8yIW4H91yOssCr89ebZxvKacGfkJzQVmFhUAtorNU5BCYXp5UeCv-ZbrJ4yHTdJoew708hGXepqLK1lvSt2zZl_NGnDttoqVuZ-bqs5cZZm3FCvoEhsUbdLBIZHeShvgpGumRKrskkvWNXv3L14Tkmmi2Ia0QjCxBcVsJSTJ7OBM8/s3879/First%20Rainbow%20Trout%203.4lbs%20-%20WILLIAM%20from%20Brian.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3879" data-original-width="2662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweHKC0uQEmoz8yIW4H91yOssCr89ebZxvKacGfkJzQVmFhUAtorNU5BCYXp5UeCv-ZbrJ4yHTdJoew708hGXepqLK1lvSt2zZl_NGnDttoqVuZ-bqs5cZZm3FCvoEhsUbdLBIZHeShvgpGumRKrskkvWNXv3L14Tkmmi2Ia0QjCxBcVsJSTJ7OBM8/w440-h640/First%20Rainbow%20Trout%203.4lbs%20-%20WILLIAM%20from%20Brian.jpg" width="440" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />This is Willam's very first trout. He was very happy of course, as was his grandad Brian Heap, our club President who takes William fishing as often as possible. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">My personal guide was Iain Scott, the club’s deputy chairman and we had a really enjoyable couple of hours talking club business while swopping fishing stories as he helped me in trying to fool a fish by tying on a thin 'tippet' of 5lb line.
I was keen to catch one on a dry fly because the excitement of seeing the swirl of the take is a top adrenaline rush, but in the end we lowered our sights to a slightly sunken gold head nymph and it was only moments before a surging take tightened the line and battle commenced. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUApSM8xsxwp-JWgvItgZvACHleCVRAcxsCv6ubBn2d5nYOnXA0egIkI06CClDhyF70chW90JDiceqUjRM_0zDwZEN0p3Vf2Q5OzgzoZOr0yvhwUKh38Wt2cP1_l1_H8QqTeVuFzeoandDdeMjP38Y1mOH9SQJ5mOpKXm_tgNk83GpzspZlWqI3-Ps/s1280/P1060535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1280" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUApSM8xsxwp-JWgvItgZvACHleCVRAcxsCv6ubBn2d5nYOnXA0egIkI06CClDhyF70chW90JDiceqUjRM_0zDwZEN0p3Vf2Q5OzgzoZOr0yvhwUKh38Wt2cP1_l1_H8QqTeVuFzeoandDdeMjP38Y1mOH9SQJ5mOpKXm_tgNk83GpzspZlWqI3-Ps/w640-h384/P1060535.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The fish put up substantial resistance and was big enough to not only provide my wife Sue and I with two substantial meals but the crystal clear water and rich fly life of the lake ensured it was very tasty.
So if you want to try tasting trout, buy your club day ticket costing £20 and you’ll have hours of fun and with luck, take home two big fish and enough delicious meals for a week.</span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-33019742466531447112022-04-06T17:39:00.003+01:002022-04-07T17:31:39.454+01:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <u>SHARING SPRINGTIME</u><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ92E5JQrXkgZGDrdvG5oPpWKF50syunLUtDmrGri5LK_T94IY59MxS4qFnf8wgTLMRrq5uHRMgwv-B9fCoHXILyVMeUOCZ8MM1OXwTqkT5FbAURG9RX_t6cv8KnR7VmDXucZTuKOCR0cNO2iluO3YuTjDfo2raSXejEKbHrn1JIf0phhrKeWgJYg1/s1280/POND%20SCENIC%20IN%20SPRING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ92E5JQrXkgZGDrdvG5oPpWKF50syunLUtDmrGri5LK_T94IY59MxS4qFnf8wgTLMRrq5uHRMgwv-B9fCoHXILyVMeUOCZ8MM1OXwTqkT5FbAURG9RX_t6cv8KnR7VmDXucZTuKOCR0cNO2iluO3YuTjDfo2raSXejEKbHrn1JIf0phhrKeWgJYg1/w640-h480/POND%20SCENIC%20IN%20SPRING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoying our sunny garden with close friends on Sunday reminded Sue and I how privileged we are to own this little patch of southern England and all the wildlife that lives here with us.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqAdkUvQPFKI0eZ7EbXuruTTnTnVUemEIriY37713Ost_kCcy6iO-FuqUWjbrHWM4Ho_TXJ6etRNDDYNnYjnQyWmI1PfEHd-H1aCPbjVKlRFd97nKChNXlwbgKHRr8rq1bnjBLcnrl6TR1SGExvwiFMx4b-AKPBGtIlbeD3x5b0fsygCrd3nuzAXw/s1280/STAR%20ROBIN%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1280" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqAdkUvQPFKI0eZ7EbXuruTTnTnVUemEIriY37713Ost_kCcy6iO-FuqUWjbrHWM4Ho_TXJ6etRNDDYNnYjnQyWmI1PfEHd-H1aCPbjVKlRFd97nKChNXlwbgKHRr8rq1bnjBLcnrl6TR1SGExvwiFMx4b-AKPBGtIlbeD3x5b0fsygCrd3nuzAXw/w640-h462/STAR%20ROBIN%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of our almost hand-tame robins<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our
few hours together also reminded us of just how important it is to
share the joy of all these wonderful spring colours, so I thought that
penning a quick blog and adding a few happy snaps taken during this last
week might be appreciated by those who love gardening.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsBSCBbzyz8TZvg9WmDII0yi4QoLinfa6JGej5VhEtCQHzgg1NThbp5JLw6sGPD7ps8EkcRfD9m7wVAdZVNQWkR71R4zBYWd5_JL82IrPctuAlHp0-srOkhydqDIUn0nTkqmTyJVD1ysRTumpih_ekue-XfWu8F6mkH00McP0uh8xaDLFvQ8anSFM/s1280/SUNNY%20TULIPS%20IN%20POTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1280" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsBSCBbzyz8TZvg9WmDII0yi4QoLinfa6JGej5VhEtCQHzgg1NThbp5JLw6sGPD7ps8EkcRfD9m7wVAdZVNQWkR71R4zBYWd5_JL82IrPctuAlHp0-srOkhydqDIUn0nTkqmTyJVD1ysRTumpih_ekue-XfWu8F6mkH00McP0uh8xaDLFvQ8anSFM/w640-h490/SUNNY%20TULIPS%20IN%20POTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tulips provide a glorious burst of colour after the drab winter rains<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JrpwNk0ckZV9VzOYgLrmHqhUjkoTPK2S1H2oHq5QcassWhNH5An_JQRDRWwneyPm2SOjF-z_Li59ZbhJp6_b8vk0xKdExm1Syo11sBvP6lnATwYqXb-lMJ-xtjtDyS_M7I6JR_5uBuDriHWQF0-fYGTJtao9psgru21ZMiQZJ8HZycvM-MAIkH2r/s1280/SUNNY%20TULIP%20SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JrpwNk0ckZV9VzOYgLrmHqhUjkoTPK2S1H2oHq5QcassWhNH5An_JQRDRWwneyPm2SOjF-z_Li59ZbhJp6_b8vk0xKdExm1Syo11sBvP6lnATwYqXb-lMJ-xtjtDyS_M7I6JR_5uBuDriHWQF0-fYGTJtao9psgru21ZMiQZJ8HZycvM-MAIkH2r/w640-h480/SUNNY%20TULIP%20SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> planting them in our gravel garden is knee crunching <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW2yuXsE4S0O7o7A50_jTPbIJrwnv6TTBAZXzzK46iC1tzUDlv_mcvj_ITUng2pBtoH-MzoipmG46PowgSsIRVICNApoMbszcyALtcpzNGpGW4qQXf18oklqUmNmq1c5x2xUJYufUzHJC-UsphxZTRy_yJsPNqMcXOTymV3mQeYarH3NoKJnKMj_7/s3600/BRIMSTONE%20BUTTERFLY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW2yuXsE4S0O7o7A50_jTPbIJrwnv6TTBAZXzzK46iC1tzUDlv_mcvj_ITUng2pBtoH-MzoipmG46PowgSsIRVICNApoMbszcyALtcpzNGpGW4qQXf18oklqUmNmq1c5x2xUJYufUzHJC-UsphxZTRy_yJsPNqMcXOTymV3mQeYarH3NoKJnKMj_7/w640-h480/BRIMSTONE%20BUTTERFLY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's been a very good spring for brimstones, though we fear for them during these recent hard frosts<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiq_M3gFska_VX0uinBUQH1y7v67u1BSIC85ANWqtrsLWdYDZrUMR3WNcx_0CMyF2sBz4Bfx368rZVndRl2EPG-wOQwGo04eLZE83FYee3Qkj1X2mrTG9zTm0izK5SKa9fuOmeMl_fo0-PPVcFvRAaeziw3X7narQR07aY4rxxJbIbBTiDgzV51Wg/s3370/COMMA%20ON%20ROCKERY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2544" data-original-width="3370" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiq_M3gFska_VX0uinBUQH1y7v67u1BSIC85ANWqtrsLWdYDZrUMR3WNcx_0CMyF2sBz4Bfx368rZVndRl2EPG-wOQwGo04eLZE83FYee3Qkj1X2mrTG9zTm0izK5SKa9fuOmeMl_fo0-PPVcFvRAaeziw3X7narQR07aY4rxxJbIbBTiDgzV51Wg/w640-h484/COMMA%20ON%20ROCKERY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">commas have been fewer this year, though always a colourful treat<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4OZwscExPiWdQ3I0YIjvyyLqPb-URn8tkBhcRJUd_nvticLD2EPd_nV8PG-QRL5zckpTTmQZxXIiJLODl0n49I_cD_JAmukMn3kWdPSYsH6voO8b1t4lBR0H3txzRjUG-jk7GK7odwmDingT5jDctkJV2fe_Icn_IlKYz-ApND5GBVBsMcH7daTk/s4896/SUNNY%20GARDEN%20FROM%20OFFICE%20WINDOW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4OZwscExPiWdQ3I0YIjvyyLqPb-URn8tkBhcRJUd_nvticLD2EPd_nV8PG-QRL5zckpTTmQZxXIiJLODl0n49I_cD_JAmukMn3kWdPSYsH6voO8b1t4lBR0H3txzRjUG-jk7GK7odwmDingT5jDctkJV2fe_Icn_IlKYz-ApND5GBVBsMcH7daTk/w640-h480/SUNNY%20GARDEN%20FROM%20OFFICE%20WINDOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our wooded patch and the pond close to the house which the visiting otters use as a swimming pool<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkQfWdm8c8rQxUVB4RKOdVDFbRjzk8x-qBV811T4OTl7DGycMzH5uXq_E4-HmTxdVD3YxaqNOQgm30BQjF21DmamT4fs07osngZdHx9i7hJM-ry2dLjxsf_a_0_BLRGFY5cY9QS_dWkSe9DOhDWG7cYQCnABNeRbYwlw_ouK2OECNdOGkfZcWiJkn/s1280/TULIPS%20BASKING.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkQfWdm8c8rQxUVB4RKOdVDFbRjzk8x-qBV811T4OTl7DGycMzH5uXq_E4-HmTxdVD3YxaqNOQgm30BQjF21DmamT4fs07osngZdHx9i7hJM-ry2dLjxsf_a_0_BLRGFY5cY9QS_dWkSe9DOhDWG7cYQCnABNeRbYwlw_ouK2OECNdOGkfZcWiJkn/w640-h432/TULIPS%20BASKING.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sun worshiping </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fYtzhda_2ex4uqfh5HMNDnLfcGdTP0P-zxQvVlcJkjmscLQ0PDhWBnjdlMwsddFzAL1sSuNxqIrolzgWWZDX85iSSyGFMHA8WJzxD6hFYD45UrgJQBXeZLa579NeXdE9JanP7dgt3q_2uWGVs0tKhRu0eHLAi7dEPWO5RIWW6f5vG_3s4hPElw0Q/s1280/TOP%20LAWN%20+%20MAGNOLIA%20STELLATA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1280" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fYtzhda_2ex4uqfh5HMNDnLfcGdTP0P-zxQvVlcJkjmscLQ0PDhWBnjdlMwsddFzAL1sSuNxqIrolzgWWZDX85iSSyGFMHA8WJzxD6hFYD45UrgJQBXeZLa579NeXdE9JanP7dgt3q_2uWGVs0tKhRu0eHLAi7dEPWO5RIWW6f5vG_3s4hPElw0Q/w640-h462/TOP%20LAWN%20+%20MAGNOLIA%20STELLATA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the little stream runs through the heart of the garden past camellias and magnolia stellata<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our two acres of woodland, flowers and shrubs is unashamedly designed, not to be neat and tidy [God forbid!] but to provide a home for the most diverse collection of critters that we’re able to attract. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NwJI9fj9UiK8AjkwAoU_gkkFNmdZ1k5CsKXuSXQR2UYeNeOFQI9g6neCIb5feRc4ZJqA79BqwJm51ICbqrcDr_hslwK3NsX8R494ws9kufxWS3viBvIjfR4ZwsUpandX6Y11rdS_lOtbe5KLgEJVvN_S_qYo8FETsxRcdYgtWLp5tlubkQxLaD0D/s2485/JAY%20LEANING%20ON%20LOG%20-%20FEMALE%3F.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2485" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NwJI9fj9UiK8AjkwAoU_gkkFNmdZ1k5CsKXuSXQR2UYeNeOFQI9g6neCIb5feRc4ZJqA79BqwJm51ICbqrcDr_hslwK3NsX8R494ws9kufxWS3viBvIjfR4ZwsUpandX6Y11rdS_lOtbe5KLgEJVvN_S_qYo8FETsxRcdYgtWLp5tlubkQxLaD0D/w640-h468/JAY%20LEANING%20ON%20LOG%20-%20FEMALE%3F.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> we are blessed with many jays, this lady was enjoying her sunbathing by lying on a log outside our kitchen window - lovely birds aren't they<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKB9aJWfFCXJF64q2h6vbPsRtOqjECs49YPXr8Z04_ovaxVWqMlIr4wys6DR8gZgo2-DJWJvM1nsjmEk9p4RZcD-pQ0tMTQTZxPT2XCrTk7g6uGuJHQOt_4SYRQZFuGLsZyjeieIfXqXCRnlxggA-N9YOcizDNGdQJPdwIUerQfD5_3Mes4ANFjjh/s4896/FOX%20BY%20FEEDER.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKB9aJWfFCXJF64q2h6vbPsRtOqjECs49YPXr8Z04_ovaxVWqMlIr4wys6DR8gZgo2-DJWJvM1nsjmEk9p4RZcD-pQ0tMTQTZxPT2XCrTk7g6uGuJHQOt_4SYRQZFuGLsZyjeieIfXqXCRnlxggA-N9YOcizDNGdQJPdwIUerQfD5_3Mes4ANFjjh/w640-h480/FOX%20BY%20FEEDER.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">foxes are about most nights, tidying up spilt grain<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KRy6eN_3lSTqHEgC0iPXpnDZMb-rtP8uusgdp8NL5gH_qzWwFY3AQ1U5FRpwxBDbg-XsiaaZZg1_ZxeVE23_jTVSaAQZNhoClf2Bg2XCUWNzDKZUKgx6_XDZodeSCxv2Idti2GGN3x7_fHlFAM_ObxTrxTfPaycDkDR98JR3OG-NS32or6cDO7u6/s1488/MALE%20LOOKS%20UP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1481" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KRy6eN_3lSTqHEgC0iPXpnDZMb-rtP8uusgdp8NL5gH_qzWwFY3AQ1U5FRpwxBDbg-XsiaaZZg1_ZxeVE23_jTVSaAQZNhoClf2Bg2XCUWNzDKZUKgx6_XDZodeSCxv2Idti2GGN3x7_fHlFAM_ObxTrxTfPaycDkDR98JR3OG-NS32or6cDO7u6/w636-h640/MALE%20LOOKS%20UP.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> male sparrow hawk named 'Fancy Dan' because he was always bathing in the stream<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Our remarkably tame pair of sparrow hawks actually nested in a birch tree right in the middle of the garden and raised a chick, so I was able to invite friends to come and take pics of them while they remained so obliging.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9c4-MK81g_XHMGLoeWEg72FHFJgHGWhn89xMv1bA_h4u969q7cPUIFsz5rKkPHTvIxmbuQUP98Xofp7molGl1dRnnIbxvPbQsmh0F1B2U5RqLxvDpeEm_s3065S7FgUPhCRs5ziBuywaDjjpW4PkoY_sCZrkAQgECqfPW9TfBOnge6xW-pvcrEbT/s1500/MALE%20AT%20WEIR%20-%20M.R.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9c4-MK81g_XHMGLoeWEg72FHFJgHGWhn89xMv1bA_h4u969q7cPUIFsz5rKkPHTvIxmbuQUP98Xofp7molGl1dRnnIbxvPbQsmh0F1B2U5RqLxvDpeEm_s3065S7FgUPhCRs5ziBuywaDjjpW4PkoY_sCZrkAQgECqfPW9TfBOnge6xW-pvcrEbT/w640-h426/MALE%20AT%20WEIR%20-%20M.R.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flowing water provided Dan with a perfect bathroom - he was a very smart boy © Mike Read<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7JQa-4h_eCyIkT8444glvyDdrRibOWqvsJ4jq6YeRLWo8GdijWE6kX7fkUmvwS_K86j-lxyHNXaodBL8JnO2Pk4IGAIxvTlfjl3ad03V2Ojo6nG8SxNwEleMW1ya_3s2vk9iz3uF6qwyohqiRj_hyb6wSbEOWVfiOvicgEmPe-C2zdUZk04MGnJG/s2048/JANE'S%20BABY%20SPARROW%20HAWK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7JQa-4h_eCyIkT8444glvyDdrRibOWqvsJ4jq6YeRLWo8GdijWE6kX7fkUmvwS_K86j-lxyHNXaodBL8JnO2Pk4IGAIxvTlfjl3ad03V2Ojo6nG8SxNwEleMW1ya_3s2vk9iz3uF6qwyohqiRj_hyb6wSbEOWVfiOvicgEmPe-C2zdUZk04MGnJG/w640-h480/JANE'S%20BABY%20SPARROW%20HAWK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the chick close to fledging into nearby branches © Jane Adams<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtScH9sS_VsFR9TWKTQgq1D9oGtQ1e2hqO_o-Aq6zk_FelvMz2UNDdoyiy7JPRljEWkvh5ZYKk6a4F0LLs55way-F2dpPiajic6JcQYaeysXWaEjvRK0VRiFlGsyyHPVYbtXZRhOqDTdJXvfUo8kXgrfT7ZYAvro5NdT9CqeD-gsO8qHDbz-l_npc6/s1500/%20FANCY%20DAN%20THE%20SPARROW%20HAWK%20BATHING%20-%20M.R.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtScH9sS_VsFR9TWKTQgq1D9oGtQ1e2hqO_o-Aq6zk_FelvMz2UNDdoyiy7JPRljEWkvh5ZYKk6a4F0LLs55way-F2dpPiajic6JcQYaeysXWaEjvRK0VRiFlGsyyHPVYbtXZRhOqDTdJXvfUo8kXgrfT7ZYAvro5NdT9CqeD-gsO8qHDbz-l_npc6/w640-h426/%20FANCY%20DAN%20THE%20SPARROW%20HAWK%20BATHING%20-%20M.R.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy Dan's daily bath time was followed by hours of careful preening © Mike Read<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgqMgbHpC9qLbXcxo6dPBBDffh5YhdBBStWaGqo1t02lGTtvRTPVcEuLqmpbrgsqASogcMHTacnlafv7NhYik7p5pr7j5jlGBqzs1RBqjn7hf1NCy4R_jSH21lAAQJZ78w8py3HtBTUp_2Kd7MGdLO76CrZSJv3UbDn08Wjyx0SGjZJ0DFO1SEdMd/s4000/HERE%20TO%20STAY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgqMgbHpC9qLbXcxo6dPBBDffh5YhdBBStWaGqo1t02lGTtvRTPVcEuLqmpbrgsqASogcMHTacnlafv7NhYik7p5pr7j5jlGBqzs1RBqjn7hf1NCy4R_jSH21lAAQJZ78w8py3HtBTUp_2Kd7MGdLO76CrZSJv3UbDn08Wjyx0SGjZJ0DFO1SEdMd/w640-h480/HERE%20TO%20STAY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">amicably sharing bird food - we called him Prince Willhelm the Second as our previous one went awol<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">So in reality our garden is a little nature reserve that in turn provides us with an escape from the realities and horrors of the world that all of us are suffering right now. There’s a lot of madness out there but within our sanctuary we can enjoy mental and physical renewal and while we’re at it, do our bit for the climate crisis.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY8g4Y22KlF8QTTHbZvPU3Ot-pYiVaDEJRu2vtue4ZHAHiHMcz_bO_lNUZz4i3DhHaVP-w0cV62ETaX36eG0uifMXYDcxC6xv6a04M0Ld9ImzEwEKfwcbeoQtOsuBYICW9s-lLhFPfXy8052FDE_ba396IOIbPshIgPIHmbIy6uQ4pjGa3mIub0Js/s1280/WOODLAND%20FROM%20UMPIRE'S%20CHAIR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY8g4Y22KlF8QTTHbZvPU3Ot-pYiVaDEJRu2vtue4ZHAHiHMcz_bO_lNUZz4i3DhHaVP-w0cV62ETaX36eG0uifMXYDcxC6xv6a04M0Ld9ImzEwEKfwcbeoQtOsuBYICW9s-lLhFPfXy8052FDE_ba396IOIbPshIgPIHmbIy6uQ4pjGa3mIub0Js/w640-h480/WOODLAND%20FROM%20UMPIRE'S%20CHAIR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">acers, birches, camellias and rhodos thrive on our moist hillsides<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Over the forty years that we’ve been lucky to live here, we’ve planted dozens of trees and even more valuable to combat climate change, we’ve wetted the land by digging seven ponds large and small, along with a wooded marsh, then cut a stream to link all the springs from the groundwater together so that freshwater flows from end to end through the garden.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g6jCmM2tSNR4salMehaNeHPXgz7T8lSVzGsuPMToXsAkOrYWdsuunwGZKQ8R9jQakd-aFDDQSiz1Re4SxiGSd1EqxZGF6gjJcca88u7zmjslQFZLcBJLjR0HSHmpbRzr3IZn8CCwo1AwI-MmWPDuBoxUEgZK2EqU-Xum4UIBuHzDlEPPDqhmoXAL/s3627/MARSH%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="3627" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g6jCmM2tSNR4salMehaNeHPXgz7T8lSVzGsuPMToXsAkOrYWdsuunwGZKQ8R9jQakd-aFDDQSiz1Re4SxiGSd1EqxZGF6gjJcca88u7zmjslQFZLcBJLjR0HSHmpbRzr3IZn8CCwo1AwI-MmWPDuBoxUEgZK2EqU-Xum4UIBuHzDlEPPDqhmoXAL/w640-h478/MARSH%20AT%20SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our marsh provides a home for dozens of amorous frogs in the spring<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRzJAMqz2fMSsOqcftDr7nERv_-olZ7HGjm42eskqNRrRwKZ4rMDAnz3FhBu7KTm5-BilP3cT19BpisBcanra32HKARS9XM8K76b5VajX7ZeGHQwupcPxfcfGCrQTOpiAkJDB-Dp2cJ7VnqjJxZV0ATX4WhZLJdgTVqfTc4hvvAS-6W4Ws3A4IvDA/s3489/FROG%20IN%20MARSH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3489" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRzJAMqz2fMSsOqcftDr7nERv_-olZ7HGjm42eskqNRrRwKZ4rMDAnz3FhBu7KTm5-BilP3cT19BpisBcanra32HKARS9XM8K76b5VajX7ZeGHQwupcPxfcfGCrQTOpiAkJDB-Dp2cJ7VnqjJxZV0ATX4WhZLJdgTVqfTc4hvvAS-6W4Ws3A4IvDA/w640-h440/FROG%20IN%20MARSH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgA_3wl_02bkpw_aNuGS8SJL4t7sm7jD3FM_oAqzDgIZGHK0VivUjqS855X1j_18EFxtkhuazzq3pA6VHK1ff3oMbSPp9Lg7Qmtbd0MLiQRTWbgGIKWdHL24uLrZu1xCLtj0IZBaTI8jeceWJbBmJnzFW2Nyth1rZCLFbJNSu4YWR6UKtv7U5LHWM/s3600/STOCK%20DOVES%20BATHING%20IN%20STREAM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgA_3wl_02bkpw_aNuGS8SJL4t7sm7jD3FM_oAqzDgIZGHK0VivUjqS855X1j_18EFxtkhuazzq3pA6VHK1ff3oMbSPp9Lg7Qmtbd0MLiQRTWbgGIKWdHL24uLrZu1xCLtj0IZBaTI8jeceWJbBmJnzFW2Nyth1rZCLFbJNSu4YWR6UKtv7U5LHWM/w640-h480/STOCK%20DOVES%20BATHING%20IN%20STREAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stock doves and many others enjoy a wash and brush up in our crystal clear streams<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHs6Lvo0nVwrjljsMN2A9pwLTk9HcKYcLp4ZJ17dMQY44u15gOEHDs1aUeuWEo6XbDP1KLEqcoNDDlZTIUslm-ZCgaCuc2xRCDaU-i3hhcyEaHdzzZh0E2JKW-7LHun6AG45egTjjlq1NaV061e-n55XLezGbYMGI_gRjIIZIraxQWhhPk5lwrAnV/s4000/STREAM%20ALIVE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHs6Lvo0nVwrjljsMN2A9pwLTk9HcKYcLp4ZJ17dMQY44u15gOEHDs1aUeuWEo6XbDP1KLEqcoNDDlZTIUslm-ZCgaCuc2xRCDaU-i3hhcyEaHdzzZh0E2JKW-7LHun6AG45egTjjlq1NaV061e-n55XLezGbYMGI_gRjIIZIraxQWhhPk5lwrAnV/w640-h480/STREAM%20ALIVE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our minnows are spawning outside the office as I write, early April being their crucial time<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Many birds enjoy bathing in this clean water, stock doves, sparrow hawks and buzzards to name a few, and our minnows spawn in them, providing food for visiting kingfishers.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GqyQPz6cgBW8PYpTYzqoLar-UbFJa0ghlDU9ZeIz0zsYisX54tjyN74DKUtAt1FQcxdSL-NvnDQbsXIxaePfZsG7tetuZ1H49kk_9Iwfg_7uGZZnP352NW7W-COrZI1bjH58gJNWWGKIRxVSetfdvp2lMkqD2AgXPRJAom2P5C9-ybU-CAnnLs7V/s1280/KEVIN%20LOOKING%20COLOURFUL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GqyQPz6cgBW8PYpTYzqoLar-UbFJa0ghlDU9ZeIz0zsYisX54tjyN74DKUtAt1FQcxdSL-NvnDQbsXIxaePfZsG7tetuZ1H49kk_9Iwfg_7uGZZnP352NW7W-COrZI1bjH58gJNWWGKIRxVSetfdvp2lMkqD2AgXPRJAom2P5C9-ybU-CAnnLs7V/w636-h640/KEVIN%20LOOKING%20COLOURFUL.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our colourful kingfisher called Kevin, a regular so he had to have a name<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCKNtPHB6xMi2IUM6EyFonP37zhjGy7JrYmiqgnbZIAcsC_kqKxUdUG6fSb7kiQrCea_2VgA8SXiLVnTHCodqHjni9jINI_fKAdsmcKRzvfC2vicRI2i-Qk_gIVIF2pMcrt9_YHggMTBkUxl4HjzUyr0Oqo6_wLH3fjP44l-m-AOWnUGV7BLp0fTZ/s4000/MAIN%20POND%20VIEW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCKNtPHB6xMi2IUM6EyFonP37zhjGy7JrYmiqgnbZIAcsC_kqKxUdUG6fSb7kiQrCea_2VgA8SXiLVnTHCodqHjni9jINI_fKAdsmcKRzvfC2vicRI2i-Qk_gIVIF2pMcrt9_YHggMTBkUxl4HjzUyr0Oqo6_wLH3fjP44l-m-AOWnUGV7BLp0fTZ/w640-h480/MAIN%20POND%20VIEW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our main pond requires lots of weeding and dredging but is a magnet for passing ducks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wetlands capture more carbon than forests, so even a small pond is a little contribution to saving our planet. What’s more, by storing water we reduce the risk of drought or flooding and provide a trickle for our beleaguered rivers.<br /><br /><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQrbSM6HietoskKVqmns_pvzhq9dtI0pQKH7g2NU7Pox95SlFeZU0LvyNDN_iFgqipsgbIGD0rWSN-FbYk4odO4UzGzylComhbkTDUXLBLGYKCI1XM3OB_0Hxo8sDoP0w9eYBAJmhX0fzIthmdRfQAWAm_LvC1qk_i2A6cxox7A5THyI80JZqAgE6/s1280/LITTLE%20EGRET%20CU%20SHOWING%20PLUMES.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1280" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQrbSM6HietoskKVqmns_pvzhq9dtI0pQKH7g2NU7Pox95SlFeZU0LvyNDN_iFgqipsgbIGD0rWSN-FbYk4odO4UzGzylComhbkTDUXLBLGYKCI1XM3OB_0Hxo8sDoP0w9eYBAJmhX0fzIthmdRfQAWAm_LvC1qk_i2A6cxox7A5THyI80JZqAgE6/w640-h506/LITTLE%20EGRET%20CU%20SHOWING%20PLUMES.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little egrets are frequent visitors now, though always a pleasant surprise as they were once so rare<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAy7T0HeQBG5XHkly_t6H5NVrxMlAJjFSlEgUgswXHa9ydPB5VWD5kvpl3UTSiep0fcS46sew6wiiIq6WCmTV0z6f1WXP07nkFX6TBli9awicBZhOVOvg9B5jBDay_k9t8LbwO0F1f0ervYlRObYrzphYPzoozqNvsds8qB3tsHaOjTrGI0XmeQS0/s1280/OTTER%20CU%20AT%2008.15.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1280" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAy7T0HeQBG5XHkly_t6H5NVrxMlAJjFSlEgUgswXHa9ydPB5VWD5kvpl3UTSiep0fcS46sew6wiiIq6WCmTV0z6f1WXP07nkFX6TBli9awicBZhOVOvg9B5jBDay_k9t8LbwO0F1f0ervYlRObYrzphYPzoozqNvsds8qB3tsHaOjTrGI0XmeQS0/w640-h534/OTTER%20CU%20AT%2008.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">otters are a mixed blessing as they trash our aquatic ecosystems, though I'm always delighted when they come as having otters in your garden has got to be one of the great privileges of life.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Even better, by providing water, we’ve created attractive habitat for herons and kingfishers, even egrets and otters, and along with nesting mallard and our colourful native fish, we delight in zipping dragons and damselflies and uncountable invertebrates.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHkay6f7SSyFRuQuTEURibKB7dn3mOYhbD9kv4Z6GMP1eljIyH0uzrj0N_TeM_oFYSrkAuGM7WpcjOaOdcTnN8B9mzPqe6B2nXHtJoETXWQ5ROB2Hg4BaWen8fVo3NNjFkFIhMKLSFDMHa1ZzR3dHgOfSAW1QGgzep-EJv8zGnHQzFvh22SrTjPyN/s2048/EMPEROR%20EGG%20LAYING.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHkay6f7SSyFRuQuTEURibKB7dn3mOYhbD9kv4Z6GMP1eljIyH0uzrj0N_TeM_oFYSrkAuGM7WpcjOaOdcTnN8B9mzPqe6B2nXHtJoETXWQ5ROB2Hg4BaWen8fVo3NNjFkFIhMKLSFDMHa1ZzR3dHgOfSAW1QGgzep-EJv8zGnHQzFvh22SrTjPyN/w640-h480/EMPEROR%20EGG%20LAYING.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an emperor dragon egg laying, a daily delight in the summer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /> </span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLomaqTyxwsGu68Z5amcTn0eDcw_m-sriMoD0hpYmbvOAG2_3YlPtq9E3Mu6u9gP7ySVkYFVDkx5ZIajPtsVbCCjA3kswZc_eOxKvX3ycvKrefm48l3Sv2Nh6L4q0HU3zpQocT_jCvtKP9r4eralRtxqIYo5JN2fdlMOAgm4KQg0nn4hBCled7-Kx/s4000/BEAUTIFUL%20DEMOISELLE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLomaqTyxwsGu68Z5amcTn0eDcw_m-sriMoD0hpYmbvOAG2_3YlPtq9E3Mu6u9gP7ySVkYFVDkx5ZIajPtsVbCCjA3kswZc_eOxKvX3ycvKrefm48l3Sv2Nh6L4q0HU3zpQocT_jCvtKP9r4eralRtxqIYo5JN2fdlMOAgm4KQg0nn4hBCled7-Kx/w640-h480/BEAUTIFUL%20DEMOISELLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> beautiful demoiselle, a frequent summer visitor, along with the banded variety<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TBJuulqcCv6EeqLi_gd5II-aV1ja6_EHgy7rv50Q9kbGypiqcjtQHMliIG_9lR2-L0LSGhp2XXI_PkkKPWadcjCPPEfhZeNTObIi-iwQQQePVrG0yc8jnW0LUvJ7uRoC5YKmtMCmRtZEi-rv_Ctfja02dAO0Eyxl3A_oQoUOSFGD_J_9UmWy-_sl/s1280/FOUR-SPOT%20CHASER.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TBJuulqcCv6EeqLi_gd5II-aV1ja6_EHgy7rv50Q9kbGypiqcjtQHMliIG_9lR2-L0LSGhp2XXI_PkkKPWadcjCPPEfhZeNTObIi-iwQQQePVrG0yc8jnW0LUvJ7uRoC5YKmtMCmRtZEi-rv_Ctfja02dAO0Eyxl3A_oQoUOSFGD_J_9UmWy-_sl/w640-h512/FOUR-SPOT%20CHASER.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">four-spottted chasers are occasional visitors in the early summer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBA9xM-1l3iDnuSMgO39QZG2Qjx-x2pYoiXAnHmd7PcZcIamTthEJjea-0XbzWkpkD9Qww0jOOkxXhCdw9ogyuERmsAo7WUFUzB4UmM7Wovai_i-yW_JlJNt6v1PJvtp5_X2veIz-pl_c3o79NWgLug1M8s6JXz1pwXzrKWZbiv6c5SdtBtWiV_uI/s1280/GOLD-RINGED%20DRAGONFLY%20CU.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBA9xM-1l3iDnuSMgO39QZG2Qjx-x2pYoiXAnHmd7PcZcIamTthEJjea-0XbzWkpkD9Qww0jOOkxXhCdw9ogyuERmsAo7WUFUzB4UmM7Wovai_i-yW_JlJNt6v1PJvtp5_X2veIz-pl_c3o79NWgLug1M8s6JXz1pwXzrKWZbiv6c5SdtBtWiV_uI/w640-h480/GOLD-RINGED%20DRAGONFLY%20CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magnificent golden-ringed dragonflies are rare here and this one was snatched by a passing hobby!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbaOgjgXQRISCFBBlnk-dqs6tebbV-dYTn1pTLYp2G-wBYYMQ87GsxiLBM0gCqp5gIPxJzc8xMajMmBQAe2CdHR07I4uEqPs5rXso2R1K2IMkcdgurk9yuBvT8f_hPO39cV15MwPLhrgd3E9wHTTLbRZugOMt8ttohbxxji9Hwo_iyNnZq2gc8GZF/s1280/MALLARD%20+%208%20CHICKS%20ON%20HOUSE%20POND.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbaOgjgXQRISCFBBlnk-dqs6tebbV-dYTn1pTLYp2G-wBYYMQ87GsxiLBM0gCqp5gIPxJzc8xMajMmBQAe2CdHR07I4uEqPs5rXso2R1K2IMkcdgurk9yuBvT8f_hPO39cV15MwPLhrgd3E9wHTTLbRZugOMt8ttohbxxji9Hwo_iyNnZq2gc8GZF/w480-h640/MALLARD%20+%208%20CHICKS%20ON%20HOUSE%20POND.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />So if you have a garden, however small, dig a pond!<br /><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">To counter the increasing threat of drought, we’ve created a dry garden with gravel and planted lots of invertebrate friendly plants and these have attracted squadrons of buzzers, though that will be a story for another time and once the rain stops, maybe spring will return and we can glory in some lovely warm sunshine.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiZ1-Dokp48G4xF8bvDxfBQUgSxzuqcjiLSjJLup2sIN80r_9y86GlCw65BbzZ233Lx3sZtIwVTEGW4bL5RhmL5XUzFRz_QYDxHJgQ3o4Ko0nPrHVX_qngN_5SNDFuIhUkX50X6Vp0CLIN_lGKDZUfTqLmjBXzwZvCFG-E-NnrZpK7mRc00SbM6c9/s1280/B&B%20LOOKING%20LOVELY%20IN%20AUGUST.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiZ1-Dokp48G4xF8bvDxfBQUgSxzuqcjiLSjJLup2sIN80r_9y86GlCw65BbzZ233Lx3sZtIwVTEGW4bL5RhmL5XUzFRz_QYDxHJgQ3o4Ko0nPrHVX_qngN_5SNDFuIhUkX50X6Vp0CLIN_lGKDZUfTqLmjBXzwZvCFG-E-NnrZpK7mRc00SbM6c9/w534-h640/B&B%20LOOKING%20LOVELY%20IN%20AUGUST.jpg" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our patch created for bees and butterflies and called the B&B - of course!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br /> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pK37k289YA5wGVVJjffW7BtKVvrw3o_VSzB_HwF4PKa0ZaKrhkCIDTQpBy1bq-Bo-VoSnGkXnZeCk_HUxmPYyCwcXT6MUwnoPz16u829DNNhnpOoZr6umoOH6S5vGAapXgvdHXerCuw7XWtQfv5zq9AhJpb0wdp0f3TNhSfXcqYBdNsCjUe8fmq/s1843/SILVER%20WASHED%20FRITTILERY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1843" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pK37k289YA5wGVVJjffW7BtKVvrw3o_VSzB_HwF4PKa0ZaKrhkCIDTQpBy1bq-Bo-VoSnGkXnZeCk_HUxmPYyCwcXT6MUwnoPz16u829DNNhnpOoZr6umoOH6S5vGAapXgvdHXerCuw7XWtQfv5zq9AhJpb0wdp0f3TNhSfXcqYBdNsCjUe8fmq/w640-h480/SILVER%20WASHED%20FRITTILERY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">visiting silver-washed fritillaries are always a treat.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrovv_IXBQuC02D_R2_gQoVSa6fCQObP_AaUffYXgpzW0Ul7i6oHimo0fnEPmTudoj3Yh8c1Eshjop-Ixuvw9rCpcFr9wpmTtOMr4GTGEBAG_wbenD6bc-4Hcte2dlc28U25TbRYAMGCzx1IicVFwETnjU65AhtQior4kXpzG8DGgARnUHOJ59Dtr/s1280/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20SALVIA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1280" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrovv_IXBQuC02D_R2_gQoVSa6fCQObP_AaUffYXgpzW0Ul7i6oHimo0fnEPmTudoj3Yh8c1Eshjop-Ixuvw9rCpcFr9wpmTtOMr4GTGEBAG_wbenD6bc-4Hcte2dlc28U25TbRYAMGCzx1IicVFwETnjU65AhtQior4kXpzG8DGgARnUHOJ59Dtr/w640-h508/CARDER%20BEE%20ON%20SALVIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a carder bee enjoying the nectar from a glorious blue salvia<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlsGe-58u3B_jgrxKc7G8DHgCCPURSCn5bCv-0xUonuZha3XiCeTHr0M0N_Edh3DRVFhfiieE-_8dnSbwLRPZb1EqZW7Wn6pcvB43rRQVw6mghuv3fg8BuZl62RaSyfwnmoYhgi5tFSgo6K6sijWXX9JP4T3h5FMkf8Sej3vRuuwWMzP_Rf261dQG/s4000/ALBERTINE%20FROM%20OFFICE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlsGe-58u3B_jgrxKc7G8DHgCCPURSCn5bCv-0xUonuZha3XiCeTHr0M0N_Edh3DRVFhfiieE-_8dnSbwLRPZb1EqZW7Wn6pcvB43rRQVw6mghuv3fg8BuZl62RaSyfwnmoYhgi5tFSgo6K6sijWXX9JP4T3h5FMkf8Sej3vRuuwWMzP_Rf261dQG/w640-h480/ALBERTINE%20FROM%20OFFICE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">roses round the door - this is albertine, an old but delightful variety - the bees love 'em too </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">To help the bees and butterflies, we have also let our 'lawn' by the cottage grow wild and within a few years it's become a wildflower meadow with a surprising variety of plants, including three species of orchid along with snakeshead fritillaries and all of them without our help at all. Ain't nature wonderful if you give it a chance.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0T6KOvJXqumut63oQ7XIDH-BKdHpUZskMdVlJBB-i-pZ3dCx0T9AWXP_N7nftCRz4aSVBcL5fDmS2wBDC1ZII1ys-_0QhqHtp-NStYSFZmD0DfpnI37FR8j1U1gkDj7ZB6oAGVqz7oU1648qfl3PhG_eCnXhhJDAMs4TJ8szxQjZbNGv6OW_yVMs/s1280/FRITILLARIES%20+%20MAGNOLIA%20BG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0T6KOvJXqumut63oQ7XIDH-BKdHpUZskMdVlJBB-i-pZ3dCx0T9AWXP_N7nftCRz4aSVBcL5fDmS2wBDC1ZII1ys-_0QhqHtp-NStYSFZmD0DfpnI37FR8j1U1gkDj7ZB6oAGVqz7oU1648qfl3PhG_eCnXhhJDAMs4TJ8szxQjZbNGv6OW_yVMs/w640-h478/FRITILLARIES%20+%20MAGNOLIA%20BG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring is sprung in our little meadow in sunny Dorset<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBoWzwld49MBbtiFxA0Y6uIDCRLtuxzk9PJQ5OnA6dXzNPanwzhzhnyEJ8rWP627XwQeduXz693cnPJWWZ_37a_WXONmxAWw8lgGtFoBgsXLOfDTzSMV775M5i-s-WS1lXt5PdBcnPwfrZW5hkRkQZoHDWvbV5MgEx0ryfo1gJbNtrMEg0HJgyhbO/s3648/WILD%20FLOWER%20MEADOW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBoWzwld49MBbtiFxA0Y6uIDCRLtuxzk9PJQ5OnA6dXzNPanwzhzhnyEJ8rWP627XwQeduXz693cnPJWWZ_37a_WXONmxAWw8lgGtFoBgsXLOfDTzSMV775M5i-s-WS1lXt5PdBcnPwfrZW5hkRkQZoHDWvbV5MgEx0ryfo1gJbNtrMEg0HJgyhbO/w640-h480/WILD%20FLOWER%20MEADOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">southern marsh orchids are the most common with a few spotteds and pyramids as a bonus<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLjAUbz33XI-dtMjBEGDOLvJfVjnFuTuaKYoFzK2CexKKNKyL5XlS-EBXZ-P0FwT-ckcCFFmOa0fqBz0o9NSp0D71GQQArnOY0_KdmUjoYJWD8RPu1WuGaSmukIMsrzW512L38FtO6U_YE7oc3RggHQvQLKD65npePMrUIVMQKz7IX-QsV5NVWd8U/s3648/MEADOW%20AND%20FLOWERING%20SHRUBS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLjAUbz33XI-dtMjBEGDOLvJfVjnFuTuaKYoFzK2CexKKNKyL5XlS-EBXZ-P0FwT-ckcCFFmOa0fqBz0o9NSp0D71GQQArnOY0_KdmUjoYJWD8RPu1WuGaSmukIMsrzW512L38FtO6U_YE7oc3RggHQvQLKD65npePMrUIVMQKz7IX-QsV5NVWd8U/w640-h480/MEADOW%20AND%20FLOWERING%20SHRUBS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the buzzers love all these blooms<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /> </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuS-Xafr4XXI17KvB4BS7Tq-J9RgRojcX1t2sm8BTe0BdpsCePcgV0Db63LhplhkvucG7pSrZZu848EqYVZHq9vIOobewScPNXX1e8sn22bCxuc3BGx5UTuB8aC36Nc61mvwI3EaZQ0HpUjEKsWkQ2ARvvzJzlf-EsfuYAp28b9X1oaIGHNr0en8v/s3648/CU%20WILD%20FLOWERS%20IN%20GARDEN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuS-Xafr4XXI17KvB4BS7Tq-J9RgRojcX1t2sm8BTe0BdpsCePcgV0Db63LhplhkvucG7pSrZZu848EqYVZHq9vIOobewScPNXX1e8sn22bCxuc3BGx5UTuB8aC36Nc61mvwI3EaZQ0HpUjEKsWkQ2ARvvzJzlf-EsfuYAp28b9X1oaIGHNr0en8v/w640-h480/CU%20WILD%20FLOWERS%20IN%20GARDEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up to 160 blooms and spreading fast, one of the joys of leaving a garden to grow wild and free<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As of yesterday, we can bring more good news, because following on from my previous blog about successful reintroductions of once rare birds, our star osprey CJ7 returned to Poole Harbour yesterday from her winter sojourn in West Africa and if her mate ‘Catch 22’ returns to join her soon, we may well have the first successful breeding pair of ospreys in Southern England for nearly two hundred years … and when the nest site is only six miles from our door, news doesn’t get any better. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTVkqRLDQjMT6K9E9HJUwrfpi0R_yJQe399XA4x3qti-rwGj2HmdB4_M6TlFahTqPN6_2r7oe9_XxrhYLTVF1_lZO20ZFNm3gT4CrdgM1u3zGh7hCL0yuRxNcTuvV22d0ZFtu9EciHX4WwjeqILPsfmrYO7rWmF9xBaB1WZP3o3IU-Cpmpobeq1yN/s1280/BIG%20STICK%20ON%20EASTER%20SUNDAY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTVkqRLDQjMT6K9E9HJUwrfpi0R_yJQe399XA4x3qti-rwGj2HmdB4_M6TlFahTqPN6_2r7oe9_XxrhYLTVF1_lZO20ZFNm3gT4CrdgM1u3zGh7hCL0yuRxNcTuvV22d0ZFtu9EciHX4WwjeqILPsfmrYO7rWmF9xBaB1WZP3o3IU-Cpmpobeq1yN/w640-h412/BIG%20STICK%20ON%20EASTER%20SUNDAY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CJ7 building her nest on Easter Day in 2020 © Birds of Poole Harbour<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>The exciting reintroduction of ospreys to Dorset has been made possible by the hard graft of the Birds of Poole Harbour</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span><span> team and the long term vision of Roy Dennis. It was in the mid '70's that Roy and I made a film on ospreys for the RSPB, even travelling to Africa to film them in the Gambia, so below is a pic from one of our Scottish nests, a picture that we hope will be replicated by success in Poole Harbour this summer.</span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_08dCsNDh7L7Rvaty0HS_ogNCVT6vVtFjiHopT6KVyKVuN8l-iTJ1pY2FqoPsw8PK9Pw2SVZDeo8d8fvb9LOQkGPdAUc01ZeheWvq2qquGqrdut-Bn6zpH5BOrFbVV9MudEv6nR3Vh8mzJUdqsmlENhkNzzRH7dO1BPAGWQvRs0gtOK67yC6WQyGG/s1280/MUM%20+%20CHICK%20WING%20EXERCISE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1280" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_08dCsNDh7L7Rvaty0HS_ogNCVT6vVtFjiHopT6KVyKVuN8l-iTJ1pY2FqoPsw8PK9Pw2SVZDeo8d8fvb9LOQkGPdAUc01ZeheWvq2qquGqrdut-Bn6zpH5BOrFbVV9MudEv6nR3Vh8mzJUdqsmlENhkNzzRH7dO1BPAGWQvRs0gtOK67yC6WQyGG/w640-h420/MUM%20+%20CHICK%20WING%20EXERCISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Scottish pair of ospreys successfully raising two chicks - fingers X'd it will happen here soon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />And when we're not admiring ospreys or the graceful red kites overhead ... and not got our heads down planting treasures in the garden, we’ll have to keep our eyes on the skies in the hope that the white-tailed eagles glide from the Isle </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of White</span> over our heads and add to the joys of life in sunny Dorset. Aren't we lucky!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz9HKpnXvQIN3NJXV4tyIJLpH7xy5onabEZn76wJJ3Yuqqrntc6yC84vMbvUytdE-P2T279r7K89vsfMNBW3BnWk4kBhARvgjkqhJtSLG-IsYBVrWgvAcsBv9auXEfHy-JhAhyMPtS99LOXpH4Z1XPVgIOKS6aX7--xFUVchuOyHFmcVuggSD7aqL/s1280/SEA%20EAGLE%20OVER%20POOLE%20HARBOUR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1280" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz9HKpnXvQIN3NJXV4tyIJLpH7xy5onabEZn76wJJ3Yuqqrntc6yC84vMbvUytdE-P2T279r7K89vsfMNBW3BnWk4kBhARvgjkqhJtSLG-IsYBVrWgvAcsBv9auXEfHy-JhAhyMPtS99LOXpH4Z1XPVgIOKS6aX7--xFUVchuOyHFmcVuggSD7aqL/w640-h452/SEA%20EAGLE%20OVER%20POOLE%20HARBOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">amazing - a white-tailed eagle gliding over nearby Poole Harbour © Birds of Poole Harbour<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p> <br /></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-53386653735696137372021-12-25T18:23:00.007+00:002021-12-26T13:12:44.058+00:00NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS<p> <br /></p><p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJsP9vaWz-VYaEdqrVvnOsmPx1tNGVMzfJLVach6LmXW0eJiGSStT9F3ARWxsj7_SRvjQThWxMj3EPBfoENafXOOKYQ7cK3gHN277fqZ92lyIN8zeEfDVCY_wxinvXCG0eI_vhCcrKA32BpH8zkFlTTk6UfWa5U3_SdJYXkpWu2ouITGOgK4_IRw2g=s1280" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1280" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJsP9vaWz-VYaEdqrVvnOsmPx1tNGVMzfJLVach6LmXW0eJiGSStT9F3ARWxsj7_SRvjQThWxMj3EPBfoENafXOOKYQ7cK3gHN277fqZ92lyIN8zeEfDVCY_wxinvXCG0eI_vhCcrKA32BpH8zkFlTTk6UfWa5U3_SdJYXkpWu2ouITGOgK4_IRw2g=w400-h261" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />It’s Christmas day, so Sue and I wish you many enjoyable days ahead and hope that next year is kind to you all. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv-c-TbTjCoY3QIJxNZ_-tif9j1t8HcVHcjUqIqQQ-M6_WKUUc5pxLErvb_9h0ieQ2ygl1OGfRHUQ8l6_icdnMkxvkOwJ81d3Lkjg91mpVtcCGjBzPtbClYMNO5slWwDRugYDrkoygO7S3TWttHF_wz8smY3XPoRW2ydI6NNYpg-U000s1WDhDiNRH=s4236" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="4236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv-c-TbTjCoY3QIJxNZ_-tif9j1t8HcVHcjUqIqQQ-M6_WKUUc5pxLErvb_9h0ieQ2ygl1OGfRHUQ8l6_icdnMkxvkOwJ81d3Lkjg91mpVtcCGjBzPtbClYMNO5slWwDRugYDrkoygO7S3TWttHF_wz8smY3XPoRW2ydI6NNYpg-U000s1WDhDiNRH=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />We really enjoy Christmas because it’s a chance to be in touch with so many of our friends and even if there’s no chance of seeing them, there’s always cards.
We’re told that some folk find sending cards a chore but I love ‘em because while writing a few words by way of a catch up, I’m actually with them in mind if not in body and that’s far better than not at all. Letters and emails then allow a longer immersion in their lives and if you enjoy writing, it’s so enjoyable to share life with our loved ones. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s been a difficult year or two for so many but I’m going to avoid the ‘C’ word because ‘no news is good news’. It’s as if journalists consider it a dereliction of duty if they don’t hit us with all the worst stories they can find everywhere in the world and ensure that we are fed up or worse, depressed, even afraid. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd5WsI5nQyTqZn9NNFjjpVnGgvfui0vpX22SzXiZCrlM-M6MFB3zdv5kgANspgqQHc-lrJEGHsrFMvXBYFOQsP9_N8UmurFCKiY52W3jDvNqU2lTfnEiVyO2_PyLIRnt5eS8T6QuRYzX2yUksbmx4C7ok28WCLt-w-k5_hh7kOespyhjS7CsXEgrzx=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd5WsI5nQyTqZn9NNFjjpVnGgvfui0vpX22SzXiZCrlM-M6MFB3zdv5kgANspgqQHc-lrJEGHsrFMvXBYFOQsP9_N8UmurFCKiY52W3jDvNqU2lTfnEiVyO2_PyLIRnt5eS8T6QuRYzX2yUksbmx4C7ok28WCLt-w-k5_hh7kOespyhjS7CsXEgrzx=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />So this ditty will concentrate on all the good wildlife stuff that’s happening all around us, and if you’re into gardening and birds like us, there’s plenty to celebrate. But I'll try to be brief.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgX3YADZ9a6NfKFtYedGk0oDj8ubKRe3Kz-lRTRQHOFZJRVbAMkYyA0HuLA59nf_u8vD2BwZNc1D72I0U98R5mQphrLAJjvNY1KhQ0oVLCvz29ZlF4sXFUkfjjYMx_rgotVh_aWCdjqZ3mQOhDziELz5qMFRNwRV7CleZ_RgmoQTLR9-L8_lMgBiWe=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgX3YADZ9a6NfKFtYedGk0oDj8ubKRe3Kz-lRTRQHOFZJRVbAMkYyA0HuLA59nf_u8vD2BwZNc1D72I0U98R5mQphrLAJjvNY1KhQ0oVLCvz29ZlF4sXFUkfjjYMx_rgotVh_aWCdjqZ3mQOhDziELz5qMFRNwRV7CleZ_RgmoQTLR9-L8_lMgBiWe=w636-h640" width="636" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Kevin the Kingfisher for starters, for he has survived for a few years due to our warmer winters and along with a female, they give us the privilege of regular visits to our Dorset garden. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyJshQLL3GOxp0J5Vs4gSN5X8qzVl25GzCecTHk95z55Qt95mXe6lny2hUiZP2Jsi76y2zJTmijk76sM-H3DetLR_yWCaS3bmjSCtu3MOngPqjtLsm6bY0v10n3RTZZBMO0QTsv0mWizj3iU92z5QWm4kSO3QWoX6EElxUFN919i6blkI9U69tzSMN=s3847" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2817" data-original-width="3847" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyJshQLL3GOxp0J5Vs4gSN5X8qzVl25GzCecTHk95z55Qt95mXe6lny2hUiZP2Jsi76y2zJTmijk76sM-H3DetLR_yWCaS3bmjSCtu3MOngPqjtLsm6bY0v10n3RTZZBMO0QTsv0mWizj3iU92z5QWm4kSO3QWoX6EElxUFN919i6blkI9U69tzSMN=w640-h468" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyJshQLL3GOxp0J5Vs4gSN5X8qzVl25GzCecTHk95z55Qt95mXe6lny2hUiZP2Jsi76y2zJTmijk76sM-H3DetLR_yWCaS3bmjSCtu3MOngPqjtLsm6bY0v10n3RTZZBMO0QTsv0mWizj3iU92z5QWm4kSO3QWoX6EElxUFN919i6blkI9U69tzSMN=s3847" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK3-_7faLQeM5Sbayawa4g8NREjLk68Y5C-WJKPXj7dlk2FFoEkc2d6mKb3Kq7_SSIeevMldxkssHMduzmL3GQ9i0YTPfLa2WR2x9rC3AeS4lp9lXWN5sRkJZqPD4qyZH5X9MBNJSG6QTJj-jy7c-l6S3dmH3KZrNh869XextAsSKz8YOIj3PH0eqV=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1280" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK3-_7faLQeM5Sbayawa4g8NREjLk68Y5C-WJKPXj7dlk2FFoEkc2d6mKb3Kq7_SSIeevMldxkssHMduzmL3GQ9i0YTPfLa2WR2x9rC3AeS4lp9lXWN5sRkJZqPD4qyZH5X9MBNJSG6QTJj-jy7c-l6S3dmH3KZrNh869XextAsSKz8YOIj3PH0eqV=w640-h506" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqN72wjQ3baWJLHMjVAA0eYtafnP0U8oXk3dgjNOryv9tc5TRz1jNQK5ZvmElHxYalnQuP6ipyLNUIbbUTJ3XRvKtqNUeyVldrjBqw9EUmTijAcVrUHVI-XF1UKAMVuyQWclA1IN6Ezw_d_Mr-zuMGm29Jh2TvQo1YOBOz1NWOkNefmUwtxn93t7WJ=s1280" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1280" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqN72wjQ3baWJLHMjVAA0eYtafnP0U8oXk3dgjNOryv9tc5TRz1jNQK5ZvmElHxYalnQuP6ipyLNUIbbUTJ3XRvKtqNUeyVldrjBqw9EUmTijAcVrUHVI-XF1UKAMVuyQWclA1IN6Ezw_d_Mr-zuMGm29Jh2TvQo1YOBOz1NWOkNefmUwtxn93t7WJ=w400-h293" width="400" /></a></div><br />We’ve created lots of wetland habitat and that attracts breeding mallard, little egrets and dozens of damsels and dragonflies.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_XAnwiMmx3-RNGjz5nQB8xT6AnVx_i4gAAR5wuxOkdydPDIuOG8M2tIm7mIdsIfnlFEcyyP-2pj7wdmVF3GSOyTFZLL40_X4ALPrALaZAwtqvmEysTUSONL_c1-aCXOAVWLMIU_QGjTUoLHVuUMRVdPg8traAeahnQESw3AE7oISq4hRpLAPgPERM=s3385" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2518" data-original-width="3385" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_XAnwiMmx3-RNGjz5nQB8xT6AnVx_i4gAAR5wuxOkdydPDIuOG8M2tIm7mIdsIfnlFEcyyP-2pj7wdmVF3GSOyTFZLL40_X4ALPrALaZAwtqvmEysTUSONL_c1-aCXOAVWLMIU_QGjTUoLHVuUMRVdPg8traAeahnQESw3AE7oISq4hRpLAPgPERM=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Creating habitat is so much a part of the success for wildlife and along with providing nest sites and manipulating species around the country, has created success that should cheer us all. Here’s a brief summary of a few to celebrate, starting with one close to home. <br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOQ6OikWj9nRs8KV-jc9BwGcuUFsLX5rs_nBbidCPJ0h_ccuRvMaB7cT2zuKEJ6jhpFrFXtudjjSTWYfV9g86IDpZMgIBErxOyYCoONMqrGFFMSqSKi5aUhl3KaCabsqpfsGtaSbzczszg3oPs3ZWsmhJvLW7VaBl7pbCs9a6mtMOOFYrlY4tjXq8u=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOQ6OikWj9nRs8KV-jc9BwGcuUFsLX5rs_nBbidCPJ0h_ccuRvMaB7cT2zuKEJ6jhpFrFXtudjjSTWYfV9g86IDpZMgIBErxOyYCoONMqrGFFMSqSKi5aUhl3KaCabsqpfsGtaSbzczszg3oPs3ZWsmhJvLW7VaBl7pbCs9a6mtMOOFYrlY4tjXq8u=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Wiped out by persecution in Scotland by the early 19th Century, ospreys returned to breed successfully for the first time in 1959 at the RSPB’s famous Loch Garten site and there are now some 160 pairs breeding in the UK. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1G4zwndefE1PrmAbLzaE8HPdrGgcrhGXh0YSaRBFJlGyrcOoHvcFz0YcIxsXwfolEIMnAiCpYWO1d54KcciqaD3aiam4KJfh4FFYqyNAwzKL1hiwrRezuq3yPVEqd1U0wvnqae4ZvmMs2fM4eUFhNQ7fhgEfGIj0Z32kD4KDyysO3I5VH3Xi7DzGC=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1G4zwndefE1PrmAbLzaE8HPdrGgcrhGXh0YSaRBFJlGyrcOoHvcFz0YcIxsXwfolEIMnAiCpYWO1d54KcciqaD3aiam4KJfh4FFYqyNAwzKL1hiwrRezuq3yPVEqd1U0wvnqae4ZvmMs2fM4eUFhNQ7fhgEfGIj0Z32kD4KDyysO3I5VH3Xi7DzGC=w640-h412" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">c Birds of Poole Harbour<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />What’s more, a translocation project into Poole Harbour means that there’s every chance that ospreys will breed for the first time in Dorset for nearly 200 years. The nest site is just six miles from our door. Wonderful. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg4HYMEbDF7tN18xWmisYCOxIXOHY6juJnaXknH5Jo43ofxbzFzdVUpaibGANVUcRDkTOPTirYhxuADDtZW_S-RDebveUk9jRxUR2Y22wqhaQErYXvEoAeJl1S79529FRAWgZ0pKoixrj9gwFPd_1mFdeERNL5g3nZ47sidvB3jduLA27zujTh2OC6=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg4HYMEbDF7tN18xWmisYCOxIXOHY6juJnaXknH5Jo43ofxbzFzdVUpaibGANVUcRDkTOPTirYhxuADDtZW_S-RDebveUk9jRxUR2Y22wqhaQErYXvEoAeJl1S79529FRAWgZ0pKoixrj9gwFPd_1mFdeERNL5g3nZ47sidvB3jduLA27zujTh2OC6=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Mike Read<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">White-tailed eagles were driven to extinction in Britain more than two hundred years ago, so by reintroducing them from Norway in 1975, they bred on Mull for the first time in 1985. There are now a remarkable 150 breeding pairs in Scotland, allowing the translocation of white-tailed eagles to the Isle of Wight.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimzrmjjmHcFHEeQEZ-E8tj1bnv-XJ_yqcUotGTcN426Uc7KH7_ohvUzfp9caDZETt-S791wztAoS33duDYL7eL2M8uAMWXf_I5NV1LcmETqoZsPgpkeE5kgVS4fWykKOlVg2GJJYCW0JR4wzhp5weGGUtPh3OXAk5dNwu3iPjeRs4mZ2ZnXwWD3iDr=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1280" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimzrmjjmHcFHEeQEZ-E8tj1bnv-XJ_yqcUotGTcN426Uc7KH7_ohvUzfp9caDZETt-S791wztAoS33duDYL7eL2M8uAMWXf_I5NV1LcmETqoZsPgpkeE5kgVS4fWykKOlVg2GJJYCW0JR4wzhp5weGGUtPh3OXAk5dNwu3iPjeRs4mZ2ZnXwWD3iDr=w640-h504" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© CHOG - Needles b/g<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2PvpeLDtAQ7Yb5GLKAQOcIvVdf9O422cUgiJ142qkBMmx_2r30RA9OkWbQt4-pX2jO-Y3emHQXFlDX_3J6quka8tj-gY2BCwnc7P2SdHbe4OEUzksaTb3tbtNhkVUstb6Dez8kpP8zcjM0sUj1SBY9r7lfo4AIkyWoISXHKQXe26oxPf0_jwtRHIU=s5184" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2PvpeLDtAQ7Yb5GLKAQOcIvVdf9O422cUgiJ142qkBMmx_2r30RA9OkWbQt4-pX2jO-Y3emHQXFlDX_3J6quka8tj-gY2BCwnc7P2SdHbe4OEUzksaTb3tbtNhkVUstb6Dez8kpP8zcjM0sUj1SBY9r7lfo4AIkyWoISXHKQXe26oxPf0_jwtRHIU=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Mike Read<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>So walking out on our local patch, the chances of these birds with their massive, long and broad eight foot wingspan turning the sky dark as they fly overhead is a daily possibility. More good news! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWUVrYDG3KqLtDOdjotxpWeBsq5INT1y17lvAUnO1v30ZNrWSCmDDpbZ9p-WGe1-UPpy8U_wFiZLsIknKVU21Fp0d0Obea2IJfgwfvdjy8p212TD0O63BQTFGH0PSLoX4KiOb62AS7rs4vV2o9G0DNrgbL7LBHZIe85NqupiRSa9N2EdZHzFNiEs0S=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWUVrYDG3KqLtDOdjotxpWeBsq5INT1y17lvAUnO1v30ZNrWSCmDDpbZ9p-WGe1-UPpy8U_wFiZLsIknKVU21Fp0d0Obea2IJfgwfvdjy8p212TD0O63BQTFGH0PSLoX4KiOb62AS7rs4vV2o9G0DNrgbL7LBHZIe85NqupiRSa9N2EdZHzFNiEs0S=w640-h442" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioJ1gmkhp1e05dH2vnOVdfb2oGT-mazTKdFMmKkDGyDWiTd5P3QOTG3S5GY30J_e93LUX1UKRMTIpS0iapApviNErDDUaBu8VvbCSaXoBjxX919NCEZmT-5lhskphPSnW8aNFpa_XTlgtkNOO2cqWwz6F263V2VgiKoIJFkeFsYT5KV43ahnMEepUt=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioJ1gmkhp1e05dH2vnOVdfb2oGT-mazTKdFMmKkDGyDWiTd5P3QOTG3S5GY30J_e93LUX1UKRMTIpS0iapApviNErDDUaBu8VvbCSaXoBjxX919NCEZmT-5lhskphPSnW8aNFpa_XTlgtkNOO2cqWwz6F263V2VgiKoIJFkeFsYT5KV43ahnMEepUt=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></div><br />You’ll be wanting to return to the left over turkey, so next up are few more triumphs, as quickly as I can. In the mid sixty’s a handful of red kites were surviving in central Wales but by the mid 90’s, with reintroductions and increased protection, they had recovered to more than 100 pairs and by 2003 there were 350 to 400 pairs in Britain, a remarkable 1,023% increase! Wow. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZjsSmxnC6flLVeZRhiKooi_zongyWlrYD6p4YPYtzGROop3rUIAYv_LOXkB_F8Heq2qBknq_qrnwtG45bjKSjpuz5MMwtUrAnUrHcBGDfoQb0a4xLUdgWIU60jyKdP7fLzOMrEIumw-_au6w1ec13rHSoxrhLVGFIDMqGBW7G33maFiDCLit0qPsW=s384" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="384" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZjsSmxnC6flLVeZRhiKooi_zongyWlrYD6p4YPYtzGROop3rUIAYv_LOXkB_F8Heq2qBknq_qrnwtG45bjKSjpuz5MMwtUrAnUrHcBGDfoQb0a4xLUdgWIU60jyKdP7fLzOMrEIumw-_au6w1ec13rHSoxrhLVGFIDMqGBW7G33maFiDCLit0qPsW=w640-h450" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Val Smith<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Moving on to our wetland marshes, bitterns had disappeared in the 1870’s and though they recovered slightly, by 1997 they were on the brink of extinction with just 11 booming males. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiptAkw7CGlFS6vwyrh7hEhTPN-cyIPeJ9IID9QgJxbCzkK3uWamFxP8sRbbDs977VBgNeKRIIk2eViIMx0vE3zdxqQdzhrJclTTaR3Scfo2n-gxgs_dIQJjEZ7QzGZ562RuZ138ndu_tx5V9HAIGly7ITZOR_mL0AmmVO0wsfTcGv0nIzbaEUaWjhU=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1280" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiptAkw7CGlFS6vwyrh7hEhTPN-cyIPeJ9IID9QgJxbCzkK3uWamFxP8sRbbDs977VBgNeKRIIk2eViIMx0vE3zdxqQdzhrJclTTaR3Scfo2n-gxgs_dIQJjEZ7QzGZ562RuZ138ndu_tx5V9HAIGly7ITZOR_mL0AmmVO0wsfTcGv0nIzbaEUaWjhU=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© RSPB<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />By 2019 and by providing more reed bed nesting habitat there were more than 100 booming males on RSPB reserves and almost 200 across the UK,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> so yet another success story. </span> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipWfzQHGCLJpCvRkaWHyZ1-Eo0hBfq68QapRMDT1ew0WlaiRDONZYcjkCoj83dm6CkBTqnpYGCJw0rkRVGL4HmkWwQo6T72bHDJo3GbsGxkI0daOpEnZvqLAmj96CQbdJ0wc91bKqLu60ITkG6lh4ZHj4r38fA33WZGCV5lqxfasNtxfJDMlEMF63X=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1280" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipWfzQHGCLJpCvRkaWHyZ1-Eo0hBfq68QapRMDT1ew0WlaiRDONZYcjkCoj83dm6CkBTqnpYGCJw0rkRVGL4HmkWwQo6T72bHDJo3GbsGxkI0daOpEnZvqLAmj96CQbdJ0wc91bKqLu60ITkG6lh4ZHj4r38fA33WZGCV5lqxfasNtxfJDMlEMF63X=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© RSPB<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The reed beds also benefited the graceful marsh harrier. Down to just three or four individuals at Minsmere in the 1960’s, then just three pairs in 1971, [more than half the UK population], there are now 8 to 12 pairs at Minsmere and a total of more than 600 nesting in the UK. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazing, and o</span></span>nly a couple of weeks ago there were over ten marsh harriers roosting just down the road in Poole Harbour so yet another success story. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I told you there was lots of good news out there and I haven’t even mentioned the golden eagle and red squirrel increases, the beaver introductions or the possibility of lynx returning to the UK any time soon. Then there's all the charity work done by anglers trying to save our rivers but I'll let you back to your celebrations and bang on about all this success another time.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT-vkTQhru_3-r3H41SvRCt4_YDOOW39SuS7Q3VKtqEXeNggc765CejePo8VJjkRRbdh7bJ_Qp4_jEg1WfthmzgsVmgbyCSefCCANN-p6jzovLMkpKvYhY6XnF2ifseEBDbQOdLIFrfhrweTga-4qYOHIVa2dW3vs1INE7wEt4ny7sZqI9F9tC9eKu=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT-vkTQhru_3-r3H41SvRCt4_YDOOW39SuS7Q3VKtqEXeNggc765CejePo8VJjkRRbdh7bJ_Qp4_jEg1WfthmzgsVmgbyCSefCCANN-p6jzovLMkpKvYhY6XnF2ifseEBDbQOdLIFrfhrweTga-4qYOHIVa2dW3vs1INE7wEt4ny7sZqI9F9tC9eKu=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">osprey nest landowner on left, Roy Dennis on right<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyc1vYPyDBJWy-SpJWGwpl5-taV6BLu-Xt3DgR8oTBuri0pGSxcZhx_zvyclgEvEzwMvyPHlxBSNSmjDbyI_OXlQu9f80z26r1sa3dQKdRTTabxdYUzsK68IbqUF0aJQsfCT6tMMKz33xGTYTmrPyxFNS0W7XcKGzGsL3z3eYaOuTzAFb1DBelnMSB=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1280" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyc1vYPyDBJWy-SpJWGwpl5-taV6BLu-Xt3DgR8oTBuri0pGSxcZhx_zvyclgEvEzwMvyPHlxBSNSmjDbyI_OXlQu9f80z26r1sa3dQKdRTTabxdYUzsK68IbqUF0aJQsfCT6tMMKz33xGTYTmrPyxFNS0W7XcKGzGsL3z3eYaOuTzAFb1DBelnMSB=w640-h438" width="640" /></a></div>Re-wilding is a buzzword right now and thanks to so many enlightened people with the drive and inspiration to make things happen, like Roy Dennis for instance, [seen here collecting osprey chicks for ringing], so there are many species with a bright future and lots of good news to look forward to.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj79OHxNqM4Cv-a6oNOUbkz5ugMIGxR9YnrDF1Xii9Jqt9MD35GvA3QaxlxbbXGzUZtkWFgZItY45Y_-jyIFZ_beqLqd7-bsVK2Z58HuRAxeLQJkfVEFkLi_YlJg6nxIjZ6lLVxA0M2MrNs_pVaikKhyKqp9h_zJpRCqph-61_ARmMgBeosKFEXK-Xc=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj79OHxNqM4Cv-a6oNOUbkz5ugMIGxR9YnrDF1Xii9Jqt9MD35GvA3QaxlxbbXGzUZtkWFgZItY45Y_-jyIFZ_beqLqd7-bsVK2Z58HuRAxeLQJkfVEFkLi_YlJg6nxIjZ6lLVxA0M2MrNs_pVaikKhyKqp9h_zJpRCqph-61_ARmMgBeosKFEXK-Xc=w500-h640" width="500" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">So let’s hear more about them and their work instead of the ‘C’ word and other dreadful news that we have shovelled at us in suffocating, mind numbing quantities every hour of the day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">We do hope you can be happy, have a great year and don’t watch the news! … sent with our hugs ... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">X Hugh and Sue ... eggcellent present😋</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdxFkor4fZ1nC0fEfg7MHkOAMmYwDL_h1jru55uf0g4kGTUMKK9HxRihlvZXaPJkaO-l5CDJx6j2Gqx1ZvKvFbWiiYHYsE19YWMlBFw7h1StVxwkJxYhgkBEa-riT5ekrKoY9kUcbLg0lAM-2rvEcTAFgTUUHTld30uUH5Yeq_vw0eAEZ7P_bOrEat=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1280" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdxFkor4fZ1nC0fEfg7MHkOAMmYwDL_h1jru55uf0g4kGTUMKK9HxRihlvZXaPJkaO-l5CDJx6j2Gqx1ZvKvFbWiiYHYsE19YWMlBFw7h1StVxwkJxYhgkBEa-riT5ekrKoY9kUcbLg0lAM-2rvEcTAFgTUUHTld30uUH5Yeq_vw0eAEZ7P_bOrEat=w640-h464" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-43814265760200657592021-11-28T15:05:00.008+00:002021-11-28T15:29:16.376+00:00CELEBRATING AUTUMN'S BEAUTY<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdv6_kBOnAnzpj4SScKYxWSBI2_gEgjJ5-_9Gli5jnZ1rCH-HxpeCe56sad4-imF92eHMYgfytRBdELBg6Yle4opi0nM9wd9LcFxFjKqbhTpakjQa4hk7WoTsuM4ZN_Oy24Sib29uF-0/s1280/ACER+FLAMES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdv6_kBOnAnzpj4SScKYxWSBI2_gEgjJ5-_9Gli5jnZ1rCH-HxpeCe56sad4-imF92eHMYgfytRBdELBg6Yle4opi0nM9wd9LcFxFjKqbhTpakjQa4hk7WoTsuM4ZN_Oy24Sib29uF-0/w640-h480/ACER+FLAMES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The first frosts of winter are biting as I write and the most glorious season of the year is falling slowly to the ground. Thank heaven that the natural cycles of life continue, in spite of man’s best efforts to destroy our planet. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">‘COP26’ has just passed and left me and many other caring folk disappointed, even angry, fearing that the reality of all the world’s leaders’ decisions is ‘COP-OUT’! Some good decisions were made but will it result in action? As our amazing Queen eloquently said “The time for words has moved to a time for action”. I pray that at least some of the promises are honoured.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I’m not going to bang on about the politicians’ failures now, that can come later because celebrating the beauty that surrounds us in our gardens is a much needed antidote. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wCn_4N6ykW9dI6X0XC-yDkwwAurpxnhpYh7auuclkJAXUYtbxknwanylWlI9MoJ0ZNszOe0xaP_mE7uUsVT5aOxNaDmTPF2Olphi22ah8XOVLhomck2uRTZG4sfth0O0mSf_lKI2BGw/s1280/WOODLAND+BEAUTY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1280" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wCn_4N6ykW9dI6X0XC-yDkwwAurpxnhpYh7auuclkJAXUYtbxknwanylWlI9MoJ0ZNszOe0xaP_mE7uUsVT5aOxNaDmTPF2Olphi22ah8XOVLhomck2uRTZG4sfth0O0mSf_lKI2BGw/w640-h460/WOODLAND+BEAUTY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Sue and I are very lucky to have our little wildlife garden and I’m sure we are not alone in noticing how colourful this autumn’s trees and shrubs have been. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidVB3nMtidhpt4Z_-Qq91ArKFH96h9PmmyRdCWAPSuAu6sWIvvk2nDXkOe_9jMft8abt1WK4yRb_9dUXPYq10cLuUDbdoytsN73SVb0Zfelhg7xxkRunsSQs83k6IxrY0a_q-tg41GIk/s1280/ACER+IN+SUNSHINE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidVB3nMtidhpt4Z_-Qq91ArKFH96h9PmmyRdCWAPSuAu6sWIvvk2nDXkOe_9jMft8abt1WK4yRb_9dUXPYq10cLuUDbdoytsN73SVb0Zfelhg7xxkRunsSQs83k6IxrY0a_q-tg41GIk/w640-h480/ACER+IN+SUNSHINE.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidVB3nMtidhpt4Z_-Qq91ArKFH96h9PmmyRdCWAPSuAu6sWIvvk2nDXkOe_9jMft8abt1WK4yRb_9dUXPYq10cLuUDbdoytsN73SVb0Zfelhg7xxkRunsSQs83k6IxrY0a_q-tg41GIk/s1280/ACER+IN+SUNSHINE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtetyqUbLLDISsPk4eSBpHMbD2h_CcUe-wzDAYdMSTNj1nZY1qSGE3LyN7pavNlFW3Jn6AUWDpfFrow_deWk8eLLG2rOPGRNcCNv7zsO3vzo2l_crTYaqo-6S3sZ1-HXI7HHMFovdt1Q/s1280/ASTER+AND+RUDEBEKIA.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtetyqUbLLDISsPk4eSBpHMbD2h_CcUe-wzDAYdMSTNj1nZY1qSGE3LyN7pavNlFW3Jn6AUWDpfFrow_deWk8eLLG2rOPGRNcCNv7zsO3vzo2l_crTYaqo-6S3sZ1-HXI7HHMFovdt1Q/w472-h640/ASTER+AND+RUDEBEKIA.jpg" width="472" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">All the pics that follow were taken on our patch during the last few weeks and illustrate just how delightfully mild the weather has been this November, so we’re still blessed with butterflies, bees and hoverflies visiting our asters, dahlias, salvias</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and hebe’s</span>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bl6CF4PJwo5qZVukuAQ9_5_m5teNsD-8B4XaHwNI9J17DkoOuWJeckY9_gr5Kyr8dvTIrCngoseez44fCA3ZuKDw4lntywXg0QvTDwHgqbSeGVU-sUQfiaJOI-IJmvm-vOZ3C2NOUBg/s1280/REGULAR+HOVER+ON+ASTER.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1280" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bl6CF4PJwo5qZVukuAQ9_5_m5teNsD-8B4XaHwNI9J17DkoOuWJeckY9_gr5Kyr8dvTIrCngoseez44fCA3ZuKDw4lntywXg0QvTDwHgqbSeGVU-sUQfiaJOI-IJmvm-vOZ3C2NOUBg/w640-h493/REGULAR+HOVER+ON+ASTER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZHNXUGPxnoIgqC9RYapUaXYTWaC164KjXwQQY1wiGN5DTeAyGYue_9fsgrtQ4e9CdqsIurRmeYSy-azm7gyu01utF9kYPLxoCPBSXtOUi-rKRrYiNoFRkgt2FM9aCk_bVWvqi_cQW2Q/s1280/RED+ADMIRAL+END+ON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1280" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZHNXUGPxnoIgqC9RYapUaXYTWaC164KjXwQQY1wiGN5DTeAyGYue_9fsgrtQ4e9CdqsIurRmeYSy-azm7gyu01utF9kYPLxoCPBSXtOUi-rKRrYiNoFRkgt2FM9aCk_bVWvqi_cQW2Q/w640-h508/RED+ADMIRAL+END+ON.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Being a gardening beginner, I find it fascinating to learn about the origins of our colourful plants, the hebe for instance being a native of New Zealand, South America and even the Falkland Isles. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu1-8J8TTiWF7kmsmFEiWtULa7h2trsyCi6dIJPNfna6-s3f7di4TGc9eNcS6-7i5cQyxuzx1L0bIw4F37kvtWG-UtQ0TgFg8hJs-De_4fUWUkFu5fNy3Y-VX3_gG4YpURCT8j0Ib3kA/s1280/RED+ADMIRAL+ON+HEBE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1280" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu1-8J8TTiWF7kmsmFEiWtULa7h2trsyCi6dIJPNfna6-s3f7di4TGc9eNcS6-7i5cQyxuzx1L0bIw4F37kvtWG-UtQ0TgFg8hJs-De_4fUWUkFu5fNy3Y-VX3_gG4YpURCT8j0Ib3kA/w640-h546/RED+ADMIRAL+ON+HEBE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWnXMjyvWLxftwB2E_01KeQabEAplJEaB8peuzM2_FKr0iTKAoyt2jd4FO3qfdgiwP-IDRiQpmaKHVYbgZJanS-0mdjHsW-G_fp9wZnX2lB-HLdBkcsXGsmCfpYVwMs5gQc8prFwH-58/s1280/HEBE+WS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWnXMjyvWLxftwB2E_01KeQabEAplJEaB8peuzM2_FKr0iTKAoyt2jd4FO3qfdgiwP-IDRiQpmaKHVYbgZJanS-0mdjHsW-G_fp9wZnX2lB-HLdBkcsXGsmCfpYVwMs5gQc8prFwH-58/w400-h300/HEBE+WS.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Still flowering outside at the end of November, even after the frosts the red admirals and peacocks are finding they provide lots of nectar as last minute sustenance before they hibernate in our old sheds and log piles. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6lWoo-a1bNXV8wHtjXntdT2kpNfFWCbMFWcZVzbyMiUSVNdl4FF7atBY1grYfo-aVBmLo4o1UJeZqFqD6jODH8ymxoFfBukO7u7zD_HSaGfPaxaH04xgo3GuG_aAd1XtiF9IqWxN13g/s1280/PEACKOCK+BUTTERFLY+ON+HEBE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6lWoo-a1bNXV8wHtjXntdT2kpNfFWCbMFWcZVzbyMiUSVNdl4FF7atBY1grYfo-aVBmLo4o1UJeZqFqD6jODH8ymxoFfBukO7u7zD_HSaGfPaxaH04xgo3GuG_aAd1XtiF9IqWxN13g/w640-h474/PEACKOCK+BUTTERFLY+ON+HEBE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f6ULFNX0rNhKIvvT9jVpW27Om2kJUB4VzuPYcqDciD1C-btRzpKrNNt7cyWvIpU-_nGHag3TxDeGYk5tZqmvvT_9y3wWqeOPCfHrRXc0982aOMrheNa9fVVGBEztScuSBw03JMHhG5M/s1280/PEACOCK+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f6ULFNX0rNhKIvvT9jVpW27Om2kJUB4VzuPYcqDciD1C-btRzpKrNNt7cyWvIpU-_nGHag3TxDeGYk5tZqmvvT_9y3wWqeOPCfHrRXc0982aOMrheNa9fVVGBEztScuSBw03JMHhG5M/w640-h472/PEACOCK+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Also vital to the late season pollinators are the ever popular dahlias. Natives of the high hillsides of Central America and Mexico [it’s their national flower], there are forty two species and long ago, the Aztecs grew the tubers as food, a crop that only died out after the Spanish Conquest. There were attempts to farm them in Europe but those plans failed, a relief as we can’t admire them if we eat them! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnyTmEqGaRDt9MVLPEP606aiq34mUM7RWgarsLRqmQz7tlYxCO3-RnngFwiG9qiA-AgabfXQ4-wRZIOaucOjM_F3QMWpfzeHvEsCTWY6y223VZyosz5iI29hzwPNdWOa6V-jDu0i9kHY/s1280/DAHLIA+WS+%252B+GARDEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnyTmEqGaRDt9MVLPEP606aiq34mUM7RWgarsLRqmQz7tlYxCO3-RnngFwiG9qiA-AgabfXQ4-wRZIOaucOjM_F3QMWpfzeHvEsCTWY6y223VZyosz5iI29hzwPNdWOa6V-jDu0i9kHY/w640-h480/DAHLIA+WS+%252B+GARDEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This one is Bishop of Canterbury. We had originally planted that all time favourite, the Bishop of Llandaff but the slugs eat them, so we planted this one in a pot and it’s been blooming wonderful for months, only ceasing to attract carder bees a couple of weeks ago. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAJqdp5klvhcZX3LkLhBYAXkP66l4dnBinb_vsUIZiWEy1zhsKo7o2_KiKwXdqRCDYyOqWlouqmoI27vrbHYV43M3d2gsMToO2WU-8HstRLZkwUQSSZn2G1yHcNfVpfQj5tZMghO9k1E/s1280/HOVERFLY+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1280" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAJqdp5klvhcZX3LkLhBYAXkP66l4dnBinb_vsUIZiWEy1zhsKo7o2_KiKwXdqRCDYyOqWlouqmoI27vrbHYV43M3d2gsMToO2WU-8HstRLZkwUQSSZn2G1yHcNfVpfQj5tZMghO9k1E/w400-h311/HOVERFLY+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />The blousier bloomed dahlias are spectacular but the single flowerers like the ‘bishops’ are the ones that provide a banquet for hungry buzzers. They love ‘em! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwLUjzpi2J7DH4Oaf3LD2YJbzLsuUVU-KJN_ex0FSNx7MhQeXnLvHHhZRNf7Zh11E6C9aNQcaDvvLQKcqu1lZ-1RzBZaJpjNacaj_NXIemk0mt6_nNIoZ2LU6emHxzs3mjEgY53RvoDI/s1280/3X+CARDER+BEES+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1280" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwLUjzpi2J7DH4Oaf3LD2YJbzLsuUVU-KJN_ex0FSNx7MhQeXnLvHHhZRNf7Zh11E6C9aNQcaDvvLQKcqu1lZ-1RzBZaJpjNacaj_NXIemk0mt6_nNIoZ2LU6emHxzs3mjEgY53RvoDI/w640-h536/3X+CARDER+BEES+ON+DAHLIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNzikwraXOdHfj6IPN3wrU3cDdlbgLo9hT_YjTJcGBk6zWfHHxulyXvWNY1Wdi52VSzY5kcH-Q1FAYwTq2SWeGA16G_ZzNe1Dgx7G3JTrx14BKRiL-EsEGQSlsYt1Pl0kKcwvmiOAzMg/s1280/COTONEASTER+UPRIGHT.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNzikwraXOdHfj6IPN3wrU3cDdlbgLo9hT_YjTJcGBk6zWfHHxulyXvWNY1Wdi52VSzY5kcH-Q1FAYwTq2SWeGA16G_ZzNe1Dgx7G3JTrx14BKRiL-EsEGQSlsYt1Pl0kKcwvmiOAzMg/w480-h640/COTONEASTER+UPRIGHT.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of where plants come from, we like planting the garden so it provides food for wildlife, such as our colourful cotoneasters. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />When the migrant blackbirds arrive from Europe, they home in on any tasty snacks, though the red berried beauties come from further afield, the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUdh3LD6QaQwdIABjUK18R_CysgJ9OnoJwx12tqAIwXsMR2m6GFr4ObFKZwASrXNj3H6_83Uh0v7SiGF_Gos0RLBi9ga2X6USdzV6-YunkVV2E6eciPmGTIt1CTtF45u0wfhO3QSFmOk/s1499/BIG+RHODO+%252B+SCENIC+MTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1499" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUdh3LD6QaQwdIABjUK18R_CysgJ9OnoJwx12tqAIwXsMR2m6GFr4ObFKZwASrXNj3H6_83Uh0v7SiGF_Gos0RLBi9ga2X6USdzV6-YunkVV2E6eciPmGTIt1CTtF45u0wfhO3QSFmOk/w640-h446/BIG+RHODO+%252B+SCENIC+MTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our robins joined the party recently and have almost stripped the plants bare already, so fingers X’d the winter isn’t cold enough to leave them short of food. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9oGdXyJwP4ze_BFKXw_2tACZEFCD7Nr8aOTSfM4mgkjN920_vwAF_72efy_-lsCtM4I_vdaHahvX9N-MB5XdpVldolFAHH3lga3CyWcaEeJnaFrJl49pj4NNWHnLMyANfhjuhPyOAVk/s1280/RED+ADMIRAL+EYES+GRAPES.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="978" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9oGdXyJwP4ze_BFKXw_2tACZEFCD7Nr8aOTSfM4mgkjN920_vwAF_72efy_-lsCtM4I_vdaHahvX9N-MB5XdpVldolFAHH3lga3CyWcaEeJnaFrJl49pj4NNWHnLMyANfhjuhPyOAVk/w306-h400/RED+ADMIRAL+EYES+GRAPES.jpg" width="306" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Our ripening grapes proved attractive to the many red admirals but once the squadrons of blackbirds arrived, they were scoffed in no time, though not before we had harvested some bunches for our wine. Sue has prepared the brew with added brandy and it’ll be ready for quaffing in six months time, by which time the blackbirds will be singing and when we’ve tasted it, so will we. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWJ8I8aSIZIeGfNonctSr__0-2F-hKss-4wjN2Ozw9H-lZCLtpTUPdMmyxrzkUl764z4k1ac3McDhJHzzH6E1F8W9yoFtISQxlRIUExLlS8oJku-WCPQlHEAmDWiZCROZcnYE-35e-l8/s1280/VINE+OVER+ARCH+-+ANNA+PAVORD+INSPIRED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWJ8I8aSIZIeGfNonctSr__0-2F-hKss-4wjN2Ozw9H-lZCLtpTUPdMmyxrzkUl764z4k1ac3McDhJHzzH6E1F8W9yoFtISQxlRIUExLlS8oJku-WCPQlHEAmDWiZCROZcnYE-35e-l8/w640-h472/VINE+OVER+ARCH+-+ANNA+PAVORD+INSPIRED.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgs8mqnrGF4NwbRYAaW5wpC4qGWR7HKdCO1TyN70rBlxXtaTXRCZTu2BkxMQH-pvA7veRFmZ0y6mrXTW9sVLZh8vjRd5ui9Kd_9kBd5ANhKc2IUuHPA9mamsNe4UcY9zsSKCVZnldIng/s1280/BLUE+SALVIA.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgs8mqnrGF4NwbRYAaW5wpC4qGWR7HKdCO1TyN70rBlxXtaTXRCZTu2BkxMQH-pvA7veRFmZ0y6mrXTW9sVLZh8vjRd5ui9Kd_9kBd5ANhKc2IUuHPA9mamsNe4UcY9zsSKCVZnldIng/s320/BLUE+SALVIA.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our dahlias have closed for the winter, unlike the sparkling salvias that remain open for business, the cobalt and sapphire jewels so uplifting as the days shorten into winter gloom. This one is called 'Blue Butterflies'.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe53vz9S5bEA9TKVrnrcK5OLURq6Nxpw0_-6Dat43oTgNO-f6QjrDfGK25pMs7hyphenhyphenTdi__LSclcUVbO9uHin8OfjU3pU0i4rU25f2e-nHfMww1mwA8_miMZ69VtbghuXJjHYxY7hdnQDo/s1280/SALVIA+%252B+CARDER+BEE+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1280" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe53vz9S5bEA9TKVrnrcK5OLURq6Nxpw0_-6Dat43oTgNO-f6QjrDfGK25pMs7hyphenhyphenTdi__LSclcUVbO9uHin8OfjU3pU0i4rU25f2e-nHfMww1mwA8_miMZ69VtbghuXJjHYxY7hdnQDo/w640-h488/SALVIA+%252B+CARDER+BEE+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Flowering long into the autumn, these beauties are vitally important to our carder bees, providing a last supper before they hunker down together, two hundred or more protected from the chill in their dense grass nests. Note to self - don’t ‘tidy' the garden too much, if at all! Red admirals love nettles, so leave them be.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSFdqE7VqgJByuiqg-ioAxr6ahurwfzYfK2Bxnk3_8JEBBCLkgo62bGRP2d_3I8VlJ4uolFD4JsskjnvDDWs-8YjlvUHUN_69K0ygRnsUgrSpCFGFzZZC-DY1_IbzJzHLEikPOrVzgDw/s1280/PEACOCK+BUTTERFLY+ON+NETTLES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1280" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSFdqE7VqgJByuiqg-ioAxr6ahurwfzYfK2Bxnk3_8JEBBCLkgo62bGRP2d_3I8VlJ4uolFD4JsskjnvDDWs-8YjlvUHUN_69K0ygRnsUgrSpCFGFzZZC-DY1_IbzJzHLEikPOrVzgDw/w640-h536/PEACOCK+BUTTERFLY+ON+NETTLES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4REWiD1Pa9aw6_8TpEWMtoanF8BrO-3TK3Z7HE8H0b6i8OrJKvHi-q0fcrWfZGHHfG6vKTKtCVlTAYlzSfXbW0iV3-aiqq2BG7srdTakhqLlHQBFfeWfAGS21xxDX6bxAkkZoxvNwq4/s1280/SALVIA+-+BLUE+BUTTERFLIES+MASSED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4REWiD1Pa9aw6_8TpEWMtoanF8BrO-3TK3Z7HE8H0b6i8OrJKvHi-q0fcrWfZGHHfG6vKTKtCVlTAYlzSfXbW0iV3-aiqq2BG7srdTakhqLlHQBFfeWfAGS21xxDX6bxAkkZoxvNwq4/w640-h430/SALVIA+-+BLUE+BUTTERFLIES+MASSED.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />As all passionate gardeners will know, there are hundreds of different salvias, nearly a thousand throughout the old world and Americas, in central and eastern Asia and the Med, even high up in the Andes mountains. [This wind swept red bush isn't a salvia of course but anathrophillum desideratum with a Patagonian Andes background].<br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe97xdNjdbUe-oHB3otKWiyDctp7xZsxnbMXmZmiG71OspSGkDlJ76_ou3NvWU1yatu16ETklet7Po-5KosepnoVscS5kpZPxpmJ6qMTwuAJgmKuomSwCLvh9oLmzuBOkYh8mbirvSKSg/s1280/IMG_20130427_0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe97xdNjdbUe-oHB3otKWiyDctp7xZsxnbMXmZmiG71OspSGkDlJ76_ou3NvWU1yatu16ETklet7Po-5KosepnoVscS5kpZPxpmJ6qMTwuAJgmKuomSwCLvh9oLmzuBOkYh8mbirvSKSg/w640-h430/IMG_20130427_0013.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIgwWImgffppeFKGQFSVyC0r_D7BKhtPo1185G36JhtDsGhoKy3Wf0a8HiWdTzJCfpV_KW4X5RqyU3NVolzyGREifkzq6bOYSG3RVkxagfSLipoipqSDialWYPGr1KYAbnaUzWatpvCM/s1280/SALVIA+-+BLUE+BUTTERFLIES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1280" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIgwWImgffppeFKGQFSVyC0r_D7BKhtPo1185G36JhtDsGhoKy3Wf0a8HiWdTzJCfpV_KW4X5RqyU3NVolzyGREifkzq6bOYSG3RVkxagfSLipoipqSDialWYPGr1KYAbnaUzWatpvCM/w640-h570/SALVIA+-+BLUE+BUTTERFLIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First named 'salvia' in Roman times, the meaning is‘to feel healthy, to heal’ and being the largest genus of plants in the sage family, along with rosemary, maybe the Romans knew about the culinary delights and health benefits of the common sage and other herbs in the kitchen. And us humans aren’t alone in eating them, for as already mentioned, many salvias are meccas for pollinators, one of our favourite salvias being ‘Amistad’, still flowering outside at the end of November, even in this Arctic blast. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_LYjx-EkmZ22Vc4PRiNECYR6sBkVI2UATMVt0f10fBBeqDOkTMhwAEPD5Y6mz5vybZWSE7Cns0oOeST1RPCbDp0ljgTq4SXeGPyEEXft9inNMiNsekSsRhGm4GhPLi9x1V30NP0XIfw/s1280/P1060250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1280" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_LYjx-EkmZ22Vc4PRiNECYR6sBkVI2UATMVt0f10fBBeqDOkTMhwAEPD5Y6mz5vybZWSE7Cns0oOeST1RPCbDp0ljgTq4SXeGPyEEXft9inNMiNsekSsRhGm4GhPLi9x1V30NP0XIfw/w640-h502/P1060250.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Apart from salvias and dahlias, I guess the most admired of the autumn ‘show-offs’ are the maples or Japanese Acers, the majority of the 132 species hailing from Asia, with others flourishing in Europe, N.Africa and N.America. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HFRaYEQoGIMUuOlx4G1Yi-HS95jStReYPsQ_gkXO6nxVA9UmH1bMj0FoNqaTrYrr7bb4JZh6sGHB4iymx2yg1cOaDH2ha7TnNPm0KE_-uXxB7OICnrdnMIxknNaDSObP0ppIhRRG9Pg/s2048/AUTUMN+COLOUR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HFRaYEQoGIMUuOlx4G1Yi-HS95jStReYPsQ_gkXO6nxVA9UmH1bMj0FoNqaTrYrr7bb4JZh6sGHB4iymx2yg1cOaDH2ha7TnNPm0KE_-uXxB7OICnrdnMIxknNaDSObP0ppIhRRG9Pg/w640-h510/AUTUMN+COLOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xLstmU0EOtHCSVt825841GH-S2jPosV7BUW3iLa9d3Q_2XaqEd-OAb4D33OWqN4wNGmMROq6u4axLqq0NRkF_pftT_eYvV_pB0BSq_yNK80ewNm_by1teCq091GLyxhvxm33kaTdSkE/s1280/CANADIAN+MAPLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xLstmU0EOtHCSVt825841GH-S2jPosV7BUW3iLa9d3Q_2XaqEd-OAb4D33OWqN4wNGmMROq6u4axLqq0NRkF_pftT_eYvV_pB0BSq_yNK80ewNm_by1teCq091GLyxhvxm33kaTdSkE/w640-h480/CANADIAN+MAPLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So admired are maples that tourism thrives due to Canada’s fall colours, their national flag incorporating a stylised maple leaf. They are also admired for the sap from some species producing that sweet maple syrup. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOWWco1EMwJcuhNdeTlCdGm9LJy-stug_9o0HSJMGqAFx5dJD8SfUFfSc3LNJhUzHOaaqRnwvg-j67LXNdrfFETilZnQU02TYFNqoU7juucTgOqDf6fexgOSX5jxM37V5LR9ocY8E0q4/s1280/LIQUIDAMBER+WS+IN+BLUEBELL+WOOD.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOWWco1EMwJcuhNdeTlCdGm9LJy-stug_9o0HSJMGqAFx5dJD8SfUFfSc3LNJhUzHOaaqRnwvg-j67LXNdrfFETilZnQU02TYFNqoU7juucTgOqDf6fexgOSX5jxM37V5LR9ocY8E0q4/w466-h640/LIQUIDAMBER+WS+IN+BLUEBELL+WOOD.jpg" width="466" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Another colourful highlight in our garden are the American Sweet Gums whose fragrant sap provides its name ‘Liquidamber’. Aren’t they gorgeous. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w6jGlwODkuKMTfjYgKpCcJIHDBCBaP6vPCx9n_5ItrahHKioDNB9dUmds8LG4q0q3_QJkK1VLw-LqJyP9AT2d2KHMQY3I2sF6GXPtY1i_uRbhkwjR1doQybJwEABoT5pSfgSkJtZC2o/s1280/LIQUIDAMBER+BEST+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1280" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w6jGlwODkuKMTfjYgKpCcJIHDBCBaP6vPCx9n_5ItrahHKioDNB9dUmds8LG4q0q3_QJkK1VLw-LqJyP9AT2d2KHMQY3I2sF6GXPtY1i_uRbhkwjR1doQybJwEABoT5pSfgSkJtZC2o/w640-h484/LIQUIDAMBER+BEST+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />As in Canada, Japan has leaf watching traditions and customs with festivals attracting thousands of admirers from around the world. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLksDHhai__Ac6bzFk9C69HjnpJFN3ojGhvlabndOxtaI-ogKyir9SkwuBPBTbc_TrqZXx_Dn5fbJNqpVR9xJARDPAN0huAfTtSvt6g0Tyujjd5u8znMQKUbBZfjn8A7gwHIg7S2cIE0w/s2048/ACER+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLksDHhai__Ac6bzFk9C69HjnpJFN3ojGhvlabndOxtaI-ogKyir9SkwuBPBTbc_TrqZXx_Dn5fbJNqpVR9xJARDPAN0huAfTtSvt6g0Tyujjd5u8znMQKUbBZfjn8A7gwHIg7S2cIE0w/w640-h480/ACER+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgWWcHlcXBMxM5bZLNtxrfJqgoMcb0aDbK1joc6BfOXT4KmV7IHXyh20iWDwaEC_uUou3FI5ny7nbQYetggDkGkSkf8fdCD9XJ_BjNGlZ6eSB5kSrEMXK5b_rw0pZ9ylGc1suGArABdk/s1280/ACER+VARIETY+BY+POND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1280" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgWWcHlcXBMxM5bZLNtxrfJqgoMcb0aDbK1joc6BfOXT4KmV7IHXyh20iWDwaEC_uUou3FI5ny7nbQYetggDkGkSkf8fdCD9XJ_BjNGlZ6eSB5kSrEMXK5b_rw0pZ9ylGc1suGArABdk/w640-h392/ACER+VARIETY+BY+POND.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There are now so many varieties and cultivars of Acer Palmatum that Sue and I are tempted to add one or two new ones to our woodland garden every year but in the meantime, we simply sit and admire the spectacle that they treat us to every autumn. Good for the soul!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp4gX74SUaRmu7xqNsFBy6PqIBhd71MxdcoVouvV4Hl8Is180zroBstRmDaKbYmnYd76io7wRv8Tmg_bOE086xPpaunjFO6mFuddiLDw0Ij7fzxhC92aUKLKvucWv9JWd30wXCBMpOSM/s1280/UMPIRE%2527S+CHAIR+%252B+ACER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp4gX74SUaRmu7xqNsFBy6PqIBhd71MxdcoVouvV4Hl8Is180zroBstRmDaKbYmnYd76io7wRv8Tmg_bOE086xPpaunjFO6mFuddiLDw0Ij7fzxhC92aUKLKvucWv9JWd30wXCBMpOSM/w640-h480/UMPIRE%2527S+CHAIR+%252B+ACER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIXDTOROtDQB4jx-j2xv5j6dmRNYNEXs8sdrWPYSuEuYBGDPiMSHw-mrfmGF_HCwn0z794tydsDn7moNzfirroy62PJ6Dk7gRVjAmwYfFlgIDJw1AJEockNU-S9guRHWXJHlsswEjXS0/s1280/PINK+FT+GEESE+FLIGHT+IN+NORFOLK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1280" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIXDTOROtDQB4jx-j2xv5j6dmRNYNEXs8sdrWPYSuEuYBGDPiMSHw-mrfmGF_HCwn0z794tydsDn7moNzfirroy62PJ6Dk7gRVjAmwYfFlgIDJw1AJEockNU-S9guRHWXJHlsswEjXS0/w640-h340/PINK+FT+GEESE+FLIGHT+IN+NORFOLK.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And with the magic of winter and the arrival of geese from far northern lands to look forward to, we have lots to celebrate, even if the problems faced by nature seem depressingly insurmountable. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiPZK1RsHsTfR9IgFGUTnDgyHZ1sUY23l1gufG0GEh5rgLMyMcJFcyUiOyo3hNqEYGXEY-TEehPqx6MiI9vXneCI9NYca6-nZd_r37LuHtrFuOe_up43yw00WEU7_MfZSQvt9PxYZyzw/s1280/GT.SP.WOODPECKER+ON+COCONUT+IN+SNOW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1280" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiPZK1RsHsTfR9IgFGUTnDgyHZ1sUY23l1gufG0GEh5rgLMyMcJFcyUiOyo3hNqEYGXEY-TEehPqx6MiI9vXneCI9NYca6-nZd_r37LuHtrFuOe_up43yw00WEU7_MfZSQvt9PxYZyzw/w640-h540/GT.SP.WOODPECKER+ON+COCONUT+IN+SNOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />However, we have the power to help ease the problems of climate change and our gardens are a good place to start. And if all of us plant them to help wildlife, we WILL make a difference. So chin up, spring is on the way!
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMq635d0wTju1nLXlQP-KgdRS1u4GhPl4qCyDcVKSSoAs-4JDSMdzK5C_7ZPdvIUjYHFDE36hfGZLwUdTHiz83molhITPHEYasXjCjwhZYHYFeUN8sgCKcKN5Q8jWwS3tKevlyvdDmXI/s1280/GARDEN+IN+SPRING+%252B+CAMELIA+AND+MAGNOLIA+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMq635d0wTju1nLXlQP-KgdRS1u4GhPl4qCyDcVKSSoAs-4JDSMdzK5C_7ZPdvIUjYHFDE36hfGZLwUdTHiz83molhITPHEYasXjCjwhZYHYFeUN8sgCKcKN5Q8jWwS3tKevlyvdDmXI/w640-h480/GARDEN+IN+SPRING+%252B+CAMELIA+AND+MAGNOLIA+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-63592305431719233222021-11-10T16:42:00.006+00:002021-11-23T05:35:59.767+00:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> CHRIS YATES AND CHRIS WILD TALK - 'A PASSION FOR ANGLING'</b> <br /></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HWqm-fs6O7yhtU0mAPBl7Zq26xplQoKQbWI6BaRdgD1SL6lredo8_b25E2TMrRfTUM9JBZWrosAW_0cX7LjPM1N_APzOUyGJygvt_14krr6A9x49IL2_9pk1jxe3IkGF88dCsn7AFpY/s1280/THE+TEAM+%252B+BIG+ROACH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HWqm-fs6O7yhtU0mAPBl7Zq26xplQoKQbWI6BaRdgD1SL6lredo8_b25E2TMrRfTUM9JBZWrosAW_0cX7LjPM1N_APzOUyGJygvt_14krr6A9x49IL2_9pk1jxe3IkGF88dCsn7AFpY/w640-h426/THE+TEAM+%252B+BIG+ROACH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It seems that even after twenty eight years, our BBC 2 series “A Passion for Angling” lives on in many folk’s memories, so Sue and I had a dinner party with friends Chris Yates and Chris Wild recently to reminisce and reflect on some of our favourite moments. It proved to be a really enjoyable evening as we re-lived our favourite moments, so maybe you’ll find their choices interesting too. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V3F-5Da12SMFevjmuGkwerFM7Uv0rHRkkZaKzxv3r5RzQBxoHGHEmeevf0lKNtXxBMV_VMcVWuk2TflEMbmYhyphenhyphen5zjLVBxcW3u6qisARRrIVo9s1lAE52cfP01zqEzKq4003m2tTklEU/s2048/CHRIS+%252B+20LB+COMMON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1621" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V3F-5Da12SMFevjmuGkwerFM7Uv0rHRkkZaKzxv3r5RzQBxoHGHEmeevf0lKNtXxBMV_VMcVWuk2TflEMbmYhyphenhyphen5zjLVBxcW3u6qisARRrIVo9s1lAE52cfP01zqEzKq4003m2tTklEU/w506-h640/CHRIS+%252B+20LB+COMMON.jpg" width="506" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The legendary Chris Yates needs no introduction of course, being one of the stars of the show and my fishing pal Chris Wild was also involved in editing some of the clips for YouTube and offering assistance in many ways since. He’s a luthierist and a creator of the most magnificent classical guitars. They are true works of art and better still, sound beautiful. He’s also a dab hand with a rod but I’ve been fishing a lot longer and been able to help him catch several ‘firsts’ and PB’s which is far more rewarding than catching them myself. Being a quick learner, he often seems to out fish me now, though to be fair, that isn’t difficult! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2_Gxa1pur6jS-pYXXo8m-ZFc1NB_HyQZzQvd7ubxl8adATEfcInlWdDbZ14sdOWBqoBWvpXeWBkvBuV0k9f1a_gsR3TaLEqrb9dP_K9DkWeANl-dOcnn8z0GDVOsF90Oqeyz2FQ1IUs/s2048/CHRIS+W+%252B+22LB+COMMON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2_Gxa1pur6jS-pYXXo8m-ZFc1NB_HyQZzQvd7ubxl8adATEfcInlWdDbZ14sdOWBqoBWvpXeWBkvBuV0k9f1a_gsR3TaLEqrb9dP_K9DkWeANl-dOcnn8z0GDVOsF90Oqeyz2FQ1IUs/w640-h486/CHRIS+W+%252B+22LB+COMMON.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />During our dinner together, and being a lot younger than Yates and I, he gave us a very interesting perspective on ‘Passion’, so I’ll quote his thoughts verbatim because they seem to echo those of so many other enthusiasts. </span><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y-YOeyFJUG8ZgZK1PvVgbAeKrVuSxyfMFxOclZLCFx75xfVh3GUrEiqJ__YBzh0iW2GX0E9anoKKHaNbSR7MiFiKEw2-joboLdRXz6c_1pk3T0TT72WzMulCvo2DQTYQkhTJfZm4K-k/s2048/TX+CARD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y-YOeyFJUG8ZgZK1PvVgbAeKrVuSxyfMFxOclZLCFx75xfVh3GUrEiqJ__YBzh0iW2GX0E9anoKKHaNbSR7MiFiKEw2-joboLdRXz6c_1pk3T0TT72WzMulCvo2DQTYQkhTJfZm4K-k/w640-h448/TX+CARD.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />“Thinking back to when I was 13 and the autumn of 1993 when A Passion For Angling first aired on BBC2, it was the barbel sequence at the end of Childhood Dreams that captured my imagination and frequented my dreams the most. </span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzq3mhRyXhWNkfZ-coDPrJOzA3MuUIPjEdchsR38JF0C1RIZkV8s6Q4MENV8vFLQ8BCfS9iJp217WkyP23OLAS7cEuUx9oAiMYbOU2763KTJCxoXwuaegAsY-5HGQqkPwwwbpfxjLamc/s2048/PETE+%252B+BARBEL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzq3mhRyXhWNkfZ-coDPrJOzA3MuUIPjEdchsR38JF0C1RIZkV8s6Q4MENV8vFLQ8BCfS9iJp217WkyP23OLAS7cEuUx9oAiMYbOU2763KTJCxoXwuaegAsY-5HGQqkPwwwbpfxjLamc/w640-h450/PETE+%252B+BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It is so well etched into my memory that I can play the whole sequence back in my minds eye. </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I so badly wanted to walk in the footsteps of Pete and Chris, to peer into the depths of my local river and watch a shadow emerge from under the weeds and for it to materialise into the solid form of a barbel. I must have gazed into every river and stream I came across, longing for that miraculous moment when I would see one. I saw many other species but never a barbel.</i> </span><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">A Passion For Angling introduced me to Chris Yates, and he became a bit of a hero of mine, Bob too, but Chris also wrote books, and they became my bedtime reading, the first books I enjoyed so much that I would read them again and again. There was also that magical ‘something’ about Chris and his old tackle that also infected my early teenage mind. I knew without a split cane rod and a centrepin I had no chance of catching a barbel and so I wrote to Edward Barder, the legendary builder of classic cane rods. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">I suspect he might have twigged I was just a boy, but I did get a lovely letter back saying that I would need to acquire certain tools and glue to build a rod, and to get back in contact when I was ready. I got as far as getting the right glue, which I still have, and a certain type of knife for splitting the cane. Although the rod never happened my parents wonderfully took pity on me and one Christmas we went to a tackle shop in Christchurch where I got a centrepin. It wasn’t until I got home that I discovered it was the very same reel Bob had used in the series and that was all the confirmation I needed to know I’d made the right choice. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gzwGgwCzpwA0gz2gGzsPU4Fy2FOF-QCiTggH0wG6fglH7utFNNcmReXiPUklX5t9HG3csmimXt7odZ4KV-__sDnPfA1h4AzhuRrl-3iyTiJBQgGxsWrhmIfDs6EouwaGuD8P7Y__zOI/s2048/PFA+book+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gzwGgwCzpwA0gz2gGzsPU4Fy2FOF-QCiTggH0wG6fglH7utFNNcmReXiPUklX5t9HG3csmimXt7odZ4KV-__sDnPfA1h4AzhuRrl-3iyTiJBQgGxsWrhmIfDs6EouwaGuD8P7Y__zOI/w640-h480/PFA+book+cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It was naturally imperative that I rewatch ‘Autumn Glory’ to see him catch that fabulous barbel from under the tree, and ‘Winter Madness’ when he trotted his float down the Kennet only to have Chris poach a chub from the bottom of his swim, all the while trying to work out how he was able to get his tackle into the water without creating a birds nest of line! </span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">One summer maybe a couple of years after ‘A Passion for Angling’ was broadcast, a friend and I were dropped off to fish the Hampshire Avon, ‘The’ river where these wonderful barbel were known to reside, and best of all, it was where some of the magic was filmed. It was a beautiful day, and we crept along the bank peering into every likely looking swim, and then we saw them, not just one, but a number of barbel and chub, it was just as we had seen it on TV, they were effortlessly shifting in and out of the weed, not too far out from the bank and obviously very catchable. We quietly retreated, the excitement was almost uncontainable, but we knew what to do, we’d watched Chris and Bob do it enough times, and so threw in handfuls of hemp seed and lumps of luncheon meat. With that done we set up our rods and landing net, for once we might actually need it, and then went to see how enthusiastically the barbel were devouring our free offerings, but there was nothing to be seen, they’d obviously seen this ploy before and knew to make a quick exit. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">I did eventually catch my first barbel, many years later, and it was perhaps even more magical for me than watching the series for the first time as I was fishing with the filmmaker who captured all that wonderful footage and put it on our TV screens.” </span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosu4X_ix-hY-El6ZaC_rf0jcf5VyHOX9iZ3D0Tb3XFKdg5QCDuqP3_bTDEJZzYWU8NnKHRRk1Ex1J7PEhyphenhyphenRa9eQy2OeImpReELfp7D7SikVPpGxDg4qeIrYs2p7qtSztTP6OCwFlkGmM/s2048/CHRIS+W+BICKTON+BARBEL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosu4X_ix-hY-El6ZaC_rf0jcf5VyHOX9iZ3D0Tb3XFKdg5QCDuqP3_bTDEJZzYWU8NnKHRRk1Ex1J7PEhyphenhyphenRa9eQy2OeImpReELfp7D7SikVPpGxDg4qeIrYs2p7qtSztTP6OCwFlkGmM/w640-h486/CHRIS+W+BICKTON+BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I fish with Chris a few times each month and chat to Mr Yates every week and it’s no surprise that we all consider the sequence where young Peter catches his first barbel one of the most magical, especially when the kingfisher lands on the rod in his hands. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_bWOju07_1T_Pvv3OFOqpBro6RHfDBoFUVugqO7fALEK5YMsUuzEQ-sws2h2BUHxr7kSZ9bif-rNo2j1Oqh0J25ROA8iU55hRuaV5yl5c6WGg5Gemk6_yjC84-rs9GnxpJSoeLTNYg4/s2048/PETE+AND+CHRIS+KINGFISHER+SPOT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1547" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_bWOju07_1T_Pvv3OFOqpBro6RHfDBoFUVugqO7fALEK5YMsUuzEQ-sws2h2BUHxr7kSZ9bif-rNo2j1Oqh0J25ROA8iU55hRuaV5yl5c6WGg5Gemk6_yjC84-rs9GnxpJSoeLTNYg4/w303-h400/PETE+AND+CHRIS+KINGFISHER+SPOT.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />How he didn’t quiver with excitement and shake it off we’ll never know but we stayed silent until it flew away downriver, then whispered our incredulity that such a moment could happen while the camera was running. We were so very lucky. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another delightful moment was one of the first sequences we filmed, Chris’s son Alex being required to catch a fish from the little village pond. He was only three years old but is obviously a chip off the old Yates block, catching a carp to order and having the awareness to celebrate with a shout into the camera “I’ve caught a fish!” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Alex is now a very successful personal trainer, is married and has two children, though he makes time to be a keen birder and has remarkable skill when hunting out elusive goshawks in dense forests. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStXc8cgWrEq7VKA9gNFobGrlHlG5qt9Jki7w7AHAAXugwDJXKGK6fTtOoOl1gzqaeNmdURv-3n9oYcSS6jd8CKCoUYT9cqByElbnxtfWrxxwe_Z4uDU8Oxu4EeyC2sHahbWUJKz4_tK4/s2048/ICY+KENNET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStXc8cgWrEq7VKA9gNFobGrlHlG5qt9Jki7w7AHAAXugwDJXKGK6fTtOoOl1gzqaeNmdURv-3n9oYcSS6jd8CKCoUYT9cqByElbnxtfWrxxwe_Z4uDU8Oxu4EeyC2sHahbWUJKz4_tK4/w482-h640/ICY+KENNET.jpg" width="482" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It’s perhaps surprising that not many of our favourite moments include the catching of big fish, preferring the moody and evocative moments of seasonal change. But perhaps that is why the series was such a success, enjoyed not just by anglers but the great British public too who were blown away by the beauty of the watery landscapes at their most magical times of day and the wildlife that decorates these moments. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2dNHZI9hQf5wfdCViCow3I-Q1kTqDycWDH3sKFsoZ8xKWa0JoSvO6S2aVK_2qCW6MrQi3viFg8XwR_0SGtYOVjs29gKJzw1kJvFVKrL-uB9GQ_eLxlP8srBK943t95PEO_zPe1wNFe4/s1024/BARN+OWL+FLIES+TO+CAMERA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2dNHZI9hQf5wfdCViCow3I-Q1kTqDycWDH3sKFsoZ8xKWa0JoSvO6S2aVK_2qCW6MrQi3viFg8XwR_0SGtYOVjs29gKJzw1kJvFVKrL-uB9GQ_eLxlP8srBK943t95PEO_zPe1wNFe4/w640-h424/BARN+OWL+FLIES+TO+CAMERA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />How can you not enjoy the floating flight of a barn owl over the water meadows in the third programme or Chris paddling out into a mist shrouded pool to fish for tench among the lilies in ‘Childhood Dreams’. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbBIFOeRgBv63MEj4vtgdgBtoBdelJoxdxfVnlZWZn2HLurTJ9-I8CX8uC7fqJ9YUiqnpFzUrhvqyZHdRNvd0ITEAhQ_iOCS3nyTEta5aNCoqGseolsZal8vFlYc_ny50keALGmEbBQ/s2048/PUNT+AT+SUNRISE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbBIFOeRgBv63MEj4vtgdgBtoBdelJoxdxfVnlZWZn2HLurTJ9-I8CX8uC7fqJ9YUiqnpFzUrhvqyZHdRNvd0ITEAhQ_iOCS3nyTEta5aNCoqGseolsZal8vFlYc_ny50keALGmEbBQ/w640-h480/PUNT+AT+SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Chris particularly likes the sunrise gudgeon match at Redmire, its’ etherial light rousing the ghosts of departed carp anglers as they spiralled into the mist, the music of Jennie Muskett enhancing the atmosphere perfectly. The early start didn’t do a lot for Bob and Chris’s wellbeing but they survived to tell the tale and to pull off the scarecrow trick that Chris had wanted to try ever since he caught his record carp. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLIZmmHDpnK4jZeZvor238yJeSpmMYaG5HuKudF_Zog1qrYrIk588UZVQ4UfWGhOxEd8RYw6A53kTiV11u5LW8gR3QnYhe03XwEAtpUPQXTwrTQft_L3uyv8PNCbvRTwsqQL_ROKoqK4/s1280/REDMIRE+SCARECROW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1280" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLIZmmHDpnK4jZeZvor238yJeSpmMYaG5HuKudF_Zog1qrYrIk588UZVQ4UfWGhOxEd8RYw6A53kTiV11u5LW8gR3QnYhe03XwEAtpUPQXTwrTQft_L3uyv8PNCbvRTwsqQL_ROKoqK4/w640-h450/REDMIRE+SCARECROW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Kevin the Scarecrow was one of Chris’s most rewarding sequences, the idea being that by putting a figure into the shallows and baiting it for three days before concealing himself in the disguise, this would allow him to choose the biggest fish as they fed at his feet.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRjXHIJF9Y_8kmKwcJFX2qQzPoS-cIIPPOQ2TdsyNsmfVv5KJATUGhI-IT9ZjiDNIS1ytkLKrANOuWeBqJnxspFpf0OgUlEMcdc6BJ4KzAtTpAnB2rSQrHOaQ7TXA2249Ibx_ZGDGpbk/s2048/SCARECROW.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2048" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRjXHIJF9Y_8kmKwcJFX2qQzPoS-cIIPPOQ2TdsyNsmfVv5KJATUGhI-IT9ZjiDNIS1ytkLKrANOuWeBqJnxspFpf0OgUlEMcdc6BJ4KzAtTpAnB2rSQrHOaQ7TXA2249Ibx_ZGDGpbk/w400-h323/SCARECROW.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The plan worked and as he lowered his bait onto a browsing carp’s nose, he hardly dared breath as it truffled ever closer before snaffling the sweetcorn. All hell broke loose as the carp tore off across the shallows but sadly, after a brief but violent battle, the twenty pounder escaped.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFUXVeLBzsN-B3GLjKRq1wlmpvsohzpkP1HX0hDaJx1LeGftFG6Jlsx14DbK58LSahCGojijLEa8_ZUdyOlUeRq6xiDKp4KeDQqtvkeR7zoZNVdLM9ENLuEHs5rt9M31K0znsMShQxRQ/s2048/YATES+AT+REDMIRE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1575" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFUXVeLBzsN-B3GLjKRq1wlmpvsohzpkP1HX0hDaJx1LeGftFG6Jlsx14DbK58LSahCGojijLEa8_ZUdyOlUeRq6xiDKp4KeDQqtvkeR7zoZNVdLM9ENLuEHs5rt9M31K0znsMShQxRQ/w308-h400/YATES+AT+REDMIRE.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Chris and I love the moment when he is meditating on how the hours pass at Redmire, or do they? He says “time doesn’t pass here, it collects!” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, our ten days filming in that magical spot passed all too quickly but we did have time to catch four twenty pound plus carp and even I had an off duty moment to catch a golden common carp on a worm dangled under the bank, so our stay was a wonderfully unforgettable week. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our simple mission to make a half hour fishing film was complete but we had more than enough ‘moments’ to make a complete one hour film and it had been comparatively simple because the weather was perfect every day. Even better, Bob and Chris were good at catching fish! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nvi-uwEJOC6xA9mbnSciJZR9glyhxnwm0HvNQpxTDM8XzVonmimi_PxuJC1miwWC1R2cyV2KaZla9SpLLhdybwCcMHk9L6ocM2A4iNmL3cj3HAEmKAKALFBOdXGJJS7GCiGgb05Fv-A/s1280/BOB%2527S+BRACE+OF+PIKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nvi-uwEJOC6xA9mbnSciJZR9glyhxnwm0HvNQpxTDM8XzVonmimi_PxuJC1miwWC1R2cyV2KaZla9SpLLhdybwCcMHk9L6ocM2A4iNmL3cj3HAEmKAKALFBOdXGJJS7GCiGgb05Fv-A/w640-h432/BOB%2527S+BRACE+OF+PIKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We got thinking that if a film could be made so easily in ten days then there should be no problem in making a series of six. The mistake Bob and Chris made was to agree to do so because it took us more than four years to complete the job! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The series started showing on BBC 2 in September 1993 and attracted audiences of millions and received rave reviews. So in time, Chris and Bob were able to forgive me for convincing them that creating the series was a good idea. The fact that so many folk still enjoy the films even after twenty eight years is difficult to believe but we’ll take our reward from the enjoyment of sharing our adventures with so many others. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll add some more of our dinner party thoughts about some favourite ‘Passion’ moments in a future blog but first, I want to celebrate the glories of autumn in our garden as this year has proved exceptionally colourful.<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvoEBGC8Os37XR5QMhNE3nhy5K8uUGCb4wkrO7XCBROyTKz1MgqaruIoLiCNbkG_viIMRz71GjqYcXTfxCwg8jd9-GbjJHV_lK5l_35OtsBuXR9QpQx0yKkP3T93J3uOLMLBYV56BWQE/s1280/ASTER+IN+SUNSHINE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvoEBGC8Os37XR5QMhNE3nhy5K8uUGCb4wkrO7XCBROyTKz1MgqaruIoLiCNbkG_viIMRz71GjqYcXTfxCwg8jd9-GbjJHV_lK5l_35OtsBuXR9QpQx0yKkP3T93J3uOLMLBYV56BWQE/w640-h480/ASTER+IN+SUNSHINE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeTFIhcw0ZfIHxI7fX664u798sK5WNSxhhLIIzPWt5slLmpAyvlUm9hUmvS7ADu3FcwvLGsRFxXplQ1OLOan7q8kVyyVtWsPSYo6qvrpPZOQBWrh4TEjAIh6__WmkvDs5_2CdqYaQTKQ/s444/PFA++DVD+%252B+FLOATS++-+17.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="444" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeTFIhcw0ZfIHxI7fX664u798sK5WNSxhhLIIzPWt5slLmpAyvlUm9hUmvS7ADu3FcwvLGsRFxXplQ1OLOan7q8kVyyVtWsPSYo6qvrpPZOQBWrh4TEjAIh6__WmkvDs5_2CdqYaQTKQ/w400-h300/PFA++DVD+%252B+FLOATS++-+17.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We still sell copies of the series and Sue sends them out every few days, so if you want to own a copy, just look on our website </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">for ordering instuctions and she'll get the DVD to you pronto. </span></span>www.passionforangling.info <br /></span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-84901581260802469762021-10-18T11:24:00.003+01:002022-01-21T10:33:06.808+00:00TENCH FISHING IN BIRDLAND<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u7pShLmW0JYrABxa81Zjcm79UT47fGKEBVGiSp5ghjuKpDubMstImyxA3-yIJW_tjvqMJikeGnXEa3k31SUVmXedEMyyNt8tbeyDOLXe1EDBpGAPkPFrHVOWArusdE5JqLrIT2Ino8Q/s1280/MY+TENCH+SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u7pShLmW0JYrABxa81Zjcm79UT47fGKEBVGiSp5ghjuKpDubMstImyxA3-yIJW_tjvqMJikeGnXEa3k31SUVmXedEMyyNt8tbeyDOLXe1EDBpGAPkPFrHVOWArusdE5JqLrIT2Ino8Q/w640-h480/MY+TENCH+SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">Most anglers appreciate that there’s more to fishing than catching fish and to quote that famous line from ‘A Passion for Angling’ … <br /><br /> “it’s not about how to catch, it’s about how to enjoy.”<br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgck3miY6ZTvzT59UNrkahljNC0Yk1ruHq9wWG7cZBxy3bFfdMrFtmyff0iXOfvdu_3NjE5lS4FZpD2WVrEjO1pyRazzYS1bVnACZN3ZE13dZEXmH_e4PlzyJfdY9sZAK8cN2t7LPUkrsk/s1280/BEAUT+LADY+TENCH+OF+6lbs+2ozs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgck3miY6ZTvzT59UNrkahljNC0Yk1ruHq9wWG7cZBxy3bFfdMrFtmyff0iXOfvdu_3NjE5lS4FZpD2WVrEjO1pyRazzYS1bVnACZN3ZE13dZEXmH_e4PlzyJfdY9sZAK8cN2t7LPUkrsk/w640-h478/BEAUT+LADY+TENCH+OF+6lbs+2ozs.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Luckily I’m a mad keen birder, so this year I picked a lake in the Cotswold Water Park that provides a daily symphony of song. Sleeping in my waterside camper van, I’d be literally up with the lark to search for one of the most desirable of wild creatures, a tench … and if I was lucky, I might even catch one. So from the first glimmer of dawn, it was enjoyment all the way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HaoCMDD_FeLoIZcgWARP7atRqNsIkpBwzwy1J3PyIDG4MLM4mVjUDfNa1sezv3zDvs7fa66Cj4T_B1M8DMgoYLcu3YeeiIzAzLpT5YziaJy6tkmMkGnc1UC-qyJ9iw6T3oMytpzIjyM/s1280/EVENING+SCENIC+FROM+SOUTH+POINT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HaoCMDD_FeLoIZcgWARP7atRqNsIkpBwzwy1J3PyIDG4MLM4mVjUDfNa1sezv3zDvs7fa66Cj4T_B1M8DMgoYLcu3YeeiIzAzLpT5YziaJy6tkmMkGnc1UC-qyJ9iw6T3oMytpzIjyM/w640-h480/EVENING+SCENIC+FROM+SOUTH+POINT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The water is beautiful, part of a tree lined wetland surrounded by several lakes along with grazing dairy herds. It’s as peaceful a spot as you will ever find in southern England and with the park boasting a bird list of about two hundred species, I was sure there would be plenty to enjoy when the tench weren’t biting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ7pfyFIgcmN-XMNYZj2FUWaHZMth2ZKPfMCpWPwXxkqyibXE2pIs8hGHHXOuHHcOUEe0raMaKGrKTIvDJKeBxxAeR7HA48LnY1N-aLimuIbCPVKLQdHrf5GkYXzCrlU71eokQIf1qKQ/s1280/BLACKBIRD+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1280" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ7pfyFIgcmN-XMNYZj2FUWaHZMth2ZKPfMCpWPwXxkqyibXE2pIs8hGHHXOuHHcOUEe0raMaKGrKTIvDJKeBxxAeR7HA48LnY1N-aLimuIbCPVKLQdHrf5GkYXzCrlU71eokQIf1qKQ/w640-h500/BLACKBIRD+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Upon arrival in the early morning of April 13th, the bird song was deafening, a cuckoo calling incessantly and leading a choir of blackbirds, blackcaps, chaffinches and wrens. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmika_pd_6Vj3yKyz39XEvn6gDgJG0eziWHLN2jJ_cU2giVSbEqP86FWvPeYz883Zy4uIw1DnOqFDkqQ3CUkxUW8aiQJ9f-pAuR9msxcuFMbXXIHf8WoifegsMQWUM224RS7DsUpXSGc/s1280/CURLEW+GRADED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1280" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmika_pd_6Vj3yKyz39XEvn6gDgJG0eziWHLN2jJ_cU2giVSbEqP86FWvPeYz883Zy4uIw1DnOqFDkqQ3CUkxUW8aiQJ9f-pAuR9msxcuFMbXXIHf8WoifegsMQWUM224RS7DsUpXSGc/w640-h584/CURLEW+GRADED.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Even more magical was the evocative bubbling of a nearby curlew, the plaintive cry of an increasingly rare bird, though still happily nesting in this wildlife haven. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMvVWCXZaO2lxwkHmA6emsSK6Hnt76aVZXgwJloWRdb8WqByOkqP-VJZLU9fZrb-YXN3XqnXN0pd8Q6Fd07HU8p5rkJEIKt67czDTk9I3u1phRf8BnZLaOW7TgK3MeetjKz1jYi7eSkM/s1280/%2527A%2527+LAKE+NORTH+SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1280" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMvVWCXZaO2lxwkHmA6emsSK6Hnt76aVZXgwJloWRdb8WqByOkqP-VJZLU9fZrb-YXN3XqnXN0pd8Q6Fd07HU8p5rkJEIKt67czDTk9I3u1phRf8BnZLaOW7TgK3MeetjKz1jYi7eSkM/w640-h422/%2527A%2527+LAKE+NORTH+SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rBLkD52s9xVtIaaDYtIkp-GSjOzXdJYyji6vUNVMIvQV3eDHzI9nbhBqc3RM08PBX6ttFeRGRCaBuYVecTRDpVJs4s_dDVQ1k61RNsz8dfH4A1CbsmbIWLF5TCLzMvfpHQWEi06WVFU/s2048/MALLARD+%252B+DUCKLINGS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rBLkD52s9xVtIaaDYtIkp-GSjOzXdJYyji6vUNVMIvQV3eDHzI9nbhBqc3RM08PBX6ttFeRGRCaBuYVecTRDpVJs4s_dDVQ1k61RNsz8dfH4A1CbsmbIWLF5TCLzMvfpHQWEi06WVFU/w640-h480/MALLARD+%252B+DUCKLINGS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After all that song I hardly needed to fish because my chosen lake was decorated by many wildfowl and its’ tranquil acres were also large enough to provide the essential mystery that the best fishing requires. The lake is crystal clear, deep in places and very weedy, in fact, a perfect home for tench. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI12AbQ9z7eMxzBBPBwhjm4UxgH1VYvU8i45w-wYW-v4VDM4tBPACqqPLrbfJX18SZSa6ZhHArJkYuwSuHRPt4CxuybALkPP6n0miVSqJFBRqjXzDxBGYf9PRcfkdHcUX-m0tIrP4aTyI/s2048/ROBIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI12AbQ9z7eMxzBBPBwhjm4UxgH1VYvU8i45w-wYW-v4VDM4tBPACqqPLrbfJX18SZSa6ZhHArJkYuwSuHRPt4CxuybALkPP6n0miVSqJFBRqjXzDxBGYf9PRcfkdHcUX-m0tIrP4aTyI/w640-h466/ROBIN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzzd87owPP3Cbt5ukIhhrRbxGSqWgC5BO9aSd5sHRN96aIWEWbIKwyYGh_RvPvLcdBY1JHJfngOGvvryeKjb67JsaJBKlMyQ03saUdUIDc0zQpEwEJxbKx9Y487VbWKS3VcEg8Dqe6HM/s2048/6%253A2+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzzd87owPP3Cbt5ukIhhrRbxGSqWgC5BO9aSd5sHRN96aIWEWbIKwyYGh_RvPvLcdBY1JHJfngOGvvryeKjb67JsaJBKlMyQ03saUdUIDc0zQpEwEJxbKx9Y487VbWKS3VcEg8Dqe6HM/w640-h480/6%253A2+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It also holds large bream, pike and perch, along with a few giant carp which were ancient when I used to fish this lake more than twenty years ago. Their rarity means that I can fish peacefully without the anxiety of my tench tackle being beaten up by a monster.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6PA3l2bGegpbWZuXrbl2bWQLpBvWDiIdqq2lZfKQFPXzm9Lbw8D9tiXGxobxXM9uAHGIqw732u69DT5UQFt9xZl4YdjrDiLkiND-OFYd_8R-tpvhm4cLWGtFzi5AXsBiLYNBTUMFmSQ/s1280/TENCH+BUSH%253F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6PA3l2bGegpbWZuXrbl2bWQLpBvWDiIdqq2lZfKQFPXzm9Lbw8D9tiXGxobxXM9uAHGIqw732u69DT5UQFt9xZl4YdjrDiLkiND-OFYd_8R-tpvhm4cLWGtFzi5AXsBiLYNBTUMFmSQ/w640-h480/TENCH+BUSH%253F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Being past my sell by date, I find that using the fishing methods I enjoy most are more important than catching fish, so instead of casting out the more efficient bolt rigs, I choose a float, dangled delicately below a pole. So my first priority was to find a swim with deep margins that would give me a chance of catching a tench on a long length of space age carbon. I raked the bottom to clear a narrow channel through the weed and hoped the stirred up bugs would attract a snuffling tinca.<br /><br />Nothing happened for hours in spite of intense concentration on the tiny tip of my pole float. In fact it was dusk before bubbles appeared in my baited spot and the morsel of worm on my hook proved too tempting for a hungry tench to ignore. It slowly pulled my float under until I struck and those delightful sensations of contact with a wild creature could be enjoyed, even if tempered by the fear that the line might snap. A violent battle of wills followed as the pole elastic stretched close to breaking point and my anxiety increased. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf2anZsXcBgCWYNXfpA46v6SJhZ4bubnSZbqF7UbFey-VIANGvPNTS3fB10F-Qlw2PBPUQkkebfP7zH6H6ab_W-DS_XR_obyI7OrN6iiBpqfQhO02Zhoq5jq6GolgviY4opkvQsd8bcI/s2048/OFF+SHE+GOES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2048" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf2anZsXcBgCWYNXfpA46v6SJhZ4bubnSZbqF7UbFey-VIANGvPNTS3fB10F-Qlw2PBPUQkkebfP7zH6H6ab_W-DS_XR_obyI7OrN6iiBpqfQhO02Zhoq5jq6GolgviY4opkvQsd8bcI/w640-h444/OFF+SHE+GOES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Tench fight hard for survival but they have no need to be afraid, for within moments of being scooped up in the landing net, my prize was released to swim free, back into its’ watery home. Weighing over five pounds, it was a promising start to my mini holiday and with darkness descending, the lowering of head on pillow followed rapidly, though only after a splash of red wine to celebrate success.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrnQsSnA6gK1FLkjc25QkMtUKwDzw8iZvBkz7z2Ws-l53-8FfXZRTd1BHgRdD5SqpwEUyjusuRwtNg4uL23MfnzYfjnU24Yj1R66pcd3FvKU69Te5rWfnlyhKtedoYt6Ky-nC3EaFQeM/s1280/%2527B%2527+LAKE+SUNRISE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrnQsSnA6gK1FLkjc25QkMtUKwDzw8iZvBkz7z2Ws-l53-8FfXZRTd1BHgRdD5SqpwEUyjusuRwtNg4uL23MfnzYfjnU24Yj1R66pcd3FvKU69Te5rWfnlyhKtedoYt6Ky-nC3EaFQeM/w640-h480/%2527B%2527+LAKE+SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Dawn arrived all too quickly, though more than welcome because of the relentless calling of cuckoos close by as I enjoyed a cuppa and bacon sandwich. Walking to my fishing spot past this wonderful sunrise, several great crested grebes hunted for breakfast and when one came up with a large signal crayfish, I gave a silent cheer.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqshJl5YZxNN4Ex1Qvr9uYI3it0SXaGVx8xUprdr8bNmKJwQlDKMc80BpHjesOUIiJ8LGGC6KUEen4XMT6HgpMVI91Vw6I-q8AvliRdZQDvcXSh56UtnpsFowsqrRVgNdZJ-rK6bol0eM/s579/SIGNAL+CRAYFISH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="579" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqshJl5YZxNN4Ex1Qvr9uYI3it0SXaGVx8xUprdr8bNmKJwQlDKMc80BpHjesOUIiJ8LGGC6KUEen4XMT6HgpMVI91Vw6I-q8AvliRdZQDvcXSh56UtnpsFowsqrRVgNdZJ-rK6bol0eM/w640-h480/SIGNAL+CRAYFISH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6HE_eykpGVVon5dHfX9Q_TmNHEbzY5-liWcS9f-GII-kQf3ZlyoU53JaIX8vT6tiO-vQTJJntqaXxjAzXd1GbmMFycIF-mqetMt-esrOX_34k-i_FGD9EC__8FlgS-2dnWqNAglvjno/s2048/PB+CRAYFISH.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6HE_eykpGVVon5dHfX9Q_TmNHEbzY5-liWcS9f-GII-kQf3ZlyoU53JaIX8vT6tiO-vQTJJntqaXxjAzXd1GbmMFycIF-mqetMt-esrOX_34k-i_FGD9EC__8FlgS-2dnWqNAglvjno/w295-h400/PB+CRAYFISH.jpg" width="295" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />American signal crayfish don’t belong here and they have colonised so many waters that they are now a serious threat to our freshwater biodiversity, so no wonder I was pleased that grebes enjoy eating them.<br /><br /><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIxzFD8rRvx8M5J47K-Rfv0Op22oCUAcJh40w7Jsep3wwbKl0yEAhf0F8Sejsp3zp7eyFzkuSQgyAlpOVe43zka32tiYhAR5jpH5Q3JshLCKBDcm5gBz7kp1n9lAOu-w3VKeQJxcOKek/s1280/GT.CR.GREBE+PAIR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIxzFD8rRvx8M5J47K-Rfv0Op22oCUAcJh40w7Jsep3wwbKl0yEAhf0F8Sejsp3zp7eyFzkuSQgyAlpOVe43zka32tiYhAR5jpH5Q3JshLCKBDcm5gBz7kp1n9lAOu-w3VKeQJxcOKek/w640-h480/GT.CR.GREBE+PAIR.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Several pairs of grebes nest on the two lakes but one close to my swim was having a terrible time with one rapacious crow. Every time she laid an egg on her waterlogged nest, this particular crow was watching and as soon as the female grebe went off to fish, he’d be down to snatch the precious egg. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH0QTONGcOQRzQy0zyQ2hV2xKN3fAN-4WCpSJ7BkAh9UnOT1oiTgrRk0vqJrdFON8s9V1aWWIugdhKdE232-2vr27_5NvW0MVQNyfWSR9T4tCvqQs6tE-iuEMmpgMSFNnYrJ1G9e9Yh4/s1759/GT.C.GREBE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1759" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH0QTONGcOQRzQy0zyQ2hV2xKN3fAN-4WCpSJ7BkAh9UnOT1oiTgrRk0vqJrdFON8s9V1aWWIugdhKdE232-2vr27_5NvW0MVQNyfWSR9T4tCvqQs6tE-iuEMmpgMSFNnYrJ1G9e9Yh4/w640-h486/GT.C.GREBE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The crow and his mate terrorised the neighbourhood, wiping out many mallard, moorhen and grebe nests. They were also notorious for stealing anglers bait and on several occasions I had cause to chase them off. <br /><br />However, when we reported their nest robbing greed to the local game-keeper their days were numbered … and now the pair of grebes have relaid eggs safely and are raising their family unmolested. There are some notable conservationist that think we shouldn’t ‘remove’ any predators but with so many vulnerable species declining alarmingly, I believe we need to find a balance so that every living creature has a chance to recover their numbers, not least the lowly moorhen.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipS0u_vLwgbeMMe5yjG5pxH4E3rLUnrpRuelDhfO7MHu194EeLfIK6acFr8jFtTGbSuMu3R_wf9Zx28BbDu-hXOWWP3KhVjaI3HkhfOudETJ4UkqpEjexxWv8GUqy6MGoZUIZz_JYhhHU/s2048/MOORHEN+SUN+BATHING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipS0u_vLwgbeMMe5yjG5pxH4E3rLUnrpRuelDhfO7MHu194EeLfIK6acFr8jFtTGbSuMu3R_wf9Zx28BbDu-hXOWWP3KhVjaI3HkhfOudETJ4UkqpEjexxWv8GUqy6MGoZUIZz_JYhhHU/w640-h480/MOORHEN+SUN+BATHING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJcjiVNOFV4lVvWUll7ouxvUKNEoXVETRFDJbDERw1ibKTT_Zwpq8KWU254taEjPr-Nm4l3vu1wmEnxuF5KMyh_STpJKJqiSTloHkPtZfT8xDPMyHOrKFcqtTtT6CCIeuGjAQbFrsGA4/s1629/C+DRYING+WINGS+CU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1629" data-original-width="1545" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJcjiVNOFV4lVvWUll7ouxvUKNEoXVETRFDJbDERw1ibKTT_Zwpq8KWU254taEjPr-Nm4l3vu1wmEnxuF5KMyh_STpJKJqiSTloHkPtZfT8xDPMyHOrKFcqtTtT6CCIeuGjAQbFrsGA4/w379-h400/C+DRYING+WINGS+CU.jpg" width="379" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />As for our fishy wildlife, the annual invasion of 40,000 cormorants from abroad are a nightmare and are seriously depleting fish stocks in so many freshwaters, to the detriment of other hunters such as grebes, herons, little egrets and even otters. <span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, all of these still thrive where I’m fishing so that I’m able to enjoy their competition.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP3g7A42nryM8OWIy7caw2mAFwIigYz7eFsf-BmRvsvKSiCGTwhPSjRh32dEjVK78hOcl8qMiGTA_f4uyZEAv0Ztq4ZRhlBqNIV5ok3ePuwu4QMvqqbnoMyFu0nbUVybNExtHS2w-SWA/s921/OTTER+CU+EATING+FISH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="921" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP3g7A42nryM8OWIy7caw2mAFwIigYz7eFsf-BmRvsvKSiCGTwhPSjRh32dEjVK78hOcl8qMiGTA_f4uyZEAv0Ztq4ZRhlBqNIV5ok3ePuwu4QMvqqbnoMyFu0nbUVybNExtHS2w-SWA/w640-h426/OTTER+CU+EATING+FISH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>On a couple of days a great white egret came fishing for frogs opposite my spot and it’s statuesque size impressed me as it stalked the lake edges. It towered over the ducks below them, though the mallard weren’t as impressed as I and took no notice. It’s exciting that every year, this rare birds numbers are increasing, so even global warming has a plus side!<br /><br /><br />The next pic is of a duck I didn’t even recognise, though it looks like a cross between a goldeneye and an American bufflehead. I’m guessing it’s a crossbreed from someone’s wildfowl collection but maybe a reader can identify it as I always find it exciting putting names to rare birds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoltxOmxZXwimJS17D_zCpJ8mkdbulaM1YeZZJE7jULQW0CtS-mqIzeySzOgz02UDw8KestavU-KPWz9qowSIg39-UHeDHGd7AWwo32wDTZrIzLW4xHUxWHiwVQR4vVKfG3qNPrmC0Ebg/s1280/RARE+DUCK%253F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1280" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoltxOmxZXwimJS17D_zCpJ8mkdbulaM1YeZZJE7jULQW0CtS-mqIzeySzOgz02UDw8KestavU-KPWz9qowSIg39-UHeDHGd7AWwo32wDTZrIzLW4xHUxWHiwVQR4vVKfG3qNPrmC0Ebg/w640-h486/RARE+DUCK%253F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2MXIYlWwuarGjXhsAV18gmn1EYbSxB1sbDYh-3BzLdHGlORA_4fTV5xhY-EIIvhDB-MCU4ZU0B3JWojOyt2ufwxoGppz6UY45Xts4wUlrPtbI0xqc0bDpgJh1ybezJzOTla6h9IUmhU/s2048/HUNGRY+MALLARD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2MXIYlWwuarGjXhsAV18gmn1EYbSxB1sbDYh-3BzLdHGlORA_4fTV5xhY-EIIvhDB-MCU4ZU0B3JWojOyt2ufwxoGppz6UY45Xts4wUlrPtbI0xqc0bDpgJh1ybezJzOTla6h9IUmhU/w640-h480/HUNGRY+MALLARD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The lake is a magnet for many species of duck and at risk of making a list, there were numerous mallard and tufted ducks, a few gadwall, a pair of shoveler to go with those regular waterfowl, coots and moorhens along with several exotic looking red-crested pochard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd3kyNPFnSbdAVC0kDHyWCfXEAfxb77iil2BXY83tIQm0wyHtGsYnfs4RBrDR90vQPhSDL67CxILaoBNtO9KKcvwpRybXS_lUp2Su6dDUs7_keIbCWHJD75ULNgJ82cxK6_AukKs2bSQ/s1280/RED-CRESTED+POCHARD+PAIR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1280" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd3kyNPFnSbdAVC0kDHyWCfXEAfxb77iil2BXY83tIQm0wyHtGsYnfs4RBrDR90vQPhSDL67CxILaoBNtO9KKcvwpRybXS_lUp2Su6dDUs7_keIbCWHJD75ULNgJ82cxK6_AukKs2bSQ/w640-h466/RED-CRESTED+POCHARD+PAIR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There were also numerous geese, not just the Canadas with their impressive creches of up to seventeen young but Egyptian geese too which, like the cormorants are all foreigners.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jguIywEUdXL0cQRLfrki-LVRAqsirdsqEy8ToBoWQynhe9SQTUEwFdqkAP-i-68-CtPEDdLBYFtvbDiP_KTEwoMCwXjGF261JBjJNkw3mj4AcANBKlZPA-oQTP5qpnMi9iEMM9LAYzQ/s1280/SCENIC+OF+RODS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jguIywEUdXL0cQRLfrki-LVRAqsirdsqEy8ToBoWQynhe9SQTUEwFdqkAP-i-68-CtPEDdLBYFtvbDiP_KTEwoMCwXjGF261JBjJNkw3mj4AcANBKlZPA-oQTP5qpnMi9iEMM9LAYzQ/w640-h480/SCENIC+OF+RODS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />While admiring all this wildlife, I had reverted to the more modern technique of using ledger tackle at range in order to add to my tally of tench, so clipping up my rods and spombing at seven wraps, I fished either a maggot heli rig on one, a worm kebab on another, then an in-line rig on the third. However, I didn’t use all three at once, especially as I had rigged my float rod with a waggler to fish at the bottom of the nearside shelf and this required intense concentration.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrTgCYD_JvcNYzhuQN0paFCi0oSsXfwFO8tnmRhfztrrqMATmp2z1hIdpR_XfJ_bMyXp_Mi7VywckpTHCj_mjQx6Xf9K08EfUMSi36zFlZ6_VWxh6yE0_9V_aVaFNZ8nGaAN0_iWmlmU/s1280/TENCH+-+5%253A14+MALE+ON+APRIL+14TH+%252721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrTgCYD_JvcNYzhuQN0paFCi0oSsXfwFO8tnmRhfztrrqMATmp2z1hIdpR_XfJ_bMyXp_Mi7VywckpTHCj_mjQx6Xf9K08EfUMSi36zFlZ6_VWxh6yE0_9V_aVaFNZ8nGaAN0_iWmlmU/w640-h480/TENCH+-+5%253A14+MALE+ON+APRIL+14TH+%252721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />All these techniques produced some tench, even when challenged by the cold spring weather and the line was freezing in the rod rings. I thought I must be mad tench fishing in such weather and I guess I was but a little madness is part of the disease that afflicts all of us passionate anglers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67sk9lHZeEWf16ieAeLCy-McCmY-k7LKbVck4kFBjxiAa-0u56liZU_JSDNN-bzarz7GvVKFyA7FEDgo6LjivObUHrY2uiQCZQZz7ROtXo2VyVv66La5FXmUucFSSetrfr1eMjazUZA/s2048/DAN+LOOKING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1378" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67sk9lHZeEWf16ieAeLCy-McCmY-k7LKbVck4kFBjxiAa-0u56liZU_JSDNN-bzarz7GvVKFyA7FEDgo6LjivObUHrY2uiQCZQZz7ROtXo2VyVv66La5FXmUucFSSetrfr1eMjazUZA/w430-h640/DAN+LOOKING.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br />In spite of the cold spring the birding remained as good as ever, the highlights being the birds of prey, for buzzards were building a nest in the willows beyond my swim, a pair of kestrels likewise nearby and frequent sparrow hawks but the fear of god into the blackcaps and long tailed tits, though on one bizarre occasion, I watched a cuckoo chasing the hawk along the side of the lake.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0Z4zJt_FTKu4Hh6DsLWQKr68PUaHmz7aweGBVoRcV2NzilZpJSiNWny0GBYYYYxbQWihjuY9T13L9LxJ10gF2g_MxHuLR1s3eY3g4YmviKvTBtGq8ZjcQ5WSyA5ud0g7N8VFtJrxz2k/s1280/GOSHAWK+CU+-+GRADED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0Z4zJt_FTKu4Hh6DsLWQKr68PUaHmz7aweGBVoRcV2NzilZpJSiNWny0GBYYYYxbQWihjuY9T13L9LxJ10gF2g_MxHuLR1s3eY3g4YmviKvTBtGq8ZjcQ5WSyA5ud0g7N8VFtJrxz2k/w640-h428/GOSHAWK+CU+-+GRADED.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />One of the greatest and most unlikely highlights </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">one sunny evening </span>was a pair of goshawks displaying right over my head and given how few big woods there are that are suitable for them to nest in the area, it was hardly believable. However, I had spent two years making a goshawk film around Britain for ITV which sold all over the world, so I was not mistaken. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVfaPl32XGtJG-Yr3eXDFnlPMF5ZqQ5PlKLRS8czWMabp0yTGJ8Odh-7zNFC0h6-brtdzyobom9o5o_kepuOfitFIGtmzaRWaf7LiR4TzdJRTuSHOagG4xgUBnvFiXe79AUemACu1Yc/s1280/GOSHAWK+-+FEMALE+DISPLAY+IN+BOOK+-+GRADED.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="973" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVfaPl32XGtJG-Yr3eXDFnlPMF5ZqQ5PlKLRS8czWMabp0yTGJ8Odh-7zNFC0h6-brtdzyobom9o5o_kepuOfitFIGtmzaRWaf7LiR4TzdJRTuSHOagG4xgUBnvFiXe79AUemACu1Yc/w304-h400/GOSHAWK+-+FEMALE+DISPLAY+IN+BOOK+-+GRADED.jpg" width="304" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />My bird of prey book shows how the female's undertail-coverts are fanned out when displaying and the pair I watched were making a good show of it just above me, the best I had ever seen in spite of two years filming them. The male with a rat below clearly shows it's fanned undertail feathers too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorX_vjwRrXeo8ffYJ-NhLynaYS_fv60v6rCaVsnXY019jAXHp3kyQSUFNMWMRQ5fhMZSGFsS0pRx5JE54tNxcO9pyDpDtyUbZ_X3Q5epLsAIdSO-Gk2kUmY2tUW3cuXxfSUNjckOtPO8/s1280/GOSHAWK+%252B+RAT+-+GRADED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1280" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorX_vjwRrXeo8ffYJ-NhLynaYS_fv60v6rCaVsnXY019jAXHp3kyQSUFNMWMRQ5fhMZSGFsS0pRx5JE54tNxcO9pyDpDtyUbZ_X3Q5epLsAIdSO-Gk2kUmY2tUW3cuXxfSUNjckOtPO8/w640-h496/GOSHAWK+%252B+RAT+-+GRADED.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">While all this bird action was going on, the cuckoos continued to drive the reed warblers mad with their nest scullduggery and as they flew back and forth across the lake, they serenaded me relentlessly. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6YLcVdEajIr71s3nHUCfEQULcmA2MFuWOrUDnntMeiqQM2uM_ROrpvov5rnH5pGIybLkK_o-CUUXUEnOnINk2Djc-eGwaXtutPirtiDD_B7hi4uyCUD6F-2VkONVE_546KoA_VbdbZ8/s1280/CUCKOO+CHICK+FED+BY+REED+WARBLER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6YLcVdEajIr71s3nHUCfEQULcmA2MFuWOrUDnntMeiqQM2uM_ROrpvov5rnH5pGIybLkK_o-CUUXUEnOnINk2Djc-eGwaXtutPirtiDD_B7hi4uyCUD6F-2VkONVE_546KoA_VbdbZ8/w448-h640/CUCKOO+CHICK+FED+BY+REED+WARBLER.jpg" width="448" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Dragonflies were numerous too, beautiful as well and inevitably as the spring moved on, hobbies were attracted and performed their acrobatic manoeuvres as they caught their lunch with outstretched talons. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxy4liWRxmyG8qLB_odff7xBulnMp8ABxUaPCu5L7DiXManSKR_MeiwUvDo8sp9eSkB8k9bgKSGTkFSQKYn2muoxdQXUYViVxvAnFT2VU5Y6uP004WY2vV3z8tsFaH_Zkk_WWNsR476Q/s1280/FOUR+SPOT+CHASER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1280" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxy4liWRxmyG8qLB_odff7xBulnMp8ABxUaPCu5L7DiXManSKR_MeiwUvDo8sp9eSkB8k9bgKSGTkFSQKYn2muoxdQXUYViVxvAnFT2VU5Y6uP004WY2vV3z8tsFaH_Zkk_WWNsR476Q/w640-h532/FOUR+SPOT+CHASER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This marvelous painting was created by Rodger Mcphail for our 'Passion for Angling' book and should have been in colour of course, but for some inexpicable reason, the budget conscious BBC decided that bl/wt would do. Wrong!<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTypv_xWtmcPixKzfqF2J5R8-riwe30SuKYQrWlcFzlDbPqYRr0VPf3KjDtW2GUdQ6hO8CHKi9igWF8Sj9CkRiHLzU14OlIFBRlIvasYSeGFRxRZAnTLTnFebKy-grB0S5BAC9ZuH9riU/s1280/HOBBY+CHASES+DRAGONS+-+BL%253AWT+-+RODGER+MCPHAIL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1280" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTypv_xWtmcPixKzfqF2J5R8-riwe30SuKYQrWlcFzlDbPqYRr0VPf3KjDtW2GUdQ6hO8CHKi9igWF8Sj9CkRiHLzU14OlIFBRlIvasYSeGFRxRZAnTLTnFebKy-grB0S5BAC9ZuH9riU/w640-h498/HOBBY+CHASES+DRAGONS+-+BL%253AWT+-+RODGER+MCPHAIL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What a delight all these birds were, especially that even when distracted, I still managed to catch several tench up to a little over seven pounds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAwjs7FdFT24W1D_B6OqtNl9b2zIIwTSW3Bwq6wbkq32XbnA9awiYVfCM2EhRhnj2Kunk2Pfg6dU1YxLZZLyeyrA04daeIwnuiPCkdlGY_IpS56wRpKoHm2oTtYC0jpOpT8_M1mw0VIM/s1280/TENCH+-+6%253A10+FEMALE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1280" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAwjs7FdFT24W1D_B6OqtNl9b2zIIwTSW3Bwq6wbkq32XbnA9awiYVfCM2EhRhnj2Kunk2Pfg6dU1YxLZZLyeyrA04daeIwnuiPCkdlGY_IpS56wRpKoHm2oTtYC0jpOpT8_M1mw0VIM/w640-h460/TENCH+-+6%253A10+FEMALE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I suppose I should also mention the big bream, for I caught six, four of which were over nine pounds to a best of exactly ten pounds. I won't show that one as I don't want to upset you with it's ugliness, so this nine and a half pounder will have to do.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfOA8kf9dCKNXU4vcGAtM19Ei1dW5yXuboePgJ4_D_CtLb2fGJjvNzPSdnWUJBZirhAP9cOa7gTKFw_HrRbCTf1jUvXbUrfXG6x9Y0cP2gn4Bk1Rb8O8U9meXjJ4vd0muUgrk-Iaxhqo/s1280/9LB+7OZ+BREAM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfOA8kf9dCKNXU4vcGAtM19Ei1dW5yXuboePgJ4_D_CtLb2fGJjvNzPSdnWUJBZirhAP9cOa7gTKFw_HrRbCTf1jUvXbUrfXG6x9Y0cP2gn4Bk1Rb8O8U9meXjJ4vd0muUgrk-Iaxhqo/w640-h480/9LB+7OZ+BREAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYZqA-yI45YRY9w2P9kYaYzENQkPfFum0wQjAduAnzbDVAMFkN8G7bI6IqT1daM_lNcL1ROl5zwpzX7nv11INtjnCiu6dJvT4dV_e5WIfSwuehVJIQKoGEtPy5pJLVlpw97DBn1rSoEs/s1280/STORM+APPROACHING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYZqA-yI45YRY9w2P9kYaYzENQkPfFum0wQjAduAnzbDVAMFkN8G7bI6IqT1daM_lNcL1ROl5zwpzX7nv11INtjnCiu6dJvT4dV_e5WIfSwuehVJIQKoGEtPy5pJLVlpw97DBn1rSoEs/w640-h480/STORM+APPROACHING.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>On many afternoons, the skies were full of swallows and house martins as they hawked for insects on their way to more northern lands and the banks of storm clouds heralded fleets of swifts sweeping the weather fronts for the masses of flying food. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBn_UC8f907_9ve9i0Xd_yxYelwScbQxrvuJ9kj6Ml1XpYlvpViOXs0PkCP-To1t3y1A4j9kIwxxTyUdxhhbQaFGEyHnovG4_AxqwJaS0aMtowKQwnPl1HhVKXuqIeVj-c6L6UAToZLs/s1280/RED+KITE+UP+IN+TREE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBn_UC8f907_9ve9i0Xd_yxYelwScbQxrvuJ9kj6Ml1XpYlvpViOXs0PkCP-To1t3y1A4j9kIwxxTyUdxhhbQaFGEyHnovG4_AxqwJaS0aMtowKQwnPl1HhVKXuqIeVj-c6L6UAToZLs/w640-h434/RED+KITE+UP+IN+TREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There were red kites passing by too, and given they were so rare when I was a boyhood birder searching for them in the oak woods of central Wales, it’s always a highlight of the year when I see these most graceful flyers. What’s more, their transition from rare to common just proves that not all wildlife bird news is bad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaxsXFQNDZHpVjjdOyRKNs1z6N-IA_cw5Fj9CvP_HOpL35ZWkvJd9QZ-IRjAiashSZsH68y42_nDEWaRN4HGdFuJfy59fU98rJsKoE5eozzDWHWApthfwlLyNe5VtfSzQ60k7Sv-hZ2o/s1280/RED+KITE+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaxsXFQNDZHpVjjdOyRKNs1z6N-IA_cw5Fj9CvP_HOpL35ZWkvJd9QZ-IRjAiashSZsH68y42_nDEWaRN4HGdFuJfy59fU98rJsKoE5eozzDWHWApthfwlLyNe5VtfSzQ60k7Sv-hZ2o/w640-h442/RED+KITE+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-9lt3vhbw3LoMUul3Rx6X_9s66KblZem695nqOcVMdu1Jlccm9aZooB6J_yFEMHZCFknTu0K_cdbVSL8OBqPS8BJN86L6E61iJDIGtTYiq1zpfcU3qaH2LM5oC-xOgXpOzxs7eBrb24/s2048/MARK+WITH+5%253A14+MALE+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2048" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-9lt3vhbw3LoMUul3Rx6X_9s66KblZem695nqOcVMdu1Jlccm9aZooB6J_yFEMHZCFknTu0K_cdbVSL8OBqPS8BJN86L6E61iJDIGtTYiq1zpfcU3qaH2LM5oC-xOgXpOzxs7eBrb24/w640-h484/MARK+WITH+5%253A14+MALE+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was not alone in my enjoyment of the lakes and their wildlife because friends Mark Woodage and John Costello fished nearby and so we were able to share our success’s and bemoan our failures, which were many! When it comes to big fish, I’m a lightweight and preferred to fish what is considered to be the ‘easier’ of the two lakes but Mark and John are proper anglers and fished the larger and weedier lake.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KToeT2b12ULoJaJDNaWkhxsVFYWWCTzGdQchPkmnIxmCcf5UwxN_P55JKuNEA0KYtWDjL6xPyxEaMW014VqhFUuwzVDB8w9O07nSu0Y2ptWQhA32dAqYAZRXuD8GMqz-zSnmpU_WpaA/s1280/THE+PIER+SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KToeT2b12ULoJaJDNaWkhxsVFYWWCTzGdQchPkmnIxmCcf5UwxN_P55JKuNEA0KYtWDjL6xPyxEaMW014VqhFUuwzVDB8w9O07nSu0Y2ptWQhA32dAqYAZRXuD8GMqz-zSnmpU_WpaA/w640-h480/THE+PIER+SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />They had to wait a lot longer for a bite and even if their tench were bigger, I like action and argued that size doesn’t matter. I don’t believe that for a minute of course and even after sixty years of fishing, I’m still waiting for my first double figure tench so tried this 'pier' swim on the 'hard lake' for three days and never had a bite! It's a beautiful spot to blank though, isn't it.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzhAPDV6DQxeFigdwSU1GfV2UVe6jDXFPqsSbI5WhfDKt-vnyA6cRraSYyRWlGylfMl4s8l-EufZjLsAvPor9MsZzzVF9s-KuV365Z5d64sk-GLIgRYIeuSgi0GCWXhby44-Nsg_Wkwk/s2048/U%253AW+OF+FIGHTING+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzhAPDV6DQxeFigdwSU1GfV2UVe6jDXFPqsSbI5WhfDKt-vnyA6cRraSYyRWlGylfMl4s8l-EufZjLsAvPor9MsZzzVF9s-KuV365Z5d64sk-GLIgRYIeuSgi0GCWXhby44-Nsg_Wkwk/w640-h486/U%253AW+OF+FIGHTING+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Mark caught tench to an impressive 8lb15ozs and John to a little over eight, so after many biteless hours and days, the boys did well. Sharing our catches along with lots of story-telling and leg-pulling is such an important part of the the joy of angling, so their presence made each day memorable.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOlhI9JMUKDljxlkDcIYNAwEkCQHGfj1sgsodK48DqSnQ2WztT4_JG4d7zpSBdGT99Q1MX6z7YBu8C3N6jzYLL1j47OVchh0xvkh_zDaG8XkZSezAvOuVItnt-uZto7ZxJTgKGBfmjjA/s2048/JOHN+COSTELLO+-+THAMESMEAD+-+7-15+TENCH.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOlhI9JMUKDljxlkDcIYNAwEkCQHGfj1sgsodK48DqSnQ2WztT4_JG4d7zpSBdGT99Q1MX6z7YBu8C3N6jzYLL1j47OVchh0xvkh_zDaG8XkZSezAvOuVItnt-uZto7ZxJTgKGBfmjjA/w640-h430/JOHN+COSTELLO+-+THAMESMEAD+-+7-15+TENCH.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />One more surprise swam up to me one damp evening when ripples suggested an otter was approaching but the binoculars revealed a beaver! I have filmed them in the States but never seen them in Britain and never even knew they existed in the Cotswold Water Park, so I was surprised and delighted, especially when it chewed some willow branches close by, as if to confirm that I was not hallucinating and this was no fish eating otter. It seems that we’ll all be getting used to seeing beavers more frequently in the future, though judging whether this is going to be a good thing or not is a debate for another time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR6a_3V6j-t3ZWdK_QDU5BWHD_vanR8mtF6Sk75L-_nyxY2tlncZ-d0Ra0g9g3FA5WIjw4YR2aaBtGZJfGRlk-P0JtATCOIEj5FS8xrYpXtbag9fTp-aonBFpAvVjA_-0jA-FwgCqyVU/s384/Bittern+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="384" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR6a_3V6j-t3ZWdK_QDU5BWHD_vanR8mtF6Sk75L-_nyxY2tlncZ-d0Ra0g9g3FA5WIjw4YR2aaBtGZJfGRlk-P0JtATCOIEj5FS8xrYpXtbag9fTp-aonBFpAvVjA_-0jA-FwgCqyVU/w400-h281/Bittern+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Drifting off to sleep that night, I could here the distant calls of a bittern and had to pinch myself to ensure that I wasn’t dreaming. However, much of what I had enjoyed there this summer was indeed like a dream come true and goes to prove that there is more to fishing than catching fish.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHkswhFms0f6Jdp4Vz5hYBR0c3aVwpn3bf4uGKzgYIjz-mpQPllYpbxP5J06tPOj0ZSo0KMzs5WzLGqOANFqalYW80JCd2V0SpJGOfGlUGOi7oXCvwCCZG6nyxIAxCzOEGGb6QCCFFfg/s2048/TENCH+RETURNING+HOME.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2048" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHkswhFms0f6Jdp4Vz5hYBR0c3aVwpn3bf4uGKzgYIjz-mpQPllYpbxP5J06tPOj0ZSo0KMzs5WzLGqOANFqalYW80JCd2V0SpJGOfGlUGOi7oXCvwCCZG6nyxIAxCzOEGGb6QCCFFfg/w640-h574/TENCH+RETURNING+HOME.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><p></p><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-4331152315255232042021-10-03T18:55:00.004+01:002021-10-04T08:25:01.556+01:00CATCHING FOR CANCER<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> - FIRST CAST -</b></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGRO7sowB9XJQ7aQzPlZqV9TnhutZm8mcGXp_psAqMr1_IL1reuijD8Up2X5YlQhuEacWjWPKgDgLJoX_cKuiI7cJSEVxztALZbH4W30ASDv_0G4CHN_RqYjs-WH-gMujQAmo90F5m78/s2048/CANCER+MIKE%252C+CHRIS+AND+GEORGE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGRO7sowB9XJQ7aQzPlZqV9TnhutZm8mcGXp_psAqMr1_IL1reuijD8Up2X5YlQhuEacWjWPKgDgLJoX_cKuiI7cJSEVxztALZbH4W30ASDv_0G4CHN_RqYjs-WH-gMujQAmo90F5m78/w640-h480/CANCER+MIKE%252C+CHRIS+AND+GEORGE.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Anglers have a well deserved reputation for money raising for charities and non more so than for the one that I became an enthusiastic supporter of this year, <b>“A BITE OUT OF CANCER”</b>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB1Y88smlGftZk446asc0HIKYTMUyGA9b4ntqlipiw0J3HJjZyN2uEIpbl-_ZzKx-Mwn1iN-sOAkWsn1qczGWWr5LDsoy3u9kDAl2J3O7jssM5UPAFG8qhxO0CWRgi14zrd8pQYt32J8/s2589/P1050986.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2589" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB1Y88smlGftZk446asc0HIKYTMUyGA9b4ntqlipiw0J3HJjZyN2uEIpbl-_ZzKx-Mwn1iN-sOAkWsn1qczGWWr5LDsoy3u9kDAl2J3O7jssM5UPAFG8qhxO0CWRgi14zrd8pQYt32J8/w640-h301/P1050986.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhy1rOo8wPVqzmu9kSyC6SeGEjFXZJKY9u_zwvRkVQYdC6V79ckmQL-PiBJCBI3eQs5oSrsu7epLrcMBBez9-XKRpBrvc7WLq2VR3aIJf3AY8vckOIrTH4pXHmhfIRqn-LLIZLuBqM5I/s2048/CANCER+MIKE+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhy1rOo8wPVqzmu9kSyC6SeGEjFXZJKY9u_zwvRkVQYdC6V79ckmQL-PiBJCBI3eQs5oSrsu7epLrcMBBez9-XKRpBrvc7WLq2VR3aIJf3AY8vckOIrTH4pXHmhfIRqn-LLIZLuBqM5I/w640-h480/CANCER+MIKE+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the brain child of mad keen angler Mike Smith, who sadly lost his father to the disease. This proved to be a catalyst for his simple but inspired idea which encourages supporters who catch a good fish to then contribute a pound sterling for every pound the fish weighs. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0_qCMBJJyySxak5uXv9c9UB_lq_vfEZXdc_GhyRMzOvxdWpNP2lLjQvnylceF7_RvQiH2to3iOzAwispZSZsroPOMJ1VHLHEQcqz2xQbr_1cMpCRHRmCEYO92yuklCpKzRqoEi5vGgU/s1280/GEORGE+WITH+GIANT+CARP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1269" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0_qCMBJJyySxak5uXv9c9UB_lq_vfEZXdc_GhyRMzOvxdWpNP2lLjQvnylceF7_RvQiH2to3iOzAwispZSZsroPOMJ1VHLHEQcqz2xQbr_1cMpCRHRmCEYO92yuklCpKzRqoEi5vGgU/w396-h400/GEORGE+WITH+GIANT+CARP.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It’s a win win result, for anglers have a splendid fish to celebrate and all the proceeds of their success are given to <u><b>Cancer Research UK</b></u>, thus giving them more funds to fight this awful disease. I’ve lost several good friends to cancer and most of us have probably suffered the sad loss of friends or family too, so this simple idea of Mike’s is helping to save the lives of our loved ones. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Impressed by his idea, I encouraged many of my friends to support such a worthy cause, including the Angling Trust’s leader Jamie Cooke, along with Martin Salter, Martin Bowler and not least, the legendary Chris Yates himself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xZwhnViXNHb3PlmcMa51DzRy3n402yu63wpy_Z9cLkJiBlawVkCMR1cljDworQp4llKefS-YN7Pt_K3geOJkH0LKr4rw9MO2ASytKxC0lDOQ16AkurDDP05tPNo5fpgVNobSWxWU9B8/s2048/CANCER+MIKE+AND+CHRIS+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xZwhnViXNHb3PlmcMa51DzRy3n402yu63wpy_Z9cLkJiBlawVkCMR1cljDworQp4llKefS-YN7Pt_K3geOJkH0LKr4rw9MO2ASytKxC0lDOQ16AkurDDP05tPNo5fpgVNobSWxWU9B8/w640-h480/CANCER+MIKE+AND+CHRIS+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />Mike was keen to meet Chris Yates and share a days fishing with him, so one of the managers of the charity George Frost arranged for a days social at the Wimborne and Districts’ Pinnock tench and crucian lakes.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrI9-kRYg1exS9s4wObNIfjkFQZ4XCeA6OVY4HHNYJUfs0uagBtryahAIZNvanGVbuALVjrAwiNVpOYg-tYXR7B_fmjTJnse4qPF0v0Eq1nrznOjrnVUBi0oeKWpw2D_uN1QTmzXZ45M/s2048/CANCER+GEORGE+AND+CHRIS+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrI9-kRYg1exS9s4wObNIfjkFQZ4XCeA6OVY4HHNYJUfs0uagBtryahAIZNvanGVbuALVjrAwiNVpOYg-tYXR7B_fmjTJnse4qPF0v0Eq1nrznOjrnVUBi0oeKWpw2D_uN1QTmzXZ45M/w640-h480/CANCER+GEORGE+AND+CHRIS+%252B+TENCH.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It’s a delightful spot for a dangle and we all caught lots of fish, though Chris didn't fish, concentrating instead on ensuring that Mike and George were both able to gaze down on a beautiful bar of gold. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy_Btt3x1YMqOFRkDiEcsElVYF9YMdPGGn0anezbQaIkQ_FI6EPaF4erlD0j9wu5MKO4h7yZl34-xyOz7tze2ciLAmLPs6-TMY2RmuHNgxqmkPQD4RbPbYYpoScb-Uv6eMbAFc6Ql2A8/s1280/BAR+OF+GOLD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy_Btt3x1YMqOFRkDiEcsElVYF9YMdPGGn0anezbQaIkQ_FI6EPaF4erlD0j9wu5MKO4h7yZl34-xyOz7tze2ciLAmLPs6-TMY2RmuHNgxqmkPQD4RbPbYYpoScb-Uv6eMbAFc6Ql2A8/w640-h480/BAR+OF+GOLD.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />At present, most of the fish that are contributing to cancer research are carp, but as many of these weigh upwards of thirty to forty pounds, the coffers fill up quickly, though Mike makes it clear that all fish species can contribute, even small ones, because as they say, ‘every penny counts’. We also contributed some copies of our book 'A Passion for Angling' for auction to help raise more funds and will continue to encourage everyone to contribute.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDbzO1w_QF6HjAP86t77MPgnD35glIF2vfyixKWo2k_XGBR3e9xJu-1fUl_8x7kQoA8QO8yAZYkVgVQ-nJaoc8VklZeRFhbpsk1FLGB-f2h5cp5B79fFb7sAX5eCRg9qSvuhVjObUXCI/s2048/PASSION+CREW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDbzO1w_QF6HjAP86t77MPgnD35glIF2vfyixKWo2k_XGBR3e9xJu-1fUl_8x7kQoA8QO8yAZYkVgVQ-nJaoc8VklZeRFhbpsk1FLGB-f2h5cp5B79fFb7sAX5eCRg9qSvuhVjObUXCI/w640-h462/PASSION+CREW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62AzN93Y7_YuKIDikRPR5J_LpmY-aJgHpKQjjBvdWcNxMKP2F-YxjhfO0gIDKHX7XAnruvYJfd5xZAhStt2bssqRlgN_VA2Aexgjf8rJ17QiO19uIJIkAyjThUd7H3itDdFGmMjFX1Zg/s2048/CANCER+CHRIS+LIGHTS+KELLY.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62AzN93Y7_YuKIDikRPR5J_LpmY-aJgHpKQjjBvdWcNxMKP2F-YxjhfO0gIDKHX7XAnruvYJfd5xZAhStt2bssqRlgN_VA2Aexgjf8rJ17QiO19uIJIkAyjThUd7H3itDdFGmMjFX1Zg/w300-h400/CANCER+CHRIS+LIGHTS+KELLY.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No days fishing is complete without enjoying Chris's Kelly Kettle tea and my wife Sue's Victoria sponge and this made for a perfect end to a memorable day. I hope, like Chris and I, you will catch a big fish and contribute to this vital </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">and life-saving work. <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpLYvrHMvHUKll091NfQYXrSHkZvIxXnHGG5gP-IeGib2gzOUjhzjyc6fQ3n0X8y1fGPeojIXZP3Ao799hjgMiwq2oXp6QEB6Y-33cItot_M8YqNMG3eQ6MrNLXYzJY5BWivK2gAFSow/s2048/CANCER+-+CHRIS+Y%252C+GEORGE+AND+HM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpLYvrHMvHUKll091NfQYXrSHkZvIxXnHGG5gP-IeGib2gzOUjhzjyc6fQ3n0X8y1fGPeojIXZP3Ao799hjgMiwq2oXp6QEB6Y-33cItot_M8YqNMG3eQ6MrNLXYzJY5BWivK2gAFSow/w640-h480/CANCER+-+CHRIS+Y%252C+GEORGE+AND+HM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The charity has now exceeded their first target of an impressive , £26,000 and their next target is an eye watering £42,000, so we’d better get out there catching big fish to help <u><b>Cancer Research UK</b></u> via Mike's splendid initiative "A Bite Out of Cancer".<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> - SECOND CAST -</b></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9fnGsrmK-53dVgV0X95XB5zSoI8gYtbPPjsEHmdbWkexWv5Jc3Z8FGORGSTghi3j7qJP9Bco-_CmneDunjUwJh6s1SgMcD9yPmyYNju5A-tpIHj4VpdRygFq6vM0e0Z9gjTKRUYcB7Y/s960/JACK+PERKS+IN+DIVING+GEAR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9fnGsrmK-53dVgV0X95XB5zSoI8gYtbPPjsEHmdbWkexWv5Jc3Z8FGORGSTghi3j7qJP9Bco-_CmneDunjUwJh6s1SgMcD9yPmyYNju5A-tpIHj4VpdRygFq6vM0e0Z9gjTKRUYcB7Y/w480-h640/JACK+PERKS+IN+DIVING+GEAR.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Chris and I were also asked to help raise money for another admirable cause, the making of a film about fish for that angling champion, Jack Perks. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Raising the profile of fish is of vital importance if wildlife charities are to help protect fish and the places they live but they almost always get ignored, even though fish are wildlife too, not something that simply gets eaten by the other wildlife that many of us admire. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xKCKKcL6Z7Mn9zSV9civqtipLTUfGJXMCCJ9vy8jgVRfNnZEG4uUAn1V4an3_mYjswtRcaoUIxcnlV326rqpxNLOvCnHa57lHiFWWCG5-WZj4DK-yr-E_STGpV96UMwubtTrSfXgT0s/s960/JACK+PERKS+%252B+BIG+ZANDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xKCKKcL6Z7Mn9zSV9civqtipLTUfGJXMCCJ9vy8jgVRfNnZEG4uUAn1V4an3_mYjswtRcaoUIxcnlV326rqpxNLOvCnHa57lHiFWWCG5-WZj4DK-yr-E_STGpV96UMwubtTrSfXgT0s/w640-h480/JACK+PERKS+%252B+BIG+ZANDER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> For years, Jack has done wonderful work on programmes like the BBC’s Springwatch and Countryfile, telling stories about our finned friends by filming them underwater in their wild habitats and filling us with amazing facts that encourage us to protect them.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> His latest project is to make a one hour film about the lives and loves of the UK’s marine and freshwater fish. As he told us, think BBC’s “Blue Planet” but on a much smaller budget! He tried to interest several broadcasters but they claimed that fish were boring and failed to win their funding. As we all know, fish certainly aren’t boring and Jack is determined to prove the broadcasters wrong, so undaunted, he set up a crowd-funding website to pay for it all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD5sK_MmdFi7fMd3UOa5GsxjyKKopGSg2hwGPwb0_cxz1rMOMhndGVOEu5PUwn84wO-NNHuuYJELDJfVF4VaA0Bimw4wlZUopWvNZzcckrDLQzcjLXkaMwF0vSTioccoSN2b1tuvr7cE/s1280/JACK+AND+CHRIS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD5sK_MmdFi7fMd3UOa5GsxjyKKopGSg2hwGPwb0_cxz1rMOMhndGVOEu5PUwn84wO-NNHuuYJELDJfVF4VaA0Bimw4wlZUopWvNZzcckrDLQzcjLXkaMwF0vSTioccoSN2b1tuvr7cE/w640-h478/JACK+AND+CHRIS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This is where Chris Yates and I came in because Jack foolishly thought that folk would pay good money to fish with us and put a days fishing up for auction. Much to our surprise he was right and a generous guy called Andy paid a substantial sum to join us and support Jack’s project. We arranged a time to meet up at the Wimborne clubs’ tench and crucian lake again, a prefect place to enjoying fishing in the tranquil backwaters of sunny Dorset. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWkdVgCskyHDnfINtVPXjgsNgtdc9Yax1n5gR1B8dE2JI49C1xIh_AxbGkTg_69Piuzh_rhoowqyYQcpMk0BU9tvl4Ov8CRhWeB7VEAF3Pg6pDHAeIAq_HQtpAlW099xTqONty8TMwo0/s1280/MISTY+SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWkdVgCskyHDnfINtVPXjgsNgtdc9Yax1n5gR1B8dE2JI49C1xIh_AxbGkTg_69Piuzh_rhoowqyYQcpMk0BU9tvl4Ov8CRhWeB7VEAF3Pg6pDHAeIAq_HQtpAlW099xTqONty8TMwo0/w640-h480/MISTY+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L0O7InFLBr_oc5HNmlGwZha_Fx1GB848cisdwmmmNqL4CsEcV3YBYW69KfJw_dU_mY7N533fDpcqzzso_5KPDdpoioXUVbRZUq3BDsKSV3aAa-6a6maCV-hTQo3ANfZoavF0O_kSfjA/s1280/ANDY+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1280" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L0O7InFLBr_oc5HNmlGwZha_Fx1GB848cisdwmmmNqL4CsEcV3YBYW69KfJw_dU_mY7N533fDpcqzzso_5KPDdpoioXUVbRZUq3BDsKSV3aAa-6a6maCV-hTQo3ANfZoavF0O_kSfjA/w640-h402/ANDY+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbMgiTW9YLG13jKI6-QM9kDysq4Pl_PC3iKpkB0i7S-GGf7F8S8N_mSl-XiwOMb2y9OA4RI1ELZj7S0KQtt_bLVEJb49KuFctiQKxTgJ8ZgfAhNr08JUqfOZZxlj6YPhATcsHLWPEOwo/s1280/TENCH+COMING+ASHORE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbMgiTW9YLG13jKI6-QM9kDysq4Pl_PC3iKpkB0i7S-GGf7F8S8N_mSl-XiwOMb2y9OA4RI1ELZj7S0KQtt_bLVEJb49KuFctiQKxTgJ8ZgfAhNr08JUqfOZZxlj6YPhATcsHLWPEOwo/w640-h474/TENCH+COMING+ASHORE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnfh4aajGb_JGJjwn2-iawzRy_1e9cwEmY5mG3HWMAVWlYzmnlYOQtdhBN6h5Y2JB125b1AvZqQfR_mSMINDBg4Ec2O1hMzJQD2PODCmyjH86vuMJ_Bhe-ZvMtjxeNIyiODDZLOYWVsE/s1280/UNHOOKING+TENCH.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnfh4aajGb_JGJjwn2-iawzRy_1e9cwEmY5mG3HWMAVWlYzmnlYOQtdhBN6h5Y2JB125b1AvZqQfR_mSMINDBg4Ec2O1hMzJQD2PODCmyjH86vuMJ_Bhe-ZvMtjxeNIyiODDZLOYWVsE/w400-h300/UNHOOKING+TENCH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As luck would have it, Andy caught the largest tench and everyone enjoyed a splendid day catching lots of tench and crucians. We also enjoyed my wife Sue’s much admired Victoria sponge, washed down with copious quantities of Kelly Kettle tea. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ETxpZkSmzBIXedjRPIIiupe35xlYyiAq_iVjXFlZLTzn1n_Kk6tC4g04zt_2_ANlbVO-89HfYcB5AgAvStZtKrFBHiE5TDo9ARVotirC2c4_lJJHHIyf_Dee_T8E8OHbC8_Syu8-Mc/s1280/HAPPY+GATHERING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1280" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ETxpZkSmzBIXedjRPIIiupe35xlYyiAq_iVjXFlZLTzn1n_Kk6tC4g04zt_2_ANlbVO-89HfYcB5AgAvStZtKrFBHiE5TDo9ARVotirC2c4_lJJHHIyf_Dee_T8E8OHbC8_Syu8-Mc/w640-h438/HAPPY+GATHERING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />I’m happy to report that Jack did raise enough money to make what will surely be a much admired film on the lives of several of the UK’s most interesting species, so all he has to do now is find all his stars and record the footage he needs to tell their fascinating stories. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The film is going to be called <u><b>“Britains’ Hidden Fishes”</b></u> and we’ll all be looking out for Jack at the Oscars!</span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-28637250798167594972021-08-16T14:51:00.005+01:002021-08-21T12:27:22.107+01:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Elo4H07zUFyy8MTU5WofXgIrtGmIst34u-XBC0GSVx_pl_MAuXZsPY7HjqiN6guUlSnATaSaaKQBw4-KO7deqiP0i2ecO9QNi2u2Ek0R6Cz0F235zUb62VwQdsuuAQG3IBZuhAZC_mc/s2048/THE+MAGIC+HOUR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Elo4H07zUFyy8MTU5WofXgIrtGmIst34u-XBC0GSVx_pl_MAuXZsPY7HjqiN6guUlSnATaSaaKQBw4-KO7deqiP0i2ecO9QNi2u2Ek0R6Cz0F235zUb62VwQdsuuAQG3IBZuhAZC_mc/w640-h480/THE+MAGIC+HOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> “WHAT IS IT THAT YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT FISHING”?</span><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGwwC1Rb4PdD1_vn3U5DiIjwweHmZJ3l4Rk1U3y2mtehSN6tL-MxIBbZdLua5JSG7k5aejIy51yVgK382FsqPegniaFzEL1N3JSv3wk74psTDEfjuiJTzZl6nMQS1Rd26Jpv1baAbiuk/s2048/Gold+Star.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGwwC1Rb4PdD1_vn3U5DiIjwweHmZJ3l4Rk1U3y2mtehSN6tL-MxIBbZdLua5JSG7k5aejIy51yVgK382FsqPegniaFzEL1N3JSv3wk74psTDEfjuiJTzZl6nMQS1Rd26Jpv1baAbiuk/w640-h480/Gold+Star.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA7RnEtwxARfQ2IlTKPypEf6FVtp7ysiT-Ar4t0vUCjF2jukrQCGQ8lTjyjvFulsIRX4miM96E4013CHwV8n4BLk42S23Q5_lzRZvHxqSduVPXJ7Gr1TxvL6XiBfJvn3uhQMudd_lcRI/s2048/MARTIN%2527S+5%253A4+PERCH.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA7RnEtwxARfQ2IlTKPypEf6FVtp7ysiT-Ar4t0vUCjF2jukrQCGQ8lTjyjvFulsIRX4miM96E4013CHwV8n4BLk42S23Q5_lzRZvHxqSduVPXJ7Gr1TxvL6XiBfJvn3uhQMudd_lcRI/w400-h266/MARTIN%2527S+5%253A4+PERCH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />That was the question friend Martin Bowler asked me the other day while he created one of his splendid features for the Angling Times. Sadly, I failed to do his question justice, so here’s an attempt at a better answer. <br /><br />I’m sure most of you would agree that one of the great joys of angling is that it takes you close to nature, out into a more peaceful world, full of the sights and sounds of wildlife and all the rewards that brings. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PRTVizoferxZ5htfXERiN8b-C_OJPcjol5JA8Uw_SodEbzttRxJTM4sNl1Gnn75EHs7eI8sNCvySfXUZzrNXKqMfP1N9ocNtaQeSTm3VnL5oi4j-WIqJ7l_yzVoW9rruXiUkerqBofc/s1843/pair+of+G.C.Grebes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1843" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PRTVizoferxZ5htfXERiN8b-C_OJPcjol5JA8Uw_SodEbzttRxJTM4sNl1Gnn75EHs7eI8sNCvySfXUZzrNXKqMfP1N9ocNtaQeSTm3VnL5oi4j-WIqJ7l_yzVoW9rruXiUkerqBofc/w640-h480/pair+of+G.C.Grebes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I found waterbirds magical when growing up in the Fens and I’ve been a passionate angler ever since. What’s more, the many challenges we face today makes angling even more relevant to our lives, the escape from reality a life saver. We hear plenty on the news these days about the healing power of nature and it certainly works for me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbIOJjhylNeVSsmGPxN9ssgEFFzMSLYYn51Euh-VDt9zoF2wdBuFmocTfjjk3qarW-4JjgNEx3PCm5JULPts4AfnbcRpQKy0C8PdLV2RyIorlcpvma9dEpRzXIaKJ68WNUYIOFuI-AI8/s921/Osprey+flying+with+fish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="921" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbIOJjhylNeVSsmGPxN9ssgEFFzMSLYYn51Euh-VDt9zoF2wdBuFmocTfjjk3qarW-4JjgNEx3PCm5JULPts4AfnbcRpQKy0C8PdLV2RyIorlcpvma9dEpRzXIaKJ68WNUYIOFuI-AI8/w640-h538/Osprey+flying+with+fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The beauty of the unexpected is also an essential element in fishing, never quite knowing what will happen next, if at all, the mystery of the unknown and what you’ll catch an essential ingredient that drives me and many other passionate anglers to keep looking for future adventures. It’s a journey in which you are always learning and that is one of the fascinations of fishing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_WJPsmCv1Xk3d14qS7QVqx5PuO-G1s1Y7Vn3r9pF_zCBaahO0MAT_ZeolvttqCMKDM9n212iztY_n90pKaMefv21VvfzJERYp0YG9YR-Y-qmVhvAFoYG-PH87pRxu6ubkdFZv596SEU/s2048/SWAY+RAINBOW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_WJPsmCv1Xk3d14qS7QVqx5PuO-G1s1Y7Vn3r9pF_zCBaahO0MAT_ZeolvttqCMKDM9n212iztY_n90pKaMefv21VvfzJERYp0YG9YR-Y-qmVhvAFoYG-PH87pRxu6ubkdFZv596SEU/w640-h480/SWAY+RAINBOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It’s often said that going fishing is simply an excuse for being there and that's partially true but of course, there’s more to it than that, like catching fish! Most of us always want to catch a bigger one and I’m certainly a specimen hunter by nature but now I’m growing older and maybe wiser, I’m finding that size isn’t everything and the trick is to believe that lesson from ‘A Passion for Angling’, “fishing is not about how to catch, it’s about how to enjoy”.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWRITr0slPmQuuJbNvKuYMczUDs78lOrU3mZCSravNZZS72eXfrz_2rXDJmESRfgvI2BfWIaFQJ5U7R4vPahoP3tB-1ukvUASDeKg7GsGGjDyv8_fWxidB5wYVOP8DC0YfqFUYFlLmHU/s2048/BERNARD+V+%252B+PERCH+FROM+BOOK.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWRITr0slPmQuuJbNvKuYMczUDs78lOrU3mZCSravNZZS72eXfrz_2rXDJmESRfgvI2BfWIaFQJ5U7R4vPahoP3tB-1ukvUASDeKg7GsGGjDyv8_fWxidB5wYVOP8DC0YfqFUYFlLmHU/w450-h640/BERNARD+V+%252B+PERCH+FROM+BOOK.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br />I grew up with Bernard Venables’ iconic ‘Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing’ as my bible and have been trying to recreate those magical scenes ever since, not just in my fishing but in films too, most notably when filming Bernard catching perch in our legendary 'Passion' series for BBC2.<br /> <br /><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxEOT-oNpGHdhXf55uY1xpynkK6Eeoc_vjNUJ5v-XC9kKK52H0MCxsdw-m2x2HRBCLwNeXpdKubMfGuTxPEC0Q4Oyb0NqB78mXnHMw2fa1ntTrXlC_Euq8VrYLF0McBDMluRcJD1cZKw/s1280/CRABTREE+RUDD+U%253AW+IN+NORFOLK+BROADS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1280" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxEOT-oNpGHdhXf55uY1xpynkK6Eeoc_vjNUJ5v-XC9kKK52H0MCxsdw-m2x2HRBCLwNeXpdKubMfGuTxPEC0Q4Oyb0NqB78mXnHMw2fa1ntTrXlC_Euq8VrYLF0McBDMluRcJD1cZKw/w640-h502/CRABTREE+RUDD+U%253AW+IN+NORFOLK+BROADS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Bernard’s inspiring paintings of rudd fishing in Norfolk had to be emulated of course and I was lucky to catch lots of two pounders in the school holidays, stalking the shoals in my little dinghy during magical days when searching Hickling Broad in the sunshine.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxJ-zoeJIWFUfQJpmkUkoLDfEOE5-9q49ZUynqtfybTBAaRGsEgcie0TDFsEs66vskrNYj6vd-zyOOoFfwHEvyicLCGvQ0Ny6AKYGa_OXWgpNjEUFlEqxyLmHBZat5RKGu0XiGYJkdlU/s2048/BRACE+OF+BROADS+RUDD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2048" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxJ-zoeJIWFUfQJpmkUkoLDfEOE5-9q49ZUynqtfybTBAaRGsEgcie0TDFsEs66vskrNYj6vd-zyOOoFfwHEvyicLCGvQ0Ny6AKYGa_OXWgpNjEUFlEqxyLmHBZat5RKGu0XiGYJkdlU/w400-h276/BRACE+OF+BROADS+RUDD.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmFyMMQlsxX4dCnV0Ug3pi4vAfAR1ou55sdeJj844DsYUiqM6JG4wpiiErD8rzv_59RK8EFADex_GAPc5xsUjmPOWmutcUlYCqz2hS2d9kD_3Li3565AZMVSrBFUUyOAsidreuX08POg/s2048/3%253A9+FEN+GIANT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmFyMMQlsxX4dCnV0Ug3pi4vAfAR1ou55sdeJj844DsYUiqM6JG4wpiiErD8rzv_59RK8EFADex_GAPc5xsUjmPOWmutcUlYCqz2hS2d9kD_3Li3565AZMVSrBFUUyOAsidreuX08POg/w640-h430/3%253A9+FEN+GIANT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to catch a raft of big fish of many species, including this fish of a lifetime Fen giant of 3lb 9ozs, caught on freelined flake. It was raining at the time so I took a quick happy snap - very happy snap - and slipped her back. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nowadays, the varied tackle and methods I choose to use provide more enjoyment than the result, even if I know that I’m not always using the most efficient techniques. I simply love getting bites as this takes you away from normal life so effectively. Better still, if I can draw the fish </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">really close </span>to me and in the wildest places, then it's the nearest you can get to hunting and if you get lucky, you actually get to touch your quarry without hurting it.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess I’m a traditionalist, preferring to watch a float than ledgering and if that float is lowered in at the end of a pole, that’s even better. Pole fishing is so accurate and intimate, sensitive too and this lends itself perfectly to catching my favourite species, roach, tench and crucians, preferably big ones, though little ones are just as beautiful and seriously cute!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZREqfBt1IyY4Ubcu9vwBwsoGJwm18Clm2azhQcDtZYN3eanNLpzLWWTDWnW2VEq0o6ip-pkvZF_OY1DHY5eUkx91DWFZU61CZghVs4IZEST0EexjO6RpokYzzOqEQaT4d9PGnP5-Zjgs/s2048/HUGH+%252B+UPPER+TWO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZREqfBt1IyY4Ubcu9vwBwsoGJwm18Clm2azhQcDtZYN3eanNLpzLWWTDWnW2VEq0o6ip-pkvZF_OY1DHY5eUkx91DWFZU61CZghVs4IZEST0EexjO6RpokYzzOqEQaT4d9PGnP5-Zjgs/w640-h474/HUGH+%252B+UPPER+TWO.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r7aTHAC6OT2IGWFDgbf2RCsOnzeSCo_Utk1doSmxA2w9EO0CFvld6uCZfuuoBgpxBqSJ9J5GyXG2ssnhfzY1ioPJrFRh5jY1DJ_1I3lCcJsYycsQT7fnOBgQDJtPISQH_M0NhFCkeJ4/s2048/CRUCIAN+-+CUTE+BABY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="2048" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r7aTHAC6OT2IGWFDgbf2RCsOnzeSCo_Utk1doSmxA2w9EO0CFvld6uCZfuuoBgpxBqSJ9J5GyXG2ssnhfzY1ioPJrFRh5jY1DJ_1I3lCcJsYycsQT7fnOBgQDJtPISQH_M0NhFCkeJ4/w400-h294/CRUCIAN+-+CUTE+BABY.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJdjOz3oJkteHAl62UjgpvEHXUBHNoI33jzOlfdPkSyQvumCUO4gtwdwGqaamVq2jE9wT9Gj38Tf2ksB4CKXg4VPK_PdW5lnDKwNsVYl7lOejtTTI45HJFze80o44AG19gWo-qIyGWig/s2048/SCENIC+%252B+NEW+ROD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJdjOz3oJkteHAl62UjgpvEHXUBHNoI33jzOlfdPkSyQvumCUO4gtwdwGqaamVq2jE9wT9Gj38Tf2ksB4CKXg4VPK_PdW5lnDKwNsVYl7lOejtTTI45HJFze80o44AG19gWo-qIyGWig/w640-h480/SCENIC+%252B+NEW+ROD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />My enthusiasm for fishing reaches its height when trotting a float down a river for roach, where skill is required to catch the biggest ones. I’ve been lucky enough to catch a three pounder from both the Avon and Stour, the one from the Stour tricked by trotting bread flake on Christmas eve, the ultimate present! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My biggest roach are from various lakes, I think I’m up to nine three pounders now but in many anglers opinion these don’t carry the same kudos as river roach and I’d agree, even if I still like catching them! Here's a three from Linch Hill, an 'easy' water to achieve that untimat roach goal.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg77PyO0vsZN_FPGyeObYM-paKdRubDpzSs9FADz_oOCFKuhN_HP3PtdO0bQ-V8ZFPTPXONe9BNNKR0jCe5o6ahmDZX6oiIFRoD3ZkG9P-2WlSZqF7-yYguYV2V3ZiZReFRyH_MLl1-0/s2048/3%253A3+-+LINCH+HILL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg77PyO0vsZN_FPGyeObYM-paKdRubDpzSs9FADz_oOCFKuhN_HP3PtdO0bQ-V8ZFPTPXONe9BNNKR0jCe5o6ahmDZX6oiIFRoD3ZkG9P-2WlSZqF7-yYguYV2V3ZiZReFRyH_MLl1-0/w640-h480/3%253A3+-+LINCH+HILL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> However, I’ll never forget the evening of Nov13th 2018, when after four days and forty hours of fishing, [I don’t night fish], I got lucky with my <u>only</u> bite and landed the awesome fish below of three pounds, eleven ounces. I have no need or desire to publicise my catches, so a quick happy snap on the unhooking matt had to suffice to allow this beautiful creature a speedy return to it's home.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> At just eight ounces below the roach record it was my ultimate fish of a lifetime. Happy days!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZrSTCQhQ0YUc1S32klQe3xll3TesuCEuEzXXe8x4PVfShDNLn3Hn9pm-4BHyx1zpCKDjq0ZFWFyGzQtkTMEEv26Jk2HZ-WVfEt9L8mwwvco_Fj6few-IxWUEEFrVe2WXYMObaszjYWA/s2048/*HUGH%2527S%2BGIANT%2BROACH%2BOF%2B3%253A11.pg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZrSTCQhQ0YUc1S32klQe3xll3TesuCEuEzXXe8x4PVfShDNLn3Hn9pm-4BHyx1zpCKDjq0ZFWFyGzQtkTMEEv26Jk2HZ-WVfEt9L8mwwvco_Fj6few-IxWUEEFrVe2WXYMObaszjYWA/w640-h508/*HUGH%2527S%2BGIANT%2BROACH%2BOF%2B3%253A11.pg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It’s simply great that fishing provides an endless variety of challenges and techniques and I’m quite happy to chuck out a helicopter rig for big roach or a worm kebab for tench at nine wraps and waiting for the bite alarm to give me a shot of adrenaline. But effective as these techniques can be, I’ll always use a float if conditions allow.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbGBlLKHb00bb-S4Etil6UKRvG9IAi_-cJo07pyBOPlYOc33L2r8GLG1dobZDXAbVoDHRZcYReT6M9rTDGsrH4eTWzRp2iG8vq0nbaZlZMp-IX7jVdGO4L6QmVjRSKcW31wQGpa25v4Y/s2048/HUGH+%252B+GOOD+TENCH+-+SOMERLEY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbGBlLKHb00bb-S4Etil6UKRvG9IAi_-cJo07pyBOPlYOc33L2r8GLG1dobZDXAbVoDHRZcYReT6M9rTDGsrH4eTWzRp2iG8vq0nbaZlZMp-IX7jVdGO4L6QmVjRSKcW31wQGpa25v4Y/w640-h474/HUGH+%252B+GOOD+TENCH+-+SOMERLEY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I’m not a carp fishing bivy, bolt rig and buzzer angler but there are few more exciting forms of angling than stalking lake edges for carp and waiting for those vortexes and tail waves as they nurdle over my free-lined bait. Then when the line tightens and the pin screams - magic! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2dSKoskWOjkVuSDVioYnvMRDoUARBlRYnIb7yXXMAqQCS1TuvbEU1zwzoR1OUx0_cBegW-fWVkrt_4w0FqQk0eHWUrTtBk_a2zTVYR3ElfgHPhersTb1w4cWU-ILWnV8sa5n9eJQUx8/s2048/SOMERLEY+-+LOVELY+GOLDEN+COMMON+%252B+CANE+ROD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2dSKoskWOjkVuSDVioYnvMRDoUARBlRYnIb7yXXMAqQCS1TuvbEU1zwzoR1OUx0_cBegW-fWVkrt_4w0FqQk0eHWUrTtBk_a2zTVYR3ElfgHPhersTb1w4cWU-ILWnV8sa5n9eJQUx8/w640-h480/SOMERLEY+-+LOVELY+GOLDEN+COMMON+%252B+CANE+ROD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />One of my most memorable carp was at Redmire, waiting expectantly with Chris Yates as a golden common rooted in the mud at our feet in search of my worm. The indicator was a tiny sliver of stick and when it quivered and slowly sank, my Mk4 Avon and centre-pin were severely tested. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zsNKDbyrOiu91_8b37jNUgw3VS3III9DZbmI_T4UPZbYGSxQkQkBnHQ-LMSDJMjRtIZfMivvir_GxjZhLikye1Qvh8oVgghyniHztFBuEeNy8tSNYPYMiiCQC-6Ymbpd-OvhdrO8peQ/s2048/H.AVON+-+HUGH+%252B+13%253A11+BARBEL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zsNKDbyrOiu91_8b37jNUgw3VS3III9DZbmI_T4UPZbYGSxQkQkBnHQ-LMSDJMjRtIZfMivvir_GxjZhLikye1Qvh8oVgghyniHztFBuEeNy8tSNYPYMiiCQC-6Ymbpd-OvhdrO8peQ/w640-h476/H.AVON+-+HUGH+%252B+13%253A11+BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then there’s those magnificent golden barbel making the pin scream and the nerves jangle with the battle that always follows.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Variety is the spice of life and mullet fight even harder than barbel, especially if hooked in shallow estuary water.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg08m7kbDy6Um2v76Mv3oYIalR4YnJLmMeJe_4Oc0_1dXWnCZkeZLSqNcU0hyT863yxviiRU4vMObjhPDcOkllucRtQLL50dhjWruFw6rK9A4BqLI5G6jGvsnrNSsCmRsZmFseWu2lUtE/s2048/GOOD+BENT+ROD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg08m7kbDy6Um2v76Mv3oYIalR4YnJLmMeJe_4Oc0_1dXWnCZkeZLSqNcU0hyT863yxviiRU4vMObjhPDcOkllucRtQLL50dhjWruFw6rK9A4BqLI5G6jGvsnrNSsCmRsZmFseWu2lUtE/w640-h480/GOOD+BENT+ROD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G5OqkLGlgcY08fc5omRveCNM1-SNJNodo9DvkSIibU8dBXDtqPVanLL9CHK3j6jOy7qg1vyBo7twML0lHAyk4ma5PEAneUVLL6b-gusHXhNi2RYzmPhSKF15KLe4crYx-2yGXjIzbxI/s1280/HUGH%2527S+5%253A7+THICK+LIP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G5OqkLGlgcY08fc5omRveCNM1-SNJNodo9DvkSIibU8dBXDtqPVanLL9CHK3j6jOy7qg1vyBo7twML0lHAyk4ma5PEAneUVLL6b-gusHXhNi2RYzmPhSKF15KLe4crYx-2yGXjIzbxI/w640-h474/HUGH%2527S+5%253A7+THICK+LIP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>They simply never give up and the speed of their endless runs is unbelievable. They often escape of course and the ospreys we sometimes see overhead are better at catching them, but all this makes mullet fishing as good as it gets.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYrBULRu_0iDvB1uovCNcXBPsJCzYpi9N6JSrRy-kvURcnCAEvYHLFAvHOwTZVV1qZWD0cFsXTGI-Nfuey8z5vBLOtMgwa0w6IZIyUwpvY57d7e-6la6i5124BEtwP9JKQMQeGS9r-W8/s2048/*%2BMULLET%2B-%2BSTEVE%2B%252B%2BHAPPY%2BCRACKER%2BON%2BFLATS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYrBULRu_0iDvB1uovCNcXBPsJCzYpi9N6JSrRy-kvURcnCAEvYHLFAvHOwTZVV1qZWD0cFsXTGI-Nfuey8z5vBLOtMgwa0w6IZIyUwpvY57d7e-6la6i5124BEtwP9JKQMQeGS9r-W8/w640-h480/*%2BMULLET%2B-%2BSTEVE%2B%252B%2BHAPPY%2BCRACKER%2BON%2BFLATS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So those are some of the reasons why I enjoy fishing and I haven't even mentioned that most important ingredient of all, fishing with friends, let alone those adventures abroad after the many exotic monsters.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlpptgNT5_8a9s7BJAtlvFZlQr7qMPAu2N_eafziM4GdSaoZibcK1fsIUTayKfPc_NZGxpbcqR46mpcPfYHi5OBr8zvcpQmCDr4T61dldjcnuK9f2hyx2w6CyjabNOJMLjFcsWi5lPaI/s2048/CHRIS+W+BICKTON+BARBEL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlpptgNT5_8a9s7BJAtlvFZlQr7qMPAu2N_eafziM4GdSaoZibcK1fsIUTayKfPc_NZGxpbcqR46mpcPfYHi5OBr8zvcpQmCDr4T61dldjcnuK9f2hyx2w6CyjabNOJMLjFcsWi5lPaI/w640-h486/CHRIS+W+BICKTON+BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk26jC2hViJNqDPGIIzcSQJJGe9dqrlAA38U0IVrkvgsb7rHzWU30ASO3nyXFCd4Bf7K8KiwEk_rjfNgRY3FPl3Uztwu1BjNLz_6C7oagJL2Owqh4K-CMITRL_ywexTo7v26WBJHHDos/s2048/KEITH+AND+JEFF+%252B+MONSTER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk26jC2hViJNqDPGIIzcSQJJGe9dqrlAA38U0IVrkvgsb7rHzWU30ASO3nyXFCd4Bf7K8KiwEk_rjfNgRY3FPl3Uztwu1BjNLz_6C7oagJL2Owqh4K-CMITRL_ywexTo7v26WBJHHDos/w640-h490/KEITH+AND+JEFF+%252B+MONSTER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8M_EBygWdSNGNxv9sPa0j0zPryToQHK6aFrPih1ulnMCICsTQOnbyJT50BsnZcUOL6SUwuw8wP6ip_6D779kBw4s_PP8fXbi_d-jeV417tFC_dSWO8atmd5xwK4M6yzcB9F19iYkTI/s2048/*%2BMAHSEER%2B-%2BHUGH%2B%252B%2BGIANT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8M_EBygWdSNGNxv9sPa0j0zPryToQHK6aFrPih1ulnMCICsTQOnbyJT50BsnZcUOL6SUwuw8wP6ip_6D779kBw4s_PP8fXbi_d-jeV417tFC_dSWO8atmd5xwK4M6yzcB9F19iYkTI/w640-h480/*%2BMAHSEER%2B-%2BHUGH%2B%252B%2BGIANT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Being close to nature and protecting wild creatures is the key to enjoying fishing and as anglers we do a lot to ensure our wildlife flourishes, not least because we pay the Environment Agency an annual fee of twenty five million pounds through our rod licence fees to look after our rivers and lakes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whether they do enough with that money is open to debate as our rivers are in a sorry state and the threats increase every year. Us anglers also provide significant protection through their club work parties and by supporting the Angling Trust. We also raise many thousands of pounds for public health charities such as Cancer Research UK through fund raising initiatives and we should all be proud of that as we enjoy our adventures.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRlBYR4Q065wV1x6RPSY4TfhUOpQOqiIWYJUSN-yjax8bqVNYrMOubt54KM3M5VtT_39DNGxGpuQGgvwCGVoaEtZfdAfkakRMPc6kC4eL3KjtuvbbnL00Bg5B_FYsSd8i1ZSCsnQ09t0/s2048/bowood+32.6d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRlBYR4Q065wV1x6RPSY4TfhUOpQOqiIWYJUSN-yjax8bqVNYrMOubt54KM3M5VtT_39DNGxGpuQGgvwCGVoaEtZfdAfkakRMPc6kC4eL3KjtuvbbnL00Bg5B_FYsSd8i1ZSCsnQ09t0/w640-h386/bowood+32.6d.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Hopefully these answers to Martin Bowlers’ question “what do you most enjoy about fishing” have triggered a few happy memories for you and that you’ll be out there more often now, chilling out while surrounded by wildlife … and that includes those fishy mysteries that swim below the surface, adding many more ‘tales of the very unexpected’.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiDZ_QtaXx-NCH5bb3UcXlR7rg4nKxBCaxEuUsjpdH7S7yrm-K0MOXbjio0_ViIwqUhad4bppRKQIur1y6FO1zM1hb942Ctea9aReMp0MjOQAIQzv9vtrB8DkFdnzOJNymRu-hRYVh10/s2048/HM+%252B+CHROMER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiDZ_QtaXx-NCH5bb3UcXlR7rg4nKxBCaxEuUsjpdH7S7yrm-K0MOXbjio0_ViIwqUhad4bppRKQIur1y6FO1zM1hb942Ctea9aReMp0MjOQAIQzv9vtrB8DkFdnzOJNymRu-hRYVh10/w494-h640/HM+%252B+CHROMER.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-60405113814629025822021-03-26T12:42:00.002+00:002021-04-03T12:09:27.215+01:00WOW!<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtvqIMI7knZRpox1G6kpda3Kzs27Ar9nUUHtgHDs7CFAJFVpXAO38bZ0rh9hA-6waBXuHHZCCencbnM2tzdJeeN8KwV1UjFT4j92fF4Dv-tERUTrMsFYXf5rcmgyjwgA43w-8kwsIeo4/s1702/OSPREY+DIVE%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="1691" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtvqIMI7knZRpox1G6kpda3Kzs27Ar9nUUHtgHDs7CFAJFVpXAO38bZ0rh9hA-6waBXuHHZCCencbnM2tzdJeeN8KwV1UjFT4j92fF4Dv-tERUTrMsFYXf5rcmgyjwgA43w-8kwsIeo4/w636-h640/OSPREY+DIVE%25281%2529.jpg" width="636" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it’s ‘World Osprey Week’ and these most charismatic of birds are fast approaching on the eternal skyways from the west coast of Africa. Hooray for High Flyers!<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gzBVrboezduQRvBrJqvgs8gAOemZ51TiQUvaT8vtV8zzfwkNU3hi6y6eFD3TypAl39OL4cQGzEC6Spt0lQ8Pmf8V0lSUydcCQRl1Vn8L_Hk5t8kjB9fkBkvYsMucppozr5Kyf0g6Ea4/s1024/OSPREY+OVERHEAD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gzBVrboezduQRvBrJqvgs8gAOemZ51TiQUvaT8vtV8zzfwkNU3hi6y6eFD3TypAl39OL4cQGzEC6Spt0lQ8Pmf8V0lSUydcCQRl1Vn8L_Hk5t8kjB9fkBkvYsMucppozr5Kyf0g6Ea4/w452-h640/OSPREY+OVERHEAD.jpg" width="452" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We live in sunny Dorset and several ospreys have recently passed by on their way to Scotland, including the famous pair ‘Maya and 33’ that have already arrived at their nest on Rutland Water. Remarkably, after their two and a half thousand mile flight from Senegal they landed on their nest within half an hour of each other. Appropriately, it was at mid-day on March 20th, the vernal equinox and first day of Spring, cause for celebration all round! </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are also getting increasingly excited here at Poole Harbour, for we had a nest occupied here by our own star female CJ7 for all of last spring. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1KQAUvvqY0rlQ1m75DePWpjUuRDjRpSHXLMlVMzATdh1STBDDg71SLel32tiOCMllcW3zc0kTcuXBcKinWfwJMZdvF_LNDGud-gx1nRb0iOuO8VY4KHYThvAymTP8yzUl6Y4FoHixNg/s1280/BIG+STICK+ON+EASTER+SUNDAY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1KQAUvvqY0rlQ1m75DePWpjUuRDjRpSHXLMlVMzATdh1STBDDg71SLel32tiOCMllcW3zc0kTcuXBcKinWfwJMZdvF_LNDGud-gx1nRb0iOuO8VY4KHYThvAymTP8yzUl6Y4FoHixNg/w640-h412/BIG+STICK+ON+EASTER+SUNDAY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />She was raised and fledged from Rutland Water in 2015 and in spite of this being her first attempt at breeding, she behaved impeccably, building up her new nest and defending it in the hope of attracting a mate. Sadly it wasn’t to be but ‘The Birds of Poole Harbour’ team and all us locals have our fingers X’d that this year will be the first time ospreys have nested on the south coast since their extinction here a hundred and eighty years ago. We were treated to daily excitement by watching her on the camera the team had set up on the nest. We hope that this image from Scotland is replicated in Dorset soon.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pvEnM1wN3Y87hf2ZiXHHt1aGwUxioLiGIMY2ATzvpVVs5_FkAwGmy6ku2oMtsYFswlTmBgz75iv8ZggCF71jZQhp35RHP8ft0UJZe_eKt25G6vf3MHIjO0wI5D5NiEbc5l9SmzHzLRk/s1280/FEMALE+%252B+CHICK+WING+STRETCHING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pvEnM1wN3Y87hf2ZiXHHt1aGwUxioLiGIMY2ATzvpVVs5_FkAwGmy6ku2oMtsYFswlTmBgz75iv8ZggCF71jZQhp35RHP8ft0UJZe_eKt25G6vf3MHIjO0wI5D5NiEbc5l9SmzHzLRk/w640-h418/FEMALE+%252B+CHICK+WING+STRETCHING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Being just six miles from our cottage, it is an extraordinary success, for it was only in the late 1950’s that ospreys successfully returned to nest in Scotland after being driven to extinction, the last pair nesting in 1916. The same happened along England’s south coast and it’s thanks to our friend Roy Dennis and his team and the translocation of youngsters from Scottish nests that they have every chance of returning here too. You can read the whole story by visiting the excellent Birds of Poole Harbour website - www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/osprey/<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFJE5hu7BlVXmwU2hS0YdfSg7zrYt4BPsU3ihLsCHQNdKOp3sSk5nV8K5Uo01RoJ7xleQxLNKsnEnOCBQAxyFWr4MH5PMJY5jDnVA6HZxmRJ2ENqjSKOpIbZ1cW1gR7Jt4HbPaIn_wW4/s1280/ROY+BUILDING+NEST+AT+BALAVIL+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFJE5hu7BlVXmwU2hS0YdfSg7zrYt4BPsU3ihLsCHQNdKOp3sSk5nV8K5Uo01RoJ7xleQxLNKsnEnOCBQAxyFWr4MH5PMJY5jDnVA6HZxmRJ2ENqjSKOpIbZ1cW1gR7Jt4HbPaIn_wW4/w640-h400/ROY+BUILDING+NEST+AT+BALAVIL+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>It seems like only yesterday that Sue and I were living in Scotland for two years, [it was actually in the late ’70's], to make a film about ospreys for the RSPB and with the help of Roy [seen mending one of our nests], we completed the task so successfully that the film sold to forty six countries. This neatly goes to show what truly remarkable and exciting birds ospreys are and just in case you are unaware how remarkable these big birds are, I’ll quote the opening lines of the film Roy and I made all those years ago. The BBC even honoured us with a Radio Times front cover.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XAwm75HHhSZm12QMYfeHBMZRMnV__NzM0RsD5I7WcbEwNMTh44IokpHsY6ReLRxvNVrQQL39tSkobVGe72Ukjicg8obNkL5bD5WUPuy24ndvXaqqWU0IBEVvuWCXXVh_cZ7NrKe3-2I/s1280/RADIO+TIMES+OSPREY+FRONT+COVER+-+1980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XAwm75HHhSZm12QMYfeHBMZRMnV__NzM0RsD5I7WcbEwNMTh44IokpHsY6ReLRxvNVrQQL39tSkobVGe72Ukjicg8obNkL5bD5WUPuy24ndvXaqqWU0IBEVvuWCXXVh_cZ7NrKe3-2I/w524-h640/RADIO+TIMES+OSPREY+FRONT+COVER+-+1980.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><br /> - THE RETURN OF THE OSPREY -<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">“The Scottish Highlands, a wilderness of rock and heather, providing refuge for many wild creatures, and one bird in particular, a very special bird, one of the world’s most spectacular hunters - the osprey.<br /><br />Evolution has set the osprey in a class of it’s own, equipped it with a unique anatomy for supremacy in it’s watery world : five foot wingspan, exceptional eyesight : from it’s sickle beak to it’s strong legs and raking talons, everything about it is designed for a purpose, the only bird of prey in the world to feed exclusively on live fish”.<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIJrvN_Y_pFR6NrFP2SGjBT1dxJWK6GAGCswWOcY8hgJn78LN8ZciLFPdwGOSfD0VCgo8hdqiRsEJXLXGFvwR0z6mukS_IhUymr8ulX632UjtWzqKC9V6feiKP4I8HfpT5dXXUOl3_hc/s1280/FEMALE+INTRUDER+ALARM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIJrvN_Y_pFR6NrFP2SGjBT1dxJWK6GAGCswWOcY8hgJn78LN8ZciLFPdwGOSfD0VCgo8hdqiRsEJXLXGFvwR0z6mukS_IhUymr8ulX632UjtWzqKC9V6feiKP4I8HfpT5dXXUOl3_hc/w640-h456/FEMALE+INTRUDER+ALARM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our children grew up under their wings so it is no wonder that one of Katie and Peter’s first words was ‘Osprey’! It was in the early years of the osprey’s re-colonisation of Scotland and we lived alongside these charismatic birds for two years. Our love for them is deep in our souls and we pray that this year will see them nesting just down the road in Dorset.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi224c-ItHNGhjOptl9XMvhjtYJ9ia9Q9VAgoZP5w3ESmVeHKr3ppXFxiFBqhTq-8L5ZIt2bzwSo745zn0iGt9OGWRo3qAuXpLsu5mmXSE9fircTK6de7FkuriIIyKQ1tbBgi2qubs0fmc/s1024/OSPREY+STARTING+DIVE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi224c-ItHNGhjOptl9XMvhjtYJ9ia9Q9VAgoZP5w3ESmVeHKr3ppXFxiFBqhTq-8L5ZIt2bzwSo745zn0iGt9OGWRo3qAuXpLsu5mmXSE9fircTK6de7FkuriIIyKQ1tbBgi2qubs0fmc/w640-h452/OSPREY+STARTING+DIVE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Katie and Peter still get excited whenever they see an osprey, as do Sue and I, so we can’t admire the Birds of Poole Harbour team more for their brave and exciting initiative to re-establish the breeding of ospreys just six miles from our home. These are trying times but if you want the best possible news, the osprey’s imminent return is it! We're all watching and waiting - every day! So far only crows ...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3nmGQiMKOeIuqKkK46fpApQvRqReKNh8Kf5oE3X8qsS90_Syp5M1gsGYee16NRbJh8CwbGepYd7KiHCq3vw8PIe6ITjA9punqC-aIqxqdpUinIoAXdiwYLKSYNzqD7Zs88dB5unBHyU/s1280/CROWS+AT+OSPREY+NEST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1280" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3nmGQiMKOeIuqKkK46fpApQvRqReKNh8Kf5oE3X8qsS90_Syp5M1gsGYee16NRbJh8CwbGepYd7KiHCq3vw8PIe6ITjA9punqC-aIqxqdpUinIoAXdiwYLKSYNzqD7Zs88dB5unBHyU/w640-h520/CROWS+AT+OSPREY+NEST.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />***She's back now though, arriving for a mullet lunch on April 1st and on the nest most mornings. We're praying that she attracts a mate this year, even if it means I'll be wasting hours watching her every move and hopefully, the growth of her chicks. Our fingers are firmly crossed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuA21fOkQbOzLcW8ogo0dBe209EVmiXPPT9Qx2mqk-JrT_sAFjixjkTrIle8IjOwvmI5bNE_1N83tzBKYRFoapgmtffRv2Gb4atX03oiyOpPtgzmemAbAwuN_fJhPg7x58fIPUTZlXNs/s1280/CJ7+IS+BACK%252C+TAKEN+ON+2ND+APRIL+%252721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1280" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuA21fOkQbOzLcW8ogo0dBe209EVmiXPPT9Qx2mqk-JrT_sAFjixjkTrIle8IjOwvmI5bNE_1N83tzBKYRFoapgmtffRv2Gb4atX03oiyOpPtgzmemAbAwuN_fJhPg7x58fIPUTZlXNs/w640-h368/CJ7+IS+BACK%252C+TAKEN+ON+2ND+APRIL+%252721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>But that’s not all the good news. Thanks to Roy’s energy and foresight, another high flyer is now winging around above us here on the south coast, the sea eagle. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNjWpj5tWjNqi4VBmmVE3b9kaHsKRDFQB4SFU5NR6AUvw-qWcqV70g686A0VFoPme9r7enLUCD43U_GSvafhpqOIrICNOrSmKK4RgDNf6tH_Bs0TQbKamPUKK1qB753YR8eZw8jzmrQ0/s1280/2+X+SEA+EAGLES+%252B+NEEDLES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1280" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNjWpj5tWjNqi4VBmmVE3b9kaHsKRDFQB4SFU5NR6AUvw-qWcqV70g686A0VFoPme9r7enLUCD43U_GSvafhpqOIrICNOrSmKK4RgDNf6tH_Bs0TQbKamPUKK1qB753YR8eZw8jzmrQ0/w640-h516/2+X+SEA+EAGLES+%252B+NEEDLES.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This remarkable picture was taken from Hengistbury Head in Christchurch Harbour on March 23rd, just a couple of days ago! It shows two of the youngsters that Roy and his team have translocated from nests in Scotland in the hope that they can recolonise their old haunts around the Isle of White.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsafIg2EjBzFxWqKoDehEYnPTr9uVwSbIxW52BG11w5SJRnjRx0LF-DV__bPJNK7W6OjSMSebsYdmvImFzEu2ir4b9K4HNe3E2f72wrGvRSn_3tGvlGdkt6WCg_Cr8AAquI1HvPv0LyMc/s2048/SEA+EAGLE+FLIGHT+RIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsafIg2EjBzFxWqKoDehEYnPTr9uVwSbIxW52BG11w5SJRnjRx0LF-DV__bPJNK7W6OjSMSebsYdmvImFzEu2ir4b9K4HNe3E2f72wrGvRSn_3tGvlGdkt6WCg_Cr8AAquI1HvPv0LyMc/w640-h426/SEA+EAGLE+FLIGHT+RIGHT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Like the osprey, sea eagles were exterminated from Scotland, the last ones nesting in 1916 on a steepling sea cliff on the Isle of Sky. I enjoyed the privilege of making a film for David Attenborough’s BBC One series about their remarkably successful reintroduction to Scotland between 1975 and 1985. Our film followed a few of the 75 translocated youngsters on their journey from nests along the cliffs of Norway to the Isle of Rum on Scotlands’ rugged west coast. Here they were raised by John Love and learnt the skills necessary for their survival and it is the same techniques that will hopefully prove triumphant down here on the Isle of White. They last nested here on Culver Cliff in 1780!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUG8pvTiZ-GjcxRL4q6YW2s5X9Aeryd1p3kMEcitaWvUst7u2ltKUtyjKG54jjMABbdyIPjBUAodqu9Y3TkHDloJAQAoGqXfu9rNYB0XBzjJwcAaX4GIjzwi9QpuLpG7JOU3cKves3Vo/s800/SEA+EAGLE+CATCH+PLASH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUG8pvTiZ-GjcxRL4q6YW2s5X9Aeryd1p3kMEcitaWvUst7u2ltKUtyjKG54jjMABbdyIPjBUAodqu9Y3TkHDloJAQAoGqXfu9rNYB0XBzjJwcAaX4GIjzwi9QpuLpG7JOU3cKves3Vo/w640-h426/SEA+EAGLE+CATCH+PLASH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two great pics were taken by friend and ace lensman Mike Read in Mull.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There are now one hundred and thirty territorial pairs of sea eagles in the UK and in spite of continuing persecution, numbers are increasing and providing substantial support for rural economies. These dramatic birds help raise £2.4 million on Skye and an impressive £5million on the Isle of Mull. You can read all the detail on Roy’s Wildlife Foundation Website - https://www.roydennis.org/<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTOwd8x0KkvzcYZ2b4NVfgxWgRtr0Mjy1pC9TO7a05M8KNVqv9JQBFfpRWmjsvIZr7xPoOMYFNK_UWJFjk00Q_msU4e3VepANnYS9tShnXp4dKZhtnbnumzQIIDbhagx9m9TDN10cAkI/s2048/RED+KITE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1557" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTOwd8x0KkvzcYZ2b4NVfgxWgRtr0Mjy1pC9TO7a05M8KNVqv9JQBFfpRWmjsvIZr7xPoOMYFNK_UWJFjk00Q_msU4e3VepANnYS9tShnXp4dKZhtnbnumzQIIDbhagx9m9TDN10cAkI/w640-h486/RED+KITE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This splendid pic was taken by ace photographer Laurie Campbell for our Catching the Impossible book<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yet another high flyer is also helping stressed rural economies, the extraordinary success of the recolonisation of red kites across much of its’ former range. Their numbers have reached an unbelievable 1,800 pairs and they are increasing every year. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyhXkeesYXUCIhZ5JALHrlFLYqMJ79jmPeVV6wnMvQR1KMrNAjkf6_nCOGxrcpaSw79GVZPIw30i8lVuTMzcERFpyjZickeFuLyHax21knyrXkeDG7E3aeQ1pl-aSAKj1e8Bfx2MsU34/s1280/IMG_20210403_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyhXkeesYXUCIhZ5JALHrlFLYqMJ79jmPeVV6wnMvQR1KMrNAjkf6_nCOGxrcpaSw79GVZPIw30i8lVuTMzcERFpyjZickeFuLyHax21knyrXkeDG7E3aeQ1pl-aSAKj1e8Bfx2MsU34/w640-h434/IMG_20210403_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, it still shocks us that not so long ago we had to travel to remote valleys in West Wales to see one of only a dozen surviving red kites but can now look up and see red kites circling over our Dorset garden. Every one is a moment of magic.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfdOaVHFsdFd25e_UIQvWj7C1g8gonoHB6yjTqUcUPY6HaiGaLOyOSuiF6r-NcfOiYONwxZMD-3IMrey1io4AoU0gR6CEHw-X7JHqhkxneNvnzbF0Oo5KAJcqrfijPeWuy8VPJos3g6s/s1280/IMG_20210403_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfdOaVHFsdFd25e_UIQvWj7C1g8gonoHB6yjTqUcUPY6HaiGaLOyOSuiF6r-NcfOiYONwxZMD-3IMrey1io4AoU0gR6CEHw-X7JHqhkxneNvnzbF0Oo5KAJcqrfijPeWuy8VPJos3g6s/w640-h442/IMG_20210403_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So thanks to all these inspiring conservation initiatives and years of hard work, there is a lot of good news out there, so instead of walking head down, look up and be amazed by all these high flyers overhead. These truly are exciting times - WOW indeed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpYFDHLzDaXzOiCYIP6r-s-amJC67sNX6AL8fLnnJn4J_c6ZioPElvodosd7FI1SqZNRBr5n3Kd3T2iL8DJmzXRM9yeLSLFaHC2u9DAIsrwN9PK97UB2aWZ9TVocEJYoU51r4kscjyXw/s1024/ORPREY+FLYING+WITH+RUDD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1024" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpYFDHLzDaXzOiCYIP6r-s-amJC67sNX6AL8fLnnJn4J_c6ZioPElvodosd7FI1SqZNRBr5n3Kd3T2iL8DJmzXRM9yeLSLFaHC2u9DAIsrwN9PK97UB2aWZ9TVocEJYoU51r4kscjyXw/w640-h538/ORPREY+FLYING+WITH+RUDD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><p></p><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-3882394878025328542021-03-11T05:16:00.004+00:002021-03-12T21:22:52.113+00:00SAVING WILDLIFE - SNOW LEOPARD<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_grvzJ01xy0dmk2CKwlKzSf0wDr-cuv4E3moGvCHiRE-ptfr7ug-LgrXXsO6xh9QBFSCXr4RA_KPzXBYyaYp24Sa8GQ_MzTGER4oQQW3nk2AC6N_BfHz41OypCS0Wkl9RN7GnvloxqXA/s2048/GARY+HODGES+PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="2048" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_grvzJ01xy0dmk2CKwlKzSf0wDr-cuv4E3moGvCHiRE-ptfr7ug-LgrXXsO6xh9QBFSCXr4RA_KPzXBYyaYp24Sa8GQ_MzTGER4oQQW3nk2AC6N_BfHz41OypCS0Wkl9RN7GnvloxqXA/w640-h534/GARY+HODGES+PORTRAIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG8tmZTmFbijswIITt5KqCQTbpqdm9VEOF1ruxH3Dyhe_kQtDW7p9PVvkrZalVESsLCuZjcT6u-yxiANO4Ua_ERUaF76AeFdSEvnrMnrDufIJuSXBv4Q0kjwRCiXoAx_YX0B6iKfGpGk/s1280/CAMERA+IN+HIMALAYAS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1280" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG8tmZTmFbijswIITt5KqCQTbpqdm9VEOF1ruxH3Dyhe_kQtDW7p9PVvkrZalVESsLCuZjcT6u-yxiANO4Ua_ERUaF76AeFdSEvnrMnrDufIJuSXBv4Q0kjwRCiXoAx_YX0B6iKfGpGk/w640-h384/CAMERA+IN+HIMALAYAS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m6v6Hf2ni0pwK_ZnsE-NQrch2TsQVrVEe97QrjdfvVMNlTDWRHH3cdsvG5CdBUluJUS8kunmI2Gpg27h4oeYcU02880k4_qOqvWwavzHrFfsc-VEcBJ4BYCRho8_zXONcAyKwujQRMQ/s2695/GARY+HODGES+VERTICLE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2695" data-original-width="1167" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m6v6Hf2ni0pwK_ZnsE-NQrch2TsQVrVEe97QrjdfvVMNlTDWRHH3cdsvG5CdBUluJUS8kunmI2Gpg27h4oeYcU02880k4_qOqvWwavzHrFfsc-VEcBJ4BYCRho8_zXONcAyKwujQRMQ/w174-h400/GARY+HODGES+VERTICLE.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>“Some parts of our planet are so brutal that any animal surviving here acquires an almost mythical status.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the greatest mountain range in the world - the highest, the toughest, the most hostile - the Himalaya. Towering above India’s northern borders, these remote mountains are home to what may be the most glamorous animal on earth.<br /><br />Just to see one is a dream, to film one nigh impossible - this ghost like creature is the Holy Grail - the ultimate wildlife challenge - the snow leopard”.<br /> <br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those above are the opening words of narration for my film on this legendary cat, the first ever attempt at making a film about them. I have always loved cats and having made films about lions, leopards, tigers and mountain lions I had to try an even greater challenge. However, having read lots of scientific research and books, I was in no doubt about just how difficult it was going to be.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswFfvff-AU7ufiOUrhMOyujUQ9VS_rhSHvvCfPvTyOkji0Q-ZgJulIL5GbUqrJkKYNyTUdodBtvlloPJz76e2j30kpQPNbKLezim0DGXKCoBO2qgeVk3IjZMcdaKBK1H-7JsFVSJSEPw/s2048/HIMALAYAN+SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="2048" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswFfvff-AU7ufiOUrhMOyujUQ9VS_rhSHvvCfPvTyOkji0Q-ZgJulIL5GbUqrJkKYNyTUdodBtvlloPJz76e2j30kpQPNbKLezim0DGXKCoBO2qgeVk3IjZMcdaKBK1H-7JsFVSJSEPw/w640-h412/HIMALAYAN+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Recognised by many as the world’s pre-eminent field biologist, George Schaller described the mountains in which snow leopards live as “a land of just enough” and that refers not just to the animals but the human inhabitants too.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGK2LJ_OnEFdGtZpZ7hj1r0apz8j0_B4YE4vGe7yvrXA_ZS9mSOnBFqyyGBmMddqXfBIEGteBjYUGYMhOraK4b_LY6WooPlFNOcCfrOpFEDElCLPpcWifmJRghc4Cmqluub3f4R4LfwM/s2048/MOUNTAIN+SCENIC+%252B+SN.L+FOOTPRINTS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGK2LJ_OnEFdGtZpZ7hj1r0apz8j0_B4YE4vGe7yvrXA_ZS9mSOnBFqyyGBmMddqXfBIEGteBjYUGYMhOraK4b_LY6WooPlFNOcCfrOpFEDElCLPpcWifmJRghc4Cmqluub3f4R4LfwM/w640-h446/MOUNTAIN+SCENIC+%252B+SN.L+FOOTPRINTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The tracks of a snow leopard can be seen on the right of this photo and shows just how difficult it was to follow them with camera gear.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dap7G9SbRw4B2VdwcgpwYI5qIdAnSdzJYvJNPtl-hnOjx58kjLGQPSkBOaEUq1Pv3kmLyIMYOpLwuGeO0Z3CioikHhYOhN7xX-Cvw4ua-QSlFctcpyFxp64vOdsW2fmz43YsVhwglxE/s2048/STEEP+SIDED+SCENIC.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dap7G9SbRw4B2VdwcgpwYI5qIdAnSdzJYvJNPtl-hnOjx58kjLGQPSkBOaEUq1Pv3kmLyIMYOpLwuGeO0Z3CioikHhYOhN7xX-Cvw4ua-QSlFctcpyFxp64vOdsW2fmz43YsVhwglxE/w300-h400/STEEP+SIDED+SCENIC.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Like many mountain adventures, our quest was to end in tears and triumph and for one of us, the dream became a nightmare, his determination driving him close to death, no surprise I guess when trying to conquer this Everest of the natural world.<br /><br />Ex Australian marine Mitchell Kelly was my main cameraman and in the first couple of years he achieved great success. For instance, snow leopards had never been seen mating, let alone filmed but Mitchell rose to the challenge and succeeded, along with many other firsts. We also managed to film a lot of intimate scenes and got to know how and where they moved around in their precipitous terrain.<br /><br />However, he had to be evacuated from the mountains three times, once for torn stomach muscles from carrying heavy camera equipment up steep mountain sides, then more seriously, from altitude sickness twice, the last time nearly killing him. It was an immense relief that he survived but from then on the film became a damage limitation exercise.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjmcWNom97sVTrOU1rdHRkQY5WYwK2HMLZfC0tzJR5SE7oND6T-5i0j7ei3GoNKwsvEyfmlmAYjxSi7DNYDb6083PCNikPYXiCdhf7buFq7Gf30TwydgndBRS5jfvJEVlwzOqyLCvGz4/s2048/CHIP+IN+THE+MTS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1969" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjmcWNom97sVTrOU1rdHRkQY5WYwK2HMLZfC0tzJR5SE7oND6T-5i0j7ei3GoNKwsvEyfmlmAYjxSi7DNYDb6083PCNikPYXiCdhf7buFq7Gf30TwydgndBRS5jfvJEVlwzOqyLCvGz4/w385-h400/CHIP+IN+THE+MTS.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><br />We had already suffered tragedy when my original colleague and close friend on the quest, Chip Houseman was killed in a Thai Airlines crash just days before we were due to start filming. We had made an Academy Award winning film together on tigers in India and it was during the filming that we hatched a plan to tackle this unconquered challenge.<br /><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is not going to be a story of how we made the film, even if we did manage to complete a film about these beautiful cats and learn a lot about how they lived in the unforgiving Himalayas of Ladakh in NW India.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspSe8CzYgZCv83HdmMHbM8MQatLgNc8BiXa8NH863x6HaUMS5B1o3WUHaSwn2pGv5YFMTK94LDOWGPJf5RPl5e7BjZMbvEs1kpWXLQ6d-yjo29NGhw9ohFNCA4BTXVA_WmYEarV8CvTk/s2048/LOVELY+CAMPING+WEATHER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1637" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspSe8CzYgZCv83HdmMHbM8MQatLgNc8BiXa8NH863x6HaUMS5B1o3WUHaSwn2pGv5YFMTK94LDOWGPJf5RPl5e7BjZMbvEs1kpWXLQ6d-yjo29NGhw9ohFNCA4BTXVA_WmYEarV8CvTk/w512-h640/LOVELY+CAMPING+WEATHER.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I would lay awake at night, not because I couldn’t sleep in a tent with a broken zip in minus twenty temperatures but because it was the best time to hear the mating calls of the cats. Their high pitched screams would carry a long way through the valleys and give us an idea of where they were located and interestingly, those descriptions by mountaineers thinking they were hearing the yeti calling in the night were actually snow leopards!<br /><br />I met an English school teacher in Bhutan who described seeing a yeti in a snowstorm on a high pass. It stood by the road edge looking at him, similar to a large grey langur monkey but more like human size, then shuffled off into the trees. When you consider that Bhutan is covered by 60% of dense forest and bamboo and impenetrable, it is easy to hide a large primate from prying human eyes. So yeti’s do exist!<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That’s a story for another time, so back to snow leopards and our struggles to film them and though our story only scratched the surface, the film was shown on prime time ITV and around the world to big audiences. However, our main achievement was to prove to the wildlife film-making world that snow leopards could indeed be filmed and like my previous story about pumas in the Andes of Patagonia, several film crews followed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW20xLm_V9ced2HSjA20CSEzY0XMVjVZ5rlhN0TmaQQmOxn5FDvQh1SI7x4aTNQMHj3JuIau6Dxv7ri5UBwzK2omjQAhv3tW5hgbvUSJuf8Sy5H4g12wpwmB4VviZJCQQ2glp5c8ZVMM/s2048/RADIO+TIMES+AND+DAVID%2527S+PIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW20xLm_V9ced2HSjA20CSEzY0XMVjVZ5rlhN0TmaQQmOxn5FDvQh1SI7x4aTNQMHj3JuIau6Dxv7ri5UBwzK2omjQAhv3tW5hgbvUSJuf8Sy5H4g12wpwmB4VviZJCQQ2glp5c8ZVMM/w640-h460/RADIO+TIMES+AND+DAVID%2527S+PIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnblagXDmV5sw7wIrNY5NkuhnbprWKqYEniYyB1DJvLzbjmb5fdry7I_QCcP3REcIGdxRdxd-uJUWCfIWVyyGy7VQZq-NvUsKlMvG4JpTcOKRbGXarP8136xv2_MhKkwQtqSGDQaggbc/s1294/DAVID+AND+MATEO+WILLIS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1294" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnblagXDmV5sw7wIrNY5NkuhnbprWKqYEniYyB1DJvLzbjmb5fdry7I_QCcP3REcIGdxRdxd-uJUWCfIWVyyGy7VQZq-NvUsKlMvG4JpTcOKRbGXarP8136xv2_MhKkwQtqSGDQaggbc/w640-h480/DAVID+AND+MATEO+WILLIS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Most notable was cameraman Mateo Willis, the son of a great friend, David Willis who took the wonderful Radio Times pic. I was able to help Mateo a bit on location details etc. and he and his colleagues from the BBC filmed some amazing behaviour for David Attenborough’s series ‘Planet Earth 2’ and if you saw it, you would never forget. The images of three snow leopards and their violent behaviour as a mother defended her cub from an aggressive male were magical.<br /><br />The result of all this filming success in our chosen valleys in Ladakh is the direct way it has saved snow leopards from persecution, for just as with my pumas, tourists want to see the mythical cats. The local people are as delightful as humans get and were extraordinarily helpful during our filming and they have since become the perfect hosts for tourists seeking snow leopards.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0kTJ3rwMBWDYqkhVzpq0U0wuLdfGgegb6SN8jh8o-Mo_4XOLgxX3CWTf4GKnfp0ZzTKQogYke_wSLTGnMo1knpoo87h8bjOYjhJQTAn3FD_3wFxqRyPXVl7aYUwjAj21Us_POlYY1xk/s2048/HAPPY+GANG+AT+END+OF+TRIP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0kTJ3rwMBWDYqkhVzpq0U0wuLdfGgegb6SN8jh8o-Mo_4XOLgxX3CWTf4GKnfp0ZzTKQogYke_wSLTGnMo1knpoo87h8bjOYjhJQTAn3FD_3wFxqRyPXVl7aYUwjAj21Us_POlYY1xk/w640-h424/HAPPY+GANG+AT+END+OF+TRIP.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This is our terrific team of Ladakhi helpers who were wonderful companions, some of whome are guiding tourists up there right now. The high ridge above them was a favourite patrol route for snow leopards in the evenings - sometimes!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFqPjSwHjKv3KjCpk-TdGTpcfaA6h6fGrKNydbxGZT1rR9xx-ItHg3IfShwZ02VnglTkO_b0b9tW_WWj0NUDYi48coP7odhE5ZmoLq1sxs1phE4KULJEbJJ1T0wcbGzsACpy-0VzP3xw/s2424/SNOW+LEOPARD+WALK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2424" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFqPjSwHjKv3KjCpk-TdGTpcfaA6h6fGrKNydbxGZT1rR9xx-ItHg3IfShwZ02VnglTkO_b0b9tW_WWj0NUDYi48coP7odhE5ZmoLq1sxs1phE4KULJEbJJ1T0wcbGzsACpy-0VzP3xw/w640-h290/SNOW+LEOPARD+WALK.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Attracting tourists was the brain child of the world’s leading snow leopard scientist, Rodney Jackson [who is on the right of our happy snap] and who took this picture of our star cat with his remote cameras. He rightly argued that if the wildlife was worth lots of dollars to the rural economy, they would be looked after by the locals instead of persecuted for killing their sheep and goats. So he encouraged the locals to set up ‘home stays’ for tourists in the tiny mountain villages near the main travel corridors of the cats.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK9MK2AqsB4b4K02bK0bRmR5jZDY0YGq0fbvE7-huDvIuS2staQd9n19kTW0ClKg5Tua2cUev8iuvbMvSP-DIT8ajQ9Nvzgmq424lN6jDJZSosJ06jdmGmQsakjsSqjK8y6P2tjJahQY/s1280/VILLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK9MK2AqsB4b4K02bK0bRmR5jZDY0YGq0fbvE7-huDvIuS2staQd9n19kTW0ClKg5Tua2cUev8iuvbMvSP-DIT8ajQ9Nvzgmq424lN6jDJZSosJ06jdmGmQsakjsSqjK8y6P2tjJahQY/w640-h432/VILLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One entertaining story from the village which I'm assured is true is of a young girl who took out the family's sheep and goat herd for their daily feed int the hills. It wasn't long before a snow leopard rushed out of the mountain side and grabbed a sheep and the girl, instead of running away, rushed forward and grabbed the other end of her sheep. A tug of war followed and eventually the snow leopard let go and slunk away into the mountains. One sheep saved by a young girls bravery!<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My friend Mateo Willis who filmed the wonderful snow leopard behaviour for Attenborough’s ‘Planet Earth’ close to this village told me recently that the remote mountains where we filmed in the ’90’s have now become a honey pot for wildlife seeking visitors from abroad and the valleys are full of tents and telescopes. </span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbcwmHzrKYDhW1FHifZD51GK8yc516n0MEPnl9SzDThqsp5hAWmEIHbQObxA_E2hwvQWr4mjeE6-haYiLfzHAgeJSSDXoQeFsNiK8BMIz8ASp-wNVasEkq9NmQ_ApOxofayfdI5F4PWs/s1280/HUGH+TELESCOPE+LOOKING.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="858" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbcwmHzrKYDhW1FHifZD51GK8yc516n0MEPnl9SzDThqsp5hAWmEIHbQObxA_E2hwvQWr4mjeE6-haYiLfzHAgeJSSDXoQeFsNiK8BMIz8ASp-wNVasEkq9NmQ_ApOxofayfdI5F4PWs/w429-h640/HUGH+TELESCOPE+LOOKING.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He also said that the cats have become more tolerant of humans, just as our pumas did in the Andes Mountains and this has now made them easier to see. So it's a win win result all round.<br /><br />Given the recent skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese armies on the Ladakhi border nearby, this tourist hot spot wouldn’t be a healthy place to be right now, but we are praying that all the snow leopards survive and flourish as they have done these last few years.<br /><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our films legacy was a small contribution to start the ball rolling in environmental tourism in our chosen patch but you could argue that the peace and tranquility of the area has been spoilt. Maybe George Schaller would think that ‘the land of just enough’ has become ‘a land of too much’, but a lot of wildlife has been flourishing, including the rare and endangered snow leopard and this in turn has allowed many folk to enjoy seeing this mythical creature for the first time.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02eSywl4BW3_bmg3fxpvMr7LSqyOHaqwJlmEj1Tnm3redopA88PV1k0AKKlbEkNCXUVJxM5d-kYXqOvDIyE6r5ogdzq8fbR5rawBKdms0XJc9hIYiwnVxW0j2Ym_LvhhK7y3Z33frFFM/s3847/GARY+HODGES+SL+FULL+LENGTH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="3847" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02eSywl4BW3_bmg3fxpvMr7LSqyOHaqwJlmEj1Tnm3redopA88PV1k0AKKlbEkNCXUVJxM5d-kYXqOvDIyE6r5ogdzq8fbR5rawBKdms0XJc9hIYiwnVxW0j2Ym_LvhhK7y3Z33frFFM/w640-h112/GARY+HODGES+SL+FULL+LENGTH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Given the increasing climate crisis makes me wonder if an increase in wildlife tourism is such a good idea but that’s a debate for another time. However, it’s a likely truth that if wildlife isn’t worth money it’s unlikely to survive and for better or worse, that’s a contribution that television has made a reality.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The wonderful drawings of snow leopards are by that leading artist Gary Hodges, so thank you for sending them to me Gary.<br /><br /></span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-65534962994073874112021-01-30T17:15:00.187+00:002021-03-11T01:41:39.837+00:00SAVING WILDLIFE - PUMA<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <u>SAVING WILDLIFE - PART ONE - PUMA</u></b> <br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g223MeMmsbAgaky5AmX_Eq968pLRHQn-VDaxw-Ixj1b7eTW3XKPLEivKKHDeAv0-Z69smFlmhrwmbYrHGuLeS84_0or0VcaqiEF6WjFf5h2J77iFEVolnC1DqUvx9UgLGwytd7RpIzw/s2048/puma23a+L.Campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1332" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g223MeMmsbAgaky5AmX_Eq968pLRHQn-VDaxw-Ixj1b7eTW3XKPLEivKKHDeAv0-Z69smFlmhrwmbYrHGuLeS84_0or0VcaqiEF6WjFf5h2J77iFEVolnC1DqUvx9UgLGwytd7RpIzw/w416-h640/puma23a+L.Campbell.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Having been passionate about wildlife since childhood, it seemed natural to want to help it flourish, so once I'd achieved my goal of becoming a wildlife film-maker, it was a no brainer to try to benefit the animals I was lucky enough to make films about for broadcasters around the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Three programmes stand out as examples of how television can directly help wildlife, the local people and their rural economies. One on Snow Leopards in the Himalayas was a success, a film about Newfoundland's fishing industry very moving and one about Pumas in the Andes Mountains of Patagonia a life saver for those big cats.<br /> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylVTVSEhnH0vv_DmDZOlikgY4TkCNNPlz3tDCe4EieK6NrILCdCqOnosinnqTmcAhkF6HvtWS_sDW5z11-pQDgBwTD6uPR0AHIX1wi7BKHb3DD5OT_NuTWweoLWJS80XwrbeWC1IWhFA/s2048/andeancondor3a+L.Campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylVTVSEhnH0vv_DmDZOlikgY4TkCNNPlz3tDCe4EieK6NrILCdCqOnosinnqTmcAhkF6HvtWS_sDW5z11-pQDgBwTD6uPR0AHIX1wi7BKHb3DD5OT_NuTWweoLWJS80XwrbeWC1IWhFA/w640-h416/andeancondor3a+L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I know the common attitude is that ‘it’s only television and all the programmes are rubbish’ but no-one can deny that the many BBC films with David Attenborough are wonderful and have not only entertained but educated us about wildlife around the world and the increasing challenges that so many species now face. Global warming is a threat to us all and Sir David is making us increasingly aware that we need to act and we need to act now. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve been privileged to contribute to several of David’s films and though the three examples I’ll tell you about were my own productions and less 'important', they did directly benefit the local wildlife in ways that make me proud.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQlJjJFXu_IOfoqMD5Wnf-oMG-bdPFWY1GHrTGweXKrIacOzLSmKvCLLpedOA5JmSESSiwyPDXsvL79VJUGL1PKu71GHhOiGSA7I1oOt0GU0wOFo0b0KvU1qiDrF_IfdBOYHXp2ndpDk/s2048/puma26a+L.Campbell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQlJjJFXu_IOfoqMD5Wnf-oMG-bdPFWY1GHrTGweXKrIacOzLSmKvCLLpedOA5JmSESSiwyPDXsvL79VJUGL1PKu71GHhOiGSA7I1oOt0GU0wOFo0b0KvU1qiDrF_IfdBOYHXp2ndpDk/w640-h416/puma26a+L.Campbell.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">
<b> </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> “PUMA - LION OF THE ANDES” </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkILArNl4SXY1DmETVkG9wPWWuJP_wJrRVVihSvhXtL1LoSHZc02tAgKUv9GndXSaGImadJNvd7shDfcZyXTN_jUUW0_AebcHIZ-PJUsdf8cZNNUPH4WBvvAsGp3SSMptRs9S8qqVF8PE/s1628/HM+IN+SARMIENTO+DAWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1628" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkILArNl4SXY1DmETVkG9wPWWuJP_wJrRVVihSvhXtL1LoSHZc02tAgKUv9GndXSaGImadJNvd7shDfcZyXTN_jUUW0_AebcHIZ-PJUsdf8cZNNUPH4WBvvAsGp3SSMptRs9S8qqVF8PE/w640-h468/HM+IN+SARMIENTO+DAWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Heading into the mountains in Southern Chile in 1993 to try to make a film about pumas for National Geographic TV and the BBC was a daunting task, not only because they had never been filmed before but because they were persecuted relentlessly by the local gauchos for killing sheep. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These big cats are notoriously shy everywhere, so much so that the world’s leading authority on them, who goes by the wonderful name of Maurice Hornocker only saw them four times during his eight years of study in North America. Up in the Rockies they are called cougars or mountain lions and in South America by the native name puma, meaning ‘strong and powerful'.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhrqMfKwGEhlTnsjopzVVu-36JvUSemBn49O6OBmm4VI6cZOB5zLc_oYJqXWbvYwFJ-cB7d83IrdfYsjIcDhklADRLAzQqH5jCY_IeRGjqBmhetxq1-tOaCiQTWm3EzQ0jMISASmdCpM/s2048/puma2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhrqMfKwGEhlTnsjopzVVu-36JvUSemBn49O6OBmm4VI6cZOB5zLc_oYJqXWbvYwFJ-cB7d83IrdfYsjIcDhklADRLAzQqH5jCY_IeRGjqBmhetxq1-tOaCiQTWm3EzQ0jMISASmdCpM/w640-h424/puma2b.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxu-GUCuM6h2ygsFL97ruje5djJat8SNtEVcT21hFrpQGf5ec26NqrFzS0MpNmBHDcLRwCH_DcDWUs6NVAzNH3-2gDcHfWOBJ4lO2UjcL1KorRXg1hDp5NhbZo0sQFoQ_kUZVXOdc_VI/s1612/TENTS+IN+SNOW.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1612" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxu-GUCuM6h2ygsFL97ruje5djJat8SNtEVcT21hFrpQGf5ec26NqrFzS0MpNmBHDcLRwCH_DcDWUs6NVAzNH3-2gDcHfWOBJ4lO2UjcL1KorRXg1hDp5NhbZo0sQFoQ_kUZVXOdc_VI/w400-h265/TENTS+IN+SNOW.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I was camping out in the glorious wilds of the Torres del Paine National Park but despite the protection this Unesco site provided for wildlife, the gauchos would come into the park and kill the pumas to protect their sheep, then claim the bounties from their estancia owners. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBapBFuesxy35jdS-v5XnV9MNU1qM9Huqi_HRcE5QJuUWPwwz3iuLiYwApC7Br_AMmNGbsZEARQbrk4AsuYjbsQk2aTG3wckC7CQbPw59I2AaM0Pcxt95ygcPDbrnGWk9-2vcB9RmGE8/s1542/AUTUMN+SCENIC+REFLECTIONS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1542" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBapBFuesxy35jdS-v5XnV9MNU1qM9Huqi_HRcE5QJuUWPwwz3iuLiYwApC7Br_AMmNGbsZEARQbrk4AsuYjbsQk2aTG3wckC7CQbPw59I2AaM0Pcxt95ygcPDbrnGWk9-2vcB9RmGE8/w640-h434/AUTUMN+SCENIC+REFLECTIONS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My sole companion and assistant Donaldo McIver, himself a gaucho from Argentina, found the early stages of our two year quest really difficult, for the big cats would flee at the mere hint of a human presence. Finding out where the cats might be and how to creep around without being seen was a steep learning curve and after our first few weeks we had only a few sightings and hardly any worthwhile film. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Failure wasn’t an option, so I decided to try to concentrate on one particular young female we'd located. She seemed slightly less scared than all the others and playing on the theory that ‘curiosity killed the cat’, I started a game of cat and mouse to try to habituate her to my presence … and no prizes for guessing who was playing the mouse. Progress was slow but after about four months she allowed me to walk in the mountains with her, even sleeping just a few metres away from my camera. Being trusted by a big cat that is normally terrified of humans is as good as life gets for a wildlife film-maker.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nPf02GQ9BFEatdWTQju2SsdOdEibv_n5YzcFsq95CPWxV-KPvihaBNPXE5nPGPuwWRr2Wc41s_Rfo0CMzZVwbtDqAbZMhD2XfMGHdGtAREAZwe4d5IVeB2tDnsn6QaFnnguv-llHyeY/s2048/FRONT+COVER+CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1904" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nPf02GQ9BFEatdWTQju2SsdOdEibv_n5YzcFsq95CPWxV-KPvihaBNPXE5nPGPuwWRr2Wc41s_Rfo0CMzZVwbtDqAbZMhD2XfMGHdGtAREAZwe4d5IVeB2tDnsn6QaFnnguv-llHyeY/w596-h640/FRONT+COVER+CU.jpg" width="596" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, her life hung by a thread, for one day two of the local gauchos illegally entered the National Park on horseback. They were armed with rifles and fifteen assorted dogs to hunt and kill pumas and judging by the blood and spent cartridge cases in several caves, they were successful. Our cat we called Penny disappeared and we sat on a mountain side fearing the worst, tearfully accepting that if she was dead, our dream of success was over. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3l8IcRVzrsOD-VEeYJeODgDDDSz8UrGNj8_zsEXewBvL-Pq2zou9tNtnPoL2B-n8Cyl2glowaexSio7hJRJ1EuCyWEpd26bTUy8vi8CEguBH1DJ0rsRCjV3t-CL7f5pWfCFuv7jRI8Q/s1480/MOODY+MTS+OVER+LAKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1480" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3l8IcRVzrsOD-VEeYJeODgDDDSz8UrGNj8_zsEXewBvL-Pq2zou9tNtnPoL2B-n8Cyl2glowaexSio7hJRJ1EuCyWEpd26bTUy8vi8CEguBH1DJ0rsRCjV3t-CL7f5pWfCFuv7jRI8Q/w640-h432/MOODY+MTS+OVER+LAKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The park authorities called the police, including a firearm specialist from Santiago to analyse the spent cartridge cases but no gaucho would be fool enough to leave out the gun that killed the pumas, so there was no prosecution. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, Penny had survived the onslaught and after our two weeks of desperate searching, she reappeared in her regular haunts and though more nervous, we were once again in business. Fearing that our film was threatened, Donny and I decided to bribe the leading gaucho in the hope he would leave our precious cat alive until the film was finished. So armed with armfuls of pesos, my assistant Donny’s experience as a gaucho and speaking their language, he was able to negotiate a stay of execution and Penny was left alive. So, to cut a long story short, after 250 days out in the wilds with my cat, spread over two and a half years, the film was completed and went on to win numerous awards.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe8S_NWv-oZX0GP55uv0kH9Ugr0GT1COEeun3AKD9UYXaVjMf97Z9e59BNwOQeNOJ5naKFrnGGMGI36qGjM3wJjX1cNLPBSU6vUku76RE2Od9k3ctcQpzZt218F24MHxnQq1a-VvW3TE/s2048/puma6a+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe8S_NWv-oZX0GP55uv0kH9Ugr0GT1COEeun3AKD9UYXaVjMf97Z9e59BNwOQeNOJ5naKFrnGGMGI36qGjM3wJjX1cNLPBSU6vUku76RE2Od9k3ctcQpzZt218F24MHxnQq1a-VvW3TE/w640-h416/puma6a+.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">However, the real success achieved by this film was the way it attracted the attention of broadcasters from around the world and many film crews followed my tracks to make films about the cats. Torres del Paine became a mecca for photographers and wildlife film-makers and this publicity of the park’s wildlife and beauty has attracted thousands of tourists and their dollars. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This sounds like bad news for shy cats but as the money flowed in to the rural economy, the estancia owners realised that pumas were worth a lot more than sheep so stopped shooting the cats and set up lodging for wildlife tourists instead. The dollars flowed in, the number of pumas increased and they slowly became more habituated to humans which allowed great film and pictures to be taken.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qcvymTipkRlu_XboTrspcD6VxMTwf54QlCJzeRsQ5GP4o4vRyvsNxcK6FgJMSQ6QIXHeA3CLJ6Uiwfzt59vlZZja0B7nacQdEXuYhuFLwInVVUmueol9z8rfKOytXH38fwsk-H-KKeU/s2048/puma20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qcvymTipkRlu_XboTrspcD6VxMTwf54QlCJzeRsQ5GP4o4vRyvsNxcK6FgJMSQ6QIXHeA3CLJ6Uiwfzt59vlZZja0B7nacQdEXuYhuFLwInVVUmueol9z8rfKOytXH38fwsk-H-KKeU/w640-h428/puma20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm told by friends who visit the park regularly that the pumas have thrived ever since and everyone is happy, though I’m not so sure that guanacos, their main prey will share my enthusiasm. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUNq6qCvarhUJzIEVjityj9k9Wzv4iX4wvzMiyEYij2t8lVl8Fu8lTkJSzAK0k9JK0mSBh8c8I-DbzmYNDcmTi8HA73_pNv_0zTo7wn3cxyWe-A7qLN_vne78AuSYPqdWuiCdCqq3MFc/s1563/SKYLINE+G+AT+SUNRISE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1563" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUNq6qCvarhUJzIEVjityj9k9Wzv4iX4wvzMiyEYij2t8lVl8Fu8lTkJSzAK0k9JK0mSBh8c8I-DbzmYNDcmTi8HA73_pNv_0zTo7wn3cxyWe-A7qLN_vne78AuSYPqdWuiCdCqq3MFc/w640-h426/SKYLINE+G+AT+SUNRISE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />However, they too have benefited from the more relaxed estancia owners and all the parks wildlife has increased too, so this is good example of how a ‘mere’ television film can directly save wildlife. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Snow Leopards in the Himalayas and the benefits our film and BBC ones made for these charasmatic cats and the local economy will follow when I've finished preparing our marsh for the imminent spawning of our frogs.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFZb_UIXTugIGrgqs0vlYSR2NqjiccgrTzw2pFubYK_WHT4mCtPFV_ypWnYdrJMqJyulnnoqOcjoC7c-DyTMLtkFlzHs3pMSf2J22IHOjPSLR__pVXi03NF9femh7xEdv3rrqA2z26cQ/s2048/MOUNTAIN+SCENIC+%252B+SN.L+FOOTPRINTS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFZb_UIXTugIGrgqs0vlYSR2NqjiccgrTzw2pFubYK_WHT4mCtPFV_ypWnYdrJMqJyulnnoqOcjoC7c-DyTMLtkFlzHs3pMSf2J22IHOjPSLR__pVXi03NF9femh7xEdv3rrqA2z26cQ/w640-h446/MOUNTAIN+SCENIC+%252B+SN.L+FOOTPRINTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The pics of our Penny the Puma are by my friend and ace photographer Laurie Campbell who joined Donaldo and I for a couple of weeks and who owns the copyright. Thank you Laurie.<br /></span></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-26070903011301145132020-12-25T08:29:00.001+00:002021-03-16T09:49:58.481+00:00HAPPY DAYS WITH FRIENDS<p> <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXo-1j8NNgbv-zWZnsqAOdisnirj6tAka6OY89KRDZpbP7bsQMbiMJHLa8Ibhx8FPNEiFpS9K7WscTJY8TnoRV2I9qAyGxeusktOQk-z46sJSwM22mW-Zk-UQoAII_xdmSEJN5HSlNMM/s1214/HUGH+ON+WYE+-+MARTIN%2527S+STUNNER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1214" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXo-1j8NNgbv-zWZnsqAOdisnirj6tAka6OY89KRDZpbP7bsQMbiMJHLa8Ibhx8FPNEiFpS9K7WscTJY8TnoRV2I9qAyGxeusktOQk-z46sJSwM22mW-Zk-UQoAII_xdmSEJN5HSlNMM/w640-h426/HUGH+ON+WYE+-+MARTIN%2527S+STUNNER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Christmas - a time to celebrate our days of joy with family and friends during these past years and to look forward to many more wildlife and fishing adventures during this next year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH77MfUAmQxG6JOP2AYIIGdoJK2CooOynmVCFNSPjJm2ZA4eD5ODMN73hoc8IlmXtwbnTWL0NoUdE5TRNYiGwS1uCCdlYs-0I43o-hpxy17q7g5QxNod3-X7ynpEWHpaxMLCjMusQK0CY/s1103/SUE%252C+PENNY+AND+MICHAEL+IN+DUNES+-+ISLAY.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1103" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH77MfUAmQxG6JOP2AYIIGdoJK2CooOynmVCFNSPjJm2ZA4eD5ODMN73hoc8IlmXtwbnTWL0NoUdE5TRNYiGwS1uCCdlYs-0I43o-hpxy17q7g5QxNod3-X7ynpEWHpaxMLCjMusQK0CY/w400-h300/SUE%252C+PENNY+AND+MICHAEL+IN+DUNES+-+ISLAY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Yes, we’re well aware that a virus is running riot so for now, all of us will keep ourselves isolated from our nearest and dearest and try to stay alive … and if Sue and I don’t succeed, this could serve as a goodbye!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicokIbIBaq3PoVmdIs8SZFBde-KO08FcZC9tJOv8_Qcvl7WAIb_YlDIXo8RNC2uG4CtIxEzGoQ1HijXev5wMo3Re9NuiWs-kHHEP_TOphYIL2iiVnXJn6lQuu8A2n_EmSIdXKEJg8upFU/s1280/HUGH+AND+SUE+%252B+FLAGS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicokIbIBaq3PoVmdIs8SZFBde-KO08FcZC9tJOv8_Qcvl7WAIb_YlDIXo8RNC2uG4CtIxEzGoQ1HijXev5wMo3Re9NuiWs-kHHEP_TOphYIL2iiVnXJn6lQuu8A2n_EmSIdXKEJg8upFU/w640-h480/HUGH+AND+SUE+%252B+FLAGS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />But before we leave … and contrary to most people’s attitude to writing Christmas cards, I really enjoy the process because it means our friends are instantly on my mind and the more I write in each card, the longer I’m with them in spirit, regardless of not having seen them for years. This enables us to pass on our news and love and every card is rewarding because for a moment, they’ve been right there with us.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r7meJ755Yme_6523NRaX6JRtzmINv51GkXasmOnzLvPaypUkboZpzSnMGcfgz0kl7y1jij9_8LdNhN3nhxvPvQ-354S_JvPawJ0RKSn6O9Mwk9JS9aIx0CpJzc9ldhGFEJsxnDacI1g/s1280/BERNARD+AND+MARTIN+%252B+PIKE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r7meJ755Yme_6523NRaX6JRtzmINv51GkXasmOnzLvPaypUkboZpzSnMGcfgz0kl7y1jij9_8LdNhN3nhxvPvQ-354S_JvPawJ0RKSn6O9Mwk9JS9aIx0CpJzc9ldhGFEJsxnDacI1g/w640-h426/BERNARD+AND+MARTIN+%252B+PIKE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sue and I are blessed to have so many to write to and I for one know it’s a privilege to share the fun of fishing with all my worm dangling friends. So I hope you enjoy sharing this selection of catches they’ve made during these past few years. And I'll start with those I fish with most, my computer guru and good pal Chris Wild, with whom I shared the excitement of stalking this beautiful 22lb common carp in the shallows of a local lake.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UYnHgSQv3t8PmQGYu5vzU7G1lDA5lxr4UNltHzVZervfs2rdhY0pt4uw2D0x_SikyA9tkPp4NznsN1hVuaVYVB8_w6AdVywJ7GWP3sXRaN3Ip-u2GevM_2VZan8H1JifW2oAwwqQAZU/s1280/CHRIS+W+%252B+22LB+COMMON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1280" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UYnHgSQv3t8PmQGYu5vzU7G1lDA5lxr4UNltHzVZervfs2rdhY0pt4uw2D0x_SikyA9tkPp4NznsN1hVuaVYVB8_w6AdVywJ7GWP3sXRaN3Ip-u2GevM_2VZan8H1JifW2oAwwqQAZU/w640-h486/CHRIS+W+%252B+22LB+COMMON.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next up is Steve Derby for he allows me the privilege of sharing his rig for mullet fishing in Christchurch Harbour and we had a splendid year of success, catching quite a few up to six and a bit pounds, along with some lovely roach. I know I’ve banged on about how hard mullet fight but if you’ve ever tried to land one, you’ll know that they never give up and in shallow water, the battles can be seriously exciting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohRXnbyZh4DzmmizAg69LDr7tPwrQ9duek3sYjSoBUuKNfpOiVwrZLIyzOmm-2UGtsjCrATzEH4RMltDfDs8KIqXqP2OjUVjyjSi82BcV2hFrz5SJGcmK6DCRfBQ7WN6De_R1Fd5Dvfk/s1280/STEVE+%252B+BIG+MULLET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohRXnbyZh4DzmmizAg69LDr7tPwrQ9duek3sYjSoBUuKNfpOiVwrZLIyzOmm-2UGtsjCrATzEH4RMltDfDs8KIqXqP2OjUVjyjSi82BcV2hFrz5SJGcmK6DCRfBQ7WN6De_R1Fd5Dvfk/w640-h480/STEVE+%252B+BIG+MULLET.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Also a fan of mullet madness is Steve’s long time friend, Brian Naylor, an ace angler who delights in making me jealous by telling stories of battles with giant sea trout in South America. We’ve shared a few scares together too as the feisty mullet try to break our line among the anchor chains.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrqTpN9en58O_cYx2roCLib2rkz4eJxYrTB6SZ7a1_jIx-LJRzUlIoTFm0n_QBJpcg2lYSbs0Ai5lmZlqaeMPt5d39UIAB8gTfe27PnBFLA1SspgpgfDJufaT8yejRw_Oq6iQIQEFkh8/s1280/BRIAN+%252B+MULLET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrqTpN9en58O_cYx2roCLib2rkz4eJxYrTB6SZ7a1_jIx-LJRzUlIoTFm0n_QBJpcg2lYSbs0Ai5lmZlqaeMPt5d39UIAB8gTfe27PnBFLA1SspgpgfDJufaT8yejRw_Oq6iQIQEFkh8/w640-h480/BRIAN+%252B+MULLET.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Another fish that pulls a bit is the Indian Mahseer and I enjoyed some wonderful holidays there in winter sunshine, having been invited to join Steve, Brian and not least that ace barbel angler who helped us with our TV series ‘Catching the Impossible’, Pete Reading. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gxg6gZYyJmExwkDPJyc6nxd73EydSLYbmNoZcwuKzsCbogqN4m9JeEdPIvymgmMh3pJN6Okzq7vAVIYoD2DXb5KxxvO5n3jDFw5Di8AnbpFPFL24IZQ6GXZm02qTffPHpimg02l56NE/s1280/PETE+%252B+12LB+AVON+BARBEL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gxg6gZYyJmExwkDPJyc6nxd73EydSLYbmNoZcwuKzsCbogqN4m9JeEdPIvymgmMh3pJN6Okzq7vAVIYoD2DXb5KxxvO5n3jDFw5Di8AnbpFPFL24IZQ6GXZm02qTffPHpimg02l56NE/w640-h428/PETE+%252B+12LB+AVON+BARBEL.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />He caught us a twelve pound barbel to order and had lots of big mahseer during our adventures and it’s such a shame that those holidays together are no longer possible because the great wildlife and birding we enjoyed was only matched by our laughter.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QSnzpU4D0ueKc5FOZf6P0JAkh57tlPArMByX5ze86Pbv7pK8dPyo_2DCNA-tPE-yCVtRjuGxC7df1NyGCkmo1XH7GdA7X2yE0aunLUSRlRkIzerfXyNRiZK7t4vt9O28bFzlTkgZk9E/s1280/PETE+R+%252B+BIG+MAHSEER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1280" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QSnzpU4D0ueKc5FOZf6P0JAkh57tlPArMByX5ze86Pbv7pK8dPyo_2DCNA-tPE-yCVtRjuGxC7df1NyGCkmo1XH7GdA7X2yE0aunLUSRlRkIzerfXyNRiZK7t4vt9O28bFzlTkgZk9E/w640-h466/PETE+R+%252B+BIG+MAHSEER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Another friend sharing our Indian trips was Gerry Higham. He got lucky and caught a fifty pounder that </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">for half an hour, </span>dragged him all over the river in his coracle. He's an all rounder so is just as keen on catching delicate crucian carp in one of our local lakes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx5DRRZo-2SPRd4CbmrBKtbBPCZHEK744Wedn682Pwti7gn495zjlLVrcvuo3V8DMyk6GvM5rHpFiO1ykQ1A07JsZ2Jz4ICBXycfmkElAADM8xx9hBE1-1tY5gJMv5Ierpjgxq6R2ZLM/s1280/GERRY+%252B+BIG+CRUCIAN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1280" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx5DRRZo-2SPRd4CbmrBKtbBPCZHEK744Wedn682Pwti7gn495zjlLVrcvuo3V8DMyk6GvM5rHpFiO1ykQ1A07JsZ2Jz4ICBXycfmkElAADM8xx9hBE1-1tY5gJMv5Ierpjgxq6R2ZLM/w640-h492/GERRY+%252B+BIG+CRUCIAN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Gerry is a lifelong follower of Manchester United and he kindly invited close friend Chris Yates and I to enjoy a match with the club we support, Southampton. Being in ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ was dramatic, with 70,000 fans cheering their teams and it must be very odd for the players today to compete in front of empty stands.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4wmMo2Pg4d9Mz-xTI-lbpmX-v4MgQ3pgQ7rHPeM7R1P9Ijm0sLoaSaRJsrKdUcdVmuacJ-fU4dhlgYVWgQbIYNUHIasPGHxEljLedoonQIEbYh03o7UyXxebVsHAzDsUHApWDqFsUPs/s1280/YATES+%252B+SCARF+AT+OLD+TRAFFORD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4wmMo2Pg4d9Mz-xTI-lbpmX-v4MgQ3pgQ7rHPeM7R1P9Ijm0sLoaSaRJsrKdUcdVmuacJ-fU4dhlgYVWgQbIYNUHIasPGHxEljLedoonQIEbYh03o7UyXxebVsHAzDsUHApWDqFsUPs/w640-h480/YATES+%252B+SCARF+AT+OLD+TRAFFORD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyoKFeZ252FyyZEp0ISaB8P8YWfxVSrsCsEqC9YvQQ8LXcGDkhyBUwezbCkNBaKpvtpMTDuyL7yaSznmculHLTlfRLijT585n1xZjf9iFGKEAToA3eLLCylaBIzND2Lggjdx7DMqgEIo/s1280/YATES+%252B+HM+AND+CRUCIANS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyoKFeZ252FyyZEp0ISaB8P8YWfxVSrsCsEqC9YvQQ8LXcGDkhyBUwezbCkNBaKpvtpMTDuyL7yaSznmculHLTlfRLijT585n1xZjf9iFGKEAToA3eLLCylaBIzND2Lggjdx7DMqgEIo/w454-h640/YATES+%252B+HM+AND+CRUCIANS.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br />Chris and I love our crucian fishing and have shared many memorable days trying to spot their sneaky bites ... and sometimes succeeding.<br /><br />Chris also loves his perching but on this occasion he’d forgotten his rod so, shock horror, he had to fish with one of my carbon ones and I promised not to tell anyone that he’d broken his tradition never to use such a modern monstrosity.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYc_xX_NtyGEGiXaOE1DPa7gIhloH_Y8ATRGvqIXa847XDTKUPj6NiXUhLN4xYol0dCU2t4SQ7bmNmnF7SOb1emDsy9kmjKK3i763A9OfjI4vT2MqbnMDi-JSyKkbIWEqU_bR78LSy0A/s1280/YATES+%252B+DONHEAD+PERCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYc_xX_NtyGEGiXaOE1DPa7gIhloH_Y8ATRGvqIXa847XDTKUPj6NiXUhLN4xYol0dCU2t4SQ7bmNmnF7SOb1emDsy9kmjKK3i763A9OfjI4vT2MqbnMDi-JSyKkbIWEqU_bR78LSy0A/w640-h480/YATES+%252B+DONHEAD+PERCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Though I do enjoy crucian fishing, especially with Chris, my first love is roaching and I particularly like this pic of Stuart Wilson, the legendary keeper at the LAA’s Britford fishery with a sparkler. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx03cgg7339jkV2rWx7FUKwUGs5VtpjNDh1VppBd5X0_V0P7ygSjAtHci2lbaIYRISj_ry7dkuh6sLlzUir_ekSpOFgDnebvJJWaq5kFAOL41VkwG5BxQ257DP4okZC6c_PRuzpdnJ5w/s1280/STUART+%252B+BRITFORD+ROACH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1280" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx03cgg7339jkV2rWx7FUKwUGs5VtpjNDh1VppBd5X0_V0P7ygSjAtHci2lbaIYRISj_ry7dkuh6sLlzUir_ekSpOFgDnebvJJWaq5kFAOL41VkwG5BxQ257DP4okZC6c_PRuzpdnJ5w/w640-h484/STUART+%252B+BRITFORD+ROACH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I have many friends who love their roaching, including Malcolm Swinfen and luckily we've shared several two pounders. We also exchange fishing stories by email and with Malcolm being a good writer, they make enjoyable reading.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7dzaEsFtS-6NPv8T1pMcBp2FDyH5lYdCckUTkUYAD3VyI8RnZ33yZF2ZyLOJ1I4ao2FV747gdp_GMf6qEZCvG8jzenEnSHMAlxTosednSbh-JkktmJ9LUNs4s9f1szwgdhPaltXcZVw/s1280/P1050563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1280" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7dzaEsFtS-6NPv8T1pMcBp2FDyH5lYdCckUTkUYAD3VyI8RnZ33yZF2ZyLOJ1I4ao2FV747gdp_GMf6qEZCvG8jzenEnSHMAlxTosednSbh-JkktmJ9LUNs4s9f1szwgdhPaltXcZVw/w640-h514/P1050563.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Many of our friends love catching big roach - of course they do, they are the best fish - and one who has done more than most for us anglers this last year by enabling us to start fishing again after lockdown is pal and Angling Trust guru Martin Salter. I was pleased to be alongside him when he caught this great big roach from the River Test. It wasn't quite a two pounder but it looks it!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebshz3xRqlsO0h1pnxYfQ_AptMKpmFLhUJft6_eixJhmeyeH-SPnTQF7ptEjCcfB7LyqEnaOSPF0kYfSXoXIflKhxaTOXW0jfovLIrYlZqN4mzlJmEL9ubceuqqCmryFCaY7CjKOBZ-A/s1280/MARTIN+S+%252B+BIG+TEST+ROACH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebshz3xRqlsO0h1pnxYfQ_AptMKpmFLhUJft6_eixJhmeyeH-SPnTQF7ptEjCcfB7LyqEnaOSPF0kYfSXoXIflKhxaTOXW0jfovLIrYlZqN4mzlJmEL9ubceuqqCmryFCaY7CjKOBZ-A/w640-h480/MARTIN+S+%252B+BIG+TEST+ROACH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I can't mention roach without acknowledging the lifetimes work of Trevor Harrop and Budgie Price and it's partly due to them that we can now trot the Hampshire Avon for roach again and stand a reasonable chance of catching one. Here they are landing a big chub! Sorry about that but I couldn't find the one of Budgie landing a roach of nearly two pounds.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMMZPPGiAs2Rx_8_iKVvbWJJ-wJ0E0GWHW7AFFUNIhK24Tp8UJ1QX-cKpJBDMD5hUtO7jvWmbeopzjzbNJNywrd2X1uAvQ15550BOtGuDG4TTi0z5pWJnIAywC9NVgWHShw_j72xEzYQ/s1024/TANNERY+-+TREV+AND+BUDGIE+%252B+CHUB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMMZPPGiAs2Rx_8_iKVvbWJJ-wJ0E0GWHW7AFFUNIhK24Tp8UJ1QX-cKpJBDMD5hUtO7jvWmbeopzjzbNJNywrd2X1uAvQ15550BOtGuDG4TTi0z5pWJnIAywC9NVgWHShw_j72xEzYQ/w640-h480/TANNERY+-+TREV+AND+BUDGIE+%252B+CHUB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I have friends who sometimes prefer bigger fish than roach and I was so lucky to be invited to join those ace angling archivists, Keith and Sandy Armishaw for a holiday sturgeon fishing in Canada. What's more, we had such a good time I was invited again and boy, did we catch a lot of big fish. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwz0oqjGVt-Oz7GkxdLmcDLSHXbydzRuaH57xLxwX1iGYkZ7VF0fwFa-RsXFObhFpI83rgM3Z790tXC1T4AlQh9YqIfIIChevtDK6zFczdRRT2zAOqgcZQIdyuGRkiuDH8EculIf8hjo/s1280/KEITHS+MONSTER+STURGEON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1280" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwz0oqjGVt-Oz7GkxdLmcDLSHXbydzRuaH57xLxwX1iGYkZ7VF0fwFa-RsXFObhFpI83rgM3Z790tXC1T4AlQh9YqIfIIChevtDK6zFczdRRT2zAOqgcZQIdyuGRkiuDH8EculIf8hjo/w640-h490/KEITHS+MONSTER+STURGEON.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This monster of Keith's took him 1hr 28mins to land and I caught one close to that size. We got very wet when it flapped and being stuck in the mud, we had an early bath - cue laughter.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5uQXFugpTDfknrTfCiq0Hot4zgV1KNgFcJutwx6lrXaAk3lZCDyPuDAKSm0F3v2pnbkdzvdP_PISmo29rcU3Mx6bC1sFFFm-9wRrNviAuW0uvwoCmiuka3aEjAJH6mQtT9MJ0VF-W3A/s1280/IMG_2180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1280" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5uQXFugpTDfknrTfCiq0Hot4zgV1KNgFcJutwx6lrXaAk3lZCDyPuDAKSm0F3v2pnbkdzvdP_PISmo29rcU3Mx6bC1sFFFm-9wRrNviAuW0uvwoCmiuka3aEjAJH6mQtT9MJ0VF-W3A/w640-h394/IMG_2180.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We also visited Vancouver Island, fishing not far from where Prince Harry and Megan lived for a while, and the salmon fishing was a bit special, Keith landing this monster King Salmon on trotted salmon eggs and I caught several beautiful fresh run silver bars on a fly.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6IYfKhwSUYJCAv_U_4mzb_9q83OZXKlgLYmzwsIdfYKmYE_F4LyrusgRo1XNC3yqkIVPNyDiirvACfdLV8rbx4zW4V-8sHUElSiJw94KTxI0Qt7KEi-fuMb49ipAi53sITSFvUkf1o/s1280/KEITH+%252B+MONSTER+SALMON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1280" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6IYfKhwSUYJCAv_U_4mzb_9q83OZXKlgLYmzwsIdfYKmYE_F4LyrusgRo1XNC3yqkIVPNyDiirvACfdLV8rbx4zW4V-8sHUElSiJw94KTxI0Qt7KEi-fuMb49ipAi53sITSFvUkf1o/w640-h462/KEITH+%252B+MONSTER+SALMON.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3vVBODGdLAek_URUYLw0QpZCgwc20T8xHiCJQ5_I4WSNj_41pi6r1NSbsjRvTi5FPhWGOgGbC324CHyEIE-eH1zJOd98ZZU8IVrk_TtVIx8z9OUI8kb_-5SoAAb-fASU8BkTExkqF0/s1280/P1100741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1280" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3vVBODGdLAek_URUYLw0QpZCgwc20T8xHiCJQ5_I4WSNj_41pi6r1NSbsjRvTi5FPhWGOgGbC324CHyEIE-eH1zJOd98ZZU8IVrk_TtVIx8z9OUI8kb_-5SoAAb-fASU8BkTExkqF0/w640-h576/P1100741.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Luckily I'd been taught to cast by John Slader, an Orvis guide on the Test and stalwart of the Salmon and Trout Conservation Trust, so I was extremely fortunate to catch fish instead of trees. We had shared a grand bone fishing holiday out west and now we share roach fishing on our poles alongside the Avon and enjoy that just as much.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJnqqD-ON4msx40slOTt_kQ_Z7D8uapVvqEhFicP4AvTUzK-dKd-Lx12Lr85KDVy_5GBiZsmdw4RQNZJ1RmbAB4j5Qi8AEVILR307d0aDnvYzak_A3ne1Uv4WM1W-yiZF4RjaWtlGm4I/s1267/JOHN+SLADER+%252B+TEST+TROUT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1267" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJnqqD-ON4msx40slOTt_kQ_Z7D8uapVvqEhFicP4AvTUzK-dKd-Lx12Lr85KDVy_5GBiZsmdw4RQNZJ1RmbAB4j5Qi8AEVILR307d0aDnvYzak_A3ne1Uv4WM1W-yiZF4RjaWtlGm4I/w640-h516/JOHN+SLADER+%252B+TEST+TROUT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have other pals that love fly fishing too, non more so than Jim Wreglesworth. He catches some gorgeous big brownies from our local rivers on the fly, loves roach fishing and shares a love of tench, catching lots of fiesty smallish ones with me one evening. He was quite happy!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvgPnDOWyjiS3KYvsZxlvgFtrC-tQjjoq5PISA3tlHlG0kBhUnIPLenWI-9SOakRrZzf3IoYPceURpKTHtOfg11AQgmKO0uewmnaVU__QiMycAOor5H0WP5rW_PPMUk5gv_ZfleJma3M/s1280/JIM+W+%252B+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvgPnDOWyjiS3KYvsZxlvgFtrC-tQjjoq5PISA3tlHlG0kBhUnIPLenWI-9SOakRrZzf3IoYPceURpKTHtOfg11AQgmKO0uewmnaVU__QiMycAOor5H0WP5rW_PPMUk5gv_ZfleJma3M/w640-h480/JIM+W+%252B+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I have another great friend who I've fished with for many years and he's an inspiration because he makes such a commitment to achieve success and nearly always does, Mark Woodage. Only two years ago he caught a roach of 3lb14ozs from an 'impossible' water and helped me to catch one of 3lb10ozs so we were both rather happy chappies. He loves his tenching too and we've shared many happy days in the summer sun along with blanking on frosty mornings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKScRojKpi4SAcCUJE0DxmZumA4ZQzIKcgSq95egXAyJVjWl15XJBY9GgwIte1reJriyHuEpwuk_VaJTmOdgyDJ-qnYJqouFXG9MfaExn_5Yn9JK-nj0kJ4m81aLXO72TVw2c6ljeuoBI/s1280/MARK+W+%252B+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1280" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKScRojKpi4SAcCUJE0DxmZumA4ZQzIKcgSq95egXAyJVjWl15XJBY9GgwIte1reJriyHuEpwuk_VaJTmOdgyDJ-qnYJqouFXG9MfaExn_5Yn9JK-nj0kJ4m81aLXO72TVw2c6ljeuoBI/w640-h484/MARK+W+%252B+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />One angler I always look forward to joining for our trips down memory lane is Martin Bowler. We spent four years together creating our Ch4 series 'Catching the Impossible' and amazingly, after all that pressure to catch big 'uns, we remain the best of friends. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhulrNxZ4s6OZ2myTWdwxF5gVZoeinI3cuA_cBjHzcbIWjiF78SG6ZbEmrKdYjA3xYT8RQjCif4CvYxEnccvrl_VjiCuJILllnBDJF7pb6yUDATkJn6NUXxx__LU6_YNapx4e5Upd7Oo/s1170/MARTIN+B+%252B+CARP+AND+HM+%252B+CAMERA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1170" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhulrNxZ4s6OZ2myTWdwxF5gVZoeinI3cuA_cBjHzcbIWjiF78SG6ZbEmrKdYjA3xYT8RQjCif4CvYxEnccvrl_VjiCuJILllnBDJF7pb6yUDATkJn6NUXxx__LU6_YNapx4e5Upd7Oo/w640-h426/MARTIN+B+%252B+CARP+AND+HM+%252B+CAMERA.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I helped him out with a bit of filming for one of his productions a few years back and we will never forget the day when he caught giant perch of 4lb5ozs, followed soon after by a true monster of 5lb4ozs. He is arguably the finest all round angler in the UK and a lovely bloke too so I count myself lucky to call him and his wife Jo friends.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfcnG3y31truB9w79vfuAptsrs0QLG1W6pb0KTMD094jTFigrz9-yDmWVr_HGZjsjhoXuxdcXeTakEi7OqCBKKb3wpvQZ1XMb2018AYoHCpYVRC0NvcIxVcMkrXcUjUNWo0F1sRxGzBc/s1280/MARTIN+B+WITH+5%253A4+AND+4%253A5+BRACE+OF+GIANT+OUSE+PERCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1280" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfcnG3y31truB9w79vfuAptsrs0QLG1W6pb0KTMD094jTFigrz9-yDmWVr_HGZjsjhoXuxdcXeTakEi7OqCBKKb3wpvQZ1XMb2018AYoHCpYVRC0NvcIxVcMkrXcUjUNWo0F1sRxGzBc/w640-h436/MARTIN+B+WITH+5%253A4+AND+4%253A5+BRACE+OF+GIANT+OUSE+PERCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I haven't been fishing much this last year due to a need to hide away and I've missed our journeys into the wild, not least to the Hebridian Island of Islay where nearly thirty thousand barnacle geese spend the winter, the scenery is stunning and the malt whisky from the islands' eight distillaries is delicious ... but dangerous.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xFAvVuH4LwEBSQXG2NI3uFdNufic_IYw-BjIvmK2_xPE-ZioTdbB0HxQIoYvCCIzFZC4XhtGmsXWyfe2ceMZXBelFYGCjYxq7j2J45DBq43CIC-BWj5IqOgkysarwfkXSY-laa9ncu4/s1280/BARNACLE+GEESE+%252B+ISLAY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1280" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xFAvVuH4LwEBSQXG2NI3uFdNufic_IYw-BjIvmK2_xPE-ZioTdbB0HxQIoYvCCIzFZC4XhtGmsXWyfe2ceMZXBelFYGCjYxq7j2J45DBq43CIC-BWj5IqOgkysarwfkXSY-laa9ncu4/w640-h448/BARNACLE+GEESE+%252B+ISLAY.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xFAvVuH4LwEBSQXG2NI3uFdNufic_IYw-BjIvmK2_xPE-ZioTdbB0HxQIoYvCCIzFZC4XhtGmsXWyfe2ceMZXBelFYGCjYxq7j2J45DBq43CIC-BWj5IqOgkysarwfkXSY-laa9ncu4/s1280/BARNACLE+GEESE+%252B+ISLAY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIbb4TQMgth8J-5fcMJbHjAgcBBiSpk6p-E6MsQZoa7i21uYfQ-Ypen7jtYKbRBpLrjeBLIX8GCHOFsfxRcZf1amOByUgVb7Kn_fkf0I1a6ue9fqgvZpyZVKxiHuElkPtVV5iBMQrvQM/s1280/ISLAY+GANG+%252B+JOHN+AITCHISON.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1280" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIbb4TQMgth8J-5fcMJbHjAgcBBiSpk6p-E6MsQZoa7i21uYfQ-Ypen7jtYKbRBpLrjeBLIX8GCHOFsfxRcZf1amOByUgVb7Kn_fkf0I1a6ue9fqgvZpyZVKxiHuElkPtVV5iBMQrvQM/w640-h424/ISLAY+GANG+%252B+JOHN+AITCHISON.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Here we are with our close friends, ace wildlife cameramen Michael and Penny Richards and the legendary John Aitchison who was trying to film golden eagles catching geese! They do you know.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We go to Islay together as often as possible, along with other birding holidays but our annual New Year celebrations with Michael and Penny and Rick and Jen is cancelled this year for obvious reasons. It's sad as we've never missed the get together for the last thirty nine years. This pic of us on the West Somerset Railway makes me think of that exclamation in panto "it's behind you"!<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ajtiV580OF7_VU0yjDocudqvumSMXhiYc8Z2FPUePzfHnt0TGpwUXLFEbS-oQ-qtjTSyIvZIFeUPWQL1SEzPpLP4wVdx4GgrtTwCF9l0E5PMNd3FR6N4Gi-wz7n4M3vEVI4nN6Pctz0/s1280/XMAS+GANG+ON+RAILWAY+LINE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ajtiV580OF7_VU0yjDocudqvumSMXhiYc8Z2FPUePzfHnt0TGpwUXLFEbS-oQ-qtjTSyIvZIFeUPWQL1SEzPpLP4wVdx4GgrtTwCF9l0E5PMNd3FR6N4Gi-wz7n4M3vEVI4nN6Pctz0/w640-h480/XMAS+GANG+ON+RAILWAY+LINE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We'll just have to be patient and wait for 'together time' when the worst of the virus is over. Finger's crossed it won't be too long, but in the meantime, Sue and I are lucky to have a lovely big garden to look after and keep us fit. Our wildflower meadow is butterfly heaven.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65FaiwtJtd-m5Z1PjrAsd7dSh2zadnUF4E8U5Q6fnY_Sl3MhRgGiTsLlk_MhZ0YRKMMvdqT9ETBnarI6SybchevnbXSeKpOClUrftbL7R76LWu8w5HsajCCUdC3zLJZHssbq3N0J4vrg/s1280/SHRUBS+AND+MEADOW+SCENIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65FaiwtJtd-m5Z1PjrAsd7dSh2zadnUF4E8U5Q6fnY_Sl3MhRgGiTsLlk_MhZ0YRKMMvdqT9ETBnarI6SybchevnbXSeKpOClUrftbL7R76LWu8w5HsajCCUdC3zLJZHssbq3N0J4vrg/w640-h480/SHRUBS+AND+MEADOW+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yi71sWpGmhb92NSxhVayrlNITmU4nPGXj03PlqkwoEOkoYfFOnWta22KC6M1eJADi0ByEvN2oVNXcMyZtEcAF0ljFsw2RFQxjJhpESEUmf4qW26tF8uzS1d_ybasuISZ5JuAlOMCl0I/s1280/KATIE+AND+SIMON+IN+VEG+PLOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yi71sWpGmhb92NSxhVayrlNITmU4nPGXj03PlqkwoEOkoYfFOnWta22KC6M1eJADi0ByEvN2oVNXcMyZtEcAF0ljFsw2RFQxjJhpESEUmf4qW26tF8uzS1d_ybasuISZ5JuAlOMCl0I/w640-h480/KATIE+AND+SIMON+IN+VEG+PLOT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Our daughter Katie and partner Simon love their gardening too and are joining us for Christmas lunch from just up the road but very sensibly, our Pete decided it was too risky to come from Plymouth as he didn't want to kill the old folk!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjxcXLrU00HkQzUqG9XSa5BL7UHF37yYPQoV0Oxnt8V_p7sG454o2ior9nz3vc4pbG4IMBD6vN7C3X1G9t93vxljTf69qJfAk-FXXiV_w-TtzRvzF9FgzAhUZjVLctFPzsBWWX30EqHo/s2048/KATIE+AND+PETE+AT+LYME+REGIS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjxcXLrU00HkQzUqG9XSa5BL7UHF37yYPQoV0Oxnt8V_p7sG454o2ior9nz3vc4pbG4IMBD6vN7C3X1G9t93vxljTf69qJfAk-FXXiV_w-TtzRvzF9FgzAhUZjVLctFPzsBWWX30EqHo/w480-h640/KATIE+AND+PETE+AT+LYME+REGIS.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-hk4qTVpSQNgNGwTHwUqbDu4KPA1Q3iXLBNrQTS4oAX-Ar4pVlfbnZo_gl2xIl0l_5g5oZysIKryrdtJUPBucgIkM77M52W0W3BNntNCSV04KMTVSWc7dFZutwGkMQuAX4pfNNfg_MA/s2048/SUNNY+GARDEN+FROM+OFFICE+WINDOW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-hk4qTVpSQNgNGwTHwUqbDu4KPA1Q3iXLBNrQTS4oAX-Ar4pVlfbnZo_gl2xIl0l_5g5oZysIKryrdtJUPBucgIkM77M52W0W3BNntNCSV04KMTVSWc7dFZutwGkMQuAX4pfNNfg_MA/w640-h480/SUNNY+GARDEN+FROM+OFFICE+WINDOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We'll hopefully be seeing him in the Spring when everything is smelling of roses and our world slowly returning to normal. ... and it won't be long before summer glows with life and we're picnicking on the top of Dorset's Golden Cap. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Until then, have a great Christmas and stay safe always ... and thank you to all my fishing pals for their great company and all the laughs. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">With our love and best wishes, Hugh and Sue.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2X1HPQap2ducJU8t9_SwpUjhU7h6PT8_5db9E_40a66X6LWC9zHlw-R5MQENr5vV2v3MUGEvng8TuuK0qqcffmWWnToQP9QF8sLFwJZ9eNicYO94oDbPQ6dB9xSPrDt_8RvYpoLPVA/s1280/GOLDEN+CAP+%252B+FLOWERS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1280" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb2X1HPQap2ducJU8t9_SwpUjhU7h6PT8_5db9E_40a66X6LWC9zHlw-R5MQENr5vV2v3MUGEvng8TuuK0qqcffmWWnToQP9QF8sLFwJZ9eNicYO94oDbPQ6dB9xSPrDt_8RvYpoLPVA/w640-h476/GOLDEN+CAP+%252B+FLOWERS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> <br /><br /></span><br /><br /></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-78104485530988773462020-11-05T04:20:00.002+00:002020-11-27T08:37:58.366+00:00AUTUMN GLORY<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY_E7rm5gMNZ6Rl8fWCFIxqvp-M5scs3LJJqEASiTVFaqeccj6-Jm1Rl9bma7okha9YaqTMf9SnSaNdP_uBH2Cy6LT0yTnNvsR09Q8IqRgJEB5Qr001UWKNfq5uiDHLWT3ZCuG9mcTg0/s2048/HOUSE+POND+%252B+GLORIOUS+BEECHES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY_E7rm5gMNZ6Rl8fWCFIxqvp-M5scs3LJJqEASiTVFaqeccj6-Jm1Rl9bma7okha9YaqTMf9SnSaNdP_uBH2Cy6LT0yTnNvsR09Q8IqRgJEB5Qr001UWKNfq5uiDHLWT3ZCuG9mcTg0/w640-h480/HOUSE+POND+%252B+GLORIOUS+BEECHES.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Brilliant kaleidoscopes of colour give us the excuse to celebrate the most glorious season of the year. Autumn
is here and the trees are something to treasure while this virus is
making life so difficult for so many. Our gardens and countryside are
the good news, the Japanese maples lifting our spirits above this scary gloom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YeGgUMBMy-Y4_oSLH0EvSIMl0xF9mQzHL5kcdQULK46yUFmPWCA62UkOj0qpv83krmvLKsoyF-oMqgqxpfjmUe53Ty1h-wwTLqD1X9846krJiOrQv4cjtGxdm3X8RqeTyUryI06aWw/s1280/ACER+BLOODGOOD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YeGgUMBMy-Y4_oSLH0EvSIMl0xF9mQzHL5kcdQULK46yUFmPWCA62UkOj0qpv83krmvLKsoyF-oMqgqxpfjmUe53Ty1h-wwTLqD1X9846krJiOrQv4cjtGxdm3X8RqeTyUryI06aWw/w640-h480/ACER+BLOODGOOD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We know well enough
that making contact with nature in the great outdoors is good for our
health and well being, so Sue and I have wandered in our garden with a camera to admire the show that our trees have kindly provided.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSH6OB0D5PNhny1-YcgFAkVtnGu1oFcPkm1jlMDHlQFbKzjkN1NR-dpovZqKUvwFptUK3cDNYfXOzk1WQS0ev1Nhm6T-NSPEpX_ulB73ZC84StJInXRB9jMZ99mRiJ-_PPn1KBLmPYzY/s2048/COLOUR+ACROSS+POND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSH6OB0D5PNhny1-YcgFAkVtnGu1oFcPkm1jlMDHlQFbKzjkN1NR-dpovZqKUvwFptUK3cDNYfXOzk1WQS0ev1Nhm6T-NSPEpX_ulB73ZC84StJInXRB9jMZ99mRiJ-_PPn1KBLmPYzY/w640-h510/COLOUR+ACROSS+POND.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0dbakHfh0bSvMJ1zLhYyHvnS1p5bOeoLOdVmuY_5RR1utClsby0BV9VzmHNbZXXnVu4y2ecVG7WHEwSD4vEst0mPsg_myvZqSrTte6lkYoOXnvGs9oHYKLriIpE0rr6-CTcqQys20i4/s2048/BEECH+CU+COLOUR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0dbakHfh0bSvMJ1zLhYyHvnS1p5bOeoLOdVmuY_5RR1utClsby0BV9VzmHNbZXXnVu4y2ecVG7WHEwSD4vEst0mPsg_myvZqSrTte6lkYoOXnvGs9oHYKLriIpE0rr6-CTcqQys20i4/w640-h480/BEECH+CU+COLOUR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We hope
you enjoy sharing this brief ramble round our patch, along with a few escapes
to the outside world.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpZ0ojwaYV0XTkfylRXezByj-Jl8XNt75rvMLSFkbg0Siyy2UBLL41auqj5hssw9Q2VaxhtUcJI3F_ZZ0g3I4IViASIdvuUltCDUrsn-8ZhobBA6CdZZLPqrY4auz3XoIspK2K0tY0F0/s2048/H.AVON+AUTUMN+SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpZ0ojwaYV0XTkfylRXezByj-Jl8XNt75rvMLSFkbg0Siyy2UBLL41auqj5hssw9Q2VaxhtUcJI3F_ZZ0g3I4IViASIdvuUltCDUrsn-8ZhobBA6CdZZLPqrY4auz3XoIspK2K0tY0F0/w640-h480/H.AVON+AUTUMN+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJv_9jn9_iSRPqF16ldoU1axDnlu4Y1LzbhZ7oDgqR-5eGN_zGXwXuqrglkyx_EZoVR5Fk3VVE5KzfIq_ihvQPfY_eeJ8d0mYoOvqA8II38fCW6UC4NnJ4pMVouzu7yaDsVKgiT6JCaA/s2048/H.AVON+FAT+CARP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJv_9jn9_iSRPqF16ldoU1axDnlu4Y1LzbhZ7oDgqR-5eGN_zGXwXuqrglkyx_EZoVR5Fk3VVE5KzfIq_ihvQPfY_eeJ8d0mYoOvqA8II38fCW6UC4NnJ4pMVouzu7yaDsVKgiT6JCaA/w400-h300/H.AVON+FAT+CARP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This was meant to be a River Avon barbel but what a beautiful fat carp in it's late season colours.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeDycWojtB5OTupGMurfmRHl65_Fxn1QlXhZYvNlauzHXNI65SvwCePHOCsE0b9QHI3JLWovrlAtM3d7pt3GOWQWPLbPKITaMakUkHs54TevXIwqoj9ZCFby3CsRDirNOgORJC9sQnos/s1280/P1050470.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeDycWojtB5OTupGMurfmRHl65_Fxn1QlXhZYvNlauzHXNI65SvwCePHOCsE0b9QHI3JLWovrlAtM3d7pt3GOWQWPLbPKITaMakUkHs54TevXIwqoj9ZCFby3CsRDirNOgORJC9sQnos/w480-h640/P1050470.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>According to the Met Office the leaves are especially vibrant this
year due to our warm wet winter followed by that lovely warm and sunny
spring we enjoyed.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU15zttwNXNxO-PxQ_zFBaDv1OeLd4Uf13kX7ts8r_x5jjaLQESvmADBnh8lg1GD9qz1WfFd0Y_kD2uhTIGOIAEVbqzVkyfzRdhB_soWxVkiCsM0G_QYiOIf61XJCU7DLEe5FcPm-ZpSY/s1280/ACER+MULTICOLOUR+UP+PATH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU15zttwNXNxO-PxQ_zFBaDv1OeLd4Uf13kX7ts8r_x5jjaLQESvmADBnh8lg1GD9qz1WfFd0Y_kD2uhTIGOIAEVbqzVkyfzRdhB_soWxVkiCsM0G_QYiOIf61XJCU7DLEe5FcPm-ZpSY/w640-h480/ACER+MULTICOLOUR+UP+PATH.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4IbU-9f85wjfPGY_3WurxEJKV-L653yVeP8L2G3yoe_LeNBUL-Ayfee6O4CB2mgk4caF-Z5lRMYWJLa6dMlkWEwqJDL7V-EuTsqV09Pw3ch4ouXekmJkYHatAr8o4MAhwTRpR7JayPg/s1280/LIQUIDAMBER+CU+IN+SWALE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4IbU-9f85wjfPGY_3WurxEJKV-L653yVeP8L2G3yoe_LeNBUL-Ayfee6O4CB2mgk4caF-Z5lRMYWJLa6dMlkWEwqJDL7V-EuTsqV09Pw3ch4ouXekmJkYHatAr8o4MAhwTRpR7JayPg/w640-h480/LIQUIDAMBER+CU+IN+SWALE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />This glorious show is triggered by
shorter days, longer nights and lower temperatures. In the Spring the
mysterious alchemy of photosynthesis allows a </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">pigment known as chlorophyll</span></span> to capture solar rays and manufacture the plants food, simple sugars which are produced from water and carbon dioxide</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">. Stored in their leaves, this is the fuel for growth and plants are perceived as green because chlorophyll absorbs
mainly the blue and red wavelengths and reflects the green.</span><p></p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Put simply, the
reduced light of autumn and reduced green of chlorophyll allows the other colours to shine through, those
vibrant reds, oranges and yellows that we admire so much.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hBJkgv-a5H-h8_YH6mhFOIeKgw-S1hI2Xu5QCh6XG5-uoac9q00WLjdnZXIrtbZTedX8rSYHKDrkdKtaPI3rZgc_yQ3pprklBUPnD23zKr6qgCDyan9MHEbQbh0EjqJRbYMH92C4ZLw/s1280/YELLOW+ACER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hBJkgv-a5H-h8_YH6mhFOIeKgw-S1hI2Xu5QCh6XG5-uoac9q00WLjdnZXIrtbZTedX8rSYHKDrkdKtaPI3rZgc_yQ3pprklBUPnD23zKr6qgCDyan9MHEbQbh0EjqJRbYMH92C4ZLw/w640-h456/YELLOW+ACER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidfKO5YqhyphenhyphenKtsEUc1B5k-yfbUlDS08Na4XWH79w8_ztyzENuA0a9raNuUsYNf_sLs7rRgTd_E09OLupGNXMi-f3EGo5-JNKTmzbW3iPpp8pMnjXQ-4oWlkQntlwa3rDpLFsO-tFObQbo/s1280/ACER+BY+BLUEBELL+PATCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidfKO5YqhyphenhyphenKtsEUc1B5k-yfbUlDS08Na4XWH79w8_ztyzENuA0a9raNuUsYNf_sLs7rRgTd_E09OLupGNXMi-f3EGo5-JNKTmzbW3iPpp8pMnjXQ-4oWlkQntlwa3rDpLFsO-tFObQbo/w640-h480/ACER+BY+BLUEBELL+PATCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn6m1eMhKXhEoBvd5f4MqthHC1sT7-Fuz2_Ss-erKxuwrLVo7Nko2TxzX7WsE-cGT6clL0_cyiXuYwa1Z-UTFOr-0PppYVoJT-jo-23cmuvCldpUJnKn9svzQ_jhIF86O6ssDRUvdX1U/s1280/ACER+LEAF+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn6m1eMhKXhEoBvd5f4MqthHC1sT7-Fuz2_Ss-erKxuwrLVo7Nko2TxzX7WsE-cGT6clL0_cyiXuYwa1Z-UTFOr-0PppYVoJT-jo-23cmuvCldpUJnKn9svzQ_jhIF86O6ssDRUvdX1U/w640-h480/ACER+LEAF+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />With
winter approaching there is less light and fuel available, so plants need to conserve energy and water and this
is the trigger to drop their leaves and allow us to enjoy their
beautiful bare branches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANtPa3Z4_We5N4MyS-JUjO9IDCodnIq2Z9LFEuFqiCJMERFe4b4Dbzb8-rkzGifsIvny23aYDoy0BatRSHDKIghaXEWYpEuBDPuqNWbgQ3ITCoUL1iBpridD_wbbtNVcjJiWTvsW9A2I/s2048/SUNRISE+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANtPa3Z4_We5N4MyS-JUjO9IDCodnIq2Z9LFEuFqiCJMERFe4b4Dbzb8-rkzGifsIvny23aYDoy0BatRSHDKIghaXEWYpEuBDPuqNWbgQ3ITCoUL1iBpridD_wbbtNVcjJiWTvsW9A2I/w640-h480/SUNRISE+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Winter is wonderful and down here in the
south of England it is very short. Even while we’re admiring the autumn
colours, the snow drops and daffs are thrusting up out of the grass and the buds
of our camellias and magnolias are fattening fast.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_21mbdy-B3YDeNX1MTNy28fwnq6WjWG_-S-5Csmwe_sD_BASxMagwlVa7-QdJuSyvYyXQ44dIQbe1EVDSZ7_MX7-isUXVBJB0OSeB90uTDF0r06-L_qibadTvwd088IN8hG3iWv8_04w/s1280/ACERS+%252B+COTTAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1280" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_21mbdy-B3YDeNX1MTNy28fwnq6WjWG_-S-5Csmwe_sD_BASxMagwlVa7-QdJuSyvYyXQ44dIQbe1EVDSZ7_MX7-isUXVBJB0OSeB90uTDF0r06-L_qibadTvwd088IN8hG3iWv8_04w/w640-h468/ACERS+%252B+COTTAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So there's lots of beauty to look forward to and with our freedoms restricted for a few weeks, we can all be grateful for that. Go enjoy that lovely fresh air.<br /></span> <p></p><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328653274944390062.post-92027550636668373132020-10-05T20:38:00.087+01:002020-10-08T03:12:24.107+01:00<p> <span style="font-size: large;"> NEVER ENOUGH TIME </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> - Life After Lockdown - </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ks8oa4EupuvHUUgTh8Oib5yzOKOw5BO2qHCL_UYLjQY1-2ls1M5OPogc-pwZ9KzFS-ujzjbsIW3mLCjbEFJHRuNaYTkIcmZVHysqmyXTcLqmVijOnJ0ShKMMhPctpe6yykEJwWlJa30/s1280/KEVIN+LOOKING+COLOURFUL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1271" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ks8oa4EupuvHUUgTh8Oib5yzOKOw5BO2qHCL_UYLjQY1-2ls1M5OPogc-pwZ9KzFS-ujzjbsIW3mLCjbEFJHRuNaYTkIcmZVHysqmyXTcLqmVijOnJ0ShKMMhPctpe6yykEJwWlJa30/w636-h640/KEVIN+LOOKING+COLOURFUL.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><br />Many years ago, some sage said that “Every man should have a hobby”, ladies too of course, and I’m unfortunate to have too many, unfortunate because there is never enough time to enjoy them all. I’m sure you all suffer in the same way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzm9Ch-LjT4H3g-c2GmGhXE6Hix8zh2h8ZNfziW3bTOt6oXw3e2q2KqtYzi3krzOwgf74Ic2eb4kOWBY1c-4elMMxSQskm3fiW51ouOg-Vjj5q8LHSUeD0MialIsw4YivPQtbVo-W0S0/s1280/B%2526B+LOOKING+LOVELY+IN+AUGUST.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzm9Ch-LjT4H3g-c2GmGhXE6Hix8zh2h8ZNfziW3bTOt6oXw3e2q2KqtYzi3krzOwgf74Ic2eb4kOWBY1c-4elMMxSQskm3fiW51ouOg-Vjj5q8LHSUeD0MialIsw4YivPQtbVo-W0S0/w533-h640/B%2526B+LOOKING+LOVELY+IN+AUGUST.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><br />I love gardening with my wife Sue, our aim being to attract wildlife into our two acre patch [this is Kevin, just one of our three kingfishers this year]. The garden takes up most of our time, especially during these past two years while creating a garden to help stem the decline in bees and butterflies. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa6cyBPK_5WFJDbTZav8r8_cAPkTyDRclg9HwE2NSfX6oz88CsfGo82AaIVp3oeTtkFB0npSnbGTf2ki7RFKsL0jeIYQCwxFTQ5AUC9pBBRW9tUs03tr9zYVVn0-Vh_vrf6hv5CnPUDE/s1280/BTB+ON+RED+COSMOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa6cyBPK_5WFJDbTZav8r8_cAPkTyDRclg9HwE2NSfX6oz88CsfGo82AaIVp3oeTtkFB0npSnbGTf2ki7RFKsL0jeIYQCwxFTQ5AUC9pBBRW9tUs03tr9zYVVn0-Vh_vrf6hv5CnPUDE/w400-h300/BTB+ON+RED+COSMOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The flowers now attract squadrons of buzzers and is a constant delight but it means my passion for angling has to take a back seat, my numerous rods gathering cobwebs as they sprawl neglected along the office walls. <br /><br /> </span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCFg42dordsQHT-tWzjYxPJ-JBOffxzpQBkIGG78WnaeSOxx53zTLwY_5r3z6-2NWrGGGjpJ_qf9EJBbgUnbj5DsIGMIuJ0Pb1T0RvzJyetFDxF0a8uJD74YEPTp0lvGRbBgGDDCZOBE/s1280/P1050396.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCFg42dordsQHT-tWzjYxPJ-JBOffxzpQBkIGG78WnaeSOxx53zTLwY_5r3z6-2NWrGGGjpJ_qf9EJBbgUnbj5DsIGMIuJ0Pb1T0RvzJyetFDxF0a8uJD74YEPTp0lvGRbBgGDDCZOBE/w480-h640/P1050396.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />However, since lockdown ended, fishing is the safest way of being out in our wide open spaces and as I’m in the vulnerable category, I’m self-isolating by river and lake as often as time allows and when I look over this blog before I send it out, it seems I have fished a lot. It actually reveals only one trip for a few hours every two weeks and that isn’t often enough!<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal9nN8CpHAQxiwB8G06j2eCBh0h3LCd-NRxbrlnfOJh2p6tFRMYqmoaq7TjWItht_RE8FMoWSDfUWd1UE7MqPD3qTHy1omnjd_cTRd6XcCdfHNuj1Jfp6_b8LiJojyBr3xfTxmuV2X4E/s2048/who%2527se+a+happy+chappy+-+6%253A9+of+beauty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal9nN8CpHAQxiwB8G06j2eCBh0h3LCd-NRxbrlnfOJh2p6tFRMYqmoaq7TjWItht_RE8FMoWSDfUWd1UE7MqPD3qTHy1omnjd_cTRd6XcCdfHNuj1Jfp6_b8LiJojyBr3xfTxmuV2X4E/w640-h470/who%2527se+a+happy+chappy+-+6%253A9+of+beauty.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Among the many species that us anglers enjoy fishing for, the tench is near the top of my pops list and after missing what seemed like too many weeks of the spring due to the scary virus, I was keen to try for tincas at two Cotswold lakes that I’d been invited to join.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29DeMiT-tsC-fXGQ2FdjHQLGqaqHoJgzY_ugLEbqfxbatm8sLFr8uSUDyx4UgxVT5r-3-nOTxEdOpGV3UyfhQ9vY9R2J9-V8HmKum-ilJfBjlu2J3-qZ-6FV-XHQyMMKmJ1jL-VSCTXM/s1280/THE+PIER+SWIM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29DeMiT-tsC-fXGQ2FdjHQLGqaqHoJgzY_ugLEbqfxbatm8sLFr8uSUDyx4UgxVT5r-3-nOTxEdOpGV3UyfhQ9vY9R2J9-V8HmKum-ilJfBjlu2J3-qZ-6FV-XHQyMMKmJ1jL-VSCTXM/w640-h480/THE+PIER+SWIM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />They are delightful and far from the madding crowd, one large, full of weed but as it turned out, far too few big tench and one smaller lake which I had fished twenty or more years previously and which held plenty of tench and bream. <br /><br />I spent the first two days trying for the bigger tench, maybe a double was on the cards and I’ve been trying for a ten pound tench for years - haven’t we all - and it was great to share the waterside with long term friend Mark, at a suitable distance of course. But after many hours without a hint of a bite I moved to the easier lake in the hope of some rod-bending action.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbO_-9Zgehf_nIW1Ywmsgp_1AWXOT7HdJPE8HAeaugnCofpq1-IqI2Nxl9a1bHfi7XIBATXUTqhSWZTCo8-2Oc89jnT_QPMGxIwRjkZ5Nu0tH1vGejAEk9zGPaSyEAqBJ4Ly-KxwEK1Q/s1280/MY+TENCH+SWIM.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbO_-9Zgehf_nIW1Ywmsgp_1AWXOT7HdJPE8HAeaugnCofpq1-IqI2Nxl9a1bHfi7XIBATXUTqhSWZTCo8-2Oc89jnT_QPMGxIwRjkZ5Nu0tH1vGejAEk9zGPaSyEAqBJ4Ly-KxwEK1Q/w400-h300/MY+TENCH+SWIM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was a good call because in my first session I landed seven tench to 6lbs 11ozs and had the whole lake to myself. Feeding a little ground bait and chopped worm after raking the swim, I had the tincas bubbling like a Jacuzzi. They were tricky mind, requiring a tiny dotted down waggler and small bit of dendro worm to elicit a bite.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eDuh1NlRE3-Fo0a0GwNY3IOrP-OZ-HnIobaFkuhvF_2pQDtM-7xk6CKIw1gmRuW6KsC1sH2kDtxMY1OzNBOawM3Wn-0Xk4RF97c1eBSKOAu8MMz34CNV6-D77ELDqeZd7Rb8t6-z6vs/s1280/TENCH+-+6%253A10+FEMALE.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1280" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eDuh1NlRE3-Fo0a0GwNY3IOrP-OZ-HnIobaFkuhvF_2pQDtM-7xk6CKIw1gmRuW6KsC1sH2kDtxMY1OzNBOawM3Wn-0Xk4RF97c1eBSKOAu8MMz34CNV6-D77ELDqeZd7Rb8t6-z6vs/w400-h288/TENCH+-+6%253A10+FEMALE.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>This made the challenging fishing really enjoyable, especially after the long lock-down and though my friends did catch tench to 8/14 on the big lake, this was after they struggled with more blanks than bites. So I was glad I’m a lightweight when it comes to monster hunting. One day I’ll catch that ten pound tench - I just need more time and lots of it.<br /><br />After returning there for another two day break in my camper and catching more good tench and bream, I decided to save fuel and money by fishing local waters for tench. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p0o4ucXM0vBUG6DGm3-ySlxzErvAyqbr8o4wtcEMginK8dO_mC3A0WZd1fHmI_rzaS2XUMLO9aFIRmZ8tdQoSoaSZ6fjp87a085GapbyzMrk8JETpjeR8CliFQKFWUr4uobuLKS72q8/s2048/SUNSET+FROM+DUCK+TWO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p0o4ucXM0vBUG6DGm3-ySlxzErvAyqbr8o4wtcEMginK8dO_mC3A0WZd1fHmI_rzaS2XUMLO9aFIRmZ8tdQoSoaSZ6fjp87a085GapbyzMrk8JETpjeR8CliFQKFWUr4uobuLKS72q8/w640-h480/SUNSET+FROM+DUCK+TWO.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />One of our lakes is a beauty and though it has produced a double figure tench or two in the past, the average size is about five pounds, with sixes regular catches and sevens a bonus. Here's pal Chris with a 6lb7oz PB.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsGbLfVhuhNiRVINXW0Wg7ql315K5KLCALwzFXmWjZCC3ipNiP5erETdf9RjsVjJUUawnekT3S9uGP43rONYMgl1SkaSC1vHPdaUhFdxm41pnlV87W2hCiJRoMhtD8m6ernIxJp8BwZc/s2048/CHRIS%2527+PB+TENCH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsGbLfVhuhNiRVINXW0Wg7ql315K5KLCALwzFXmWjZCC3ipNiP5erETdf9RjsVjJUUawnekT3S9uGP43rONYMgl1SkaSC1vHPdaUhFdxm41pnlV87W2hCiJRoMhtD8m6ernIxJp8BwZc/w640-h500/CHRIS%2527+PB+TENCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Though I prefer to fish the float close in, some of the swims require feeders and helicopter rigs with the dreaded bite alarms, turned right down of course. By choice I’d fish that favourite tench snack, worms but there are too many silver fish thriving there, especially hords of rapacious rudd, so a 12mm boilie avoids them and produces enough good tincas to make my fishing life thoroughly enjoyable.<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcUS_bvRlClOX2Lpx7R32ph7pftDO3cA13yHSKbCP7K1zEwpuGXjg999fWQgcf0en_ivoKLE7QJBKUvD0IIwbUEedIQJrh71L_-YzuT5xIO7UWVCGsQG5hOp13vW_krk-Q0nq1zkuXjU/s2048/5%253A14+I+THINK.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcUS_bvRlClOX2Lpx7R32ph7pftDO3cA13yHSKbCP7K1zEwpuGXjg999fWQgcf0en_ivoKLE7QJBKUvD0IIwbUEedIQJrh71L_-YzuT5xIO7UWVCGsQG5hOp13vW_krk-Q0nq1zkuXjU/w640-h496/5%253A14+I+THINK.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of all those other hobbies that I enjoy, I find writing very rewarding, in fact I prefer it to reading as telling stories and illustating them is similar to my love for film-making. Then there is drawing and painting [not window frames], let alone my first passions as a child, birding and music. <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fIoxTdz24FkabdHXF04lpwQUpp5bI550Mn6Vb69TVTJJAEAOYt_XCkjhdeMOZHJFpAfZ2ZLVVPy07MxUisS085OfWNsSNinE9QFC__lxFNLYhfHAwqoJQ3T1KxT5vQ5A9JwZSbAQ4WQ/s1280/HUGH+%252B+FRENCH+HORN.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1280" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fIoxTdz24FkabdHXF04lpwQUpp5bI550Mn6Vb69TVTJJAEAOYt_XCkjhdeMOZHJFpAfZ2ZLVVPy07MxUisS085OfWNsSNinE9QFC__lxFNLYhfHAwqoJQ3T1KxT5vQ5A9JwZSbAQ4WQ/w400-h356/HUGH+%252B+FRENCH+HORN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I have a French horn [I was going to play it professionally], along with a piano, guitar, clarinet and flute and I love playing them all, even if very badly, mainly due to lack of talent and the time to practice. When at school, the French horn required two hours practice a day to acquire competence and I loved every minute. Now it hardly sees the light of day because writing and gardening takes most of the time, along with fishing, if I’m lucky.<br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh-SiZhFKeOFpApi1-OacwsCt-LRWM8AN4qPJh9OtN6rWVdeMEFK3EfbQ8U8ZageOLKSfk1JllFj6IhtU7JohoENFndIM9QdA6z6Mw5oecPtsZUKVWEr7BrYQhoZXPF1dLpxMYb-SnCk/s1280/MISTY+SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh-SiZhFKeOFpApi1-OacwsCt-LRWM8AN4qPJh9OtN6rWVdeMEFK3EfbQ8U8ZageOLKSfk1JllFj6IhtU7JohoENFndIM9QdA6z6Mw5oecPtsZUKVWEr7BrYQhoZXPF1dLpxMYb-SnCk/w640-h480/MISTY+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those who read my blog will know of my enthusiasm for our Wimborne clubs’ tench and crucian lake just up the road at Edmondsham. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuCMZub8c9nGdyppXhy_9E4MtQCbhK2u-93zWfmgNUTrGm_inhHuEQbXno8NA_dgm7gHD5hv7gJIUqKoY895JWrlJZKQQcIWsGRuI54mBneO0oQEySM0MKTbaK4RJo6V7hf5eq7HiHpQ/s1280/CHRIS+CONCENTRATING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuCMZub8c9nGdyppXhy_9E4MtQCbhK2u-93zWfmgNUTrGm_inhHuEQbXno8NA_dgm7gHD5hv7gJIUqKoY895JWrlJZKQQcIWsGRuI54mBneO0oQEySM0MKTbaK4RJo6V7hf5eq7HiHpQ/w640-h480/CHRIS+CONCENTRATING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Set in the most tranquil countryside, it’s home to a rapidly growing population of these summer favourites and good friend Chris Wild and I love escaping up there for all those golden beauties. This is one of Chris's gorgeous youngsters.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv1TGK8YblNcvya0rXWloRoqZ5M059smNWl8GKh0kgttwd5NW1O-vv828Ded7Q19xSzidG9T_Zya_t9gSYXQZDCWYsK2aFLLaPfXmMBlsiExPjuC3j0QjKIwpbdsRS1U8dWzXsl4YmNk/s1280/CHRIS%2527S+PERFECT+CRUCIAN.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv1TGK8YblNcvya0rXWloRoqZ5M059smNWl8GKh0kgttwd5NW1O-vv828Ded7Q19xSzidG9T_Zya_t9gSYXQZDCWYsK2aFLLaPfXmMBlsiExPjuC3j0QjKIwpbdsRS1U8dWzXsl4YmNk/w400-h300/CHRIS%2527S+PERFECT+CRUCIAN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even if the bigger ones eluded us this year, it is difficult to find a more enjoyable place to fish in the bird song and sunshine.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginFTsoRWFOPMSpCCYt_2_oQCs8GiDlKBYaam-U05t9DcAFkPE_7MtxtHKHGJEwMYGF71ocZG_QyV8qLBurwGD1FIF0oCd36gOhUuPkf3QTb7pkAycPHXI8cTC4XkscvWVSHERlf9Uwy0/s1280/SUNNY+SCENIC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginFTsoRWFOPMSpCCYt_2_oQCs8GiDlKBYaam-U05t9DcAFkPE_7MtxtHKHGJEwMYGF71ocZG_QyV8qLBurwGD1FIF0oCd36gOhUuPkf3QTb7pkAycPHXI8cTC4XkscvWVSHERlf9Uwy0/w640-h480/SUNNY+SCENIC.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Christchurch clubs’ Holtwood fishery is another delightful 'no carp zone' and escaping for a brief morning dabble, Chris and I caught dozens of small tench and crucians on little bits of luncheon meat and surprisingly, they also eat those roach bait favourites, tares.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABm2dViarIxVmUZWBepY6yWAopMFo14FPeq7bJiFQxRCBv4r7XIta5KsuUv41ndbYZdJ0igSl70PhtQh8Z9Q-Di2s2YetHwk8pPTeUrBpSL3vKVQz8rXin1alHdoowubdPkt-NYO-Ze0/s1280/PENMEAD+POOL+DOWNSTREAM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABm2dViarIxVmUZWBepY6yWAopMFo14FPeq7bJiFQxRCBv4r7XIta5KsuUv41ndbYZdJ0igSl70PhtQh8Z9Q-Di2s2YetHwk8pPTeUrBpSL3vKVQz8rXin1alHdoowubdPkt-NYO-Ze0/w640-h480/PENMEAD+POOL+DOWNSTREAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />With Autumn approaching, the beautiful Hampshire Avon and it’s barbel and chub were calling, so eventually I gave up on tench and headed for the river, though I was reluctant because the barbel were being hounded relentlessly by the super keen. It didn’t strike me as very sporting because the water temperatures were high, but in the end I succumbed to the temptation, though walked away from any swims that might have been hammered. Here's one of my beautiful creatures </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">of ten pounds </span>plus from a previous year. When I see one I always wonder why I don't fish for them all the time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fGSkfre8nKEw3vSuFbniuNJYBTmNr6cIucx3sKnw0h1Eo6oYOsNXhpt4xubWEy19wt_3b36g1HttTM8K0NHpreFp4BDQQJRPO53eurMkK5GwovdbSv4vYrryFi-SZ3D-zrowmW8u5Ao/s2048/10%253A15+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fGSkfre8nKEw3vSuFbniuNJYBTmNr6cIucx3sKnw0h1Eo6oYOsNXhpt4xubWEy19wt_3b36g1HttTM8K0NHpreFp4BDQQJRPO53eurMkK5GwovdbSv4vYrryFi-SZ3D-zrowmW8u5Ao/w640-h480/10%253A15+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />In spite of two days of searching I failed to see any barbel and friends told me I wasn’t alone, so I fished ‘blind’ and caught a beautiful chub of exactly six pounds. The next one from a shallow swim was fatter and probably weighed six and a half pounds and even better, I stalked it and I saw it take a freelined pellet. Watching the fight in the crystal clear water was exciting stuff. I didn't take any pics as the weather was too hot and would stress my lovely fat fish.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eV5iVPDPJHTWX0-aGyC1sXAvrRW4rLSKlEN_BC4EK4id9Y3Gdh75QRkCNE_EtNAjtL4NYyw3Vt-tmqSNytAsXVDf-fMiXQzX1ccYP-kDaVqQtoBVGSxYpJDP9l24khhy2Leql1142Vg/s1280/WEIRPOOL+MISTY+DAWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eV5iVPDPJHTWX0-aGyC1sXAvrRW4rLSKlEN_BC4EK4id9Y3Gdh75QRkCNE_EtNAjtL4NYyw3Vt-tmqSNytAsXVDf-fMiXQzX1ccYP-kDaVqQtoBVGSxYpJDP9l24khhy2Leql1142Vg/w640-h480/WEIRPOOL+MISTY+DAWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Early in the season I'd fished a weirpool's oxygenated water and caught some splendid Avon bream up to a whisker under eight pounds. They fight quite well in the strong flow and unlike some lake bream they are slime free bronzed beauties.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyTYrZ_k2-2fP6sJjZya-uo6THC8DJ_6HcnOETYpprbpJ3HDiEXMyHRNMxhUIfSM1t9wtg4wUA046su3AtcGkMKWopOeZv1ooKw9OCItKSlW60ve4W-Y6WJroL44d5GnWjIY8Yoany4/s1280/BREAM+OF+7LB14OZ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyTYrZ_k2-2fP6sJjZya-uo6THC8DJ_6HcnOETYpprbpJ3HDiEXMyHRNMxhUIfSM1t9wtg4wUA046su3AtcGkMKWopOeZv1ooKw9OCItKSlW60ve4W-Y6WJroL44d5GnWjIY8Yoany4/w640-h478/BREAM+OF+7LB14OZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLU_QZ8G3AONH3ue1RQ_Br6uPVEV7PG8Oq7B4Sq6q8i0KPufUNDd4Lh6OHeySn4AKnohm3VGcedOSsGQiRGWxIoZ3RSTdNyYCniiMZDlWIV6UC00bZW2fhlKN-mn1UztGuZi4VmDjRXU/s1032/PB+COVER+CU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLU_QZ8G3AONH3ue1RQ_Br6uPVEV7PG8Oq7B4Sq6q8i0KPufUNDd4Lh6OHeySn4AKnohm3VGcedOSsGQiRGWxIoZ3RSTdNyYCniiMZDlWIV6UC00bZW2fhlKN-mn1UztGuZi4VmDjRXU/w618-h640/PB+COVER+CU.jpg" width="618" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Between fishing trips I've been going down memory lane, for I was invited to contribute to a couple of programmes about wildlife in Svalbard and was filmed talking about our adventures while making the landmark series for the BBC called 'Kingdom of the Ice Bear'. Everything is a long time ago now [the mid '80's] but I remember vividly the more dangerous moments and the intense cold. Minus 25 degrees was described in my journal as a nice warm day! I got hypothermia waiting for days in the hope of cubs appearing at this polar bear den. They did emerge in the end and the images became iconic as mum and cubs slid down the mountain side in the sun.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dqKFk2nhUlHjG3UGOaUCU17kZHmSsiKBxpy3DqMfga0pWGfeegxmBKRdsfrrJnZmdK-hzoXighLrtRN7vkiDzUoGCbQ1PDll-DNYEuPKiN9b2L8M_h_gM4WIgGmBzD2WrUJgAgvdqVI/s1588/CAMERA+BY+POLAR+BEAR+DEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1588" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dqKFk2nhUlHjG3UGOaUCU17kZHmSsiKBxpy3DqMfga0pWGfeegxmBKRdsfrrJnZmdK-hzoXighLrtRN7vkiDzUoGCbQ1PDll-DNYEuPKiN9b2L8M_h_gM4WIgGmBzD2WrUJgAgvdqVI/w640-h430/CAMERA+BY+POLAR+BEAR+DEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was also recorded by that great champion of fish and underwater fish filming expert Jack Perks recently. It was for his podcast and I'm sure it would have been more interesting if he had been the subject of the interview. He has done more than anyone else to raise the profile of freshwater fish and should be given a medal for all his hard work. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzilWd4HTh1KvCNAz8kOKi8mEDo_q4bCt5J9SoOQsZfh3oZdQsJUCaRkiRVIoJF8hbRnaTmg1mMUmlcl-WsdXv67qyC1jMqzCTcqjIk-3akQcbU_Wumn4WzHntT_OMCSjI8YJx6HHR4ds/s1216/HUGH+%252B+JACK+PERKS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1216" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzilWd4HTh1KvCNAz8kOKi8mEDo_q4bCt5J9SoOQsZfh3oZdQsJUCaRkiRVIoJF8hbRnaTmg1mMUmlcl-WsdXv67qyC1jMqzCTcqjIk-3akQcbU_Wumn4WzHntT_OMCSjI8YJx6HHR4ds/w400-h310/HUGH+%252B+JACK+PERKS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's one of his cracking images of a grayling from our local chalk stream, the much treasured River Allen.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk7bPRThGKdmRxJeCqph-LJ1EjZdc61oiVeZdSvf2w0Dc0Ft6_80YzXR9g5UwWWSymbQYeOndiKZUetE9OOJTmwEum9QWSp7eswxxmFYr6T7sIuAL5w-c__YaYgPZasRYnqrbdR0kW6w/s2048/JACK+PERKS+GRAYLING+IN+RIVER+ALLEN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk7bPRThGKdmRxJeCqph-LJ1EjZdc61oiVeZdSvf2w0Dc0Ft6_80YzXR9g5UwWWSymbQYeOndiKZUetE9OOJTmwEum9QWSp7eswxxmFYr6T7sIuAL5w-c__YaYgPZasRYnqrbdR0kW6w/w640-h426/JACK+PERKS+GRAYLING+IN+RIVER+ALLEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />There has been some lovely sunny and light wind weather this summer, so Christchurch Harbour and it’s impossible mullet have often been on the radar. I share a boat with my pal Steve Derby and he too loves a dose of mullet madness, even if his boat is called ‘Bloody Mullet'. But that’s the point because if they were easy, the fishing wouldn’t be so enjoyable.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAvljuH6BR2F1pylidYby_Dm-y-RvkhoMlFMqEkYJc_mxDtwpD3xCj1sVasa1zZcsmyJXKLsBKhTE72PolJGeqRjmg5Il8foV84lMjoVVRRRF3lh82rcDKjjd5ooHMDbiGeIYwUDtVNU/s1280/HENGISTBURY+HEAD+%2527AERIAL%2527+CLOSER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAvljuH6BR2F1pylidYby_Dm-y-RvkhoMlFMqEkYJc_mxDtwpD3xCj1sVasa1zZcsmyJXKLsBKhTE72PolJGeqRjmg5Il8foV84lMjoVVRRRF3lh82rcDKjjd5ooHMDbiGeIYwUDtVNU/w640-h426/HENGISTBURY+HEAD+%2527AERIAL%2527+CLOSER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Using a float and laying on or stret-pegging or trotting bread flake down the tide are our preferred methods and if we are lucky enough to hook one, the fight is always epic. I think it’s the hardest fighting fish of any that I’ve ever encountered and this is what makes the quest so appealing, even when they escape from the hook, which happens all too often!<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt7KrMYPc1nAM-t6WhW5vqwuKMS0aH8LfBtNDDfFJUj2niDhImn2fejmmJh61X3AgsU8TXWFTvmVOW97rX8zhacEW1qZMwnOzOBfb-BNHM_jsXCbnmzlD7CQoEBqBGwCms4VogizVAMM/s1280/STEVE+BATTLES+MULLET+WITH+SERIOUSLY+BENT+ROD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt7KrMYPc1nAM-t6WhW5vqwuKMS0aH8LfBtNDDfFJUj2niDhImn2fejmmJh61X3AgsU8TXWFTvmVOW97rX8zhacEW1qZMwnOzOBfb-BNHM_jsXCbnmzlD7CQoEBqBGwCms4VogizVAMM/w640-h480/STEVE+BATTLES+MULLET+WITH+SERIOUSLY+BENT+ROD.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />One of the major delights of being out there in the wide open spaces of the harbour is the bird watching and three times recently I’ve had the privilege of watching an osprey fishing. On one occasion it tried to catch mullet for nearly half an hour. More often than not they saw it plunging down towards them or the osprey simply missed when hitting the water and the fish avoided becoming dinner. So I wasn’t the only fisherman that day who failed to catch a mullet. </span><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We see far more ospreys here now because of the rapidly evolving Poole Harbour re-introduction project. Ospreys last nested in the area one hundred and eighty years ago and were called 'mullet hawks' and it was remarkable this spring when a female continued to build up the nest that she started last year. It's just six miles from our cottage door so life doesn't get any better. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrUfn3R_j6Kv1iRr_0gb-PTRBYYyO3ZcT05SpJgphcBnt-uhsDp4AwbRVJ3tUD7Z91C4uKClEv2EyI3OwJ7ePLQtJl1Ogo4Upj5GNjhutF166bh_mra-vTl8ySYSYj25ZGVRCiR0Uyig/s1280/FEMALE+%252B+CHICK+WING+STRETCHING.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1280" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrUfn3R_j6Kv1iRr_0gb-PTRBYYyO3ZcT05SpJgphcBnt-uhsDp4AwbRVJ3tUD7Z91C4uKClEv2EyI3OwJ7ePLQtJl1Ogo4Upj5GNjhutF166bh_mra-vTl8ySYSYj25ZGVRCiR0Uyig/w640-h418/FEMALE+%252B+CHICK+WING+STRETCHING.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Above is an osprey family that our children grew up with in Scotland during their early childhood, so these charasmatic birds hold a very special place in our hearts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The leg ringed female CJ7 below is the star of Poole Harbour, for she did everything that a female should do to breed successfully, building up her nest impressively and even laying unfertilized eggs, so if a mate shows up when she returns from her winter in West Africa, she will surely raise young next year. These are such exciting times for ospreys and our fingers are firmly crossed.</span></div></span></span></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq74j_FI4ll8XAvRIB6zWuA2wBM8pOQVijGl1xiFlXioyqW7NapPkzaoWLkd-QcNskhe5Spv_ctd-oOXiUJdN8_Y2FdXbeUjyfXX8PkkV-9UZdyW4ESDTxdho7SUxYLFoT8HhsR-41uI/s1280/BIG+STICK+ON+EASTER+SUNDAY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq74j_FI4ll8XAvRIB6zWuA2wBM8pOQVijGl1xiFlXioyqW7NapPkzaoWLkd-QcNskhe5Spv_ctd-oOXiUJdN8_Y2FdXbeUjyfXX8PkkV-9UZdyW4ESDTxdho7SUxYLFoT8HhsR-41uI/w640-h412/BIG+STICK+ON+EASTER+SUNDAY.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Here she is adding a stick to her nest on Easter Sunday, the pictures courtesy of the 'Birds of Poole Harbour' charity. Hopefully a male will arrive from Africa next year and as their chicks grow, they'll be showing us how to catch mullet every day.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A concern I share with many others is both the legal and illegal netting of hundreds of mullet in Christchurch and Poole Harbour. It's their main prey and we suspect the netting will reduce the food supply for breeding ospreys and result in a negative impact on their success at raising chicks. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdH9h5Vs1ULf7DGPxZa2_eVSyu8Sp9wqmA8jakReJObUtQGP1H2CohX7YgzTEniWTQrkzKi1-X-knIb-H1djArfTYVHg8MGowUvshPoUkwIQzuGYaiLH1on9mLQxtG9oefneW2mHkJIk/s2048/ILLEGAL+CATCH.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdH9h5Vs1ULf7DGPxZa2_eVSyu8Sp9wqmA8jakReJObUtQGP1H2CohX7YgzTEniWTQrkzKi1-X-knIb-H1djArfTYVHg8MGowUvshPoUkwIQzuGYaiLH1on9mLQxtG9oefneW2mHkJIk/w429-h640/ILLEGAL+CATCH.jpg" width="429" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This criminal was caught by the EA and heavily fined but how many others escape detection under cover of darkness or net them out by the thousands legally? </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL-otes1uB9T3Lfp3C2OkdMB6bITkOdh2rMSXuLCO_hpQADp6xZCM7ysg4xold2GB_1mz8az3CYda2eb1lyepFgWL898xyTMEKlrRNP_VLAu_z8__szFjgQeyP37hFKs77d-qk3L7tqE/s1280/HUGH%2527S+5%253A7+THICK+LIP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1280" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL-otes1uB9T3Lfp3C2OkdMB6bITkOdh2rMSXuLCO_hpQADp6xZCM7ysg4xold2GB_1mz8az3CYda2eb1lyepFgWL898xyTMEKlrRNP_VLAu_z8__szFjgQeyP37hFKs77d-qk3L7tqE/w640-h474/HUGH%2527S+5%253A7+THICK+LIP.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Steve and I have managed to catch several mullet this summer, his best being a tad over six pounds, my best being half a pound lighter. The fights in the shallow water are spectacular and the joy of sharing means</span><span style="font-size: large;"> you have </span><span style="font-size: large;">twice the chance of enjoying some drama.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUD0DJEWVz7hl7d1LSlLnGL8iQtKDPvJhrn-9O_l8j_DIk6-FlazgVymuUMvscM26HnUVnN9Ig722jOPq9QSC-Kz1jZ9PtzUgTsycm6efj78mfCrHIrhNTgS3MavKylVClN-9YvhWVOU/s2048/WINDY+BY+DEAD+TREE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUD0DJEWVz7hl7d1LSlLnGL8iQtKDPvJhrn-9O_l8j_DIk6-FlazgVymuUMvscM26HnUVnN9Ig722jOPq9QSC-Kz1jZ9PtzUgTsycm6efj78mfCrHIrhNTgS3MavKylVClN-9YvhWVOU/w640-h480/WINDY+BY+DEAD+TREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Above all, the harbour is one of the wildest corners on the south coast and provides a perfect tonic if you are suffering from lock-down cabin fever. <br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoevNqWvl-HIpy7pUvU0HGTCpVaTPbhk6Ycb6lNs9-a5-FRFAPDc53QDaGZPhoggR3Z8eJo-gSJb9GaXqIoVbfTlJAAUomS3L6m77f8zFEOHgWmdj96jHVid0XSGh2yN40pxaH3gXIlg/s1280/SCENIC+IN+EVENING+RIVER+FLOODING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1280" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoevNqWvl-HIpy7pUvU0HGTCpVaTPbhk6Ycb6lNs9-a5-FRFAPDc53QDaGZPhoggR3Z8eJo-gSJb9GaXqIoVbfTlJAAUomS3L6m77f8zFEOHgWmdj96jHVid0XSGh2yN40pxaH3gXIlg/w640-h460/SCENIC+IN+EVENING+RIVER+FLOODING.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />More recently, we have followed the mullet and roach up the River Stour and been catching a few there. On one afternoon I hooked a fish that stripped line off the reel so fast and was so violent that it scared me! Then soon after, I hooked another beast that was so strong it beat me up, then broke the line on the anchor chain. However, I love it when you get smashed up because the memory and mystery remains far richer when a battle is unresolved.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY17f1T7J7CUj1wBlxa7IPLqQDXvwCQG2LR27Y-sPKypz0I6-LbRnbN1fQKGAgv0W5tJ6yOoN8ynysbd2X8co3h6sLY7ZtEQXJQ_U4GomyVFa-RCCF-T_iVp3jFKmpdd5t8Ql0XP_HsE/s1280/HUNDREDS+PAST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY17f1T7J7CUj1wBlxa7IPLqQDXvwCQG2LR27Y-sPKypz0I6-LbRnbN1fQKGAgv0W5tJ6yOoN8ynysbd2X8co3h6sLY7ZtEQXJQ_U4GomyVFa-RCCF-T_iVp3jFKmpdd5t8Ql0XP_HsE/w640-h442/HUNDREDS+PAST.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1p0H9YZUC9Kq3bKNDHMDKJI3mcK_Jgm54_UzhpyxyLKMli19FO-q-1_IaUeaMEtx51PPjCTIm9sXaYz-8utzbkhoEhqK7YGEDulFS8ssVmRU9Lcvs2dhurq62PUU6TrYK26kZ5Y28YE/s1280/MULLET+AROUND+THE+FLOAT.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1p0H9YZUC9Kq3bKNDHMDKJI3mcK_Jgm54_UzhpyxyLKMli19FO-q-1_IaUeaMEtx51PPjCTIm9sXaYz-8utzbkhoEhqK7YGEDulFS8ssVmRU9Lcvs2dhurq62PUU6TrYK26kZ5Y28YE/w400-h300/MULLET+AROUND+THE+FLOAT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There are more than thirty mullet in the pic above because just recently the numbers moving up with the tides are difficult to believe, hundreds if not thousands passing our boat, though it’s worth remembering the rule that “ if you can see them, you can’t catch them, and if you can’t see them, you can’t catch them either”! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGUReHbJzw3lcWO4h8a2Ysg07Z0sjQ83uLdfGM7q3P2QWyQpt4x19g93hljrN0bL1DA8GFd2rHBD2HJ2TOiYfuIUvyC-aWjBvCz2x1GmiJ5NsnFVzW-UN5tixkPBCi8T754KEVCUub7M/s1280/THIN+LIP+WITH+RIVER+B%253AG.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="928" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGUReHbJzw3lcWO4h8a2Ysg07Z0sjQ83uLdfGM7q3P2QWyQpt4x19g93hljrN0bL1DA8GFd2rHBD2HJ2TOiYfuIUvyC-aWjBvCz2x1GmiJ5NsnFVzW-UN5tixkPBCi8T754KEVCUub7M/w290-h400/THIN+LIP+WITH+RIVER+B%253AG.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>They bump into the float as they pass upstream but I simply love the challenge of trying to catch them and now that it’s raining and the rivers are flooding and adding colour to the water, I should soon be bagging lots of roach … but until the rain stops I’ll have lots of time to enjoy all those other hobbies I never have time for, won’t I?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rain is forecast for the whole weekend so there'll be lots of time to play music, a delightful thought.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvz_BOBdsCNjCVaw65aZz2iMId2acgzPN4ah5eJgv8CVDLzQenobjLBZQ_YSqZL3iXZ4527di8VSGucLCikqa-bCQvPwGfXgWvwUGOEl12b5HfKfDQT3M8aYeVpJuY5_K5EiJxy1EMnM/s1280/DSC01130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvz_BOBdsCNjCVaw65aZz2iMId2acgzPN4ah5eJgv8CVDLzQenobjLBZQ_YSqZL3iXZ4527di8VSGucLCikqa-bCQvPwGfXgWvwUGOEl12b5HfKfDQT3M8aYeVpJuY5_K5EiJxy1EMnM/w640-h478/DSC01130.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Hugh Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00292416367646947883noreply@blogger.com1