Two walks and a prize (maybe) question....

Up nice and early this morning, it wasn’t the intention to have two walks today but hey, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. To be honest I’m still getting bouts of melancholy and then the Grumpster threatens to raise his ugly head (not that I’m an oil painting myself!).

So to try and dispel the feeling that the black clouds were about to gather I bundled the Warthog into the car and hot footed (hot wheeled?) it to Nercwys woods for a little sornter. The woods were eerily quiet and to be honest I was a tad disappointed at the lack of opportunity for one of my rare (OK basically non existent) wild animal shots. Although ‘YLB’ did her best to oblige, she’s turning into a real companion upon the trials with a bond of trust building up between us.

One thing of note is that there looks as if there’s going to be a decent crop of Bilberries this year, judging by the flowers on display.

Oh at this point a shall offer this weeks mystery object for you to identify;-

Just saying drain pipe will not get you any prizes as that’s too bleedin’ obvious my friends. What I require from you is the actual purpose of these pipes tied about five feet high on the trunks of the pine trees. Prize will differ depending upon what you ask for and if I can be bothered ;o) although sensible requests will be heeded (as long as the answer is correct – no chance me thinks ha ha).

So arrived home, just checking out the blogs and face book when I received a request, well more like a bloody command, to write a post because….  Well never mind the reason but it was a good one. Looking at what I had to offer you fine, upstanding folk I doubted that it would hold to much interest for you so taking the easy way out I thought ‘bugger that’ I'm off out again! (Really should have got on with me chores you know!).

This time I headed for the deserted quarry that has recently been ‘landscaped’ (very much with nature in mind) just the other side of Hedre (first mentioned here). The first thing of note just yards from where I’d abandoned the fun cruiser was signs of death. 

I first took it as being the feathers of a luckless Wood Pigeon, common enough here, but closer inspection revealed a surprise. The remains were that of a Jay, an unusual find as a victim, this made me think that the predator responsible would likely be a sparrow hawk, certainly a raptor as the quills were pulled clean out and not chewed off.

The difference in this walk to the early morning stroll was palatable, with much more flowers and plants straining for the attention of the bees that were plentiful (a most welcome sight). I could tell that there were at least three different species of bee, but you know by now that inept John here failed to take one decent photograph of any of them (YLB helped not at all be sticking her nose in every time I lined one up, you little bugger..).

Leaving the wooded trail we shortly came across the old quarry site. It is truly a breath of fresh air to see wildlife orientated landscaping such as this, with a truly diverse mix of wild planting. At this time of year there were plenty of signs of the area waking up and its potential for wildlife habitat looks to be terrific.

Moel Famau in the far distance

See wildlife..way hay...

We headed back to the fun cruiser with an idea forming in my tiny brian, and that is to next week, betwixt the grind shifts, head here before first light leaving YLB behind in the hope of getting some actual half decent wildlife pictures to share with you – well it’s got to happen sometime, hasn’t it?

In the mean time I haven’t just been walking to clear my head, oh no indeedy. My brother in law Wayne (him with Celt) espied my walking staff the other week and has since brought two for me to repair, the thumb stick (replacing the ‘oh I’m a country type but bloody useless shotgun cartridge feral' for a stainless one) for him and the shorter hazel stick for a mate of his, brass feral to be machined and fitted. Seizing the chance for a barter I've taken them on, the thumb stick is finished and in use whilst I've got some more work on the hazel – but the barter? only several bottles of ‘Old Rosie’ cider coming my way, result me thinks.

Whilst I’m in such a benevolent mood if any requests for staffs and sticks are forth coming I’m open to negotiation, and I’m sure that we can come to some arrangement ;o). Well that just about wraps up this post my friends, till next time, cheers for dropping by and take good care of yourself and yours.

Your friend,

John