Skirr Cottage Diary.

Just finished reading The Colour of Magic, the first Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. Began to enjoy it towards the end. Although I have the greatest respect for the man and mourn his passing, for some reason I just can’t get into them. I think perhaps it is because I have always been a Tolkien addict – from an early hippie – type teenager – and have grown up to take fantasy a little bit too ‘seriously’. I have always followed – and re-read regularly – Alan Garner, Tolkien, Ursula la Guinn, Susan Cooper and Lloyd Alexander among others. Perhaps I should try another one at some point, because I can’t help feeling I’m missing out somehow as various mates are big fans and keep recommending them. 

Skirr Cottage Diary.

It proved to be a bitter cold day but the sun did eventually make a tentative appearance from behind some dark grey cloud that to me hinted at forth-coming snow. After some thought I decided a quick trip down Goyt Valley, near Buxton was in order; perhaps a tick for the New Year’s list might manifest itself? I walked from the main car park, glimpsing a cormorant perched on a buoy bobbing about on Errwood Reservoir and some Canada geese. Very soon I heard and spotted my first treecreeper of the year, always a terrific bird to see anytime. The tiny bird explored and probed one of the many oaks by the river as it entered the reservoir. Sad to related that after a circular walk encompassing the Riverside Walk the valley became bird-less.  The question has to be asked: where do all the woodland birds disappear to on a cold winter’s day? After much scanning of trees and moors I saw nothing more on my walk. The only other bird to be seen was a lone raven as I drove out of the valley on my way home. But the Goyt Valley, bird-less or not is always a great place to be – and besides, two ticks for the new list are not to be sneered at!!! 

Skirr Cottage Diary.

I am dreaming of the Norfolk marshes: of days laden with scope and bins, wandering the paths through the swaying reeds and flag iris. In the short-cropped grass of the nearby fields are geese and starlings; sometimes a hare lopes between the dykes. Coot, moorhens and swans paddle the drainage ditches. Redshank call and godwits muster in the lagoons; dunlin rise in panic at the sight of a marsh harrier. Reed warblers and sedge warblers sing their home-coming songs; skylarks rise to the blue sky singing over the shoreline - invisible to the eye. The windmill turns and the seasons move on: spring will soon be upon us and the redwings will have flown north to be replaced with swallows and Martins from the south. The winding paths through the reeds and the crunching march on the shoreline of many-coloured flint will be trodden once again.

R.I.P. David.

Skirr Cottage Diary.

A New Year means a new bird year list. In the past I have discussed the importance of recording the birds and other wildlife in your local area. But starting a new list for the year is also just plain good fun and gives you the excuse to visit other areas of interest or nature reserves to hopefully boost your list. Sadly because of on-going treatment for illness I find myself very restricted in my movements. Luckily Buxton, where I live is surrounded by countryside which is easily accessible. In the local park I have already clocked up siskin, mandarin duck, tufted duck, moorhen, coot, swan, Canada goose, nuthatch and many other species. The bird table and nearby fields have provided many of the tit and finch tribe, song thrush and black bird; the meadows, fieldfare, pheasant, kestrel and buzzard. Even a lone curlew and lapwing were spotted on the edge of town. Sadly the local River Wye is too swollen at present for local river birds like dipper, kingfisher and wagtails but I’m sure they will produce the goods in time. Slowly but surely the list swells in a modest manner.