Morning Tea with Leah 30th January

Drove over to Hazelford to have morning tea with Leah this morning as a lovely sunny day for a visit to the river. The boat looking very nice in the sunlight although a bit of a muddy track to get down to it.

The river was flowing quite swiftly after the recent snow and melting. No sign of the Robin who comes into the boat given half a chance or the Moorhen but there was a lovely little Marsh Tit calling from a reed stem on the other side of the jetty.

As it was such a lovely day we walked up river towards the sailing lake to see if we could spot the Tawny Owl sunning itself in the hollow tree it often roosts in. We were in luck today and got a great view of it snuggled down in it's hole enjoying the winter sun, 105th species for the year!

Had to rush back a bit as I was picking up Viv after she had been swimming.

Thursday 26th January

We had quite a flurry of snow this morning, made the garden look really pretty for a while but most of it had melted by early afternoon.

I had moved the guinea pigs into a bit more shelter so they didn't get too snowed in, poor little things only have little legs and don't want to be wading in deep snow.

The snow did bring in a pair of Tree Sparrows to the feeders on the pear tree, first time they have visited the garden that we've seen for just over a year. If it stays cold we might just get a few other rarities with luck. It took the annual total to 104 species for the year to date.

Sailing at Brancaster January 2015

The only down side to sailing at Brancaster in the winter is the fact you have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the tide but at least you get to see the Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese flying in to feed having roosted out at sea for the night. The sky is just full of skeins of calling geese, quite a sight to see.

Fortunately I was sailing with Chris a friend from Norwich who had brought his boat a Wanderer down which meant Viv and I could leave our Wayfarer Mihangel behind this time. First time I have sailed a Wanderer, a bit like a slightly smaller and slower Wayfarer.

Saturday the wind was blowing a Force 4 with stronger gusts so we stayed inside the harbour but did get to have a play in the waves just inside the harbour mouth taking it in turns to helm across the waves and surf the boat.

Sunday the wind dropped to a steady Force 3 so we able to get out through the harbour entrance although quite a battle with the tide for a while and then beat up to Titchwell Creek along the coast. The sail back was down wind so quicker, warmer and drier and we again had a little play in the surf which had kicked up due to the fact the tide had turned by then and was running against the wind.

Chris relaxing and enjoying the view.

It was nice being back in Norfolk again although I had been there for a week bird watching only a week ago. I like to get away the beginning of the year to Norfolk and the Lakes to get the birding year off to a good start.

I had seen 58 different species around home including a Raven at the back of Farnsfield which was rather unusual. Norfolk gave me a chance to visit Cley Marshes where in addition to the usual waders I saw Marsh Harriers, Bearded Reedling and Snow Bunting.

At Stiffkey I saw my favourite bird a Male Hen Harriers plus female Hen Harrier, Sparrow Hawk and Barn Owl.

Before I came back I had a first visit to Burnham Overy Staithe where I spotted Pink-footed goose, White Fronted goose, Common and Rough Legged Buzzard, Red Kite, Red-necked Grebe, Common Scoter out on the sea and my second favourite bird a Short-eared Owl. At one point the Short-eared owl came right up close then circled off with a Red Kite just hunting over the marsh.

All in all quite a good week seeing 87 different species and taking the total for the year to 100 by the middle of January.

Writing this up this morning the weather outside not great, windy, cold and frequent squally showers of sleet and rain. However, we did have a pair of Tree Sparrows on the feeders in the garden, first time they have visited this year, we didn't see them at all in the garden last year.

Sunday 29th June

Woke up to find it was still raining so after breakfast we decided to drive to the Metro the local equivalent of the underground-underground and ride into Lille to have a wander around. Seems funny getting on an electric train with no drivers or conductors though.

We did the sights in Lille taking in the major squares, statues, museums and art galleries which were very nice.

This is Place de Rihour noted for the juxtaposition of brick and stone dating from the 17th century (their words not mine) but all the same the stone against brick above the shop front line is quite stunning. Behind the shops you can see a clock tower and just to the left was the Cathedral. We visited it as it seemed really busy with the majority of the Lille faithful turning up late afternoon. As it happened there was an ordination of a new Deacon so all the faithful were in their Sunday best whilst Viv and I were in our crocs and shorts, at least we had both showered before coming out. We decided not to stay for the service even though the singing was lovely and caught the Metro to the Natural History museum instead having first visited the old citadel where there were some enormous carp swimming around in the moat.

Having a "Senior moment" resting in the Natural History museum.

A few more photos

Walking in the hills above Schladming, the roadside was full of Lupins, Orchids and masses of other flowers.

At times there were so many Orchids they reminded me of the swathes of Bluebells you see in English woods.

Sunlight on the river above Schladming.

A view from the cable car across to the mountains we could see from our balcony on a clear day.

Tea at Ausburg, Germany.

Saturday 28th June

It just so happened that Ausburg where we camped the night is near the bottom end of one of the most popular tourist routes in southern Germany called the Romantic Road after an old Gypsy Route from the Bavarian Alpes back into central Germany. The manager of the campsite told us about it so we decided to follow it north as it went in the general direction we needed to go home. Well worth the slight detour as it passed through some beautiful towns and country side. This is me paddling in the river below one of the many walled towns.

One of the many pretty villages and towns we passed though.

We stopped for a walk around the town of Dinkelshuhl, a medevial walled town that was fascinating, people are still living in all the houses including the town walls and turrets.

We were lucky and found another really nice camp site at Munster with a small lake just behind the tent and a river flowing down from it. We had a beer up at the beer garden on the camp site and watched Red Kites and Buzzards soaring over the hillsides around us whilst we supped a refreshing stein of German beer or two.

Saturday we decided we needed to put a few miles behind us so sadly had to leave the end of the Romantic Road and head north west across Germany to Holland and then into Belgium where we tried to find a hotel for the night as by then it had started to rain quite persistently. Unfortunately we couldn't find anywhere suitable and it may have been the weather or just us getting tired but Belgium was just not rocking our boat so we headed over to France.

We found a nice little hotel on the outskirts of Lille and were recommended a local pub that brewed it's own beer just down the road so toddled off to blow the froth off a couple before retiring to the local supermarket where it appears half of Lille had the same idea to dine in the cafe there, good food and very good value.

We are currently about 80 miles south east of Dunkirk so hopefully will have an easier day tomorrow before getting the ferry Monday. It's pouring with rain at present and really threw it down earlier in the day, so hard at one point that we were doing about 10 miles an hour on the motorway so heavy was the rain and spray you could hardly see the end of the car. I hope it improves tomorrow.

Thursday 26th June

Time to start back home, we drove out of Schladming north towards Germany sorry to leave Austria but vowing to return again in the near future, it is just too beautiful and peaceful not to.

We stopped at a little restaurant at the top of the Golling Pass and the owner told us about a scenic route across the mountains down into what is known as the Austrian Lake District, well worth the detour.

Viv at the top of the Golling Pass.

Looking out across the mountains and valleys with snow capped peaks and flower filled valleys.

One of the many winding roads hugging the cliffs through the gorges and passes.

We eventually pitched camp in a smashing little site at Ausburg in Germany next to a lake full of small rudd and two very aggressive Coots who chased any other bird off the lake including a beautiful male Red Crested Pochard who arrived late evening.