Welcome to my new Blog



Welcome to my Blog.
My Blog is mostly about my hobbies, ie Model boats, Cross Stitch, Gardening, Days out and about, Lego Technics and Photography you might recognize the hat rather than me. My models and other hobbies can be found in the Tabs at the top below the header picture.
There will also be entries of days out with my camera, weather permitting of course.

Tuesday 26 June 2018

Reddish Vale Country Park 26.6.2018.

Today at Reddish Vale County Park, took this video of a family of Coots ducking and diving.

 

There were these Mallard babies too.




The only Cygnet standing seems to be doing well!.


Feed me Mum!.

Got an itch??.

Family of Canadian geese.

This chaffinch who seems to have healthy feet!.

Plenty of Terror-pins sunning themselves.


Any mates out there?.

Big noisy Chinese Swan Goose.


Quite tame when there's food about though!

Few years ago bought this Jigsaw from a charity shop thought it would keep my brain active, but it seems to be doing the opposite and sending me round the bend!

Taken me about three weeks to get to this stage, should be finished about Christmas at this rate, that's if I don't go mad or throw it in the bin, the paper recycling one of course!.

I manage to do at least one piece a day, keep an eye on this as I will be asking you what the next piece in was??.
Off to do some more!.
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This is a video I took at Etherow Country Park a few years ago. I thought it was quite funny watching it afterwards, as the babies seemed to be joining in as well, whether learning or helping Mum out I'm not sure!

Friday 22 June 2018

Swanning around again, 22.6.2018.

Met friends again at Daisy Nook Country Park Cafe today, great meeting place!.
5 humans and 3 dogs!.
After putting the world to  rights, discussing the various teams in the World Football Cup, and the state of our coin collecting it was too late to go round the park!.
So Pepe and I set off for home and on the way back I remembered someone had mentioned that there were a family of swans on the lake at the side of the road on the way down to Mockeridge Garden centre.
Had a quick look round the garden centre but didn't find anything that interested me so on the way back up the road parked up and walked to the lake and there they were.

 

But as always seems to be the case, they were on the other side of the lake!, even my big zoom couldn't pull them in any closer!

There were plenty of pond life about, such as these dragonflies and small fish in the water.


So as it was quite hot and didn't want to leave Pepe in a hot car decided to leave the Swans for another day.
Got back in the car and made my way to the roundabout near the Metro Tram car park and there they were on the side of the road, they had climbed out of the water and looked like they were having an afternoon class or is that my over active imagination again   
  

"Pay attention at the back Gladys"!.



It was nice to see so many youngsters, not like the parks were many of them seem to get taken by predators of one kind or another  

After tea I noticed that the Moon was in sight and took this picture even though it was still daylight!, will have to see if the sky is as clear tonight and try it again.



Taken again at 10-30pm.

Another good day but no coins!.
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He had to fill in a form, at the bottom where it said 'sign' he wrote Pisces.

What leads most people into debt, Trying to catch up with people who are already there!.

If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go?.

Why is the man who invests your money called a Broker?.
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Monday 18 June 2018

Swanning around at The Vale.17.6.2018.

Sunday saw Pepe and I down at Reddish Vale again to see how the baby Swans were doing!.

As it was Fathers Day what better than to show a proud father, helping with the feeding and training.












A happy family.


Plenty of Baby Coots about too ducking and diving!

A nice moorhen baby getting independent now. 

The ever present Heron, on the look out for a quick snack!.


At the Daisy Nook Park cafe there are a few more items to see, ie a flying machine in the ceiling area.

Not a very good picture with the light from the fan lights making it difficult, but you get the idea.

Those magnificent men in their flying machines and those magnificent ladies with their coffee machines!!.

A new banner in the Cafe as well, check it out on Facebook!.


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Tuesday 12 June 2018

A day at Reddish Vale country park, 12.6.2018.

If you haven't been to Reddish Vale Country Park here is a walk round for you.

Back to the car first, he forgot to put the memory card back into the camera last night so had to use the one out of his other camera, what a plonker!!.

The information centre entrance, which hadn't open yet so was able to see the art work on the doors, as it say's there are toilets (new and posh) round the back!. 

Some of the visitors after their wade in the river to cool down


What's in the cup?.

Down into the woods, nice and cool here.

Down to the river.

Nice place to sit and relax and watch the river.

Walking at the side of the river

Brings you to the butterfly field that's planted with all the plants mentioned below to attract them. 

It also brings you to a small lake, that's friends Mary & Peter enjoying the view of last years only surviving young swan, all on its own, perhaps a mate will fly in soon!.



Spotted this Squirrel a long long way away, but my Nikon P900 zoom  soon pulled it in.

Not forgetting Stockport's famous viaduct, which has bird boxes underneath in places

A mandarin duck, this one looks a bit darker to the ones I've seen in the past, perhaps not in all it's glory yet

And a female.

This Chaffinch seems to have lost a foot but was eating well and as I walked round the lakes it followed me round so it was getting around and flying well.


On the back of the big lake the Swans were keeping an eye on their babies, as were three herons!.



Cute hey!.

I won't tell you again, stay close or the heron will have you.



There are also plenty of Coot babies

Eat your seed and I'll get you a nice juicy bug for dessert 

Plenty of Terror-Pins about if you keep looking 

Family of Coots feeding, and learning how to dive.


Moorhen Babies


Something moved in there!



Grooming time.

For everyone.

Down by the river was this Heron.

What you looking at Rook, 

Its only a loose feather, you should see the other fellow!.

Prancing Queen 

The little Footloose Chaffinch followed me for ages and was still quite close as I left, felt like taking it home to make sure it would survive!.

There you have it plenty to see at Reddish Vale and the Tearooms at the side of the riding stables do a nice snack and cuppa.
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