A man and his camera.: August 2022

Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Back to Reddish Vale, 31.8.22.

Today we decided to try out Reddish Vale country park again, we had stopped going just after the pandemic, what with the toilets/refreshments closing, the winter weather, the crowds and the muddy paths it seemed prudent to give it a miss at the time.

We got a very nice welcome back today, I even got a hug and a kiss, in the information centre (from the lady I might add!).

We also met a couple of lady friends, who we hadn't seen for a while, and I even swopped a few coins with one of them who collects as well.

I'd taken a few books and jigsaws and within minutes the books were snapped up, all donations go to the upkeep of the park!.

It's good to be back Dad, no sausages here though!, never mind its Pear Mill tomorrow.

Noticed a new picnic table backing on too Sunnyside Pool.

Hadn't noticed this sculpture in the quiet garden before.

Pepe on Marys bench in the garden.

A dunnock.

This terror-pin was sat on a log on Sunnyside pool.

Little Grebe on Sunnyside pool.

His mate sat on the nest under the trees.

Not a very good picture but you can see an egg!.

On the upper mill pond was this Cormorant.

Its either laughing here or perhaps calling for a mate, there again could have heart burn.

The Swan family resting in the shade.

Heron on the lower mill pond.

Same one from the upper pond.

Only saw the one Mandarin Duck, there are usually quite a lot there.

Lots of Terror-pins on the lower Mill pond.

Terrapin sunning itself on the island on Lower pond.

So all in all, a very nice day and now I've taken the plunge and gone back will be going again very soon.

Meanwhile back home, the goldfinches are doing well, as are the flock of starling that arrive everyday .

Goldfinch with wings out showing its yellow wing patch's.

Not a good picture but you get the idea, must try different setting next time.

A greater variety of wildlife at Reddish Vale, though had no luck with the Jays or Kingfishers, perhaps next time.

Never fails to amaze me the number of children who walk past all this wildlife and never notice anything, I always point things out to them as you never know, I might even start someone on a new and exciting hobby!.

.............................................

Why is it that night falls, but day breaks?.

Why is lemon juice mostly artificial ingredients, but dishwashing liquid contains real lemons?.

Seems a pizza can get to your house quicker than an ambulance

................................................................

Tuesday, 30 August 2022

New Outdoor Nature Camera, w/e 27th-28th August 22.

This past week bought myself a new Outdoor Camera,, its a Ceyomur 95, the latest in their range and its new in the fact it has a solar panel that saves you replacing the batteries as much, though it does have 4x AA batteries as a back up.

It had to be charged up for 8 hours first with the provided cable to charge up the rechargeable battery inside.

Then you open the back to insert the 4 AA batteries, as you can see you then have to program the camera and I must say the instruction manual is absolutely great, well spelt, clear and concise.

You then scan the barcode in the lid to get the right appt for your particular smart phone and follow the instructions to
marry the phone to the camera!.

There is a Micro memory card included just to the left of the charging cable, but its only 32 GB, so bought another one at 256GB and replaced the smaller one as suggested, mind you that cost £28 from Amazon!.

That micro Memory card which is smaller that my pinky finger nail will hold 50,400 photos, isn't the technology these days great.

This gives you an idea of the size of the camera held in my hand.

Didn't go out much over the Bank Holidays since it was still quite hot, too hot for Pepe!, we managed Pear Mill on the Saturday and Monday, the games are back on the tables in the Café so we have started to play Gin Rummy, Pepe is very good once he's had his sausage!.

The flowers are back on the tables now Rachel is back after her bereavement, it does give the place that welcoming air.

The place was very busy on the Bank Holiday Monday, so a lot of people hadn't chanced the roads.

Friend Bob and I exchange pictures of our meals at times, this is my dinner from yesterday!

Bob is newly Widowed so is still getting over coping, but doing very well, I think he did a lot before he lost his dear wife though, whilst she was in a care home, that's the trouble getting old all your friends seen to be dying.

On a happier note the starling in my garden are eating me out of house and home, there are lots of young ones amongst them as you can see by their lack of colour on their heads in this picture.

In the park today this magpie was following me about has it must have recognized us from the Nature garden with our monkey nuts, but that was closed today as they had had a busy weekend, so were probably taking a well earned rest today.

Coal Tit.

Nuthatch.

Finished a difficult Jigsaw today as well, was hard with all those colours, and of a painting so made more difficult with no defined lines.

Not as difficult as this next one is going to be though hey!

So that's August nearly over, and the nights seem to be closing in quite rapidly.

.............................................................

Tuesday, 23 August 2022

In Debdale park this weekend, 20-21st August 2022.

First thing we noticed was that a new path had been put in since the last time we had been.

Looking towards the rose garden.

Though the nature centre office was closed for the weekend the gardens and coffee shop was still open and WiFi still available!.

Juvenile Great Tit.

Adult great Tit.

Was nice just sat there watching the magpies burying the monkey nuts we had bought, then watching the Squirrels following them and digging them up again.