23.7.2026.

Yesterday (Wednesday) went down the Vale, not been for a few weeks as the weather has been too hot for me!.

First to be seen was two cormorant's on the lower mill pond,

From a distance they look all black, but close to they are quite colourful.

These baby mallards are cute!

 Top mill pond was quite full of wildlife. 

There you go heron, swan and mallards all on one picture.

Then dad came down to see what all the fuss was about. 

And it was me feeding Mum and the five babies.

This is a male mandarin, those with all the beautiful colours , but he's done his job for this year so its back to being like the females, you can still tell them apart  by their colourful beak!.

Female mallards preening.

It was amusing watching the squirrels trying to get to the monkey nuts ahead of the crows

Didn't have much chance though.

Throw some a bit nearer mate!.

The pigeons are always at it aren't they.

This Little Grebe struggling though the algae, which is everywhere at the moment with no rain to help the water flow. 

Back home bought a clematis "Josephine" which died on me at the end of last year. 

So this one is going onto the trellis on the right there.

Son John sent me this picture of his cockerpoo Max.

Was at the Bridge View café today, it was full to bursting with my mate Christopher singing today.

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First week in July 2026.

 Last week  (Friday) went down to Reddish Vale to see if I could get  pictures of the young Kestrels and young Kingfishers, but I was out of luck , perhaps because it was my dinner time not theirs!.

Did manage to get the Swan's with their youngsters though.

Dad keeping an eye on them.

Time for a snooze!.

A couple of herons were there.

Three for two price of one!.

A terrapin looking like a monster from the deep.  

This poor crow seems to have a club foot, though it seems to be feeding well. 

The crows seem to like apple as well as peanuts.

The squirrels always appreciate a bit of apple.

This one can't wait to get at the goodies.

Back home my Clematis is doing well with all this sunshine.

My goldfinches are back, no babies seen as yet though.

I tried to get a picture of the Strawberry moon, but as usual it was too cloudy on the night, there again it's not coloured anyway!.

Here is the reason for it's name.

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End of June 2026.

Went over to the Debdale ressers to see the young swans, they are doing well and are quite big now.

But the sailing club were out and they don't seem to care about the wild life!.

Did see this young Grebe on the far side of the lake.

and a young Coot.

Plenty of young Canada geese about.

Dad on the alert of any trouble.

On a visit to Costa (Sainsburys) a couple of weeks ago had a surprise visit from my friends Val & Chris     

Val pointed out the plugs under all the bench seats, so can charge up your power banks hey!.

On a visit to the Bridge view Café on the Saturday Val had one of these ice creams, phew and finished it!.

On the way there I'd called at the garden center and got a very large pot for that Acer at the bottom of the garden.

You can just see my friend Kimba going back home though the fence.

I'd also called at the Ashton Moss nature reserve
and seen this young heron stood in the seating area.

Back home caught these nice Goldfinches on my feeders.

And these starlings with their young ones stocking up on Mealy worms that I got today.

Hope not be too long next time.

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