First Sunday of December, 2017.

The first Sunday of December 2017, turned out to be quite cool and on a visit down to Reddish Vale saw that all the Lakes were frozen over.

Waiting for the thaw!

As it was quite misty the pictures on this post are not quite up to scratch.

This black bird out and about at the feeding trough.

Managed to get the big jet coming into Manchester airport.

This one looks like 'A rose between two thorns' doesn't it, or is that my imagination running away with me again, perhaps put it down to old Age!.

These are a few of the 12 cormorants on the lake on the day

A Little grebe one of four seen on the day, I was told by Darrell one of the workers that where he comes from they are called Dab Chicks!, 

Looking though the square window at the info centre there was a lot of activity on the bird table!.

Just need some berries on that holly bush to make it a real Christmas scene.

Ah, the sun came out for a while so managed to snap this Maggie, round by the small lake!

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Today at Etherow, 4.12.2017.

Misty, although slightly warmer 

From an earlier year of ice.

Queen Tut, the Egyptian Goose on her own today, perhaps the love of her life has gone into mourning after his mate crashed and broke her neck in the week!.

Little Gull.

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Been watching the 'Strictly come dancing' on the telly, then over to the 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here!' where people seem to go to any lengths to further their career's , so eat this!.

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Its only a blog post!!!!.

1st November 2017.

1st November already!, doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself, or is it that time flies faster the older you get!!

Been out and about with Pepe and other Dog walking friends, this Nuthatch was snapped at Reddish Vale and I've joined the Stockport Nature Watch website.

Some cracking nature pictures on this site!.

Click here to go to web site

To Etherow Country Park,

 The swans and their baby have come down to the big lake after their Summer on the Keg pool, of course they have been seeing off the four young swans that arrived in their absence claiming their territory back again.

The baby (the only one this year at Etherow) isn't much of a baby anymore is it!, and there ever present with them is Queen Tut the Egyptian Goose. 

 

Queenie.

Junior.

Been to The Windmill Pub at Denton for a carvery lunch a few times, you can't do better that this can you?, the beef is for a doggie bag for Pepe.

Lovely grub and that's Pepe's beef in the blue napkin.

The signage on the toilet doors.

Lately I've been thinking of a bit of a change in the back garden and thought I wanted a couple of Cotoneaster plants and saw this in the Pub rear car park, which are Pyracantha's!, that's what I was thinking about, quite colourful even at this time of ear. 

The biggish clumps of Fuchsias were getting past their sell by date and would be dormant all winter so it was out with them.  

Added a couple of trellis.

The two different colours of Pyracantha planted, they are said to grow to 20 ft but as you could see at the Windmill they can be trimmed to hedge high.

So I hopefully will have colour though the winter in this section of garden, there again the birds might help themselves to a few snacks, never mind that's another reason for adding them to the garden.

Those wall pots will have to be moved when the Pyracantha fills out.

That looks a lot better from the living room window

Whilst buying the plants saw this nice bird bath and bought it, when I got it home thought it was a bit low, so to Plan A, stood it on an upturned plant pot.

Plan B.

Then on another visit to buy the second plant, found this pot which turned upside down looked a lot better to my eye, they say 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' don't they!. 

In the spring, I might even paint it to match the ladies and give Them a fresh coat of paint, think the birds needs are more than mine at the moment though.

Better to sort out the Rainbows that I made  a few years ago and are now looking a bit tired, will keep me busy whilst the birds are looked after!.

Well that's it for another post, hope you like the pictures.

For more bird pictures see the TAB at the top 'Birds in the park'

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Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.

Mobile phones are the only subject on which men boast about who's got the smallest.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

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Swan family, 26.10 17.

This week at the lake (Etherow) was surprised to see the Swan family down from the Keg Pool, the last time I was up there the Baby could have fitted on your hand, look at him/her now.

Not a fluffy little chick now!.

Mum and Dad with the ever faithful Queen Tut

Queen Tut still armored to the Big Daddy, always getting between him and the female!. 

Afternoon Nap, but Queenie still got an eye out for any intruders.

Bath time 

Are you sure he's not mine??, handsome enough!.

Queenie what a colourful bird!.

Another family unit that's been at Etherow for years, with their bodyguard!.

Only one Cormorant today, I think all the rest are at Reddish Vale!.

Plenty of Gulls about on the perches provided by the yacht club.

Quite an old picture of Queenie butting in on the Swans, doesn't seem to realize that Twos company, Threes a crowd. This was when Mate Bob and I thought it as a King Tut!

This Female Swan died and the King Tut after investigation turned out to be a Queen Tut, as you can see in the pictures above still faithful to the male swan, even if its not getting her anywhere.

A lot of the same family pictures today but they are rather nice creatures aren't they!.

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Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.

Maybe its true that life begins at forty.

But everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.

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