Second weekend in June, 7-9.6.2024.

 It's been not to bad this weekend, though it's still not too warm yet, I'll be glad when the voting's over, you get fed up with the same old speel day after day don't you!.

Friday I went down to Reddish Vale park, didn't rain but I was sorry I'd put on a lighter coat, but they do say Don't cast a clout till May is out, but that's long gone.

This terrapin looks a crusty old one, bit older than the other one.

Plenty of squirrels about.

A young Nuthatch.

A Rook.

A young Coot with Mum.

A few more of the brood.

Some more terrapins in the weak sunshine.

The male Mandarin ducks are starting to lose their bright breeding colours now, but will still retain their brighter beak, so when people say where's the colourful Mandarins they are there but you can only tell by their brighter beaks.

The female having a well earned rest after feeding and looking after the family, they can have up to 14 youngsters. 

Plenty of Canadian geese youngster's about of various sizes.

A Great Tit with some fat ball.

Had a chat and a drink with the lovely Lady Sarah at the Coffee Dream Machine,

 and then it was off to Morrison's for lunch, a chicken breast barm with a jug of gravy, very tasty too.

Free refill's on drinks there too.

Finished this jigsaw so I could take it to the Bridge on Saturday.

Saturday it was off to the Bridge View café  at Portland Basin to met friends and found out they are open on Tuesday's during the school holidays which is good news for us as it's our favourite watering hole. we had tried out Vernon park Café for Tuesday's but The Bridge is better for us!.

Went to the charity shop and got 5 jigsaws for £5!

Sunday it was off to Home Bargains for bird food and as usual because its cheap came out having spent a fortune, but at least got a lot for my money.

After a bacon buttie at the O'Neal's buttie wagon it was over to the Ashton Moss nature reserve to see where the swans were but was unlucky there as they were no where to be seen, probably gone walkabout as usual.

As soon as I got there these checky devils sat on my bonnet, if the windows were open they would have been in I'm sure.

The resident Muscovy duck was there 

As were these fancy ducks.

 

Put a fat ball out and sure enough within minutes there were the jackdaws, I do get them in m garden too now perhaps followed me home!.

So then it was off home to get warm and feed Alfie and fill the bird feeders.

I'm glad to say that the goldfinches have brought their babies out again this year.

And here are the babies, feed me, feed me.

Oh well, I'll get it myself.

They seem a bit bigger before appearing this year, there again I've not been getting up as early this year, perhaps missing them earlier in the morning.

So this it the fourth year I've had the babies here, feel very privileged to have them here!.

Baby sparrows too.

So it's been a good weekend for me,  my Son and his youngest daughter had a dad and daughter night out at the Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh  and she was on FaceBook dancing to the music!.

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Start of June, 3-4.6.2024.

 Monday went to Reddish Vale Park and it was sunny but still on the cool side.

Plenty of babies about., Canadian geese here.

Coots on the top mill pond.

 There was only two terrapins out so they didn't think it was too warm either. 

The mandarins were looking quite pale, perhaps it was the light!.

Beaky was there to greet me too, if I don't get the seed out of my bag quick enough he dives in!.

Took the inner quilted lining out of my Camo coat but after a while wished I hadn't.

This squirrel munching on a fat ball.

Didn't want a strawberry I was prepared to share with it. 

A rook, sturdier build than a crow.

The Lady Sarah wasn't at the park on the day, but I read on Facebook that she had noticed that there was nowhere for the mums and kids to buy bird food now with the info centre closed, so she is going to sell it and give the money to the park funds, what a lovely lady thinking of that.

 Today Tuesday the gang decided we would have a change from Pear Mil Café and we went to Vernon/ Woodbank Park to see what it was like, I vaguely remember seeing the café before but never been it.

Set off early from home not knowing how long it would take to find the car park and as usually happens every traffic light was on green for me so got there too early!, so got the camera out and had a short walk round the park nearest the café.

Saw this carved tree, 

But the rot seems to be taking over 

War memorial tribute round the other side.

Signage so I can study it at my leisure

Then it was time for the café.

Café entrance.

A nice variable menu, it's the same people who run the café at Etherow country park by the way.

 Peter and I had the bacon and egg on a barm, Jean had just come from the dentist so only had a coffee!.

I had a look round the shop too.

Think all café's are getting the message now about dogs, they are cleaner than the kids.

Was quite busy when I got there but within half an hour the breakfast crowd had disappeared and there was plenty of tables available.

Was very nice inside and it was a nice change of venue so made it better still for me.

Front entrance.

Jean even found an entrance to the park that will see her parked at the front door near enough!, so that was a plus for her!.

So it was a good day even though it was drizzling all the time we were there but it doesn't matter as long as your in good company does it!.

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