Tracks and Signs (1)

Barn Owl Pellet

On my travels looking at Wildlife I have often collected things like bird feathers and Pellets when I am lucky enough to find one. So it got me thinking that it would be good to introduce a new section on my blog called Tracks and Signs.

The First one is of a Barn Owl Pellet I found in Somerset close to were a pair of Barn Owls roost.

After allowing the pellet to soak for a while I used tweezers to prize away the pellet as it is a mass of fur. Then managed to locate the skulls and bones of what the Owl had digested.

Above is the Skulls and also some of the bones of what I understand is a Vole but this is to be confirmed.

                            The larger skull does look somewhat different to the smaller skull.
In the next Tracks and Signs I will be starting to look at Feathers collected.

London Wetland Centre

Tuesday 13th September 2011

First visit to the London Wetland Centre at Barnes today. Turned out to be a quiet day not too many birds to be seen. The heavy showers kept coming during the afternoon, before clearing up and feeling quite warm the sun came out.

Photographed this Juvenile Moorhen that was very inquisitive with the pond weed. There has been a Juvenile Ruff present for the last few days on the main lake.

The Ruff seen bottom left of the Grey Heron. Soon after it just vanished to one of the islands and went missing for hours. Overhead a Hobby was chasing some of the House Martins and a Peregrine was also chasing a meal, not sure if either was successful.

The numbers of Gadwall are now increasing I had counted 103 with 67 Teal and 65 Shoveler. Also present was a single Widgeon.

A solitary Common Sandpiper showed up briefly, these are distant views so apologies for the poor quality of some of the shots.

This stunning Little Grebe gave very good close views on the main lake, the female was close by.

Away from the hides, overhead the noisy but charming Ringed-necked Parakeets flew around the reserve. a Single Blackcap and three Chiffchaff's were seen in the bushes near the Wader Scrape hide.

A Night at the Abbey

A Night at Glastonbury Abbey

Friday 9th September 2011

A very special evening at Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset on Friday evening. For the second year running the Abbey put on a special evening of music together with the ruins of the stunningly beautiful Glastonbury Abbey lit up. The Abbey is normally closed of an evening so a special chance to enjoy some delightful music and the Abbey under lights.

Please enjoy some of the best shots of the Abbey here as the sun went down and then by magic after a dull day the full moon appeared.

It is recorded the Abbey was standing back in the year 600 and was destroyed by fire in 1184 and then re-built.

These ruins dated from 1184 through to 1539 when the Abbey was seized under orders of King Henry V111 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Demolished gradually and the stone used for building stone. Legend has it that the remains of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere were found by the Monks and re-buried in the Chancel. Also in the grounds stands the Glastonbury Holy Thorn Tree, which flowers twice a year. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea plunged his staff into the ground and then it burst into leaf.

Above, the full Moon as seen through one of the ruins arch windows.

        The Grounds cover 36 acres and from it's own Orchards produce some award winning Cider.