dougie – the katsura tree

It’s been a while

I’m not sure why I’ve never planted a winter-flowering cherry or witch-hazel. We’ve been here 20 years. But better late than never. The frost cleared today and I unceremoniously put them in the earth. A bold pair of robins watched my every move.

NN Boxing Day Orienteering

Yesterday was the Northern Navigators boxing day charity score event. A chance day of sunshine in an otherwise dreich week. Most of the photos taken from Mount Joy with a well-photobombed Durham Cathedral to the north-west.

Partial recce of Wadsworth Trog fell race

My fell running club has this as a Club Champs race so I thought I’d better go and have a look. I chose a fine wintry day. Fantastic views.

A quick internet search turns up loads of information and race reports, but I was more interested in the cut-offs.

I hit Checkpoint 5 pretty much on the cut-off time of 1:45 but I wasn’t unduly alarmed. The fine views and a steady pace, with a few photo stops, and then, just before the checkpoint, a flock of smiling sheep blocking my path.

The anti-clockwise loop back to Checkpoint 10 took way longer than I expected. In many ways conditions were optimal; crisp bog-free running, but the flip side was ice. Some sections of track were transformed into frozen rivers, and getting from one side to the other was undignified.

I was way over time at Checkpoint 10. A lot of that was due to sightseeing, photos, and icy tracks. But it was firm fast running and it’d be too close for comfort on the day. So I’ll enjoy the recce, but leave the race for the fast guys.

Bollihope Carrs fell race

I was out taking photos of the Bollihope Carrs fell race today. I ran it last year, but this year decided to watch. For a short-ish fell race it has an impressive amount of route choice, and from my vantage point on the final descent it was interesting to see the deliberate and accidental variation.

The Meadow Maker

Time to give this another try. Inspired by Monty Don’s GW over a year ago I decided to give this a go. Didn’t really work out last year, but since then I’ve discovered/learned that you need to keep the growth down over winter/spring. Perhaps late winter and spring mowings. Anyway, there’s a lot of Yellow Rattle seed in there. Watch and wait.

Marsh Tit or Willow Tit?

I’m none the wiser. I watched the BTO guide, and apart from a distinctive call that would point to Willow Tit, I couldn’t say. You can here the call around 2:15 minutes into the video. It might be the willow tit. Or it might be something else entirely.

I’ve not managed to get any clear still photographs. These are the best so far.

Trailcam 27 Mar to 02 Apr 2021

well that was easy.

Colin and Clarissa

For the avoidance of doubt, all cock pheasants are called Colin, and all female pheasants are called Clarissa. It’s just the way things are.

Lost more birdsong, and the appearance of a mirror that is destined for a Tip Run. In the meantime, Colin has issues. I won’t deny it, I feel a bit bad about that. But it’s outweighed by the amusement factor.

And there’s a new cat. An unknown unknown. There’s our three, then a few locals we recognise … and a new floof.

There’s a hoolit loose, aboot this hoose

We often hear them, but rarely see them. Apart from this footage from the trailcam from the recent snowy weather. I find it slightly alarming to look at, but knowing the owl is where the water is, (or an unfortunate rodent looking for same water), I’m assuming everything is ok.

Redwings in the snow

It was in March 2018 when I saw my first redwing. The Beast from the East brought a blast of snow to Durham and suddenly there were strange birds in the garden. We had fieldfares too, and peering at the photos I realise I struggle to distinguish a fieldfare from a redwing from a song thrush. But I’m pretty sure they were all at the party.

And now three years on I have a trailcam and I’m browsing through the video clips. It’s snowing again, and the redwings are back again. And blackbirds. Lots and lots and lots of blackbirds. And a hoolit. Out of nowhere, in the middle of the night. Everyone needs a drink of water it seems.