tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330103522009-10-14T03:28:09.562ZPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-13995193562995893492009-10-11T14:38:00.000Z2009-10-11T14:38:11.815Z

Last week saw the annual Fungus Foray, Sloe Hunt and Bacon Buttie Bonanza. We had a modest haul of boletus badius, some hygrocybe pratensis, a couple of lactarius deliciosus, a slippery jack and a negligible number of field mushrooms for the pot. I've been surprised how few field mushroons there have been this year. Of the non-edibles, plenty of blushers as always, a fly agaric, and some

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-13150955202881699542009-09-27T15:52:00.005Z2009-09-27T16:50:53.178Z

Having deferred my foray from yesterday, I set off at dawn this morning . The sunrise was glorious, but as I approached Fox House, the cloud descended. However, the damp in the air gave the day a real autumnal feel and there were some interesting light effects as the sun struggled with the low cloud for ascendancy. Within 15 minutes of parking the car near Sir William Hill, I had found 4 ceps

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-314890824672847822009-09-19T12:05:00.002Z2009-09-19T12:22:18.443Z

This morning's walk near Grenoside was a little disapponting on the fungi front. I found a few bay boletes and that was it for edible species. A couple of stinkhorns - "before " and "after" and a few russulae were the only other things spotted. On the bird front, I managed a photo of a wren, and spotted a jay. I also heard a woodpecker, along with a few other tantalising bird calls that I was,

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-6842259149461353052009-09-12T18:21:00.005Z2009-09-12T19:25:09.110Z

It's a glorious Indian Summer, and today was the perfect day to go out early on a foray. There were plenty of mushrooms about, although the haul of edibles was relatively small there were some quality finds including these chanterelles, some saffron milk caps and hedgehog fungi, charcoal burners, larch boletes and a small orange birch bolete. I also found a large beefsteak fungus but it was past

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-41030737979008087412009-09-05T21:09:00.004Z2009-09-05T21:42:08.894Z

It seems an age since we returned from a brilliant 2 weeks in Suffolk. Fabulous cottage, wall to wall sunshine, and great scenery and wildlife. Birds, especially marsh harriers, deer - roe and muntjac, butterflies and most notably dragonflies. The air was alive with themThe cottage was on Aldringham Common so there were lots of walks from the doorstep - to Thorpeness, Aldburgh, Sizewell beach,

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-89055500248935363952009-08-01T10:20:00.002Z2009-08-01T10:50:38.684Z

July has come and gone. Wet, for the most part, and nothing to report in the way of walks. I can never work out why these periods of "inactivity" happen. I think it's a comlex combination of factors. Last Saturday, however, was definitely the highlight of the month, and something to blog about. Richard Bell, whose online diary I follow assiduously (see links) was leading a workshop on "drawing on

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-52641001224209211572009-06-28T15:22:00.002Z2009-06-28T15:48:01.240Z

Yes, I know it's an RSPB reserve, butwhen I went yesterday, the insect life was just wonderful! And where would the birds be without them? Apart from that, my bird photos were really not that brilliant. Saw quite a lot of birds, though, mainly black headed gulls, but also great crested grebe, grey heron, greylag goose, canada goose, wigeon, tufted duck, coot, oystercatcher, ringed plover, lapwing

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-6117114800763520422009-06-14T09:32:00.003Z2009-06-14T10:57:47.569Z

As suspected, the new job is taking its toll on other activities. That's not a complaint or an excuse, just a fact of life. However, we got full value last week from a weekend in Edinburgh. Back in the dark(ish) days of March, I discovered I had won 2 nights DB&B for 2 in a hotel in Edinburgh. How great is that? It could have been almost anywhere, but Edinburgh would have been my first choice! On

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-43839164634846964282009-05-31T17:28:00.002Z2009-05-31T19:31:18.680Z

I can't imagine why I've never walked through Wharncliffe Wood and along the Crags before now. It's not that far from home. Yesterday I finally put that right as I reached leg 9 of the BBW. And what a glorious day for it! Within minutes I heard my first cuckoo of the year and watched a great spotted woodpecker swerve across the path. Butterflies were aplenty, but moving so fast in the heat of the

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-75183095930890283652009-05-25T13:43:00.002Z2009-05-25T14:26:11.522Z

Once again flowers were the top attraction of the walk. Bluebells still very much in evidence as well as field pansy, crosswort, ladies' mantle, self-heal, and red campion. Lapwings and greenfinch were the main birds of note, and painted lady and this beautiful delicate green veined white the butterflies. The first part of this walk was mainly field and meadow walking - very pleasant for the most

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-87558890692837156872009-05-17T08:10:00.005Z2009-05-17T09:46:01.662Z

No big surprise that the new job is curtailing my leisure activities. I don't resent that, though, as the job is bringing lots of other new experiences and challenges. The lousy weather recently is also making me focus on other things that need doing - you don't mind getting on with the practical and mundane tasks quite so much when there is little prospect of pleasant sunny walks. Last week, I

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-59592127722043739842009-05-04T19:58:00.003Z2009-05-04T20:28:53.624Z

Today the weather was not quite so kind, but a spring fungi and bluebell walk was in order, so off we went to a lovely woodland near Bawtry. We didn't find the hoped for prizes, but A very fine cluster of Jew's ear and some splendid hoof fungi provided the fungal interest, and the bluebells didn't diasappoint despite the lack of dappled shade.Meanwhile, in the garden, the bullfinch is still

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-68669875819451914452009-05-04T18:49:00.002Z2009-05-04T19:57:13.739Z

I've been doing so many walks in the Barnsley area recently that I've been a stranger to the Peak District, especially the White Peak. Yesterday that was remedied in the shape of a reunion of colleagues from my first ever school. A very special lot they are too! We had a lovely walk from Youlgreave, organised by Pete, who lied about the hills, but we forgave him. As much time was spent chatting

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-30310144473088511782009-04-20T21:48:00.005Z2009-04-20T22:23:39.119Z

Did the final walk on Friday. And very nice it was too. Pity the weather didn't brighten up till after 2, by which time I had done the bits with the best views. It took me round the reservoir at Langsett, and down to Midhopestones. Saw quite a bit of bird life - grouse, curlew, wigeon, stonechat, skylark, lapwing, and a good sighting of a weasel. He was too fast for me to photograph, but I know

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-29187798825962184962009-04-15T14:00:00.003Z2009-04-15T14:20:31.603Z

This is not the heron of doom, but an altogether kindlier creature minding its own business on the reservoir at Worsborough. Yesterday I completed the penultimate of my Barnsley walk checks. A superb walk which took me to Worsborough Mill and Country Park and on to Stainborough Park and Wentworth Castle. Spring was much in evidence and the tally of birds and wild flowers was pretty impressive (

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-67774822134304601622009-04-11T20:19:00.005Z2009-04-14T21:00:18.691Z

The most interesting day this week was Wednesday when I checked another walk, this time starting in Yorkshire Sculpture Park, getting full value of my day tripper and getting by bus, tram, train and another bus to the very brink of Wakefield. The heron of doom was there to greet me as soon as I stepped of the bus, circling lazily over Junction 38. Rain had been forecast but my main problem was

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-71254934204032428482009-04-04T14:17:00.004Z2009-04-04T14:45:20.086Z

Been on two outings this week since our return from Spain. On Tuesday, we went to Old Moor. A completely different selection of birds from last time I was there; this time ther were lots of black-headed gulls and tufted ducks, and greenfinch and bullfinch at the feeding station. There were also quite a few great crested grebe, and what I reckoned was a camera shy little grebe. And of course, the

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-44065939893795575852009-04-04T13:56:00.003Z2009-04-04T14:16:13.566Z

High time to get up to date. Been back from Andalusia a few days now. It was a really useful and interesting taster of the region. We talk about 4 seasons in one day here in the UK, but during the 6 days we were away, we had hot sunshine in Seville (over 30 degrees if those LED display things are to be believed) and icy cold sleet in Ronda. We had a guide who sounded just like Nicholas Parsons,

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-57579147556313014282009-03-21T23:05:00.001Z2009-03-21T23:08:12.419Z

And here they are.

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-26872016961211919882009-03-15T14:51:00.007Z2009-04-05T11:58:15.814Z

March is certainly doing all the things it's supposed too - especially winds. The pond is (as it should be) full of frogs. I seem to have been busy doing quite mundane things, but managed to have a brilliant day out on Thursday. Rob, the guy for whom I am checking got the idea I lived in Barnsley and so asked me to check walks there. This is why, in case any of my Twitter friends were wondering,

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-29620677061588135322009-03-08T14:56:00.003Z2009-03-08T15:10:33.100Z

So, new camera lense. Not one of the enormous wildly expensive ones, but one that means I can photograph birds without having to be too close, and then enlarge them on the computer screen to be able to identify them. It's quite a good way of learning to ID birds; they are such flighty things, not at all like fungi. Anyway, I've joined the RSPB and had a couple of outings to Old Moor, which is

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-16451434463786295312008-11-17T10:52:00.004Z2008-11-17T11:40:17.903Z

Sadly, the views were less spectacular on this leg, although because the weather was pretty miserable, it mattered less. The rain which accompanied us for most of the walk also meant that I took vey few pictures. This one was of the towpath and canal where we joined Elsecar Greenway I had company on this walk, which made a pleasant change, and a slight detour to Old Moor RSPB reserve was also a

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-38836751169786460362008-11-09T16:30:00.003Z2008-11-09T18:09:16.163Z

From Grimethorpe to Bolton on Dearne. Nearly. I picked up the route where I finished last time. The weather forecasts couldn't agree, but after a wet start to the day, the sky was blue by 9.00am. Well done met office! At the risk of repeating myself, the views on this walk were once again spectacular. It was a long leg - 9 miles in total, so by starting at Grimethorpe I probably reduced it

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-60258741615755047042008-11-02T18:39:00.003Z2008-11-02T20:17:08.429Z

This title might have been more appropriate for last week. It came from a leaflet I picked up on the no.59 bus on the way back to Royston - a map of Stagecoach bus routes in the area. I managed to pick another day of blue skies, even if it was somewhat colder than last week. Astonishingly, it snowed in the Midlands earlier in the week. This walk took me from Royston to Grimethorpe, via a lot of

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-25127971911915321612008-10-26T13:00:00.004Z2008-10-26T13:50:16.224Z

Friday was forecast to be the best day, so leg 3 took me to Woolley Edge. Last week's walk was so wonderful that it spoiled me for this one. Nevertheless, there were some great views, this time to the north, and the relatively flat area of West Yorkshire. Much of the walk was on tarmac - true, mostly quiet country lanes, but the 7 miles seemed shorter than last week's 5. The route zigzagged

Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0