tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330103522024-03-14T05:49:13.653+00:00Penny BunMainly wildlife. Wanderings around Sheffield, the Peak District and South Yorkshire, with the occasional excursion further afieldPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-65406579315911867432011-03-06T12:22:00.001+00:002011-03-06T12:25:18.921+00:00How Blipfoto changed my life - for 50 days.
I've been neglecting my blog again, but this time I think I have a slightly better excuse than usual. Last time I mentioned that I was aiming to try to photograph and post on Blipfoto (link to photo no 1 - you can scroll though to no 50, if you wish) 50 different birds on 50 consecutive days. I did it! There were times I didn't think I would - round about mid-February when I wasn't tooPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-65793871988464707272011-02-10T14:56:00.000+00:002011-02-10T14:56:29.894+00:00First Blogger, then Flickr, next Twitter now BlipfotoThis morning, I saw house sparrows in the garden for the first time this year. I was delighted for a particular reason. Since January 14th, I have been signed up to Blipfoto and immediately set myself a challenge which has all but taken over my life: to post a photo of a different bird each day. One of rules of Blip are that the photo has to be taken on that day, which is OK on days when Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-9305069496152217432011-01-26T16:15:00.000+00:002011-01-26T16:15:53.326+00:00Of Gulls and other birdsJust when you think it's safe to use the S word, along comes an indescribably miserable day like today! Still, it's good for catching up, which seemed like an idea before February is upon us. I seem to have done quite a lot since last time, especially considering the time of year. I've decided to try to get down to some part of Rivelin Valley once a week if I can, and my second visit of the year Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-72464864339902856122011-01-12T13:23:00.001+00:002011-01-12T13:28:06.017+00:00A reserve, an urban riverside and a country jauntMade it back to RSPB Old Moor last Tuesday. It was a really disappointing visit, as much of the water habitat was still completely frozen and the waterfowl were all on the far side. Lots of goosander and wigeon, and I had a lesson on common gull IDing from the ubiquitous Man in Hide, (becoming even more ubiquitous than Heron of Doom). The best places were the garden feeders and the sparrow farm, Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-15303648429152821852011-01-03T22:40:00.002+00:002011-01-03T22:57:13.429+00:00More fungi than feathersToday was my first outing of the New Year. A combination of a cold, problems with the central heating and unappealing weather had kept me indoors thus far. Down in Rivelin Valley, much of the path was still frozen, so it was not too muddy. The birds were shy today, but I got quite a nice sighting of a jay, and several of goldcrests. Odd to think that I had never seen a goldcrest until last Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-75391282365217583462010-12-26T14:14:00.004+00:002011-01-04T23:31:40.062+00:00Icily does it.
Managed to get out a couple of times recently, despite my wussiness about the ice. On Tuesday, I went out to Bradfield on the bus, intending to walk home along Damflask Reservoir and the River Loxley, but the lure of Agden was too great, so I walked around the reservoir and was fulsomely rewarded with some fine landscape views as well as the reliably good wildlife. I managed to flush out what Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-1779413174862199712010-12-17T17:57:00.000+00:002010-12-17T17:57:31.849+00:00Splashing and splurgingSince the last lot of snow, pretty much all of my organised activities have been cancelled. I've done a few more local walks - Rivelin and Loxley Valleys in even deeper snow. It was nice to get into Loxley Valley again as it's been a while. As I was walking from home, I didn't get very far, but that didn't matter as there was plenty to see. The first highlight was a flock of long-tailed tits, andPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-81071952993631665372010-12-02T16:16:00.000+00:002010-12-02T16:16:30.026+00:00From Waxcaps to Waxwings to Whiteout!Wow, November went out with a bang - and December came sweeping in in a big white coat. Edinburgh seems long ago and far away. My outing with the local RSPB group to Frampton Marsh went pretty well. I met an old colleague on the coach, so the journey went quickly. The reserve itself is quite new so it still feels a bit "under development", but there was plenty to see. It was quite busy as they Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-15696046958356538062010-11-17T23:01:00.000+00:002010-11-17T23:01:26.736+00:00No sun, no moon...Actually, November is no worse that many other months, but it has a bad press and the gloomy old sod Thomas Hood over-egged it a bit in his poem "No" , although I rather like it. Days like today are Mother Nature's way of saying "you stay in with a nice cup of tea, and I'll take care of things out here".
Catching up with records and general fettling and blogging; these are just a few ofPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-20079363011294248232010-11-03T13:06:00.000+00:002010-11-03T13:06:20.060+00:00Adjusting.Oh dear. November. What happened to my plans for a daily blog .... a weekly blog.... ? It's such a busy life being retired. People always say this, and it's hard to believe till it happens to you. Actually, I think these first few months are more about making the adjustment. I'm going to stick to wildlife and related matters it this blog, as I suspect that's what anyone who can be bothered to Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-76881613659311003452010-10-01T11:57:00.001+00:002010-10-01T12:56:20.771+00:00One Month OnI've now been retired for one month.
My favourite month next - October. But it's started badly weatherwise, so an indoors day to catch up with blogging etc. is in order. It's been over a week, so I'll work backwards to my last blog. Yesterday, we had a trip out to RSPB Old Moor. The weather was lovely through the morning - clear blue skies. As always, I let myself be distracted by dragonflies, Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-35533767966894009192010-09-22T10:57:00.001+00:002010-09-22T11:04:40.153+00:00Parrots in the Peak ;)First of all, an apology to birders who were drawn in by the title. I'm afraid this edition of my blog contains no birds at all. The parrot waxcap is pictured right.
Had a nice outing to Greno and Wheata Woods at the weekend, taking out an acquaintance who is keen to learn about fungi. Much of the earlier flush had gone over, but it was not bad for showing some of the main groups of fungi, as Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-20045040248856304792010-09-17T16:30:00.005+00:002010-09-17T16:45:11.065+00:00Puttanesca it is, thenTuesday was another day at Old Moor. With the aid of the Wader ID sheet that was put together by Kate, the assistant warden, I managed to ID a ruff. At least, I think I did. Visit my Flickr pages if you want to check! Lots of teal and golden plover, and otherwise the usual suspects. There was very little in the reed bed area, partly down to very strong winds and partly due to work taking place onPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-90061398955363913652010-09-13T23:23:00.001+00:002010-09-13T23:23:26.695+00:00A full-on dayThis morning I went out to one of my favourite fungi sites - a small birch woodland above Ladybower. On the way out, my first treat was a kestrel hovering low over the bank of the reservoir. There were a few of the usual suspects in the rough grassland on the way - dung roundheads and liberty caps. The woodland itself didn't disappoint. There were about 15 that I could comfortably record, either Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-21215182964191953862010-09-12T22:31:00.001+00:002010-09-12T22:31:35.149+00:00Time flies when you're having fun!Sunday already! Still busy clearing out the clutter, and joining things like there's no tomorrow. Had an excursion round my local patch above Rivelin Valley earlier in the week and bagged a couple of nice bay boletes and an orange birch bolete for the pot - a simple pasta sauce was again the preference. It brought back memories of when I trawled the area very regularly, and even kept records. Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-4306990735612177002010-09-07T20:09:00.002+00:002010-09-07T20:23:10.051+00:00Another splendid day at RSPB Old MoorI was determined to get out and about today despite the grim weather forecast. When I checked my weather app this morning it wouldn't load - obviously, as it transpired, it was embarrassed at being so horribly wrong. Or beautifully wrong. I set off to Old Moor. It was a glorious day with fantastic light and I was delighted to find that there were lots more dragonflies around today than went we Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-56740406692019908862010-09-04T19:06:00.002+00:002010-09-05T13:03:36.808+00:00Walking South Yorkshire: 2nd Sheffield walkYesterday I tried out another walk from Rob's book. It started at Glen Howe Park and took me via familiar territory through Brightholmlee and down to More Hall Reservoir. The return leg took me to an area I hadn't walked before, over Spout House Hill. This involved some stiff climbing and way finding, but the views from the top were really spectacular.
It was a little disappointing on the fungi Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-48901931867046918912010-09-04T12:48:00.000+00:002010-09-04T12:48:45.302+00:00In Praise of BlackberriesDelicious, versatile, easy to identify, plentiful and free. And this year so plentiful that you can pick just those immediately in front of you at arm height. No need to stretch and risk scratching and bites from unseen insects, although it is still wise to keep an eye open for sneaky nettles and rival wasps. When they are so prolific, no special equipment or effort is needed. Just a bucket. The Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-56764863249102744602010-09-01T07:27:00.000+00:002010-09-01T07:27:00.630+00:00First of September 2010Today is officially my first day of retirement. I'd intended to continue working for a few years more, but the way things have worked out, I think - in fact I know - I'm going to enjoy setting about that "to do" list! For a start, I am resolved to refresh my fungi knowledge, as I have really just kept things ticking over for the last few years. To that end, I'm going to rejoin Sorby Natural Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-37637500936861924982010-08-27T17:11:00.001+00:002010-08-27T17:14:07.003+00:00First ForayAfter Saturday and Tuesday's walks it was clear that there are already plenty of fungi around so I set off on Wednesday with fungi at the top of my agenda. Shouldn't complain but at this time of year, it's difficult to focus on just one or two aspects of the countryside. There are birds, butterflies and dragonflies in the air, and fungi, flowers and assorted creatures at ground level. Juggling myPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-57087346538994607332010-08-25T16:06:00.001+00:002010-08-25T16:07:05.660+00:00Walking South YorkshireYesterday I met up with Rob Haslam, author of this excellent book of local walks, and a couple of fellow walk-checkers, Fran and Fred. We enjoyed a walk led by Rob, around the Beauchief area of Sheffield, taking in some of the local woodlands and parts of the Sheffield Round Walk. Not uncommonly, the weather was four seasons in one day, and we had no sooner got soaked than we dried out again in Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-70089247252564721512010-08-21T20:06:00.003+00:002010-08-22T10:05:09.735+00:00Dragonflies: the next generationBefore finishing my holiday report, I want to keep things current with my walk from today. It was a walk from the Stone to Steel website which I had set off to do before our holiday, but had been distracted by a) missing the turnoff for the start of the walk and b) getting distracted by some fantastic emergent dragonflies and a grass snake. Today went better from the routefinding point Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-55067248492750850702010-08-18T16:08:00.002+00:002010-08-18T16:09:48.734+00:00Wye Adventures - Part 3 - A sorry selection of 4 footers.
Although we saw quite a few mammals, I didn't get many photos. There were lots of deer in particular and quite a bit of roadkill, and signs of badgers but apart from Cassie, the very friendly farm dog, the two pictures here were the sorry toll. The stoat was a bit to fast - but at least I got a shot before he disappeared into the hedgerow, and the other little creature ( the one with the look ofPenny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-10262333319200664672010-08-16T16:41:00.001+00:002010-08-16T16:43:33.034+00:00Wye adventures - Part 2 - Six legged friendsIn our walks book, there was often the promise of butterflies, but sadly they were not as profuse as I had hoped. From time to time, however, we spotted the usual suspects: lots of peacocks and common blues in particular, gatekeepers, which seem to be in abundance this year, commas, red admirals, small coppers, speckled woods, and the occasional fritillary (although these are nigh on impossible Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010352.post-35548365232909796852010-08-15T15:30:00.001+00:002010-08-16T16:43:03.098+00:00Wye adventures - Part 1 - BirdsTwo weeks in the Wye Valley have given me quite a lot to write about, so it's difficult to know where to start. Perhaps with birds. We stayed in a converted barn on a smallholding near Tintern, above the Wye Valley. We kept the bird table well-stocked, and were rewarded with a steady procession of visitors - the most regular being great tits, blue tits, robins and nuthatches, with the occasional Penny Bunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08908181924244677918noreply@blogger.com0