That time of year

We've just planted our first set of tomato seeds, hoping to emulate last years efforts above!

The power of the press

Some of you will know I work in complaints, some of you won't. One of the most common things complainants say to me is "if this doesn't get sorted I'm going to the press", and yet this has never happened. I've often wondered if it's an idle threat or whether they do and the press tells them to bugger off!

The best laid plans

The plan was to go to Filey Brigg and spot a few Oystercatchers and Turnstones and maybe a few others if we were lucky. However it was cold and wet so we changed our minds and ended up secondary glazing our bedroom (what exciting lives we lead!) So the Oystercatcher you see above was taken at Filey Brigg it just wasn't taken today.

Hull City v Millwall

Well we won, 2-0 and probably deserved it. Reasonable performances throughout the team, with the exception of Garcia and Halmosi, who were both shocking. Harry enjoyed it immensely, refusing to leave early to avoid the crowds, and didn't even notice the crowd trouble.

Momentous Occasion

Today is a special day, Harry is going to his first Hull City game, I don't know who is more excited, him or me. I have taught him all the appropriate things to shout (particularly at the referee) so we are ready to go. We've just got to wait until 3 o clock now.

Wifey surveys the wier at Egton on Sunday. The bird list rises to 58 courtesy of the lovely feral Pigeon which I see every day but never thought of putting on the list, but hey it's got wings and a beak so why not!

East Park

Whilst travelling in East Hull today I popped into East Park to see if the Goosanders were still there. Not a particularly good photo, but there is one female Goosander and several Pochard which is also a new one for the year, taking the total to 57.

Cawthorne, Wheeldale and Egton

Today we drove to Cawthorne Woods (that's my shadow in the bottom left corner). Just before we got there we saw a flock of at least a hundred Fieldfares and in the woods managed to spot a Treecreeper, taking us to 54 for the year. After Cawthorne we drove over Wheeldale Moor where we spotted a Stonechat (number 55), but not much else. We then stopped at the stepping stones at Egton Bridge where normally we would expect to see a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail, but the water levels were too high, which covered the rocks we normally see them on. So, a nice weekend out and about, but unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow.

Waters Edge

Yesterday after Blacktoft we went to Far Ings and then on to Waters Edge. Waters Edge is a fairly new nature reserve on the south bank of the Humber just near Barton. It has an impressive list of birds seen so far, and if it's very cold like it was today, it has a decent cafe inside as well! Other birds seen today include Teal, Goldeneye and Sparrowhawk, taking our years total to 52. The other photograph is as close as I got to the Harrier at Blacktoft.

Blacktoft Sands

We went to Blacktoft Sands today and I had high hopes of getting some nice bird shots. However as you can see from the above shot, there wasn't a lot about! Of the 6 or 7 hides at Blacktoft, all but 1 looked like this. The 1 hide with birds on threw up a Grey Heron and Shelduck which took the years total to 48, we also saw a couple of cavorting Marsh Harriers, make that 49.

Hello everyone, I haven't posted for a couple of days because on Wednesday I saw a Reed Bunting. Now I know I have a photograph of a Reed Bunting somewhere and I wanted to post it, but I can't for the life of me find it, so no post. Anyway it was a new bird for the year so gets added to the total, making it 46. This weekend should see more birds added to the tally and hopefully I will have some fresh photos, I bet you can't wait!. Finally a big welcome back to Gawpo.

Turquoise Beavers

Harry joined the Beavers last week. In my day it was called Cubs and you wore a nice dark green uniform with a neckerchief and toggle. The new uniform is a screaming turquoise and in my opinion is a bit girly. I bet they don't play British Bulldog anymore either!

This is a bottle brush plant in one of the green houses within the walled gardens at Normanby Hall. we have one of these plants in our garden, but it only flowers every 2 years, however when it does it's quite spectacular. We went to Normanby Hall last weekend. We couldn't get out this weekend because of kids parties. I took Harry to a party yesterday, it was a lively affair, bouncy castles etc and the usual party food afterwards. Guess which of the 30 children threw up all over their dad?

Wifey has been poorly today, so I've been running around doing shopping and things. No new birds today, but I did hear a woodpecker in the garden. Almost certainly a Greater Spotted Woodpecker like the one above that we saw at Sherwood Center Parcs last November. I have seen these from our garden in the past so it's nice to know they're still around.

I'm nursing a horrendous hangover today, please leave comments quietly thank you.

Hong Kong Radio

If you see this you know your on the wrong side of the City. (apologies to non Hull residents who probably won't understand this)

More than one way to skin a cat.

The View - Shock Horror

I love this. I suspect it might be the new single. Sorry for not posting more, but very busy at work, and the buggers have sent me on even more training tomorrow!

Training

I've worked for the council for 27 years, and now they send me on induction training. Today was, Values, Principles and Legislation, absolutely riveting. Went for a walk at dinnertime, no new birds, but followed a flock of Goldfinches for a while, which was nice.

I can't complain

Back to work today as a Complaints Co-ordinator, and after being off for 12 days, not a single complaint, everyone's happy, can you believe that? No, me neither. Got out for lunch for half an hour, but no new birds today as it was dark when I went to work and dark when I came back, and bloody freezing all day long, oh dear that's a complaint isn't it?

Last day of rest

It's back to work tomorrow, boo! no new birds today, because wifey has had me cleaning the house, but managed to sneak these 2 pictures through the kitchen window when she wasn't looking. A Starling and a Coal Tit both enjoying my home made lard feeder.

Confidence

I've never been the most confident of birders, so when I say this is a Meadow Pipit, don't quote me, but feel free to put me right if I'm wrong, I won't be offended. And for those who don't like birds a picture of a boat/barge (not confident on watercraft either!)

Not a bad day

First of all Hull City didn't lose, we live to fight another day. Secondly a nice day out at Normanby Hall and Far Ings, and thirdly, chilling with a can of cider or 2. The new birds for today; Chaffinch, Curlew, Lapwing, Siskin, Pheasant, Mallard, Long Tailed Duck (female) Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Shovelor, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Tree Sparrrow, Goldfinch, Kestrel & Robin. Giving us a new total for the year of 44.

Resolutions part 2

Ok I said I would lose weight, and I weigh 1 pound less today than I did yesterday so that's that one sorted. I also said I would reduce my alcohol intake and I had no alcohol at all yesterday so that's that one sorted as well, aren't I doing well? New birds today were; Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Jackdaw, Rook & Canada Goose, taking the years total to 21.

Resolutions

So 2009 is here and with it the time to make resolutions. I will lose weight and get fitter, I will do this by drinking less alcohol and doing more exercise. I will also reignite my passion for birding by having a 2009 bird list, which starts with the following 13 spotted in the back garden today. House Sparrow, Blackbird, Starling, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon, Collar Dove, Magpie, Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long Tailed Tit. Sadly the female Goosander pictured above doesn't count because I saw this yesterday at East Park.