Alarm went off at 5am, dressed tea and toast made and off I went into the dark and quite cold = frosty morning.
It's quite unnerving to hear your own amplified sounds only competing with the pheasants who seem to be calling out 'I've made it through another night !" The screeching gate bolt and on one occasion an errant branch on my waxed cotton jacket made me literally jump as I thought something was in the hedge by me ! I got to the woods entrance just before 5.30am and it was still dark but the birds were starting their songs and how many varied and beautiful songs they were.
With the help of an app on my phone during one 20 minute recording at the sun side of the woods, when it started to rise, it recorded the following birds in a beautiful chorus all for me as I was the only human ears engaged with their songs...
Robin
Blackbird
Wren
Pheasant
Song Thrush
Wood Pigeon
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Goldfinch
Goldcrest
Dove
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Mistle Thrush
Canada Goose
Tawny Owl
Woodpecker
There are a few small events in one's life that although quite insignificant will remain with you for a long time and this morning was such an event. I resolved to be out early at least once a week going forward. I'm normally a lazy sod and rise between 7.30 and 8.30am. When I retired I resolved to set an alarm on as few occasions as possible but I need to make some exceptions.
I got the engine lubed and started to warm up while I washed up then we were away at 9am for a lovely cruise to our current mooring two bridges before the High Onn winding hole where we'll wind in the morning and get back to our mooring for just after lunch time tomorrow all being well. We've a family do in Matlock on Saturday so need to be at the mooring for the travel to that.
Just had C&RT contractors strim about 50 yards either side of out boat on the downward side of the canal tow path to the hedge... I can't see a reason at all to do such a strange small section... either they think we will be impressed or they did it to annoy us - I've no idea?
We did clock the tree down just before the winding hole in grub street. There were contractors there 'sorting it ' - it'll be interesting to see how much they have removed on our return tomorrow as its a tight winding hole so really needs all cleared out not the normal cut the bit in the channel and leave the rest of the tree in the cut approach....
So photos to make much of the above sensible
5.15am frosty
4 comments:
That’s quite a list of birds! Must admit, when we set off a 6.30 the other morning, it was quite magical with the mist rising off the water and the sun just coming up. There is something special about early mornings.
How lovely, well done for getting up so early! When you get to the Llangollen, moor up by Whixall Moss, the Frankton Junction end. We used Merlin to ID Cetti's warbler (loud and startling and right by the towpath) and Garden Warbler in a couple of places during the morning. Also curlew when we walked round the footpaths. Great place to visit, rare butterfly too I think though I can't quite remember, we didn't see it anyway.
best wishes Debby and Dave
I have to agree, just wish i was more of a morning person !
It was a special memory I'll treasure but hopefully won't be the last. I want to have some early mornings in the valley below us at home on the Caldon. Thanks for the comment. We will certainly target Whixall Moss when we get to the Llangollen.
Post a Comment