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Natural Connections

Modern life in Scotland is increasingly busy. The connections our ancestors had with nature and the land are being lost. As leisure time shrinks, or is filled with hi-tech experiences, opportunities to experience nature become fewer. And yet it is possible to connect with nature on a day to day basis. All around us, the great web of life continues to hold its shape, and nature continues its eternal cycles. Keep looking, listening, smelling, touching - and keep experiencing natural connections.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Holiday 2006 turned out to be a road trip of England, taking in Cumbria, Oxford, Surrey and Lincolnshire, all in the space of 6 days. Plenty of natural connections were had on route, aided (usually) by the warmest weather in Britain since records began.
Wednesday 19th July was spent in the Eden Valley, visiting friends in Temple Sowerby. Blistering weather meant a trip to the river, where the main catch was a couple of quite good sized Minnows (below). Back at the cottage, three pairs of House Martins were raising (? 2nd) broods.



Thursday 20th July was spent in Oxford where 4 or 5 Swifts were screaming over the historic buildings of the University Science Library (below). Later, the drive through the Chiltern Gap turned up a Buzzard and 20+ Red Kites.



Friday 21st July was mostly spent around the house and garden in Surrey. Birds heard or seen included Great spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch and Tawny Owl. An afternoon walk near the M25 turned up flowering Teasel (photo below) and dancing Banded Demoiselle.



An early morning walk on Thurston Common on Saturday 22nd July was a completely new experince for me (first photo below). Birding highlights were good sightings of Dartford Warbler. Also of interest were a dead Sand Lizard and some beautiful (alien) water lilies (second photo).





Sunday 23rd July required quite a long drive from Surrey to the Lincolnshire coastal town of Skegness. Driving through the fens threw up more new sights with traditional windmills sharing the vast horizon with their high-tech cousins. That particular day ended with around 20 Swifts (the bird of the trip) screaming above the rooftops.
Monday 24th July got off to a great start with an early morning walk to Gibralter Point (first photo below). Highlights almost too numerous to mention included leisurely views of Common, Wood and Green Sandpiper, Avocet, Black tailed Godwit and Greenshank on the meres, followed by a feeding little Egret, nervous Ringed Plover family, Cinnabar Moth caterpillars and clouds of butterflies. An afternoon trip to Chapel Six Marshes (second photo below) turned up Linnet in the sand dunes and Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Toirtoiseshells on the municipal Budlias.





Tuesday 25th July involved the longest drive of the holiday, so consequently the fewest natural connections. Only notable connection was with a few patches of Dove's Foot Cranesbill (below) outside a Little Chef on the A1. However it was great to reflect on a number of "lifers" and prolonged visits to the classic habitats of policy woodland, fen, heath and dune slacks.



Last sighting of the day involved 14 Swifts in a very tight flock screaming over the glade at 9pm. I have never seen this behaviour before. Usually high birds are associating only loosely, and any compact groups (usually 2s or 3s) tend to be at rooftop height.

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