Got to keep reminding myself to keep looking up and keep looking down when I’m out and about. Of course, with the easing out of lockdown, we’re now able to get out and about a lot more, and more than once a day. Feels good if you can take advantage of this, doesn’t it? So, that means more opportunities to look.
Not in Beanley Wood this time but in Hepburn Wood, a Forestry England managed forest just a few miles east of Lilburn Tower. Out exercising again – and so much to see at this time of the year.
Weighing in at 1.5 kg more than a grey heron, it’s the greylag. This bird is the largest goose native to the UK. They are a fairly common sight on the fields along the Breamish Valley and can be seen at both Branton Lakes Nature Reserve and the Hedgeley Lakes.
We are so privileged here in the Breamish Valley, as it has an abundance of wildlife. And, if you’ve been looking up, you will most likely, at some point, have seen a majestic, large-winged heron pulling itself effortlessly through the sky.
My once-a-day exercise frequently finds me somewhere along the River Breamish. And now that Spring has very much set in, there’s lots of undergrowth to be careful of as you’re walking. So, I spend a lot of my time watching my feet, so as not to trip. Even as someone who enjoys taking photographs of whole landscapes, I have to force myself to look up. And it can be rewarding. There’s a lot to miss when we forget to look up.
On my walk around the stunning yellow Hedgeley yesterday, I also happened upon several sand martin that appeared to be in the process of exploring the banks of the River Breamish to choose the best spots for excavating their nesting tunnels. Being a social bird, hundreds of pairs can readily nest close together in a colony. On my walk, though, I’d guess I saw around 20 sand martin exploring one bank in the bend of the river.
Lots of butterflies to see in and around the Breamish Valley at the moment, in our gardens, in the hedgerows – just fluttering around.
Went out on my once-a-day exercise a bit later yesterday afternoon, as our home school video lesson for our granddaughters was scheduled for later in the day. The girls had to do a virtual egg hunt in the garden (using Google Duo on an iPad) and when they found an egg there was a sum on it. They had to work out the sum and an associated clue – which basically spelled out ‘Simon Says’ – and then we played that. So lucky to have all this helpful modern technology.
unhindered
unfettered
lavish
lofty
spiralling
ascending
peerless
It can’t go unnoticed that the spaces around us are predominantly empty of people at the moment. While it’s somewhat strange, it is heartening to see that the majority of people are heading the UK Government’s stay at home policy.
For my daily exercise yesterday (Saturday 28 March 2020), I walked around the Hedgeley Lakes and back home following the path along the A697. In the seven-and-a-half years that I’ve lived in Powburn, I’ve never seen the A697 without a single vehicle on it on a Saturday: extraordinary times!
