tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77490766684288225112024-03-20T17:22:45.767+00:00KingsdownerAn account of natural things in and around Kingsdown, East Kent.Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comBlogger660125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-16831550428415292312024-03-20T17:22:00.000+00:002024-03-20T17:22:12.291+00:00Spring comes to Hawkshill<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqvmhgCpOMg-4qKIGSMqtmIY__BNj1tlDNKR2fb5JG-bClG8vMuz5WRVi-oK7WdIdPO3aMcqUxt5msvjPLRQBf3O1siBUKaXEJREcTJ118bqO3eLYy-ofxtyu4U5EvF6tDmUCPM92s8TZa_euvoFv_CqZkYJzRRQKXhfPaZF4Xb33kNNvKGMWBu5vm4k/s4032/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqvmhgCpOMg-4qKIGSMqtmIY__BNj1tlDNKR2fb5JG-bClG8vMuz5WRVi-oK7WdIdPO3aMcqUxt5msvjPLRQBf3O1siBUKaXEJREcTJ118bqO3eLYy-ofxtyu4U5EvF6tDmUCPM92s8TZa_euvoFv_CqZkYJzRRQKXhfPaZF4Xb33kNNvKGMWBu5vm4k/w640-h480/IMG_0167.JPG" width="640" /></a></p>All the hard work over the winter is now worthwhile - the Primroses on the crew-cut bank are the most obvious sign of spring, but chalk downland specialists are flourishing. Knapweeds, Wild Marjoram, Salad Burnet, Kidney Vetch and Agrimony are showing well, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes up blinking in the unaccustomed brightness.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDDxTMOEmnnodRbXdJseHLj7Rq7mB8MrUQRF2kCqsCAr5bPjkgVd8uBkfeZli25SFXk-_wt-WpFs3vvnEgQCzUNWCu6dWRkN3dEFhAnIyhxm43ScReB07Ko3Hp-jmfpsmHnRDEgtZthaz33hthSnTpbPQ5EZn9-bZ3x-P_KDiGSKkAKxNXPIFbAC1X1w/s4032/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDDxTMOEmnnodRbXdJseHLj7Rq7mB8MrUQRF2kCqsCAr5bPjkgVd8uBkfeZli25SFXk-_wt-WpFs3vvnEgQCzUNWCu6dWRkN3dEFhAnIyhxm43ScReB07Ko3Hp-jmfpsmHnRDEgtZthaz33hthSnTpbPQ5EZn9-bZ3x-P_KDiGSKkAKxNXPIFbAC1X1w/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Chiffchaffs were singing and a Kestrel perched atop one of the Sycamores surveying the scene.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop7NnN4ZjQo5s9fkiQ3kBxmL0SSNn21sYj5tHPoT2kOnwqK2zl3I6RiOFsiusysi1oFfkRAgZ-gTqYqOphJe3iEeVbZYVlhrPe5ounTucCv8OlkDudpJppJmscVqGnTzgrbTM3n1huPnJrTF64mzlvbBIP8IRPK7LpI4r8gGkb-VTlf1i6163PEM55sE/s2577/Kes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2380" data-original-width="2577" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop7NnN4ZjQo5s9fkiQ3kBxmL0SSNn21sYj5tHPoT2kOnwqK2zl3I6RiOFsiusysi1oFfkRAgZ-gTqYqOphJe3iEeVbZYVlhrPe5ounTucCv8OlkDudpJppJmscVqGnTzgrbTM3n1huPnJrTF64mzlvbBIP8IRPK7LpI4r8gGkb-VTlf1i6163PEM55sE/s320/Kes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">A quick pounce, but unlucky this time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSPnyD95qQ40msXUC3lHlRcqQToKq9vhE4lBZZyNUP7sF3vlmrBA-Ph7PPqqpCJ3DPpHXAV2h53ueojnVZf92SO7BXtKl9IqPUktpc8d9AOee8nzOIJQFieVD_p7skyooGHgSPy2Nd3yatZMXs1HShlnM3INdf6cQcyeCa6Gzhn4d_eGSEKdezBELyT0/s2606/Kes2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2606" data-original-width="2606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSPnyD95qQ40msXUC3lHlRcqQToKq9vhE4lBZZyNUP7sF3vlmrBA-Ph7PPqqpCJ3DPpHXAV2h53ueojnVZf92SO7BXtKl9IqPUktpc8d9AOee8nzOIJQFieVD_p7skyooGHgSPy2Nd3yatZMXs1HShlnM3INdf6cQcyeCa6Gzhn4d_eGSEKdezBELyT0/s320/Kes2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div>Butterflies were on the wing, with six in sight at one time - Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Brimstone all battled in the sunny ride which we cut through in the cold, wet months. </div><div>There were at least two male Brimstones and one female flying up and down the path, but giving no chance for a picture. I've no idea where their food plant Buckthorn is.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3ekN5X3zi71iU3rju1R8hBG9f14bbXj5dbfQ55rJc7hj6GPWcnZctKmtAQnVrcgDBxpSi0t9M31216iN3PsvOf3tF3t6t_wao65OqpiZYgGawCx0WxR_iEc2qnUcQ2VeOO50eFHkh7oZDU6AjEvElhYoM4N8iB2r23Z9FUwY2yIvqGBdVJsD9bdoRU/s3395/Comma.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2662" data-original-width="3395" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3ekN5X3zi71iU3rju1R8hBG9f14bbXj5dbfQ55rJc7hj6GPWcnZctKmtAQnVrcgDBxpSi0t9M31216iN3PsvOf3tF3t6t_wao65OqpiZYgGawCx0WxR_iEc2qnUcQ2VeOO50eFHkh7oZDU6AjEvElhYoM4N8iB2r23Z9FUwY2yIvqGBdVJsD9bdoRU/s320/Comma.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySPFAfhkOeNKpWyBIZriX91zzSi9qdvDF83zM5PjfXI1V-OVP-91PzZAn7sxQp_yZamd13KRMXGIqyEurPhJeFqPgcLFquCYEJJp9W5TcNBeCw38tSK7pctYbTwStv3GW2CgGYntqNCp3NiVoqd2SjcqiwiRHodXxI1TvX7iimJzCNwA-EigWyiZpAoY/s3020/Peacosk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2346" data-original-width="3020" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySPFAfhkOeNKpWyBIZriX91zzSi9qdvDF83zM5PjfXI1V-OVP-91PzZAn7sxQp_yZamd13KRMXGIqyEurPhJeFqPgcLFquCYEJJp9W5TcNBeCw38tSK7pctYbTwStv3GW2CgGYntqNCp3NiVoqd2SjcqiwiRHodXxI1TvX7iimJzCNwA-EigWyiZpAoY/s320/Peacosk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gHLonXjPs4PZLdx10KejNil7SQJUxxEHlgCfdddWss3Nb4UB22W__uPAaNLoDVzcpAZD0ciU9yUNBMQF1HH-ixSwOT3wdC4WUzJkrHeB1aHrqcSxnenJ8GSma6QppHhIXG46oyvygtIeP9EQAfgudqUKryzuHPpdCRXB6wbVIpAyTDemQHSdPkIJ0sI/s2685/Smalltort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2685" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gHLonXjPs4PZLdx10KejNil7SQJUxxEHlgCfdddWss3Nb4UB22W__uPAaNLoDVzcpAZD0ciU9yUNBMQF1HH-ixSwOT3wdC4WUzJkrHeB1aHrqcSxnenJ8GSma6QppHhIXG46oyvygtIeP9EQAfgudqUKryzuHPpdCRXB6wbVIpAyTDemQHSdPkIJ0sI/s320/Smalltort.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-47917105574221900912024-02-24T15:15:00.001+00:002024-02-24T15:15:47.117+00:00Kingsdown Rifle Range<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtZ4kqCCsTTr1Tllni2bT6LQfIF4dxjDP6ZuGXYdgXeCmSAywhiIl19iseVnzO0Vx-fufFiLNwCBMhz44hj_FZpcQDbpjVOdA9q8S1WFPn0Y7pK_GA54ZshMSGCKu-i2zkgQJ2A3hsz_7l-TI114D4vnmqj_bTqN1JaOmMMAn1V0traHYJqsjn4WcYxY/s3881/IMG_9757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2490" data-original-width="3881" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtZ4kqCCsTTr1Tllni2bT6LQfIF4dxjDP6ZuGXYdgXeCmSAywhiIl19iseVnzO0Vx-fufFiLNwCBMhz44hj_FZpcQDbpjVOdA9q8S1WFPn0Y7pK_GA54ZshMSGCKu-i2zkgQJ2A3hsz_7l-TI114D4vnmqj_bTqN1JaOmMMAn1V0traHYJqsjn4WcYxY/w640-h410/IMG_9757.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Large areas of the rifle range SSSI have been unnecessarily scraped off and removed by the new owner, apparently with the support of Natural England. The original permission was to move boulders and parts of the chalk butts from one end to the other (south) end to fill the hole behind the sea wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZz5A_y5q_cWlulagxuYnLFk1YrauVVC0SZDXkyDCKtRzQF1GXVryBwHX0ptTYj46mtml_JOulmS182aix0rw21eN3VlisEWV01wtwVn93oCN9hC1F2N2Q35dc0H7l7zAEvh6aZzPDac_xV4dY39DJBJUa5KH6b1guK4EwsobiU_XHhEmwzdSRt-xWdg/s2638/IMG_9750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2638" data-original-width="2504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZz5A_y5q_cWlulagxuYnLFk1YrauVVC0SZDXkyDCKtRzQF1GXVryBwHX0ptTYj46mtml_JOulmS182aix0rw21eN3VlisEWV01wtwVn93oCN9hC1F2N2Q35dc0H7l7zAEvh6aZzPDac_xV4dY39DJBJUa5KH6b1guK4EwsobiU_XHhEmwzdSRt-xWdg/s320/IMG_9750.JPG" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Permission was given to create a single track from north to south...... but whole areas at each end have been scraped flat, crushing colonies of Kidney Vetch (with Small Blues) and Early Spider Orchids as well as many other species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Astonishingly, Natural England had concluded that the grassland was not of any value and that the arisings should be taken off-site.</div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZq6Fss8nfoo4a_QoMk_pnbghiscb1eRCDWYiP9h5dK0nkWC7PhyphenhyphenLAexaZQeOtc527NSZG46p_cZs_wWpiWCkWAbZNWP2DPl46PP_DYWKmNSn-LhJhnYDgCtPhi4eSs2Y21N21nfEHIPwug3k-ZOehrZbPwkavXtpDx4zyKFHw9TVb_FsovH9BCfjDKs/s3553/IMG_9748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="3553" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZq6Fss8nfoo4a_QoMk_pnbghiscb1eRCDWYiP9h5dK0nkWC7PhyphenhyphenLAexaZQeOtc527NSZG46p_cZs_wWpiWCkWAbZNWP2DPl46PP_DYWKmNSn-LhJhnYDgCtPhi4eSs2Y21N21nfEHIPwug3k-ZOehrZbPwkavXtpDx4zyKFHw9TVb_FsovH9BCfjDKs/w400-h213/IMG_9748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFrkqWeiMZ9E70KRNppbvikdYNO2_srrktmaS6VC5_DBscNjJYzlr7kQfq_2CCPJed1jNQsQJX8ansEfgmAxvnYaZh3cUhicB-rnXVQ1X1PoXewRDRi8xsiiH8wWcI7FjdObtwRXzVbnhuv-FRukcHzdin2uUuqJDc0N5SxSozYmEBAC8j6o7NoiR7bY/s3234/IMG_9749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="3234" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFrkqWeiMZ9E70KRNppbvikdYNO2_srrktmaS6VC5_DBscNjJYzlr7kQfq_2CCPJed1jNQsQJX8ansEfgmAxvnYaZh3cUhicB-rnXVQ1X1PoXewRDRi8xsiiH8wWcI7FjdObtwRXzVbnhuv-FRukcHzdin2uUuqJDc0N5SxSozYmEBAC8j6o7NoiR7bY/s320/IMG_9749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAlRQ3gtFHEcDW5TwTrC_6aMhwMEdDuibCEepFNEUq3ZvBUrJk9OGl-tJj2aXTP2eLwvlac_-DZ8CgSOGjZNOGTF3U_8czjaDP19i79RbpLrp0h7nGKKAJZNaDOFV87o9fNoMfTleyRIbXGJPZ3iuHPJ6-QL-7jAQs2SclPvh9tWMADCS3u-c5FrcjNc/s3195/IMG_9751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2281" data-original-width="3195" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAlRQ3gtFHEcDW5TwTrC_6aMhwMEdDuibCEepFNEUq3ZvBUrJk9OGl-tJj2aXTP2eLwvlac_-DZ8CgSOGjZNOGTF3U_8czjaDP19i79RbpLrp0h7nGKKAJZNaDOFV87o9fNoMfTleyRIbXGJPZ3iuHPJ6-QL-7jAQs2SclPvh9tWMADCS3u-c5FrcjNc/s320/IMG_9751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuBEB8WQ5xuWLtdNDE4m3k0otYb4Ymm1QCqkDZeEWfrRu2GPclyF_4JFlVnmvVRN2Fh_y6pYx2TIspjqVLhEk7cani_vpwTKD2YjMexLuPHCqXcmuywvXkuYn3wWg2vMAjZGemKYZzu6YDYrYt6R9S-E14YIedw6sPmO1nnRrV6itv6X3uJrHi5N19KI/s4032/IMG_9752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuBEB8WQ5xuWLtdNDE4m3k0otYb4Ymm1QCqkDZeEWfrRu2GPclyF_4JFlVnmvVRN2Fh_y6pYx2TIspjqVLhEk7cani_vpwTKD2YjMexLuPHCqXcmuywvXkuYn3wWg2vMAjZGemKYZzu6YDYrYt6R9S-E14YIedw6sPmO1nnRrV6itv6X3uJrHi5N19KI/s320/IMG_9752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">161 plant species have been recorded in this small area and it's heart-breaking to think how many have now been lost. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It remains to be seen what may have survived, and hopefully at least most of the Oxtongue Broomrape areas have been avoided. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the huge gap in the northern part of the sea wall remains; will the contractors fill this in as well, and if so what materials will be used this time? I fear it could become a dumping ground for spoil from elsewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aSw_77smQtIWWb2dv1Yx6-DYlUQGvl7kYy1I5OG76DPNJ7eXzoXcTsLQaDdqGt990BnPcRT2IjYizYxs_qX7Fdqfl5u6enYNz6fu5aQnLbdBcYj5LYUhMWxqXK1yCO_PadLH0H0vr3K2RjLyJvRJfCk_HQ_RHrQ5j_JCvOZCsF4q32_VmRlDHLZnR0g/s4032/IMG_9755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aSw_77smQtIWWb2dv1Yx6-DYlUQGvl7kYy1I5OG76DPNJ7eXzoXcTsLQaDdqGt990BnPcRT2IjYizYxs_qX7Fdqfl5u6enYNz6fu5aQnLbdBcYj5LYUhMWxqXK1yCO_PadLH0H0vr3K2RjLyJvRJfCk_HQ_RHrQ5j_JCvOZCsF4q32_VmRlDHLZnR0g/w400-h300/IMG_9755.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Historic photos: 1929 showing vegetated shingle in 1929,</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwL62O8w63_cvFzziCGyUj6UWOJJ417VYSbxetqXc1cGSL3Wfd93r2DHccAeJDoOfSUofsU_wlykTPFgzDcdViWfP3npHYAe3PJdLDIeHUf-gkQxHcbq1QdPzVe9n3VJ8qp1_DYtFUgSm8mkbR7lb4aiolyOva_ifSI-1gUqZ5AZAaX_ujFgfDk9EhuY/s2000/Kingsdown-Rifle-Range-and-Camp-c1929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="2000" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwL62O8w63_cvFzziCGyUj6UWOJJ417VYSbxetqXc1cGSL3Wfd93r2DHccAeJDoOfSUofsU_wlykTPFgzDcdViWfP3npHYAe3PJdLDIeHUf-gkQxHcbq1QdPzVe9n3VJ8qp1_DYtFUgSm8mkbR7lb4aiolyOva_ifSI-1gUqZ5AZAaX_ujFgfDk9EhuY/w512-h328/Kingsdown-Rifle-Range-and-Camp-c1929.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p>... and an aerial picture apparently showing clean chalk after works in the 1930s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVESulaGcf4zUSwq8Wx1vLbKbL5OhNDnjf_eP2I8huKxb2VBXT_OELj50G2pC5fqeMleWyaa5sPCTiysvbENGi1GN1cpt3JZ1qO6iVZKQvkPjyE2fwPKhazSkfnW7xOHT-WYVZGNCKmOqbR5W5378gCOLCcM8WDdfv6Z8-Nv-5q2TolmzO_0VFfywX3k/s607/Kingsdown-Rifle-Range%20aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="580" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVESulaGcf4zUSwq8Wx1vLbKbL5OhNDnjf_eP2I8huKxb2VBXT_OELj50G2pC5fqeMleWyaa5sPCTiysvbENGi1GN1cpt3JZ1qO6iVZKQvkPjyE2fwPKhazSkfnW7xOHT-WYVZGNCKmOqbR5W5378gCOLCcM8WDdfv6Z8-Nv-5q2TolmzO_0VFfywX3k/w383-h400/Kingsdown-Rifle-Range%20aerial.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't think I'll see its recovery in my lifetime.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-68593924562035541092024-02-15T10:18:00.000+00:002024-02-15T10:18:45.448+00:00Back to Botany Bay<p>Back to Botany Bay (Margate) for the first time in a while - this was where I spent my lunch breaks in the mid-2000s, learning quickly from the Planet Thanet forum.</p><p>Fortunately it was full high tide, so Fayreness beach was protected from dog-walkers and other disturbance, giving the waders a chance to rest in peace.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiglsoJofUAOB_J_HsX4yzEU152sZqbue7WIiXC7Y0gF_kjoFNZeEqONaRoACNkT63PMFLE8EJ3w-GTMCNxo2e59TSzCfKhLwQEZL7jpjBUJT73PIgb2sNQCklcSd_hwLAGaLPHr4nT8q50wef0ce6HcKtZWUSaXPNgDk-oUYW64fdw2Krr5aH1koGBVVM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="320" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiglsoJofUAOB_J_HsX4yzEU152sZqbue7WIiXC7Y0gF_kjoFNZeEqONaRoACNkT63PMFLE8EJ3w-GTMCNxo2e59TSzCfKhLwQEZL7jpjBUJT73PIgb2sNQCklcSd_hwLAGaLPHr4nT8q50wef0ce6HcKtZWUSaXPNgDk-oUYW64fdw2Krr5aH1koGBVVM=w437-h288" width="437" /></a></div><br />The roost held 260 Sanderlings, 150 Oystercatchers, 57 Ringed Plovers, 20 Curlews, one Purple Sandpiper and an uncountable number of restless Turnstones.<p></p><p>This is a similar count to that reported on the blog back in 2008: <span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2008/10/sanderlings-and-other-favourites.html</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAmodh6s1WAZrL2IYHt5IUIZGzlCUD14EnDWIsRqLMJlsYuu8CTvY5dRMJUv3g4GMKiO3B5kBQmdFHk6EUqHr3hNvLlpZr2L1bL9-_V8aLtYQ0fVCmHqbEmQc7IgfB9DejOA_9m2AQD40dJh21h5VYQZLjtou8e3lWwh6wT6VmXvk2qhCA0Xia94d0A4/s3030/P1110612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="3030" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAmodh6s1WAZrL2IYHt5IUIZGzlCUD14EnDWIsRqLMJlsYuu8CTvY5dRMJUv3g4GMKiO3B5kBQmdFHk6EUqHr3hNvLlpZr2L1bL9-_V8aLtYQ0fVCmHqbEmQc7IgfB9DejOA_9m2AQD40dJh21h5VYQZLjtou8e3lWwh6wT6VmXvk2qhCA0Xia94d0A4/w400-h269/P1110612.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Love the way the Ringed Plovers hunker down in footprints to avoid the wind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWBnc4oc51bkw7unNo_gFJA0XvMLUHtdQwPmXll4jB-YKGIoEpNchP0b3O3NoUXhZwnIQ_3p_ktDewEOisQfEn0cFxixhyphenhyphenKSBAHjqOs-tRqv_150Ndy5F3ucZvQnryLxYz1SNSTZYbPHxEE8QgESr74yYJG409KsRRrJ-GK6QL3TxuoxlPMmKlRkml4U/s2655/P1110610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="2655" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWBnc4oc51bkw7unNo_gFJA0XvMLUHtdQwPmXll4jB-YKGIoEpNchP0b3O3NoUXhZwnIQ_3p_ktDewEOisQfEn0cFxixhyphenhyphenKSBAHjqOs-tRqv_150Ndy5F3ucZvQnryLxYz1SNSTZYbPHxEE8QgESr74yYJG409KsRRrJ-GK6QL3TxuoxlPMmKlRkml4U/s320/P1110610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These Turnstones were some of the few that were not scuttling around, while the other species were taking their ease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHKBYYDwIafjJaDrodKDFtDdQZnVIhivTFgHRXHiXYSBSZNPvb4tk7YrTA-n3jmLFidJcpAe9YO3Hfypb4Mgub2GizWFhVI5G3ycxjw-LMQkO_wNGEBvr9t9fhJsp1l8vnCrJjEK2gU_uQGIJJwMeRkWJaqswkqxpD5capZ-qLw1Emo6jVM2-iVwnf5M/s3062/P1110606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="3062" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHKBYYDwIafjJaDrodKDFtDdQZnVIhivTFgHRXHiXYSBSZNPvb4tk7YrTA-n3jmLFidJcpAe9YO3Hfypb4Mgub2GizWFhVI5G3ycxjw-LMQkO_wNGEBvr9t9fhJsp1l8vnCrJjEK2gU_uQGIJJwMeRkWJaqswkqxpD5capZ-qLw1Emo6jVM2-iVwnf5M/s320/P1110606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToV67tHASnL8SyDhbsEhcNaMyXWQ6AHHX8LemBdjew5K5yb43i2dKPKoXk3viOV-Xzc5ueBMbRBCUrLHcfKQkZU4xPWTwY-vLij9gwHGYamaKpkJ2M73uC-4tbRrqz8_WbIa7NH88QqlMAkLrrW-Wz6qA7Mlljbpl2iLgxrYa9sXunV37eAt04I_z_SE/s2884/P1110590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2193" data-original-width="2884" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToV67tHASnL8SyDhbsEhcNaMyXWQ6AHHX8LemBdjew5K5yb43i2dKPKoXk3viOV-Xzc5ueBMbRBCUrLHcfKQkZU4xPWTwY-vLij9gwHGYamaKpkJ2M73uC-4tbRrqz8_WbIa7NH88QqlMAkLrrW-Wz6qA7Mlljbpl2iLgxrYa9sXunV37eAt04I_z_SE/s320/P1110590.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">And just one Purple Sandpiper - good to see.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzpPfOSPFYfwdyy0A7JWHbttGUAXWzCQVigB9OLc-uSlHXS4RXkoVoMK-2HiQATFenjPRt44ZQ2krEqirY78xQnRLfxZQdFszm5SFI-e0WtYgrd9BUQIgylqYBsw_pTLcTDUoKWeTw9XivrublAiftukpfaWymyltzEqeI8m1QpQM7Nvn80wU2nU9-G0/s3153/P1110588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3046" data-original-width="3153" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzpPfOSPFYfwdyy0A7JWHbttGUAXWzCQVigB9OLc-uSlHXS4RXkoVoMK-2HiQATFenjPRt44ZQ2krEqirY78xQnRLfxZQdFszm5SFI-e0WtYgrd9BUQIgylqYBsw_pTLcTDUoKWeTw9XivrublAiftukpfaWymyltzEqeI8m1QpQM7Nvn80wU2nU9-G0/s320/P1110588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Tucked away under the cliff was a solitary Cherry Plum bush, anticipating spring like its relatives planted along the road verges. You can tell it's a Cherry Plum by its early flowering, and by the folded back sepals.</p>More frequent across the sand dunes was Sea Spurge, and there'll be a host of other interesting psammophiles ready to appear in the warmer weather. I must return for a swim later in the year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiDUZ6ZJF4f2T9iJ3aN2Q4eXoL__UTAeTQ2xGeYXpPxo8TWV_xyRwmtS7IGLM5t8H42Dd1zLeaK_rro5tRKD5NnmzURShwesKwFoaMnOL9f5rM812T9_768g_h89pegNoYlFkqqt48vGlCLwgvWdw2IuvlH2V4lzQKYJhy1Qk5iWFfxatdZT7kQMqk8k/s4658/P1110586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3493" data-original-width="4658" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiDUZ6ZJF4f2T9iJ3aN2Q4eXoL__UTAeTQ2xGeYXpPxo8TWV_xyRwmtS7IGLM5t8H42Dd1zLeaK_rro5tRKD5NnmzURShwesKwFoaMnOL9f5rM812T9_768g_h89pegNoYlFkqqt48vGlCLwgvWdw2IuvlH2V4lzQKYJhy1Qk5iWFfxatdZT7kQMqk8k/w400-h300/P1110586.JPG" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbrRHgtWUauyvtJRYx5s4dd7ehHTKiLdpBywI_tmzPq3IsVD97gslQ6Typw5w6KT9eBnZzEYul-H7RjfLBUHoWVtUQA7nvVRh-rM1aoR3s7nsrhKjD0wZy3NjbDPnzp5xfNR976gnKw3WeT0WhXyQ-PrxCQzxsxgnrdx7qqV0cToHHCkzVGNktv99Lg8/s3885/P1110585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3086" data-original-width="3885" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbrRHgtWUauyvtJRYx5s4dd7ehHTKiLdpBywI_tmzPq3IsVD97gslQ6Typw5w6KT9eBnZzEYul-H7RjfLBUHoWVtUQA7nvVRh-rM1aoR3s7nsrhKjD0wZy3NjbDPnzp5xfNR976gnKw3WeT0WhXyQ-PrxCQzxsxgnrdx7qqV0cToHHCkzVGNktv99Lg8/s320/P1110585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-52528871892595701642023-05-06T17:30:00.001+01:002023-05-06T17:48:49.371+01:00Flamingos and Garrigue <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuwiGlkPgt6M89rThNNd2O6_HlSDf0G9b89jkBOvKL2ApZ5FHC5RebIdGU94tgJASOXGPw2Tev7X2J0HkaaElLqIACXTAolAKlIsaEqhd1gb3I_OyWjBmI0l3ao9Lg61-GmT1WZTUQluDRwBkhCtvZL4si3PDol2Oi6J7A_a2SOH7dTpTAK_Mo4np/s3712/P1100214.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="3712" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuwiGlkPgt6M89rThNNd2O6_HlSDf0G9b89jkBOvKL2ApZ5FHC5RebIdGU94tgJASOXGPw2Tev7X2J0HkaaElLqIACXTAolAKlIsaEqhd1gb3I_OyWjBmI0l3ao9Lg61-GmT1WZTUQluDRwBkhCtvZL4si3PDol2Oi6J7A_a2SOH7dTpTAK_Mo4np/w614-h368/P1100214.JPG" width="614" /></a><br />I can never come to terms with seeing flamingos by the roadside. They are such surreal creatures that being in commonplace locations seems wrong. But hey, so long as I don't drive off the road when I see sights like this, I'll put up with them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3rsge94IZOasfIpD6vpggYVDg2bjl8Ttpiam0IeogT-6N9Jnwoox_VbM2fMljNJJRr219BCpXotmfex6B71tLs-Nb7P0bibF6B6ZGuzPv22wMeQZSQyAcrHdCdFdeq7VJJ1aRoT-WOS-zt6wX1goWycGrglTK2WyTvZ2oNGLzguXD0nbeLNpT-n3/s2647/P1100218%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2647" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3rsge94IZOasfIpD6vpggYVDg2bjl8Ttpiam0IeogT-6N9Jnwoox_VbM2fMljNJJRr219BCpXotmfex6B71tLs-Nb7P0bibF6B6ZGuzPv22wMeQZSQyAcrHdCdFdeq7VJJ1aRoT-WOS-zt6wX1goWycGrglTK2WyTvZ2oNGLzguXD0nbeLNpT-n3/s320/P1100218%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX5mRmgGQUASced7OIBnFSA3XQIzYVdU1cEO8FyE_XQbShDbpdVl7moqs0jLfjNixyORsmYTaXPk_QfPZaUNqAXu6dV8A1E6Ha0R1XtpfbWVOMIhDgGVQheT4o5AumMtJUx1sWdYwNs2tz3Y5FWRzsFX5IAtYEUzrURVqUWVV0okUngKJmXn3cL4R/s2748/P1100220%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="2748" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX5mRmgGQUASced7OIBnFSA3XQIzYVdU1cEO8FyE_XQbShDbpdVl7moqs0jLfjNixyORsmYTaXPk_QfPZaUNqAXu6dV8A1E6Ha0R1XtpfbWVOMIhDgGVQheT4o5AumMtJUx1sWdYwNs2tz3Y5FWRzsFX5IAtYEUzrURVqUWVV0okUngKJmXn3cL4R/s320/P1100220%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A day's car hire was needed to get into the outback for some garrigue fun. This was only possible after a long lecture from the car hire rep who was clearly convinced that I would not be able to drive safely and return the vehicle in one piece. I didn't mention the flamingos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOIOjaWP0Z6VBtUJKoaWjXWh5gtxeLAI7WuAM2fulNiXhkQnnSHUJ2hwvaK2G42kNc2TsIAsGG-p3g_yyulCy1wgxQCXblk7csbDW7Z3aH-XAVFHMvfI1cmdoSHcibCal7HaX6qyw4RLn8UfkdHXd1jxxFR-LsU2UwWw2QZSrFDp63rCbpXOdyLfz/s3538/IMG_5759%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="3538" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOIOjaWP0Z6VBtUJKoaWjXWh5gtxeLAI7WuAM2fulNiXhkQnnSHUJ2hwvaK2G42kNc2TsIAsGG-p3g_yyulCy1wgxQCXblk7csbDW7Z3aH-XAVFHMvfI1cmdoSHcibCal7HaX6qyw4RLn8UfkdHXd1jxxFR-LsU2UwWw2QZSrFDp63rCbpXOdyLfz/w401-h256/IMG_5759%20(2).JPG" width="401" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Natura 2000 website showed an interesting area called <b>La Montagne de la Moure et Causse d'Aumelas</b> near Sète, under both Habitats and Birds directives. In the event there were few birds - Black Kites and a couple of Short-toed Eagles - but there were plenty of butterflies and plants to keep me interested. Another feature that looked promising was the stream marked alongside the road, but given the lack of rain this was of course dry.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHi6B1LHt2txdMfrezqO3m7q8uh53nVrDg9JYBGmrqVViWl8evf3Me06O0j3UJ_xxfZFhzDyBWOIxCzKZJbaAVi5EHQ4klSw9KSxPBiyLPCJJohzS500ZSXzy3pedQR0qrA3A1cyGd-Xp2PRGV-GwFCsciXs4QRg19RsqUAW0yeSGL-DkTqUwd5Ku/s2856/P1100247%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="2856" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHi6B1LHt2txdMfrezqO3m7q8uh53nVrDg9JYBGmrqVViWl8evf3Me06O0j3UJ_xxfZFhzDyBWOIxCzKZJbaAVi5EHQ4klSw9KSxPBiyLPCJJohzS500ZSXzy3pedQR0qrA3A1cyGd-Xp2PRGV-GwFCsciXs4QRg19RsqUAW0yeSGL-DkTqUwd5Ku/s320/P1100247%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The usual rock / cistus / asphodel view</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR4SNmKwdiP_QqLBYWiqDeFh-XG3cXf_GTGw0LVg_1n9sYKArVwlKoRfNCFPFvHR4Ax2ZX8lxQChOBHsex65BSs99amqUMc1iyQMoSYIWu-oI6w-MAQtNAS9F_LmwrFrkRGtKAbRKUCMJ1WL7CKn2gajJV2TqhMH3qxDTvpqLk87CaSbAraf-Arbv/s2019/P1100256%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2019" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR4SNmKwdiP_QqLBYWiqDeFh-XG3cXf_GTGw0LVg_1n9sYKArVwlKoRfNCFPFvHR4Ax2ZX8lxQChOBHsex65BSs99amqUMc1iyQMoSYIWu-oI6w-MAQtNAS9F_LmwrFrkRGtKAbRKUCMJ1WL7CKn2gajJV2TqhMH3qxDTvpqLk87CaSbAraf-Arbv/s320/P1100256%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNPhmyB7eURuba3foGc1g6oG3-C_kmJa9bTIHJLY6uBMOhQOaHDnpZn4qYsWbS4QWOUsnbS5SVKboV3il6pve8zj4GB8CRqcyEm6fcYbcQYQ36vYcjWmN93-7DUni-h7qrdmwbSbGa8jJmXeZQU3SINKIYcMv-YcYkGtRlr7eNtMVpY7Jqm-01BL/s3189/P1100267%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2077" data-original-width="3189" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNPhmyB7eURuba3foGc1g6oG3-C_kmJa9bTIHJLY6uBMOhQOaHDnpZn4qYsWbS4QWOUsnbS5SVKboV3il6pve8zj4GB8CRqcyEm6fcYbcQYQ36vYcjWmN93-7DUni-h7qrdmwbSbGa8jJmXeZQU3SINKIYcMv-YcYkGtRlr7eNtMVpY7Jqm-01BL/s320/P1100267%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVPCL0SqR86SeE1w2ummut1T-D3gXBD3661mte5NxX12Z7zTTzAWvM4UYknoD4r0ZMiYv9Soqgap49COVDUa5l3al5VhYgj6igO_7VsqicsFNafYvR1CS6WOlP4hz-OFGmrdm3tzp7vfHkpOC5Xbz9rVa5pt1Yrj6WdTuqzrmcdBJETIBbaTWZoSo/s1651/P1100240%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1651" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVPCL0SqR86SeE1w2ummut1T-D3gXBD3661mte5NxX12Z7zTTzAWvM4UYknoD4r0ZMiYv9Soqgap49COVDUa5l3al5VhYgj6igO_7VsqicsFNafYvR1CS6WOlP4hz-OFGmrdm3tzp7vfHkpOC5Xbz9rVa5pt1Yrj6WdTuqzrmcdBJETIBbaTWZoSo/s320/P1100240%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The stunning Provencal Orange Tip</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These blues are apparently Baton Blues....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj9x9_kmvjPEp8WdboQnRL1oImn-0FghPUs8DQ_BXJEuyNedBSqDCH36Xd5gd96z95wUkwY4AM0_fOyATtIAlFO7RKpivUNPbsKD8MG9XHLngkLRQpkx5S9YpIbzCDqkTIi-rxN7HuIqPKs544w8bBTSz8h9VXxzKTPXqL6neS5Flcr78A5hXUdV/s1516/P1100270%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1516" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj9x9_kmvjPEp8WdboQnRL1oImn-0FghPUs8DQ_BXJEuyNedBSqDCH36Xd5gd96z95wUkwY4AM0_fOyATtIAlFO7RKpivUNPbsKD8MG9XHLngkLRQpkx5S9YpIbzCDqkTIi-rxN7HuIqPKs544w8bBTSz8h9VXxzKTPXqL6neS5Flcr78A5hXUdV/s320/P1100270%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO4sLrMqt2_JxFqpv4TjdtSZLWHmT-5OGFXAGaYz3jesFzqRg1y1ijS1XinRVUitMzIQgA0smya-qb43cGJuJN_th1NI5gUyMFb_yEZpX7O-xYD78oGa9JyHbpf3A5PyHCuucgeT2ctIdpHM1u27aGNRiesETmmLqgR9DhMN8f6a0MIrsayUc4fhG/s2355/P1100254%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="2355" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO4sLrMqt2_JxFqpv4TjdtSZLWHmT-5OGFXAGaYz3jesFzqRg1y1ijS1XinRVUitMzIQgA0smya-qb43cGJuJN_th1NI5gUyMFb_yEZpX7O-xYD78oGa9JyHbpf3A5PyHCuucgeT2ctIdpHM1u27aGNRiesETmmLqgR9DhMN8f6a0MIrsayUc4fhG/s320/P1100254%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04rPYeNJMMfVTkHyTwzZ_r4cKgmJdoVoVyHbAQDeoa0UsFdydc0SI4dbqKRdi9e3gSJyEozMTK2RKtlckjVbMFG5B7UUOaFgA5wSC-PxsOitXEATn0dNO0sj5S0JHoFJt6_uMOSLbk6lydhUwRy9AlLa-bBZPTcYJmBWcEJgrIRRQdNBE2bmtykLH/s1666/P1100275%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1666" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04rPYeNJMMfVTkHyTwzZ_r4cKgmJdoVoVyHbAQDeoa0UsFdydc0SI4dbqKRdi9e3gSJyEozMTK2RKtlckjVbMFG5B7UUOaFgA5wSC-PxsOitXEATn0dNO0sj5S0JHoFJt6_uMOSLbk6lydhUwRy9AlLa-bBZPTcYJmBWcEJgrIRRQdNBE2bmtykLH/s320/P1100275%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There were a few orchids.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGKDoo5lfFypmPkQwuA-debTbUb_5jTaBeJZ6dgQi83nhLQsLUmiLKcLsf3JIf4Xso700TfjiEUUlmfC3nXE6bdtDrQcXhuhQ5XuimHFMk4_wjDOYofclQVQB_S0GyH6wHE-EP2ixM3CnXtjAufYsohZUkAHJ8-A_NOLJVZafWyqaa2Se2_T06xeZ/s2754/P1100287%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGKDoo5lfFypmPkQwuA-debTbUb_5jTaBeJZ6dgQi83nhLQsLUmiLKcLsf3JIf4Xso700TfjiEUUlmfC3nXE6bdtDrQcXhuhQ5XuimHFMk4_wjDOYofclQVQB_S0GyH6wHE-EP2ixM3CnXtjAufYsohZUkAHJ8-A_NOLJVZafWyqaa2Se2_T06xeZ/s320/P1100287%20(2).JPG" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yellow Bee Orchid</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDLGzBceKoVIw__BkpB_M7vKBFDmA8qDdZ5CwNtqEYexEMN_juA2vcx-mfNvifQw1HXiqb_ev3W11p0Td_IaGewVHWMrHxazwEWq8_8q9MOQSN6DPP6neKnMM07atnxSxkeocCD3FxpiWoA64ffgisFmTvQmZgQY1J0HmUUeYbLtglLWFrZdsQsEa/s3712/P1100233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="2784" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDLGzBceKoVIw__BkpB_M7vKBFDmA8qDdZ5CwNtqEYexEMN_juA2vcx-mfNvifQw1HXiqb_ev3W11p0Td_IaGewVHWMrHxazwEWq8_8q9MOQSN6DPP6neKnMM07atnxSxkeocCD3FxpiWoA64ffgisFmTvQmZgQY1J0HmUUeYbLtglLWFrZdsQsEa/s320/P1100233.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Woodcock Orchid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpjBD6hULr7MiYELx4A-UuMa6b4TfaN25R_4buPePXRnApheC2ShlTwmUCBQFLq9oiDWYgFECJ8ynUjT-DjDXu-JIs4AKx3C_kAdCi_QONSwSXZtRU-ejC4aDRg54IjLoAg1sLhkhDtJ81lI7BK4p7PNr8aIIZ_HA3oIJVbUARRZ9ZR6SYNqTdpjT/s1924/P1100286%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1924" data-original-width="1679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpjBD6hULr7MiYELx4A-UuMa6b4TfaN25R_4buPePXRnApheC2ShlTwmUCBQFLq9oiDWYgFECJ8ynUjT-DjDXu-JIs4AKx3C_kAdCi_QONSwSXZtRU-ejC4aDRg54IjLoAg1sLhkhDtJ81lI7BK4p7PNr8aIIZ_HA3oIJVbUARRZ9ZR6SYNqTdpjT/s320/P1100286%20(2).JPG" width="279" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Giant Orchid</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But in fact the other plants (unknown to me and mostly still a mystery) were more interesting...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUidMToVT-sVovYhXZZ27fPBXizOm6IzKD0Twmz4CFmhphuQjkoX0Oi4doApyau9h7ZbBUqEUR1vMH9zY0r7yJpY6TT1YpS1DPQQ6LucXH5ENsR7p1U4tw8p4M3HTNE-3jZLYZUkiZ744Ft4wXV0QxRfslSUGXvbIBsE17wCMWIJTJFutceJw4ulKY/s1806/P1100282%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="1700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUidMToVT-sVovYhXZZ27fPBXizOm6IzKD0Twmz4CFmhphuQjkoX0Oi4doApyau9h7ZbBUqEUR1vMH9zY0r7yJpY6TT1YpS1DPQQ6LucXH5ENsR7p1U4tw8p4M3HTNE-3jZLYZUkiZ744Ft4wXV0QxRfslSUGXvbIBsE17wCMWIJTJFutceJw4ulKY/s320/P1100282%20(2).JPG" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSUl52oPTgiTs39pYRIn7kcAF2shSwTMkDJEgbombf8piW2b7pL3B3IjsX8crA_QkeszB7Q4hUkcUiAfAvekQQz6dMZ9ci0QB9IGwS5GmZS5vP3vx29suP8MMzmEwJyjmh3NzVPiLRqCqIkpK42OmFgU49sqzJBR1Q7pUZXFdslobGGL__PxW0e-Z/s2290/P1100293%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="2113" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSUl52oPTgiTs39pYRIn7kcAF2shSwTMkDJEgbombf8piW2b7pL3B3IjsX8crA_QkeszB7Q4hUkcUiAfAvekQQz6dMZ9ci0QB9IGwS5GmZS5vP3vx29suP8MMzmEwJyjmh3NzVPiLRqCqIkpK42OmFgU49sqzJBR1Q7pUZXFdslobGGL__PxW0e-Z/s320/P1100293%20(2).JPG" width="295" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjvLEjacFFe2U8O4H5qWRpaO7Tm-wuLihzqe3OOFZp5ZedUDyw2h0cfNB9sQ1295LRNly2g31YKNg2SaC5RywWiNDc3MNitE39fpCZXow25yyEV6TwdMKvZ7uW3sfvmOotJz2Lyy_gZq0yCNTcO5PG-3hAl7CAZRk8mY2ftvDgOBZXXjA3KsGwCkG/s3712/P1100297.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="2784" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjvLEjacFFe2U8O4H5qWRpaO7Tm-wuLihzqe3OOFZp5ZedUDyw2h0cfNB9sQ1295LRNly2g31YKNg2SaC5RywWiNDc3MNitE39fpCZXow25yyEV6TwdMKvZ7uW3sfvmOotJz2Lyy_gZq0yCNTcO5PG-3hAl7CAZRk8mY2ftvDgOBZXXjA3KsGwCkG/s320/P1100297.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFewT1uVGYT_maEQVcnJKLUusy7ZEkWhEUoAZQPvztPtQ89OizJKHaErinfz8Ipf6e5HLRD3rhjyUXN7ATL4l81NEfi5oFpcViAmSHF7hGdukXhsfxhuzqKIKrd2k2HVoN53cYVlIzaPbduxZpxxrMF7zJF8o0K4w3SkpsRg0R8hUu_e3atQdz2fS/s2944/P1100296%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2495" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFewT1uVGYT_maEQVcnJKLUusy7ZEkWhEUoAZQPvztPtQ89OizJKHaErinfz8Ipf6e5HLRD3rhjyUXN7ATL4l81NEfi5oFpcViAmSHF7hGdukXhsfxhuzqKIKrd2k2HVoN53cYVlIzaPbduxZpxxrMF7zJF8o0K4w3SkpsRg0R8hUu_e3atQdz2fS/s320/P1100296%20(2).JPG" width="271" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcz2LQmR1ofUg9szkpMMDlaVVsrJI0-85fTiGgtCjOeqq1_Hxsev7odDpruZQBSsTW_P5AAowILCq9kYsA6xifZpdoXi-zHX-6UvcB7jkXvWyUkkpph2vwJP0XloiUK72LfDOPV9D7o6DfHNV_8qNb2qxi-amrsPPcCbePMn0D_wrN-l0AyCRtlVO/s1895/P1100248%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="1764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcz2LQmR1ofUg9szkpMMDlaVVsrJI0-85fTiGgtCjOeqq1_Hxsev7odDpruZQBSsTW_P5AAowILCq9kYsA6xifZpdoXi-zHX-6UvcB7jkXvWyUkkpph2vwJP0XloiUK72LfDOPV9D7o6DfHNV_8qNb2qxi-amrsPPcCbePMn0D_wrN-l0AyCRtlVO/s320/P1100248%20(2).JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div></div>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-52885787261249206252023-05-06T16:38:00.001+01:002023-05-06T17:31:42.163+01:00By Train to the Med<p> Everybody's doing it so why not me? Train travel is so much more light-footed so given the choice, the time and a cost-effective solution it seemed sensible to try out a trip around France.</p><p>Walmer to St Pancras then back down the same line by Eurostar to Paris. Not an efficient start but not dissimilar to flying. Across Paris was simple, and with a few minutes to spare at Gare de Lyon where the booked seat awaited, on the top deck.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Dtd_XJU57XCHGXPUHd-M7qWMBoAl610eQbXD_-p1J_0PWEFsTa7qJX5T1M1Q7BuuVE63KVBXO59d892VT5bmDxV_nuWSlIYyYP87STS6zncLkLi5CEhKtwQDyGx0ciimGv8z8fQFNxZl1xQpOiXzAZQJpUz74LJL2g5A187QRpGHD3QmhyKzl0f/s4032/IMG_5699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Dtd_XJU57XCHGXPUHd-M7qWMBoAl610eQbXD_-p1J_0PWEFsTa7qJX5T1M1Q7BuuVE63KVBXO59d892VT5bmDxV_nuWSlIYyYP87STS6zncLkLi5CEhKtwQDyGx0ciimGv8z8fQFNxZl1xQpOiXzAZQJpUz74LJL2g5A187QRpGHD3QmhyKzl0f/s320/IMG_5699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj-wYGgY2wKlFM4JJZiOGd9hcAbDPfUib-TUNKOvDzVXREPCrLELJDzZbuWgdlhdXKFOBh6YN8d-tL0eP0ATXwQm_d6RfM1lcWoMHhKUkiP2VE8Y5p4UE9oke4fCMNA3_MTUExB9dJiiWc3Wk6e4q8N8cb0LdNmkM3AbsKEs2XvFUeDvURsBaHY_Z/s4032/IMG_5701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj-wYGgY2wKlFM4JJZiOGd9hcAbDPfUib-TUNKOvDzVXREPCrLELJDzZbuWgdlhdXKFOBh6YN8d-tL0eP0ATXwQm_d6RfM1lcWoMHhKUkiP2VE8Y5p4UE9oke4fCMNA3_MTUExB9dJiiWc3Wk6e4q8N8cb0LdNmkM3AbsKEs2XvFUeDvURsBaHY_Z/w158-h211/IMG_5701.JPG" width="158" /></a></div><p></p>A gentle relaxed non-stop whizz down to the Med followed, through plenty of admitted-dull countryside improved by pleasant hills around Tournus and finally some garrigue south of Lyon, after which the extensive étangs from the Camargue filled the horizon. With flamingos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9rQLUyzf_kTek9kZoLNHV0_iHmtAOIhBkIeJ2gsPSB8vwSnVCcNjnfkMcGFzwSOI9sk4Kf0D85DnAAiBcqJPzVC5k8Jd9bMbgb8G7FawbwF6xqroD_OksJTsentyzbY2aUVuCE9unX9ll0H3S-rYe7YthD-JW58BMB_M414eaUAIWk6XXNIe2hb_/s2017/P1100204%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="2017" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9rQLUyzf_kTek9kZoLNHV0_iHmtAOIhBkIeJ2gsPSB8vwSnVCcNjnfkMcGFzwSOI9sk4Kf0D85DnAAiBcqJPzVC5k8Jd9bMbgb8G7FawbwF6xqroD_OksJTsentyzbY2aUVuCE9unX9ll0H3S-rYe7YthD-JW58BMB_M414eaUAIWk6XXNIe2hb_/s320/P1100204%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div><div>And so the train pulled into <b>Sète</b>, the first stay, on time and just - um - 10 hours after setting off from Walmer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiRQ4_ypZKtZOHtp81Ruq6i6lFGU2EuaOjsWB9eSufmAFtq9fsuOxVHFi4XIn-l841xl2pnY6opD1NmPeQrOQ5fNp8Z59eUmYOXFjmfU1EnuW57-Fijg8XHuuoNjPgceDwENzxcCxjsqGSPXiw78-ubTqybm8nziz0n41iSBhLaGjC4aSI6Dfb6SB/s3316/IMG_5705%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="3316" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiRQ4_ypZKtZOHtp81Ruq6i6lFGU2EuaOjsWB9eSufmAFtq9fsuOxVHFi4XIn-l841xl2pnY6opD1NmPeQrOQ5fNp8Z59eUmYOXFjmfU1EnuW57-Fijg8XHuuoNjPgceDwENzxcCxjsqGSPXiw78-ubTqybm8nziz0n41iSBhLaGjC4aSI6Dfb6SB/s320/IMG_5705%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdcaKC1-0z9h6oPzkGpZ81ccuBWNdbpT-B5RLkxt8xIgHPhrNVbc5LpsKHQFCV8sbORVXeQSydSNqUmVmLwABsrYyoq5B-HTZ26D_ZWIetJ1iQFzumkQSwnfJ2uvGUzI7ReCZg1hZFwSQ_UQ4kJtiosDYeB_xgEFK97fmnbQXquFIxwGl2pTg-3U/s4032/IMG_5715.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdcaKC1-0z9h6oPzkGpZ81ccuBWNdbpT-B5RLkxt8xIgHPhrNVbc5LpsKHQFCV8sbORVXeQSydSNqUmVmLwABsrYyoq5B-HTZ26D_ZWIetJ1iQFzumkQSwnfJ2uvGUzI7ReCZg1hZFwSQ_UQ4kJtiosDYeB_xgEFK97fmnbQXquFIxwGl2pTg-3U/s320/IMG_5715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sète is a nice place, all canals and cafés and lots of boats. Not a rich place like the Riviera but down-to-earth and unassuming. Out of the town there are long beaches and behind these are the étangs. All very interesting and the swifts, swallows and martins reminded me that I had jumped a few weeks of spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time was taken scuffling around the car parks and waste ground, of course, looking for the plants that thrive in such places. The favourite was a small park just the other side of the tracks, opposite La Pointe Courte (famous for a film of the same name) which had good flora including White Henbane and Italian Catchfly, as well as a singing Nightingale, Chiffchaff and a wheatear. And black redstarts were frequent on the buildings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlP1oBX8RGgcnhvCsycyAS8Ap6lYLMsPU_9cvCuQQvLad2bHkjIJub1_8m-UyiMP0MMbo43Vl62g3VieyFXF40hGgH_vHAXluZ7J8QWr0UvviKF89azuy_Z8AnEVpdA9rt7xL6zH0QPNe_NR_qhfjJauMK9ZZ70pA23lgyORBXEVIp5eJDLhtzL0/s2742/P1100320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="2742" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlP1oBX8RGgcnhvCsycyAS8Ap6lYLMsPU_9cvCuQQvLad2bHkjIJub1_8m-UyiMP0MMbo43Vl62g3VieyFXF40hGgH_vHAXluZ7J8QWr0UvviKF89azuy_Z8AnEVpdA9rt7xL6zH0QPNe_NR_qhfjJauMK9ZZ70pA23lgyORBXEVIp5eJDLhtzL0/w389-h185/P1100320.JPG" width="389" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQJMraj_ysOpmXSGCk7e18TtTAjrJHr1L3TdvtScj3jeh5s-nm9X60-Q7wLl3J77wU2K1YBXVq5WNLywcGRppfoDwCkrLw0hpdMtNybbcScJepOqhI3vv5uvwtUxoNVLwaorZHGW6mxs5ZSg8oYqr4_EjXSCgLDE5wUIZjdEzooJ80bQV2LUmX0ak/s4032/IMG_5739.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQJMraj_ysOpmXSGCk7e18TtTAjrJHr1L3TdvtScj3jeh5s-nm9X60-Q7wLl3J77wU2K1YBXVq5WNLywcGRppfoDwCkrLw0hpdMtNybbcScJepOqhI3vv5uvwtUxoNVLwaorZHGW6mxs5ZSg8oYqr4_EjXSCgLDE5wUIZjdEzooJ80bQV2LUmX0ak/s320/IMG_5739.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR8gEITJ0fak654VC9VnkAraEls8_v8_9SMx5BtFHd6QLURMGFIGt0U2yW6HzAg7Mg9hClFZR2lDwF3gyxe3yT2JFe5ZqWaq079Yy2R8_6I1UhMI8NSQ7TRY7xRvVbqzQQEDR7qo_U-OX7HXcvEt5RE5NpQ83R8djFSDgmNUqKfH2pZD61ux8CeD3/s4032/IMG_5729.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR8gEITJ0fak654VC9VnkAraEls8_v8_9SMx5BtFHd6QLURMGFIGt0U2yW6HzAg7Mg9hClFZR2lDwF3gyxe3yT2JFe5ZqWaq079Yy2R8_6I1UhMI8NSQ7TRY7xRvVbqzQQEDR7qo_U-OX7HXcvEt5RE5NpQ83R8djFSDgmNUqKfH2pZD61ux8CeD3/s320/IMG_5729.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><To be continued></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-53442184730114939432022-03-29T08:21:00.018+01:002022-12-06T08:37:02.248+00:00Sardinia<p> Memories, ah memories of holidays past......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPT3mxflLdIE9mcnXRpH6j_tfLVLnXzyVns3psIyMZ7E9bVLbcuq5JIEp1HqaK80HUz3Bb4oRk30InbyR9QuAjBwzAa67mIQStFkW_7_-OSpiMFrOO0zl4YB_FKTViodoUIM5qaI6-CETpWyHqQApxP58bwsYfXCB2qOysXRoRSyWTpYbtJ1S5kHH/s1288/24015666262_97be6f82ec_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1288" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPT3mxflLdIE9mcnXRpH6j_tfLVLnXzyVns3psIyMZ7E9bVLbcuq5JIEp1HqaK80HUz3Bb4oRk30InbyR9QuAjBwzAa67mIQStFkW_7_-OSpiMFrOO0zl4YB_FKTViodoUIM5qaI6-CETpWyHqQApxP58bwsYfXCB2qOysXRoRSyWTpYbtJ1S5kHH/w640-h406/24015666262_97be6f82ec_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGP0BTZb2fVxAjP83SBCnrJ7BPpp-5HDFSXIUgkz-jd0cerKe2cKft7ZgtleylfkKqfTYwDfwlukjlqTfBVfuTwbUNJ52Gog__WYch8p4KJN6nVvlcyuYTi7Wm-EhRGGpSh3w9kxbtP6-8Kcqm3-Fz2oKGz7WAKd6Cy8Azh2up91_WjNzC7j1-qHw/s3072/RIMG0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="3072" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGP0BTZb2fVxAjP83SBCnrJ7BPpp-5HDFSXIUgkz-jd0cerKe2cKft7ZgtleylfkKqfTYwDfwlukjlqTfBVfuTwbUNJ52Gog__WYch8p4KJN6nVvlcyuYTi7Wm-EhRGGpSh3w9kxbtP6-8Kcqm3-Fz2oKGz7WAKd6Cy8Azh2up91_WjNzC7j1-qHw/s320/RIMG0530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMAPLpFJrbCU7DW6nvpTQPN6kV2OQ6UH7MXEXXROQuNDrHKY5aAKYwmhgdMEWn9WVhPU5yQMp16yN_D6-8YkBcHRe7li2582wxnGd9mx4YsIBxmmjZsa0GK_8H7RmaNYIeuL3NAsDQdEb0SYzABTUhTpHTtk22rjzr92aufMTAMqBHE2KlXv0ogrA/s3072/RIMG0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="3072" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMAPLpFJrbCU7DW6nvpTQPN6kV2OQ6UH7MXEXXROQuNDrHKY5aAKYwmhgdMEWn9WVhPU5yQMp16yN_D6-8YkBcHRe7li2582wxnGd9mx4YsIBxmmjZsa0GK_8H7RmaNYIeuL3NAsDQdEb0SYzABTUhTpHTtk22rjzr92aufMTAMqBHE2KlXv0ogrA/s320/RIMG0542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">El Faro hotel, near Alghero - "Fabulous" as they say on Booking.com: sunset view....</blockquote></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOKES5qgjf7Aq2Lkisk8FSsU3Lkw72ElMiHACr7S0iKL4Fp_zSJzn3VUDVKaYoGdrphFM0AfLNTN5XZ23-DpNGhZ-FNKabyIprz_6zXTBJXbfQjLJAlSv-ZKGc-0waN4PLk1lvA4JM3hRa_JiPGsaK67St7pspe33HWdyNSP3i3BFnfQWHAbGNWVy/s4608/RIMG0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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I forgot the squirrel! How could I do that? It was the best nature sight of the year.<br />
We walked around sparse heath woodland south of Boulogne, in an area called Camiers where we spent most of the time trying to spot woodpeckers.<br />
There in a fir tree was a shadow which became cleared as it came over to look at us. Couldn't believe it was a red, as the chance hadn't crossed our minds. It just sat there, posing at various angles and looking down on us. Eventually, after much photographing, it wandered off into the wood.<br />
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And just a few miles from the channel ports, duly marked with an <span style="color: red;">X</span> below, with other worthwhile sites marked with <span style="color: red;">O</span>s. <br />
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Do it in 2020 ...... Happy New Year!</div>
Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-27366061730638054022019-11-17T19:48:00.001+00:002019-11-17T19:48:52.360+00:00Just across the Channel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unprepossessing place, eh? The cement works at Dannes is cut ino the chalk downs just south of Boulogne, and seems to have been wound down recently and will hopefully be left to rewild into a valuable habitat.<br />
Just up the hill, though, is a ridge that is already a precious gem, managed by the local wildfife group and being extended into neighbouring farmland.<br />
It's in view of England on a clear day, but has a good range of species that we don't get in Kent - including three that I'd never seen before:<br />
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Veronica prostrata scheereri - prostrate or rock speedwell, with a stunning shade of blue. Not very prostrate though.<br />
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And on a visit later in the year ("you must seeee this place"), field erygno dotting the pastures and causing an understandable nuisance to the farmer.<br />
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Chiltern gentian <span class="st"><em>Gentianella germanica</em>, known in France as gentianelle d'Allemagne. It's noticalbly more robust than the autumn gentians we see here.</span><br />
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Let's go down the coast a bit, to the Somme - and just along the river to the lovely village of Long there's a quiet valley that is bridged by the motorway, and there you can take a beautiful walk up the hill through crowds of military and lady orchids. And of course their hybrids.<br />
Nobody around apart from a small herd of drowsy cattle, and no sign that anyone had been there for weeks. Marvellous. <br />
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For a change of habitat, by the ponds of Condette there's plenty of nodding burr-marigold, a charming plant.<br />
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And all within sight of Dover castle:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLWpxVx8fcGIXjD4wmIh5yEQODPUmIj-oemI3wchH_O0jGdWmFFYhbQBh-lNtpMB52cjLnHA5bzNv2BupXDwCc5KDcA3FcnDBjrpLO4TYTXakAsquMthJ_OL4Txb4IIaGvOtDgHrOG_4/s1600/View.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLWpxVx8fcGIXjD4wmIh5yEQODPUmIj-oemI3wchH_O0jGdWmFFYhbQBh-lNtpMB52cjLnHA5bzNv2BupXDwCc5KDcA3FcnDBjrpLO4TYTXakAsquMthJ_OL4Txb4IIaGvOtDgHrOG_4/s640/View.jpg" width="640" /></a>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-60561016261627558682019-11-16T19:54:00.000+00:002019-11-16T19:54:13.419+00:00Corsica - the Granite Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A pretty good view of the island from the evening Air Corsica flight into Figari airport - blue sea, deep bays, maquis mountains and sparse poulation. It was going to be a good week.</div>
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The first day dawned (as they all did) fine, warm and bright, and the pattern was set for the week.... swim at the nearby Polumbagia beach in the relative cool of the morning, returning for breakfast when the sun got too hot, walk and explore, lunch/siesta, evening swim to watch the sun go down and chill in the evening.</div>
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There were plenty of posh yachts but not many people in the honeypot resorts, and hardly anyone on the rest of the island. I spoke no English in the week, mostly French and heard plenty of Corsican.<br />
It was easy to leave the world behind, and find little gems in the barren countryside where Neolithic life did not change much until a hundred years ago.<br />
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A hill fort here or an oriu there, seemed to have grown organically from the hard granite land. The <b>orii</b>, incidentally, are conveniently shaped boulders that have been adapted as graneries and probably hideaways in times of trouble.<br />
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Talking of times of trouble, the Corsican language has made a resurgence with French government encouragement, and often road signs are bilingual. The locals are, however, still critical of the French after being sold to them by the Genoese a couple of centuries ago, and after subsequent perceived underinvestment, so the French parts of the signs tend to be blasted off by shotguns.<br />
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More peacefully, the Corsican music is thriving, and I made a pilgimage to the village of Chera where Culioli lived and sang, to discover that the was long gone. <br />
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Dorothy Carrington told his story in her masterful <i>The Granite Island</i>, which was a constant guide for me, as it combines travelogue, history and culture in this new land.<br />
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While in this village I followed a sign to the chapel which turned out to be about a mile along narrow paths into the maquis, but was worth the walk.<br />
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Conditions were perfect for a bit of hill walking. The Col de Vacca Morta is a reasonably gentle climb to good views, and made a good morning.<br />
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Second port of call was Bonifacio, surely no port is better situated.</div>
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The hotel looked out over the harbour, now really a marina - because (as someone once wrote) I'm worth it.<br />
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-59725798123487178462019-11-16T19:47:00.001+00:002019-11-16T19:47:44.094+00:00Corsican nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's our experience that Italy has few birds but plenty of lizards, while Spain has many birds buttes lizards. These facts are presumably connected.<br />
Corsica has few birds but lizards are numerous.... this one is a <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: , , "helveticaneue" , , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Tyrrhenian wall lizard.</span><br />
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Late September is before the autumn rains so most flowering plants were burned off by the summer sun, apart from the ever-present stink-asters on roadsides and old fields.<br />
Watered gardens become havens, therefore, for both plants and their insects.<br />
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This autumn squill under coastal pines was an exception.<br />
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We had seen two-tailed pashas on previous trips to the Med but only from a distance as they flitted across the Maquis looking for rotting fruit on palms and strawberry trees.<br />
My luck was better this time as a pasha had taken a liking to rotting grapes on a cottage wall and stayed gorging itself while photos were taken.<br />
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This was followed by an even more unexpected encounter, when another landed at my feet of a beach, and proceeded to feed off the eelgrass on the sand.</div>
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Matching the pashas for size were some great banded graylings on water mint by a dry reservoir.</div>
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Birdlife was mostly jays, squirrelling away holm oak acorns like there's no tomorrow.<br />
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But one event of interest was a roost flight of little egrets out of the salt pans of Porto Vecchio onto these rocks in the harbour. And having collected strength in numbers, then into some reedbeds.<br />
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Meanwhile, back at the holiday village, the ponds were crowded with edible frogs -leaping splashily into the water at my approach.</div>
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The autumn rains had not yet fallen, so the island was parched and only stinking fleabane in profusion, and a few other hardy plants managed to flower in the dry soil.<br />
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-81871100119463182342019-10-13T19:08:00.000+01:002019-10-13T19:08:48.988+01:00Corsican seas <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Beautiful beaches, full in summer but almost deserted in late September. This one, Palumbaggia, was five minutes drive from the holiday park and empty in the morning.</div>
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Crystal clear water and a few rocks means ..... Snorkeling!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q9Z8-uER2A4YJRIx45O10H67-T8X7xw6tlZxzIbxaHeczRMZB5Ha3cGsDdG4SA4yjXVCUPDXfF0pY41FO29SOw4169mafNae_Eph65OMortc9MPaK2HBXuGJh5AZQ3HSleyMZ01VOrE/s1600/RIMG2487+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1600" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q9Z8-uER2A4YJRIx45O10H67-T8X7xw6tlZxzIbxaHeczRMZB5Ha3cGsDdG4SA4yjXVCUPDXfF0pY41FO29SOw4169mafNae_Eph65OMortc9MPaK2HBXuGJh5AZQ3HSleyMZ01VOrE/s640/RIMG2487+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIdoNdZ1mgMHW9qggrRm5eT1ahg3zJKXBHEYLHyMvL_jvk4gS0p7NfRwO4YRavGb78EJz9xzw_z6-AZk2OKG6YwxS1bdyLQ0E9bBIDW7WDmtKxMfUpE4iPhtNKIQ3Uupnaqrg9nzuvpI/s1600/RIMG2322+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIdoNdZ1mgMHW9qggrRm5eT1ahg3zJKXBHEYLHyMvL_jvk4gS0p7NfRwO4YRavGb78EJz9xzw_z6-AZk2OKG6YwxS1bdyLQ0E9bBIDW7WDmtKxMfUpE4iPhtNKIQ3Uupnaqrg9nzuvpI/s320/RIMG2322+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornate wrasse - male apparently</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYpL07bkmkshmqyfiUT2HNrszE6zbd0AQS_93dg7maYvBrXALYLne9UGfmWR7wpHg3jK_5TAbN9e1mOh_0hD1OGm6zK16j5GImwpYFz6-gr61ViHgE6-c7SXruR5yPkfBTsMEPuu3wzM/s1600/RIMG2300+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYpL07bkmkshmqyfiUT2HNrszE6zbd0AQS_93dg7maYvBrXALYLne9UGfmWR7wpHg3jK_5TAbN9e1mOh_0hD1OGm6zK16j5GImwpYFz6-gr61ViHgE6-c7SXruR5yPkfBTsMEPuu3wzM/s320/RIMG2300+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock wrasse, protecting his mate</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXfxAcMRAphjLP5w-7_Q5D16MHydSQjuZ2iawLUW_DjV4LrqpcEboVxA1nJ0XVY8OtQAkqzlqqZww7tPNuPyObwDmYm-FSADvmhQcVz2kFH6k7LESRlTQ3ivmciLASWLVTUbL8t1UTF0/s1600/RIMG2340+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXfxAcMRAphjLP5w-7_Q5D16MHydSQjuZ2iawLUW_DjV4LrqpcEboVxA1nJ0XVY8OtQAkqzlqqZww7tPNuPyObwDmYm-FSADvmhQcVz2kFH6k7LESRlTQ3ivmciLASWLVTUbL8t1UTF0/s320/RIMG2340+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted comber - reaches 8kg and has sharp teeth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRHs56bjwS_I5BYS03Y3B8yG89viQ7gQF1hWlcavEs1IM0pNjCebEjYw9yBs05GTweHQPP4qdDC1mucv-Wn_rwjo0KPpKpnpjfKvdcT8gRiU3gvIOitnVR29ZOYGtlzm5nR3KZGJVzqU/s1600/RIMG2380+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRHs56bjwS_I5BYS03Y3B8yG89viQ7gQF1hWlcavEs1IM0pNjCebEjYw9yBs05GTweHQPP4qdDC1mucv-Wn_rwjo0KPpKpnpjfKvdcT8gRiU3gvIOitnVR29ZOYGtlzm5nR3KZGJVzqU/s320/RIMG2380+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know who you are, but you're very cute</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CYZthJumhrbKdFFeHIvgHRC189mUNgbii1te8EUXOEcao9i0nGCNB4wNFZIAKM8sx0d8ksuC-6T6qLny8DHO_BAgyAZk40bO1B18IknkBLNCAYwOkyHm8jmlrSB1KXNDCDhxK1lh8Ic/s1600/RIMG2357+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CYZthJumhrbKdFFeHIvgHRC189mUNgbii1te8EUXOEcao9i0nGCNB4wNFZIAKM8sx0d8ksuC-6T6qLny8DHO_BAgyAZk40bO1B18IknkBLNCAYwOkyHm8jmlrSB1KXNDCDhxK1lh8Ic/s320/RIMG2357+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But you know what I am......</td></tr>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsDDL5M5Ky2RAShf2-8V_YR-4BYEorx8b6s4nkjSDbsl-OP43cq5R58Ph00FJi3FDMTvmz8EKvAaZEwZ8lybqtz5r1J4cWHgWTBS112qyI3yqcHPVHPUrLeVgRRybxQcP60-oU1VpCCA/s1600/RIMG2358+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsDDL5M5Ky2RAShf2-8V_YR-4BYEorx8b6s4nkjSDbsl-OP43cq5R58Ph00FJi3FDMTvmz8EKvAaZEwZ8lybqtz5r1J4cWHgWTBS112qyI3yqcHPVHPUrLeVgRRybxQcP60-oU1VpCCA/s320/RIMG2358+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exit octopus, stage left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w2_4E5QD56sUqXOzhPvz-bvTDKX8etMQlgl_sNfbqfJ1eZDnIjmTmEXDe5EqT7ygBwEjEWpr0K56aRo_1pb2lkvvsLWvGOLV9fwEWa-q0wqKOC_ZtM3PH6CRIPyJzKqmgGnVCkSJGEM/s1600/RIMG2422+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w2_4E5QD56sUqXOzhPvz-bvTDKX8etMQlgl_sNfbqfJ1eZDnIjmTmEXDe5EqT7ygBwEjEWpr0K56aRo_1pb2lkvvsLWvGOLV9fwEWa-q0wqKOC_ZtM3PH6CRIPyJzKqmgGnVCkSJGEM/s320/RIMG2422+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I'm a cuttlefish..... you ain't seen me right?</td></tr>
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IDs are from this website: https://www.jasonflower.co.uk/index.php?/category/134 but any errors are mine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg5jhNYhzpmW95itUTulfts9YqlV89ehCpM8iMe31aVxkxJC67hCT9_PV5LHwARcXonjICuazHQulMjYyAF6AYwEWGI8fdLK4NT79kfVuQXmLXeZaihtk2GWFOK2JZFfl02CdXQBaeuU/s1600/RIMG2459+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg5jhNYhzpmW95itUTulfts9YqlV89ehCpM8iMe31aVxkxJC67hCT9_PV5LHwARcXonjICuazHQulMjYyAF6AYwEWGI8fdLK4NT79kfVuQXmLXeZaihtk2GWFOK2JZFfl02CdXQBaeuU/s640/RIMG2459+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Great fun snorkelling - there's always something to see, especially if you have a little bread or something as bait....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8GwtBX1pULWU_IRGfObw1d1zK1wXL1hQebNwmW2FPy61AjK16UVVLaQEkAjBOIq45xgP89hpHxxa6Z-hCTa2b0b-BxBl1tNh8CahbRuIOd2UxrJOcLBsy9Hk-HO8dVmUUg0yOVqeKKg/s1600/RIMG2494+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8GwtBX1pULWU_IRGfObw1d1zK1wXL1hQebNwmW2FPy61AjK16UVVLaQEkAjBOIq45xgP89hpHxxa6Z-hCTa2b0b-BxBl1tNh8CahbRuIOd2UxrJOcLBsy9Hk-HO8dVmUUg0yOVqeKKg/s640/RIMG2494+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The wonderful beach at Rocapina, reached down a mile--long dirt track which keeps the crowds away.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZtdAIEIrikXvl1pWbxY3PeAkt5wdcqLiHaf3wLr7qeltKDQG7ccxBoYalnGyAKSv-3AhOYLQozir-R6StVWGRoHD6bnWzqSWBBvfkH7FDfX7HfYelwSkg6DkZt8gIeSKlk0I9RLhRcw/s1600/RIMG2473+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZtdAIEIrikXvl1pWbxY3PeAkt5wdcqLiHaf3wLr7qeltKDQG7ccxBoYalnGyAKSv-3AhOYLQozir-R6StVWGRoHD6bnWzqSWBBvfkH7FDfX7HfYelwSkg6DkZt8gIeSKlk0I9RLhRcw/s640/RIMG2473+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a>Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-37139074489590227962019-04-28T19:07:00.000+01:002019-04-29T20:56:48.720+01:0020 things to do before......<span style="color: blue;">Looking back on the blog, I see that in 2010 I posted a list of 20 things to do before I'm .... well, older than I was then. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Some 9 years later, I'm still at work but have similar interests to then, and have accomplished some of these targets already. Notes are consequently listed below (with links to appropriate blog-posts) and I can now put my mind onto new objectives for the next decade.</span><br />
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<li>Watch the waders at high tide at Snettisham <span style="color: #274e13;"> <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2010/02/first-tick-snettisham.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Done, as a kind Christmas present, a few days after that blog-post. Very cold, not many birds, but a lovely experience. </span></a></span></li>
<li>Find eagles (Golden and/or Sea) in Scotland <span style="color: red;">Not even close, but may be achieved on the Isle of Wight soon.</span></li>
<li>See a hummingbird - anywhere <span style="color: red;">Even further from achieving this. </span></li>
<li>Sit on the rock of Gibraltar, to see the raptor migration <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2012/03/gib.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Done this -wonderful time staying in the Gibraltar bird obs.</span></a></li>
<li>Walk the cliffs around the Lizard in Cornwall - I've been there a few times before, but never with my eyes open for plants <span style="color: red;">Nope.</span></li>
<li>Visit Ranscombe Farm in north Kent for Corncockles and Cornflowers, Cudweed and Ground Pine <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2010/06/ranscombe-farm.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Lovely place, visited a few times and found all these in profusion (except ground pine which I have seen at The Larches and Blue Bell Hill)</span></a></li>
<li>Clamber over the limestone pavements of the Pennines <span style="color: red;">Not yet - must be done soon.</span></li>
<li>Find a Late Spider Orchid on the downs <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2011/05/early-lates.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Working nearby, I have seen them at a number of sites but none without help. </span></a></li>
<li>Visit a place I know where Fly Orchids flower, but for once at the right time <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2012/06/lush-for-orchids.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Have done, and have successfully predicted where they may be in new areas.</span></a></li>
<li>Locate a Long-eared Owl at roost <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2009/11/cnd-campaign-for-nucear-free-dunge.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">A very hidden one at Dungeness, pointed out to me.</span></a></li>
<li>Take a slow boat up and down Norwegian fjords <span style="color: red;">Nope.</span></li>
<li>Encounter a large wild animal, and survive <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2013/07/crecy-again-what-boar.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Wild boars in Crecy forest - scary.</span></a></li>
<li>Compare Duke of Burgundy butterflies in Hampshire with the Kentish ones <span style="color: red;">No, but have found another colony in Kent.</span></li>
<li>Watch Flamingos and Stilts on the Camargue <a href="http://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2018/04/looking-for-spring-in-provence.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Yes! And more</span></a></li>
<li>See Swallowtail butterflies on the Norfolk Broads <span style="color: red;">Nope. Let's go now!</span></li>
<li>Walk the Breckland on a hot day <span style="color: red;">Nope. Let's go now! (or when it's a bit warmer)</span></li>
<li>Hear Manx Shearwaters around their burrows at night <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/search?q=skokholm" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Brilliant week on Skokholm.</span></a></li>
<li>Land on the Goodwin Sands, play cricket and watch the seals <span style="color: red;">Nope.</span></li>
<li>Clear the scrub from The Lynch to return it to chalk downland. <span style="color: red;">Tried, but it fought back. Must try again.</span></li>
And finally, 20. Find a Military Orchid in Kingsdown. Or, if not, seek them in a little nature reserve in Suffolk. <a href="https://kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2011/05/military-orchids-found-in-castle.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">No, but found them unexpectedly in Normandy so I am happy.</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">So that's 10 objectives achieved, and 10 not yet done. I'm quite impressed by that, and am grateful to the various people who helped me thus far. I'll add another 10 in due course, to keep me focused.</span><br />
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<b><u> The original post.......</u></b><br />
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As I've long passed the allotted Two-score Years and Ten, the mind concentrates on things that must be done in the time before the mist rolls in.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoFpVC6l1p-E-zlligzM25COhZYGEE7ptXmCzM-iEcvBK8Ug0kKX3tJjK7WrKTzoeykkQTTkNUXkjd9qLvOE0fidgcRuW8nZGJmrt3nQcEUgfhineWxX2ymaIF6tlEpGybevzClIhwglY/s1600-h/warren.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431143315083470338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoFpVC6l1p-E-zlligzM25COhZYGEE7ptXmCzM-iEcvBK8Ug0kKX3tJjK7WrKTzoeykkQTTkNUXkjd9qLvOE0fidgcRuW8nZGJmrt3nQcEUgfhineWxX2ymaIF6tlEpGybevzClIhwglY/s400/warren.jpg" style="display: block; height: 255px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
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I don't want to be just one of the crowd......<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKPShd71lNDZF9sFbU0vjTbRkU4CibwDms47msqi3VSFL2WbkRUm3dDqPYytG6Gf4oexOgnDrDN8zO0FHDNlmSOk7D0MRsKs0VwnvhIKqrQkPeGOR0I7yLqTa67tF3lvf8Q9rp_yiJW6d/s1600-h/scoter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431143306077565954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKPShd71lNDZF9sFbU0vjTbRkU4CibwDms47msqi3VSFL2WbkRUm3dDqPYytG6Gf4oexOgnDrDN8zO0FHDNlmSOk7D0MRsKs0VwnvhIKqrQkPeGOR0I7yLqTa67tF3lvf8Q9rp_yiJW6d/s400/scoter.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 170px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>....so I need a clear view of what to accomplish:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpQ9aia-akUSBsQraEIAo5PB3WfQUU775PFNMieK7q2hbM0_5cFn40TcfnavE4Llw8YDeNC0Dds8IeUad9ugR43KK49dDDpG1Deu_xZasBrBWJi_szVL19v_nvpwg0sud_74t192DO2N4/s1600-h/swan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431143298273173778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpQ9aia-akUSBsQraEIAo5PB3WfQUU775PFNMieK7q2hbM0_5cFn40TcfnavE4Llw8YDeNC0Dds8IeUad9ugR43KK49dDDpG1Deu_xZasBrBWJi_szVL19v_nvpwg0sud_74t192DO2N4/s400/swan.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 285px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>So, in no particular order, here's a list of things that I'd like to do, near and far.........<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<ol>
<li>Watch the waders at high tide at Snettisham</li>
<li>Find eagles (Golden and/or Sea) in Scotland</li>
<li>See a hummingbird - anywhere</li>
<li>Sit on the rock of Gibraltar, to see the raptor migration</li>
<li>Walk the cliffs around the Lizard in Cornwall - I've been there a few times before, but never with my eyes open for plants</li>
<li>Visit Ranscombe Farm in north Kent for Corncockles and Cornflowers, Cudweed and Ground Pine</li>
<li>Clamber over the limestone pavements of the Pennines</li>
<li>Find a Late Spider Orchid on the downs, and</li>
<li>Visit a place I know where Fly Orchids flower, but for once at the right time</li>
<li>Locate a Long-eared Owl at roost</li>
<li>Take a slow boat up and down Norwegian fjords</li>
<li>Encounter a large wild animal, and survive</li>
<li>Compare Duke of Burgundy butterflies in Hampshire with the Kentish ones</li>
<li>Watch Flamingos and Stilts on the Camargue</li>
<li>See Swallowtail butterflies on the Norfolk Broads</li>
<li>Walk the Breckland on a hot day</li>
<li>Hear Manx Shearwaters around their burrows at night</li>
<li>Land on the Goodwin Sands, play cricket and watch the seals</li>
<li>Clear the scrub from The Lynch to return it to chalk downland.</li>
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And finally, 20. Find a Military Orchid in Kingsdown. Or, if not, seek them in a little nature reserve in Suffolk.<br />
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The Galapagos should be on there, of course, but places like that need fewer tourists, and the carbon footprint would be frightening.<br />
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Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-22470102581553693982018-04-19T07:43:00.000+01:002018-04-19T09:43:53.072+01:00Looking for spring in Provence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5T_d372WIZZ53xS0HrRGbPCbKXu9b5S6Rbd3b0g1O-dc8nZffe-DsACDrIeK8na3CLRVbIjkAjQxVu6VP10LbGhauwNLxsXJfz4Wc9yXjfUj-EiGPM7BLUx7WGk3p4Coqf6YkXx3VCY/s1600/284Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5T_d372WIZZ53xS0HrRGbPCbKXu9b5S6Rbd3b0g1O-dc8nZffe-DsACDrIeK8na3CLRVbIjkAjQxVu6VP10LbGhauwNLxsXJfz4Wc9yXjfUj-EiGPM7BLUx7WGk3p4Coqf6YkXx3VCY/s400/284Provence.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We went looking for spring in Provence - and found it briefly. Just a bit early, just a bit windy, and certainly too wet - the locals complained in January that there had been no rain for six months and it has made up for it since then, so it was very lush.</div>
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But we had some good sunny warm days, and bizarrely saw alpine swifts before martins or swallows, and heard nightingales before chiffchaffs or blackcaps. There was much history to see</div>
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and there were early spider orchids (ssp passionis) by the pool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs60hznulsh0jFpjqNL-6vDxhZ3Aha8Tj5L2Q1yV16i32fsqd5nPS6fP8NyjreeOD-LGh2ailMjdGGNh0TAlu05U-PkkWKZYD2TknVNZkLWjMfKuRAyYhejlYO0Hw8JCf62j3YwFCP8qk/s1600/39Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs60hznulsh0jFpjqNL-6vDxhZ3Aha8Tj5L2Q1yV16i32fsqd5nPS6fP8NyjreeOD-LGh2ailMjdGGNh0TAlu05U-PkkWKZYD2TknVNZkLWjMfKuRAyYhejlYO0Hw8JCf62j3YwFCP8qk/s320/39Provence.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The drive down through France revealed many joys: the towns of Troyes and Tournus were delightful in different ways, the former a university city that came alive on Friday evening, while the latter is quiet and peaceful - both had water and history, as well as fascinating nature reserves:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuZLkUsZ-k6MuYovbdx4zW5IRAC5Aduf1FdoQ3-rHB-HfCP1gm6ZD19ms03MxrWlUcHWD7zC2JpF52suMOWsv-eERvxMQhs8lxLJrJgT38VI_-DR9qTxbqwWSRCMyvMPRI6VY6gll61Y/s1600/15Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuZLkUsZ-k6MuYovbdx4zW5IRAC5Aduf1FdoQ3-rHB-HfCP1gm6ZD19ms03MxrWlUcHWD7zC2JpF52suMOWsv-eERvxMQhs8lxLJrJgT38VI_-DR9qTxbqwWSRCMyvMPRI6VY6gll61Y/s320/15Provence.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Outside Troyes the Foret d'Orient had masses of spring flowers as we know them, including many many oxlips. It also has a salamander trail!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QtPzI2_5i1TMFIMnnZTUWDFNRvaDRZdA6j5-X6HgSMHI_76ks4kU7Ubzgaep_dOzgLGrhkM_GkCiYqaEidgSBvm8PkCy2hPqrL8drAjhs5UC6Y3IZTqFgRxTKwYfuTkKlwyRcrWwrM8/s1600/2Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QtPzI2_5i1TMFIMnnZTUWDFNRvaDRZdA6j5-X6HgSMHI_76ks4kU7Ubzgaep_dOzgLGrhkM_GkCiYqaEidgSBvm8PkCy2hPqrL8drAjhs5UC6Y3IZTqFgRxTKwYfuTkKlwyRcrWwrM8/s320/2Provence.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Near Tournus is the <a href="https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/france/burgundy/saone-et-loire/prety/la-truchere-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Truchere nature reserve</a>, a marvellous collection of woods, etangs and heaths which shows what a healthy ecosystem looks like - middle-spotted woodpecker and wood warblers gave me my best views ever, and the chateau that we stayed in had nightingales and a cuckoo at the bottom of the garden.<br />
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Back to Provence, the number and variety of birds in the countryside were disappointing, and again we were too early for rollers or bee-eaters. We staying the Alpilles hills (pronounced "Alpeeees" according to our strict guide and interpreter) and there is an impressive project to encourage rollers by the <a href="http://life-alpilles.com/oiseaux/rollier-deurope" target="_blank">LIFE group.</a><br />
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The limestone flora was beautifully full, prior to burning off in the summer sun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH45WB6Sp5Y_PSqXjUjikiPxiAdnvn2pR4Q71WNpPST3oZ5IKyvi-UaKdQSeEmtk98vro86GblM4dBFb5Xcetd85yZOapRZwnw9Humcz9FNGSN911wG5PfREsy-Wadnpq-FX-CNG1lkZM/s1600/138Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH45WB6Sp5Y_PSqXjUjikiPxiAdnvn2pR4Q71WNpPST3oZ5IKyvi-UaKdQSeEmtk98vro86GblM4dBFb5Xcetd85yZOapRZwnw9Humcz9FNGSN911wG5PfREsy-Wadnpq-FX-CNG1lkZM/s200/138Provence.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I just love limestone, leaping from rock to rock, my best girl by my side....</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBh1j7jPJcLrpmmZ_yRkek-cuS2Cahc1RM9Mv_dGmOVqSBBvXzwJ_xfpYDwbHNPn4mXVMm-tKu9UC1rgwFVBZCIgpYy6voUATNQ1sy78fdo-rmqHVB1fhtfhYMI6mrOmNIAjqEX3BtGE/s1600/111Provence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBh1j7jPJcLrpmmZ_yRkek-cuS2Cahc1RM9Mv_dGmOVqSBBvXzwJ_xfpYDwbHNPn4mXVMm-tKu9UC1rgwFVBZCIgpYy6voUATNQ1sy78fdo-rmqHVB1fhtfhYMI6mrOmNIAjqEX3BtGE/s400/111Provence.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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The Alpilles are part of a so-called Golden Triange which also includes the Crau desert, which apparently has little bustards, sand-grouse and stone curlew but which is about the most difficult birding terrain I've seen (think Dungeness on a windy day, and then some), and the Camargue which needs no introduction.<br />
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Yes you can see greater flamingoes from the road, and yes there's lots else to see including terrapins crossing.<br />
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There is also the <a href="http://www.provence-pays-arles.com/en/lieux-dinteret/capeliere-national-nature-protection-society-camargue-national-reserve" target="_blank">marvellous Capilliere reserve</a> where you can see wild nature up close, including white storks, glossy ibis, wood sandpiper, tree pipits, nightingales (and more flamingoes) - all for 3 euros.<br />
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There's so much to see.... best go back again sometime (preferably in later-April/May).Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-31682552764686953872017-05-19T13:34:00.000+01:002017-05-19T22:23:45.709+01:00Habeo Blogdt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a bit late for a New Year's Resolution but I really must keep this blog up-to-date. If nothing else it's a good way of keeping a diary and I often look back to see what I saw where and when.</div>
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After a dry April, we now have a wet May, so today's note relates to a historical book, <strong>Hanbury and Marshall's <em>Flora of Kent (1899)</em></strong>, available <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31175026494735;view=1up;seq=5" target="_blank">online here.</a></div>
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It's noticeable, of course, that many of the records show that specimens were "collected", sometimes in armfuls, which must have cleared some Just-About-Managing species from an area. This quote is relevant, but probably not correct in many cases:</div>
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George Chichester Oxenden (1797-1875) an author of satiric verses and parodies, was also an orchid enthusiast who had provided Darwin with several specimens. Oxenden was included on Darwin's presentation list for <i>Fertilisation of Orchids</i> (1862), and his assistance is noted on pp 31 n., 43, and 78 of the same.<br />
Unfortunately he would not have known Jocelyn Brooke (1908—1966) who lived nearby at Bishopsbourne and collected plants in early life before reforming later on.<br />
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Hanbury and Marshall were obviously impressed with our part of the county, and the last sentence of the description is particularly glowing.<br />
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Most species entries are fascinating, such as that of shepherd's needle, Scandix pectin-veneris, <br />
which is recorded as "colonist, common throughout the county". Not so now, with just a handful of sites.<br />
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Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-54137303930924801442017-03-23T16:50:00.000+00:002017-03-23T16:50:50.570+00:00An Orchid for Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Laurie Lee's <em>A Rose for Winter</em> retraces his steps through Andalusia, and we were pleased to retrace some of ours to<span style="background-color: white;"> see more of this fascinating land.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Spring is well under way in Spain in mid-March so I'll call this trip <em>An Orchid for Spring</em>. </span><br />
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Travelling conditions in Spain have improved immensely even since the 1950s, and we were, of course, able to drive into the mountains in comfort. The first stop, after a civilised arrival at Gibraltar airport, was at a migration watchpoint near Tarifa where we were lucky to watch seven black storks and an Egyptian vulture fly in from Africa, astonishingly close across the straits.<br />
Even luckier, a large boulder by the dirt road held a group of griffon vultures, which had presumably also arrived that day.<br />
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Our plans were to explore some new areas along the Atlantic coast and into the hills, looking for birds, bugs and botany, encouraged by reports of a wet winter and a warm spring that should bring on the flowers that we missed on our earlier drier trips. We would be guided again by John Cantelo's <a href="http://birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Birding Cadiz website and publication</a>, as well as by a new Crossbill book <a href="https://crossbillguides.nl/bookstore/western-andalucia" target="_blank">Western Andalusia</a> which he also co-wrote.<br />
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We were also inspired to return to Andalusia by a tantalisingly distant view five years ago of a <em>pueblo blanco</em> which we resolved to visit sometime - <br />
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... and Olvera did not disappoint. A marvellous setting with church and Moorish castle on a rock, which could be visited for a pittance, with a fascinating museum included.</div>
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The scene is set - the weather (mostly) fine. What will we see? </div>
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-16036757124180279082016-12-30T11:26:00.000+00:002016-12-30T18:21:21.042+00:00Review of 2016 - mostly arableThis year, so eventful politically, was spent quietly in the south of England, and almost all in east Kent. The Border Agency was only troubled once, by a day-trip to France (it rained). <br />
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The review of the year is therefore rather less exciting than previous ones, especially since much of the time was spent trudging around arable fields looking for weeds. But that kept us happy!<br />
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I'll list the <strong>general highlights</strong>, then a review of the <strong>arable weeds</strong> for those who have made it that far:<br />
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<ul>
<li><strong><u>Best birds</u></strong> - easy! In a year where I added nothing to my spreadsheet (life, UK, Kent, garden etc) the lucky sight of a dozen <strong>red kites</strong> feeding over the windmill field at Upper Walmer is the clear winner.<br />
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<ul>
<li><strong><u>Second best bird</u></strong> - nicknamed Hengist, a male <strong>sparrowhawk </strong>that staked out the garden and took a few of our specially-fattened sparrows and (regrettably) one of the pair of collared doves. It was instructive to see the two "eyes" on the back of his head.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMlAb5eBPdsxcYq1LcvpZhDRCusQJyTu5h-oYX2MFpIYinfwmj2z4oTK2C4iiuQXk3HKdzYNt6o1RYklfA-hyw6MBjB-krATeWoYnXoVQdjes9Cfp1IStpVyZ8pi5jITs_IAIE5BcS4w/s1600/Sprawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMlAb5eBPdsxcYq1LcvpZhDRCusQJyTu5h-oYX2MFpIYinfwmj2z4oTK2C4iiuQXk3HKdzYNt6o1RYklfA-hyw6MBjB-krATeWoYnXoVQdjes9Cfp1IStpVyZ8pi5jITs_IAIE5BcS4w/s320/Sprawk.jpg" width="305" /></a></li>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><u>Best mammal</u></strong> - a <strong>hedgehog</strong> at Tilmanstone - my first for years!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGInRgsKDLBfRUcnUzXi0ZeWFEt9OuHr5egazUpHl1NS87oiggl4x7sBASwKLKxuJx3Fa6lvyVAsbDnM-7fPr-ViVMZiSvC4wl3f5KhMXaD0JrfCbE9n_Ty7hyphenhyphensVf0BVqb36238MU4Vs/s1600/Hedgepig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGInRgsKDLBfRUcnUzXi0ZeWFEt9OuHr5egazUpHl1NS87oiggl4x7sBASwKLKxuJx3Fa6lvyVAsbDnM-7fPr-ViVMZiSvC4wl3f5KhMXaD0JrfCbE9n_Ty7hyphenhyphensVf0BVqb36238MU4Vs/s320/Hedgepig.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><strong><u>Best reptile</u> - adders</strong> at Samphire Hoe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><u>Best bugs</u></strong> - also at the sun trap of Samphire Hoe, were <strong>shield bugs</strong> and a number of other bugs that enjoy a lengthy season basking in the sunlight reflected by the cliffs and the sea.</div>
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<li><strong><u>Best butterfly</u></strong> - a couple of dozy <strong>graylings</strong> that posed for photos in Wareham forest. Finding this species is usually difficult and time-consuming so these two were a real pleasure. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li><strong><u>Best moth</u></strong> - n/a</li>
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<li><strong><u>Best views</u></strong> - the Dorset coast from Tyneham - stunning! This is helped, of course, by the immensely varied geology of the area which gave hours of interest.</li>
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<li><strong><u>Best habitats</u></strong> - also in Dorset, I was taken aback by the heaths around Wareham which are extensive, unspoilt and beautiful. I could have spent weeks just pottering around, with the favourite spot being Wareham forest with sundews, Dartford warblers and graylings amongst others.</li>
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<ul>
<li>
<strong><u>Best reserve</u></strong> - <a href="http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/broadham-down" target="_blank">Broadham Down</a> near Chilham, a new one to me, that we stumbled upon while out exploring. A fine place that deserves more visits. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqfWCY_EqHa-UdrbPyAGZLaYcKGOpXuRJMi8GMwQdJ2H0f7qNIbHMIp-lOMbPCeTvILKdQ53AcBW58W-djPRFssyaTu2NCsaXwAt5nL9bhC95b-mBjkzTO6sZtgH-uf78ARj9n3_RnuQ/s1600/Broadham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqfWCY_EqHa-UdrbPyAGZLaYcKGOpXuRJMi8GMwQdJ2H0f7qNIbHMIp-lOMbPCeTvILKdQ53AcBW58W-djPRFssyaTu2NCsaXwAt5nL9bhC95b-mBjkzTO6sZtgH-uf78ARj9n3_RnuQ/s400/Broadham.JPG" width="400" /></a></li>
</ul>
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Commendation for <a href="http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/pmwr.html" target="_blank">Kimmeridge Bay</a>, with an underwater reserve that can be explored with a snorkel.<br />
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<ul>
<li>
<strong><u>Best general plants</u></strong> - a tie between <strong>oblong-leaved sundew and bog gentian</strong>, both on the lovely heaths around Wareham, Dorset. The latter took some finding, but eventually a swathe of hundreds was found.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><strong><u>Best orchids</u></strong> - I've not been a great fan of lady orchids (must be spoilt) but the show this year at Bonsai Bank was superb. </li>
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<li><strong><u>Best arable weed</u></strong> - but first let me tell you a story.........</li>
</ul>
In an attempt to "give something back" I signed up to survey local sites for both birds and plants with BTO and NPMS respectively. <br />
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The bird survey was desperately dull as it covered green concrete farmland, and there's only so much interest you can generate with skylark territories. As it is next to a large new housing development, however, it will be interesting to follow the trends in the next few years.<br />
<br />
After this, the prospect of surveying further farmland was not attractive, especially as it was on the prairies of east Kent with barely a hedgerow in sight. But wait! A little research on the <a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uploads/documents/119_North_Downs_Arable_Plants.pdf" target="_blank">Plantlife site</a> shows that this area is a species hotspot of European importance, as shown below.<br />
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So why is this? The first survey gave us corn parsley (an early favourite for best plant as it was a first for me), venus' looking-glass <span style="background-color: white;">and other unusual species.</span><br />
<br />
These finds inspired an obsession with arable weeds and the <a href="http://www.magic.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx" target="_blank">stewardship schemes</a> that are intended to help their survival. I was surprised what could be found when a little space was allowed by the farmer, and of course appalled at the dreadful practices that generally prevented any diversity. I must admit that I despair for the future.<br />
<br />
But back to the <strong><u>Best arable weed</u></strong>: <br />
<ol>
<li><strong>Weasel-snout - </strong>not going to say where it is in east Kent, but there's plenty of plants there so with some sensitive management it should thrive (and maybe even spread);<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li><strong>Shepherd's needle</strong> - just one small site, and it seemed to have been attacked by spreading oil over it - can't believe it! It should have set seed by then, though, and we'll see whether it returns next year.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Corn spurrey</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></strong></span><span style="background-color: white;">-</span> a real star plant, once very common but now it takes some finding.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVQc-TVS4PKTR3A-AIe7Nh3jT-1xgHW-FrSKUJ70v7_xq4I6FBhyphenhyphenVpjZkqJARd7akBvjMSTOUa8NsRmRuW7R7CzWMyTIen2OSEVbyAachhxefgkYoPqIDiZk4Uf3q7MMXNXfot7WmFb8/s1600/P1010483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVQc-TVS4PKTR3A-AIe7Nh3jT-1xgHW-FrSKUJ70v7_xq4I6FBhyphenhyphenVpjZkqJARd7akBvjMSTOUa8NsRmRuW7R7CzWMyTIen2OSEVbyAachhxefgkYoPqIDiZk4Uf3q7MMXNXfot7WmFb8/s400/P1010483.JPG" width="300" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Corn parsley</strong> - just a nice plant, putting other umbellifers to shame.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li><b>Poppies</b> - lots of rough poppies and a few pricklies - always a joy.</li>
</ol>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
So that was 2016. Predictions for 2017 will so fraught with uncertainty that it is difficult to be optimistic, and New Year's Eve parties may be morbid affairs. Perhaps we will be able to tackle the challenges positively, but I see threats to so much that we hold dear.<br />
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As Dave Allen might have said: May your MP go with you.<br />
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-37026888715050621832016-09-14T15:51:00.001+01:002016-09-14T15:51:36.888+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Very appropriate! Great singer - great support.</div>
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Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-45753150141756559022016-01-03T16:18:00.000+00:002016-01-03T16:18:12.668+00:00Another year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
So it's 2016, and the year-list has to start again. It didn't get past February last year, but there was little to report so it didn't miss much. So far, three days in, it's up to an unimpressive 50 but that's without trying and with mostly foul weather. This year, I promise to do better.<br />
<br />
Highlights so far are:<br />
<ul>
<li>sparrowhawk on the windowledge;</li>
<li>coal tit on a feeder (uncommon here);</li>
<li>16 goldfinches eating up my pension fund; and</li>
<li>24 little gulls in an hour, flying south into the wind at the rifle range.</li>
</ul>
A fond farewell was said to the Prince of Wales pier which has provided bracing walks, good food and occasional birds in the past, but which will be redeveloped by Dover Harbour Board with questionable intentions.<br />
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There were a good few kittiwakes and turnstones, and a <b>shag</b> conveniently-placed next to a cormorant for comparison purposes.<br />
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The weather has been weird with monthly temperature records broken, no frosts and plants flowering ridiculously early, including a single<b> coltsfoot</b> on the range, which normally appear at the end of February.<br />
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What will happen next who knows (two months of snow, or a 1976 summer?).<br />
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-36610788147524825992015-12-21T21:07:00.000+00:002015-12-21T21:07:03.981+00:00Season's greetings, and a teaser for Tenerife.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXBJun2vgq8jGwNWYwBzy8wpz6Fzy7fU-pmn_BMz0rPb9-DJF-Hre2VE57_3i497uH_zPkfqgpp6T4XXjS0Er7l46ZPdmIVw6u2rj4Zib-tfnDKJl62q8CZyvnWpniYtOQ45qHoWFS9o/s1600/Xmas+robin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXBJun2vgq8jGwNWYwBzy8wpz6Fzy7fU-pmn_BMz0rPb9-DJF-Hre2VE57_3i497uH_zPkfqgpp6T4XXjS0Er7l46ZPdmIVw6u2rj4Zib-tfnDKJl62q8CZyvnWpniYtOQ45qHoWFS9o/s400/Xmas+robin.JPG" width="387" /></a></div>
At the festive time of year I send my best wishes for an enjoyable Christmas and a fine New Year to all readers, if any remain after such a long pause in publication. A New Year's resolution (not a hard one) will be to post more regularly, and hopefully to find interesting things to write about before doing so.<br />
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Having discovered a civilised way of spending part of December, in Tenerife, I should at least get off to a good start. The robin above is, as sharp-eyes birders will have noticed, the Tenerife sub-species E.r.<i>superbus</i>, while the santa below is sub-species S.c. <i>riduculus</i>.<br />
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Have a good time and see you in the New Year!Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-55290941521191679222015-04-18T21:01:00.001+01:002015-04-18T21:01:47.333+01:00In search or orchids and chameleons - Barbate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are differences between Italy and Spain:</div>
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Italy has few birds but many lizards; Spain has few lizards but many birds - coincidence?</div>
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Italy has many orchids; Spain, relatively few. We saw hardly any on our trip a couple of years ago, and none on our travels this time until the last day when we parked on a sandstone cliff and searched the apparently likely places, in clearings with rosemary, sun rose and heather, and a strange plant called <i>Dipcadi serotinum.</i></div>
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Foolish we were, until we moved into the shadows of the pine woods and finally found some sawfly orchids.<br />
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Nearby were occasional sombre bee orchids. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkx8c71nYaYs9cN6jUV5-LHVc2sGveU2u8gqwDoj6yA41l8e7sHwWk9OIZOyCmSW1aU1-R3fIvl6vtPhIQREx-El-AN4kltoXwmWhEAY32wb-aoXTbBS_iZauvyHhPc4Sh2J_azHbme8/s1600/sombe+bee+orchid.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkx8c71nYaYs9cN6jUV5-LHVc2sGveU2u8gqwDoj6yA41l8e7sHwWk9OIZOyCmSW1aU1-R3fIvl6vtPhIQREx-El-AN4kltoXwmWhEAY32wb-aoXTbBS_iZauvyHhPc4Sh2J_azHbme8/s1600/sombe+bee+orchid.JPG" height="285" width="320" /></a></div>
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- if sawflies seek out sawfly orchids, what is the sombre bee orchid trying to attract?<br />
Of course - sombre bees!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtXeF9INu6zwewP1eF2-Q3Kf6JhB3igKg86dpd42P2HlSqUYPj3W90tSF1WCs6Q_PfXChTK1eLs5gv2Up1NlPBO_Ltot08URaqk4PAknrS2UpredNOOlEpv8UP0r3Ow9k2WraE3aMVFY/s1600/Sombre+bee.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtXeF9INu6zwewP1eF2-Q3Kf6JhB3igKg86dpd42P2HlSqUYPj3W90tSF1WCs6Q_PfXChTK1eLs5gv2Up1NlPBO_Ltot08URaqk4PAknrS2UpredNOOlEpv8UP0r3Ow9k2WraE3aMVFY/s1600/Sombre+bee.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></a><br />
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Sod's law - when we returned to the car we saw plenty of sawfly orchids around the carpark - we'd been looking in the wrong habitat. </div>
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The final quarry on the holiday was chameleon (the common or Mediterranean chameleon, <i>chameleo chameleon</i>) , although it was early in the year - they prefer not to emerge until April. We read that they live in white broom in this south-western part of Spain, so we dutifully checked some of the many bushes between Barbate and Cape Trafalgar and found just two - grumpy looking buggers they were too.<br />
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Best found by looking for their silhouettes on branches against the light,they are indeed well camouflaged - so they don't seem to change colour. Their green-and-white patterning matched the foliage and flowers perfectly.</div>
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You know that they have seen you, but unlike lizards they are not speedy movers, so put on a panic-stricken slow-motion creep, all the while giving a baleful glare, as if disgusted at being disturbed.</div>
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And just look at those feet - superb!</div>
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The holiday was complete - we couldn't ask for more. It's a great area, full of fascination - well worth a visit.</div>
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Other incidentals:</div>
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Ubiquitous Sardinian warbler</div>
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Ditto serin</div>
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Red-striped oil beetles <i><span class="st">Berberomeloe majalis</span></i></div>
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Catchfly </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV_Z443jN_nqnYPsbYoYqQmCn7pGNwBpfe1N_oNM87vDYmzamlL5My1YhILBjtXhq7SshZJ1FF129WNHEjhRYZo7J9b-AkKx6ADERZ7ea7vH3xoh4DjxxwyMXl8BYaopSNuS2zfUPINQ/s1600/monarch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV_Z443jN_nqnYPsbYoYqQmCn7pGNwBpfe1N_oNM87vDYmzamlL5My1YhILBjtXhq7SshZJ1FF129WNHEjhRYZo7J9b-AkKx6ADERZ7ea7vH3xoh4DjxxwyMXl8BYaopSNuS2zfUPINQ/s1600/monarch.JPG" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
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And a monarch - crowning glory!</div>
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Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-63939466399274715082015-03-30T21:05:00.002+01:002015-03-31T13:22:30.014+01:00With a little help from the guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaXVvGh-Yib10lUyL3J46kfvNbxAKEOkxAbBru7aTw0yhSLgHf9oJ42rEXHohZNms9cHFCK3Z-K-k6HQAVql_dNFDT9JKfsmFhgvqNX4_4MHtHXMT2RD5OW11dkngfar1sfRQ2CBRwNU/s1600/End+of+the+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaXVvGh-Yib10lUyL3J46kfvNbxAKEOkxAbBru7aTw0yhSLgHf9oJ42rEXHohZNms9cHFCK3Z-K-k6HQAVql_dNFDT9JKfsmFhgvqNX4_4MHtHXMT2RD5OW11dkngfar1sfRQ2CBRwNU/s1600/End+of+the+road.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
You go on holiday, you've done the research, a bag of reference books and optics is hauled onto the aircraft, then thrown into the hire car, and the satnav is plugged into the cigarlighter socket.<br />
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Likely habitats are picked from the paper maps sourced from Amazon, and then you realise that the Ibiza isn't going to get you there. The road has petered out into a rocky track.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPUieCEPoLmpKGBpmoTU59vxmHzP1t2QeB2U_GjQH6sgKc7b7l2CoWqUtg56MvyCK9B4c8yVoeTU_NlEKJ53L6hEcrOJJLQ_W6zNYM_9MFtBoEfSO8F8rCVSBxuAL3z0IcFNjga_tE3Q/s1600/greenfinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPUieCEPoLmpKGBpmoTU59vxmHzP1t2QeB2U_GjQH6sgKc7b7l2CoWqUtg56MvyCK9B4c8yVoeTU_NlEKJ53L6hEcrOJJLQ_W6zNYM_9MFtBoEfSO8F8rCVSBxuAL3z0IcFNjga_tE3Q/s1600/greenfinch.JPG" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> You take solace with the birds around you - your first greenfinch of the year,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDORBJx5Q5qL0VSSt8Ft045bJTA11Rkix7KhJPHl0-yISa-VlkGruYqvei6Rr6Z4Kzq_jyu2cqv3w-mm3myrJgcM0SV7oGzr94_vqqEFbgh36eLIlK8d8JP3L6vLvGbemNnYFW3sQYPM/s1600/little+owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDORBJx5Q5qL0VSSt8Ft045bJTA11Rkix7KhJPHl0-yISa-VlkGruYqvei6Rr6Z4Kzq_jyu2cqv3w-mm3myrJgcM0SV7oGzr94_vqqEFbgh36eLIlK8d8JP3L6vLvGbemNnYFW3sQYPM/s1600/little+owl.JPG" height="286" width="320" /></a></div>
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and a little owl looks down too wisely.</div>
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Serins and corn buntings rattle all around....</div>
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.... and the odd Spanish Festoon flutters by.</div>
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But it's OK - you have a plan (in fact printed sheets with lots of plans). You have armed yourself with the marvellous Birding Cadiz guide, provided free online by <a href="http://birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/" target="_blank">John Cantelo</a> from Canterbury and Alcala de los Gazules depending on the time of year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNNCiTCW2ze6EuavJtWgCBIiWehgeJwBBkwAINveXKVji_N7hegEW7SOXpBgk8Gnq_nbznm2dEqGAJKmycf2XTjKtKnrMVla3iXUWsziR0LYGnSLbRVrBvgWaQHpEdHmfLAezkmn_WSk/s1600/Cadiz+birding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNNCiTCW2ze6EuavJtWgCBIiWehgeJwBBkwAINveXKVji_N7hegEW7SOXpBgk8Gnq_nbznm2dEqGAJKmycf2XTjKtKnrMVla3iXUWsziR0LYGnSLbRVrBvgWaQHpEdHmfLAezkmn_WSk/s1600/Cadiz+birding.png" height="191" width="400" /></a></div>
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He provides detailed information on all of the best sites in the area, with careful driving instructions and notes on the best ventas to visit, as well as comments on the birds to be seen. It was an invaluable addition to the holiday, and was recommended to a number of birders of various nationalities that we met on the way. </div>
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For example, he takes you down a track from an obscure village, to a hillside that is a "reliable site for little bustard". Sure enough, you hear a raspberry from the middle of the hillside - something you've listened out for on the whole trip, without hearing. A few minutes later you see:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhnZCFzI4zByWyAxAkLSlznPjTjjlZuNF3l5aM64SH6_qzFSW0olcNR53Fjo_zxzDHnnYbpusOdEUuDTUvOJuHkw4XT-RYgzSdvsWx03FRiDaJP27LfDw-vZ16LRKlMg7PiiwLOOd308/s1600/little+bustard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhnZCFzI4zByWyAxAkLSlznPjTjjlZuNF3l5aM64SH6_qzFSW0olcNR53Fjo_zxzDHnnYbpusOdEUuDTUvOJuHkw4XT-RYgzSdvsWx03FRiDaJP27LfDw-vZ16LRKlMg7PiiwLOOd308/s1600/little+bustard.JPG" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wonderful - another daft chicken-sized bird, and well worth the suggested donation to the bird charity of your choice (SEO for us).</div>
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John's 120-odd pages also led us to La Janda (black-winged kite, spanish imperial eagle, night heron, larks, cranes, glossy ibis and even five purple gallinules).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FuADH3_G6Nx5JnPaMYTFPFKX1W4KvdSNAnRzXNK6caHvtQ8_ht1o_IaBMPWCC1K-7vuLm-CZk9NGke4YAHGWsf6HzmpwLVeg0Mb0GI8n6ST-2U4GZcNoIGp37vyBqVWB6PQgFcr_stw/s1600/purp+gallinule.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FuADH3_G6Nx5JnPaMYTFPFKX1W4KvdSNAnRzXNK6caHvtQ8_ht1o_IaBMPWCC1K-7vuLm-CZk9NGke4YAHGWsf6HzmpwLVeg0Mb0GI8n6ST-2U4GZcNoIGp37vyBqVWB6PQgFcr_stw/s1600/purp+gallinule.JPG" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
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We were guided behind Bolonia to a hide facing a crag with nesting griffon and Egyptian vultures, dwarfing the local ravens.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwDAOXgdmRtHWgARpev3uAxsihWtogq_xzHD1LOu2r5PfOsY6TuBKAz4Y_GJWhbdCuHQ20FbrtSVQNEiGmiRJmM4iYnYfCPKikGaZz7NgcLKYqyO-rmk5OMeU-P3Y2HOwf8m3k5uBHUk/s1600/griffon3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwDAOXgdmRtHWgARpev3uAxsihWtogq_xzHD1LOu2r5PfOsY6TuBKAz4Y_GJWhbdCuHQ20FbrtSVQNEiGmiRJmM4iYnYfCPKikGaZz7NgcLKYqyO-rmk5OMeU-P3Y2HOwf8m3k5uBHUk/s1600/griffon3.JPG" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
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There should be a copy of the guide in the top drawer of every hotel bedside table in the area - we soon started to call it "the bible".Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-39840513427660664002015-03-29T16:41:00.002+01:002015-03-31T13:23:24.513+01:00As I flew out one mid-spring morningAs we flew into Gibraltar one mid-spring morning I was reminded of our holiday on the Rock<a href="http://kingsdownkent.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/gib.html" target="_blank"> a few years ago</a> when we stayed in the observatory for a few nights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_dnorW072mH9lU3BP1H3_i5WE-Ky7J5iLNr-ez0n_myBunLhnBjPpDI9MLrwHUhr5G62L7yzeK7xnyXZsbCiBYk38mNyHg_EaIhNl2AkwX-Wa4zRMvRwCG5cDyrtx1u70XmghRz-FQA/s1600/Cloud+over+Gibraltar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_dnorW072mH9lU3BP1H3_i5WE-Ky7J5iLNr-ez0n_myBunLhnBjPpDI9MLrwHUhr5G62L7yzeK7xnyXZsbCiBYk38mNyHg_EaIhNl2AkwX-Wa4zRMvRwCG5cDyrtx1u70XmghRz-FQA/s1600/Cloud+over+Gibraltar.JPG" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
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In my bag was a much-loved copy of Laurie Lee's book <em>As I Walked Out One Mid-Summer Morning</em>, telling of his walk across Spain in earlier, tougher times. He described the Rock, "trailing a perpetual plume of cloud, looking like a stricken battleship on fire".<br />
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Our plan was to tour around the Costa de la Luz, and as usual we didn't get very far - not to Cadiz, and certainly not to Donana or Seville. There's always too much to see on the doorstep. Including Africa which looks incredibly close.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqyCpAMUDel-q9ZCw0QaybW6fMwxc9mKLlBfzeRXsTBOcJi-8wShTewe3T9pDDRBVutNmYNWRRVKIHVDgQzbi2KGu24ztxsqY0YkmVrbObR-FD1uFKd69jxZDFSEUefcTq0ppY6bdIqM/s1600/4+Africa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqyCpAMUDel-q9ZCw0QaybW6fMwxc9mKLlBfzeRXsTBOcJi-8wShTewe3T9pDDRBVutNmYNWRRVKIHVDgQzbi2KGu24ztxsqY0YkmVrbObR-FD1uFKd69jxZDFSEUefcTq0ppY6bdIqM/s1600/4+Africa.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Migration here depends greatly on the wind-direction, as the birds crossing the Straits are gently blown towards Gibraltar by westerlies or towards the Costa de la Luz in easterlies. The Levanter was blowing on the day of our arrival, and we were pleased to watch black kites and <b>short-toed eagles</b> flying in low over the pines and sand dunes.<br />
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The birds have to run the gauntlet of wind farms along this notoriously windy coast, and whether these pose a serious risk to them can only be answered by scientific recording - unfortunately the owners of wind farms and surrounding land have a vested interest in this, so information is scarce but estimates of kills are high.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nature.com/news/the-trouble-with-turbines-an-ill-wind-1.10849" target="_blank">One project</a> involved researchers warning turbine operators of arriving migrants, and the blades were turned off, which is intriguing but not a long-term solution and of no help at night of course.<br />
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We stayed at the excellent <a href="http://casamontecote.com/en/" target="_blank">Montecote</a>, across the valley from Vejer and were centrally placed for a wide variety of habitats, all filled with birds.... hills, farmland, marshes, pine woods, rice paddies, lagoons and beaches - even in the towns you kept your eyes to the skies, watching overflying swallows and martins, vultures, eagles and storks.<br />
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Vejer has its own colony of lesser kestrels, and a group of about 30 <b>bald ibises</b> that have been reintroduced to the area but which have independently chosen their own nesting place -<br />
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- on a cliff by a busy road, </div>
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... conveniently placed for birders....</div>
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...and for litter-picking / nesting-material-gathering in a car park.</div>
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Is that really a used nappy? You're the rarest breeding bird in Europe - have some self-respect!<br />
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<br />Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-70669489200034761542015-02-04T13:45:00.001+00:002015-02-04T13:45:17.143+00:00Winter thrushes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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'Tis a joy to find birds unexpectedly - in this case in a field next to the main road near Ash, where about 1,000 fieldfares and a sprinkling of redwings, pulling worms from the sodden ground. And in the background in another field.... lapwings and gulls aplenty. Must be good pickings.<br />
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The fieldfares were very smart with well-streaked chests, and it's not long till it's time to return to the north to breed.<br />
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Not to be eclipsed(!) the flanks of the few redwings shone, <br />
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....and their chests were proudly streaky too.</div>
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Talking of chests.....</div>
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The previous week we had a pleasant sunny stroll around Pluckley and Little Chart, to see where HE Bates wrote his books (and we're not necessarily talking about Pop Larkin here - check out his marvellous prose in Through the Woods).<br />
It's a pleasant area and surrounded by orchards, where unpicked apples had fallen unwanted from the trees, to be scavenged by ....<br />
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.... yes, fieldfares and redwings. The noise was tremendous as they wheeled in flocks when disturbed.</div>
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Too much like hard work for some.<br />
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Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-4729947975634090012014-12-08T21:37:00.000+00:002015-01-02T21:44:24.757+00:00Costa nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just for the record, here's a few pics of wildlife encountered in a warm October trip to the Costa Brava, not going far but just chilling. </div>
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<b>Terabinth.</b></div>
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<b>Calamint</b></div>
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I was pleased to nail a <b>Bath white</b>, after much leaping around after the flighty things.</div>
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<b>Swallowtails </b>wafted along the well-marked trials - supreme butterflies that had a good year in southern England this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde1Vn4KFQ5wQXby2ZpBwJ32hSROpumt1Jv1ob_kcy0AcKDJK44MwPwFc6LrOV0D52N5Dc7emS2tmeiwzSTWyBkmR7twa_VLueVZLNrqP469OnK2gvj7THeW4GaCRgAjtjCSeb0hII858/s1600/P1100342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde1Vn4KFQ5wQXby2ZpBwJ32hSROpumt1Jv1ob_kcy0AcKDJK44MwPwFc6LrOV0D52N5Dc7emS2tmeiwzSTWyBkmR7twa_VLueVZLNrqP469OnK2gvj7THeW4GaCRgAjtjCSeb0hII858/s1600/P1100342.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below is a swallowtail caterpillar crossing the road. It gets upset if disturbed, rearing up and displaying two aggressive prongs (or in scientific terminology, they "evert their osmeterii") and pong.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNJiRq8D7jC8sxV0v0PH_aY2DCOWbBEvvymZDrPhfEF6DLFBbTP70vKZ1SLWYur4PBBlelofYxMkXOd5i9nsqOyjKJVcdqAdf5TCebqBBUqBMMKYS7_lcea_pGgA-qtF8H1iWWdlI4LI/s1600/P1100151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNJiRq8D7jC8sxV0v0PH_aY2DCOWbBEvvymZDrPhfEF6DLFBbTP70vKZ1SLWYur4PBBlelofYxMkXOd5i9nsqOyjKJVcdqAdf5TCebqBBUqBMMKYS7_lcea_pGgA-qtF8H1iWWdlI4LI/s1600/P1100151.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZpyvqZWu4iIeu-4RmIwb3QmMRXEtYdFEsy4jzjV1QvYjtUfUuViI5onz_RzZfFlxQ5o7sH7evGMjcauiYnEfuotGT5G6zwXTo2OUqTE-QSUCfSeum__jPL2QjlcoHuISOGToIbknByM/s1600/P1110512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZpyvqZWu4iIeu-4RmIwb3QmMRXEtYdFEsy4jzjV1QvYjtUfUuViI5onz_RzZfFlxQ5o7sH7evGMjcauiYnEfuotGT5G6zwXTo2OUqTE-QSUCfSeum__jPL2QjlcoHuISOGToIbknByM/s1600/P1110512.JPG" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
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This, by contrast, is a<b> tree grayling</b> - quiet and camouflaged.</div>
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Think this is <b>Iberian lizard.</b> Far fewer lizards here than in Italy, where they are everywhere.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHMm78iyCRUynimsBu2qYr2c2_PVmtzoaDRd8roNPuknYwWpR5Fw7_RSMRPAAAC2AkSskMHu1Q5RwlZ1am_lJzWJ7rfpaQHbTj1xlgE9cQbaF2GCKWBGRg0_eUwpaunMynFvXqg5Ft3o/s1600/P1100876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHMm78iyCRUynimsBu2qYr2c2_PVmtzoaDRd8roNPuknYwWpR5Fw7_RSMRPAAAC2AkSskMHu1Q5RwlZ1am_lJzWJ7rfpaQHbTj1xlgE9cQbaF2GCKWBGRg0_eUwpaunMynFvXqg5Ft3o/s1600/P1100876.JPG" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Clouded yellows</b> were common flying over fields of crops.</div>
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Also remarkably common were <b>long-tailed blues</b> that frequented low grassland and verges, as well as over fields, not noticeably using pea plants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGxHnZj8nG2UweKCTgMiBZ096JOz4NiMTk4uynJp47-qgYb3i3TayW0popWKpuSRZaR2X41uS6SvCzdPKJ3jhsUEdxveADIFQiK1NgTak2-l1W9CWLur6VmaL3IKt_4c43nnLa0vJkYc/s1600/P1100327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGxHnZj8nG2UweKCTgMiBZ096JOz4NiMTk4uynJp47-qgYb3i3TayW0popWKpuSRZaR2X41uS6SvCzdPKJ3jhsUEdxveADIFQiK1NgTak2-l1W9CWLur6VmaL3IKt_4c43nnLa0vJkYc/s1600/P1100327.JPG" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The star of the week was, however, the two-tailed pasha that was seen flying around the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">Jardi Botanic de Cap Roig, clearly attracted to the fruits of palm trees and strawberry trees but maddeningly impossible to photograph.</span></span></div>
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Above is a narcissus that flowers in autumn, and is common, unlike the unidentified poached egg plant below, found in the marsh under the flightpath of Barcelona airport.</div>
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And finally, a<b> death's head hawk moth</b>, sadly deceased, that was found in the street of Calella de Palafruguel.</div>
Kingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-30899093259234469622014-11-23T21:56:00.000+00:002014-11-23T21:56:25.031+00:00Costa Brava in October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzcfpblMY74th8_J0sm-yBn9SQ5137fyoD9bHn4fH5pj_Dbku-mv9HpwcN28hSgEhSQAHPKAvMW7ZKPaaNCVJeQjkoh7ZjLN6kyBwYcR28hZNF-ve90OZIkrtOygLUuf0_ofCEcw7BQ8/s1600/P1100091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzcfpblMY74th8_J0sm-yBn9SQ5137fyoD9bHn4fH5pj_Dbku-mv9HpwcN28hSgEhSQAHPKAvMW7ZKPaaNCVJeQjkoh7ZjLN6kyBwYcR28hZNF-ve90OZIkrtOygLUuf0_ofCEcw7BQ8/s1600/P1100091.JPG" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
In October, we took a hoopoe south to the Costa Brava, where we hoped it would be warm, sunny and relaxing. We had plans to visit nature reserves, wetlands, mountains, cliffs and volcanoes to see many species of birds in Catalonia.<br />
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As it turned out, we didn't go far.</div>
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It was far from being a beach holiday, but as it was sunny, warm and out of season, the empty beaches and warm sea proved more inviting than getting into the car and driving long distances.<br />
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The area around Palafruguell doesn't appear on Naturetrek itineries, but it is not one of the high-rise horrors of the Costa Brava. It's smart and in October you have the place to yourself. There are plenty of interesting and well-signed paths, leading to secluded rocky bays, perfect for snorkeling.<br />
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And instead of seeing lots of birds, we were surprised to see plenty of.......... but that will have to wait for the next blog. The habitats above and below may, however give a clue.<br />
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