This morning there was a bumble bee outside my bedroom window.
When I went to write about this in my perpetual diary I found that on 13 December 2006 a colleague had seen a bumble bee in his winter clematis.
As the years pass, a perpetual diary gets more and more interesting.
I also saw a kingfisher this morning when paddling up the Old River Lea between Tottenham and Waltham Forest. And there were 2 Egyptian geese grazing between the riding stable and Lea Bridge Road as I cycled home. I often see a pair of these on the side of the Lea Navigation, but their location today was a surprise.
Showing posts with label kingfisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kingfisher. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Helping the hibernators
Every year people complain about the council not getting the leaves swept up quickly enough. They have listened this year.
This means I've had a problem getting leaves to put on my tiny front garden flower bed to give extra protection for insects, etc, hibernating there. When I have time to go down the road with my bucket in the evening, the leaves have been swept up during the day!
This afternoon on the way to the shops I passed a few plane trees whose leaves haven't been swept up so, once back, I got my bucket and my leaf-picker-uppers, and got several bucketfuls. In good time for the cold night we are likely to have tonight.
Once this load of leaves has settled hope to have another go, if the timing of the sweepers allow me.
Beautiful sunny morning, enjoyed my kayaking, though my feet got cold despite thermal socks. Saw a kingfisher up ahead on the old River Lea between Tottenham and Waltham Forest. Also a kestrel hovering.
This means I've had a problem getting leaves to put on my tiny front garden flower bed to give extra protection for insects, etc, hibernating there. When I have time to go down the road with my bucket in the evening, the leaves have been swept up during the day!
This afternoon on the way to the shops I passed a few plane trees whose leaves haven't been swept up so, once back, I got my bucket and my leaf-picker-uppers, and got several bucketfuls. In good time for the cold night we are likely to have tonight.
Once this load of leaves has settled hope to have another go, if the timing of the sweepers allow me.
Beautiful sunny morning, enjoyed my kayaking, though my feet got cold despite thermal socks. Saw a kingfisher up ahead on the old River Lea between Tottenham and Waltham Forest. Also a kestrel hovering.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Plastic bag causes a walk home
The gears didn't seem to be fitting "home" properly as I cycled back from kayaking this morning. I used to have this problem with my old bike in any gear other than 5 so not happy but not surprised either.
I always stop my bike with the left pedal down, but need to start off with the left pedal up. When I stopped to use a crossing I tried to kick the pedal up it wouldn't go. I carried on cycling, hoping that when I got home I would be able to solve the problem myself. I am not very handy, so the likelihood would be no. All my plans for my half day off this week were fading as I imagined myself having to take the bike in to be done Not long after that I had no traction when peddling at all. Got off and spotted the plastic bag in the chain cogs.
If I had spotted it earlier it might have been easy to remove but it now looked firmly wedged. So I had to walk the rest of the way pushing the bike, thankful I had at least got half way home.
Luckily, with the help of a pair of pliers, I think I have got all the bag out. The light is a bit dim in my hall so won't know for sure until tomorrow when I will test the bike before loading it up to go to the club ready to help pack boats for a trip to the Lea Valley White Water Centre. Luckily I have a folding bike so can use that in an emergency.
Celandines out on the old River Lea between Tottenham and Walthamstow. Also saw a kingfisher - a flash of electric blue, but for sometime as it flew down the river and round the corner,
I always stop my bike with the left pedal down, but need to start off with the left pedal up. When I stopped to use a crossing I tried to kick the pedal up it wouldn't go. I carried on cycling, hoping that when I got home I would be able to solve the problem myself. I am not very handy, so the likelihood would be no. All my plans for my half day off this week were fading as I imagined myself having to take the bike in to be done Not long after that I had no traction when peddling at all. Got off and spotted the plastic bag in the chain cogs.
If I had spotted it earlier it might have been easy to remove but it now looked firmly wedged. So I had to walk the rest of the way pushing the bike, thankful I had at least got half way home.
Luckily, with the help of a pair of pliers, I think I have got all the bag out. The light is a bit dim in my hall so won't know for sure until tomorrow when I will test the bike before loading it up to go to the club ready to help pack boats for a trip to the Lea Valley White Water Centre. Luckily I have a folding bike so can use that in an emergency.
Celandines out on the old River Lea between Tottenham and Walthamstow. Also saw a kingfisher - a flash of electric blue, but for sometime as it flew down the river and round the corner,
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Kingfishers and robins
Saw a kingfisher today! Flash of blue for about 5 seconds as it flew up the river ahead of us.
As a child I lived in Cornwall on the Tresillian River where there were kingfishers. My father, who often cycled to work along the river, would see them, but I never did. It is not until I am in London when I see them on the Lea (the river bit, not the Navigation) between Tottenham and Waltham Forest (like today) or the tidal bit of the Lea below Leabridge Road. One of the delights of kayaking.
Though the Navigation above Tottenham Lock had thick ice for a while this winter, the river bit was not completely iced over, so the kingfishers should have been able to feed (they are one of the birds expected to be hard hit by the bad weather).
Leytonstone overground station is high up above the road, level with the tops of the neighbouring trees. A friend was climbing the stairs to the station to find a robin at the top of the tree, but level with her, singing away. She took a photo which came out well which she will email me.
As a child I lived in Cornwall on the Tresillian River where there were kingfishers. My father, who often cycled to work along the river, would see them, but I never did. It is not until I am in London when I see them on the Lea (the river bit, not the Navigation) between Tottenham and Waltham Forest (like today) or the tidal bit of the Lea below Leabridge Road. One of the delights of kayaking.
Though the Navigation above Tottenham Lock had thick ice for a while this winter, the river bit was not completely iced over, so the kingfishers should have been able to feed (they are one of the birds expected to be hard hit by the bad weather).
Leytonstone overground station is high up above the road, level with the tops of the neighbouring trees. A friend was climbing the stairs to the station to find a robin at the top of the tree, but level with her, singing away. She took a photo which came out well which she will email me.
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