Sail away, sail away,....03/07/2014

Sail away to.........nowhere exotic but an interesting Island.....the Isle of Wight!

My first visit and a place I would certainly return to in the future. A smooth ferry crossing from Portsmouth of just 40 odd minutes and we were on the Island and on the road to Shanklyn which was to be our base for the long weekend. A short detour was made first to Ventnor for a lunch of freshly caught fish with hand cut chips, delicious! Especially so being eaten outdoors in glorious sunshine.


3rd July

Ventnor Harbour

                         
 
Cascade gardens: On the esplanade the garden is crossed with a waterfall, laid out in 1903.

Common Lizard. Sunbathing on a wall next to the Cascade gardens.

 

Culver Down. Subtle sunset colours.

 

Shanklyn Old Village. There are numerous delightful thatched dwellings in the village.

4th July.

Newtown Estuary and Harbour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtown_River

I imagine someone would know where to find what they were looking for amongst the colourful collection of bits and bobs.

 

 

 

Fort Victoria Pier.
The pier was erected in 1856 to service Fort Victoria near Yarmouth. The fort is now part of the Fort Victoria Country Park.

Sadly, although Fort Victoria pier still exists it has been badly neglected, and is now fenced off to prevent the public from approaching. Without urgent restoration work, the pier is in danger of being lost forever.

Newtown Nature Reserve.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newtown-national-nature-reserve/

White Admiral.

 

 Sightings board.
A pity I did not spot any Corky-fruited water dropwort to photograph.....what a wonderful name for a wildflower. It is a member of the carrot family and poisonous to grazing stock so maybe there is not too much of it present, especially as there is a flock of Hebridean sheep grazing in a field not too far away from the reserve.

5th July

Isle of Wight Steam Railway 1940s weekend.


Jitterbug dance displays, songs from the 40's, civilian and military vehicles, a working farmyard threshing machine, Spitfire fighter plane, Punch and Judy, fairground rides, steam train rides......a fun filled day!

 

 

      6th July                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

Brading Station

 

Brading Station (very quaint with helpful volunteers) is the main gateway to the RSPB Brading Marsh Reserve.

 

http://www.bradingtown.co.uk/town-council/town-council-assets/brading-station/

 

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bradingmarshes/accessibility.aspx 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflies were the highlight at the reserve. A lot of habitat work needs to be done for better views over the reserve. Funding I was told was the problem, such a pity as it could be a well used and productive reserve given a little attention. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable walk.

 

 

 

Bittersweet

 

 

 

Horsetail

 

 

 

 

Comma

 

 

Large skipper

 

 

 

Small Tortoiseshell

 

 

Small White

 

Speckled Wood

 

 

Alverston Mead.

 

Alverston Mead was the next port of call.

 

http://www.wightnaturefund.org.uk/Alverstone%20Mead 

 

 

http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/my-isle-of-wight/features/alverstone-mead/

 

 

The woodland walk was good with a boardwalk along a decent stretch of the walk. We waited patiently by the hide along with a 'local' couple for Red Squirrels to hopefully put in an appearance at the feeding station as they regularly do to feast on the monkey nuts that are left for them. We waited in vain but on the return walk were rewarded with super views of 3 Red Squirrels as they seemingly played as they raced along the branches of the trees. A lovely end to an enjoyable day.

 

 

 

Banded Demoiselle

 River Yar, Alverston Mead.

 

7th July

 

 

Alum Bay

 

An interesting link added for any Geologists amongst us.

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/Alum-Bay.htm

 

 

Alum bay is well known for its multi-coloured sand cliffs and the area in general. Leading up to the

Needles Old Battery there are spectacular views across the Solent. The Chairlift to the beach and views of the multi-coloured sand cliffs did not appeal so we took a ride on an open topped bus and enjoyed the views as the bus wound its way along the cliff top to the National trust Property, The Needles Battery.The views of the Needles, Lighthouse and beyond were really good.

 

 

 

Multi-coloured sand cliffs

 

 

 

 

 The Needles and Needles Lighthouse
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/needles-old-battery-and-new-battery/history/view-page/item1033960/


http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/needles.html

 

 

 

 A long way downnnnnnnn!

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Summer Chafer

 

 

 Birds were at a premium though I did not expect an abundance of birds at this time of year. The highlights were the sightings of Little Owl, Common and Little Tern, Little Egret, Cormorant, Curlew, Buzzard, Oystercatcher and female Gadwall  at Newtown Nature Reserve with Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff  heard only. Whitethroat, Blue and Great Tit, Grey Heron, and

Skylark at Brading Marsh. Gannet, B H Gull, Robin, Kestrel, Starlings, Rook and Jackdaw at Alum Bay. Pied Wagtail and Common Tern at Fort Victoria Country Park.

Oystercatchers at Newtown Estuary and of course the numerous Hirundines and Swifts seen whilst out and about on the island.

 

Butterflies were seen in the majority of places visited and a Stoat was seen dashing across a road as we headed for Alum Bay.

 

 

That is all from my enjoyable trip to the Isle of Wight, I hope you have enjoyed reading about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A weekend in Northumberland....19th-21st June 2014.

My posts are almost as rare as the delightful Snowdon Lily! So time to catch up again!


Visiting the Farne Islands was the main reason for the trip to Northumberland. I had booked Serenity Farne Islands Boat Tours (highly recommended) and a B&B in Seahouses a few weeks previous to travelling so all that was needed was good weather! The weather was fortunately good for the whole of the weekend! The tour around the Islands was amazing with all the sights, sounds and smell of the nesting seabirds! The history of the Islands was interesting to hear about as we toured the Islands. Once on Inner Farne the Terns did what we were told they would do and that was to dive bomb you as you walked by them, strange that they are not unduly perturbed at such close encounters with humans. A stroke of luck was hearing that a Bridled Tern had been found on the Island that very day (thought to be the same bird that had arrived there July 1st 2013), good scope views were had of the Bridled Tern for a couple of minutes before all the Terns lifted in to the air, then it was time to board the boat for the return journey. How lucky to have been one of the first visitors to see the returning Bridled Tern.

The nesting seabirds were a treat to see with close up views of many of the species. It was a great weekend and hopefully a return visit sometime in the future will be on the cards.

I will let the images do the talking now.

Longstone Lighthouse

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Me trying to avoid being pecked on my way back from the loo!

Common Spotted Orchid. Hauxley Nature Reserve.

Northern Marsh Orchid. Hauxley Nature Reserve.

Bamburgh Castle in the mist.

Poppies at Seahouses.

Little and Large. Seahouses.

Eiders. Beadnell.

River Coquet Estuary.

Northumberland...... a magical county!

Catch up time again!

A few holiday snaps taken on my holiday in the Algarve. 19th-29th May.

The highlight of the holiday was seeing a Little Bittern with a chick at Quinta do Lago and a Collared Pratincole pair at Lagoa dos Salgados! Swifts, Swallows and Martins were a delight to see in great numbers at most areas visited.

Nesting Cattle and Little Egrets.