This is just for you Cindy. This is the Little Owl. Not my photo, was taken by my good friend Mark Stannard who had allowed me to share for you.
Little Owl
Category: bird of prey
Day 2
Wow wow wow! Its like a red kite AGM here in Berkshire and I love it! Sadly I made the decision to leave camera at home because of the weather so I make no apology for the shite photos! Taken on my mobile through a car windscreen and snow!
We went to Greys Court which is a small National Trust property with extensive grounds (to walk when the weather is better!!) its a tudor property with a lot of charm and has been used as a filming location…
The house appeared in a series 3 (2012) episode of Downton Abbey when Crawley family visit the property, known to them as Eryholme. The house was used by the Dowager Countess’ late husband as a hunting lodge. Robert, the Earl of Grantham, was considering moving there with his family as he was about to lose Downton to debt and taxes.
It also appeared in the ITV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 2013. In the adaptation of Elephants Can Remember it is used as the home of one of the people Ariadne Oliver visits while investigating the case. The episode was screened on 9 June 2013.
Greys Court also appeared for external shots as “Midsomer Priory” in the Midsomer Murders Series 14 episode entitled “A Sacred Trust – Taken from Wikipedia
We also took a drive upto Danesfield House which has a very chequered and varied history that would take me forever to write up. It is now a Hotel and Spa, however it played a huge part in WW2
In April 1941, an RAF photographic interpretation unit (PIU) moved to Danesfield House, Medmenham, as its previous location at Wembley was short of space,and was renamed the Central Interpretation Unit (CIU). Later that year the Bomber Command Damage Assessment Section was absorbed, and amalgamation was completed when the Night Photographic Interpretation Section of No 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, RAF Oakington, was integrated with CIU in February 1942 and the base was assigned the motto Serve and Support.
During 1942 and 1943, the CIU gradually expanded and was involved in the planning stages of practically every operation of the war, and in every aspect of intelligence. In 1945, daily intake of material averaged 25,000 negatives and 60,000 prints. By VE-day, the print library, which documented and stored worldwide cover, held 5,000,000 prints from which 40,000 reports had been produced.
American personnel had for some time formed an increasing part of the CIU and on 1 May 1944 this was finally recognised by changing the title of the unit to the Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU). There were then over 1,700 personnel on the unit’s strength. The title of the unit reverted to Central Interpretation Unit when the Americans returned home in August 1945. – taken from Wikipedia
We also took a drive through Marlow and Henley-on-Thames.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you yesterday that when we spoke to reception about the lack of cleanliness in the room, she said all the rooms were like it as they were short staffed!!!
Rspb Strumpshaw Fen
We arranged to meet up with two of our good friends, Mark and Rachel (not a couple!) today, but owing to a mix up of erm sites, we were in Norfolk and they were in Suffolk 😂😂
Lou and I had a lovely walk through half of the meadow, then a bit of sandy wall and into Fen Hide. Caught sight of a rather large grass snake (probably a good thing Mark wasn’t there!) as it lobbed itself into the undergrowth.
We were the only people in fen hide and we sat watching a gorgeous juvenile marsh harrier sitting in a nearby tree, and doing short flights calling to Mum! There was also a reed warbler darting about (when the marsh harrier wasnt up!).
After leaving fen hide, we headed back along sandy wall towards the River Yare and common lizards were basking themselves along the wood joists, it was lovely to see.
We sat and had a drink and ate our raspberries (we are off to Meales of Stalham to pick more tomorrow!) watching butterflies and dragonflies flying around, was so peaceful.
We then walked along the river towards the Pump House (on being restored), watching holiday makers sailing past, and watching more insects. We were treated to a few Roesel’s Crickets, Meadow Grasshoppers, various spiders, various butterflies, bees and a few random moths. Lovely!
When we reached the pump house we were treated to the Highland Cattle in the field opposite, truly beautiful cattle. Again, more butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, hoverflies, bees, beetles and birds.
We sat on the new-ish owl watching seat for a while, and there was a poo underneath , Lou said she thought it was water vole, I think hedgehog. Didn’t take a picture for prosperity 😂 however, there was an owl pellet underneath too, so I guess the owls are using the owl watch point too 😂🦉
When we went into the woods, it was a smorgasbord of baby birds!! Spotted Flycatcher, treecreepers, nuthatch, marsh tit… To name but a few!
As you can see it was a good day for sightings really.
Birds – Marsh Harrier, wren, blackbird, robin, reed warbler, reed bunting, treecreepers, nuthatch, spotted flycatcher, grey heron, marsh tit, buzzard, plus some am probably forgetting!
Butterflies – silver washed fritillary, red admiral, gatekeepers, small white, large white, brimstone, meadow brown, ringlet, comma, painted lady, peacock, speckled wood… Think that’s them all!
Dragonflies and Damselflies – emperor, norfolk hawker, brown hawker, migrant hawker, blue tailed damsel, comman blue damsel, azure damsel, common darter, ruddy darter
Bees / wasps / beetles / flies – yellow loosestrife bee, common carder, all the bumbles, mason wasp, common wasp, hornet hoverfly, marmalade Hoverfly, the footballer Hoverfly, devil’s coach-horse beetle, scorpion fly plus so many more…
A very enjoyable day!
Weekend Antics
We’ve had a relatively quiet weekend, yesterday neither of us were feeling fantastic so decided to go to the pet shop to top up on cat litter, and get a few bits for the sprog, who is temporarily looking after a little kitty !
We also went to a new site which is a mile away from us, on the way home. What a nice place, saw buzzards, hares and a sparrowhawk with lunch, still alive!!
Today we went across the road and had a walk at Felthorpe and Horsford Woods. We didn’t walk as far as we usually do because I didnt feel great, and was in quite a lot of pain.
Enjoy the pics and videos.
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Wild Sue's Wilderness 