Strike Day

Autumn Leaves and Blue Skies - Strike Day — Strike Day

Our local teachers are on strike today. Rather than bemoan their lack of thought for the kids or parents I actually support them. I make no apologies for being a socialist. Michael Gove is trying to make changes that will not benefit the children, but harm teachers. And even prevent people from entering the much maligned professions.

But this isn’t a political blog, so what this meant to me is an extra day of Daddy/Daughter time, and what that really means is a nice walk round the lake.

Although there is a real autumnal feel about the place, plants changing to their winter colours, fruit heavy on the trees etc. fortunately the sun has been shining today so our walk was a pleasant warm affair (in fact my daughter was ready to strip to her T-shirt at one point). As with many of my walks with my daughter there isn’t much birding done (lots of playing, and me attempting to point birds out, but then more playing) and certainly no bird photography. For anyone not parent to a 4 year old girl they don’t like to sit still and quiet for long (if at all).

Rowan Berries in the sunshine

Maple Leaf (Actually I’m not really sure what type of leaf it is, my mind has gone blank!)

Our main goal was a quick stop to feed the birds before a general stroll and play round the lake, I was lucky to have a number of Skylarks fly over during the walk but other than that bird wise it was the usual Mallards, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Coots and Black Headed Gulls.

Black Headed Gull in flight

There are advantages to feeding the birds, I was able to get this cracking gull in flight shot as they came screaming in (oh and I kept an eye on my daughter as well she was well back from the edge when I had my camera out!)

A Few Bugs

There were the odd few bugs out and about, including a host of hairy caterpillars in the first clump of nettles we happened upon, a few Common Darter and Migrant Hawker, lots of Caddis flies and other fly type creatures (No time to ID any) and even a Comma still fluttering in the brilliant sunshine.

Unknown spider (any ID help much appreciated Arachnids are not something I know at all).

Caterpillar (I’ll add an id later)

Common Darter on leaf litter

Male Mallard (while feeding ducks)

Common Coot (taken with flash as in a really dark pool).

It must be said today was a day for eye-spy and lots of playing; rather than hours spent trying to capture that killer shot; or identify the weird brown job skulking in the bushes.