QUIET DAYS

Jay image from fotoplatforma.pl
It was always going to be difficult to immediately follow up on BELVIDE and SLIMBRIDGE. It’s not every day, or every couple of days, that you can pick up two lifers in as many days.

Much of Wednesday morning was taken up in returning from TEWKESBURY and thereafter in taking my two sisters to HANLEY, part of the STOKE-ON-TRENT conurbation. The only event of note was that Fay and I bought ourselves a new pair of walking shoes [FAY] and boots [me] from the local BLACKS store.

Goldcrest image from cieronymidou.blogspot.comThursday [09 September] did at least see us venture forth to the KATYN MEMORIAL on CANNOCK CHASE in lieu of our early morning canal stroll. Given the surname and memories of my father’s tales of the slaughter of Polish army officers by the Nazis -together with reports that this was a top spot for the local Nightjar- it seemed a good choice to [a] bird and [b]reconnoitre for a planned evening visit.

And while it was only a comparatively brief stroll through cobweb shrouded heather and bilberry patches, we did record a pair of Jays and our first 2010 Goldcrest. Other species included|:

Carrion Crow
European Robin
Common Magpie
Common Pheasant
Common Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Coal Tit
Barn Swallow
House Martin

And eight Fallow Deer does along Kingsleywood Road on the way back to Rugeley.

And, with corrections from previous postings, the current tally stand at:

STAFFORDSHIRE LIST: 48
TRIP LIST: 74