Out on the Bike and Sad News

Well, It had to be done, I have not been out cycling for a while now..just how fit was I?

Decided to do an easy ride to see where I was in the fitness levels, so Pevensey Marshes is a great place to head, Its flat terrain and lovely countryside always makes it a favourite place to ride, however the lack of any sort of decent inclines means long term real fitness tests are a little restricted I feel.

I got everything ready Bike in the car for the trip down and just getting changed and it started raining..proper rain!!

what to do?

Simple (sort of!) I decided to just go in the hope nearer the coast and the South Downs it would be okay! (it was).

I started from Lower Horsebridge (nr Hailsham) and rode past a place with the name of "Windmill  Hill" and guess its called that because it still has a windmill! 

 ..Ok its a pretty pointless stating the "Obvious", but at the time it amused me!

well Cracking on I came to the turning I needed away from the A271 which had a little too many lorrys for my liking, the road I was turning into was Watling rd...however it was closed..ahhh!!!

However according to my Garmin 1000 a little lane less than a half mile up the road would get me in the right direction so on I went to Wood Lane and this was probably a better route than the original one.

For the record here is my "Strava Route" to get all my ramblings into perspective...

Pevensey Route

I arrived at the coast (Normans Bay) in good time, but all the while the clouds were saying "Wet and Stormy" even a few spots of rain kept dropping randomly but it was so humid, 22 degrees, and sticky but nice to ride a bike sort of weather! 

 Normans Bay Railway crossing...a stone's throw from the Beach.

Heres a couple of pictures on the Beach the first ones looking towards Bexhill second one is looking towards Beachy Head, Eastbourne. 

Always enjoy the ride into Pevensey and normally a cup of coffee, but not this time, still a way to go, and I seriously did not trust the building storm clouds, and I could see a couple of heavy showers of rain along the South Downs as a warning not to hang around!

This ride had atmosphere, I was enjoying it immensely, It is at moments like this I ask myself just why have I not done much riding for a while?..weird!! 

Anyway, the single lane back roads that lead me back to Lower HorseBridge were a delight as always I just love the Beauty of the fields and Drains that you pass......Look at those clouds!

 Anyway made it back to the car unsoaked, as I was packing the bike away the rain started, wow, perfect for once timing!

Just about to get in the car and the Mobile Phone rang, It was my Wife Ginia, with some incredibly sad news a friend of mine, Toby, who in the last few years has not been in the best of health, had died a couple of days ago, I went from feeling content and happy with life, to an utter deflation and a wave of utter sadness swept over me!

I'm going to miss Toby, we did not always see eye to eye, our political views were as far apart as could be, but he was one of the good guys, one of my friends, I had some great times with over the years, for instance, Toby, Steve and I cycled the Length of the South Downs Way over Three days, the distance is 103 miles, its a tough ride, but with good mates memories were made on that trip that will never be forgotten, Evenings out with Toby were always special, he was funny, he was a great character and I will miss him greatly.

It's at moments like this you realise what a loss and a great guy he was..RIP mate.

A couple of Photos of Toby, Steve, and Alan in happier times, when the fours of us rode the Downs Link, the route is from Shoreham to Guildford, we rode "there and back" over two days 37 miles each way. Top picture...Toby is on the far Left, Steve in the middle, and Alan on the right.

...We are going to so miss you, Toby.

   

I have not been fishing for the last few months, might sound strange, but its rather nice, when I start again shortly I shall be re-charged and keen again, I enjoy all the seasons, but winter can really test you from a fishing perspective, it can at times be an endurance test, it has its rewards and its great to be outdoors experiencing the different weather conditions that get thrown in the mix, but perhaps as I'm getting older I am just beginning to feel it a bit more! Anyway, the River Season starts Soon..can't wait!!

Went out on a very blustery and showery day last week down the Nature reserve at Weir Wood, again hoping for some reasonable pictures of Swifts & Swallows, oh, and Terns that I have found so frustrating, as they have been swooping and flying around, always far away, certainly too far to get any sort of decent Photos!, I spent far to long chasing them to no avail a couple of days ago!
Anyway, this time it was to be different..I finally got some interesting photos (well I think so!)

This was taken during a heavy downpour, but hey finally, a usable picture!, A Tern feeding a Youngster                                                                                                                                                    

...More was to follow a good hatch started that drew in the Swallows and swifts from nowhere Amazing watching these speedy guys, swooping and diving, I find it fascinating to see how they can spot their food travelling at such speed, but they do.. and so successfully!


Well in between showers it brightened up, and the Young Tern showed up on the same platform, and I managed to get some better pictures of them feeding ..     If you look carefully at the middle picture you can see the youngsters meal is a small fish, proberbly a roach. I could also get some better photos of the distant Cormorants, many dislike these birds because I think because of their looks, to me their attitude and behaviour is quite interesting, they survive and flourish in spite of our best efforts to stop them! Just look at those wings, perfect design for "flying underwater!  

I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours watching from the hide but had been told of a little field close by that Yellowhammers frequented, and its a bird I have crossed paths with only once with the camera, and the pictures were far from acceptable!
Anyway, I crept up to the entrance of the field and could see nothing of real interest, but on further looking at the wheat that was growing I could see just the top of a pair of Horns!
I instinctively slowly went as low as I could so as not to startle them, I looked at trying to get in a better position but it was just not possible.
I waited about Thirty Minutes  before anything happened, although I was a reasonable distance and as quiet as I could be they became aware of my presence, what I had not realised was there was Three of them Two Adults and a Foal, I'm pretty sure they were, in fact, laying down, taking in the brief warm sunshine we had that day..my first "Proper" view of them was this.. 
    How cute is that!!
Here is the Foal with them who got up after Mum and Dad...
   Well what a fantastic day, however, those deer were the Icing on the cake, a great bit of luck being in the right place just at the right time!
I always try not to panic or frighten wildlife, I like to Observe and Photograph them totally on their terms, Never, Never chase after them they deserve respect, if you miss your photo well that's how it is, except with grace, and be pleased you had the privilege to see them!
They the wildlife owes us nothing!

A Great Day Out on the Sx Ouse and South Downs!

I thought out a great walk taking in part of the River (Tidal Sussex Ouse) and a walk over stunning farmland (South Downs) that I expected to spot perhaps some Birds of prey (more of this latter) It all started  so well nice weather and scenery, I  must have done roughly  two miles and I hit a dilemma, a crossroads in badly signed footpaths, I had a map, but obviously did not need it, ..use your head and instinct I said out loud, after all the right-hand path was still running almost parallel with the river in my mind...I'll let you guess the outcome of this decision!

Boy had I got it wrong, I was so far out it was untrue, it took me a long while of walking to find my bearings, however, this mistake turned into a blessing earlier on I watched for a while a pair of Buzzards riding the thermals, unfortunately, they were never in Camera range.

I was walking through a very tree-lined area that also had a few houses around, I came around a corner and came across this view...     I was, to be taken by surprise, I had fractions of a second to adjust the camera settings and I got a few photos, 

The Problem was we were both taken by surprise, he took flight instantly, however, I did manage a few images, but this could all have been so much better, but it is what it is...next time! 

after this great little event, I had regained my bearings, and was roughly Two and a half miles out of where I intended to be!

I began the Trek back towards the Sussex Ouse, I spotted a Jay in a perfect situation, although very bright sunshine I snapped a couple of Photo's only to have totally overexposed the finished product!... Aaahhhh!! now I was getting annoyed, however, things were to change for the better! 

I decided after about a mile to stop for lunch, I always like to pick a spot with a few bushes around in the hope some Birdlife shows up and in between a sandwich these birds popped into view..  Caught obviously in flight a Skylark, a first for me..very quick flyer!

and five minutes later a Common WhiteThroat gave me a great view of himself. 

I carried on my trek to attempt to get back on my original intended path but realised all might take a fair bit longer when I saw this view.. The Chalky bit in the distant centre is Severn Sisters, a view I had not intended to see!

Anyway I finally made the river and I hoped to spot perhaps some wading birds and some Mullet or Bass feeding, and possibly a Heron doing what herons do!

This part of the river is very tidal, and to be honest very exposed to the elements, in my opinion, there are more scenic parts, but places like this attract various birds and wildlife so I still find it very interesting.

I ended up in a spot I had not planned to be due to that wrong turning on the footpath but again another surprise was to confront me ! .....A Little Egret ! He was a way off to get any decent photos at this point but on the opposite Bank he gave me a good opportunity to get in a far better position to get some decent pictures, this I managed, however the moment I was in a great position, he decided very quickly to get airborne and go and land exactly opposite where I had first spotted the Egret!

I made my way back with as much haste keeping my profile low and hoping he would not up sticks again before I could get a good photo, however all went well. 

After this, It was time to make my way back to the car, still a bit of a walk, but due to getting it wrong I managed to get a few very pleasing Photos!

It was early evening, Id took the Dog for a walk and a plan was hatching, perfect light conditions, I decided a few hours with the Camera down to the Resivour in the hope of a Barn Owl ..this was the sort of evening I could get lucky again!

I felt worn out but you don't Catch good fish, and you certainly won't get photos of birds if you're not at the venue in the first place!

Anyway got myself in a nice secluded position and bingo after roughly one hour and a half I spotted in the distance the unmistakable shape and colour of a Barn Owl coming my way, my first thought "please don't spot me!

Anyway as he got closer I had got a little shaky ..seriously this is exciting stuff if you are behind the camera!

on several Occassions I lost sight of the Owl he had "gone down", obviously on a hopeful kill, this was only building the excitement!

Anyway, all went well, and I got these..... 

        ....There is something about seeing an Owl that is so exciting, Its a truly special moment, I never tire of being in their presence!

Well, What a Day!!!...If only life could be so self-fulfilling on a Daily Basis, however, let get this all in perspective, up at Three O'clock am for a five O'clock am start in a few hours!

  

                               

Well I've not done any fishing for a while or Cycling, to be honest, I've been getting stuck into the Photography since the purchase of the Nikon D500 and the 200-500mm Telephoto Lens, seriously it been a game changer in the quest for decent Photos of wildlife, and I can honestly say that
the combination is a Joy to use! (and utterly addictive!)
Anyway on the Cycling and fishing front watch this space..I need to get my finger out!!
Been out wandering around Weir Wood Reservoir quite a lot recently, its a very beautiful place, and you never know what Birds or Mammals will show up, I recently went for an early morning walk on the back of the South Bank, never really paid attention to that area much...big mistake, I shall be getting up there a lot more..!
Anyway a couple of photos   

.....It was early morning and not a breath of breeze, a lovely atmosphere could be felt.

Mornings like this puts life in perspective, we all feel hard done buy at times, but while standing taking these photos, I realised how privileged and lucky I was to be standing where I was at that moment!

   
I carried on walking for a while and came across a ploughed field there were the Usual Crows strutting around but a lot closer to me was a Pied Wagtail (female) having a good root around. Quickly got a good Image of this young lady and all of sudden from nowhere came a dozen or so Swallows, swopping in every direction, and this one landed very close to where the wagtail had been, so not to miss the chance I snapped away..  

They also landed on the Telephone lines above me, the sleek lines of these speed machines are clear to see!!

As fast as they came they were gone again, so I was pleased to capture these two shots, I love seeing them, as far as I'm concerned when they arrive after their long Journey from Africa, it must mean summer has Arrived!

After walking a little further and not seeing but hearing an incredible amount of songbirds I was on a bit of a timetable to be home. I saw in the distant corner of a field that had a view of the expanse of the Reservoir a few Canada Geese, I was slightly surprised the moment I came across them they took to flight, after all the distance between us was a lot, this however gave me a chance to get these shots, the second one shows them heading down to the Water.

I carried on making my way back to the car, when I got to the destination, even though I was on time I decided to quickly go to the Dam, and I'm very glad I did as I was witness to a hatch of mayflies, I've fished the Reservoir countless times and never seen this spectacle before so was glad I made the decision to grab a little more time in this special place!

  Its not a great life being a Mayfly, Its a bit all or nothing, your whole purpose is to hatch, breed and Die, your lifespan is at best (very best!) Twenty Four hours,..most don't even make that, for most I would say a couple of hours is their lot! 

...Wish every morning was as satisfying as this!!   

Ah...I remember days like these, running and playing around with my mates without a care in the world!

Talk about Luck, was in my car the other evening, on the way to attempt getting some pics of an elusive Owl that I've seen Once, and driving slowly in a small lane out of the corner of my eye spotted these guys playing at the edge of a field, a quick stop to seize the moment, and this is some of the results!
I watched/Photographed them for roughly Ten mins, very enjoyable, brought a smile to my face, the natural world at its best!!