Jane at Levant: Ellesmere Last Saturday

Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Ellesmere Last Saturday

Saturday was a lovely sunny day the sort of day just begging for a drive out and a long walk - enjoying time out from the usual rush of things - in other words a wind down - so we decided to go out to Ellesmere and take a walk around the mere.

The Mereside area was really busy - lots of activities - that day in the information centre - scopes were in place to view the herons out on the island returning to their nests - just one pair on Saturday - but more are expected - a CCTV screen is in place in readiness to view the nest activities.
Also as we walked alongside the water - we were able to watch a mallard being ringed - this was a first for me - I have always wondered how this was done without harm coming to the bird - the guy was talking to some people and was casually throwing duck food into the mere - and then suddenly out his arm swung and a net plunged into the water and out came a duck .
The guy ( I was so shocked I never asked his name )!! calmly held the duck who remained calm and did not struggle - but he did pooh down the chaps trousers - well would you blame him ! anyway apparently different sized rings are made for each species - the ring was carefully put in place and then checked to see that it moved easily round the leg and was not to tight or to loose to catch up in anything - the ring no was recorded( see book in the corner of the pic) and the duck was then released back onto the mere - there was much quacking from all parties and off he swam.

I really don't want to be here!

My My - thank goodness I put on my best undies

Lets' get out of here!

7 comments:

Molly22 February 2011 at 13:57
Haven't been to Ellesmere for ages. Glad you had a nice day out. Fascinating watching the mallard being ringed. Brilliant pics. x
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Jayne22 February 2011 at 15:20
Last year watching the ducks by the Mere a young couple arrived with a large loaf, a big Goose (dont know what kind he is you will probably have seen him)took one look and this loaf and gave chase, it was very funny to watch,he chased them to the far end of the Mere.
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Posie23 February 2011 at 01:55
Love the comments to go with the photos Jayne, they made me smile. Fabulous to get so close to the duck and then see it swim away quite unperturbed.
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jane23 February 2011 at 04:04
Thanks for visiting my blog Molly - it was so unexpected to see the Mallard being ringed and the guy was so interesting and answered everyones questions.x

Jayne lovely to hear from you - there was a large goose there that we were told was very bossy and that he thought he was in charge - his name is George he is apparently a cross bred a sort of domestic x grey lag x

Hello Posie - I loved your blog about the goose count and your pics yes I could not believe how trusting the duck was - the guy said he had had years of training on bird ringing and that there was a lot to learn about it - x
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Miss Sadie26 February 2011 at 04:19
Years ago, Bear's mum used to band (or ring) birds for the Canadian Wildlife Service. Researchers learn all kinds of things about ages of birds and travel patterns through banding.

Thanks for dropping by our blog and leaving a note.
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Miss Sadie26 February 2011 at 04:25
My goodness, Jane, you have a wonderful collection of picture here! Variety of subjects with delightful composition.
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jane28 February 2011 at 13:44
Lovely to hear from you Miss Sadie - thanks for calling by - bird migration and their varied lives are a fascination to me, interesting to hear that you call ringing (banding ) your side of the pond.
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FAIRY -LED

The fairy people flouted me,
Mocked me ,shouted me
They chased me down the dreamy hill and beat me with a wand
Within the wood they found me ,put spells on me and bound me
And left me at the edge of day in John the miller's pond
Beneath the eerie starlight;
Their hair shone curd -white
Their bodies were all twisted like a lichened apple tree
Feather -light and swift they moved,
And never one they loved,
For all were full of dreams and dark designs on me.

With noise of leafy singing
And white wands swinging
They marched away amid the grass that swayed to let them through.
Between the the yellow tansies
Their eyes,like purple pansies,
Peered back on me before they passed all trackless in the dew.

Mary Webb - from the Spring of Joy

Three softly curved white sepals veined with light,

Three green-lined petals,guarding frugal gold,

And all so strong to fold or to unfold!

Snow thunders from the bending pines.How slight

This frail,sheathed stem! Yet all unbent it springs,

So swift in stoopings and recoverings.

In the pale sunshine,with frail wings unfurled,

Comes to the bending snowdrop the first bee.

She gives her winter honey prudently;

And faint with travel in a bitter world,

The bee makes music, tentative and low,

And spring awakes and laughs across the snow.

Mary Webb

Found on the Web Part One

Short Jokes of the day

Dress Code.

It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Personal Days

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Found on the web !! Part 2

Toilet Use
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the "Chronic Offenders category". Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.
Lunch Break
Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.
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