Lockdown...Exercise Regime

As I write the UK is possibly reaching the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic.Many thousands of lives have been lost and the economy of the country is at a virtual standstill.Hopefully in a few weeks time life may start to return to some sort of normality as infections and deaths are dramatically reduced.

Movement is very restricted with only daily exercise or shopping for food being allowed.All physical contact is out with us all having to observe strict two metre distancing to limit the spread of the virus.Fortunately on a personal note I can go out on the bike locally for exercise rides.I had not been on my bike for a few years due to mobility problems but recently the bike has come out of mothballs and I have enjoyed some pleasant rides around the local area.

I was able to take my camera to record Spring happening helped by the prolonged dry and very sunny weather.It was pleasant travelling some of the quiet local lanes and the Preston Guild Wheel,a very popular cycleway around the City of Preston.I have shown a few images from the rides below.The highlight has been the presence of an Osprey which has been using the M6 Motorway bridge over the River Ribble as a lookout for fish in the river below.It made the local news and it is hoped it stays to breed at the nearby Brockholes Nature Reserve.

As well as the osprey it was nice to see good numbers of orange tip butterflies enjoying the warm Spring sunshine.Also present on the river were a number of goosanders,swans and herons.It is a very worrying time for everybody particularly the Health Workers in the front line of this disease.Let's hope and pray for a return to normality as soon as is possible.Meanwhile thanks for looking in and stay safe.

Staying at Home

This is the instruction for everyone to stay at home during the outbreak of Coronavirus.The virus is sweeping the world and taking a heavy toll of human life.Yesterday in the UK almost one thousand people lost their lives to the killer virus.We all have to do our bit to curb the spread of the virus by staying at home and only going out for essential food supplies and medicines.

For the last two weeks or so I have kept busy in the garden.My back garden (Jungle ) has been neglected for a few years as I have not been fit enough following hip surgery to do the work.This staying at home has been a good thing for me as I am now up to physical work and the wonderful warm and sunny weather has helped.I am showing below some images of me and my wonderful assistant " Mitch " grafting in my back garden.Mitch loves me being around through the day and even climbs ladders to help as you will see below.

The good weather continues as I write this on Easter Saturday and most people are obeying the instructions to stay at home to control the spread of this dreadful coronavirus.I am unable to get out and capture the arrival of Spring with the camera and will have to be very patient before things hopefully return to some kind of normality.Thanks for looking in and above all stay at home,stay safe, and think about all the nurses,doctors and carers working on the front line and fighting the virus.

Fish and Frogs

No not fish and chips but fish and frogs!! Recently I have visited again local nature reserves where previously I had encounters with great crested grebes and a great white egret.They were still both around and were quite active.The great white egret was enjoying a feast of frogs and as it was spawning time the egret was finding easy pickings in and amongst the lake vegetation.The grebes as ever in between sessions of sunbathing and preening were having success catching fish.Previously they had provided me with great images with pike they had caught.This time one of the grebes had a nice perch which was quickly dispatched before it's mate grabbed it.

I managed a few images of the action which are shown below.Currently the coronavirus is spreading at an alarming rate through the country and very soon I suspect that we could be in a lockdown situation similar to Italy and Spain and all movement may be suspended.I sincerely hope this isn't the case and I am able to get out and about to bring you more of Lancashire's wonderful wildlife.Thanks for looking in and stay safe and healthy.

Grebes...Courting and Fishing

This week I returned to watch the great crested grebes at a local nature reserve.The weather had at last settled down and it was more like Spring.The storms had gone away and conditions were calm as I arrived with camera at the ready.Ten minutes down the track and I was watching the pair of grebes performing their head shaking display.Later I found the pair fishing in a secluded little bay.

The next half hour or so proved very exciting as both grebes were successful in catching pike.It was great action for the camera and you can see the results below.A couple of other photographers arrived but just too late to see the action.A case of you should have been here five minutes ago !! I then moved on to another part of the reserve to see what was about.Again it was good with goosanders goldeneye and cormorants.Images of these may be posted later.I then returned to the main lake to find the grebes were still fishing where I had left them.

Once more they performed for me and again you can see the results in images 10-15 below.All in all it had been an excellent session with these lovely birds and I hope to return soon when the grebes may possibly be nesting and I look forward to seeing the grebe chicks eventually.Thanks for looking in and I will be back soon.Next week it may be a visit to the coast as high tides are due.!!