The lawnpecker is back

The lawnpecker is back - at least that’s what we call him.

It’s a sign that autumn is arriving when we see the Green Woodpecker on the lawn.  One of their favourite foods is ants, and our lawn has plenty of them.

The male is always more adventurous and he appears in the autumn, and can be seen frequently through the autumn and winter until the warm weather arrives next year.

The female is much more timid and we only see her when the weather is very bad and her desire for food overcomes her fear.  We know winter has really arrived when we see them both on the lawn.

They aim for the areas where there are ants nests under the lawn and poke their beaks repeatedly down to get the ants.  They can be in just one spot for over 10 minutes, occasionally looking up to check for danger - so they must be really stuffing themselves with ants.

Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 14:21
Comments (1) Category(s): Nailsea

Ashby Canal

We’re slowly heading back towards our home mooring in Birmingham after having some warranty work on our new boat at Fenny Compton, where it was built.

Heading north up the Oxford Canal, past Napton and Braunston junctions, then onto the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction.

I’ve never been on the Ashby Canal before so I finally succumbed to the urge to turn right at Marston Junction and headed up the Ashby Canal.

There are probably some splendid views but in the grey murky weather I’ve had on both the outward and return journeys I’ll just have to assume they are there.

Here’s the photos of the boat at the head of navigation.

There are plans to restore the remaining length, but that will have to wait for another visit.

Posted on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 20:37
Comments (0) Category(s): Ashby