Bell's Mill

Had an early morning walk along the canal to the new Bell's Mill Fishery, which is viewable along the canal towpath.

It being Bank Holiday Monday the weather was predictable - heavy rain, in fact torrential! Nevertheless, I dressed for it with waterproofs - Barbour jacket and hat and waterproof over trousers. The one bonus going out early and in such weather conditions is that nobody is about - dog walkers, cyclists etc.

Having visited Bell's Mill Fishery in the winter, when they were still constructing it, I  thought then that it would be a good idea to visit when the wader passage was on.  But alas, the pools were surrounded by fishermen. So the only avian presence was three mallards, which were in eclipse plumage - oddly enough mirror imaging the camouflaged fishermen. I keep saying fishermen, there probably was some fisher women there too.

I did, though, have great views of a kingfisher along the canal, surely the greatest of fishers and a lot more ethereal.

There are still some autumn flowers in bloom like purple loosestrife and reedmace.

Purple Loosestrife

Reedmace

Reedmace

Kinver Rock Houses (NT)

This blog wouldn't be a complete Kinver and Enville diary without a visit to Kinver Rock Houses (NT).

These rock houses were carved out of sandstone by the inhabitants who lived there until the 1960s. They are now owned by the National Trust, who have done a great job in restoring them to their former state.

In one of the caves (not accessible to the public) is a colony of lesser horseshoe bats. But it is the sandstone that is of interest to the naturalist.

Sandstone Layers

Sandstone Rock face

On the cultural side, it is said Tolkien visited here when in his youth (he lived in Birmingham and it was a popular day out to Kinver from there in those days) and it could have given him the idea of the hobbits. With the above photos you can see why.

'High' Summer Wild Flowers

It has done nothing but rain for the past few days, and while I am writing this post it is pouring down outside!

Nevertheless, a walk almost anywhere in the British country side this time of the year will be rewarding with a show of wild flowers at their best - despite the weather.

The delicate common centaury, below, is always a delight to come across as well as the eye-catching common mallow.

Common Centaury

Common Mallow

Common Mallow

Broome Seed Pods

Broome

Usually broome's endearing feature is its yellow flowers, but this time of the year the seed pods can make can be just good.

Hazel Nut

Hazel Nut
These hazel nuts, above, are starting to take shape, it wont be long now before the autumn when they will be ripe for eating.

Friar's Oak, Enville.

Visited Enville Estate this afternoon in search of the fabled Friar's Oak. This oak tree is purported to be 900 years old! By the looks of it, they aren't far off.

Friar's Oak, Enville

Centre Of Tree

Bark of Friar's Oak

Still producing foliage

Still looking healthy after 900 years!

Some flowers on Sunday afternoon walk through Enville Estate.

Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle

Himalayan Balsam

Himalayan Balsam

Enville

A short walk at Enville Hall on Sunday afternoon with photos.

Cricket

Lime Tree Leaves

Lime Tree Leaf showing aphid honeydew

Lime Tree Avenue

More Quails

I was up at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning having heard the day before of three Quails singing at Sugar Loaf Farm, Sugar Loaf Lane, Iverley.

I arrived at 06.00. As soon as I got out of the car I could hear one of the birds singing in a grass field adjacent to a horse paddock.

Again, like the birds at Handkerchief Barn (probably the same birds relocating), it was impossible to see the bird. It was, though, such a glorious summer morning and a pleasure to be there listening to its 'wet-my-lips' song along with a Skylark in full song overhead.

After a while, I decided to take a public footpath off Sugar Loaf Lane which heads towards the A451 and comes out at the Crown pub, Iverley. Just a short way along, I came across some poppies on the edge of a field. They were so eye-catching in the morning sun with their deep red petals and black centres as they swayed in the light breeze. I couldn't resist getting the camera out and taking a few shots.

Poppy

Sugar Loaf Lane

Quail, Whittington.

It was Bank Holiday Monday and reports came through on the internet that two quail were calling at Whittington, so I grabbed my binoculars and dashed down there.

I had only walked a short distance along the bridle path towards Handkerchief Barn, where they had been reported to be singing from a barley field, when I heard one of the birds on the right hand side. There calls are unmistakable. It is a trisyllabic call, whit, whit, whit, and has often been described as 'Wet-my-lips'.  It wasn't long before another quail started up on the left hand side.

Quails rarely show themselves and this was true of this duo. Nevertheless, it was a delight to stand there listening to them on a pleasant late spring evening.

Further along the path, towards Handkerchief Barn, a corn bunting was giving its characteristic song, often described as a jangling of a bunch of keys. Numerous skylarks were in full song overhead and a delightful male yellow wagtail put in an appearance.

Corn Bunting

Skylark