Sunday, July 26, 2009

Village Show Week...

This is the weekend of our Village Show. Its a very small affair patronised mostly by the locals who show flowers, veg, cakes and artworks. As we are new residents here we thought we'd better give it a go and entered 9 out of about 32 categories. Jane baked cheese scones ( no prizes, the competition was excellent), a Ginger Cake (3rd), 3 Ginger Nut Biscuits (1st - wait- no other competition), a Ladies Buttonhole (2nd), a Table Floral Decoration (1st) and a Floral arrangement in a cup and saucer (3rd) while I did the photo and art section with an Animal Photo Portrait (3rd), a Castle Photo ( 1st) and a Landscape Painting (3rd).

8 successes out of 9 entries is a result for the new comers!




Above - The venue...



Above - Some floral arrangements ( click on this one the lighting is nice on the Sweet Peas)



Above - The real highlight, the cakes and tea laid on by the lcal WI.



Above - An assortment of New Laid Eggs, Cakes, Biscuits, Jams and Chutneys...



Above - We were even treated to a flyby by this Vulcan Bomber who must have taken a wrong turning on his way to Sunderland Airshow. He did two laps before heading back south...


Right, thats enough of that, back to the wildlife or lack of it.

On Saturday a nice 'creche' of juvvy birds were feeding in the sallow scrub along the lane. There were 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Marsh Tit, Robin, Coal, Blue and Great Tits. On our evening walk to the coast path a dark bird heading north out to sea followed by an entourage of black headed gulls wasn't the expected skua, but a juvenile Marsh Harrier. It eventually veered inland at Cullernose Point and headed away north west.

A Whimbrel was on the shore and it or another was heard calling from our garden later.




Above - Juvvy Marsh Tit pulling Privet flowers to bits. The books tell you that Marsh and Willow Tits can be seperated by the crown colour. Marsh is shiny black and Willow is matt black. Not in juveniles though. All are dull matt black. Its all down to structure and calls etc...



Above - Juvvy Chiffchaff, told from adults by the softed fluffier feathering on the body and head. Adults would be in full moult by now...


Sunday was a duller wetter day with very little to note other than this moth that found its way into our bedroom - Single-dotted Wave.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blooming lovely village show, Stewart! I can almost smell those sweet peas, not to mention sink my teeth into those cakes. Congrats on your results. Village shows are brilliant. One I went to a fortnight ago was a wash out but the atmosphere in the horticultural / produce tent was magical.

Anonymous said...

Well done to both of you on your placings in the show, Stewart.

Have you got a M.Harrier pheromone ;-) That`s the 2nd bird you`ve pulled in this year. No seriously mate, well done.

Stewart said...

Dean its the third Marsh Harrier! An adult male from the porch at home, then a female over the wood nearby and now this juv. Common as muck in these parts :)

Thanks for the support both....

Anonymous said...

Thanks for putting me straight, Stewart. But that was like pouring salt into an open wound ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your village show looked wonderful...lucky you because we dont things like that round here! and fabulous collection of birds in one place too.
However that vulcan is a very rare bird indeed..the only one of its kind in the world that can fly, and no she wasnt lost. She was there to give Boulmer a special mini display!:-)

Jane Thomas
Vulcan to the Sky Club
www.vulcantothesky.org

oldcrow61 said...

How wonderful that you both did so well at the village show. Those cakes look awfully good.

Robyn said...

Well done to you and Jane on your placings in the Village Show!

Robyn xoxox

Stewart said...

Jane - Thats excellent, the only Vulcan visiting Boulmer, nice one!

OC, Rob - Ta....