30 September 2007 Autumn is here.
Rafts of fallen leaves float along the canal until they catch in the snag points along the banks, where they wait for a passing boat or exuberant, water-loving dog to free them. The bronze flecked chestnuts surrender their cargo of nuts, one by one, to the winds and wildlife rustling through the branches; now the quiet stillness of the night is broken by crackles and splashes as the nuts hit piles of fallen leaves or drop straight into the canal.
The chestnuts provide another source of sound now. As the evenings darken the park welcomes its night time visitors a little earlier each day. Before the rains fell this week I was sitting quietly outside one evening watching the park. To my delight a family of foxes came by, the youngsters were rummaging and rolling in the leaf litter, hunting the falling leaves, pouncing into the larger heaps and scattering the crisp, dried leaves everywhere. The almost grown youngsters ran backwards and forwards, tumbling and chasing each other. The local foxes are mostly quiet but the occasional constrained yip escaped this fun-loving family.
They must have been a late litter and the cubs will no doubt disperse soon to find their own way in the world. It was good to see what may have been one of the last opportunities for them to play together before the realities of existence consume them.
There is a great deal of thought given to the opportunities for wildlife to feed, rest, breed and travel. We shouldn’t forget that fun is another basic necessity - for all species.
23 September 2007
Will I ever get used to the sight and sound of a large "V" of geese flying along the canal? I hope not.
16 September 2007
A year ago I was still overwhelmed by the lack of traffic noise in my little corner of East London. What has amazed me is how quickly the “silence” has been filled with other sounds.
Early this morning my flat reverberated with the sound of purring, a neighbour's cat had wandered in, seeking warmth in the pre-dawn chill, curled up on my bed and announced her presence in the way cats do best, a wet nose was gently stuck in my ear while she purred like a well tuned engine – one day I’ll work out how the little devil gets in!
As the daylight increases blackbirds in the trees begin to sing, that wakes up the coots and moorhens and is their cue to chivvy the local humans out of bed because it is breakfast time. Toast is loved by all creatures.
The autumn tit flocks take to the tree tops calling as they feed, I’ve spotted blue, great and long-tailed tits in the flock so far this year, I’m sure there are more I’ve just not identified yet.
Raucous the greylag goose then puts in an appearance – lazy stop-a-bed that he is! That is the cue for second breakfast; we’ve not been joined by hobbits yet at this stage as far as I am aware. But the Canada geese frequently join in at this point, chattering their beaks at me to make sure I realise they are there. And honking loudly at any goose approaching who isn’t in their “best friend” group.
As the day warms the fish surface and announce their presence with their customary farting sound and sometimes a splash as they leap after flies. The splash panics the moorhens and coots, who scream warnings of a possible predator in the canal.
Boats chug along, mowers work their way through the park and football coaches shout instructions, encouragement and insults to their teams. Heavy breathing joggers pound the tow path chatting to each other; dogs bark and rattle sticks along the railings – why do dogs love doing that? Families call to each other and play music as they enjoy a sunny day out.
As the day closes the human sounds recede again and are replaced by the rustle of drying leaves as the breeze works its way through the trees. Bicycles squeak and whirr there way homeward, with the very occasional splash as someone riding back from the pub misjudges the towpath and takes a ducking. Party-goers sing or argue as they roll home.
The night closes in. Very late, the ducks arrive for their food, they call to me softly but, if I have not heard them, a single quack quickly attracts my attention. The canal is flooded with the soft sound of beaks on bread. Then, in the almost silence, the call of a hunting owl rings out across the deserted park.
After that, the only sound on the canal is me snoring.
12 September 2007
Today brought the first of the early morning autumn mists. The park look ethereal, joggers and cyclists are appearing then vanishing as this silent world swallows all trace of them. The air is chilly, but pushing through the mist is a promise of the sun and clear blue skies to come later in the day.
Over the last few days the leaves on the chestnut trees have begun to turn in earnest. Early fallen leaves are forming a line down the canal, marking the passage of boats and geese. The black headed gulls, their black heads now white except for a chocolate dot above their eyes, have returned from wherever they spent the summer. The juveniles arrive first, hunting out the best food sources before the adults, still rearing the last of this year’s chicks or spending a little time recovering from the demands of parenthood, swoop in and take over the waterways.
OK! OK!! don't all shout at me at once..., today was the first of the early morning mists I'd been up early enough to see :-)
11 September 2007
Photos © Nige Carter 2007
Waterworks Nature Reserve was the place I walked to this weekend. Green woodpeckers, mistle thrushes, little grebes, pochard, edible frogs as well as swans, coots, moorhens and the rest of the gang. The reserve is a brilliant place to spend some time. Check out the wildlife garden and watch for the reptiles on warmer days. The willow walkway is another spot not to miss. On a late summer afternoon there were not very many birds about but if tree-climbing snails are your thing, that's the place for you!
Little Grebe
Edible frog
Photos © Nige Carter 2007
And when your feet can take no more, go find a seat in the cafe or by the canal at the local pub, the Princess of Wales on Lea Bridge Road.
I'll be going back to that one.
9 September 2007
The water is deserted,
The water fowl are staying in, or very close to, the iris boxes and thrown bread that goes more than a foot out into the canal is ignored and just floats away. The Guardian and his entourage of adult carp put in an occasional appearance but don’t seem to want to hang around the way they usually do. The thousands of fry have vanished completely.
Two weeks ago there were eleven small birds joining me for breakfast; this morning there were 4, a coot, one adult moorhen and the moorhen twins, who are not allowed out of the iris boxes at all.
That pike must be huge.
7 September 2007
A young mallard duck floated quietly on the canal this morning. There was a sudden swirl of water and the duck was gone.
A film theme tune came to mind, you know the one…
3rd September 2007
7:30 am on the dot that is when my living alarm clock goes off. And this morning Raucous didn’t let me down. He sounded as if he was right next to my ear with his call of “get out of bed and feed me!”
If you want to know what a greylag goose sounds like, press the play button on the RSPB bird guide site HERE
See? Not everything on the canal is harmonious.
Maybe I should tell Raucous that I’m up and about and that the coot and moorhens have already been fed long before he shows up?
Tonight it was already dark when I got home but no matter, I still prefer to head straight outside and relax for a little while by the canal. Orion had a bright new buckle on his belt tonight when a very well lit airliner flew between the stars and me.
2nd September 2007
The day began with the whistle of air through wings as a pair of mute swans flew down the canal. I saw them approaching over the bridge, huge white shapes against the grey/blue sky.
Raucous the Greylag goose chimed in with a noisy welcome as the swans flew overhead. It looks as if my clamorous companion is back for the colder months.
A small bee flew into the big garden spider’s (Araneus diadematus) web a little while ago. Obviously not something the spider thinks is good eating. It shot down the web to investigate. A quick touch of the bee was enough to send the spider back to the centre of the web but the bee was caught and struggled. Quick as a flash the spider cut the bee free then they both got back to the business of hunting for food. The spider is about the size of a two pence piece.
Araneus diadematus
Female Garden Spider