We left Bilbao on the 8.30 ferry to Portsmouth arriving at the same hour on Tuesday 4th July. The wind was light and the temperature was around 23C. It’s all so easy it certainly is much better than the constant waiting at airports. There is not that much to say but it is relaxing with no need to rush around.
Birds and marine life were very disappointing to start with but we soon had three separate sightings of dolphin. The ‘ORCA’ representative on board soon enlightened us and I can now tell whether it is a common dolphin or not. I later stood with him on the upper deck and saw clearly the markings of this species. Birding was slow but then there were (possibly) either Cory’s or Sooty Shearwaters skimming the waves. I may be able to tell the difference one day! Then there were immature Gannets flying overhead. I know that they are not adult because the book says so and the older ones are too busy parenting – it’s that time of year. No bloody whales though – princely or otherwise.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Monday, 2 July 2012
1st July.
The wind was blowing hard when we awoke just like the previous evening. It was therefore a quick break fast , then head north to see what we could see on our way to Bilbao. We travelled through more corn fields with luxuriant green deciduous forests lining the hillsides. Griffon Vultures, our first on this trip, were circling overhead.
Our first destination was within 5km of the Basque capital Vitoria-Gasteiz. Here there are the Salburúa Wetlands with 203 hectares of forest, marsh and water all teeming with wildlife. There are listed walks and hides that actually overlook water! Nesting White Storks were in abundance, a heronry was in the trees opposite, waterfowl with young were swimming about which included both geese and coot. We did not have time to stay too long but together with information gleaned on our arrival in Bilbao there has to be a return visit either in winter or during a migration for there is so much to see and do in País Vasco/Euskadi.
A hotel brochure lists The Mendijur Ornothologica Park as well as coastal sites. From now on we will be looking for seabirds and once on the ferry on Tuesday morning we will look for any marine life. Let’s hope the weather is good.
The wind was blowing hard when we awoke just like the previous evening. It was therefore a quick break fast , then head north to see what we could see on our way to Bilbao. We travelled through more corn fields with luxuriant green deciduous forests lining the hillsides. Griffon Vultures, our first on this trip, were circling overhead.
Our first destination was within 5km of the Basque capital Vitoria-Gasteiz. Here there are the Salburúa Wetlands with 203 hectares of forest, marsh and water all teeming with wildlife. There are listed walks and hides that actually overlook water! Nesting White Storks were in abundance, a heronry was in the trees opposite, waterfowl with young were swimming about which included both geese and coot. We did not have time to stay too long but together with information gleaned on our arrival in Bilbao there has to be a return visit either in winter or during a migration for there is so much to see and do in País Vasco/Euskadi.
A hotel brochure lists The Mendijur Ornothologica Park as well as coastal sites. From now on we will be looking for seabirds and once on the ferry on Tuesday morning we will look for any marine life. Let’s hope the weather is good.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
TUDELA AND THE EBRO
Our destination is Tudela in the valley of The Ebro in Navarra. Research, with the help, ‘Where to Watch Birds’ in Northern & Eastern Spain by Michael and Earnest Garcia means that where to look is made easy.
On route there is Red Kite and in early evening there was Red Kite with Marsh Harrier also flying. It is 39C and the strong wind is blowing like a hot fan oven. Not ideal but there are plenty of song birds around but not easy to see. A cultivated field allows good view of a lone White Stork which poses for a photo. There are many pylons around and some provide a nesting site for them. The book suggests that they are town dwellers but looking at the debris near a pylon with nest makes it seem that the other town dwellers may prefer the storks in a rural setting.
On day two there are fields of them searching for food to feed nest bound chicks. There is plenty of small bird activity with a family of long-tailed tits passing through together with an abundance of Goldfinch and Blackcap singing. I just wish that I was better at recognising ‘bird-song’.
Later we entered, Las Bardenas Reales, which is a strange area and I would urge plenty of research before going there. ( www.gurelur.org ). However there is a good view of a first/second year Golden Eagle and an excellent close view of a Short-toed Eagle. Larks were plentiful and there were two good views of male Black-eared Wheatears. Not much to show for a morning out in terms of volume but we are now in high summer. You can also check on the information centres and there are several lagunas with observation points that deserve a look.
The evening provided excellent views of two hunting Marsh Harriers but the strong wind did not allow for much else.
On route there is Red Kite and in early evening there was Red Kite with Marsh Harrier also flying. It is 39C and the strong wind is blowing like a hot fan oven. Not ideal but there are plenty of song birds around but not easy to see. A cultivated field allows good view of a lone White Stork which poses for a photo. There are many pylons around and some provide a nesting site for them. The book suggests that they are town dwellers but looking at the debris near a pylon with nest makes it seem that the other town dwellers may prefer the storks in a rural setting.
On day two there are fields of them searching for food to feed nest bound chicks. There is plenty of small bird activity with a family of long-tailed tits passing through together with an abundance of Goldfinch and Blackcap singing. I just wish that I was better at recognising ‘bird-song’.
Later we entered, Las Bardenas Reales, which is a strange area and I would urge plenty of research before going there. ( www.gurelur.org ). However there is a good view of a first/second year Golden Eagle and an excellent close view of a Short-toed Eagle. Larks were plentiful and there were two good views of male Black-eared Wheatears. Not much to show for a morning out in terms of volume but we are now in high summer. You can also check on the information centres and there are several lagunas with observation points that deserve a look.
The evening provided excellent views of two hunting Marsh Harriers but the strong wind did not allow for much else.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
SOMEWHERE IN IRELAND.
SOMEWHERE IN IRELAND.
A Journey of Discovery by Linda Whittenberg
with artwork by Lillie Morris.
I was fortunate to receive this book courtesy of our mail systems from our friends in Ireland. After unwrapping it, the artwork entitled ‘Thinking of Ireland’ on its cover grabbed my attention. The wonderfully eye catching work of Lillie Morris runs throughout the book and is such a joy to see.
Linda has visited Ireland previously and has been a visitor to Listowell’s Writer Week. This year she brought this book with her. She has every right to claim her ancestry in the west of Ireland but to do that she visited places that gave her the inspiration to write some truly great lines. The poems and narratives take you with her on her journey. Her sense of belonging and her connection with her ancestors is incredibly strong. We all need to know our roots, after all.
This is a wonderful piece of writing that touches on ‘The Irish Diaspora’, the Irish in America and a woman seeking some of her past.
I can dip in and be reflective on particular lines because it says so- but I will leave that for you to do.
I think that it would be wrong of me to pick any particular piece out as I found that each had its own merits. It’s a book that I can return to time and time again, dip into it and to enjoy it even more.
I enjoyed every page of it.
You can view her website on www.lindawhittenberg.com where you can order this book.
A Journey of Discovery by Linda Whittenberg
with artwork by Lillie Morris.
I was fortunate to receive this book courtesy of our mail systems from our friends in Ireland. After unwrapping it, the artwork entitled ‘Thinking of Ireland’ on its cover grabbed my attention. The wonderfully eye catching work of Lillie Morris runs throughout the book and is such a joy to see.
Linda has visited Ireland previously and has been a visitor to Listowell’s Writer Week. This year she brought this book with her. She has every right to claim her ancestry in the west of Ireland but to do that she visited places that gave her the inspiration to write some truly great lines. The poems and narratives take you with her on her journey. Her sense of belonging and her connection with her ancestors is incredibly strong. We all need to know our roots, after all.
This is a wonderful piece of writing that touches on ‘The Irish Diaspora’, the Irish in America and a woman seeking some of her past.
I can dip in and be reflective on particular lines because it says so- but I will leave that for you to do.
I think that it would be wrong of me to pick any particular piece out as I found that each had its own merits. It’s a book that I can return to time and time again, dip into it and to enjoy it even more.
I enjoyed every page of it.
You can view her website on www.lindawhittenberg.com where you can order this book.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
POETRY IN SESTUDE FORM
I thought that it was time that I would mention ‘Poetry’. The Stanza Mar Menor Poetry Group ( a stanza of the Poetry Society based in London) have written in a form called ‘Sestude’. If twenty six different poets – one for each letter of the alphabet- can write about items contained in The Victoria and Albert Museum then so can other ordinary mortals. This style has 62 words of which 26 words are ‘reflective’ in nature.
Most of us have some history around us of a personal nature. There is one item which has formed the subject matter of the first one has been with me all my life. The other subject matter is, I believe, evident.
Here are my own sestudes.
TOASTING FORK
Often you poked my fingers into the fire,
you held me so tight, your knuckles bearing
the heat stoically.
All this for a thick piece of The Baker’s split tin
white loaf - just right to be crisped over flaming logs
Beef dripping warming on the hearth,
pausing for hot toast
ready for the knife to come
to slice your memories
into bite-size chunks
THREE COLLARS
Three collars hang from the post
at the end of the white balustrade
protecting the top of the steps leading
to freedom.
They are empty now -- released
by their owners – no longer required
Never more than a symbol of possession,
a place for a disc, a telephone number - if needed
Now they hang with our memories
of lives we loved and protected.
Most of us have some history around us of a personal nature. There is one item which has formed the subject matter of the first one has been with me all my life. The other subject matter is, I believe, evident.
Here are my own sestudes.
TOASTING FORK
Often you poked my fingers into the fire,
you held me so tight, your knuckles bearing
the heat stoically.
All this for a thick piece of The Baker’s split tin
white loaf - just right to be crisped over flaming logs
Beef dripping warming on the hearth,
pausing for hot toast
ready for the knife to come
to slice your memories
into bite-size chunks
THREE COLLARS
Three collars hang from the post
at the end of the white balustrade
protecting the top of the steps leading
to freedom.
They are empty now -- released
by their owners – no longer required
Never more than a symbol of possession,
a place for a disc, a telephone number - if needed
Now they hang with our memories
of lives we loved and protected.
Monday, 25 June 2012
STANZA MAR MENOR POETRY MEETING OF FRIDAY 22ND JUNE 2012
We met as usual in San Javier and the five of us, Kathy, Margaret, David, Douglas and John
read various poems that had been written in the recent weeks.
Sestudes-either in their restrictive form or with a more liberal interpretation- were read by the majority. Of course, comments were made and advice given. That is the strength of this group and I think that this shows in much of the work being written.
Haiku were also the order of the day with many being presented.
Douglas capped our morning with a poem that he had written a few decades ago and which he thought would be suitable for our next ‘open mic’. (ON MONDAY 25TH JUNE AT 7.30PM) This one is called ‘And No Birds Sing’ and to hear it you will have to come along next Monday evening when he will read it.
We will now have a summer break and the next stanza meeting has been set for Friday 28th September and the autumn ‘open mic’ evening will be held in October. We will finalise the date on Monday evening next. I will write this up so that everyone will know what has gone on.
Have a productive and enjoyable summer. Keep well and have fun.
read various poems that had been written in the recent weeks.
Sestudes-either in their restrictive form or with a more liberal interpretation- were read by the majority. Of course, comments were made and advice given. That is the strength of this group and I think that this shows in much of the work being written.
Haiku were also the order of the day with many being presented.
Douglas capped our morning with a poem that he had written a few decades ago and which he thought would be suitable for our next ‘open mic’. (ON MONDAY 25TH JUNE AT 7.30PM) This one is called ‘And No Birds Sing’ and to hear it you will have to come along next Monday evening when he will read it.
We will now have a summer break and the next stanza meeting has been set for Friday 28th September and the autumn ‘open mic’ evening will be held in October. We will finalise the date on Monday evening next. I will write this up so that everyone will know what has gone on.
Have a productive and enjoyable summer. Keep well and have fun.
Saturday, 23 June 2012
PRELUDE TO OUR TRAVELS
Welcome to our blog for our travels northwards via Tudela to Bilbao. Our route takes us along some of the course of the mighty Rio Ebro where we will see what is flying. One of the towns has nesting storks and that will be worth seeing. Once in Bilbao there will be a visit to The Guggenheim where there is an exhibition of David Hockney’s. This area is new to us and in two days it will not be possible to do it justice.
We only have four days in Spain before we embark for Portsmouth on 3rd July, arriving on the following morning.
This year has just ramped away and now it is only six days before we leave home. Most of the packing has been done and the excitement is mounting in anticipation of eleven weeks of travel, visiting locations and people. Follow us as we write up our journey on our joint blog http://travelsa-d.blogspot.com
We only have four days in Spain before we embark for Portsmouth on 3rd July, arriving on the following morning.
This year has just ramped away and now it is only six days before we leave home. Most of the packing has been done and the excitement is mounting in anticipation of eleven weeks of travel, visiting locations and people. Follow us as we write up our journey on our joint blog http://travelsa-d.blogspot.com
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