Ouse Washes, Ashwell and Ely

Planning to meet Heather's brother and his wife in Ely, we set out early on 22nd February to arrive for lunch.  Driving down through the fens we noted that the land was saturated, rivers and drains were very high and floods were abundant.  The three storms that we had had in February were showing their devastating effect.
We enjoyed an excellent lunch in Ely and had a quick wander to see the cathedral and photograph the magnificent hellebores in the gardens before heading off to the Welney Wildlife and Wetland Centre on the Ouse Washes for the swan feeding.  The Ouse washes are designed to flood during the winter months in order to protect surrounding areas from damage.  This year they were certainly doing their job.  Normally hedges, gates and fences are visible above the water but this year it was more like an inland sea; the main road over the Washes from Ely to Wisbech was under 12 feet of water.  It was our first visit to this centre and I had never seen such luxury in a bird hide: carpets and central heating, whatever next.  For more hardy photographers there were conventional hides to either side.  It was dusk when we arrived and the swan feeding was at 6.30 so opportunities for photography were limited, although I did manage a couple of landscapes and a whooper swan in poor light.  When we arrived there was a huge flock of pochard in front of the hide.  These gradually flew away as dusk approached and the whoopers arrived like squadrons of V bombers.  Gradually the numbers of whoopers built up until there were three figures and at 6.30 the warden donned a diver's dry-suit and went out with floating wheelbarrow filled with grain to feed them.  He also gave a very informative talk during which he told us that the number of swans was lower at the moment as many had already begun their return migration; partly due to the abnormally mild winter and also because of the high levels of water on the washes making it too deep to feed.  There were no bewick swans remaining as they had either, like the whoopers, begun their return migration or not come at all, instead remaining in the mild arctic.  All the result of the climate emergency and rather worrying.  Eventually it was time to leave and head on to Malcolm and Maureen's house, a journey seriously impeded by extremely complicated roadworks and diversions around Cambridge.

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We enjoyed a very pleasant weekend with Malcolm and Maureen which largely involved a lazy day on Sunday.  We did venture out eventually and later went for a walk around the village so I could indulge in some twilight photography of the magnificent church in Ashwell.  A preprandial couple of pints in the fine Three Tuns was, of course, mandatory.

 Monday saw us take our leave of Ashwell, after photographing one of their hellebores.  We returned via Ely, calling in to visit the cathedral and to have lunch.  An excellent weekend.

Aswell. Day 3

On the Sunday morning we were enjoying coffee in the garden and were delighted to have low flying display by a red kite over the garden house.  We had superb views, allowing the rich colours to show well.  In the afternoon we visited Cambridge in order to visit the excellent Kings College Fellows gardens.

Ashwell, June 2019. Day 2

Slightly more active today.  While Heather went for a wander round the village, I walked up to nearby Arbury Banks to look for the marbled white butterflies I had seen there a couple of years ago.  There were quite a few about, although photographing them was a different kettle of fish.  With it being late morning and a hot day (35C) they were fairly active and it was also quite windy, blowing the plants around on which they perched.  There were large whites, meadow brown, red admiral and painted lady on the wing.  On our return we drove to Hitchen lavender fields  for tea and stickies and some photography of the spectacular show of flowers. In the evening we sat outside and played with Malcolm's new bat detector.  It was a fscinating experience as we were able to identify those we could see flying around the garden: daubenton's bat and common pipistrelle.

Ashwell, June 2019. Day 1

Back at Malcolm and Maureens in Ashwell, it was time for a well-earned rest and relaxation in the garden. 

Lake District June 2019. Day 7

After such a busy weekend it seemed strange to wake up to just the two of us.  We were able to take our time with the packing as we were driving down to Heather's brother's in Ashell, Herts ready for my graduation in London tomorrow. We had time for a quick trip into Ambleside and lunch and shopping at the Low Sizergh farm shop.  The journey down to Ashewll went well and we called in at Biggleswade to pick up an Indian take away for us all.