Category Archives: Buckinghamshire

Unusual Sunset

Blasdale Home Posted on by

31st May 2024

The sun was setting in an unusual way. As it descended, it turned red, The sky looked overcast, with no red hues, making the fiery globe particularly unusual. As the sun approached the horizon, it seemed to disappear into a hazy layer, its lower portion blending into the sky.

This was a rare opportunity to capture the sun’s beauty with a zoom lens. The images revealed four distinct sunspots, dark blemishes on the sun’s surface caused by intense magnetic activity. Additionally, the sun’s circumference appeared uneven, with various solar eruptions, or flares, creating a jagged edge. These flares are sudden bursts of energy released from the sun’s surface, often accompanied by intense radiation and charged particles.

Sunset
Sunset

Looking for Foxes 6

Blasdale Home Posted on by

6th April 2024

It has been a full month since I shared the video documenting our foxes. However, the passing days have ushered in a sense of stagnation. The adult foxes continue their routine traverse across the field, perhaps eyeing the neighbouring chickens with intent, yet showing no signs of ousting the resident rabbits. Occasionally, a male pheasant makes fleeting appearances in the vicinity, though we now observe just one solitary bird frequenting our feeder. Gone are the days of jumping up and knocking the feeder to get some seeds. This pheasant, leaps up & down, squawks and flaps his wings. It doesn’t appear to cause any food to drop, but he’s working on it.

A pair of Moorhens briefly graced us with their presence as they crossed the mound, prompting me to redirect one of our cameras towards the tranquil pond. Despite the addition of rabbits to the scene, there seems to be a palpable absence of avian activity this month. However, a solitary Eurasian Jay did make a rare appearance, briefly breaking the monotony with its presence.

Hughenden and Bird Mugging

Blasdale Home Posted on by

2nd April 2024

Our day out started under clearish skies, offering respite from the persistent rain. Our primary objective was to Briants Of Risborough Ltd, where Steve sought a replacement chain for his chainsaw. While the process initially proved intricate, he eventually acquired a 16-inch chain, fitting the required length. However, on trying to install it, it became evident that the chainsaw’s slot size, at 1.6mm, was incompatible. Consequently, Steve returned on Thursday to exchange it for a chain for a 1.3mm slot, only to discover that the pitch size also needed consideration. With Rosemary’s assistance in identifying the model, the correct chain was eventually procured. The juxtaposition of metric and imperial measurements throughout the ordeal struck an odd note. Nonetheless, the day concluded on a positive note as the chainsaw was eventually fitted with the correct chain.

On this first outing, our journey led us to Hughenden Manor, where upon arrival, we parked and strolled towards the house. Being half term, the grounds were abuzz with children engaged in Easter activities. The pathway was adorned with themed drawings from the local schools.

Inside the house, we found a degree of quiet, allowing us to explore the rooms in relative tranquillity. Each room was adorned with informative displays, shedding light on both the architecture and the lives of its former inhabitants. Of particular intrigue were the tales of romantic entanglements amongst the aristocracy, notably the affair involving Count D’Orsay and Lord and Lady Blessington, and their daughter.

Hughenden Manor holds historical significance as a key hub for mapping bomber flights to Germany during World War II, a fact we were reminded of from a past visit dating back to 2015.

Warning – Bird Mugging

Following our tour and obligatory perusal of the second-hand bookshop, we retreated to the garden for a leisurely lunch sitting on a garden bench in the warm sunshine. As we indulged in our Ginsters Cornish Pasties, a sudden interruption occurred when a Red Kite swooped from behind and between Rosemary and me, snatching my pasty mid-bite and leaving the remnants scattered on the ground, with no intention of returning to tidy up the mess. Superb flying skills, but no manners.

After our unexpected avian encounter, we meandered through the gardens before making our way back to the car park to bid farewell to Hughenden Manor, and conclude our day’s excursion.

National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,
National Trust - Hughenden,

Greatmoor Incinerator

Blasdale Home Posted on by

23rd March 2024

Our local incinerator, which we can see across the fields from our home, was doing open days. We had visited before  in I think 2016. It was operational, but not complete, car parks, fencing, internal walls and conference rooms had not been finished. This was our chance to see it working in its completed form.

We met in the carpark, went to the conference room and got dressed in bright protective equipment. We were introduced to recycling; the burning of the rubbish was the last resort. We should be reusing, selling, recycling and finally when all options are gone, sending it to the incinerator to generate power.

We visited the control room where the systems were monitored, and the rubbish was loaded into the furnace. Next was a look into the furnace and then onto the generator. Power was sent to the national grid.

Finally, we stood under the condenser where the steam was turned back into water to be fed into the boiler.

Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor
Greatmoor

Looking for Foxes 4

Blasdale Home Posted on by

The regular fox sightings near our field pond and wild garden paint a fascinating picture of a thriving ecosystem in our backyard. Here’s an expansion of our observations.

The visiting fox is likely a vixen, she is displaying classic hunting behavior. Her sniffing around rabbit hole could be for two reasons:

  1. Prey Scouting: Looking for potential meals in the future.
  2. Den Site Selection: Foxes give birth in dens, often repurposing existing burrows like those made by rabbits. So our vixen is hopefully looking for a place to bring up her fox cubs.

The time difference between our fox and rabbit sightings suggests a well-established coexistence. Rabbits are highly attuned to predators, possessing excellent hearing and sight. They detect the fox’s presence and retreat to their burrows for safety.

Foxes are more than just cunning hunters. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling rodent populations, including those that can damage gardens and crops. Their presence also indicates a healthy environment with a diverse food chain. Unfortunately, they do have a taste for chicken.

Looking for Foxes 2

Blasdale Home Posted on by

27th January 2024

Another week by the pond, and not much to report. Plenty of rabbits, a definite need for an AI application to filter them out of the videos. A grey squirrel, an import from the USA, unfortunately it has found the bird feeders now, but has not learnt to climb. A sighting of a Muntjac deer most evenings. One sighting of a Fox.

Looking for Foxes

Blasdale Home Posted on by

20th January 2024

As the new year begins, it is the season for foxes to find a home to raise their young. Next to our field pond, there is a large mound of earth that is friendly to wildlife. Rabbits use it to dig their burrows. In early January, when the weather was sunny, many birds came to feed amongst the fallen leaves. We saw starlings, redwings, fieldfares and garden birds, including a cheeky blue tit that pecked at the camera. We also had many rabbits, a squirrel who luckily has not discovered the bird feeders, and a mouse. The fox visited several times, inspecting the holes. It won’t be long before the rabbits move out for a while when the fox cubs arrive.

Please ignore the date on the camera, the day and time are correct, but the month is wrong. This is January, not March.

National Museum of Computing

Blasdale Home Posted on by

19th December 2023

This week, our outing was to the National Museum of Computing, near Bletchley Park. It’s a separate museum with cool old working computers, like the code-breaking machines Colossus and Bombe (though Colossus was sadly off that day). They even have a recreation of the EDSAC computer from Cambridge University!

Seeing the IBM 370/165 brought back memories from my university days, writing programs on that clunky machine. I swear, it always kept me waiting with those compilation errors! And was it just me, or did Cambridge get a dud? It didn’t even have virtual storage at first, which cost a huge chunk of money to add. My next job had a smaller 370, one that actually did have virtual storage, thankfully.

After the big machines, the museum had an awesome collection of personal computers, from Sinclairs to Pets and early IBM PCs. Some were even working! They also had a cool collection of old mobile phones and organizers. It reminded me about cleaning out our office desk at work, full of outdated tech.

After the museum, we headed to IKEA for some classic Swedish meatballs, mash, and gravy. Delicious!

So, a fun day of tech nostalgia and yummy food!

The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing

Stowe Gardens

Blasdale Home Posted on by

17th October 2023

Wanting to escape the boredom of same-old, same-old days, R and I have embarked on a self-proclaimed “Odyssey.” Every week, we vow to venture out, taking turns in choosing our destination. Last week, we meandered through the tranquil hues of College Lake in Tring. This week, our second expedition on this self-imposed odyssey, we went to the grand expanse of the National Trust’s Stowe Gardens. (Usually, Stowe beckons us in early spring to view Snowdrops, but this year, that season had slipped through our fingers.)

A brisk stroll led us around the lake, past the imposing house (now a private school), viewing poignant poppy decorations, each a silent tribute to fallen soldiers in conflicts past, as well as large silhouettes of soldiers standing stoic as stark reminders of sacrifice and valour. Our exploration complete, we sought the NT cafe for lunch.

National Trust Stowe
National Trust Stowe
National Trust Stowe
National Trust Stowe

The Soggy Symphony: A Wetland Awakening

Blasdale Home Posted on by

18th October 2023

The relentless drizzle had transformed our field into a patchwork of glistening puddles. Few green blades of grass, just grey puddles reflecting the leaden sky. A new habitat perhaps?

Drawn by the waters, flocks of starlings arrived, their speckled plumage gleaming against the grey backdrop. They alighted with a flurry of wings onto the makeshift islands, their chatter livening up the drabness. Their beady eyes darted, scanning the water’s surface for morsels, their movements a blur of avian industry.

But the stars of this soggy symphony were the Egrets and Grey Herons. Tall and elegant, they stalked the flooded fields with an air of regal entitlement. Their long, sinuous necks dipped and probed, their sharp beaks spearing unsuspecting invertebrates from the murky depths. Each successful strike elicited a guttural croak, a triumphant fanfare echoing through the wet air.

Their movements were almost balletic. The Egrets, poised and delicate, walked across the water, their snowy plumage a stark contrast to the muddy green canvas. The Grey Herons, larger and more imposing, waded with measured steps, their piercing yellow eyes missing nothing.

This soggy interlude, born from the whims of the weather, has transformed our familiar field into a vibrant wetland teeming with life. It was a reminder that even the most mundane corners have the potential for unexpected beauty.

Egret in our field, feeding
Egret in our field, feeding
Grey Heron in our field
Grey Heron in our field