Ulverston Canal — a walk on the wild side

A Walk on the Wild Side — of Ulverston Canal










It is a wonderful thing to have a canal on the edge of town. With so many walks to choose from in the area, a footpath on level ground is wonderful for those with joint problems. It is equally great for anyone who is a lover of nature. All the senses are engaged and of beauty there is no end.
At one end is the coast of Morecambe Bay, an interesting place to explore. Looking in the opposite direction is Hoad Hill with the newly renovated monument. Looking to one side are fields of grass with grazing livestock. On the other side oddments of industry ranging from a huge complex of Glaxo-Smith-Kline to old buildings dating from when the canal was in full use. The sea end of the canal is blocked. Sometime in the near future the canal is to be turned in a marina. I guess it will change quite a bit. Even so, there is something appealing about a stretch of water bearing wild life. Let's hope that will continue when animal life shares the canal with boats and far more people than at present.
Flowers there are aplenty. Anglers sit silently. And sounds of animals and birds are heard above the hum of industry — indeed, you don't notice the industry as there are too many things that grab attention. Whole families may pass you by, or friendly walkers with even friendlier dogs. Everyone has a smile for those they meet along the path. Why? Because when out relaxing and communing with nature, humans have time to be just that — human.


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The Daffy Squirrel — what joy!

The Daffy Squirrel!

A while ago I wrote about a squirrel playing with a stick. Now my hubby caught one playing with a daffodil. Rolling on its back, pulling a daffodil to the ground and then letting it go up again. In between racing in tight circles. So that’s how some of the daffy heads got knocked off!
They are delightful creatures to watch. Since my hubby has made it more difficult to get at the nuts they try all manner of means to outwit him — sometimes hanging by one back claw, or wrapping their back feet around the smooth pole (with the inevitable result — down they go!) They chase each other round and round the oak tree, and race from tree to tree high up in the branches. Okay, maybe they can be a nuisance but they give us more pleasure than visiting cats.
Unfortunately, the squirrels are too quick to photograph them playing. Open the door and they are off. But we caught one on the bird table during winter. The nut feeder has been made more difficult to get at since then. My hubby believes they should have to work for their dinner!
Three new photographs today. (Click on photograph to enlarge the squirrel)

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The Simple Life — of tales and tails

The Simple Life
A life of freedom or pigeon pie?

A chubby woodpigeon (ring dove) sits on a nest in a fir tree just 15’ from our front door. It looks so peaceful up there surrounded by shrubs bearing blossom. We see the couple plodding around the garden — dinosaurs compared with the blackbirds, finches, tits, sparrows and tiny wrens (etc) that visit our feeding station and peck around the garden. Even larger than the lovely white and mottled pigeons that visit us throughout the year.
They sit in turn, quiet and undisturbed, oblivious to our prying eyes as we try to photograph them. Their nest looks flat and flimsy and we wonder how on earth they will be able to keep their young on it once the eggs hatch. (Likely just one or two, as they continue to breed throughout the season.)
What do they think as they sit there? No worries for them about finance and elections, buying houses and furniture. No concerns about schools for their children, what to wear and what meals are best for them. No mortgage, no bills, no cars or holidays. Just doing what comes naturally.
But we are concerned for them! We just hope the egg or eggs don’t roll out of the nest. We hope the fledglings when born won’t get taken off by crows or cats. We want them to keep well and enjoy life. Why? Birds, not just pigeons, die every day. They fly into the window and break their necks, they get taken off by birds of prey and squirrels raid their nests. But this is nature and animals are programmed for survival. What humans do to one another goes beyond survival — need I say more?

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