Covered in Red and Yellow Leaves

In her entry of 14th October 1906, Edith talks about going for a walk in Catherine de Barnes ...

Hips made a great display all along the route, especially on a wild piece of common land we crossed, covered with Gorse and briars. I noticed great numbers of Finches here, feeding on the berries. Some of the Gorse bushes were in flower, these with the bushes of scarlet Rose-berries, and trailing Blackberry briars, covered with red and yellow leaves, made fine patches of colour in the bright sunshine.

Exactly 109 years later, I spent an early hour exploring the rather more manicured surroundings of the NEC.

14 October 2015, Red Oak.

Red Oak and flags at the NEC.

The most spectacular colour comes from the foreign tree varieties planted amongst the NEC gardens.  The leaves of a Red Oak gave me a hint of the spectacular "Fall" that Americans enjoy.

Flags and maple leaves fluttering in the feeble breeze.

Although the flags were barely stirring in the early morning breeze, leaves from the maples beyond were already being blown away.

Native lakeside trees showing golden tones.

Looking back towards the lake, most of the native trees were still green, highlighted with subtle yellows and golds. Nearby a Great-Crested Grebe was dipping below the water and bobbing up to feed her well-grown youngster.

Resort World, Pendigo lake.

I spent a little more time at the lakeside and enjoyed seeing the ripples on the blue waters before going into work.

Scarlet berries

In her entry for the 4th of August, 1908, Edith noted "Harvesting Commenced". This also marked the start of the long school holidays. In those days, the pupils needed this time as the whole family was expected to help with the harvest.

Rushing past the harvest, 26 July 2016,

110 years later, harvesting is very different. Sophisticated combine harvesters do the work of many weary hands. Even the bales look different. My photo, snatched from a speeding train, shows the modern round bales. Over the last few years these have been replacing the blocks familiar from my childhood. When researching this post, I was almost shocked to find that, when I first saw these blocks in the 1960s, that they were new, having been produced by the earliest combine harvesters. Earlier grain crops and hay would have been harvested as bundles, which would have been piled into stooks.



Resorts World.

At the end of July, a colleague and I walked over to the NEC to see the new Star Trek Beyond movie. As we approached Pendigo Lake I heard the plaintive cry of a young Great Crested Grebe. It was soon fed by it's attentive parent. I spent a while watching the birds on the lake and then headed towards Resorts World.

Young Coot, 26 July 2016

On the way, I found a family of coots grazing on the Crowne Plaza's grass. This youngster was very curious about me. Some hours later, after shopping, movie and food, night had fallen and the lake was dark. However lights from the hotels highlighted white feathers on birds, which had stayed on the lake. We were able to pick out the family of Canada Geese that I had seen on a previous visit and four male tufted ducks. The latter presumably included the fathers of the ducklings I saw on the pond next to the office.



Rowen Berries, 27 July 2016

In a couple of her entries for August, Edith mentions "scarlet berries". At the end of July the only scarlet berries I found were some Rowen berries in the car park of the Arden hotel.  Other tree seeds I found nearby included the following.

Lime tree seeds with 'wings', 26 July 2016.

Field Maple 'aeroplanes', 27 July 2016

Winged hornbeam seed, 27 July 2016

sloe berries, 27 July 2016

I found the Meadowsweet in bloom ...

In her entry for June 26th, 1906, Edith describes a long country walk. She tells us of a breeze bringing her the scent of honeysuckle and roses. She says:

"I found the Meadow Sweet in bloom in many places, Gathered Self heal and Great Burnet ..."

Meadow Sweet.

Once again, I found myself looking for Edith's flowers along the stretch of road from the station to the office. There is a great deal of Meadow Sweet, but most of it is yet to bloom.  I found a sprig to photograph.  I also found the following flowers.

June 30 - Pink centaury, knapweed and other wayside flowers.

June 30 - Willowherb.

June 28 - Hypericum

June 30 - Pink Mallow.

June 30 - Agrimony

June 30 - Spear Thistle.

Later Edith says:

"Saw a great number of beautiful little Dragon flies - pale blue, with black markings, at a wayside pond."

On Thursday, I visited the pond next to the office, As I walked round, I startled a Damselfly, much like the ones Edith saw 110 years ago. 

June 30 - Female Tufted Duck and ducklings.

I looked across the lake and saw some of the resident birds including two female Tufted Ducks with their families. Each had about 8 ducklings. The tiny, fluffing ducklings were already diving below the surface.

For June the 28th, she says: "Second day of continuous rain" and describes the earthquakes around the country. For the 3 days I was in Birmingham, there has been a series of heavy downpours. When the rain stops, the sky remains grey and heavy.

June 28 - Young Canada Geese.

On Tuesday, I had a late night wander round Pendigo Lake. Great, flickering screens were showing tennis from a washed out Wimbledon. Near the entrance to my own hotel, the Crowne Plaza, I found a family of Canada Geese. One, presumably the male, was guarding the others, which were happily grooming and resting beside a busy path.

Resorts World

I tried out my bat detector and detected at least one bat at the South end of the lake, I was able to see it against the light of Resort World.