I have seen single Cormorants flying along the river before and had a shot of one on the top of New Mill but the other morning when walking across the bridge at Robert’s Park I saw these 2 sunning themselves, wings open and their backs to the Sun.
Quite a few people saw them, which was good. But on a recent lunch-time walk there were a lot of people that did not see this Grey Heron just the other side of the canal from the tow path were loads of people were walking, jogging or cycling. If they don’t move it is so easy to just pass them by.
At this time of year the sides of the canal are busy with Sparrows and I hope you have seen my photo of one catching a Mayfly here.
This male Sparrow has caught a Mayfly and is perched in one of the saplings springing out of the side of the canal.
One thing I have missed this year is the nesting Kestrels in Salts Mill. I have heard them on several occasions and have been past to see if they were nesting but saw nothing. I am told by people working in the outdoor clothing shop in Salt’s Mill that they have had chicks and that they have fledged. I missed it all. This is a male Kestrel in one of the holes next to the one they have used for nesting in the past. At least I think it is male. The male has a blue/grey head, as this one has, but also has a grey tail.
Locals may be aware of the proposal to build an Archimedes screw electricity generator at the weir. This photo is of a team using rather accurate equipment to measure the height and shape of the weir. After accurately getting a datum position, the equipment they use then records the position of the pole to within 30mm. After the person on the front of the boat has placed the pole in the desired position on the weir the person on the bank then pressed a button to record its position.
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