Who needs a Zoo?

Friday, 24 April 2009 14:03

Some people say "it is like a zoo out there". I am not sure what they really mean except there is always mention of the Rat Race! I have yet to see a rat on the canals, but have seen a number of Water Voles. We spotted Water Voles on the Kennet and Avon, the Ashby, the Grand Union (near Bulls Bridge!), it is good to know they are returning to our waterways.

OK we can all behave like monkeys sometimes (there are certainly some of those on the canals!).

We all seem to have a herd instinct (why do you think we escape to the relative peace of unpopulated waterways?).

A Cheshire Herd

Certainly we can all look a little "sheepish" when making a mistake (like missing the bollard when we throw a rope, or worse!).

Staffordshire Sheep

I have heard some roaring in my time; either like a proud or a threatening lion ("SLOW DOWN you .... ").

The hiss of a swan belies its beautiful appearance, ("why don't you Continuous Cruisers have a mooring and pay your way?").

One of the swans on Tixall Wide

The beauty of a flower, but when looking closer there is a bug on it. (We all rely on other people at some time in our lives - someone to sort out an electrical or an engine problem!)

Red Dead Nettle and partner on the Weaver towpath (all credit to John for this photo!)

All this is a contrived way of sharing with you some of the sights of nature that we have loved in the past few months! As the title says - who need as zoo, when if you keep your eyes open and ears alert the English countryside has it all!

We heard the hoot of a Coot on the Coventry Canal

We saw the sentinel Heron at Winsford on the Weaver

I wish, I only wish I could manage to get a photo of that most beautiful bird, the Kingfisher. The flash of blue still eludes me!

But who could feel blue after taking this on the Middlewich Branch

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