Wildlife by Lady Cate

In the previous post I mentioned the birds I had identified here at the Granary Yacht Harbour. So here are pictures of some of them. They are really good photos; not mine I hasten to add. Rather I'm learning how to raid the web for pics!

A lapwing seen from the Robbie Garrett Hide at Slimbridge, which is just up the road from Melton, autumn 2014, taken by 
Edmund Kennerley.


www.flickr.com.

The oyster catchers were very entertaining. Comical characters one can watch for ages. I say were, as they all seem to have left a couple of days ago. My book says they gather in large flocks outside the breeding season, so maybe our dozen or so have gone to find more friends. I don't think we have enough food here for a flock!
This pic was taken by Margaret Holland 'Oyster catcher hunting the tide line in Norfolk' 24 02 15. www.flickr.com.

I have seen cormorants working up and down the river. They can stay underwater for a very long time and they usually surface where you are least expecting them.

This picture was taken by David Adamson on 22.06.14 but he doesn't say where. www.flickr.com.

The snipe is well camouflaged and practically invisible if you are looking up sun. It's about 25cms long, struts purposefully and suddenly strikes for its prey.

Photo by mjeedlbr 23.08.15. www.flickr.com

The curlew with its down turned beak is easily recognised. They stride haughtily along the tide's edge seemingly with their nose upturned.  How can this be?! Then they nonchalantly lower their beaks in to the water, stir it up a bit and, lo, food!

Photo by Nick Wakeling 10.09.14 in the Wader Aviary at  Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, which is also near here. www.flickr.com

Finally the little egret. This graceful creature strides languidly through the shallows, stops dead still, focuses without movement then pounces. It is so beautiful, especially for being delicately small at only 60cm in length.

Photo by Janet Sharp 23.06.15 www.flickr.com




Gulls and terns another day.

Settling in to the marina

Here is Lady Cate settled in her berth at The Granary Yacht Harbour with Blackthorn, the half-size Thames Barge, in the background.

The views across the river are delightful. The low hills where they found the Sutton Hoo treasure are in the distance.

These photos were taken on a rather dull day with my tablet. I've got a lot to learn about photography and picture editing!

Here is the marina, looking North, upstream on the River Deben, as far as can be navigated. We get access +/- 3 hours of high tide.

You can just see the dredger with which Simon is creating the marina space on the far right. He adds a bit each winter.

The wildlife is very varied. I have twice seen a seal in these waters. Today a cormorant surfaced right beside me as I stood on the pontoon in the foreground. We quite surprised each other. I have seen common gulls, greater back-backed gulls, terns, curlew, lapwing, snipe, oyster-catchers and little egrets to date.

Blackthorn, a close neighbour, is a very pretty half-size Thames Barge. Quite a few have been built for She was saved a completely refitted by her owner, as many boats around have been.

They say here that the boats own the people! Some boats have been in the area for generations, passing from one owner to another. Twinkler, a 20ish foot boat built for the Norfolk Broads, is up out of the water being refitted. She was built in 1926 and is looking great. Picture to follow as soon as she fully dressed.

Lady Cate blog introduction

Here is the lovely Lady Cate. She is an Otter 36ft twin diesel motor yacht. She has two double cabins, both en-suite and one with a shower, and a large wheelhouse, with an extra berth. Built in 1967 she is 20 years younger than me but is already a great classic boat. 

I bought her on 1st August 2015 and practically live on her now.

I am keeping her at The Granary Marina in Melton, Suffolk,UK on the beautiful River Deben. There is a very friendly community here. The boats include some real classic East coast gems, especially the lovely Blackthorne, a small Thames barge. The views are fabulous and there is a wonderful variety of bird life. It's like being on a happy holiday all the time.

I plan to write a blog about her and her travels, mainly for my family and friends but also for boat-folk who might be interested in the journeys and the technical stuff.

This is my first post, so I'm learning my way. Another journey to blog about.

Cheers for now.

Chris