Starling Murmurations

Starling Murmurations

It’s starling murmuration season again (this runs from late autumn through the winter). The occurs as the local populations of starlings are boosted by their European cousins arriving to escape the harsh Scandinavian winter. A starling murmuration is an amazing sight, with huge flocks forning into an amazing acrobatic mass before roosting.

There have been huge gatherings of starlings over the lakes of the Cotswold Water Park over the last few days, with flocks in excess of 50,000 being reported. Amazing!

 

Murmuration

This is a great article giving tips about how to photograph their antics! http://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2014/dec/09/starling-murmurations-how-to-photograph-in-pictures

 

Photo credits: flickr photo by tsbl2000 http://buff.ly/1ImdDh4 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license

 
 

 

Using a Stand Up Paddle board on the Lower Mill Estate

SUP on Lower Mill Estate

SUP on Lower Mill Estate
We have loved exploring the lakes on the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswold Water Park in our Canadian Canoe but we have been intrigued to try out a Stand Up Paddle board (SUP).  We have seen lots of pictures of people on SUPs and have watched people using them but now it was time to try them out for ourselves.  The Family Adventure Store have SUPs for hire on the Lower Mill Estate so we headed in their direction.  We had arranged to have a board from 11am on Saturday morning.  We had imagined heading out onto the water under clear blue skies, but it was not to be.  The skies were grey and it was raining.  We weren’t too worried as we were fairly convinced that our first encounter with a SUP would end with wet clothes –  swimming things and waterproof jackets were the order of the day.  We met Jenny at the Family Adventure Store and walked to collect a SUP.  The Stand Up Paddle board the Family Adventure Store have available to hire is an inflatable version – don’t think squishy beach ball – more rigid board with a tiny internal honeycomb structure making it really firm, but not too hard to carry.   The other vital piece of equipment, other than buoyancy aids which we were already wearing, was the paddle.  A SUP paddle is much longer than a canoe paddle and the paddle part is quite shaped.  Jenny talked us through how to hold it in the water (the opposite way round to the way we would have assumed) and how to steer.  As you stand in the middle of the board you steer with the start of your stroke, rather than at the end of your stroke as in a canoe.  We carried the board down to the edge of Somerford Lagoon, the largest lake on the Lower Mill Estate.

Setting off on a SUP is very different to setting off in a canoe.  In a canoe it is helpful if someone gives the canoe a push off into the lake.  When you a standing on a SUP, the last thing you want is for someone to give the board a push, upsetting your balance and propelling you into the water without your board! We were surprised to find how straight forward it is, and were quickly exploring the lake – it’s fun being that much higher than you are when you’re in a canoe – you have quite a different view.  We quickly forgot that it was raining and enjoyed using the SUP.  The children were very keen to have a go.  We started off with them paddling while one of us sat on the back of the board, but we soon realised that they had taken to using a SUP like ducks to water and our role was redundant!  SUP Lower Mill EstateAs the children are shorter instead of using the SUP paddle they used a canoe paddle.  Within a short time we felt at home with the SUP – and decided it was time to collect our Canadian canoe so that we could have more of us on the water at one time.  The canoe is kept in the Lower Mill Estate boat park, 10 minutes walk from Daisy Chain, or a 10 minute paddle across the lake.  We discovered that the SUP was quite capable of carrying one adult and three children across the lake! At the boat park 3 of us jumped into the canoe and our son enjoyed paddling the SUP back to Daisy Chain.  It was fun to watch the terns diving as we passed by.SUP on Lower Mill Estate

By Saturday evening the rain had cleared and so it was time for a barbecue.  It was lovely to be able to barbecue by the lakeside while the rest of the family continued to enjoy playing on the lake in the canoe and stand up paddle board.  There is an island in the middle of Somerford Lagoon which is fun to paddle around.  From the middle of the lake the hungry paddlers could smell the barbecue cooking and so soon returned to shore for food!

BBQ and watersports Lower Mill Estate

The forecast for Sunday was grey – the weather forecasters seem to excel in talking down the weather.  The sun came out and we had beautiful blue skies with fluffy white clouds and very light winds.  Perfect weather for paddle boarding.  We set off around the edge of the lake – there is always more wildlife to be seen in the reeds at the edge and we enjoyed gliding silently towards egrets.  The SUP is able to explore slightly smaller, shallower passages than the canoe, so it was fun to explore new places.  By staying close to the edge of the lake we were able to come ashore to swap paddlers.  Whilst we discovered that it is possible to swap vessel in the middle of the lake it was slightly more wobbly, although our confidence had meant that today we were wearing shorts and t-shirts rather than swimming things!  There were lots of swans on the lake, and it was lovely to watch a couple of them running across the water, lifting off and flying across the lake.  Swan taking off

Jenny told us that a recent guest on the Lower Mill Estate had swum around the edge of Somerford Lagoon and measured it as 2.2km.  I think we’ll stick to paddling (not with our feet!)  We loved our adventures with a SUP and will definitely be spending more time on them.  The children were very excited to tell their friends about their adventures on returning to school this morning!
SUP on Lower Mill Estate

To contact the Family Adventure Store to book a SUP, or indeed a kayak or bike for your holiday on the Lower Mill Estate give them a ring on 07971 252394  Hire charges are by the day or 3 days, but have a chat about what would work for you as they are very happy to work around you.

Cerney Wick Roundhouse, Cotswold Water Park

Cerney Wick Roundhouse, Cotswold Water Park

The Thames and Severn Canal passes along the edge of Cotswold Water Park. It was completed in 1798 and was planned as part of a canal route from Bristol to London. At its eastern end it connects to the River Thames at Inglesham Lock near Lechlade, while at its western end it connects to the Stroudwater Navigation at Wallbridge. Since 1972 the Cotswold Canals Trust has been working to restore the canal and the Stroudwater Navigation so that there can again be a navigable link between the River Thames and the River Severn.

A walk along the section of Canal that passes along the edge of Cotswold Water Park will bring you past Cerney Wick Roundhouse. It is one of five distinctive buildings that were built for use by lock-keepers and lengthmen. The roundhouses have 3 floors, the lower floor would have been a store, while the first floor provided a living area and the second floor a circular bedroom. The roundhouse at Cerney Wick is now privately owned.

A 5 mile circular walk starting at South Cerney takes you past the Roundhouse along the disued Canal and the old railway line. For more details http://www.theaa.com/walks/around-the-lakes-of-the-cotswold-water-park-420502

Visitors walking around the Lower Mill Estate will find another roundhouse in Mill Village, the oldest part of the estate.

Spring Migration through Cotswold Water Park

Spring Migration through Cotswold Water Park

The central location of the Cotswold Water Park and its vast area of wetland habitats makes it an important stop-over location for migrating birds in the Spring. This year 121 species have already been seen in the Water Park. In the last week an osprey has been seen as well as the first swallows and an avocet. Other species seen recently on the Lower Mill Estate include red crested pochard, goldeneye, widgeon, gadwall, teal, cettis warblers, blackcap, meadow pipits, reed buntings and kingfisher.

A great resource is http://buff.ly/1yZ9V89 where an ongoing record of species sighted in the water park is kept. Maps can also be downloaded showing different areas of the water park to explore.

Grab your binoculars or your telescope and enjoy the spring migration. While you’re watching for birds don’t forget to keep an eye out for otters and beavers too!

Spring Migration Lower Mill Estate

 

 

An Easter Egg Hunt with a difference

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Egg Hunt

Looking to up the ante for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt?  We’ve got the perfect solution.  Join in the annual Lake and Land Easter Egg Hunt at South Cerney Outdoor in Cotswold Water Park, just 5 minutes away from Daisy Chain.  The popular Easter Egg hunt involves finding golden eggs hidden in tunnels and then powerboating out to Easter Island to discover more hiding in nests.  The hunt is suitable for ages 3+ and tickets need to be booked in advance. Everyone loved it last year – it’s definitely one not to miss.

 

For details on how to book visit http://www.southcerneyoutdoor.co.uk/SpecialEvents.aspx

Otters in Cotswold Water Park

Otters in Cotswold Water Park

Otters in Cotswold Water Park

Cotswold Water Park is home to a healthy population of otters, but it remained a mammal that I hadn’t ever seen in the wild…until yesterday morning.  We had a magical time by one of the lakes on the Lower Mill Estate watching the otters diving for fish.  There were four otters who were went about their fishing with our family being a very happy audience.  We were amazed by the number of times they did synchronised dives.  Enjoy watching some of the footage we took!

http://youtu.be/RAVznCULaG4

 

 

Lower Mill Estate: Somerford Lagoon

Lower Mill Estate: Somerford Lagoon

The Lower Mill Estate is a 550 acre estate and private nature reserve. It is made up of many lakes which each have their own character. The largest, Somerford Lagoon, is the lake that Daisy Chain looks out on. During the summer months it can be canoed and sailed on. During the winter it is closed to boating so that overwintering birds can use it without being disturbed, making it a great place for birdwatching. Other lakes can be used all year round. This photo was taken from Daisy Chain.

Somerford Lagoon Lower Mill Estate

 

 

Sunday Sunrise…turn the volume up!

Sunday Sunrise…turn the volume up!

A video for you this morning so that you can hear the dawn chorus. The forecast was for a grey start to the day on Friday, so when I peeked through the curtains at Daisy Chain just to check that there wasn’t a sunrise I was very excited to find this! When I opened the window the full sound of the dawn chorus was revealed! Enjoy 10 seconds of the magic of Daisy Chain.

 

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Rare Roman Cockerel on display

Rare Roman Cockerel on display

New Roman finds have just gone on display at Cirencester’s Corinium Museum. In 2011 an enamelled cockerel was found during excavations of the western cemetery of Corinium (Roman Cirencester). The cockerel is one of only 9 known cockerel figurines from the Roman world, and is the only one with its tail intact. The cockerel is 12.5cm tall and the breast, wings, eyes and comb are inlaid with enamel, which is now blue and green.

Visitors will also be able to see a selection of beads and bracelets, which would have been high status objects and give a real insight into the people who lived in Corinium. The Tetbury Coin Hoard is also on display – it contains 1437 silver and copper-alloy 3rd Century Roman coins. The remarkably intact pottery vessel which contained them is also on display.

More information and photo credit: http://coriniummuseum.org

Cotswold Water Park Holiday Pass

Cotswold Water Park Holiday Pass

From now until the end of September you can buy a CWP Holiday Pass from the Gateway Centre to receive up to 20% discount off a range of activities available on the Water Park. The Pass costs £10 and is valid for up to 6 people for 2 weeks. Activities include kayaking, waterskiing, high ropes, shooting and fishing as well as selected food and drink outlets.

For more information: http://bit.ly/cwpholidaypass
Posted by: http://www.cotswoldfamilyholidays.com/

#cwpholidaypass
#cotswoldwaterpark

 

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