Sunday 26 June 2011

Biggar Birds & Bridges

Yesterday we had a lovely day in Biggar, a small market town in Lanarkshire. Our main reason for visiting was to see the Biggar Poetry Garden, where two of my poems are currently on display. You can read my post about that here.

We also enjoyed birdwatching! Under this pretty bridge, which is near the centre of Biggar, we saw a dipper, flying around the edge of the stream. We also walked round the golf course, where we were delighted to see how much of the area is set aside for wildflowers to grow in, as you can see from this photo. We heard yellowhammers calling here.
Beyond the golf course is a caravan park and a boating lake. There were swallows and house martins flying over the lake, diving low to catch flies (and there were plenty of those about!) and swifts flying higher up. There were plenty of cygnets on the lake, and I think that at this stage, they can be referred to as ugly ducklings...
unlike the mallard chicks! Actually there were young mallards at various stages of development, some almost adult but these ones particularly caught my eye, still fluffy with down lower down their body but with adult feathers at the head and upper back.
We had tea and cake overlooking this view (and a second bridge!), surrounded by birds.

As well as the other birds I've already mentioned, we heard willow warblers calling from the scrubby trees near the boating lake. Most exciting of all, we saw spotted flycatchers! I've only ever seen this species once before and they're declining quite badly across the UK. Yet here they were nesting in the caravan park and flying around quite unconcerned about being surrounded by holiday makers!

As ever, red text contains hyperlinks which take you to other webpages where you can find out more.

For Sunday Bridges

We're off on holiday tomorrow! Back soon!

27 comments:

Mark said...

That is a perfect bridge. Great shot.

Arija said...

It really is a perfect bridge with its old stone arch.

Dave King said...

Sounds like the perfect visit.
Congrats on your poems.

Martha Z said...

A lovely place and so green. My part of the world is now turning gold as the grasses dry and go to seed. There is still a tinge of green on the hillside, lingering quite late in the year do to late rains and cooler than normal temperatures.

Carver said...

What a beautiful place to visit and have your poetry displayed.

Francisca said...

What a lovely garden with birds, wildflowers and charming bridge. Congratulations on having your poetry included in the display.

Christina said...

Congrats on your poems. I love the bridge and it looks so cool and lush there. We are sweltering with 105 temps and no rain. I want to sit by that bridge and have lunch and watch the birds.

Pat said...

Two bridges for the price of one! Sounds like a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! You had me at that first photo with the bridge, and the note about seeing the dipper. This sounds like a place I'd like to spend a lot of time. Just lovely!

Enjoy your vacation and bring back even more photos. :)

Lesley said...

A poetry garden sounds a lovely idea, and I like that it is located near the market where a nice rest is needed.

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» thanks you for your lovely contribution to Sunday Bridges.

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

Beautiful photos!

RG said...

Nice idea - poetry Garden! And cake and tea .... ahhhhh.

(Here we would have a latte and pastry!)

Martin said...

What a lovely post. A pleasure to read.

Have a fabulous holiday.

Dartford Warbler said...

I love watching dippers, but they don`t live here in the sandy heathland of southern England. Good memories of watching them in Yorkshire streams, when we lived there.

Enjoy your holiday.

Wild_Bill said...

Looks quite nice, but more importantly congratulations on the posting of two of your poems. It always nice to have art displayed for the public, isn't it?

Daisy Hickman said...

Beautiful. An enchanted garden, the stuff of poetry and such :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on having your poems exhibited. It sounds like a lovely day out.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Juliet,

What beautiful photographs you have shown and you live in a gorgeous part of the world.
congratulations on your poems, you must be thrilled.

Have a wonderful vacation.
Hugs
Carolyn

baby nursing covers said...

What a beautiful place to stay for a vacation.

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Oh my gosh Juliet that is such a pretty place. The bridge is magical.
xx, shell

Anonymous said...

Wow. From the photos, it looks like such a nice peaceful place to visit. Your poems are lucky to be on display in such a place.

bunnits said...

Lovely place. Great setting for poetry.

Pomona said...

It's lovely to visit somewhere with so much bird life - one of our permaculture course attendees commented on the fact that our place is distinctive for the quantity of birdsong - I think I had almost come to take it for granted so it was good to be reminded how precious it is.

Pomona x

EG CameraGirl said...

Sounds like an ideal day! Lovely photos and I too love the ducklings that still have a bit of fluff.

Gillena Cox said...

thanks for sharing your trip with us


much love

none said...

This sounds like a perfect day!
I enjoyed looking at these pictures, which contain such quiet beauty.
I also love the specifics of your posts, how you name what you've experienced.
:)