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Started work on some ads at 6.00 before it got hot. Stopped at 11.45 and went for a walk up the Basingstoke Canal towpath. Nice and cool under the trees and by the water.
Walking along I hear a scraping sound followed by a splash and look down to see an adder swimming across to the opposite bank.
Must have been sunning itself on the exposed shingle thanks to the low water level. 5 minutes later the same again...
Last ramble along the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal, revealed Class 1 drug users fishing for gear (according to Mrs TiRed - I thought they were just pulling weed out of the water). Not quite the nature one expected. Some nice baby moorhens too.
Nearly ran over a lovely little adder sunning itself on the trail above Staveley on Saturday.
Local canal wildlife is mainly herons and angry swans.
That must be pretty rare to see an adder swimming? At least compared to grass snakes.
A couple of months ago I was on a road ride with about 8 other club members, trailing the others on an incline I suddenly stopped when I saw a very young grass snake in front of me.
He was very much alive but unfortunately his rear end had been squashed by what looked like a bicycle wheel. I had to finish him off by stamping on his head twice with my cleated shoe. He was beautiful - looked freshly painted. It spoilt the rest of my day. RIP Sid.
I saw an adder on my ride yesterday, it was crossing a narrow lane between Crookham and Greeham commons. Managed to get a photo of it before it darted into the hedgerow. It was only about 12ins long and as round as my thumb so assuming it was a snakelet if that's the correct term.
I've never seen a snake in the canal but I have seen a couple when paddle boarding on the local river. I think the kingfisher was probably the spot I got most excited about.
Is that the kingfisher Near Farnham?
EDIT: forget that, the Farnham one us on the Wey as there is no canal.
Last ramble along the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal
I love the Jubilee river down that way too, lovely for swimming in!
I love the Jubilee river down that way too, lovely for swimming in!
I'm more a fan of the Thames for swimming. Sadly the Jubilee River had another drowning recently.
A particularly nice walk is up the Jubilee River from Dorney Lake to its source at Boulter's Lock then walk back along the Thames path and admire the fine wildlife (well, large houses in Bray). Not yet seen a Kingfisher. Plenty of Herons.
Basingstoke Canal
Wow, brings back memories. I lived in Fleet over the years they were just finishing restoring it. Mate of mine from school's dad did a lot of driving the incredible steam dredger. There was a Kingfisher on the stretch behind Glen Road back then.
Did the whole towpath from King John's castle to the other side of the M25 on my mountain bike once.
In Falkirk we have a strava section along the canal called jakeys paradise (where you regularly get locals drinking) it also has a couple of plaques there for their friends who have passed away long before their time. Regularly see Herons and swans too (but mainly jakeys)