ITA-09

I attended the ITA-09 conference at Glyndwr University, Wrexham. The conference was unremarkable and the conference jollies were the same as ITA-07 so I made my own 'social programme'. I met Dave G for a meal in Christleton on the first night.
Instead of a walk round Chester on the second day I chose to visit the RSPB reserve at Inner Marsh Farm, Dee Estuary, The Wirral.

It was a lovely walk down to the pools and hide in bright sunshine.

There were a wide variety of birds to see: waders, raptors and seemingly anxious to pose for their photos right in front of the hide - these stonechat

The hide was quite busy with real bird watchers and thanks to them I saw:

Curlew Sandpiper, Lapwing, Ruff, Stonechat, Linnet, Canada Geese, Cormorant, RingTail Hen Harrier, Coot, Moorhen, Snipe, Heron, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Egret, Wood Sandpiper,Black Tailed Godwit, Starling, Mallard, Black Headed Gull.

Peter and his 4 ladies

Peter visited to show off the newest member of the family and to see Hazel

Warwick Castle - firing the Trebuchet

We had a planned day out with Hazel and used our Walkers Crisps Half-price tickets to visit Warwick Castle. The weather was not very promising but it stayed fine. We watched the Trebuchet (Roman catapult) being fired and then raced back to see the Eagle display. At the end of the display it was announced that volunteers were wanted for the late firing of the Trebuchet and this time the ammunition was to be a fireball! Hazel volunteered and we were allowed to accompany her.

Hazel was kitted out and became a 'hamster' to wind down the throwing arm

She was told not to look at the slats because they were stroboscopic and that it would make her sick. She was told not to be sick because in a hamster cage the floor becomes the ceiling every few seconds!

Watching the release of the arm and seeing the fireball fly through the air was truly impressive.

Canterbury HEA-ICS conference

From 25-27 August Roger was at the Higher Education Academy conference at the University of Kent At Canterbury.
In my spare time I visited Herne Bay,

Reculver Park

and Stodmarsh Reserve

[That's a Red Admiral]