Saturday 23 November 2013

23 November 2013
Busy day to look forward to. Rehearsal with Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and then two performances of Grease with West Bromwich Operatic Society at Dormston Mill Theatre, Sedgley.

Saturday 10 August 2013

Photographs

Saturday 10 August 2013

I was looking through some photographs from different places I have been to, both far away and near to home. Here is a selection.

 
Bittern

 
Blue Tit

 
Chaffinch

 
Coal Tit

 
Fulmar

 
Great Tit

 
Pheasant

 
Wheatear

 
Garganey

 
Great Grey Shrike

 
Blackcap

 
Little Owl

 
Redshank

 
Sparrowhawk

 
Spoonbill

 
Reed Bunting

 
Little Grebe

 
Willow Warbler
 
 
Water Rail
 
 
Red Grouse

Hampton Loade

Saturday 10 August 2013

Went on a four-and-a-half miles walk in a circular route from Hampton Loade to Alveley and back again. The first part of the walk was along the River Severn and then through the Severn Valley Country Park, finally going back to Hampton Loade along country lanes.


 
 
In total, I saw 22 different species of birds: Woodpigeon, House Martin, Buzzard, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackbird, Robin, Swallow, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail and Starling.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Chelmarsh Reservoir

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Went to Chelmarsh Reservoir and saw three Green Sandpipers on the scrape and a Little Egret on the Reservoir. There were many Tufted Ducks, Coots and various Gulls. In the hide on the scrape a member of the Chelmarsh Ringing Group was ringing the birds caught in the nets - Blackcap and Chiffchaff as well as a baby Robin and a Blue Tit. For information on their work go to
http://chelmarshrg.blogspot.co.uk/

Before going to the Dress Rehearsal and first performance of 13, decided to look through the score for Oliver for which I am the Musical Director for Phoenix Theatre Company. The production is on at the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley in February 2014.

Tuesday 6 August 2013

13

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Band Call this morning for 13 with MYK Productions at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton. Jack Hopkins is the Musical Director and I am playing Lead Guitar. The performances run from Wednesday to Friday with performances beginning at 7.30pm.

An evening meeting with the committee of Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company at The Holly Bush in Penn.

Scotland

Wednesday 31 July - Sunday 4 August 2013

After staying overnight in Ecclefechan, near to Lockerbie, the next three nights were spent at Nethy Bridge. Visits were made to the RSPB centre at Loch Garten where Ospreys were seen and the elusive Crested Tit. There were also many young Siskins to be seen.

 
 

A visit to see the Slavonian Grebes at Loch Ruthven ended unsuccessfully but a Roe Deer made an appearance on the way back to the car.

 

A Golden Eagle was seen in the Findhorn Valley but was too high to photograph but this place was so peaceful and beautiful. Many Red Grouse were seen at Lochindorb, too many to count.


A visit to Nairn was also very worthwhile with Redshank and Turnstone seen in the harbour and Yellowhammer and Whitethroat seen on a walk to the Culbin Forest. Overall, fifty-four different species were seen - a great trip!

On the journey home visits were made to RSPB Insh Marshes where Spotted Flycatchers were very mobile and then finally, to RSPB Geltsdale where a Hobby made an unsuccessful pursuit of a Meadow Pipit.

Spain

Monday 22 July - Monday 29 July 2013

After the pre-tour concert at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, performing in the Wolverhampton Youth Wind and Youth Orchestras, there were a few days at home before setting off for Catalonia, North-Eastern Spain, for the tour. Travelling by coach, we arrived on Tuesday 23 July, staying at the Grand Sol Hotel in Solsona. Concerts were performed every night, the first being on the Wednesday and the final one on the Sunday night, before travelling back to Wolverhampton, arriving in the early hours of Tuesday 30 July, later than expected. A grand time was had by all.

Then, a day's rest, before going off to Scotland for a few days.