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Paul's Mayday Mile

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My Activity Tracking

111
mi

My target 31 mi

I’m taking on the Mayday Mile challenge to support RNLI volunteers

This May, I’m completing a mile-a-day challenge to help RNLI crews save lives at sea.

During summertime, more people flock to beaches and coastal towns to make the most of everything they have to offer – from glorious sunshine to adventurous watersports. And as temperatures rise, so do calls from people in trouble in the water.

By answering this Mayday call and giving a gift today, you can make a real, lifesaving difference. Your kindness will help give volunteers everything they need to launch to the rescue, and make sure they’re ready to face their busiest season.

Will you sponsor my RNLI Mayday Mile challenge and support the courageous crews?

Please help raise funds for the RNLI

Raised

£456 + £70.55 GiftAid

My Goal

£250

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My Achievements

Updated Profile Pic

Self donated

Reached 25% of fundraising target

Reached 50% of fundraising target

Reached 75% of fundraising target

Reached 100% of fundraising target

Added a Blog Post

Shared fundraising page

Reached 25% of distance target

Reached 50% of distance target

Reached 75% of distance target

Reached 100% of distance target

My Updates

Day thirty one.

Friday 31st May
The final day, weather absolutely rubbish, cold, wet, windy and grey.
Managed 3m this morning before the rain really set in.
Nature highlight of the day, a pair of Swans with four signets, probably only a few days old by their size.
All swimming along the Minster stream, male at the front closely followed by the young, with the female tight in behind them.
A fitting end to this month of posting.
Mileage target 31m.
Actual total 108.
Fundraising target £250.
Actual total £456.
My sincere and grateful thanks, to all who supported in such a generous way, and to those who have been following my blog. Not something that I ever thought I might ever engage in. It's been fun.
Thanks to the RNLI for making it possible, and all that you do..!!

Day thirty.

Thursday 30th May
Barely 9c this morning, with a brisk north westerly breeze, not summer yet! Between the rain managed 4.2m. Watched a small flock of Starlings, about 40, flitting from tree to tree squawking loudly at each other. Every so often, 4 or 5 of them dive down into the nearby crop of rye. Not sure what they were finding to eat on the ground around the stalks, but it was obviously very exciting. Can't think of any other reason that they were doing this.

Day twenty nine.

Wednesday 29th May
3.7m today, mostly along by the river. A proliferation of dog rose in the hedgerow, all the way down to the river, has brought some welcome colour back.
On the Ash side of the river I spot 3 or 4 Little Egrets, they plodding about amongst the cattle, who are all lying down with their young, ruminating no doubt.
There are quite a few Hogweed (not the giant variety) in flower, these seem to attract bees and different types of fly, perhaps the flowers have a high sugar content.

Day twenty eight.

Tuesday 28th May
Not the best of days weather wise, but managed 3.5m, mainly in the afternoon. More "hill walking"- ha ha, up Tothill St along to Laundry Road (aka Telegraph Hill). Down to Foxborough along The Lanes then footpath across to Durlock. At the beginning of the footpath, I noticed another plant that I did not recognise, using a different plant ID app that I have recently installed, I discover that it is called an Esparcet, or Common Sainfoin, a member of the pea family. The flowers were just setting, and appeared almost conical in shape, purple in colour. Apparently good for bees. Must keep a check on seeds settling, and perhaps give it a helping hand to spread.

Day twenty seven.

Monday 27th May
Only managed 3.2m yesterday, made up for it today, 4.6m total.
Walked through to Sheriff's Court this morning. As I approach the farm, I walk beside a field that was committed to bird seed planting about 3 years ago. This has proved very successful for all kinds of wildlife. Plants noted today were, Prickly sow-thistle, Wild radish, Great willowherb (not yet in flower) Field mustard, Wild carrot and Lacy phacelia, which was attracting many small bumble bees. Later on in the summer, other plants will flower, including Sunflowers, it's a real picture to behold then.

Day twenty six.

Sunday 26th May
Heavy overnight rain has made the choice of route for my walk a bit limited. Most of the tracks really puddled and muddy, the overgrown path along the river will be holding lots of wet. Cow parsley bowed over by the the weight of water droplets hanging on the flower heads.
Fry in the pump house outlet channel very busy, suddenly all coming to rest in a pocket of sunlight, then just as suddenly, they all shoot off in the same direction. I wonder which one makes the first move? A bit like a murmuration of Starlings. 

Day twenty five.

Saturday 25th May
4.15m today, mainly on the marsh.
Saw two large dragonflies patrolling their respective sections of water.
One green, one blue, both stunning metallic colours.
The Swan was still on it's nest, hatching time must be very near.
Walking alongside the rye crop, it seems that some is nearly 5ft high.
Apparently, this is not a food crop, but will be cut green, for bio-mass processing, not entirely comfortable with that scenario, but it is what it is!

Day twenty four.

Friday 24th May
No walk this morning, osteopath appointment.
Went to Goodnestone Park in the afternoon, last time we were there, 10 days ago, the wooded areas where full wood anemones, celandines, wild garlic flowers and campions.
Today, all that was left were a few campions, what a difference.
However, the meadows nearby were a sea of dog daisies, buttercups, clover and yellow rattle, wonderful.

Day twenty three.

Thursday 23rd May
Total of 3.4m , mostly along the river this morning. The sun broke through causing quite a sudden rise in temperature. This brought out a number of day moths and damselflies, all keen to flit about among the tall grasses and cow parsley, of which there is a great abundance.

Day twenty two

Wednesday 22nd May
Just under 4m today, trying to avoid the really wet and muddy tracks after yesterday's awful weather.
Walking back from Sheriff's Court, along the track lined with Holm Oaks, a millennium planting, I stop to look at the new pale green leaves and catkins. Many of the mature leaves have rusty marks on them, this is a sign of leaf miner. These are the lavea of certain moths and flies, that tunnel around in the leaves, fortunately this doesn't harm the tree, the leaves dropping off naturally as they age.

Day twenty-one.

Tuesday 21st May
What a rubbish wet day, but managed 4.5m.
Most of the Hawthorne and Buckthorn blossom has gone, to be replaced by Elderflowers and Dog Rose. Found another little plant that I have not seen before, ID'ed as Rosey Garlic.
Five Little Egrets flying alongside the river was a bright spot on a dull day.

Day twenty.

Monday 20th May
Two walks on the marsh today, 4.2m in total.
Saw a plant that I have never seen on the marsh before, my trusty plant ID app shows it to be a common salsify, quite a nice purple flower.
Good sighting of a black cap and a long tailed tit this morning.
Cuckoo sounding off over a large area.

Day nineteen.

Sunday 19th May
3.67m today.
Walked alongside the Minster stream this morning. Marsh frogs seemed to be intent on drowning out any sounds of neighbouring wildlife.
Nearby, a dragonfly patrols his chosen section of water, swiftly chasing off any other dragonflies who may venture into the area.

Day eighteen.

Saturday 18th May
Two walks on the marsh today, total of 3.34m. The murky start to the day seemed to have muted some of the regular bird song, but the warblers down by the river were still competing.
A pair of little egret were feeding in the water logged field behind the waste water site, they have been there regularly for some weeks, perhaps nesting somewhere nearby.

Day seventeen.

Friday 17th May
Walked this morning from Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory across to RSPB reserve Lydden, just behind the village of Worth. Some good bird watching, particularly curlews and advocets. Also close up to a speckled wood butterfly. Just over 4m. Out again in the afternoon locally, another 1.3m.

Day fifteen.

Thursday 16th May
Despite dodgy weather managed 4.69m today. Walked to Sheriff's Court this morning passed through a crop of broad bean plants, all in flower and some nearly 4 feet high.
Out on to the marsh this afternoon, stopped on the bridge at the rear of the pumping station. The outlet channel was really shallow, and because the pumps were not running, very clear. Watched a small shoal of fry weaving around, occasional flashes of silver as individuals turned on their sides. Far too small to tell what type of fish they were, but good to see them there.

Day fifteen.

Wednesday 15th May
3.5m today.
Down along the river this morning , quite a lot of common vetch almost in flower. Managed to get photos of the damsel fly that I have mentioned in a previous post, also of a day flying moth , which I think I have identified as an Hebrew character, my book says that they are common, and there were several in the same area.
Picked some elderflowers for a friend, who will make cordial from them.

Day fourteen.

Tuesday 14th May
Damp drizzle laden day, so only 2.4m covered.
Afternoon walk normally includes the edges of, as yet, uncultivated fields. Apart from spraying off the weed growth about a month ago, there is just the stubble from last year's crop. Not sure what might be planted this late in the year, maize perhaps.
There are always a number of jackdaws strutting around in the field, pecking at something that must be a food source, goodness knows what though.

Day twelve.

Tuesday 14th May
I can remember writing up day twelve, but seems that I omitted to post.
Total of 3.97m.
Short walk in the morning on the marsh in really warm sun, accompanied for most of the walk by the cackle of marsh frogs.
Very nice walk at Goodnestone Park in afternoon, quite a few brown butterflies in the wooded areas, but I can never tell one type from another. Heard a Turtle dove just off the main street in the village, great!!

Day thirteen.

Monday 13th May
3.27m today. 
Down by the river this morning, heard and saw a cuckoo, greater whitethroat, goldfinch and heard a green woodpecker.
Several butterflies about too, large and small white, red admiral, peacock, orange tip and I think a common blue which wouldn't stay still!

Day eleven.

Saturday 11th May
Two walks on the marsh today, total 3.77m. 
Marsh frogs very vocal this morning, almost drowning out the Warblers, but together they made some very fine "marsh music" !

Day ten.

Friday 10th May
Two walks today total of 3.7m.
Really clear sighting of a Chiffchaff in full song.
Along the river bank, 2 Damselflies ( Banded demoiselles) according to a reference book at home, one of the larger members of the species in Britain.
Also a large Dragonfly, not sure what type, catching a meal on the wing, something that I have never seen before.

Day nine.

Thursday 9th May
4.67m today, 2.8m on the marsh this morning. Saw a few Swallows and House martins scimming across the top of the cerial crops, the sudden warmth bringing out the bugs for them to feed on.
Looking up into the almost clear blue sky, I count 15 aircraft contrails, and reflect on the hundreds of people travelling in the planes. How many thousands of miles will they have travelled when they have reached their destination.
What level of impact caused by those journeys?
The feeding birds have also travelled thousands of miles, their impact ------ zero?

Day eight.

Wednesday 8th May
3.3m total today.
Cloudy with a slight chill this morning wasn't expected.
Heard Skylarks, Linnets, Reed Warblers and Yellow Wagtails competing for air time on Radio Birdsong.
Afternoon walk in warm sunshine was much better.

Day seven.

Tuesday 7th May
Thank goodness for the change of weather, 3m this morning, heard 4 different types of warbler on the marsh.
Great to see Swifts over the churchyard this afternoon, first sighting this year. 1.2 m late afternoon under bright blue sky.

Day six.

Monday 6th May
Despite the unsociable weather, managed to notch up 3.8m over two walks today.
Better forecast for the rest of the week thankfully, never really liked getting wet!

Day five.

Sunday 5th May
Quick 1.5m walk this morning.
Using my new app for identifying bird song, found eight different species in just a few minutes.
Little drifts of Poplar seeds along the edge of the lane looks like snow, seems a bit early for the seed being released, but its there!
Another 2.5m in the afternoon seeking more bird song.

Day four.

Saturday 4th May
2.4m walk this morning down to the river Stour and along it for a while. Saw 8 Buzzards soaring overhead, never seen that many together before.
This afternoon, 3.17m walk on the marsh behind Preston, along the Little Stour and up through woods packed with Bluebells. Saw what seemed to be the entrance to a Beaver's tunnel , plenty of evidence of Willow bark being stripped, good Beaver fodder!

Day three.

Friday 3rd May
1.6m this morning in persistent drizzle, not nice.
1.26m this afternoon in bright sunshine, very nice!

Day two.

Thursday 2nd May
2.6 miles this morning, "hill walking" or as near as you can in Minster, up Prospect Lane and down Laundry Rd  (Telegraph Hill).
Another 1.6 this afternoon on the marsh.

Day one.

Wednesday 1st May
My trusty step counter app has registered 2.63 miles for today's walk.

Thank you to my Sponsors

£53

Thomas

£42.40

Simon Willins

£31

Andrea And Peter

Well done Paul

£31

Berwyn And Gill X

Great initiative Paul

£25

Ali N

£21.20

Anna Corlett

£21.20

Paul Willins

£21.20

Liz Shervington

£21.20

Fran Kimmons

What a good cause

£21.20

Carol And David

Well done. Excellent cause!

£21.20

Jonathan Heard

Good luck with the fundraising

£21.20

Sue Willins

From Sue and Kieth

£21.20

Joyce Outen

Go well

£21.20

Pat Hogben

Well done! Great idea and cause.xx

£21

Sally

Well done! Xx

£10.60

Anne Griffiths

Good luck Paul best wishes Anne

£10.60

Sheila Greenstreet

£10.60

Daniel Heard

£10

Steve & Amy

Good Luck Uncle

£10

Katy Andrews

£5.30

John Chesters

£5

Louise & Sarah

Wowzers! That’s a lot of walking! Have fun xx