Ouroboros

@tformosus

Hospital lab tech, hiking and wild camping, chronic illness

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Ouroboros@tformosus· 29d

The Woodland Trust had an out of planting season sale so I picked up another 45 hawthorn. Will pot them out and let them grow for a couple of weeks sheltered from the midday sun in the shade behind the gazebo. It'll allow them to get a bit of a head start while I plant out the existing ones.

A photo of 45 hawthorn saplings sat in a black tray alongside some plastic pots. In the shade of a pop up gazebo some tools can be seen beside the tray and beyond the open rear flap of the gazebo a sun lit rough grazing field.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jul 15

Making steady progress with the hedge planting. I am just reaching the gazebo, so at least a quarter of the length is done. Coupled with hawthorn I just purchased as I spotted the Woodland Trust having a sale, I might be able to put in a third row or build up the corners a little.

A photo of the view along the saplings planting line from the other direction. Looking from just before the silver birch down the twin line of saplings extending into the mid ground. To the right of them a pop up gazebo can be seen. In the distance many trees and large shrubs can be seen which this new hedge is going to connect to. In the far distance hills can be seen.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jul 6

A pleasant way to spend the evening. After hauling up all the hawthorn saplings, relaxing as the sun goes down while the sprinkler handles watering them. Aiming to consolidate all the saplings up at the field site in preparation for planting (and to allow for the lawn to be mowed and recover).

A photo of a field. In the foreground dried short grass can be seen before a double length of twine marking out a site for planting a hedge next to a wire fence. On the other side of the fence greener rough grazing can be seen. Running along the left and into the middle distance there is a mature hedge across the middle of the photo are occasional scattered trees with a lot more in the distance. It's sundown and the sun can just be seen growing down through the clouds and trees in the distance.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jul 5

A little more planting done this evening and I put a couple of trail cams up to see if any creatures might be exploring the saplings. Also re-encountered a stray? tabby so intent on hunting a mouse that it put up with my presence long enough to capture dinner and take it under my car.

A photo of a field boundary. To the right of a fence line is longer grass and to the left recently mowed dried grass. Two blue strings are running between stakes just in front of the fence, beneath which a recently planted shrub and tree saplings. At the end of the line fixed to one of the stakes holding it up is a trail camera to keep an eye on what creatures might be about when there's no humans to disturb them.

Another view of the fence line almost at the opposite end of the field looking towards the first photo. Far away from the established pine trees at the other end this section is much more open. Again there are two rows of blue twine attached to stakes marking out the planting lines for the hedge. However only the occasional silver birch sapling is planted here. Scattered every 5m or so is a 50l bag of mulch on the ground. The mowed ground to the left of the fence is about a 6m strip. In the distance set back from the planting lines there is a cream coloured pop up gazebo with red guy lines helping to stake it out. To either side of the gazebo a temporary holding area of different species of saplings awaiting planting can be seen. Running up to the gazebo and up and down the field just in front of the planting lines a yellow hose can be seen for watering the plants while they're sill in pots and just to help them get established once they are planted.

A stray? tabby cat sits on a low brick wall before the wide painted side of a house staring intently at something (a rodent) hiding in the long grass. Its leaning forward over the wall about to spring on its dinner. Its got no collar and given how skittish its been its probably a stray, I'm hoping that I can tame it, we could do with a cat.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jul 2

A couple of metres in, ~73 more to go. It did seem like a good idea in concept, I need the exercise and its nice to be outdoors when the UV is low.

Running from the top left and continuing out of sight to the bottom right are two lines of blue twine tied to stakes 40cm apart running before a fence line in a field. Beneath the twine in two staggered lines are shrub saplings planted roughly ever 50 cm. These plants happen to be hawthorn, crab apple and a silver birch tree at the end. One plant is still in its pot awaiting planting and a half empty 50l sack of peat free compost is seen resting on the ground to the left.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 30

It might not seem like much, but this is the start of a new hedge, a small act of conservation connecting up a mature hedge and wooded areas to either side of a field boundary to create a wildlife corridor. All the main trees, Silver Birches, are now planted. Next to infill with native shrubs.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 26

An inquisitive fledgling robin hoping for a snack.

A juvenile robin. Sat on the back of a bench. Rather than the archetypical red breast, this one has a mix of brown feathers still.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 26

Watching a Moorhen family nesting. One of the adults collecting reeds to pass to the other. Trying for another egg, much to the chagrin of their chirping fledgling who is hanging about the pond too.

A photo of two waterbirds, Moorhens. One is still on a nest beneath the shade of huge giant rhubarb leaves, while its partner swims over ferrying more reeds to build up the nest.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 25

Removing it seems to have helped slightly.

A photo of a fledgling moorhen with water ripples about it as it feeds on the pond it lives on. Reflected in the water are the sunlit trees that surround the pond.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 25

Watching the Moorhens while chilling in the shade next to the university pond prior to another day in the adjoining hospital lab. Hoping that the tissue paper I stuck to the windows continues to be enough for the struggling AC to keep the temperatures down enough not to cook the samples and us.

A moorhen on its little reed nest beneath the huge leaves of what I think is giant rhubarb on a little island in the centre of a pond.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jan 13

Here's an example of a "portal" I visited to briefly capture. As an aside, the reason why the game exists is Google apparently needed data on the real routes and times people took to walk between places for Google Maps, so they contracted a company who made a game to gather the data via its players.

A photo of Whiteford Lighthouse on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. An iron lighthouse can be seen at sunset above the rocky shore at low tide. Large pools of sea water can be seen leading up the the light house. Long abandoned the metalwork of the lighthouse remains, the glass long gone birds can be seen roosting on the framework where the light would be at the top.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jan 6

Repositioning the trail cameras appear to have paid off. I'll keep slowly leap frogging them further away from habitation to see who is nosing about.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jan 4

Woke up to a snowy morning. Headed back inside to the warmth, a cup of tea and to let the birds tuck into their breakfast.

A photo of a back garden covered in an inch or so of snow. In the foreground there are some snow covered steps leading up to a scruffy lawn with only the tips of the long grass poking through the blanket of snow. To the right there is a metal pole hanging several birds feeder and the snow covered roof of a barn just beyond. The sky is grey with snow filled clouds.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 2

Apologies for the poor photo, an unexpected lunch guest. Making a cup of tea I spotted a small bird of prey perched atop a bird feeder. A sparrowhawk I think, hoping for a snack of its own.

A poorly framed photo through a kitchen window looking out towards a garden. A sparrowhawk can be seen perched atop a bird feeder.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Sep 17

A bit of a wet start to the morning. Waiting upon the antibiotics to kick in prior to the final round of extractions. Went for a brief walk about the harbour before retreating back to my car as the rain picked up. The ship is apparently the Seawell www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/deta...

A ship docked in Swansea harbour. In the foreground is the old basin that is more a marina for the nearby apartments not that any yachts are present. In the background past a bridge and a lock gate a ship can be seen, the red hull and white bridge of the Seawell. Apparently it's a Well Stimulation Vessel, presumably for the oil industry.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Aug 13

Work neglected to let me know I had been given a late shift at a satellite lab when I had come in early for a regular one. On the plus side it means I can continue making friends (via the medium of peanuts and mealworms) with the Corvids, they are getting bolder.

A photo of a black carrion crow, stood on the barkless trunk of a fallen tree. Feeding on peanuts, it has several in its beak.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Aug 10

Covering a last minute work absence offered a chance to go to the park and feed the corvids. Sat on the edge of a stump next to a fallen tree they were soon bold enough to get close. After watching them and taking photos I backed off to let the more cautious ones get some food too.

A photo of three birds feeding on peanuts and dried mealworms in a little trough formed on a fallen tree trunk. In the foreground are two fledgling magpies, one on top of the trunk and another opposite a little lower. In the background is a larger fledgling carrion crow approaching to get something to eat too.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jul 19

A short train ride from Swansea to Neath. Hired a Brompton G line electric. I'm probably going to be commuting by train so a folding bike would be handy. Testing it out to see what it's like to take a Brompton by train and more importantly how it (and me) handle a steep hill on the way home.

A photo of a folded Brompton electric bicycle inside a train carriage by the closed train doors. The station platform can be seen through the windows as the train is yet to depart.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 26

Moorhen drama. While one adult and a rather cute chick watch from the safety of a large leaf/nest, the other adult valiantly pursues a diving tufted duck that is mostly interested diving down to the silt of the pond to find a late snack.

A photo of a pond, on the center is a large leafed plant. On one partially submerged leafy is a Moorhen and chick. In the water a Tufted Duck is pursued by the other parent.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 18

I used to feed the bird in a small wooded area of the park, but it's been closed off for a while while they do some maintenance work. After having lunch nearby I was walking across the field only for a crow to land a few feet away. Dried mealworms provided for an old friend.

A photo of a carrion crow, a large species of corvid in the UK, on the sunlit grass in a park. It's standing before a line of dried mealworms.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jun 14

The OPs post followed by another in the timeline, a cartoon of an anthropologic rabbit fishmonger/chef beset by stray cats outside the backdoor of their shop/restaurant.

Ouroboros@tformosus· May 2

To work on drainage and create a new gravel path, Singleton park closed off the wooded area I used to go to have lunch and feed the birds. Recently found another nearby out of the way spot to reacquaint myself with them.

A pair of magpies feeding upon dried mealworms left on the fallen trunk of a tree in a small wooded area in a public park.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Apr 29

I should start bringing mealworms and so forth again as I end up giving half my lunch away to jackdaws, magpies and random squirrels.

A bold grey squirrel approaching close as a foot while begging some of my lunch.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Apr 15

Meeting the relatives. I'm not sure if they are some (not very accurate) models Swansea council have bought or they're on loan from a car place that's locally famous for it's Dino's, but a small local park near the hospital has gained a few old visitors.

Some not terribly accurate reconstructions of dinosaurs in a small public park next to a hospital in Swansea.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Jan 3

Another shift at the lab near the park. What things being slow currently (it will pick up later when it's just me around), I took the opportunity for an early break and the chance to feed the birds (and inevitable squirrels) while it's still light.

A photo from a wooded area of a park. On a fallen tree trunk a carrion crows surveys the offering of dried mealworms while a grey squirrel just on the edge of the photo has some too.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 20

Between the umbrella and that it's been a couple of months, the carrion crows were a little cautious at first, but after watching everyone tuck into the mealworms they eventually braved an appearance on the log too. Working at this site all next week so I should get to see them regularly.

A photograph of birds (carrion crows, magpies, pigeon and other small birds), plus an inevitable grey squirrel feeding on mealworms left on a fallen tree trunk on a wooded area of a park. The carrion crows are being unusually polite.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 13

The military do use Dartmoor as a firing range, but you can check when and where they are active. Camping isnt permitted everywhere (especially with the legal challenge to that right by one of the major landowners), however there is a map on the Dartmoor National Park website showing where its ok.

A photo of my campsite as I prepare to depart. Beyond a little crushed grass were the footprint of my tend was there is no sign that I was there. Resting against a low flat rock is my packed rucksack, hiking poles and gaiters. To the left and middle distance there are some of the rocks of Great Mis Tor and in the distance the view of the lowland moor has almost been lost in the mist.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 13

Winter is especially harsh, manual dexterity goes in the cold, everything is harder. People underestimate the mountains in Britain as they are small, that costs hikers their lives and puts pressure on mountain rescue volunteers. But there's a beauty to the bleakness, even if the weather isnt great.

A photo of a small tent nestled out of the harsh wind by part of the large stack of granite rocks of Great Mis Tor extending off to the left. To the right the moorland at the base of the Tor extend an in the distance, the dawn sunlight can be seen struggling to break through the mist of the lower moorland can be seen.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 13

Dartmoor is the only place in England where wild camping is allowed. The standard leave no trace caveats apply, no open fires, no sign that you've been there etc. The weather is changeable, that video shows pretty exceptional weather even for summer, you need to be prepared, especially in winter.

A photo looking back down the gravel track leading up to Little Mis Tor. To either side of the track is moorland heading downhill. A few members of a herd of Dartmoor Ponies graze near the path on the short cropped grass.

Ouroboros@tformosus· Dec 13

Some photos from my short #Hiking and #WildCamping trip on Dartmoor. #Dartmoor reminds my of the Preseli Mountains with the addition of deeper valleys that are farmed. The Tors are stacks of granite left over from last ice age, plus there's lots ancient and more modern history to explore.