Ilkeston - Trains and Boats and .... Birds
w/e 08 May 2022
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300
A short walk along the towpath
of the Erewash Canal between Potter's Lock and Green's Lock brought
to mind the song "Trains and Boats and Planes" composed
by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which became a hit record in
1965. Whilst we didn't see any planes we did see both trains
and boats.
The canal follows a similar route to both the meandering River
Erewash and the railway line which crosses the river near Potter's
Lock at the site of a former mill. The mill which gives its name
to Mill Lane up to Cossall is long gone but that is where we
saw the first train through the trees that have grown on the
site of the mill.
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A little further along the canal
the railway lines are closer to the towpath and it was here that
a southbound train thundered past.
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The boats of course were narrow boats and it was the "Omega"
that was moored within sight of the footbridge over the canal
at Potter's Lock.
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Passing through the lock was another boat - the "Rocyn".
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Whilst we didn't see any planes, we did see plenty of birds.
A swan was swimming below the gates at Potter's Lock whilst its
mate sat on a nest near the footbridge. That's the "Omega"
again further along the canal.
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Another bird we saw near Potter's Lock was a friendly robin feeding
on the bridge over the river. I'm sure if I'd have held the food
in my hand he would have eaten it from there.
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Two mallards on the canal also swam expectantly towards us.
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But a couple of moorhens were not at all interested and swam
away.
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No planes but I did manage to capture two more ducks in flight
as they swooped along the canal.
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Meanwhile there were more ducks in a row taking an afternoon
siesta in the sunshine at Green's Lock. As we left the canal
and followed the tree shrouded path back home, we couldn't see
the birds in the branches above but bird song serenaded us all
the way back to the road. None of it however resembled Burt Bacharach
and David's song but that is the earworm that's been in my head
ever since!
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