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Views From An Urban Lake Blog


viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk
An outdoors and nature blog. Focusing on wildlife and nature from Milton Keynes and beyond as well as family friendly outdoors activities like Walking, Geocaching etc.
2022-01-19 10:00
DISCLAIMER: This is a photo heavy post of Black Redstart images. Locally, as many people are aware, we have had a Black Redstart over-winter, this is now it’s second year. And it has f… Read More
2021-02-11 21:08
The the grass crunched under my feet as I crossed the glittering fields of the Ouse Valley, Old Wolverton, in front of me a lush landscape, dusted white overnight, by the impish Jack frost… Read More
2021-01-21 11:24
When it comes to fitting walking boots, or hiking boots, it seems everyone has a different opinion. I don’t know if this is because there is no one standard way, or because old advice… Read More
2021-01-14 17:08
Large, heavy, drops of rain slowly drenched through my coat as it persistently fell from the leaden skies above. I was soaked before I even reached a viewpoint over the floodplain forest nat… Read More
2020-12-14 08:50
Over the last year or so of selling my photographs (www.urbanlakephotography.com if you are interested) at various fairs, and markets, I have come to realise that there are certain birds tha… Read More
2020-11-18 16:57
Have you ever taken a closer look at Mallards? It’s probably the most Duck like Duck you’ll find. I mean think about it, if you’ve seen only one Duck it will be a Mallard… Read More
Early Autumn In Quiet Contemplation
2020-09-16 20:24
There is little better than being sat in a hide, in quiet contemplation of life, in early autumn. The, still warm, rays from the sun, […] Read More The post Early Autumn in quiet cont… Read More
Hiatus
2018-06-18 20:08
Regular readers may have noticed a lack of posts of late, especially ones about walking or wildlife trips out. Unfortunately I am suffering a little […] Read More The post Hiatus appe… Read More
A Collection Of Moments Outside
2018-06-12 19:32
I have to admit to struggling lately, motivation, tiredness, extra work, have all led to me not getting out much. I’ve forced myself a few […] Read More The post A Collection of… Read More
Outdoors Wellness With Bo Beolens
2018-06-05 10:00
So far as I know I don’t suffer from mental illness, but that is not to say my mental health is always good. Moreover, there […] Read More The post Outdoors Wellness With Bo Beo… Read More
Walking For Calm May Update
2018-06-01 11:41
If you are a regular reader here you will know I haven’t got out as much in May as I would have liked. Plenty of […] Read More The post Walking for Calm May Update appeared firs… Read More
Opticron MM3 60 GA Travelscope Review
2018-05-18 11:15
Having tested out the Opticron MM4 last year, when Opticron offered me the chance to test out their latest incarnation of the MM3, the Opticron […] Read More The post Opticron MM3 60… Read More
2018-05-08 09:00
Ok, the title of this one is pushing it a little. These aren’t really essentials, as they were in my original 5 Hiking Essentials post, […] Read More The post Even more hiking e… Read More
Misty Sunrise In The Ouse Valley
2018-05-06 11:41
A heavy, early morning, mist clung to the cattle fields, Holy Trinity church rose like a sentinel from within its clutches, a dark beacon above […] Read More The post Misty Sunrise in… Read More
Outdoors Wellness With Libby James
2018-05-04 09:00
Mental illness is defined as “any of various disorders in which a person’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviour are so abnormal as to cause suffering to […] Read More The post… Read More
Morning At The Floodplain Forest
2018-05-03 11:47
When my alarm went off at 5 am this morning, I was working on 4 hours sleep. The pup had, had me up in the […] Read More The post Morning at the Floodplain Forest appeared first on Vi… Read More
Walking For Calm April Update
2018-05-02 10:00
It has been a strange month. I have walked more this month than any other so far this year. In fact this is the first […] Read More The post Walking for Calm April Update appeared fir… Read More
Late Spring At The Floodplain Forest
2018-04-17 20:00
Spring has seemed very late this year, late snow, lots of rain, and cold temperatures have kept it at bay. But this weekend it seems […] Read More The post Late Spring at the Floodpla… Read More
Walking For Calm March Update
2018-04-12 12:43
Well, I just realised it is mid April nearly and I forgot to write a monthly round up of my walking stats etc. Sorry about […] Read More The post Walking for Calm March Update appeare… Read More
Outdoors Wellness With Katy Moyes
2018-04-05 10:00
I got diagnosed with OCD, paranoia, and anxiety when I was very young. I did certain routines and thought things that weren’t normal for a […] Read More The post Outdoors Wellne… Read More
5 Best Butterfly Sites In Milton Keynes
2018-04-01 10:00
When it comes to seeing butterflies you can spot them almost anywhere, especially at the height of summer. But sometimes visiting the right place will […] Read More The post 5 Best Bu… Read More
5 More Hiking Essentials
2018-03-29 10:00
You may recall my previous post, 5 Hiking Essentials. Where I offered you 6 items that you should always take on a hike (either I […] Read More The post 5 More Hiking Essentials appea… Read More
Bogs Boots Review
2018-03-22 10:00
There are occasions when an opportunity arises around the same time as perfect conditions. Just recently I was contacted with the offer to carry out […] Read More The post Bogs Boots… Read More
Spring Sunrise
2018-03-19 17:54
It was dark when I left the house this morning. As I walked in the crisp coldness, the ice from the weekends, now melting, snow […] Read More The post Spring Sunrise appeared first on… Read More
Snowy Dog Walk
2018-03-18 14:46
With the mini beast from the east coating the Ouse Valley with a layer of snow, there wasn’t much choice but to pop out this […] Read More The post Snowy Dog Walk appeared first… Read More
A Day Of Action
2018-03-16 20:41
For the first time this year the sun was warm as I crossed the road into the Ouse Valley Park. Walking past bright yellow Daffodils, […] Read More The post A Day of Action appeared fi… Read More
Patch Tick
2018-03-08 18:35
A gusting, blustery, wind whipped hard through the Ouse Valley. The icy cold it carried with it, gathered pace across the lakes of the floodplain […] Read More The post Patch Tick app… Read More
Outdoors Wellness With Ben Reeve
2018-03-05 10:00
It’s hard to know where to start but I’m hoping to find some catharsis in writing about dealing with anxiety, also that if someone reads […] Read More The post Outdoors We… Read More
Walking For Calm Feb Update
2018-03-02 10:00
Well that is February behind us now. Did you have a good one? I think lots of us (in the UK at least) had snow. […] Read More The post Walking for Calm Feb Update appeared first on Vi… Read More
The Beast From The East
2018-02-28 08:00
With a Russian blast of cold air sweeping across the UK, heavy snow has been falling in sheets. Brought in on the storm dubbed “The […] Read More The post The Beast From the Eas… Read More
Top 10 Outdoor Twitter Accounts 2018
2018-02-26 10:00
This list is my Top 10 Outdoor Twitter accounts to follow in 2018. I Tweet way more than I probably should, it’s my favourite social […] Read More The post Top 10 Outdoor Twitte… Read More
Swans Stonechats And Stuff
2018-02-22 20:31
I promised a post the other day on twitter that I just haven’t had time to write. It was from my walk on Tuesday, it’s […] Read More The post Swans Stonechats and Stuff ap… Read More
How To Choose Hiking Boots
2018-02-19 11:27
Choosing hiking boots is part personal taste, part use, and part sizing. With this little guide I hope to offer a little advice on how […] Read More The post How to Choose Hiking Boot… Read More
2018-02-16 09:58
As you’ll know I walk a lot. With over 2500 miles walked last year, and some 2000+ the year before, I’ve got some miles under […] Read More The post 5 hiking essentials ap… Read More
Bobbing Jack Snipe
2018-02-10 08:49
I had my first Jack Snipe on the patch last week, my friend and I wandered the flooded fields beside the new workings (shhh… don’t […] Read More The post Bobbing Jack Sni… Read More
Outdoors Wellness With Patrick Timm
2018-02-05 10:10
Nature & Fear, How I Conquer My Mind Outside One foot started to wobble uncontrollably and I had to laugh at the sight of it […] Read More The post Outdoors Wellness With Patrick… Read More
Walking For Calm Jan Update
2018-02-02 10:00
If you read my blog last year, you will have noticed a monthly update on my walking for Birding For All. Well I plan on […] Read More The post Walking for Calm Jan Update appeared fir… Read More
The Last Hillwalker - Review
2017-11-26 10:00
Mountain climbing has never been my thing, it's not that I am scared of heights, I used to hang out in trees as a kid, and am not hugely opposed to walking cliff edges, although the overwhel… Read More
I'm A Celebrity - Got Me Out Here
2017-11-25 22:09
A slight white film coated the open fields across the road from my house this morning, the heaviest frosts of winter so far had arrived over night, winter felt like it had truly arrived as I… Read More
Special Moments
2017-11-19 11:44
The Azure flash of blue as the male Kingfisher suddenly appeared on the low hanging branch, as it gently swayed in the breeze, over the muddy green waters of the river Ouse. It is moments li… Read More
2017-11-09 12:00
On a walk home from work in the dark last week, i jarred my back to such an extent that I needed heavy medication and time off work (sorry boss), but worse than that it has meant a few days… Read More
2500 Miles Oct Update
2017-11-04 10:00
October has been a good month in some ways, not so great in others, I've walked a lot this month so one of my best month totals (any that cross the 200 mile mark is good right?), taken some… Read More
Hawfinch Hunting
2017-10-29 18:54
The UK seems to have been hit by a wave of Hawfinch, a usually scarce, large finch, thousands have streamed through the country, and for once Buckinghamshire hasn't missed out, we have neari… Read More
Geocaching Cosgrove To Stoke Bruerne
2017-10-26 13:00
When we are out walking as a family, why would we not have a hunt for any geocaches hidden along the route? Following on from Yesterday's Walk post (Old Wolverton to Stoke Bruerne), this cov… Read More
We Have Been Nominated
2017-10-26 09:25
Well, what can I say? I came home yesterday (after a long canal walk to Stoke Bruerne) to an email from the team at the Go Outdoors awards informing me that this little old blog had been nom… Read More
Reflecting Moods
2017-10-19 12:41
It feels like my mood is reflecting the weather at the moment, or the weather is reflecting my mood, not sure which, the dull, uninspiring white skies reflect my lack of inspiration to head… Read More
Buckingham To Milton Keynes
2017-10-12 10:52
Light spots of rain began falling from the thick grey clouds, a strong wind building from the west, as I exited the X60 bus on Stratford Road, my journey along the Ouse Valley Way from Bucki… Read More
2017-10-08 14:40
September has proven to be my second best month, so far this year, in terms of walking distances, not only have I managed to keep the miles trotting through, but there was also my longest si… Read More
2017-09-22 17:15
Disclaimer - Photo Heavy post.Sometimes pushing your body to its limits is a pain worth having, it is with that in mind that I set out yesterday (I needed to recover before posting) on my lo… Read More
Willows In The Wind
2017-09-14 12:28
With storm Eileen barrelling through the UK in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour; and continued powerful winds waving the largest trees like pap… Read More
Where Are All The Birds
2017-09-12 12:53
The low bellowing of one of the local bullocks, carried on the light winds up the Ouse Valley as I took an early morning stroll around the patch today. A sick feeling little girl had put a b… Read More
Leaving The Shire
2017-09-07 19:00
"Not all those who wander are lost"I didn't meet a single Elf or Dwarf along the winding root, and there was certainly no fighting Orks or Nazgul but my walks have taken me from shire to shi… Read More
2500 Miles Aug Update
2017-09-05 09:00
August was another good month, feel like I am back on track with the walking and also had a few nice donations so that side felt back on track too, one of the biggest interruptions (potentia… Read More
Back To The Patch
2017-09-04 18:23
Layers of moisture filled the air, as I headed back onto the patch after a summer hiatus, the light spots of rain nothing compared to the heavy, sticky, liquid filled air of early September… Read More
Walking To Work
2017-08-30 07:51
Most mornings you will find me walking to work, with 2500 miles to cover this year it helps the total a lot, but once in a while I have to work from a different, much further, location one t… Read More
A Mixed Day At Willen Lake
2017-08-26 20:55
Some days you head out of the house with a plan laid out, only for things to change while you are on your travels; Today was one of those days as we had a mixed day at Willen Lake, combining… Read More
An Afternoon Forage
2017-08-25 08:12
Wednesday (yes posing a little late) we decided on a large breakfast at the local pub, and then to head out for an afternoon forage around the river, it was meant to be a morning one, but ti… Read More
Coleman Mosedale 5 Tent - Review
2017-08-23 09:00
The plan for 2017 was to get out camping with the family, outdoor adventures for all of us. For Zoe and Bubs this would be new experiences, for Tubs a common practice he has with his mum, an… Read More
Birdfair Camping
2017-08-22 09:00
I'm actually quite amazed that there are no other blog posts out there about Birdfair camping, well none I could find, if you've written one let me know! Frustratingly this year was would be… Read More
Birdfair 2017 Weekend
2017-08-21 13:54
It's that time of year again where you get a post (or two) from my Birdfair 2017 Weekend, those 4 days (we start on the Thursday) spent volunteering on the Birding For All stand, living it u… Read More
Fitbit Blaze - Review
2017-08-13 13:57
When the strap of my Fitbit HR started bubbling for the second time (it was replace just under a year ago for the sane reason) I swiftly contacted the company who were only too happy to offe… Read More
2500 Miles July Update
2017-08-02 11:32
I've managed to up my walking once more, leaving the bus behind on my work journey's and walking instead, but haven't got out on long nature walks half as much as I would have liked, sadly j… Read More
Tattenhoe Dragons
2017-07-20 16:20
There are areas of Milton Keynes that I return to time, and time again, like Oakhill Wood, and just like that Tattenhoe Park is fast becoming one of those areas, it may not have muddy crapes… Read More
Butterfly Hunt Oakhill Woods
2017-07-17 21:02
I've grown to love Oakhill woods recently, not just because it is one of (if not the) best local site for watching butterflies lazily drifting down on the wing, or frantically fluttering fro… Read More
2500 Miles June Update
2017-07-11 13:21
June was yet another poor month (and so far July has followed suit) in terms of walking, I had a few days out, but my mileage is way down on where I wanted it to be, although still just abou… Read More
Grey And Overcast
2017-07-01 08:53
After the heatwaves of last week the weather this week has taken a rather greyer turn for the worst, sadly the mugginess is still there, but recently it has been grey and overcast, and such… Read More
Butterfly And Dragonfly Walk
2017-06-20 21:23
After a couple of tip offs of some great butterfly and dragonfly areas in areas I've not really walked before (or at least not for a very long time), I headed out to the North Bucks way, to… Read More
Salomon X Ultra 2 GTX Hiking Shoes - Review
2017-06-19 12:38
Sometimes an offer comes along that is too good to resist, and it happened to me very recently when I was contacted by Millet Sports offering me the opportunity to review some of their Solom… Read More
Hunting Hornets And Spotted Orchids
2017-06-15 21:39
With the sun shining, and temperatures rising, I headed to the woods for a spot of butterfly watching, Howe Park wood, as regulars will have seen mention of before is home to some of the rar… Read More
2500 Miles May Update
2017-06-14 16:00
May has been another quiet month I'm afraid, just about doing enough to keep up what needs to be done and mainly a few patch walks and walks to work rather than epic long walks or interestin… Read More
Chattering Masses
2017-06-12 21:27
Some days striking moments pull you in and just grab your attention, holding you in their hand, absorbed within the joyous occasion, as they unfold around you. Today while walking the Floodp… Read More
2017-06-02 13:45
As mentioned in yesterday's post we are trying to take part in the Wildlife Trusts #30DaysWild campaign, it's all about trying to do something wild in nature every day through June, well tod… Read More
2017-06-01 19:51
Stonepit Field is possibly the premier insect site in Milton Keynes, but not only that it has a colony of Small Blue butterfly, a butterfly I have not photographed before as part of my Butte… Read More
Sunny Patch Walk
2017-05-26 09:00
Having fallen behind a little in my posting this post covers yesterday's sunny patch work, sadly today I am sat at work in my windowless office, well technically I will be when this post goe… Read More
A Tale Of Two Woods
2017-05-25 18:56
Wednesday 24th May I decided to go off my usual patch for a spot of searching for butterflies, the sun was out, the temperature is up and I thought it felt like a great day so off I headed t… Read More
Combining Posts
2017-05-23 19:58
Due to illness (not mine) it's been a while since I've been out either on the patch or further afield, today I finally made it out for a morning stroll around the Flood Plain Forest Nature R… Read More
Opticron MM4 Travel Scope - Review
2017-05-09 09:00
As regular readers here will know, I suffer with back issues, so for me being able to travel light is important, so when Opticron asked if I would review their MM4 50 ED/45 travel scope, and… Read More
Just Some Bird Photos
2017-05-05 18:49
Not feeling like writing much today, but wanted to share my photos from today anyway so here they are. all photographed at the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (like so often), hopefully you… Read More
Flat White Skies
2017-05-04 19:30
It never feels like much is going to happen when you look out of the window and all you can see is flat white skies; from a photographers point of view the light is dull and really doesn't o… Read More
Reebok Yourflex Train 8.0 - Review
2017-05-02 13:04
I’ve been hitting the pavements more this year than ever before, what do I mean, well in my goal to reach 2500 miles in 2017 I have been walking much more around town than before, rath… Read More
2500 Miles April Update
2017-05-01 14:52
One thing is for sure April was not my best month of walking! I am still ahead of schedule, but I am slowing right down, doesn't help that I had a bit of illness and the Easter holiday's (I… Read More
2017-04-27 19:03
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, or so the saying goes, well, my plans for today were an early start to attempt to catch sunrise, and be out on the patch before anyone else… Read More
Snow In April
2017-04-26 09:22
Seriously what is going on with the weather? I woke up yesterday morning looked out the window and was greeted by beautiful blue skies, brilliant I though to myself, donning my shorts, after… Read More

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