Truly Scrumptious!

It's that time of year again, the last ringing session before Christmas, which only means one thing , yes, the Axe Estuary Ringing Group's legendary outdoor buffet!! So renowned is it, that this year we had a surprise visit from a nationally famed naturalist and TV presenter, Nick Baker (the second 'celeb' to visit the group; see here for photo of our previous visitor). We only set a few nets and so didn't catch a great deal, the best being a Treecreeper. The group have trapped a couple of Treecreepers before but not when I've been present therefore today's bird was my first. So all in all a morning of scrumptiousness on many levels! :-)

My attempts at a photo of the Treecreeper were woefully inept.
Superbly detailed photo of Steve's glove!

When it came to putting out all the festive nosh brought along by members, we suddenly realised we hadn't got a table. Not to worry though, with necessity being the mother of invention a makeshift table was mackled together from what we had available.

There you go!

 All you need for a superb table: Three chairs, two 'wader boxes' (used!!) and several ringing poles. Note the handy incorporated kitchen roll holder, the quintessential buffet food, cheese and pineapple on sticks  and the 'slightly largish' portions of Stilton, I think someone mistook it for a cake!

Some members of the group enjoying the mulled wine. 

 While Steve and Doug are admiring the......erm...Kitchen roll holder!

 The merry team with Nick Baker. If you don't recognise him, he's standing next to the good looking one! ;-) Here we're standing in front of our luxurious'ringing hut' which is soon to be replaced by this...

The (soon to be) new ringing/field study centre on Stafford Marsh. I reckon next year we may be able to have an actual table for the buffet, not to mention a bar, dancing and a live band!!