Busy, Busy, Busy.

I have been fairly busy lately what with sorting out the photographs I took at a  recent wedding and playing the flute for Pfizer Wind Orchestra and Knyghtryders Folk Group plus the gardening, croquet, housework and all other things Mae wants doing.  All this means that, although I have been taking photographs in the garden,  I haven’t had the time to look through them or sort them out.

I have now put other tasks to one side  to do just that. Here are some of my favourite images of visitors to and residents in our garden in recent weeks. (Click on an image to view it full size – it’s worth it!).

There are a few I haven’t seen in the garden before.

It is fascinating to wander around the garden and see the variety of insects, bugs and other creatures that come and go and photograph them.

One of my projects is to catalogue them and identify them correctly (I am not the worlds best at identification) and put them on the www in some form or another.

When that happens I’ll let you know.

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A Gathering of Birds

I was up early this morning as on previous days I have heard a lot of tweeting in our back garden as the sun is rising.  So, armed with my camera and tucked away in my bird hide, I sat and watched to see what was happening.

Various birds were visiting the bird table but only individuals.  Lots of other birds were loitering in the trees and making a cheery noise.

What I really wanted was all the birds gathered together so that I could obtain that ‘one-off’ image.

No chance I thought.

But, as I watched, the birds began to gather and arrange themselves around the feed table and eventually I had my usual avian visitors in a group and managed to snap this image:

It just goes to show that if you get up early enough on one day of the year you might see something that you would not believe possible unless you saw it with your own eyes but, it is, and I have the image to prove it!

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Snow from the Backdoor

What a wonderful white world we have had lately.
Just the weather to get out and capture those lovely ‘Christmas Card’ snow scenes. You know the ones: Robins against a snowy background; squirrels gathering nuts in the snow; branches bending under the weight of snow etc etc.

Was I able to take advantage of it?
No, not really.
I am still limping from my sprained ankle, I slipped on ice outside the backdoor and bruised my knee and I have a cold. Mae told me I would be ‘mad’ to go out in this weather so I was restricted to looking out of the backdoor. I knew I would get no sympathy from her if I did venture any further.
So, I made do with taking photos from the backdoor of what I could see. Such as:
This Robin:

This Squirrel eating a nut on a neighbour’s Fence:

This Fir Tree with it’s branches bending under the weight of snow;

This Pigeon puffed up against the chill wind;

Not as much snow as I would have liked but I did my best.
I still got into trouble for letting cold air in and the warmth out though!

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Knyghtryders play to the trees

St. Clements Church, Sandwich are holding their annual Festival of the Trees in St. Peter’s Church in the centre of Sandwich.

The church is full of fir trees festooned with lights and decorations. It is in aid of the St. Clement’s Church Spire Restoration Fund.

On Monday the Knyghtryders played Carols in a folk style to visitors to the church.

We intended to play for half an hour only but we were enjoying ourselves and the visitors were enjoying the music that we continued for an hour.

Now seems an ideal time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Knyghtryders.

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A Spider, Dunnock and Squirrel.

Whilst I had my camera out on Thursday photographing the Ladybirds (see previous post) I turned my attention to the borders in our garden to see whether there was any other photographic opportunity presenting itself.
There was.
This garden spider was out in the centre of it’s web:

The complexicity of the web can be seen in this image. I used my Ring Flash and that enabled the strands of the web to be hightlighted.

The spider quickly moved away when I tried to get closer but stopped at the outer edge of it’s web enabling me to get this image from a different angle.

I did have the opportunity earlier in the week during the sunny days to stand by our back door and see what was visiting our garden.
This little Dunnock was enjoying a meal on our feeder tray:

And this squirrel was showing an interest in the feeder tray as well:

Over an hour spent watching and these were the only visitors.

Oh well, next week may be better.
Have a nice weekend.

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Japanese Anemone

Despite being known as Japanese anemones these plants come from China. These were erroneously called Japanese anemones after one particular form was ‘first’ recorded near Nagasaki in 1695. By the time the first plants reached the West in 1844, they were already known as A. japonica. Most modern varieties are descended from A. x hybrida.
(Thanks to BBC website for this bit of detail)

These lovely flowers appear to have self-seeded in our garden from next door.

It is a great flower for attracting pollen gatherers.

This little Hover Fly was joined by another:

I had to wait a little while until they cleared the area before I was able to get the image I really wanted.

It has been a bit too windy lately as even the slightest breeze makes getting a blur-free image a challenge. I have not been able to take photographs of all the flowers in our garden as I would like. What is required is something that attaches to the camera tripod that has a clamp on the other end of it’s flexible arm that holds the flower steady.
I need a PLAMP
I know my birthday is not until September but for any-one at a loss as to what to get me I can only say that any Father would be very pleased to get a PLAMP for his birthday from those who love him!!

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Starry, Starry Night?

No. Stormy, stormy night!

I went to Monkton Nature Reserve this evening intending to have a couple of hours star gazing with other members of SEKAS (South East Kent Astronomy Society).

This is what the sky was like:

We waited hoping that the heavens would clear but they didn’t. In fact, they opened up on us!
So for a third month in a row we didn’t get to see any objects in the sky.

Never mind, there is always another night.

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Sea Horses in Viking Bay, Broadstairs

We were in Broadstairs a bit earlier than usual today. The weather was changeable and blustery.

The beach was deserted:

The council does a brilliant job of keeping the beaches clean and good looking.

We had a walk round the harbour and stopped for a cup of coffee and a ‘danish’ at the ‘Pavilion on the Sands’. This is a view of the harbour from the decking there.

On the beach there are signs showing the way to the various facilities available. They are topped by wooden sculptures.

I had to walk on the sand to get this photograph.
Janet and Sharon know what I am like for sand in between my toes!
I do not like it.
What I suffer for my art!

I trust you think it was worth while.

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The Eyesore of Ramsgate

Yesterday (Thursday) we went for a walk along Ramsgate Seafront.
We started off at the Eastern Undercliff:

It was very quiet and apart from a man and two dogs it was deserted.

The main beach was not much busier either. Mae is a bit reluctant for me to take photographs of the beach in case there are children playing and people may object. (I don’t agree with it myself but it seems to be the age of paranoia we live in).

I saw this rather striking image of the Lift and the top of the Ramsgate Council building with a flag flying:

The lift was working. It was not working for many a year but it was restored to it’s former glory and is now operational. We went up in it. It saved our legs!
We stood at the top over looking the seafront and harbour just where the man is standing in the previous image.

Looking over the cliff top this is what the view is:

This has been like this for years. In the ‘good old days’ there used to be a Railway Station but when I visited as a boy it was an amusement arcade and Bingo Hall with lots of rides (Helter Skelter, Bumper cars and a little train that took you from the sands up under Ramsgate to Dumpton Park). The Bingo Hall was closed down and building permission was sought by the owners but that was refused (I understand) as the requirement was to keep the facade intact. Unfortunately there was a fire that meant the whole building had to be pulled down. (How fortuitous the fire appears to have been for the owner and developer!) Great things are planned for this site. I hope to watch as the site is developed.

I just feel disappointed that this is the view over Ramsgate’s Main Beach. It is an eyesore and should not have been left like this for so long.
Ramsgate has lots to offer visitors but this not what their first view should be when they disgorge from their coaches to take the lift down to the sands!

To get a decent shot I cropped in this image to get this:

It was a pleasant walk on a lovely sunny day though.

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I’m Back!

You may not have noticed but I have been absent for a while.
“Why?” I hear you ask.
Because my Modem decided to play up I reply.
It kept on going off line and not responding. A call to my ISP proved useless and the manufacturer’s help line was not helpful at all. I am expecting a large telephone bill next month! I have a wireless set-up but the technician on the help line wanted me to connect my modem to my PC and was a bit ‘put out’ when I tried to explain that I couldn’t because the point of a ‘wireless’ set-up is exactly that!
Duh!!
In the end I bit the bullet and bought a new one and got myself up and running.

“What have you been up to in the mean time David?” (all these questions!).

I have been out and about taking photographs.

I went to Margate Harbour:

Minster held it’s annual ‘Open Gardens’ weekend and we spent the morning looking at some lovely gardens.

One of the gardens has a fabulous water fountain.

This Lancaster Bomber flew over on it’s way to Manston Airfield.

We had a ‘Family Gathering’ (three generations)

We went to Herne Bay for a stroll along the seafront.

So, as you can see. I have not been idle.

It’s nice to be back.

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