A Happy, Family, Easter.

I am Stuffed!!!

Full of Chocolate, Simnel Cake (a must have Easter Cake in our House as I just love marzipan), lots of food and Red Wine and good company.

We had our Daughters, Tony and Grandchildren to stay for Easter. A visit to us is never complete unless the boys have been to the beach. So, there we were at the Western Undercliff on a bitterly cold Saturday keeping warm by throwing stones into the sea. (I don’t know why we do this but the boys think it is great fun).

I did turn my camera towards Pegwell and took this shot of Richborough Power Station through the breakwaters.

And it was up at the crack of dawn on Sunday to do my ‘Tour of Duty’ looking after the boys. So while everybody else had a lie-in we watched the F1 Grand Prix – and who says I do not know how to keep youngsters occupied!!

All in all. A Happy Family. A Happy Easter. What could be better!

An Easter Sunday for the Records

This morning I saw this Pigeon sitting on the ground puffed-up against the cold. It was a sign of the weather to come.

And sure enough – it snowed.

On Easter Sunday!

This is one Easter for the record books!!

Oh well, back to my Easter Egg.

Magpie Nest – It’s All in the Construction

The Magpies have continued with their nest building this week. It is getting bigger by the day. I just hope they haven’t put it in a vulnerable position but after the high winds of the last few days it is still there – it must be all in the construction.

I sat for a long while waiting for either of them to appear, eventually I managed to get this shot as one of them was leaving the nest.

When the weather improves I must set up in a more advantageous position in the garden and maybe then I will get a better photograph.

For those interested in following the progress of this pair of Magpies I have given them their own link – The “Magpie Chronicles”.  Please follow the link in the Categories to be kept up-to-date.

The Luck of the Irish to You

The Luck of the Irish to You on St Patrick’s Day – - but we beat them at Rugby! Well Done lads.

Now I’m off to an St. Patrick’s Night ‘Do’  with Guinness and Irish Stew. Lovely!!

A ‘Cold’ Week and Magpies

I’ve been stuck indoors all week with ‘man flu’. You know the type – more ‘fluid’ running down your chin than the waterfall in Madiera Walk, a sneeze that sprays the whole room and a hangover without the alcohol. Anyway, you get the picture.

And the budget didn’t help either!

Looking out of our bedroom window I realize we have a Magpie nest in the process of being built.

The Magpie can be seen entering it’s nest. The nest is not in the best place for photographing (are they ever?) and when the leaves appear it will be even less so.

They are fascinating to watch as they flit to and fro with twigs longer than themselves or go from branch to branch testing each one to see if that is just the one for their nest.

I don’t know whether I am looking forward to having this nest in my garden or not. How will it affect the smaller birds? (we have always had a Sparrows nest in this tree in past years). We won’t disturb them and it will be interesting to watch them throughout the year but they are noisy and greedy. I had better get up to the Garden Centre and stock up with plenty of feed.

Hopefully I will get more photographic opportunities later.

Watch this space – they may even get their own link in my blog!!

Clouds Forewarn of Approaching Storm in Ramsgate

A quick look at the evening sky (6pm) revealed this cloud formation approaching from the West. Is this the storm approaching that is being promised for tonight and into Monday?

If it is as bad as forecast – Batten down the hatches.

See you on the other side.

Good Luck!!

Grey Day in Ramsgate

Ramsgate Harbour was our chosen walk today (Sunday) but what a grey day it was!  There was not a lot of colour about and not a lot of people either.  A front of precipitation was heading our way from Deal (which was completely hidden by the low cloud) as can be seen in this photograph taken from the Western Arm:

I took some photographs anyway but with the approaching weather system we decided not to linger.  As it was the rain stayed out to sea and it turned into a lovely sunny afternoon. I had promised myself an afternoon watching the England v Scotland Rugby Match I had recorded yesterday. I didn’t bother in the end as I heard from friends what a lack-lustre game it was (and the score-line said it all)  so I turned my attention to making something from the photographs I had taken.

The Lighthouse at the end of the West Pier is always a good photo opportunity but my photographs lacked a certain ’something’ so I decided to use a bit of digital manipulation – I changed from colour to Sepia.

A much more interesting image than the original.

Tech. Details: Canon 350D

1. 1/1600. f5.6 ISO 800

2. 1/800sec. f8 at ISO 800 with digital manipulation applying sepia filter.

The Rewards of Patience or The Poser Robin

I have been trying most of the week, and some (as readers of this blog can testify), to get a decent photograph of ‘our’ Robin.

Well, today I think I succeeded.

I heard him warbling away in the early morning sunshine and found him really well placed for photographing and he obligingly stayed where he was while I got my camera.

After posing for several shots he moved to the feeder tray which I had replenished with food specially for Robins and with no other bird in sight he ‘tucked in’ enabling me to get these shots. He kept a wary eye on me but I was able to snap away. These are the results;

Patience has been rewarded with a Robin willing to pose for me. Thank you little bird. You made my day!

Now, If I can just get that little Wren I spotted yesterday.

Watch this space!!

The Copper Butterfly

We bought this lovely Copper Butterfly last year from Copper Creatures

I often walk round my garden looking for things to photograph or do a bit of bird spotting. Today having got bored (bored?, no, wandering mind is probably better) waiting for that one bird to land just in the right place I let my camera roam and it alighted on this Copper Butterfly and it then became apparent what I had been missing when I only thought of it as a nice piece of garden sculpture.

It has been weathering in our garden and I was amazed by the colours created by the weathering process so I took this photograph.

Looking at things from different perspectives makes you see beauty in objects that have become commonplace. A camera enables you to do that, thats why I like it so much.

Tech . Details: Canon 350d using 600mm Sigma Lens. 1/250sec ISO400

Another Nice Day in Thanet

It was another nice day in Thanet so we went for a walk from Dumpton Gap to Viking Bay, one of our favourites, and as usual my camera was with me (“I’m out for a walk and I’m not stopping every few yards!” Such encouragment for my artistic attempts), oh and my wife was with me as well!!!!

I took this image of the beach chalets at Dumpton Gap and with a bit a digital manipulation tried to make it a more interesting image – me being, or attempting to be Arty.

At Viking Bay I again took a photograph of Broadstairs Harbour from behind the mound of sand that has been created, I presume, to protect the chalets and flats.

I enjoy taking photos and I hope you like looking at them.