Ramsgate Harbour Sunshine

Ramsgate Harbour

It was such a nice morning that we went into Ramsgate Town Centre and had a walk along the Harbour Wall.  The sea was like a mill pond.

Ramsgate from the Eastern Arm, Ramsgate Harbour:

Ramsgate Harbour and it’s two Ferries:

The new Ferry towers over the old one and both dominate the harbour.

Here is one of my ‘How well do you know Ramsgate’ puzzles.

Where can this mural be seen?

A clue is in the painting itself.  I have enhanced the colours a bit to make the painting easier to see.   This one is very easily missed though.

No prizes for a correct answer but  please try anyway.

Click on an image to see it at it’s best  as the thumb prints seem a little blurry – I don’t know why.

We sat and watched the world go by for a while.  Very pleasant it was too.  Then it was home to cut the grass.  I couldn’t believe how much it has grown in a week.

A last minute entry to this post.

I saw a couple of bats in our garden this evening as dusk was falling. Chasing flying insects they were.

I have never seen that before.

Hovering Hoverfly

Every now and then I capture an image that has been eluding me.

I have been trying to photograph a Hoverfly as it hovers. This is the result of many attempts.

Hoverfly hovering (Eupeodes-corollae):

I am so pleased with this I had to show it off.

The garden has been busy this past week as the sun has shone and the Hoverflies and Bees have been numerous.

Hoverfly – Syrphus Torvus:

Hoverfly wing detail:

I wanted to show the detail of the wing of a Hoverfly

Harlequin 14 spot ladybird:

This ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, the most invasive ladybird on Earth.

I copied this information from the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website (thanks):

The harlequin ladybird was introduced to North America in 1988, where it is now the most widespread ladybird species on the continent. It has already invaded much of of north-western Europe, and arrived in Britain in summer 2004.

There are 46 species of ladybird (Coccinellidae) resident in Britain and the recent arrival of the harlequin ladybird has the potential to jeopardise many of these. The Harlequin Ladybird Survey will monitor its spread across Britain and assess its impact on native ladybirds.

Bombus Lucorum – Bumble Bee:

This Bumble Bee proved a difficult subject.  This was taken using my 600mm Mirror Lens as when I tried to get a close-up it just ‘buzzed off’‘.

I will keep trying and my patience will eventually be rewarded.

Colour in the Garden

Lots of colour is now appearing in our garden.

Periwinkle

Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’

Damson Tree Blossom

Dandelion

This frog was poking it’s head out of  the water of our fish pond

Mae is busy tidying up the borders and re-positioning shrubs and planting new acquisitions.  No touching the plants for me – I don’t know a weed from a flower (so Mae says) and therefore I am banned from any such like activity in the garden!

I cut the grass and keep the edges straight and water the flower beds and all the plants Mae puts in the pots that are placed around the garden (which takes me hours of an evening).

So that is where I can be found most evenings now that spring has arrived with summer round the corner.  I am ashamed to say that some days I wish for rain.

Sorry about that!

Views of Stodmarsh Nature Reserve

It was just the day for another visit to Stodmarsh Nature Reserve.  So, this afternoon, off I went.  The sun was shining although there was still a chill to the light breeze.

I didn’t take my Canon 350D camera and I wish I had.

We saw:

Blackcap (male and female) birds; Tree Creepers; Wrens; Great Crested Grebe; Geese; Swans; Harrier Hawk (lovely to see it wheeling around the sky); Mallards.    I am sure there were more but I can’t think of any at this moment.

I missed the opportunity to get an image of all of these.  Never mind.

My Canon Powershot was with me so I took photographs of the scenery instead.  Click on an image to see it full size.

The White blossom was stunning.

A swan swims along one of the waterways.

The still water created a perfect mirror image of the over hanging trees.

Again, the still water in this part of the reserve was flat green and the long shadows of early evening create a peaceful scene.

It is so peaceful and tranquil on the Nature Reserve that I could wander all day enjoying the wildlife and taking photographs.

If you haven’t visited this Reserve and are able to do so I highly recommend it.

Evening Bird Watch

I put up my bird hide yesterday (Sunday) and m0ved it close as I thought best to the bird feeder.

It has been quiet in the garden during the day recently so I sat in the hide in the early evening.  I had to wait a while but my patience was eventually rewarded.

This Dunnock was my first visitor.

A House Sparrow was next.

The Robin and Blackbird stayed in the tree.

A Collared Dove presented a beautiful photographic opportunity.

The birds suddenly dissappeared and I initially couldn’t understand why until I saw this cat peering at me in the tree opposite.

This cat is a nuisance. It climbs up into the trees and worries the birds.  I am quite concerned for the birds on their nests and when the chicks leave it.  I don’t know what the solution would be.  Any ideas?

The low evening sun gives a lovely soft glow and warm colour to everything.  Nigh on perfect lighting.

I had been watching for an hour and was all set to stay longer but dinner was ready so, my tummy being important to me, I packed up.

I do intend to stay out longer one day and, if I can stir myself, get up at the crack of dawn to catch the early birds.

I can get up early for the F1 Grand Prix but stirring myself for the birds seems much harder to do.

I wonder why?

Residents and Visitors

Not too many opportunities to be out in the garden this week.  The wind has been a bit too strong with a bitter chill.

I did find these visitors in our garden though.

Apoidea – Ceratina cyanea (Carpenter Bee – I think).

I think I have identified this insect correctly.

Another view of same Carpenter Bee:

I know that there are so many ‘versions’ of Hoverfly and identification is not easy as variations can be small between types so if there is anyone who can assist in identification I would be most grateful.

Hoverfly – Parasyrphus punctulatus

I know this one as there were lots in our garden last year.

Black Beetle:

This little chap I found making his way along our garden path.  Again, identifying the exact species is not easy even in this day of the internet.

I have decided to categorise my garden ‘finds’ as either resident (crawling) and visitor (flying) on the understanding that crawling insect etc must live in the garden and flying insects etc move from garden to garden.

The bird activity in the garden has reduced quite considerable and for most of the day the garden is deserted. The wind has been too strong for me to have my hide erected so no bird spotting this week.

I hope for warmer weather with no breeze next week so that more insects will be active.

We shall see.

Gadgets Galore!

On Friday I was at the Gadget Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham with our Grandson Callum.  Mae and Callum’s Mum, Sharon, went shopping at Birmingham’s Bull Ring.

It was a brilliant day.  We looked at all the latest gadgets from a huge TV to really small speakers for an MP3 player and played on the latest games consoles. One was a driving game in 3D (brilliant). We watched the live show with the presenters of  The Gadget Show, as seen on TV.  There was a bit of disappointment though. Callum was after a mobile phone and I was looking at Graphic tablets but neither could be bought at the show although they had them on display.  The representatives on the stands went online to quote us a price. I could do that myself so I went for my second choice.

Callum bought a scooter.   I bought a Sanyo HD digital video camcorder.

I was hoping to show you a video of Callum on his scooter taken on my new camcorder but, unfortunately, although I can view the short clips I cannot edit them to make them a suitable size for the web. I need to upgrade my video editing software to cope with the HD format.  I didn’t realize it would be a problem.  I now have to save my pennies to purchase the upgrade to my video editing suite. Sorry Callum!

Instead I will show you this image I took in our garden this afternoon.

Robin in tree:

Mae was weeding the garden and this Robin was watching her from a nearby tree.

As soon as I have the software and get to grips with video editing I will show you some clips – but don’t hold your breath!

The Early Peacock Butterfly

I looked out of the bathroom window this morning and saw this butterfly taking in the sun on our garage roof.

I only had one opportunity to capture this fellow digitally as I had to run downstairs, get my camera and stand in the bath to take this photo. One shot and it was gone.

I wasn’t that successful either. This is the original image:

With a bit of digital enhancement I was able to make a reasonable image out of it.

Is this butterfly not a wee bit early in the year to be out and about?

Maybe it is a survivor from last year.

Nice to see and one to add to my digital insect collection.

Honey Bee and Primula

Although it has been a bit of a cloudy and windy Easter the sun has come out in the late afternoon so I have been able to go out into the garden and see what there is to photograph.

I saw this little fellow busy round the early flowering Elephants Ear plant (Bergenia Cordifolia).

Honey Bee and Elephants Ear Plant

This little chappie was minding his own business and I, trying to get closer, bent down and my glasses that were on my head fell off and knocked him off the flower. He didn’t hang around after that!

We have an nice display of Primulas.

Primula

Close-up of Primula

Thank you if you responded to my previous post ‘What’s in the garden next door’.

They were:

A child’s garden swing and a child’s rotary grass mower.

The post ‘A Gathering of Birds’ was, of course, an April Fools joke.

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!