rambles with a camera

A few more images from yesterday...............................................................

2012-02-12T20:28:00.001Z

Shakerley Mere Cheshire.

Blue Tit on the peanuts some kind soul had left hanging from a tree by the car park.

There were also a few empty nets from fatballs... as I stated yesterday the peanuts should be removed from the net bag and placed in a proper feeder.. the birds tiny feet can get trapped.

The manufacturers of these products don't help either... they don't put warnings on the packaging.

Coal Tit

The birds were enjoying them anyway... regardless of my worries.

There were quite a few Robins near the car park.

Nuthatch

Shakerley Mere is a popular place for young families to visit... kids love feeding the ducks.

It was freezing yesterday... the only other people were hardy dog walkers.

I decided to have a quick look in at Billinge Green on my way home.

Billinge Green.

There are two angling pools here and both were frozen apart from a small area on the far side.

There were quite a few Canada Geese on the ice... and I had only been there a couple of minutes...

...when this noisy lot joined them... another big flock of Canada Geese.

They flew around the lake a few times before landing.

It was a lovely sight... but what a din! I have added a 30 second handheld video clip.

The swans weren't happy... a few skirmishes took place as I watched.

A lovely walk around Shakerley Mere............................................................

2012-02-11T17:24:00.001Z

The sunrise as I travelled to work this morning... but it's still freezing.

After work I had a lovely walk around Shakerley Mere... the lake was in the main frozen over.

Lot's of sticks on the ice... it's a lovely place to visit and mainly by dog walkers and young families.

Throwing things onto a frozen lake seems to amuse people.

The Mallards were having a good preen.

Coal Tit.
There are a few bird feeders in the trees by the car park... someones very kindly looking after the birds.

My only criticism is the nets some of the food is in... birds little feet can get trapped in the netting.

I have also seen images of birds dangling by their tongues after getting tangled.

Highlight of my day...

...the Long-tailed Tits.

This little coconut shell full of fat was a real success.

It was also tempting the Nuthatches... the first I have seen this year.

Yes it's ice... the lake is frozen... get over it.

It was a lovely stroll around the mere but I was freezing.... and so glad when I returned to my car.

Yesterdays images were taken with my little point and shoot...............

2012-02-10T20:12:00.000Z

Inspired again by John (Sinbad and I) out riding his mountain bike... I looked through my images to compare my little cheap point and shoot with my Dslr. The images in yesterdays post of my walk around Derwentwater last year were taken with my little Casio EX-270.

It's a ten mile walk around the lake and I wanted to travel light... the Casio slips into my top pocket.

I can capture some wonderful moments everywhere I go...

...Gammon Egg and Chips in the Bank Tavern Keswick at the end of my walk was one.

I think they turned out quite well... and definitely good enough to share the walk on my blog.

It even takes decent video clips... handheld.

My Dslr takes images at 4 frames a second which does help when trying to capture wildlife.

My little point and shoot is always in my pocket as a back up.... no it's more than a back up it's fantastic.

I have owned it since 2007... it's 7.2MP has been improved no end by the latest range of point and shoot cameras available.. plus HD video.

The days of lugging around a heavy camera bag full of kit are over.

Derwentwater............................................................ in the Lake District

2012-02-09T20:04:00.000Z

I have been sharing some images of the English Lake District.

Keswick is a lovely little town in the north of the district... surrounded by mountains it's my favourite short break destination... 116 miles door to campsite.

The town sits at the northern end of a beautiful lake... Derwentwater.

Catbells was the home of Mrs Tiggywinkle in Beatrice Potters wonderful little books.

Yesterdays post was about the sculpture at Calfclose Bay... this is Calfclose Bay.

It's a walk of around 10 miles around Derwentwater... I have done it many times.

I have also enjoyed letting the Keswick Launch take me to one of the jetties around the lake where you can jump on and off to save time and explore .

This lovely sculpture is in Brandlehow Wood.

The Centenary Stone from yesterdays post commemorated 100 years of the National Trust in 1995.

Brandlehow Wood was the first property purchased by the Trust in 1896... a link to their site below.
The National Trust

The western side of the lake has a couple of marinas... This is Nicole End.

Colourful canoes for hire... Nicole End appeared in the film Miss Potter.

Starring...Renee Zellwegger.

Oh! to show you the size of the Brandlehow Wood "Hands" here's a scanned image of me in 2004.

It's very cold today with rain that's freezing as it lands.... there have been well over 100 reported vehicle accidents in the Lake District... Snow would be a better option.

Skywatch Friday

The Centenary Stone..........................................................Derwentwater

2012-02-08T20:51:00.001Z

Adrian from ADRIAN'S IMAGES posted an image a couple of days ago of a sculpture on the shore of Derwentwater during his stroll to Calfclose Bay.

The stone sculpture is The National Trust Centenary Stone ... it has lain there since 1995.

Derwentwater.

The Centenary Stone... Derwentwater.

This large boulder of local Borrowdale vocanic rock was split and carved inside by Peter Randall-page to commemorate the National Trusts centenary in 1995.

Located on the beach at Broomhill Point the stone is often half submerged in the lake.

I have walked past the sculpture many times over the years.
It's a wonderful to see... and not always accessible.

Windermere.................................................... culling the Canada Geese

2012-02-07T18:22:00.000Z

'polluting' Canada Geese to be culled.

About 200 Canada geese are to be culled in the Lake District.

Rangers say the 1,000 geese in Windermere have been causing environmental problems by grazing and polluting the lake with droppings.

They insist the cull will be carried out "sensitively" using silenced shotguns, in spring when the geese start to nest. With few natural predators, they are now listed as a "pest species" by Natural England.

The geese pair for life and as the male and female will be in one place the process will be less cruel.

'Reduce stress'

Steve Tatlock Lake District National Park Authority ranger described the cull as the end of a long process.

"We've tried all the ways that are often successful in small urban areas, such as fencing or egg oiling but it's only made a small difference" he said.

"This is not something we will do lightly... it's not a question of blasting them out of the skies or off the water

this is going to take place on land, and at that time of year we are pretty sure we can get pairs in one go to reduce the stress."

He added: "Its a sensitive issue controlling wildlife whether natural or introduced.

"We're aware of that but we're involved in the wider management of a wider environment here.

"It's about controlling the impact that invasive species have and maintaining a natural balance."

My thoughts... I wonder how much tourism has influenced this decision.

Windermere is the most popular lake in the district for visitors... Bowness and Ambleside both have big grassy areas near the shore... ideal for family picnics in the summer months.

I haven't pinpointed the area the cull will be concentrated on... but an educated guess..... the above.?

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this type of wildlife management.

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to visit

World Bird Wednesday LXIV

The Lake District...................................................................Easter 2011

2012-02-06T18:58:00.003Z

I have just had a nightmare of a journey home from work in thick fog... I can't believe the speeds some people drive when the conditions are bad.

I am still sorting through my old images and was looking through my visit to the Lake District during my Easter break last spring.

I have so many I haven't shared... so I will share more from time with a little snippet of info.

The view towards Bassenthwaite Lake from the Whinlatter Pass above Braithwaite.
The mountain to the right is Skiddaw and at 3053ft is the fourth highest peak in Lakeland.

Sitting alongside Bassenthwaite on the old Keswick to Cockermouth road is the lovely little fell Barf.
Barf is only1536ft high but from this side it's a steep climb.
Can you see the white rock in the centre... this is the Bishop Of Barf and can be seen from miles away.

The Bishop of Barf... explained.

On a rocky site at 700 ft and clearly visible from the Cockermouth to Keswick road, is the "Bishop of Barf", a white painted stone marking the spot where, according to local legend, the Bishop of Derry was killed falling from his horse in 1783, after drunkenly betting he could ride up the hill. Both the Bishop and his horse are said to be buried near a smaller stone, the Clerk, at the base of the hill. The stone was whitewashed each year by staff at the nearby Swan Hotel, until the Hotel was converted to apartments. The whitewashing is now carried out by members of Keswick Mountain Rescue.

Back in Keswick here is another view of Skiddaw from Fitz Park which in 2001 was voted the Loveliest Cricket Ground in England.
I hope to keep these posts quite short... then I start writing.

Sundays stroll was only into my garden...............................................

2012-02-05T17:03:00.001Z

I stayed at home today... but did venture out into the garden to top up the feeders.

I was wrapped up warm (two jackets) and when I had finished topping up I grabbed the camera and just sat quietly in the garden for a few minutes to see what turned up.

This female Blackbird was straight onto the seed.

A Dunnock was getting chased all over the place by my little Robin.

The Blackbird with what looked like a mouthful of leaves.

Fed up of playing chase with the Robin the Dunnock took his chance...he managed to get a few seeds...

...before being seen off again by the aggressive little redbreast.

A bit of colour at last... Robins defend their territories with real determination.

I have a bit of garden tidying up to do... it will have to wait until it gets a bit warmer.

I can't remember the last time I just stayed home and relaxed doing nothing other than enjoy a bit of peace and quiet... I recommend trying it.

A fun photo for the weekend...................................................................

2012-02-04T17:05:00.000Z

The back end of a bus in the UK.is a great place to advertise.

Sometimes it goes wrong.

I will now find the level of my blogs followers.... if you need a clue I am exhausted.

Sleeping Beauty.....................................................................................

2012-02-03T18:47:00.001Z

Last weekends walk was full of surprises... the reflections on the water and the lovely sunset were wonderful to see. I also saw some lovely birds during my wander... I have already shared the Long-tailed Tits but I also saw Bullfinches, Goldfinches and plenty of Redwings... and a lovely bird floating gently on the canal.

This lovely Mute Swan was having a snooze.

It was so calm and peaceful....

...until some idiot started clicking away with his camera.... Oops!

I have a free weekend... It's freezing (-7c this morning) and we are getting weather warnings for tomorrow.

I have promised my Mum (80) I will help my brother tidy up her garden after the high winds a fortnight ago brought down her fence which has been replaced but the lovely wisteria growing up against it had to cut right back... and we have to shift the debris.

Which way is up?..................................................................... the reveal

2012-02-02T19:08:00.003Z

Many thanks for all your lovely comments about yesterdays post.

The answer to the question is...... the second image.

Shown again below.

It was wonderful to see after the high winds we had a week ago.

Another view of the pool I took during a lovely walk... with not a breath of wind in the air.

I took loads of images all around this little pond... a relic from Andertons industrial past.

If you haven't been following click here to see my blog: http://rambleswithacamera.blogspot.com/

Which way is up?....................................................................................

2012-02-01T20:16:00.001Z

Just a bit of fun... the same image rotated...

...which way is up and which way is down

It's not difficult if you have been following my posts... or is it?

...blame John from Sinbad and I for giving me the idea.
The reveal is here:
http://rambleswithacamera.blogspot.com/2012/02/which-way-up-reveal.html

Skywatch Friday

One of those freaky moments that happen every now and again.............

2012-01-31T19:02:00.003Z

I had a lovely walk on Saturday afternoon after a busy morning at work.

(to see my walk scroll down to view the last two posts)

Back home having sorted my images... I was adding text to my images of the Long-tailed Tits I had seen during my walk.. when suddenly this little fella landed on the window ledge right in front of me.

It was one of those moments you can't explain... or I can't anyway.
I was actually typing the name... "Long-tailed Tit" when it happened... I couldn't believe it.

It was also a few weeks since I had seen them in my garden.

I even managed to finish off the sentence I was writing before grabbing my camera to capture the moment.

Luckily for me after feeding in the bushes next to my window they visited the garden feeders...

...giving me time to capture a few more pics... all taken through my double glazed widows.

I know they need cleaning before anyone mentions it... lol.

While all this was going I had my other eye on my new feeder.

Bought to replace the one chewed to pieces by the squirrels... being chewed by a squirrel.

The seed has been disappearing quite quickly during the last couple of weeks.
The weather had been mild... the garden birds are finding natural food easy to find.

The squirrels efforts to get at the bird food has to be applauded despite the damage they cause.

The acrobatics displayed just trying to dislodge a few sunflower seeds was wonderful to watch.

To see more wonderful birds visit World Bird Wednesday by clicking on the image below.

Saturdays ramble continues..................................................................

2012-01-30T19:33:00.002Z

If you have been following this walk you will know I had arrived at Witton Brook...

...if you haven't just scroll down to view the last post...

Standing on the wooden bridge which carries the path over Marbury Brook as it flows into Witton Brook.

I was turning left... this is the view I would have had if my choice had been right.

The black and white footbridge in the distance crosses Witton Brook before it flows into the River Weaver

The paths throughout the woodlands have little posts informing visitors of wild flowers.

The months they flower are painted in the flowers colour to help you find them.

Witton Brook has wonderful reed beds... alive with warblers during the summer months.

After a few hundred yards I reached the steps that climb up to Haydn's Pool... there are 37.

I visited the new hide first... with the setting sun lighting up the reed bed in front of the main hide.
It was very cold last night and some of the pools surface was still frozen.

This is the back of the Sand Martin bank... I had to hold the camera over the fence to take this pic.
I was trying to show it's now a little island... hard to believe after this summers drought.

The middle of September last year... a front view of the Sand Martin bank.
To see it from behind surrounded by water was fantastic.

Full to the brim... with a icy top... and ready for all the birds this year...

I walked round to the main hide... the distant view of the factory is where my car is parked.

I live the on the other side of the works... the sunset was wonderful.
I still had to make my way back... at least walking west the gloom was behind me.

More images from yesterdays walk........................................................

2012-01-29T16:10:00.001Z

It was very cold as I set off from the car park and although it was a bright afternoon in shaded area puddles were still frozen from the previous nights frost.

Almost as soon as I set off I saw a small flock of Long-tailed Tits.

Always lovely little birds to see (and as I write this line one has just landed outside my window a few feet from my desk... just got a few pics through the window).

I got quite close to this Blackbird...she was determined to have the last berry on this bush.

It was a still calm day... not a ripple on the fishing pools.

...and with the low winter sun behind me the reflections were pin sharp.

I took loads of images...

...so many in fact I couldn't decide which ones to share... this is a random selection.

This fishing pool is just off one of the main paths but is hidden in a small gated wood.

I had it all to myself.

The Uplands at Anderton has wonderful views (if you ignore the chemical works in this image) and is very popular for weekend dog walkers... a safe area to let them them off the lead.

I bypassed the Uplands to follow a path through a wood of Silver Birch which leads towards Witton Brook.

Looking back through the trees I could see the sun was getting quite low... time to get a move on.

Anderton Nature Reserve is reclaimed industrial land... some relics the past still remain.

The footbridge over Witton Brook linking Northwich town centre with the reserve can be seen in the background.

The path I was following took me down to Witton Brook......... to be continued.

A late afternoon walk around my local nature reserve..............................

2012-01-28T19:35:00.001Z

It was a busy morning at work today... the computer system was down and it was like the old days.

Looking up part numbers in catalogues... physically checking the goods were in stock (everything seemed to be upstairs)... then hand written delivery notes for the drivers.... I'm knackered!

What did I do this afternoon to unwind and relax..... walk for miles and take photos.

It was high winds last weekend.................. how calm is this.

Sunset over Haydn's Pool around 4.30 this afternoon.

I really will sleep well tonight.

Sandwich Terns................................................... Cemlyn Bay Anglesey

2012-01-27T20:31:00.004Z

I shared a clip from the BBC series Earthflight the other day plus one of my images of a Sandwich Tern with a catch returning to the nesting site at Cemlyn Bay.
I watched the final episode last night.. if you get the chance to watch it I am sure you won't be disappointed.

I took hundreds of images of the Sandwich Terns during my visit... they are wonderful birds to see.

...and flying in so fast these images were as sharp as I could manage.

Record shots of a lovely day.

Newlands Purple House................................................... the conclusion

2012-01-26T20:56:00.046Z

Newlands Valley.

The purple house was built in 1881 as "The Newlands Hotel" by a Canadian in the days when horses and carriages travelled over the Newlands Hause between Keswick and Buttermere.

When I last saw it during August 2007 it was a real sorry sight and ready for demolition.

Rigg Beck was bought for a reported £500 in 1958 by the sculptor Varya Vergauwen and she raised a large family here.

(Rigg Beck is the name of the stream that flows nearby)

The building also provided lodgings for performers appearing at Keswicks Theatre.

Among her guests in the early years were Tom Courtenay, Bob Hoskins and poet laureate Ted Hughes who was a frequent visitor.

The site had already been sold for redevelopment before my last visit..... the building was worth nothing.

The plots situation in one of the lake districts most picturesque but less visited valleys sold at auction for £470,000 ($737,665).

The story of the Purple House wasn't quite over...

On June 30th 2008 and before the bulldozers moved in it caught fire and was totally destroyed.

The Purple House had gone! Arson was ruled out...

... the views had opened up... it was built in a beautiful situation on a hairpin bend surrounded by a wonderful landscape and only a few miles from the lovely market town Keswick.

I have passed by either by car or on foot the purple house many times over the years.

I just wish I had taken the time to knock on the door and visit.

Varya Vergauwen who I suspect but can't confirm first painted the building purple passed away during 2010 at the grand old age of 90.

Wait!... I nearly forgot to show the new building at Rigg Beck.

My trips along the Newlands Valley will never be the same again.

The Lake Districts............................................................. Purple House

2012-01-25T22:58:00.007Z

The last image from Monday's post ended with a glimpse through the trees of the purple house on the road through Newlands Valley.

A circular driving tour takes you into Borrowdale and then over the steep climb of Honister Pass.

Borrowdale is beautiful ... this is a view of the valley from Castle Crag.

The pass reaches an altitude of 1,167ft making it one of the highest in the region...

...and also one of the steepest with gradients of up to 1-in-4 (25%).

The pass descends to Gatesgarth and the beautiful lake at Buttermere.

This is my son Craig and his lovely wife Eleanor enjoying a walk with the old man around Buttermere in 2008.
The circuit around the lake is about four miles... surrounded by high fells it has to be (it's mine) one of the best short walks on the planet.
I headed back over another steep pass Newlands Hause.
Dropping back down towards Keswick I approached a sharp bend in the road.... and there it was.

In the middle of nowhere... and in need of a paint job and a little bit of TLC.
A purple hotel named after the stream that flowed nearby... Rigg Beck.

I first saw it in 1986... It has a wonderful history but has been lost forever... more soon.

Earthflight......................................... a nature documentary by the BBC

2012-01-24T19:16:00.002Z

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

We have a wonderful TV series created by the BBC showing in the UK at the moment.

"Take to the skies with Earthflight as it soars with the true masters of the air on a breathtaking journey across six vast continents. On the wings of birds it experiences the world’s greatest sights and natural spectacles as never before."

Their words not mine... but is has been a wonderful series to see and still one to go.

The clip below shows Perigrine Falcons hunting starlings in Rome.

To create its birds-eye view of the world Earthflight uses a host of extraordinary filming techniques including filming “imprinted” flocks from microlites wild flocks filmed from model gliders and silent drones full-sized helicopter with stabilised mounts and cameras on the backs of trained birds.

Episode One was North America.

This episode takes flight across North America as snow geese fall prey to bald eagles.

The series has covered all the continents... it really is a must see.

Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus)

The images top and bottom are mine... I just wish I could lay claim to the video....

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to visit
World Bird Wednesday LXII

The home of Mrs Tiggywinkle................... the English Lake District 2007

2012-01-23T20:58:00.006Z

It's cold today but at least the high winds have died down.

I am still going through my old images deleting duplicates and some of the rubbish ( I have kept a few).

I stumbled upon these taken while I was on holiday during the summer of 2007.

I was staying in Keswick... it was a beautiful day so I decided to walk to Newlands Church.
Newlands Valley was the home of Mrs Tiggywinkle in the childrens books of Beatrice Potter.
Catbells and Little Town mentioned in the tale really do exist.

Newlands Beck... my walk was against the flow as I headed upstream.

The fells of Robinson and Hindscarth at the head of the valley...
It is regarded as one of the most picturesque and quiet valleys in the district.

Newlands Church eventually came in to view.

It's a wonderful old church and in a beautiful remote valley setting.

The church exterior presents white-washed roughcast walls and a green slate roof the interior displays two stained glass windows a gallery, reading desk and a pulpit dated 1610.

The church is a Grade II listed building.

These images were taken with my first little digital camera.... a lovely little Sony DSC-V1.

My wanderings on that lovely August day also took me past the purple house at Rigg Beck.

It is no more... but has a wonderful history which I will share soon.

A walk along the Trent and Mersey Canal.............................. in Cheshire

2012-01-22T16:59:00.015Z

It is still very windy here at the moment... and I had another day of running after my cap.
I went back to Anderton Boat Lift and had a walk along the canal towards Marbury Country Park.

The Trent and Mersey canal is just under 95 miles long and was completed in 1777.
The canal has more than 70 locks and five tunnels.

I had only walked a few hundred yards when I arrived at one of the local marinas.
Narrowboats for sale and to hire.. plus plenty of mooring berths for private use.

The bright paintwork of the barges gave me the chance to add some colour to this post.

This noisy little pump was bouncing as it emptied the dry dock.

The canal can take narrowboats 7ft wide and up to 72ft in length.

Over wintering private craft at the Marina.

The names of some of the boats made me chuckle.

It's a popular pastime... most of these will have central heating and shower rooms.

Leaving the canal I entered Anderton Nature Park... reclaimed industrial land stretching from the boat lift right up to Marbury Country Park and the flashes Neumanns and Ashton.

The Northwich Woodland continues to grow and with the inclusion of land around Uplands Farm it now extends to some 323 hectares of public open space in total.

Relics from the areas industrial past.

There are a few fishing lakes in the reserve... permits are required.

Created from what was once largely derelict land the woodlands now provides a rich and green environment to the north of Northwich town centre.

Northwich Woodlands is made up of nine countryside sites each with a different character and history.

The Weaver Navigation and the Trent and Mersey canal flow through the heart of the reserve adding further variety to the landscape.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

As I returned to my car I spotted this lovely male Bullfinch... Nature can be just as colourful as a narrowboat.

A walk around my local history................................. Anderton Boat Lift

2012-01-21T18:59:00.010Z

It was wet and very windy today... and I mean windy... my garden fence has been destroyed.

It will have to wait... as I had already made plans for my walks for the weekend.

Anderton Boat Lift provides a 50-foot (15.2 m) vertical link between two navigable waterways
The River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Anderton Nature Reserve has a large car park (Pay and Display)

The weather looks lovely in this image... believe me I spent the afternoon running after my cap.

The lack of cars proves my point.

The Trent and Mersey Canal next to the boat lift has an overflow... after all our recent rain it was in use.

The young Mute Swans were loving the attention of all people out for a wander with the kids..

...braving the weather and feeding the ducks.

I descended the footpath from the canal to the River Weaver to view the boat lift.

Built in 1875 it was in use for over 100 years until it was closed due to corrosion in 1983.

Restoration started in 2001 and the boat lift was re-opened in 2002 at a cost of £11m.

This is the bottom of the overflow from the canal flowing (gushing) into the River Weaver.

I walked back along the river... sheltered by the chemical works on the other side of the river.

This is the entrance to the lift from the canal... barges enter the two caissons and are lowered or raised between the river and canal.

The traffic these days....... leisure boats.

The chemical works of Northwich in the background.

The visitor centre was closed for winter...

...click on the link below to see more about Anderton Boat Lift... you won't be disappointed.

http://www.andertonboatlift.co.uk/

Black-necked Swan............................ I knew I had an image in the bank!

2012-01-20T19:19:00.008Z

I have shared some of my lovely swans in the last couple of weeks.

Whooper and Mute... are beautiful white swans to see and I am so lucky to have Black Swans on my patch... originally from Australia.

A few years ago (2008) I had a week long holiday in Norfolk.

During my stay I had a visit to Pensthorpe Nature Reserve.

At the time home to the BBC programme Springwatch.

My visit coincided with the filming of the 2008 series of the programme.
This post is to share another wonderful Swan.... originally from South America.

Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)

Swans really are wonderful birds to see.

Wallerscote Works.................................................................. Cheshire

2012-01-19T19:35:00.007Z

Sunset over Northwich.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Kennel Woods.................................................... re Woodlands For Sale

2012-01-18T20:27:00.005Z

My walk on Saturday took me around the woods I grew up exploring.

It's been for sale for a while now ... the local parish council where reported to be considering purchasing it to save it for the village.

Well it has been broken up into smaller lots.
To my amusement the smaller plots have been given new names.

Blakemere Wood

This was known as the "Lost World" when we were kids.

It was full of invasive Rhododendrons in the 1960's........ and they are still there.

Blakemere Wood is at the southern end near the kennels of the Cheshire Hunt that give the woods their name.
It has already been sold... £39.000 ($60,203)

There are a few signs to inform interested purchasers.

Nook Wood made me smile... the name makes no sense... other to the selling agent.
Also sold for £21,000 ($32,422).

The boundary trees have been daubed with paint to match the plans of the plots for sale.

Sandiway Wood... The village is called Sandiway... it's where I grew up...Kennel Woods is where I walked my first pet dog Whisky as a ten year old.

This plot name can be partially forgiven.... still for sale for £25,000 ($38,598).

This plot Daleford Wood is named after a parallel road a few hundred yards away over the fields.

Still for sale for £29,000 ($44.793).

I can't account for a few acres.... probably already sold.
It's all known to locals as Kennel Woods and in my lifetime always will be... covenants and tree preservation orders appear to secure it's future... I really hope so.
Watch this space.

Swans throwing some shapes....................... for World Bird Wednesday

2012-01-17T17:59:00.016Z

SWAN LAKE

(produced by "rambles with a camera" and introducing the cast during their warm up).

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus).
Let's get ready to.....

.....strike the pose.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor).

.....then stretch .....Oooh! that feels good!

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).

.....and a flex of the neck.

Swans are lovely birds to watch.

________________________________________________________

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to see

World Bird Wednesday LXII

A few more images of Great Budworth...................................................

2012-01-16T20:05:00.026Z

St Mary and All Saints Church Great Budworth...

...viewed from the public footpath south of the village.

The Bell tower of St Marys and All Saints.

The village.pub.. The George and Dragon is very popular...
I really recommend their Sunday lunch.

The village has some wonderful buildings.
It has has been the backdrop of quite a few films and TV series.

These buildings are wonderful to see.

This old farm house sits right in the centre of the village.

Built in 1725 it would have originally been surrounded by fields...

...and the village then grew up around it.

Great Budworth is a lovely place to visit...... and it's surrounded by a myriad of public footpaths.

I hope to walk them all this year.

Great Budworth............................................. a lovely old English village

2012-01-15T18:55:00.010Z

I had a lovely walk today... a frosty morning... clear skies and bright sunshine.

I live less than five miles from the archetypal English village of Great Budworth.

The church...St Mary and All Saints can be seen from miles away as the village sits on a ridge.

The oldest part of the present church dates from the 14th century the rest from the 15th/16th centuries.

This well at the bottom of the High Street used to be the only water supply to the village...
...you can just see the water catching the sunlight.

Alongside is a trough for watering horses.

As I walked up the hill into Great Budworth this lovely old street lamp was still shining.
The bulb was a modern energy saving one... made me laugh as it was mid day and bright sunshine.

The Post Office.

The village still has a lovely old red phone and post box.

The village pub The George and Dragon is just across the road from the church.

This pretty little cottage on the High Street.was built in 1706.

Jam and eggs for sale... just knock on the door and ask.

The Churchyard was so peaceful in the winter sunshine.
It was a lovely walk and I took hundreds of images... so expect to see some more.

http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

Kennel Woods..................................................... a lovely place to visit

2012-01-14T18:29:00.112Z

It was freezing last night!...

... and I arrived home from work this morning to find my car was still frozen.

It's not severe... just -4c below over night..

We had wonderful sunshine and clear skies for the rest of the day.

After a defrost I decided to visit Kennel Woods... my childhood playground.

It's for sale and I discovered this week that part of it had been sold...there are covenants in place so hopefully nothing will change... although vehicle access is granted to the owners.

I put it all to the back of my mind and continued my walk.
One thing stood out as I walked around the woods...... Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus).

Growing on fallen trees...

... as well as the living.

A stack of Birch Polypore ....a wonderful sight to see.

As I returned to my car I spotted this sign in the undergrowth.
I suspect the locals don't approve the sale...

More info soon as I have just discovered the woodland has been broken up into four Lot's.

Sandwich Terns................................................... Cemlyn Bay Anglesey

2012-01-13T21:32:00.002Z

In June 2010 I had a lovely day trip to Anglesey in North Wales.

I have had two of my images taken that day published... one in a popular birding magazine and the second in a government newsletter... (scroll down two posts to read about that).

This little video clip was taken on the same day.

The tern colony at Cemlyn Bay is in a protected area and wonderful to see.
It's been posted before... and one of the first video clips I shared.

I hope you don't mind me re-sharing the moment.

The path towards my favourite place to relax..................... Haydn's Pool

2012-01-12T22:11:00.011Z

The nearest place to park the car to wander around my local woodlands has free parking
A bit of a rarity in the UK ..... this is where I park when visiting Haydn's Pool.

The footpath during Spring.

Summer.

Autumn.

...and frozen in Winter.

My goal... Haydn's Pool is a wonderful place to visit, relax and just watch wildlife.

I can (and do) spend hours here.... just chilling.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Hatchmere Lake....................... another lovely pool in Delamere Forest

2012-01-10T18:56:00.008Z

I visited Hatchmere Lake after my walk around Delamere Forest hoping to see some wildlife.

I was soon joined by these Mute Swans... looking for a treat.

I still had my 18-55mm lens on the camera... it didn't matter as the swans were so tame.

They allowed me to capture some lovely close ups.

Please scroll down a few posts to see more of Delamere Forest.

To view more wonderful birds... click on the image below.

World Bird Wednesday LX

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee.. ...... use one of my images

2012-01-09T20:43:00.010Z

I was asked in November if I would allow JNCC a government adviser to use one of my images to illustrate a forthcoming newsletter.

JNCC is a statutory adviser to UK Government and devolved administrations.

A link to their website..http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/

Sandwich Tern

(Sterna sandvicensis)

I was delighted and today I received an email of the said newsletter...

...with an acknowledgement for my image.

A link below to the newsletter if you want to read it... I haven't as yet.

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SAS_Marine_SPA_News_Dec11.pdf

Delamere Forest................................... a winter visit to Blakemere Moss

2012-01-08T14:22:00.005Z

I continued through the forest towards Blakemere Moss.

We have had a lot of rain recently and I wanted how it has effected the pool.

Blakemere Moss was drained around 1815 supposedly by prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars during the 19th century and was unsuccessfully planted with oak and later with Scots pine.

In the 1990's the trees were removed but the stumps remain.

The water level had risen since my last visit in October.

This was the path through the forest before the trees were felled and the dams removed

Under a grey winter sky it had lost some of it's magical prehistoric appearance.

I have added a few of my images from 3 months ago to show the changes.

The first 2 are taken from the same spot as the ones above.

If you want to view Octobers post it is here... LINK

I made my way back through the forest...

... to the switchback road where I had left my car.

Today was just a walk in the wood's............................. Delamere Forest

2012-01-07T19:38:00.005Z

I spent my afternoon just wandering aimlessly around Delamere Forest.
A walk just for the sake of walking.... I nearly left my camera at home.

Delamere Forest covers over 2,000 acres of my local countryside.

Is it just me or can you also see little people?

I didn't always stick to the paths to avoid the masses...

Some of the unmarked paths were lovely to follow.

Do I go left... or do I go right?

I went left to see how Blakemere Moss had coped with the recent rainfall... more tomorrow.

Delamere is a working forest so some of the tracks are easy to navigate.

The Silver Birch look wonderful against the evergreen trees.

An overnight shelter?

Ice Cream Van?
It's Winter...and it's cold... .my parents would have just said NO!

Dunham Massey..................................................... the Slaughterhouse

2012-01-06T20:36:00.007Z

I was asked a few of questions about the Slaughterhouse in the Deer Park at Dunham Massey.

These images are from last April... hence all the green leaves.

If this post makes no sense please scroll down and read the last few...

The Slaughterhouse in the Deer Park at Dunham Massey.

The building is old...really really old!... it was built in 1740.

The interior has information boards.....

....showing and telling it's history.

I hope this cropped image is large enough for you to read.... click on the image to make it bigger.

The park is large and the deer can wander around most of the estate.

People are asked to stay clear of a big chunk of the park......the deer do get some peace.

Dunham Massey is a wonderful place to visit.

Dunham Massey....................................................... the Winter Garden

2012-01-05T20:08:00.006Z

Dunham Massey... continued.
Sorry but you need to scroll down four posts to see the full story.

I left the deer park and headed back towards the Mansion House.
To the side of the house is the largest winter garden in the UK.

The orangery looks like it's in a summer setting... this really is winter in the UK

The weather was sunny but very cold... .. my visit was on January the 2nd.

For the last couple of day's we have very strong winds....... I didn't get any sleep last night..

Nature thinks it's Spring.... the daffodils are coming through very early.

I have a few in my little garden that are at this stage... they usually flower in late March.

I really like this part of the Winter Garden... these birch trees are wonderful to see.

On my way back to the car park I saw two of the birds I had missed on New Years Day....

....on another wonderful Golden Pond.

Canada Goose...

...and Greylag.

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Dunham Massey continued............. heading over to the Winter Garden

2012-01-04T21:11:00.006Z

This fallen tree has been sculptured into........."Old Stump!"

This building in the Deer Park was the slaughterhouse...
Venison was prepared here for the Mansion.

Mud, mud glorious mud!
The paths weren't all easy to walk upon.... I should have worn my wellies.

Queueing for Ice Cream on a cold winters day?

It was only when I got closer to the sign that I read the added notice...
...advertising hot drinks and snacks etc!

The Mansion House is closed for Winter.

Next stop the Winter Garden.... it's the largest in the UK.

On Golden Pond......................................................... Dunham Massey

2012-01-03T19:45:00.008Z

I had a lovely walk at Dunham Massey yesterday... wonderful sunshine but very cold.

Today stormy winds a wreaking havoc across the UK...

My journey home from work has taken me over an hour longer than usual.

These images were taken on one of the ponds in the deer park.

Children were feeding the birds... and the Black-headed Gulls were making the most of it.

The sun shining on the water gave a lovely golden glow... much better than my images show.

To see more wonderful birds visit World Bird Wednesday LIX.
Click on the image below.

A visit to Dunham Massey......................... to enjoy the winter sunshine

2012-01-02T18:28:00.012Z

It was a lovely sunny day today but very chilly.. we had overnight frost in Cheshire.

It's a national holiday and I decided on a visit to Dunham Massey.

One problem!... so did everyone else.

The queue into the car park over half a mile long... and finding a place was difficult.

I went back to take more images of the 17th century buildings.
One of the windows was broken and I could just manage to poke my camera through and fire away.

Just look at all these old mangles...
I think the barrel contraption on the left could be a washing machine.

This is the canal feeding the Water Mill.

I made my way through the crowds in the deer park... I usually walk alone?

I had a walk over to the Deer House built in 1740...off the beaten track for a bit of peace and quiet.
It's a wonderful old building to see... inside and out.

... the mangers fed from the hayloft above where positioned here.

As you can see from the kids scooters... it wasn't peaceful for very long.

I have more of Dunham to share over the next few days... it's back to work in the morning.

Storms are forecast for tomorrow.

To see more womderful barns click on the link below.

Barn Charm

Marbury Country Park................. my first walk of 2012 was a wet one

2012-01-01T18:20:00.014Z

A dull grey day with more the odd shower of rain.

I had a short drive to Marbury Country Park this morning.

Just a week ago it looked like this.

"A little bit of history about my patch".

Marbury Country Park used to be a private estate and the centrepiece was

a magnificent country house based on the great French château of Fontainebleau.

Marbury Hall.

Marbury Hall was demolished in the 1960's... none of the house exists any more.

However raised terraces a pair of rusticated gate piers topped with urns, stone walls, the arboretum and walled garden still exist within the country park.

Today was dull and wet.
At the back of where the house stood the original steps take you down to Budworth Mere.

Marbury Hall would have dominated the view from here.

A stately home until the 1930's then a posh Country Club... taken over by the forces during WW2.

A prisoner of war camp then a home for Polish refugees after the war.

Finished in 1856 and demolished in 1968 it has quite a history.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).
A pair of Black Swans have been a regular sight on my patch for a few years.

An Australian species....
...escaped birds from collections they have become a real favourite of mine over the years.

Raising up to six cygnets on the island at Haydn's Pool.
The young birds have always been lost to predation?

For the past 12 months there has only been one on my patch... another appeared 10 miles away at Moore NR last summer and featured in my video clip

Divorced out of frustration?

Apart from my garden birds I don't do lists... except for the first day of the year.

32 species with not a lot of effort... and a lovely time watching Bank Voles.

I met birders today that had driven miles to big up their lists.

http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

A few from my garden during 2011.............................. Happy New Year

2011-12-31T17:31:00.006Z

Wildlife images taken in my garden during 2011.

Happy New Year and I wish you all the best for 2012.

Goldfinch.

Redwing...

... and Fieldfare.

I have Blackbirds nesting in my little garden...

...this is the Male.

Long-tailed Tits are always lovely to see...

...and always arrive in numbers.

Goldfinches visit all year long... these are feeling a bit warmer than the one in the first image.

House Sparrows are lovely little birds to see.

A Racing Pigeon... he spent a few days enjoying my hospitality... as do a few other species.

Grey Squirrels destroy my feeders on a regular basis.

Wood Mouse...this lovely little mouse lives underground in my garden and the most I have seen at one time is three..an adult and two youngsters... and they don't try to invade my house.

The House Mouse is a different species originally from Asia and is the pest I thankfully don't see.

I wish you all a wonderful 2012... Happy New Year.

Bird images of 2011..................................... the second half of the year

2011-12-29T20:28:00.005Z

Birdfair 2011 was wonderful to visit during August... it was a lovely warm sunny day.

A bird ringing demonstration... and a beautiful little Sedge Warbler.

September brought a wonderful moment...

A close up view of a beautiful Goshawk.
This was a captive bred bird being trained for falconry display and it's first lesson in open countryside.
I was out walking and just stumbled across it by chance.

Jackdaw in Llandudno during our heatwave at the end of September.
Plodding the pavements...

OK my favourite image from October wasn't a bird.

A beautiful Royal Red Deer Stag.

Pochard... Martin Mere seen during November.

Red Crested Pochard also at Martin Mere.

This beautiful female Pheasant completes my birding year.

I wish you all a wonderful 2012.

My bird images of 2011............................................. the first six months

2011-12-28T21:32:00.005Z

Redwing in my garden... January

Woodpigeon pretending to be a Blue Tit.

Mute Swan in March.

Tall duck and handsome...Shakerley Mere.

Carrion Crow... Derwentwater in the Lake District... April

Sandwich Tern.... Cemlyn Bay Anglesey.

Oystercatcher...

...and Herring Gull.

All taken in Anglesey during June.

Goldcrest a beautiful little bird to see.......... the smallest bird in Europe

2011-12-27T16:49:00.008Z

This was not my intended post for World Bird Wednesday.... but I had to share this lovely little bird.

I have just returned home from today's walk and it's been fantastic.

Just a wander around my usual patch making the most of our very mild holiday weather.

A few hundred yards into my walk I bumped into a couple I hadn't seen in years and had a lovely few minutes having a chat.

The path from the car park runs alongside Witton Brook.. to the left.

Witton Brook was the saviour of Haydn's Pool... water was pumped up (40ft +) to refill it after our Winter/Spring/Summer 2011 drought.

I went to have a look at Haydn's now defrosted pool... refilled and looking great.

These images are of the Sand Martin bank.... they nested in it for the first time this year.

The first image was taken on the 5th of July... it's wonderful to see what a bit of water can do!

Goldcrest (Regfulus regulus).

I was heading home with just a few images when I spotted a pair of Goldcrests.

The smallest bird in Europe along with the Firecrest.

I have seen them before but not at Haydn's Pool and these are my first ever images... my day was complete... it's back to work tomorrow :-(

To see more wonderful birds visit World Bird Wednesday LVIII
just click on the image below.

Cheshires barns aren't all brick built..................................................

2011-12-27T09:45:00.002Z

Corrugated iron was used for building many of my local barns...
...bricks still dominate the old farms though.

Many have been converted into luxury homes... I hope to share some soon.

This old barn is ready to be restored... or demolished!

With a bit of care it will make a lovely home.

To see more wonderful barns click on the link below.

http://bluffareadaily.blogspot.com/

My Boxing Day rambles................ and ramble at Marbury Country Park

2011-12-26T18:16:00.006Z

This time last year it was -10c... today it's +13c.
What a difference a year makes.

I met my son Craig at Mums this morning and he told us all about his recent honeymoon trip.

Las Vegas and San Francisco.

They stayed at the Bellagio in Vegas and while in SF visited Alcatraz Island and cycled across the Golden Gate bridge having arrived there via the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley.

It all sounds fantastic... he forgot to bring his photos!

I had a visit to Marbury Country Park on my way home... and it was very busy.

I made my way towards the hide at Budworth Mere.

A fellow birder had just seen a Bittern in the reed bed in front of the hide.
I stayed for over an hour but didn't manage to see it myself.
We did spot a Kingfisher but didn't manage to capture an image between us.

It was very noisy as families brought their kids to have a look at the lovely little birds.
I had a great time telling them what birds they were watching.

This time last year Budworth Mere was frozen solid...

This year the local sailing club were making the most of the mild weather and were having a Regatta.
It looked very competitive.

The weather has been fantastic over the last few days.
It's been a wonderful Christmas...I hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I have.

It was lovely to see all the children enjoying feeding the ducks.

12 months in 12 minutes............................. 2011 was a wonderful year

2011-12-25T07:00:00.002Z

"12 months in 12 minutes"

My wildlife video clip taken during 2011..already posted before but feel free to comment.
...this is to share with my family over Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

My garden birds are fed and watered............................... for Christmas

2011-12-24T15:25:00.007Z

I have topped up the feeders and even added a couple of new ones.

It's been quite a bright day so I wrapped up warm and sat outside for half an hour or so hoping to capture some images of some of my garden visitors.

Blue Tits were the most obliging...

...lovely little acrobats to see

I must have been too obvious sat in my little folding chair.

... this Woodpigeon just sat on the fence waying me up.

While my little garden Robin stayed in the bushes.

I must get a little hide for the garden...I shoud have asked Father Christmas.

Please accept my best wishes for tomorrow.... Merry Christmas everyone.

Children love Santa Claus................................................... don't they?

2011-12-23T19:39:00.004Z

Merry Christmas... and I hope everyone has a wonderful 2012.

My two favourite places.............................................. to visit in England

2011-12-22T18:37:00.006Z

Haydn's Pool last weekend..... frozen.

This is my local favourite place to watch wildlife.

Buttermere in the English Lake District ... on a beautiful sunny April afternoon.

It's a lovely four mile walk around the lake surrounded by high fells...

... and I have also walked all the tops.

This is my favourite place to have a holiday... and relax.

To see more wonderful images visit.

Cheshires old barns are brick built..........................................................

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000Z

Cheshire Barns.

A few more brick built barns from Cheshire in the UK.

Cheshire Cheese has been around for centuries and I have been trying to discover the age of some of my local dairy farms... and the history of the wonderful brick built barns.

Some of the farm houses are also magnificent to see...
I pass two on my commute to work that are three stories high... lovely old buildings to see.

My early research has some of the old brick built farm houses and outbuildings being at least 250 years old.. I do know that the images shown are well over 100 years of age.

They all have different patterns of ventilation holes in the brickwork... wonderful to see.
Something else for me to look into.

I pass this lovely old farm twice every day on my commute to work.
It's a lovely old structure to see... and the name on the gate?
New Farm

To see more lovely barns click on the link below.

http://www.bluffareadaily.blogspot.com/

Part II of Sundays stroll.............. a quick look at frozen Neumanns Flash

2011-12-19T19:21:00.003Z

A few more images of yesterdays walk around my local patch.

Marbury Lane had a bit of the sunshine... but the road was covered in ice...

It was a bit of a worry as I feared for my camera... a fall could have been very expensive.

It was very slippy... walking along the narrow grassy verge was the best option.

This is the path down to No.1 Hide... it doesn't seem that long ago I was filming butterflies here.

A view of a frozen Neumanns Flash from the Bird Hide.

Lapwings gathered near a break in the ice.

A lovely sunny day but very cold... the frost wasn't shifting in the shade.

... frozen but at least the recent rain has raised the water levels.

Almost back at the car park and I had managed to do the circuit without falling over.

Sundays slippy stroll.................................................... to Haydn's Pool

2011-12-18T17:48:00.005Z

It was wet all day yesterday with sleet in the rain... and I was woken during the night by the sound of the gutters overflowing during another downpour.

I was delighted to get up this morning to see the rain had stopped.

By the time I was ready to go out the sky was blue and the sun was shining... but it was very cold.

I stayed local as the roads were icy and went to see how Haydn's Pool was getting along.

This lovely little Robin greeted me at the car park.

It was a bit treacherous underfoot so I kept to the grassy verges for a bit of grip.

The shadow is mine... I was going to delete this image but it does show off the low winter sun.

I used the steps up to Haydn's Pool..... the path was covered in ice.

Haydn's Pool was frozen..... a dry bed throughout the summer drought.

Refilled just a few weeks ago... the rain of the past few days has increased the water levels.

After a summer of no water for the birds it's full...... but frozen over..... and not a bird in sight.

I left by the back door... there are 37 steps.

I counted them as I descended... 39 steps sounds better.

Witton Brook lies below and is the stream used to refilled the pool... it's quite steep.

Looking back up the steps from the path below.
A flock of Redwings were enjoying the berries and lovely to see through my binoculars.
I only had my travel zoom (18-200mm) so no images to share.

My shadow was getting longer as I headed over towards Neumanns Flash.
Part II of my walk tomorrow.

Mary Poppins................................................. and her American Robin?

2011-12-17T20:18:00.013Z

A rewrite of a post I made during the festive season last year.

The original has had the most views of all the posts I have made during the last 12 months.

In 1965 when I was 9 years old my parents took my brother and I to Dorset for a lovely summer holiday in Bournemouth.

One afternoon for a treat we went to the local cinema to see the latest blockbuster... Mary Poppins.

The film was a period piece set in London during 1910.

I have two very vivid memories of that day.

We were always given an ice cream at our local cinema during the interval but on this day we had hot dogs as our treat....brilliant.

The other memory or really a question that has nagged away at me over the years was the size of the Robin that appeared during the song "Spoonful of Sugar"

It looked more like a Blackbird they had painted red to me.

American Robin (Turdus migratorious) photo by Hilke Breder.

I have been introduced to images of the American Robin from fellow birders and bloggers in the USA and it dawned on me (after I had hit myself with a big stick) that they had used their little bird instead of ours for the bigger US audience and it is a thrush related to our Blackbird.

Our little Robin is the smaller than a sparrow and is a lovely little bird.... it's my new winter header.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula).

Both birds are lovely to see and 45 years after watching the film I finally got rid of that nagging doubt.

To see more wonderful birds visit click on the image below to visit.
World Bird Wednesday LVII

It's almost Christmas so here is a lovely little Robin.............. and friends

2011-12-16T20:35:00.001Z

Marbury Country Park has two bird hides... one overlooking Budworth Mere and

the other is in the woods I filmed the little Robin feeding from my hand.

One post... three species.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Is that a newspaper under your arm?

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

All taken on the same post on the same day.

This wonderful perch has unfortunately been removed a few months ago.

Calm before the storm................................ and what a downpour it was

2011-12-14T21:12:00.007Z

It's been very cold wet and very windy this week in the UK so no decent sky images to share.
These pictures were taken in August 2009.

These lovely fluffy clouds were drifting over my intended destination in the summer of 2009.
These images were taken as I walked from the car park to Haydn's Pool.

It's a lovely short walk from the free car park.

It wasn't long before I was watching some lovely birds.... this Reed Warbler was showing well.
Regular visitors will be aware that this is my favourite place to watch birds and contemplate life.

The heavens opened about half an hour after my arrival.

It really chucked it down.

I spent a couple of hours watching the birds in the rain... it was still raining as I made my way back to the car park... Backpack under my waterproof jacket to protect my camera etc.

We have had very little rain during 2011and Haydn's Pool really suffered from the drought.

The Rangers that look after the reserve have refilled it by pumping water up from Witton Brook.

"It didn't need any help in 2009"

The commonest bird on the Planet....................................... the Chicken

2011-12-13T17:24:00.005Z

Where would we be without our wonderful chickens... 24 billion plus in the world.

Beautiful birds I would love to keep if I had the space.

During my walk on Saturday I climbed over a stile into a field sign posted "Bull in Field".

It was a public footpath and as far as I know it is illegal to have a dangerous bull in a field with public access.... the cattle were Longhorns and beautiful beasts to see.
They were at the far side of the field... so on I went.

As I wandered across towards the stile on the far side I saw some free range hens foraging alongside the hedgerow I was following and took a few images.

With the cold wet weather I have had this week these are my best bird images of the week.

Lovely to see them running loose.... free range eggs are so much tastier.
Not the prettiest birds in the world but with the human population reaching 7 Billion people they are probably the most important birds on Earth.

To see more lovely birds click on the image below to visit.
World Bird Wednesday LVI

Dunham Masseys Grade II listed...................................... historic barns

2011-12-12T19:57:00.005Z

These old barns are in the grounds of Dunham Massey... a National Trust property in Cheshire.

The Deer House c1740.

A two story block accommodating a hayloft on the upper floor.

The mangers still remain and were designed to be fed directly from the loft.

The lean to has 7 semi-elliptical headed arches to allow deer to enter.

This old barn/stable was build around c1700 and also has a hayloft.

I have added a few images of the mansion and gardens at Dunham Massey.

It stands in a magnificent 300 acre deer park.

These images were taken back in April... It's pouring with rain as I write this post.

Dunham Massey Hall initially built in 1616 but later remodelled between 1732-1740.

There are 45 listed buildings on the estate... including the barns.

The house has a beautiful interior...

...and a wonderful collection of Huguenot silver (this is only a part of it).

The estate is in the care of the National Trust of which I am a member.

This is my post to this weeks Barn Charm.

http://bluffareadaily.blogspot.com/

Alice in Wonderland.......................... the birthplace of Charles Dodgson

2011-12-11T19:55:00.002Z

It has been cold and very wet here today so I have decided to share a bit of my local history.

I had a walk a few months ago around Daresbury a small rural Cheshire village not far from Warrington and about ten miles from my home.

The most notable attributes of Daresbury are that it was the birthplace (some 1.5 miles south of the village) of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson).

The stained glass window and a close up of a panel.

All Saints Church Daresbury.

Daresbury is famous for being the birthplace of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson).

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson 1832-1898

Pen name Lewis Carroll.

Daresbury has become a place of pilgrimage for followers of the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I parked at the local hostelry The Ring O' Bells and crossed over to All Saints Church to see the stained glass window commemorating Charles Dodgson and his wonderful stories about the adventures of Alice.

My walk took me along country lanes and under the M56 motorway crossing fields and passing through farm yards towards his birthplace the family home on Morphany Lane.

The site has become a monument to Lewis Carroll and the outline of the house has been marked out to show the position of the rooms and a structure erected to show the entrance to the Parsonage.

(his father was the local parson).

The position of the front door to the birthplace of Charles Dodgson... AKA Lewis Carroll.

The author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was born in Cheshire.

The walking is over level countryside so easily traversed and lots of wildlife to spot.

Brown Hares souring Buzzards and I was even lucky enough to see a Red Kite one afternoon on my way home from the local Nature Reserve at Moore just a mile or so from Daresbury.

So the birthplace of Lewis Carroll has a lot to offer.
He sent shrank Alice and sent her down a rabbit hole and her adventures involved White Rabbits a Dormouse the Queen of Hearts and even a Mad Hatter and of course a Cheshire cat.

Saturdays stroll........................................... around the village of Norley

2011-12-10T18:00:00.009Z

After the strong winds and rain of the past few days it was nice to have a bright (but cold) Saturday for a walk... I decided to have a stroll around the village of Norley as it's only five miles from home.

A few views of the countryside around the village.

I parked next to the Tigers Head pub in the village.... and yes this is December and winter in England.

The tree is an evergreen Australian Oak according to the pub menu I read a few years ago.
I often bring friends here during the winter months... and nobody notices until I point it out.

This outbuilding is also home to the village notice board, public telephone (a rare sight these days) and post box...
The post office used to be across the road but closed a few years ago.

...and this lovely old sign.

A lovely Saturday morning especially after all the bad weather this past week.

Fingers crossed for more of the same tomorrow.

I just have to share this story......................................The Military Wives

2011-12-09T19:15:00.041Z

I have just read a lovely story about the soloist of the Military Wives Choir.

This is her story.

Soloist: Samantha Stevenson star of BBC Two series The Choir.
__________________________________

I owe Gareth Malone so much because he brought the confidence out in me and got me singing again,” Stevenson said.

When Malone approached her, she was living a lonely existence on the Royal Marines base in Chivenor, Devon.
Her husband, Lance Corporal John Stevenson of 24 Commando Regiment, Royal Engineers, was about to embark upon his first tour of duty in Afghanistan and she was left to bring up their two children, Elliv, 17 months, and Brodie, seven, who suffers from an autistic spectrum disorder.
A member of a junior choir in Perth, Scotland from the ages of 12 to 17, she won a place to study music at Edinburgh University but gave it up for love. “I planned to go but then I got other priorities - I met my husband,” she said.
“I was 17, and when you’re that age you don’t think about careers, you just think, ‘I’ve got a boyfriend, that’s more important’. I went for an audition at Edinburgh and was offered a place, and then just didn’t bother going. Then I got married and singing went on the back burner.”
Her husband, also 28, worked in a hairdressing salon when they first met but joined the Army six years ago.
The couple moved to Cambridge, but Stevenson’s attempt to join a local church choir was met with rejection when they deemed her voice “too big”.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence, and when the church choir didn’t want me it made me feel even lower,” she recalled.
She signed up for Malone’s choir as a way of making new friends while her husband was away, and says that the experience has changed her life.
“We knew people were going to watch the programme but we didn’t know how big it was going to be. Never in a million years did we think people would be backing us for the Christmas number one. It’s wonderful,” she said.
“When I first joined Gareth’s choir, I thought it was fantastic but I still felt he was going to pick up on my voice and ask me to leave. I just had no self worth.
“Now people stop me in the street and say how fantastic the choir is - it’s quite overwhelming. And my husband says I’m a lot more confident than I was. He had never heard me sing properly until he watched the programme.”

When the choir performed at the Remembrance Day service at the Royal Albert Hall, Stevenson wore an evening gown but has no plans for a glamorous image change. She said: “I’ve got my tattoos and I’m not going to wear stuff that isn’t me - I am who I am.”

All the money raised from the sale of the song (released on the 19th of December) will go to charity.

Budworth Mere........................................ a view of my local countryside

2011-12-08T18:39:00.012Z

Budworth Mere.. from Marbury Country Park.

Marbury Country Park is my home patch...and only a couple of walkable miles from home.
Part of the Northwich Woodlands an area of 350 hectares which include my favourite birding places Haydn's Pool, Neumanns Flash and the world famous Anderton Boat Lift.
It's cold, raining and blowing a hoolie here in the UK.

This image was taken in April and believe me I can't wait for spring to return.
Budworth Mere is the frozen lake at the start of my "12 months in 12 minutes" video clip.
http://www.youtube.com/user/agfstamp?feature=mhee

To view more wonderful images visit SkywatchFriday.
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

White-headed Duck........... and the demise of the Ruddy Duck in the UK

2011-12-06T17:27:00.001Z

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala).

The images of the White-headed Ducks were taken a couple of weeks ago at Martin Mere.

They are captive birds and part of a conservation programme.

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis).

The Ruddy Duck images were taken in 2009 on Haydn's Pool.

Wild birds... but their days were numbered as a cull to rid them from the UK had started in 2008.

The Ruddy Duck was an introduced bird to Britain (originally from America) and as a result of escapes from wildlife collections in the 1940's they became established in the UK.

Because of the Ruddy Ducks aggresive courting behaviour and a willingness to interbreed with the endangered White-headed Duck of Southern Europe it has led to a cull to extirpate the bird from these shores at a cost to the UK taxpayer of £4.6 million.

White-headed Duck.

I have read that while we have been killing these beautiful and comical little birds the French (whose Ruddy Duck population are more likely to be mating with the Spanish birds than ours) aren't doing anything about their Ruddy Duck population.

While the White- headed Duck is quite a cute bird to see...

I really miss seeing the Ruddy Ducks on my patch.

I watched this funny little bird drumming his lovely blue beak on his chest during 2009 but have never seen one since.

It was confirmed in March that well over 4500 birds had been destroyed and that only around 120 remain. A lovely watchable little bird and personally I think the whole exercise has been a total waste of our hard earned cash.

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to visit.

World Bird Wednesday LV

Barn Charm................................ a 15th century cruck barn in Cheshire

2011-12-05T18:24:00.002Z

The medieval cruck barn at Arley Hall... built around 1468.

The cruck barn is to the left of the clock tower.... the Tudor section to the right is much newer.

It was constructed in 1604

Another view of the 15th century cruck barn

And this is the view from the other side... this is actually the approach to Arley Hall and Gardens.

My first post to Barn Charm

Sunday wanderings.................................... a nosey around Oulton Park

2011-12-04T18:34:00.004Z

I intended to walk around Little Budworth Country Park this morning and was going to park close to the entrance of Oulton Park motor racing circuit.

As I approached the entrance to the race track I decided to go in and have a look around as it wasn't a race day.

It covers a large area of parkland... the full circuit is 2.8 miles long.
A lot of improvements have been made in recent years and the building are all fairly new.
Cars and bikes have raced here since the 1950's.

The kiosks were empty so I just drove through.

The track is set in the grounds of Oulton Hall which were used as an army staging camp by General Patton prior to the Normandy landings and his PT instructor the Heavyweight Champion of the World Joe Louis gave exhibition bouts at Oulton Park in the vicinity of the Deer Leap section of the circuit.

I parked at the Chequers Restaurant and set off on foot towards the Pits.

This was what was going on today... members of the public can drive the circuit on special track days.

Race Control Centre and pit garages.

This area of the circuit is roughly were Oulton Hall stood.... it was destroyed by fire in 1926.

I spotted a couple of garages were open so had a nosey around.

There was nobody around so I spent a few minutes taking images of a couple of single seaters.

For £150 ($235) you can drive one of these around the circuit after tuition.....

.....or one of the BMW's for £99 ($155).

Heading across to the other side of the park you can see it's in a beautiful setting.

Almost back at the car park I passed the Fogarty Moss Centre.

A conference and meeting centre... they have thought of everything to bring in revenue.

As I left I drove around the perimeter wall.

I had to smile.....

.....all this to keep out non-payers... and I get in through the front door for nothing.

A Christmas song by the Wives of the British troops in Afghanistan.......

2011-12-02T20:03:00.008Z

Wherever You Are (Military Wives with Gareth Malone)

This wonderful video has just been shown on our popular early evening BBC TV programme
"The One Show"

All the ladies in the choirs husbands are serving with the British Army in Afghanistan.

The song is tipped to be No 1 in the charts this Christmas.

All it's proceeds will go to charity.

It's wonderful.

A beautiful lady to see in the countryside........................... the pheasant

2011-12-01T21:26:00.008Z

If you see an image of a Pheasant it's nearly always of the male...

...and why not it's a beautiful bird to see.

But what about the females... an unattractive brown bird?.. well have a closer look.

I think she's a stunner.

I was sat in my car hoping to see the young male I call Target when this lovely lady walked by.

(Target has been the star of a couple of my little video clips this summer.. links at the end of this post).

I had the car door open but she was so unaware of my presence she kept coming closer...
...climbing the small bank alongside my parking place.

A close view of the plumage reveals a beautiful array of colours... all to make the bird blend in the countryside... wonderful camouflage.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

A beautiful bird to see up close.
To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to see
World Bird Wednesday LV

"Kiss me Hardy"............. Admiral Lord Nelsons dying words at Trafalgar

2011-11-30T20:40:00.008Z

The Hardy Monument.

Hardy is the man Admiral Lord Nelson asked to kiss him as he lay dying at the battle of Trafalgar.

The monument above is a 72 foot tall stone tower built in 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy (1769-1839) who served on HMS Victory in the Battle of Trafalgar.

The monument is situated on a high chalk hill overlooking the English Channel in the Blackdown area near Portesham in Dorset.

It was restored in 1900 by his descendants and given to the National Trust in 1938.

Admiral Lord Nelson struck down on the deck of HMS Victory at Trafalgar.

During the fight with Redoubtable the soldiers and sailors in the French rigging fired at men exposed on the Victory’s decks. A musket shot hit Nelson knocking him to the deck and breaking his back.

He was carried below to the midshipmen's berth where he constantly asked after the progress of the battle. Hardy was able to tell him before he died that the Fleet had taken 15 of the enemy’s ships. Nelson knew he had won.

___________________________________________________

Did Nelson ever say the words "kiss me Hardy" ?

There is little explanation required for the words as there were at least three eye-witness accounts that record that Nelson did actually ask Hardy to kiss him.

These witnesses were Surgeon William Beatty... Chaplain Alexander Scott and Purser Walter Burke. These three are portrayed in the painting Death of Nelson by Arthur Devis considered to be the most authentic (the nearest thing to a photograph of the occasion) and they can be seen within inches of the dying Admiral and would therefore have heard what was said.

On normal occasions it could be assumed that one witness might be mistaken but when three independent accounts agree there is little room for doubt over what was said.

Beatty also records that Hardy not only kissed Nelson once but twice... first on the cheek then stood up... looked down at his dying Leader and friend reluctant to leave him.

He then bent down again and kissed him on the forehead.

Nelson was sinking fast by then and could not see clearly... he asked: "Who is that?" to which came the reply "It is Hardy".

Nelson replied "God bless you, Hardy"

SkywatchFriday
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

WWT Martin Mere....................................................... a short video clip

2011-11-28T19:08:00.013Z

My trip to Martin Mere took up three posts....... keep scrolling down if you havn't read them all.

It's a wonderful bird reserve to visit.

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina).

I don't like to disappoint.

Of course I took my little camcorder with me on my trip to Martin Mere.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus).

My little clip is just two and a half minutes in length.

I have also managed to edit the clip without having to add audio.

Audio?... two minutes in and the wild birds are being fed... the volume increases.

Pintail (Anas acuta).

The best I could manage amongst the chaos.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust feed the wild birds every day at 3pm... it's a popular spectacle.

It was impossible to single out a particular bird with the camera even though they were all so close.

I was also surprised to see how aggressive the Pintails were for such a pretty little duck.

Highlight of my day had to be seeing (and hearing) the Eiders.

Eider (Somateria mollissima).

This was post #3 of my trip to Martin Mere.

If you would like to view #2 and #1 just keep scrolling down few posts.
I would love to read your comments.

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to view.
World Bird Wednesday LIV

A Sunday afternoon stroll in the Cheshire countryside............................

2011-11-27T17:29:00.020Z

I had a lovely walk this afternoon around the paths and lanes near Arley Hall.

I am surprised how many trees are hanging on to their leaves... a few images of my local countryside.

The still images don't show the weather conditions...

So I have added a little video clip.

It was a lovely walk... unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow.

Looking through my archives.................... Little Budworth 2010 revisted

2011-11-26T18:49:00.013Z

I started this blog during the summer of 2010 to keep a record of my weekend walks.
Illustrated with images taken on my rambles around the local countryside.

I have been looking through my early posts and noticed I used to add a lot more written content.
This is a remake of post #4 dated 26th September 2010.
The words are the same but I have added a few more images taken on the day.
I received zero comments on the original... it was early days and at the time I only new one other blogger.
_____________________________________________________________

"A Sunday stroll...... Little Budworth and Oulton Park"

I parked in the small car park at Little Budworth Country Park on Coach Road and walked over to the 18th century entrance lodge (a grade ll listed building) of Oulton Estate.

The estate is now home to the Oulton Park motor racing circuit and just through the imposing gates is a bend on the track called Lodge Corner.

St Peters Church Little Budworth

I then walked through Little Budworth village past St Peters Church and the Red Lion pub before turning left down Mill Lane towards Budworth Pool.

Budworth Pool

A footpath across a field brought me to a bridleway (there are many in this area) which was originally a drovers road (Helsby to Oswestry) and a good example of a sunken lane.

One of Cheshires many green lanes.
I followed this before heading left onto a path leading back into the Country Park.

Birch Polypore

Lot's of Silver Birch in the woods but the only bird seen was a single Great Tit.

Little Budworth Country Park

I then crossed back over the Coach Road to the other side of the wood and either side of the path are areas of Lowland Heath which is now scarce in Cheshire.

Oulton Mill Pond

This path brought me to a track which led me back to a road which led down to the Mill Pond

(Coots and few distant Canada Geese).

A short uphill walk then a left over to Rushton to follow the racing circuits perimeter wall.

(a crumbling old brick structure topped with broken glass and barbed wire).

A footpath around the wall through fields of cattle (and one large bull) over half a dozen stiles brought me to a lane with views over the fields to the church I had passed a couple of hours earlier.

A lovely walk in fine weather even if it did lack a bit of wildlife.

______________________________________________________________________

In the original post I only used four images.

I have added eight more to illustrate the text and to share a lovely walk taken 14 months ago.

Since then my little blog has been viewed in over 100 countries and has had over 57,000 page views.

Thank you for taking the time to view my efforts.

A link to the original to see how far I have come.
http://rambleswithacamera.blogspot.com/2010/09/sunday-stroll-around-little-budworth.html
You never know it might even get a comment.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve Martin Mere..........................

2011-11-25T19:14:00.018Z

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Martin Mere.

The name of the centre comes from the mere on the west side of the reserve which is ringed by 11 observation hides.

The Harrier Hide is an amazing structure.

The interior of the Harrier Hide... it also has a floor to ceiling window.

On the east side of the reserve there are a number of pens providing habitats for birds from Africa, Australasia, North America, South America, Siberia and Asia.

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina).

White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis).
A dabbling duck from the Carribean and South America.

Hides are all around the reserve and full of information about the birds on show.

Martin Mere is at its best in winter attracting huge flocks of Pink-footed Geese, Wigeon and Whooper Swans and even rarer birds such as the Snow Goose.
It is also a great place to see birds of prey... I saw my first Marsh Harrier here yesterday.

Wonderful birds as far as the eye can see.... the Whooper Swans are a beautiful winter visitor.

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus).

Greylag Goose (Anser anser).

The BBC programme Autumnwatch was broadcast live from Martin Mere during 2006 and 2007.
In 2010 I was delighted to receive an email asking if they could use one of my images of the Pink-footed Geese at Martin Mere for the Autumnwatch website to illustrate an article on migration.

The BBC Autumnwatch article is here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/uk/indepth/where-to-see-migrating-geese.shtml

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Martin Mere................... a lovely day out

2011-11-24T20:20:00.002Z

I am on a short break from work and today I had a lovely visit to Martin Mere.

It was only 3pm but the sun was setting.

Martin Mere is one of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trusts reserves and is well worth a visit.

Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Eider (Somateria mollissima)

I have loads of images to sort through and hopefully find some more worth sharing.

I also took some video clips.

This is my post to SkywatchFriday.
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Benton the dog chasing deer................... and a couple of YT responces

2011-11-23T19:48:00.008Z

This was filmed in Richmond Park London and in just a couple of days has gone viral on YouTube.

It has been reported the poor owner of Benton may face prosecution for not having his dog under control. The clip has already spawned some wonderful responces.... enjoy.

Is this the cutest Christmas advert ever made ............................... ????

2011-11-22T19:45:00.006Z

A Christmas advert in the UK for the John Lewis chain store.

It was first launched on Youtube and Facebook before being shown on mainstream television at peak viewing time on a Saturday night...... clever marketing at it's very best.

Christmas is a time for giving not receiving... I think even Scrooge would be moved by this.

Starlings seen on my journey to work............. plus a Youtube sensation

2011-11-21T19:06:00.026Z

I spotted these Starlings as I travelled to work this morning.

They were all huddled together on the telephone wires.

I stopped to watch and they started to swoop down and feed amongst the stubble of the field.

Rubbish images but it was lovely to watch.
I have heard there are about 15,000 roosting starlings at Moore Nature Reserve.

I have a few days off work at the end of the week so I hope to have a visit.

On Friday night in the UK we have a wildlife programme on the BBC... Autumnwatch.
Fridays episode showed a wonderful video clip of starlings flocking and about to roost.
It's known as a "Murmuration of Starlings" and is spectacular to see.
Here is that clip.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

"The video clip was removed by the owner on Youtube but I have found another version.
It was wonderful to see the delight on the faces of the girls as they watched the starlings from their canoes.

I have found another clip of these wonderful birds gathering in the evening before settling down for the night.
Just in case the original disappears again.

My little flock looks so paltry in comparison.

To see more wonderful birds click on the image below to view
World Bird Wednesday LIII