This weekend

This weekend I managed all day trips to Malham on Saturday and Bempton Cliffs (between Flamborough and Filey) on Sunday...

On a recent trip to the Lake District i was able to find the grave of a true British hero

and legend, Sir Donald Campbell.  Here he is laid to rest in Coniston cemetery.

He died on lake Coniston in January 1967 but his body was not recovered

until 28th May 2001.

Malham last Saturday.  Just entering the path leading to the Cove when i spotted

a Green Woodpecker..

A popular bird in the Dales..a Pied Wagtail, shot taken just south of Malham Cove

After watching the Peregrine Falcon at Malham (a pair has been nesting for the last few years), watching the male on the nest ledge then go of soaring above the Cove itself, we had

a picnic way above Malham, miles from anywhere whilst being serenaded

by skylarks.  Later in the day we would catch sight of flocks of Fieldfares and a pair of Curlews.

Sunday was Bempton Cliffs, an RSPB reserve.  It must have the biggest
Gannet colony in the UK along with the massive amount of Razorbills and Guillemots
that were on show.It was too early for the Puffins but I'll be back in May to capture
 them on film.The cliffs were a base for larege colonys of Kittiwake too.

Enjoying the sights, sounds and weather at Bempton

Living in harmony...Kittiwakes and Gannets share the cliff face at Bempton

I've plenty more photo's if any of you want to see more...:)

The lock bond...

Ollie and myself have found a special place to place a very special object that means a lot to both of us.  It is a place we can both go to when we are apart from each other..it's in a beautiful place on Shipley Glen and affords glorious views of the Aire valley and a place to think about each other...

Our special lock and bond...

Ollie...come on Dad, lets fix it in place!

Some kind girl took a pic of us just about to fix it..

It's in place...Ollie is just checking it out...

The place we chose is very beautiful...

The Reserve

Now that Spring is beginning with a vengence I try to get down to the reserve and the river after work. As well as being very relaxing! there is so much actually going on.  For example just in the last two weeks I have seen Roe Deer (with Jo and my neighbour Andy), filmed a mink swimming in the river and playing on the bank (see my Utube film of this on the link i will post later) . The Kingfishers continue to flourish and myself, Andy and the reserve warden Steve were lucky enough to watch 3 Kingfishers fly in a line down the river.  Only today i sat and watched a Kingfisher feeding.  It would sit perched on a branch before dropping into the river (fully immersed) then fly back to the branch with a minnow in it's beak.  it would then bash the head of the minnow against the tree to kill or stun it before swallowing whole...fantastic..no washing up!

Anyway, here's a few pics I have taken in the last week or so down by the river..
(ps look out for my UTube links too)

Ahh my friend the Heron.  Always there or there abouts.  Here I caught him loitering on the river awaiting a fish or two to pass by...he never took his beady eye of me though...

Woody woodpecker!  I have got used to spotting him flying around the locale and here I spotted him atop the trip surveying his territory. Btw, he's a Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

I like this bird..Long tailed tit.  I've captured one of them here in the little woods surrounding the reserve and along the river bank.

This a Wren.  And for a month became public enemy number 1.  There are lot's of them by the river and their song/call is one of the loudest you will hear, probably the loudest of all songbirds, at tleast on a par with the blackbird.  They never stop moving, are so small and I never thought I would capture one on film..i don't think i did too bad...though it took a month of stalking!

My little friend the Wren..caught at last!

The majestic Kingfisher...I've spotted four in all, two pairs.  Very difficult to capture on film to be honest so i'm pleased with every shot i get.

This was taken Friday..he's thinking of going to the nest..which isn't far from this perch.  Patience pays off sometimes...

I've put this up because i really like it.  I saw this Mistle Thrush on the opposite bank from me and i liked the composition of almost sillhoutted Thrush (sic spelling) against the sunlit moist grass

It's not all about the birds! Here i came face to face with a common toad on one of the numerous ponds on the reserve.  Here's looking at you kid!

A few more of France...

I said i'd post a few more.  Ed and myself both said on the journey home what a good time we had had.  We'd put on the odd pund in weight but who would,nt with mums cooking!

A few more pics..

Ahhh, the old favourite..must have eight of these now...

Ed and a pine cone.  Though on our walk around this particular French wood they became imaginary hand grenades....BOOM!!

This has quickly become a favourite pic of mine...my dad out walking between Chouppes and Mirebeau..lost in thought..i'll treasure this

Again i took this in France...Mum and Dad do you recognise it.....

It's on the entry to Mont Sur Gesgnes...as it is Easter  i thought it would be quite appropriate..

The night sky

It's been a very good couple of months.  Absolutely no one can have missed the conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Jupiter constantly changing places in the night sky. Both Mars and Saturn have joined them in their dance around the sky and at times this month 5 planets have been visible to the naked eye.

Here's a few pics I have taken..

Taken just a few nights ago, the crescent moon with Venus and Jupiter.  The three lights below the conjunction are a plane in flight as i had the shutter open for 2 seconds

The same shot on an instant take, no open shutter.  The plane has gone!

This shot is taken over the roof of the 'terrace'.  I like the moonshine on the roof.  The 'dot' above the very bright moon in the twelve o'clock position is Mars!

Here is a picture of March's full moon, known as the 'Worm moon'.  It's called this as the ground softens hastening the reappearance of the first earthworm casts and the return of the Robin.  Each full moon in each of the calendar months has it's own name, next months, April's, is the pink moon.  It's called this from the herb moss pink or wild ground phlox which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. May's moon is called the Flower moon....

This is a celestial picture i took in France recently.  There is  prize for the first person to succesfully post on here what it is of.....

Hi all

My home PC problems continue I'm afraid so i am currently attempting to update the blog on Jo's prehistoric piece of crap. No SD card slot, no Bluetooth, no likey!

This is a big update as it's photo heavy but i hope you will enjoy this post. I've tried to split the post so it's more structured, a lot's been happening!

France

Hi all

Just a quick visit today.  I'm currently in France visiting my parents.  There will be a fuller update later but here's a few pics of my visit so far..

Great to see Mum and Dad...this is the top of their street

Strolling back from the centre of the village...

It wasn't all play!  Chopping logs for their open log fire..

visiting Milly and ken...friends from a nearby village

The town hall in Mont sur Guenses, Milly and Kens village

High tea in France!

Gin and Tonic pre dinner at Mum and Dads

Going for a stroll and chat with my Dad..

Another sunny day in Chouppes...

Visiting Val and Andrew in another nearby village ..they're alright for Mancs!

Flannaghan and Allen...aka Dad and Ed who thought it a bit 'chilly'!..queers

Me and my tree on one tree hill...theres a story here..

Chillin...