trying out a new camera – so far it’s birdies!

After at least 9 years wi’ my trust fuji finepix have upgraded to 16million pixels and a 22x wide zoom… not got the hang of it all yet but here a few starters.

sunlight and beech leaves, soaring cow parsley/hemlock, fuzzy young blue tit, some o’ the gang (last count 21), happy duck in the river, wee cock sparra, scavenging dunnock and lastly a jaunty chiffchaff

…oooh hello, 2013!

So where on earth did all that time go? Happy new 2013 to one and all!

Went off up the hill this morning to take a photy of  the bleak owing to the dull light and foggy conditions.  Nothing too exciting to see however but found a wee bit of colour and an unexpected primrose. In fact it looks like there will be a super bank of them later on. Cheers!

another spring (plus song)

Another spring, and despite the “smog” took a set of photys around the top of the hill. Comparing them with those from last year (about a fortnights difference), the same plants are out but there might be a bit of cross over with the primroses still in flower.
After ten years I have finally caught the fabled Duke of Argyle’s Teaplant, the winter conditions and the warm dry spring must have prompted it into flower. Or I have just wandered past it for all those years? Nahh!
The number of orange tailed bumblebees took me by surprise too. At first I was sure that only one was following me around till I came to the whins – there were more than a dozen of them! but would they sit still for me, of course not.

I have included the sign describing the castle, click on it for a large, readable version.

And here is the song Another Spring performed by Nina Simone… enjoy

I have to admit that last years photys were brighter and more colourful. Sunnier day, or sunnier photygraffer?

1. Duke of Argyll’s Teaplant
2. light colourd lilacs
3. may blossom (hawthorn)
4. dark orange wallflower
5. sinister ivy flowering
6. fern furl
7. annoyed Orange Tailed bumblebee
8. english bluebells
9. primrose, goosegrass (stickywullie), red deadnettle
10. Halton Castle sign, click to read
11. buttercup
12. dandylion

february flora flourishing

Spring’s Near a few pics taken whilst stumbling about the locality in the past couple of days… will caption them later 🙂

a wee stroll in the sun

Off out wi’ the camera since it was nice ‘n’ sunny this forenoon. I had intended heading for a beautiful garden (didn’t snap as it was being worked on at the time) but got distracted by these on the way. They are connected to my previous post As I Walked Out… since it is more or less the same area just shifted forward four months. Spot the differences?

1. wonderful wildflower end of the Millenium Field… super
2. closeup of a cornflower, my first
3. medium sized gowan – big daisy
4. the brightest yellow – black eyed susan/rudbekia
5. fluffy thistle heads
6. fat glossy rosehips
7. broom pods ready to pop
8. popped! (sound backdrop of pops, crackles, buzzing bees and thrumming crickets)
9. bramble view – taste good too!

the great outdoors

I like my outdoors to be full of interest, think this covers it.

As I Walked Out …2

This is the day that is supposed to be hot. Looking out at the view first thing I saw the morning mist and decided to take myself to the Victorian water tower, before the sun really got going. Dug out my teeny radio and fixed it to the shuffle, pocketed the camera and set off with the intention of a half hour each way. As usual I got to my destination, turned round and got side tracked, disorientated and almost lost on the way back home!
Here are twelve wee pics of there and back, including some big vistas, the water tower, dry ski slope and minature railway. The big thing you are missing out on is the loud and continuous bird song. Excellent!