18 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in nature, photography
I always think there is something magical about Autumn with the early morning mists and the dew sparkling like diamonds from the fine silk of the cobwebs
The arrival of the Chiffchaff
f
Chiffchaff
and the Blackcaps
– female (above & below left), male (below right)
Blackcap (female)
And Piebald – the resident leucistic Blackbird – feasting on the ripening berries of the Elder and the Hawthorne
Piebald our leucistic Blackbird
08 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted in nature, photography
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22 Saturday Aug 2015
Posted in birds, nature, photography
We made our way up the steps 
(and, as we did, it did not go unnoticed that it seems to take both me and the dog considerably longer these days than it used to!)
…until we reached “The Top of The World”!
– No, really, that’s what it’s called!
Because from up there, on a good day, you can see some amazing views of the Shire.
At the top we disturbed a flock of finches…
Disturbing the finches at the Top of The World
Goldfinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Of which, now, only the Knapweed and Ragwort were still in flower
Knapweed
Knapweed
Ragwort
18 Tuesday Aug 2015
Posted in nature, photography
From the overhanging branches of the Willow, the gently caressing leaves creates swirls and eddies on the surface of the water. It is here, like a sentinel, the heron waits. Patiently mimicking a statue, where the river runs slowly and the shade provides respite from the glare of the mid summer sun.
But at the bottom of the meadow, along the edge of the water, a bejewelled king fishes the tumbling waters. A flash of larimar blue and amber chest, with sparkling diamond water drops cascade from his wings, gleaming in the sunlit rays, as he rises from the water.
And where, as waves of water gently lap onto a beach of mud, the Water Voles stop to feast on stems of water rushes and fescue grass. 
14 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in flowers, nature, photography
11 Tuesday Aug 2015
Posted in bees, nature, photography
Bees on the Teasels
Bees on the Thistles
Although the garden meadow ended up somewhat neglected this year, the summer weather produced a wonderful array of flowers. The field marigolds and corm cockles are pretty well at the end of their season now, but the cosmos and field scabious, along with the buddleia, teasels and thistles are still attracting both bees and butterflies.
At the other end of the garden, in the potager, the marjoram and aliums are also still feeding the bees and bringing in a few butterflies. The Blackbirds are already feasting on the Elder berries and I noticed that even the Blackberries are ripening in the warm summer sunshine.
Bees on the Aliums
and even the Blackberries are ripening in the warm summer sunshine.
Aeolian Whispers 
