ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

WHERE TO BEGIN PART [A] (31/08/11)

I moved from Tan Hill back down to Newbiggin-on-Lune first thing Monday morning. I’ve walked up Smardale twice and have so many pictures that it’s difficult to know where to start.

It is a beautiful place…………as usual all images will enlarge and my identification will leave much to be desired. I’ll do my best.

The walk takes us up the old Darlington to Teebay railway………..it  must have been a wonderful journey. The couple of miles that I walk has now reverted to a wild flower and Butterfly paradise. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   These  are a flock of predominately juvenile Goldfinch……….they were an amazing sight. There are two distinct flocks that are separated by about a mile or two. Quite how proper birders count them I can’t fathom. There are fifteen or so in the last picture there were at least three times as many in this Hawthorne and three more of the adjacent bushes were full…add the seventeen that were scattered around nearby fences……….and there are a hundred and fifty two in this flock. Exactly! There, that’s how I do it. The racket they were making was tremendous which is more than can be said for the light it was awful.

I cheated a bit here and e-mailed a picture of one to Keith at HOLDING MOMENTS. He kindly confirmed my guess. He didn’t confirm the quantity, he confirmed the Goldfinch bit. Even a birder of his renown would have difficulty assessing numbers from a picture of one sitting on a twig.

Now it’s out with the wild flower book for some serious perming of one from another.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI haven’t a clue. I’ve been through the white section in my book twice and can find nothing that gets even reasonably close.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis to me looks similar but it’s leaves aren’t all feathery……..so it is something different.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOxeye Daisy…….spot on.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWild Angelica….two in a row?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis looks like Meadow Cranesbill but is smaller and the leaves aren’t the same……..another pretty something else.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis is a Hawkweed……there are many different ones………this is the Few Leaved Hairy Stemmed Hawkweed.

The sunny pictures were shot on Monday and the dull ones yesterday. I only just made it back before the rain. Only just is fine with me………….I’ll post this and start on part ‘B’.

I must be on form today as I’ve tagged the ones I’ve posted……….with little stars not by name……..that would be worse than useless. See you again in a while.

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7 comments:

  1. The Herald31 August 2011 at 13:10

    Another set of great images Adrian.

    To see a flock (or charm, as it's known) of Goldfinch is a magnificent sight, such colourful birds, if a tad on the noisy side! Although I like the way they seem to chatter to one another.

    Judging by your pictures though I think you may have miscounted......I made it 153!.....lol.

    And the unknown flower I.D. from the top down are (I think!), Yarrow....Sneezewort....Wood Crane's-bill. [;o)

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  2. Hilary31 August 2011 at 13:45

    A lovely collection but I just adore the photo of the birds on the barbed wire. That's such a beauty of an image. Plus I've learned some new counting skills. ;)

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  3. ADRIAN31 August 2011 at 14:12

    Trevor, I made it a hundred and fifty three but one looked a bit poorly so I didn't count it. It's the first time I've stopped long enough to witness such a sight................wonderful. To see them twice was brilliant.
    Thank you for the IDs I'll remember. Sneezewort isn't in my book nor is Wood Crane's bill I'm going to get a big book for Christmas....or just after in the sales. Thank you for your patience.

    Hilary, the birds on the wire is my effort at arty. At the time I was getting desperate for any shot of them. Counting birds or cetacia is just a matter of printing your guess very large in bold upper case.

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  4. theconstantwalker31 August 2011 at 22:09

    A beautiful Charm of Goldfinches Adrian ... they are lovely to see..

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  5. ADRIAN1 September 2011 at 05:52

    Andrew, I've probably though sparrow in the past and past them by. I'm still ignorant but aware that I am.

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  6. J_on_tour1 September 2011 at 14:19

    A nice set. My favourite is the silhouette on the barbed wire fence, nice composition as well.

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  7. ADRIAN1 September 2011 at 18:02

    Jay, Smardale is well worth a visit. the birds on the wire were cropped and flipped horizontally. More pleasing to my eye. Thanks.

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