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

Saturday 14 January 2012

ALL IN ALL A GOOD ONE (14/01/12)…..PART ONE

It was only minus three this morning but it felt much colder. There was no wind so it must be me getting soft.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Just before dawn and the world was covered in a rosy glow.

It was too good a day for truck cleaning so it is still a tip. I decided to walk back up the hill and through the woods in the opposite direction to yesterdays wander. It was a bit slippery and boggy through the wood, a deerless but nonetheless enjoyable four mile stroll. I was just approaching the van when a dozen Roe Deer broke cover and shot away. That’s fate telling me……if I’d been good and stopped home cleaning they would have been grazing not fifty yards away.

P1140011_edited-1     Whilst not enjoying a Baxters soup for lunch the Spotted Woodpecker decided it was safe enough to pop down for his lunch. There are a pair of these but I didn’t see the female today.

It’s all go here…..soup forced down it was time to take a rucksack and collect peanuts and sunflower seed from the RSPB shop. It’s not far, a two mile round trip through the funny farm and one is into their bird food emporium.

I don’t seem to be able to cross the reserve without some minor altercation. This time I was accosted by a very strange bloke…..’ I hardly like to mention this but you are not allowed to bring dogs on the Moss'……I am. I replied. And I’ve got a map to prove it!……He kept waffling away till I said I’d had enough and would he leave me alone. You’ll be hearing more about this was his parting comment…..I was in the shop paying for seeds when in he came to report me. I was on the ball….quicker than lightening and sharp as a razor!. I said in a loud voice to the young lady counting out my change….’There he is…there’s the paedophile that’s been stalking me…..you know! The nutter I was just telling you about…..He was gone in a flash, no doubt off to annoy someone on Facebook.

Never a dull moment on Leighton Moss…..It’s so good I’m coming back next week for a fortnight.

_1141014_15_16_19_20_tonemapped_edited-1 It was a long walk home……I got chatting to the gamekeeper and the farmers wife and by the time I'd had a cup of tea the sun was setting…..Murmaration time.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  I’ve always walked down to the reserve before but after yesterdays mediocre display I decided to watch from the field next to the camper.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  What a show the Starlings put on………..I know it’s not good for them but for a super display one needs a Sparrow hawk or two in the mix.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  On top form they were…………

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   They even got round to creating an image of a Humming Bird.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  No sooner have they started than it’s all over and down they go into the reeds and to bed. There are reportedly eighty thousand of them….how one would go about counting I don’t know. Tonight they flew directly overhead and the flock is only a few birds deep vertically….maybe ten or so. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the sight and sound of them.

I have lots more images from today so will post a part two in the morning before heading to Ingleton.

Have a good Sunday.

 

13 comments:

  1. Adrian, all of these photos are beautiful. I love the rosy light.

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  2. Beautiful photos!
    Love the Humming Bird!
    We have a lot of Starlings here too.
    We have a saying that if the Starlings don't leave at wintertime, the winter will not be cold.
    So far the winter has been more like autumn.
    Have a good Sunday.

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  3. Love the way you dealt with the strange bloke. Nice one.

    The Starlings put on a spectacular show, which you've captured really well; and the setting sun is a cracker.

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  4. Adrian, you are getting some fantastic photos of the Starling formations, and at the same time the color of the sky is fabulous. The Humming bird formation is awesome.

    Glad you verbally knocked down that fellow that was bothering you about the dogs on the Moss. Serves him right. You have a great Sunday as well.

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  5. It's worth all the hassle with the know-it-alls Adrian if, at the end of the day, you can get amazing pictures like these. A great set of images...[;o)

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  6. I think I'd put up with the crack pots for sights like these. It would take a lot to spoil that setting sun and those wonderful formations. The hummingbird shot is terrific!

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  7. Another of your ace posts Adrian: quick wit and terrific photos.

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  8. Some people just don't mind their business! The starling show was great Adrian. I love the rosy glow of the dawn :)

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  9. Ooh, Aah. Not much more to say really!

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  10. Those bird formations are really incredible!

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  12. Super starling pictures, Adrian. Hope to restart my blog this spring as I have bought a micro camper van and hope to travel about a lot more.

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  13. Fantastic these pictures....very well done.

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