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, 18 February 2015

I’M STAYING. (18/02/15)

I was supposed to be moving on today but have decided to stay put. I have booked for another ten days so hopefully will get some decent pictures. It’s very warm and windy but it is forecast to turn back to winter by the weekend.

We had a grand walk this morning and the river is in spate as the snow is melting. I wandered up the burn as I was sure the Dippers would be concentrated in the wide bits where the water is shallow and flowing more slowly. I never saw so much as a feather. The Woodpeckers were being annoying. There are plenty around tapping away but as usual I never got a shot of one.

_MG_2632    Dawn.

I also tried to find the strange fungus I saw last week growing on a Scots Pine. It must be somewhere else as I couldn’t find it.

_MG_2638

_MG_2640    Plenty more Fomes fomentarius or Hoof Fungus the coin is 20mm in diameter and the picture shows a young specimen.

_MG_2639 This is Piptoporus betulinus. Birch polypore or Razor strop fungus. It starts as a small round ball and can get to 300mm across very quickly.

_MG_2643      Molly…….. I tend to forget about the dogs but they are never far away. I don’t know where she has been but both she and Alf are filthy.

_MG_2646      This Blackbird has become a regular visitor to the feeders. I thought he was eating mealworms but I watched him for ages this morning and he is sorting out bits of dried banana. I didn’t realise they liked banana. He also has a poorly foot. I have seen this disease on finches before but not on anything else.

That’s all for today.

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31 comments:

  1. Author R. Mac Wheeler18 February 2015 at 12:56

    nice shots. Love the one of Molly especially. Never been a happier critter. I am amazed how well birds cope with such maladies, as the crow. One legged black birds in the park get along as well as the two-legged. Hugs to Mol and Alf.

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 05:54

      Thanks R.Mac. I am having trouble loading your posts at the moment as my internet is slow to nonexistant,

      Delete
  2. timoebasilico18 February 2015 at 13:33

    Your early morning walk it must be beautiful, i'm glad that you remain another 10 days there. So i can see other pics!

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 05:55

      Laura, I will hope for some good light and reflections.

      Delete
  3. Frances Garrood18 February 2015 at 14:59

    I think your dogs must have a truly wonderful life. All that outdoors stuff, long walks, the coast, lots to explore....lucky animals!

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 05:57

      Frances, they have a dogs life. They do wander off but are never far away.

      Delete
  4. Margaret Birding For Pleasure18 February 2015 at 17:11

    I suppose you never quite know what the dogs get up to when you are intent in photographing. Was the banana in the food you bought?

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:00

      Margaret. Yes it does. It is made by H.J. Lea Oakes in Sandbach Cheshire. £15.95p for 15Kg.

      Delete
  5. DawnTreader18 February 2015 at 19:41

    That first fungus looks like a snake's head (or something even more fairy-tale-like)...

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:01

      Monica, they do grow into amazing shapes.

      Delete
  6. Adam Tilt18 February 2015 at 20:16

    Nice shots Adrian and I hope you enjoy your extended stay.

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  7. Red18 February 2015 at 20:31

    The birds might be hard to find but the fungus doesn't move. You even have time to look at fungus to make an identification.

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    Replies
    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:04

      Red, these two species are easy to identify. Many are a real challenge one that is not helped by them getting re-classified on a regular basis.

      Delete
    2. Red20 February 2015 at 18:30

      The reclassification reminds me of what happens to bird species. Sometimes tow separate species are classified as one and sometimes one species is split into two. an interesting book to read is To See Every Bird in the World by Dan Koeppel.

      Delete
    3. ADRIAN21 February 2015 at 06:54

      Thanks Red.

      Delete
  8. Graham Edwards18 February 2015 at 21:46

    I rarely see blackbirds here and never on the bird table. I've seen various 'alterations' in some of the sparrows over the years but never a bird with a deformity like that. It struck me when I saw the photo of Molly just what a life of Riley those pooches have.

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:09

      Graham, the Blackbirds here have only just learnt to fly onto the feeder. They usually peck around on the ground.
      The infection has a name but I'll be blowed if I can remember what Keith told me it is.
      The dogs are usually good. They can't resist chasing deer but everything else is safe.I'm surprised they didn't find someone in white trousers to chat to. They often do when they have been looking for frogs in a swamp.

      Delete
    2. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:15

      I think it's called Bumblefoot.

      Delete
  9. theconstantwalker18 February 2015 at 22:05

    A wonderful post Adrian... so glad to hear you are enjoying life.

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:10

      Andrew, yes life is okay. It would be even better if I could shake this damn cold off.

      Delete
  10. Gillian Olson19 February 2015 at 03:27

    When I saw the first picture thought you had a flying saucer there, but no. I never get pictures of the woodpeckers either, enjoyed the fungus or should that be fingii?

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    1. ADRIAN19 February 2015 at 06:12

      Gillian, I think I need a hide for Woodpeckers, yes Fungii it is or "Fungus and I liked the other one as well."

      Delete
  11. Yorkshire Pudding19 February 2015 at 14:01

    Wonderful picture of Mr Blackbird - like Mae West, having his morning banana. The pattern of his feathers is terrific. And the cloud in the top picture could almost be a flying saucer if one believed in all that UFO nonsense.

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    1. ADRIAN20 February 2015 at 05:37

      YP, yes he is a handsome bird. It's not a UFO it's a god perch.

      Delete
  12. Coloring Outside the Lines19 February 2015 at 17:57

    I don't think I have seen that particular fungus before..I have seen something similar but it was growing on the ground. Stay warm!

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    1. ADRIAN20 February 2015 at 05:39

      Terri, there are dozens of bracket fungii but they all grow on trees. Maybe one of the puffballs if it was on the ground.

      Delete
  13. Douglas Mcfarlane20 February 2015 at 08:11

    Never seen bumble foot on a blackbird before plenty of times on Finches. Great images as always Adrian

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    1. ADRIAN20 February 2015 at 09:00

      Cheers Douglas. I was talking to a bird man a few vans down and he had never seen it on anything but Finches and Raptors.

      Delete
  14. Laura. M22 February 2015 at 16:06

    No conocía esos hongos.
    Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete

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