tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13629107581646034922024-03-12T23:24:08.145+00:00npmimagesA photo a day keeps the doctor awaynpmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.comBlogger843125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-45492014476813212652019-07-31T18:08:00.000+01:002019-07-31T18:08:03.518+01:00Smooth-billed AniAnother new one from Grenada for my life list. A member of the cuckoo family, the Ani about a foot (30cm) long. It builds a communal nest with several other pairs...which seems pretty unusual as a behaviour.<br />
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<br />npmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-10426468682314036462019-07-24T21:58:00.004+01:002019-07-24T22:00:21.576+01:00Lesser Antillean BullfinchRather delightful little bird photographed in Grenada - endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Perhaps unsurprisingly this is a male - the female is a rather more drab olive brown.<br />
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If you’re keen on bird images – or like showing off pictures your latest tick why not try <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a> – go on, you know you want to!npmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-32405921494508855382015-05-14T21:10:00.001+01:002015-05-14T21:19:00.686+01:00Old friends and new in foreign places<p>So..I’ve just returned from 10 days in the Seychelles – something of a bucket list destination for me. As I didn’t go to any of the “bird” islands the spotting was not as dramatic as its reputation but there was still plenty to add to my list once I got my eye in.</p> <p>These Striated Herons seem to be quite abundant and pretty confiding…this one perched in a palm tree almost directly above my head and made for a nice tick.</p><a title="Striated Heron, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17026506374"><img style="display: inline" alt="Striated Heron, Mahe" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8757/17026506374_945f6bf4ab.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a> <p>This one, on the other hand, was equally unexpected and came with the the odd thrill that only finding something totally familiar in an unexpected location brings. If I didn’t know where it was this Grey Heron could be on my local beach.</p><a title="Gery Heron, Baie Lazare Picault, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17649121381"><img style="display: inline" alt="Gery Heron, Baie Lazare Picault, Mahe" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8870/17649121381_f3dab06986_z.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a> <p>Greenshank are familiar from the rather cooler climes of Cumbria as well – although we don’t usually find them in the middle of “major” towns like this one.</p><a title="Greenshank, Victoria, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17649106731"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Greenshank, Victoria, Mahe" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8898/17649106731_8e29dc5905.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a> <p>And while I should probably have spotted a Curlew Sandpiper at home by now, it is definitely more fun to introduce yourself to the species in a tropical paradise. This busy little guy was dashing energetically round the local parkland by the marina.</p><a title="Curlew Sandpiper, Victoria, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17646598242"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Curlew Sandpiper, Victoria, Mahe" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7689/17646598242_c8cb0d398b.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a> <p>This one is not quite an old friend – but familiar from a dismally damp and windy day at Waratah Bay with my brother in 2012. Who can resist the slightly scruffy charm of a Great Crested Tern – not me that’s for sure. I nearly toasted myself on the beach capturing this image with the sun essentially directly overhead. At least this time it was warm and sunny.</p> <p><a title="Great Crested Tern, Anse Royale, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17028651143"><img style="display: inline" alt="Great Crested Tern, Anse Royale, Mahe" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5333/17028651143_d633dbc0dc.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a></p> <p>Good job I was using Factor 40+ sun-cream or my european complexion would have ended up like this guy:</p><a title="Madagascar Fody, Victoria, Mahe by Nigel Monckton, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/17461434700"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Madagascar Fody, Victoria, Mahe" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7732/17461434700_d12c756cce.jpg" width="480" height="360"></a> <p>A nice cheerful Madagascar Fody. </p> <p>If you’re keen on bird images – or like showing off pictures your latest tick why not try <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a> – go on, you know you want to!</p> npmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-81026751637187132362014-07-30T22:06:00.001+01:002014-07-30T22:07:30.927+01:00Arctic tern<p>July saw my first trip to the Farne Islands in breeding season and it certainly won't be my last. I'm not sure that the colour scheme in this photo would work in my living room - but it's certainly dramatic in the proper setting. If you like bird photos I can recommend my brothers blog - especially during <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/">Wild Bird Wednesday</a>. <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gXsovjdXU3s/U9leT-30BsI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7L8vfnWuuOo/s1600-h/P7061793%25255B167%25255D.jpg"><img title="P7061793" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P7061793" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sCLfe8Jf6qg/U9leUnHfr0I/AAAAAAAAAQw/VpWEpR3Qvvg/P7061793_thumb%25255B164%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300"></a> npmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-56786233917328156202014-07-12T15:28:00.001+01:002014-07-12T15:28:56.658+01:00Apropos nothing in particular…<p>…but one of the joys of beach photography in relatively remote ex-industrial areas is that sometimes you get to see something like this. This is one of four peregrines that were playing in the breeze over the cliff tops – 2 adults and 2 young I think. The young were obviously practising their skills on passing gulls, and on one occasion a passing gannet! I may have to return to the location with a longer lens.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lvvsgl2SIG4/U8FGGNivYtI/AAAAAAAAAPo/N_CMQ9nwSaE/s1600-h/P7122126%25255B186%25255D.jpg"><img title="P7122126" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P7122126" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wnbdE6ZJ5is/U8FGHHRkCYI/AAAAAAAAAPw/7BA0GASlnLY/P7122126_thumb%25255B189%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="401" height="301"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S0nvxojQTJk/U8FGI0CkxqI/AAAAAAAAAP4/_Vh2Pj5zvOo/s1600-h/P7122127%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img title="P7122127" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P7122127" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--dxU2NCRywQ/U8FGJRKXRpI/AAAAAAAAAQA/ZGqV9p0MPkA/P7122127_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300"></a></p> <p>Sometimes it's important to remind myself that photography is supposed to be pleasurable as well as intellectually demanding!</p> npmimageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11325544772783926152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-1815997891101885072013-04-10T20:40:00.001+01:002013-04-10T20:43:10.224+01:00Whooper Swan–Caerlaverock–WBW<div style="font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.6em; padding-right: 0px"><a title="Whooper Swan - Caerlaverock" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8625824290/"><img alt="Whooper Swan - Caerlaverock by nmonckton" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8625824290_2ff67a558b.jpg"></a><br><span style="margin: 0px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8625824290/">Whooper Swan - Caerlaverock</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div> <p>The tail end of winter had a bit of a sting in this part of the UK so I thought I'd make a trip to Caerlaverock to see if any geese or swans were willing to have their photo taken. Geese there were none, but this Hooper Swan was one of many making use of the free buffet provided by the reserve staff every day.<br><br>I do love the way these birds appear brilliant white - until you photograph them against snow!</p> <p>More great birds at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/wild-bird-wednesday-16-kookaburra.html" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-41571956264602296982013-01-10T21:29:00.001+00:002013-04-10T20:44:11.582+01:00Wilson’s Prom and a Crested Tern (WBW)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8367721355/" title="Crested Tern, Wilson's Prom, Victoria by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8367721355_363d5f9ebc_n.jpg" width="320" height="160" alt="Crested Tern, Wilson's Prom, Victoria"></a> <p>Memories of a summer holiday on the far side of the world. It was cold, very windy and threatening to rain, so in traditional British holiday-maker fashion we set off with Stewart to go for a walk on the beach. Would have missed this chappie if Stewart had not pointed him out to me, trying to disguise itself as a silver gull.</p> <p>Shortly after this the weather turned from merely bad to positively atrocious, but somehow it didn’t seem to matter. Even cowering in my cagoule to avoid getting my sandwiches soaked seemed like a worthy adventure. So…when can we do Antarctica?</p> <p>if you enjoy pictures of birds – there are plenty more at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/wild-bird-wednesday-26-dusky-moorhen.html" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a> – why not join in the fun. You wont even have to get cold and wet.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-11811098253803631142012-11-28T17:02:00.001+00:002012-11-28T17:02:07.257+00:00The Common Cormorant (or Shag): WBW<a title="2005-01-29 12-07-23.jpg by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8167235362/"><img alt="2005-01-29 12-07-23.jpg" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/8167235362_e13a31ce78_n.jpg" width="320" height="240"></a> <p>The common cormorant or shag<br>Lays eggs inside a paper bag.<br>The reason you will see, no doubt,<br>It is to keep the lightning out.<br>But what these unobservant birds<br>Have never noticed is that herds<br>Of wandering bears may come with buns<br>And steal the bags to hold the crumbs. <p> <p>All of which is complete nonsense of course – including the confusion of cormorant and shag! <p>If you enjoyed this photo there are plenty more great bird shots at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/wild-bird-wednesday-16-kookaburra.html">Wild Bird Wednesday</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-66269294732506352752012-10-31T21:52:00.001+00:002013-04-10T20:44:58.392+01:00Birds of prey – two different ones<p>Birds of prey induce strange reactions in some people. Take the barn owl – the one below was taken a while back and has featured in this blog before – almost everyone I know thinks they’re wonderful. See a barn owl and it says that everything’s all right with the environment around you. And they eat those horrid ratty things that, furry or not, most people don’t like – so that’s OK then.</p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7187303812/" title="Barn Owl by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7187303812_deff0e2d2d_n.jpg" width="308" height="320" alt="Barn Owl"></a> <p>On the other hand – this guy – a rather neat sparrowhawk which has also featured before – eats those lovely little blue tits that eat my peanuts. That’s not alright in some peoples eye’s. </p><a title="1000/811: 10 May 2012: Male Sparrowhawk by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7169452530/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="1000/811: 10 May 2012: Male Sparrowhawk" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7169452530_8070571c09_n.jpg" width="320" height="240"></a> <p>Doesn’t seem to matter that by putting out the peanuts we’re really establishing a sparrowhawk feeding station. Nor that our pet moggy probably kills and eats more of our favourites than the sparrowhawk will ever manage. Nor even that without birds of prey we’d be neck deep in blue tits in no time.</p> <p>Many people still seem to like their environment nice, neat and clean – full of their favourites and empty of their pet hates. But, of course, it isn’t that way. Sparrowhawks are only successful if their food chain is successful. Just like the owls. It’s a privilege to have these birds in and around our gardens - and seeing either one of them take their prey makes my heart glad. Glad that my bit of the environment at least is healthy and operating pretty much as it should.</p> <p>If you enjoyed these photos there are plenty more great bird shots at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/wild-bird-wednesday-16-kookaburra.html" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-76964074644593585592012-10-23T19:09:00.002+01:002012-10-23T19:09:17.411+01:00CaerlaverockSometime earlier in the summer No 1 daughter asked - somewhat out of the blue - if we could go bird-watching somewhere. It's one of the pleasures of being a Dad that you can respond favourably to such requests, so we spent a happy afternoon at a local lake trying to find some birds. In truth, it was moulting season, so birds were not really in evidence. "Thats it," I thought, convinced that the avian desert would put her off the idea for ever. But happily not. Another request appeared in my texts.<br />
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This time we tried Caerlaverock - their website suggesting that there would be Whooper Swans and Barnacle Geese in decent numbers. And we weren't disappointed - except by the swans who were too busy doing swanny things out in the fields.<br />
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Went into the first hide - and just about the first bird we spotted other than a few shoveller ducks was a merlin - only my second ever. So sorry swans - not bothered that I didn't see you now.<br />
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We managed to track down a snipe - largely by dint of sheer persistence, No1 daughter got her first glimpse (it was a glimpse) of a great spotted woodpecker and was wooed by the rather quaint wheezing of the wigeon all over the reserve.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8109664793/" title="Male Wigeon, Caerlaverock by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="Male Wigeon, Caerlaverock" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8109664793_07336b0336_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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And the icing on the cake? The day finished with a fly past from a couple of thousand barnacles - much to the delight of both ourselves and the guy videoing from the hide, who'd been waiting three days for that particular shot. So to celebrate our (and his) success and patience here are some Barnacles - all the way from Spitzbergen especially for us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8096748731/" title="Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock" height="160" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8096748731_e061148171_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8109665315/" title="Barnacle Geese, Caerlaverock by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="Barnacle Geese, Caerlaverock" height="160" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8109665315_73f74807cc_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Celebrate the diversity of birds around the world with a visit to <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/wild-bird-wednesday-15-whistling-kite.html" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-28734162176062258952012-10-16T20:20:00.001+01:002012-10-16T21:16:12.542+01:00Wild Bird Wednesday (2)Still Tuesday here in the UK but I see the linky thing is working so here we go. This one is from our Swiss holiday in 2011. Given that we were in the middle of a major city there was a surprising amount of bird life on and around Lake Geneva, and as it was early summer there were lots of young birds in evidence - like this Red Breasted Merganser and her brood.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/5970880240/" title="Female Red-breasted Merganser and young, Lake Geneva by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="Female Red-breasted Merganser and young, Lake Geneva" height="240" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6141/5970880240_7962898843_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even more delightful was the pair of Great Crested Grebes catching small fish and encouraging their yourg to swallow them. I spent nearly half an hour watching this behaviour.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/5970311983/" title="1000/498: 14 July 2011: Unexpected Geneva by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="1000/498: 14 July 2011: Unexpected Geneva" height="237" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6017/5970311983_a634f7f8e1_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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See more great bird shots at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/wild-bird-wednesday-14-rainbow-lorikeet.html" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-75872954489597036342012-10-09T20:24:00.001+01:002012-10-09T20:24:42.495+01:00Wild Bird WednesdayThought I'd join in with my brother's wild bird photography blog, as I have a few of them tucked away.<br />
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This is a Tawny Flanked Prinia I took at the Skukuza rest station in the Kruger National Park which we visited in December 2006.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/8071706668/" title="Tawny Flanked Prinia by nmonckton, on Flickr"><img alt="Tawny Flanked Prinia" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/8071706668_223826de05_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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See more great bird shots at <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-27337838063609484552012-09-05T20:45:00.001+01:002012-09-05T20:45:35.939+01:00Quokk Festival<p>Thought I’d dedicate a post to one of the more unsung heroes of the off-beat and wacky world that is Australian wildlife – the quokka. They are found on a couple of off-shore islands in the south west of Oz and apparently a small mainland colony, and they look like this:</p><a title="Quokka 1 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938709734/"><img alt="Quokka 1" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/7938709734_c719ceb021_n.jpg" width="240" height="320"></a><a title="Quokka 3 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938712276/"><img alt="Quokka 3" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7938712276_c4b0f7ff50_n.jpg" width="320" height="240"></a><a title="Quokka 2 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938710938/"><img alt="Quokka 2" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7938710938_2c8b3f5b5a_n.jpg" width="320" height="240"></a> <p>They’re about the size of a large moggy, and a passing Dutch sailor thought they looked like rats – not sure how he found his way home again with eyesight that poor – so he named the island Rottnest and seems to have left them to it. In reality, they’re nothing like rats – their front legs are considerably smaller than their back legs, which they use to womble about like miniature kangaroos – and apart from very sharp teeth they don’t appear to have any of good old ratty’s more unsociable habits.</p> <p>They are now – of course a major tourist attraction and the primary reason we were having a day on the island as part of our latest holiday.. They’re helped in this regard by their apparent lack of concern for the size of people – they seem inquisitive to the point of being positively suicidal – which does make them even more endearing.</p><a title="Quokka 4 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938714376/"><img alt="Quokka 4" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/7938714376_6cd0f6f7f7_n.jpg" width="320" height="240"></a> <p>It also means that with a little patience you can get down on their level at which point they become really cute. I could have photographed them all day – as it was I came away with around 50 shots of the little guys. Here are a few more of my favourites</p><a title="Quokka 6 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938716860/"><img alt="Quokka 6" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7938716860_ee23118614.jpg" width="500" height="250"></a> <a title="Quokka 7 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938718140/"><img alt="Quokka 7" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7938718140_c85bf1b825_n.jpg" width="240" height="320"></a> <a title="Quokka 8 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938719416/"><img alt="Quokka 8" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7938719416_8655a292dd_n.jpg" width="240" height="320"></a> <p>And finally just for good measure one with little Joey’s head sticking out rather than his tail.</p><a title="Quokka 9 by nmonckton, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7938720612/"><img alt="Quokka 9" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7938720612_12df691539.jpg" width="375" height="500"></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-84781309105187511972012-06-17T09:47:00.001+01:002012-06-17T09:47:04.475+01:001000/840: 08 June 2012: A load of Junk<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384799394/" title="1000/840: 08 June 2012: A load of Junk"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7384799394_9070be1235.jpg" alt="1000/840: 08 June 2012: A load of Junk by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384799394/">1000/840: 08 June 2012: A load of Junk</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>OK - that's the lot. I find myself more and more frequently taking pointless photos simply to fulfil a self-imposed desire to take a photo every day.<br />I started the process over two years ago as a way to force me to think about photography more, and to improve my camera handling skills.<br />In the intervening time it's helped me develop my interest in black and white and look for photographs in the most unlikely places, but more and more often I find I'm simply taking photos of nothing - which serves no useful purpose so I'm going to stop.<br />So thanks to everyone who has followed this blog, and for your interest in what I've been doing. Not sure what I'll be doing with this blog next, but I suspect I'll be taking a break for a few days.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-29706492705907215442012-06-17T09:41:00.001+01:002012-06-17T09:41:33.235+01:001000/839: 07 June 2012: Belated Jubilee Tribute<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384801010/" title="1000/839: 07 June 2012: Belated Jubilee Tribute"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5315/7384801010_a2e2aa86a7.jpg" alt="1000/839: 07 June 2012: Belated Jubilee Tribute by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384801010/">1000/839: 07 June 2012: Belated Jubilee Tribute</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Couldn't resist this red white and blue arrangement. Wasn't really at it's best for the Jubilee (even if I'd been here) so have had to make a belated contribution.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-73397304834112520262012-06-17T09:39:00.001+01:002012-06-17T09:39:33.100+01:001000/838: 06 June 2012: Childhood memory<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384801688/" title="1000/838: 06 June 2012: Childhood memory"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7384801688_c604e41886.jpg" alt="1000/838: 06 June 2012: Childhood memory by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7384801688/">1000/838: 06 June 2012: Childhood memory</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>This book has been mine since I was about 5 years old. It's a selection of folk tales and fairy stories from around the world. I read it to our kids when they were small and I assume I'll be able to do the same for some grandchildren one day.<br />Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, but they don't make them like this any more.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-81769633719558015422012-06-06T17:09:00.001+01:002012-06-06T17:09:17.187+01:001000/837: 05 June 2012; Lindisfarne<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157206073/" title="1000/837: 05 June 2012; Lindisfarne"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7157206073_92e8ccfe71.jpg" alt="1000/837: 05 June 2012; Lindisfarne by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157206073/">1000/837: 05 June 2012; Lindisfarne</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Lindisfarne...it's an island with an approach road that floods twice a day. Sadly I can't think of anything else to say about it.. The reviews go on about it's beauty and peace, and the spiritual nature of the place. Really? It was packed full of tourists and every spare space seemed to have been converted into a shop selling ersatz Celtabilia.<br /><br />I guess it might be better when the tide is in, but I've seen plenty of more evocative ruins, and plenty of areas which better deserve the epithet 'beautiful and peaceful'. So all in all a bit of a disappointment. Plenty of spirit in evidence though - as this shot demonstrates. Can certainly recommend the mead, so in fairness to the Lindisfarne Winery maybe all was not lost.<br />Maybe I'll try again when it isn't a Bank Holiday.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-3777768278361078752012-06-06T08:08:00.001+01:002012-06-06T10:23:59.927+01:001000/836: 04 June 2012: Berwick<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157205115/" title="1000/836: 04 June 2012: Berwick"><img alt="1000/836: 04 June 2012: Berwick by nmonckton" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7157205115_a2ec88e014.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157205115/">1000/836: 04 June 2012: Berwick</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
Gloriously sunny day - although the wind made it rather difficult to choose what to wear. T-shirt definitely chilly, jumper definitely over-heating.<br />Of course, you can't see that in this photo, which makes this rather attractive northern town seem like Corfu. What a delightful place it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-39597104422881434662012-06-05T22:46:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:46:01.143+01:001000/835: 03 June 2012: Guilliemots<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157204427/" title="1000/835: 03 June 2012: Guilliemots"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7157204427_d3d624713e.jpg" alt="1000/835: 03 June 2012: Guilliemots by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157204427/">1000/835: 03 June 2012: Guilliemots</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Trip around the Farne Islands today. Weather is sunny but very windy which makes a trip in a small boat and 'interesting' experience. Have to admire the skill of the pilot, who seemed able to hold it essentially motionless just a few feet from the rocks so that we could all get a good view of the nesting seabirds. Wonderful sight - less than attractive smell!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-51420521058920808422012-06-05T22:41:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:41:49.646+01:001000/834: 02 June 2012: Alnwick Castle<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157203835/" title="1000/834: 02 June 2012: Alnwick Castle"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/7157203835_8aa11e0dab.jpg" alt="1000/834: 02 June 2012: Alnwick Castle by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157203835/">1000/834: 02 June 2012: Alnwick Castle</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Rather leaden skies and warm clothing say it all really. Typical Bank Holiday weekend weather - although in fairness we've not had any rain. Alnwick Castle has stunning gardens which we shall be visiting again in the near future so that we can see all the flowers in bloom, rather than in bud! Castle itself is also fairly impressive, although more like a stately home than a castle.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-87694564765220419162012-06-05T22:36:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:36:58.701+01:001000/833: 01 June 2012: Making a brew<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157202801/" title="1000/833: 01 June 2012: Making a brew"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7157202801_281a4b7b0d.jpg" alt="1000/833: 01 June 2012: Making a brew by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157202801/">1000/833: 01 June 2012: Making a brew</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Off camping for the jubilee weekend - at Beadnell on the Northumbrian coast. Staying at the Camping and Caravanning club site just north of the village which I can highly recommend. Nice clean facilities, nice level pitches, well drained, friendly owners, handy chip shop - well you get the picture. Anyhow, this is the well deserved cuppa being prepared after we have pitched our tent and got ourselves properly installed.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-59755174994525446342012-06-05T22:29:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:29:13.113+01:001000/832: 31 May 2012: Scindapsus<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342404344/" title="1000/832: 31 May 2012: Scindapsus"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7342404344_3400351133.jpg" alt="1000/832: 31 May 2012: Scindapsus by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342404344/">1000/832: 31 May 2012: Scindapsus</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Very little of intelligence to say about this. I needed a photo and this was handy. We are planning on trailing some wires across the wall so that it has something to twine around before it eventually takes over the whole house.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-45758739040459529772012-06-05T22:24:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:24:00.781+01:001000/831: 30 May 2012: Old trainers<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342403472/" title="1000/831: 30 May 2012: Old trainers"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7342403472_d072084a8e.jpg" alt="1000/831: 30 May 2012: Old trainers by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342403472/">1000/831: 30 May 2012: Old trainers</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Not quite sure what to say here - thought these deserved a fairly grungy treatment, but that's about it really.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-31969661488173019042012-06-05T22:20:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:20:44.499+01:001000/830: 29 May 2012: Hotel Gardens<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342402750/" title="1000/830: 29 May 2012: Hotel Gardens"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7342402750_4e28e1be00.jpg" alt="1000/830: 29 May 2012: Hotel Gardens by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7342402750/">1000/830: 29 May 2012: Hotel Gardens</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Leaving it a bit late tonight because I bumped into some colleagues in the bar. This is the view from my bedroom window - pretty sure it's the kitchens to the right and, of course, the wedding marquee to the left.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362910758164603492.post-5183578262914045732012-06-05T22:16:00.001+01:002012-06-05T22:16:29.588+01:001000/829: 28 May 2012: Boulder<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157199969/" title="1000/829: 28 May 2012: Boulder"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7157199969_9526493e5c.jpg" alt="1000/829: 28 May 2012: Boulder by nmonckton" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/7157199969/">1000/829: 28 May 2012: Boulder</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/npmimages/">nmonckton</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Late afternoon jaunt to the Tortworth today. Went for a night-time stroll and was taken by this boulder - not really sure why.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0