I seem to have a bit of a back log of material for blog posts, mainly because I have been at work the last 3 days and haven't had a chance! Last Thursday I took pup down to Oare Marshes with my Dad. There weren't any people about, which seemed odd at the time. Later on we realised why! Anyway here are a few photos from the walk...
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| Sedge warbler |
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| Sedge warbler |
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet |
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| Black-tailed godwits |
We were enjoying our walk that had already brought quite a few species, when the heavens opened. Not with rain, but indeed with hail. We were transported back to winter in an instant. Freezing cold and soaked. This weather was made slightly more bearable because the swifts and swallows were producing the most fantastic flight display. Hundreds of them. Swooping, gliding, darting, skimming over our heads and over the water. Breath taking!
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| The storm that we encountered passed on |
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| Beautiful mute swan |
After our extremely wet and cold walk, we headed back to my car where I had brought a flask of tea and ginger nut biscuits that Mum had made. Once warmed up, I headed home to dry pup off!
Typically the afternoon's weather was quite the opposite of the morning's. Beautiful sunshine and blue skies!
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| Goldfinch |
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| Pup looking cute with his garden toy |
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| I wonder if he is thinking 'why is she taking more photos of me, just play with me!' |
From the earlier rain, many of the flowers and leaves in the garden had perfectly formed raindrops on them, which in the sun glinted like diamonds.
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| Symmetrical Valerian |
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| Aquilegia |
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| Buddleia leaf |
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| Valerian |
'Our' pair of blue tits are being fabulous parents, constantly taking food into the nest box for their cheeping and chirping babies! We would love to have a camera in the nest box for next spring, so I will be saving my pennies!!
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| Blue tit with the next insecty snack |
Bracken had fun playing in the garden as usual so here I will leave you with a photo of him up the wrong way!
On Saturday we left pup at home and drove to Grove Ferry where we walked a circular route via Stodmarsh. Amazing walk!! Look back soon to see why we had such a fabulous walk!!
Great images Lou. I like the one showing the passing hail storm, gives an idea how intense it must have been
ReplyDeleteThank you :) We had to actually walk backwards for a bit because the hail was blowing with such force!
DeleteLooks like a pretty good day at Oare, apart from the weather... amazing numbers of Swifts over the water! Looking forward to seeing the Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh report :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Marianne! The photos don't do the numbers justice but give a small idea :)
DeleteHi Lou, It sounded and looked like a very nice walk...apart from the weather!! My goodness, that sky did look threatening. Well done with the Sedge Warbler and Linnets etc. Sedge Warblers are so difficult to get on camera.
ReplyDeleteLovely, sunny photos from your garden, Bracken was looking very mischievous :-) What a contrast in weather! Goldfinches are such pretty and colourful birds. I love the pics of the flowers and water droplets too.
Thank you Jan! Yes warblers are difficult to capture on camera - they move so quickly so I was lucky! We have had more rain today so have been taking more photos of rain drops! They look so pretty - they are hard to resist!
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