Monday 28 September 2009

Return of some birds

Had a few computer problems recently and couldn't do a lot. We seem to have resolved the problems by adding extra RAM and a new hard drive. It was mainly with image editing and speed problems but now it's OK the OH has been hogging it so I'm not getting much chance to post!

Cleared all the ivy off the tree trunk as it was looking really choked up and I was so glad I did because I was rewarded almost immediately with the Blue Tit and then the Coal Tit returning to peck insects off the trunk. It's so much easier to photograph them too without the ivy confusing the autofocussing behind.


The lovely sparrows - they've had a really successful season and trebled their numbers. I've got a great little flock now. The youngsters are moulting into adult plumage and look like unfinished versions of the adults!

Actually managed to get some pictures of the coal tit. Not an easy task when they flit about so much.!
Got a new feeder as the sparrows' favourite one lost another piece when I was cleaning it and added a tray (actually plant saucer secured with wire ties) and good job I did because the starlings decided to pull out all the seed mix to get at the suet pellets in there! It's a really good mix from the pet store that the birds love but flows a bit too freely from this new feeder.

Thursday 3 September 2009

Bank Holiday weekend

We had visitors for the bank holiday weekend so did the tourist bit for a couple of days and went to Minehead in Somerset on the Monday, via Exmoor, Lymouth and Porlock.

The pretty cottages near the harbour. We walked down there but it got windier and windier till we could hardly stand up!

View towards the the harbour area.

View towards Butlins of the sea front.

The steam railway - one of the engines awaiting the demo of the new turntable that was built since we were last there.

Lovely brooding moor. It was blowing a gale of course as the clouds started to come in off the sea behind us.

Stopped briefly to take some pictures on the way home. I was really glad of the chance as we usually just zoom past everywhere!

Exmoor ponies - very beautiful and hardy.

I love moorland.

This was taken from the car as we headed towards Lynton and Lynmouth.