tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47189427749452014592024-03-27T16:54:07.675-07:00best part of the daypbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.comBlogger1287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-89322521889243622802024-03-25T18:06:00.000-07:002024-03-25T18:11:15.682-07:00the birds and bees<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2osp5-mkAkyFBrV_esMOZb-Px3eaFoXZ8dP7-l-w0B0Eu6OYuS33PeFGJEceXO62dfr1Y_4I1N8JAxWcuisfPC0Y_FFWuxxjmDr96yiiZkmm7eKFuTx3V84_j53Qcfij3-R_f-xNs-8kJpa7GXCBIY2XpWbWEBoT99sHXCwIWJvGJPe3Y6NxmUPIOBly/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2osp5-mkAkyFBrV_esMOZb-Px3eaFoXZ8dP7-l-w0B0Eu6OYuS33PeFGJEceXO62dfr1Y_4I1N8JAxWcuisfPC0Y_FFWuxxjmDr96yiiZkmm7eKFuTx3V84_j53Qcfij3-R_f-xNs-8kJpa7GXCBIY2XpWbWEBoT99sHXCwIWJvGJPe3Y6NxmUPIOBly/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">23rd / 24th March</div><div style="text-align: left;">A weekend of local photos, Botanics and Warriston. The weather was nearly warm enough for butterflies; the first time I have actually taken my gloves and hat off for most of the day, but I suspect they are wary of leaving their hidey-holes for what could quickly turn cold and rainy. First up, a trip to Warriston on Saturday. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIieRrAMrYc3Qn8_5dF4vwkSnLleXOP-x56W1jxw0loOEbJZvVyee8jEM9l7AICCCNnsi6rwzI4JKJUIHXdCHVyfBHPsm29ACRmVnPi86OWyqD5e3Q0iDVCWM7UmMc6CXrjJ7Mwh7oJEOGrozpVy5lLo6y3nMapoDJy3mMaGtf-qS0SkVxsrKHgAMg6dt/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIieRrAMrYc3Qn8_5dF4vwkSnLleXOP-x56W1jxw0loOEbJZvVyee8jEM9l7AICCCNnsi6rwzI4JKJUIHXdCHVyfBHPsm29ACRmVnPi86OWyqD5e3Q0iDVCWM7UmMc6CXrjJ7Mwh7oJEOGrozpVy5lLo6y3nMapoDJy3mMaGtf-qS0SkVxsrKHgAMg6dt/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Parkrun has been put on hold as I have hardly run at all for a month now. No real reason for it other than <i>couldn't be bothered</i>. Busy with other things. I should get back into it. Meanwhile I have been choosing to go out with the camera which I am enjoying greatly, even if there is little more than the usual suspects worth recording. The activity itself is therapeutic. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvlT_WKGSLBr5RN0HI3dYcG50tDef1uMCaUpSU54-3pjYPpSmGHF2aftUTuIyxdh8QMvlEp55PpR9ssI-iPCh61FtyAQ5USySvs5LtaM_kqoaNcyEyZITTt4KMALCHWLiiaH2iYGH7SeIRG57OIoI39qBKXKlA-IQrCkgTLMAK2gNVi2bDPRMisElvmuo/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvlT_WKGSLBr5RN0HI3dYcG50tDef1uMCaUpSU54-3pjYPpSmGHF2aftUTuIyxdh8QMvlEp55PpR9ssI-iPCh61FtyAQ5USySvs5LtaM_kqoaNcyEyZITTt4KMALCHWLiiaH2iYGH7SeIRG57OIoI39qBKXKlA-IQrCkgTLMAK2gNVi2bDPRMisElvmuo/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first chiff-chaff of the year<br />a good sign, a terrible photo!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36YNM7dOMuPjBvNLZEvhPEdLp4NSM4MhA3_BcCjRUmPmYVG9Hlx058S1nyvXueKhBVsmecYd7wbymuzhFANj1AarOA6i68cbdRreBoq0emAuCXPu59bSyy1J4T_hbJARS6NB7QrpmYoCek-3ct626yEx5sgw-813e0XKXo2wyFt8atc7VnHg3Zu6iSIHl/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36YNM7dOMuPjBvNLZEvhPEdLp4NSM4MhA3_BcCjRUmPmYVG9Hlx058S1nyvXueKhBVsmecYd7wbymuzhFANj1AarOA6i68cbdRreBoq0emAuCXPu59bSyy1J4T_hbJARS6NB7QrpmYoCek-3ct626yEx5sgw-813e0XKXo2wyFt8atc7VnHg3Zu6iSIHl/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You can tell when there is a shortage of worthy subjects as I resort to taking pics of the crows and ladybirds. Two species that are always present in the cemetery. If I don't feed the crows they swoop past me only inches away or closer, then land on a nearby gravestone and look away as if it is nothing to do with the bag of peanuts in my backpack. Who wouldn't find that behaviour winning? I have been feeding them lots recently so they are even keener on getting my attention and when there is nothing else going on I end up chatting away to them. There is one I have been feeding since it was a youngster and we have closed the mandatory crow gap of about 5 feet distance to about one. They are not happy to be so close to a human, seems to go against their instincts, but they are also very fond of peanuts and they struggle to obey the crow code and not give into greed. After a handout they will continue to hop from stone to stone as I go round looking for ladybirds. They are happy to stand in a regal pose for photos. Despite the fact they have some fairly barbaric habits I am beginning to consider them as friends. And love the play of light on their blue-black plumage.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAeJBF-2khGh-i0-mfQAZGqb4IvDxo1KMroYBmqyq4XXcCr2BwxHXFXEJn99hVtFBD1hKdygRt57g9hBGllLWtLYOu13CGDg2pq7-emkNnpcrpQdnrh4cl6EOO4ZnvMXkYCkhFLyBgPNkGaCnHsq7rb17mEkviAug6Z2FH0WianErcI6jp20irPMRUX-Q/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAeJBF-2khGh-i0-mfQAZGqb4IvDxo1KMroYBmqyq4XXcCr2BwxHXFXEJn99hVtFBD1hKdygRt57g9hBGllLWtLYOu13CGDg2pq7-emkNnpcrpQdnrh4cl6EOO4ZnvMXkYCkhFLyBgPNkGaCnHsq7rb17mEkviAug6Z2FH0WianErcI6jp20irPMRUX-Q/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Scarface <br />(old injury above left eye)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1md6Z-F2wnlrMd-110wNxgUL_C7r399PqXHPQNgV1vlF9tC3H85li6f6AVnWdaKlXtZGuhBv4KMV4rJf6RbmFt43Nz3TaZPZlCQC4TVoWBKiAzsnTem2J3r87cRKRDAlaVwXc0zqyYsYx4Ikj826QTjjwZZkZ6FWlHG7Him5W3dnh59BnTclrCor7c0Zk/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1md6Z-F2wnlrMd-110wNxgUL_C7r399PqXHPQNgV1vlF9tC3H85li6f6AVnWdaKlXtZGuhBv4KMV4rJf6RbmFt43Nz3TaZPZlCQC4TVoWBKiAzsnTem2J3r87cRKRDAlaVwXc0zqyYsYx4Ikj826QTjjwZZkZ6FWlHG7Him5W3dnh59BnTclrCor7c0Zk/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil94ZmjhECV2ujNkmw6fWsADY6OgqU4YDrQlULLSMVrbQ8QK9LstMLOI8seDHLQPbMJJNgjNlZTZvDSCIH4KkFcWRZELE0ID01ggpp3dOWrW8-kPCDiEqYiDIXLEKgpVqz2cCfPtH7SAaRdtLITKERqFXblKGd8L_skxmQHGsJ-dihxJ7UJ90sgXwpmKxl/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil94ZmjhECV2ujNkmw6fWsADY6OgqU4YDrQlULLSMVrbQ8QK9LstMLOI8seDHLQPbMJJNgjNlZTZvDSCIH4KkFcWRZELE0ID01ggpp3dOWrW8-kPCDiEqYiDIXLEKgpVqz2cCfPtH7SAaRdtLITKERqFXblKGd8L_skxmQHGsJ-dihxJ7UJ90sgXwpmKxl/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWExdKby3tWoAR6yK-i32EtyEvt1mr1AE0boviDOz74FZ3tYmOFI-IWMDUGXUROhqybnjzp23XA38x7zNWlNYH99NylWoT5kl7nsievmdTpp7Rlw1VnoVt6Tda6QSFe7saEVROXUzN-ldqIIG4skM4kZgQ3qcgLfhPnPG-J4HZzD6qwECNJRlnt4CWlpXw/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWExdKby3tWoAR6yK-i32EtyEvt1mr1AE0boviDOz74FZ3tYmOFI-IWMDUGXUROhqybnjzp23XA38x7zNWlNYH99NylWoT5kl7nsievmdTpp7Rlw1VnoVt6Tda6QSFe7saEVROXUzN-ldqIIG4skM4kZgQ3qcgLfhPnPG-J4HZzD6qwECNJRlnt4CWlpXw/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the ladybirds have been on the move</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XgRkxOs11oHAeexlNTpmPnvU5puAvTtGvk52v7QSTKebIaX9BPVWC6O_4eLtiewayJ3zH5mgn0ilCXf8NFdPJ18H2lK5_6K1Nkv73EEDd_ijOz2JOg4RIabK61zn1r9OxTH7RVNYTLRxQP0nJ5IQaqTmkwOm7wg8VejA7HeM3pgaptLOBMxDWtRMB5KY/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XgRkxOs11oHAeexlNTpmPnvU5puAvTtGvk52v7QSTKebIaX9BPVWC6O_4eLtiewayJ3zH5mgn0ilCXf8NFdPJ18H2lK5_6K1Nkv73EEDd_ijOz2JOg4RIabK61zn1r9OxTH7RVNYTLRxQP0nJ5IQaqTmkwOm7wg8VejA7HeM3pgaptLOBMxDWtRMB5KY/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SSz8CWu2BPLyvgvjPM6Dn49uAOJ4FG6peFYHM5qy0fJEBK_rtjPSSkKkPSw-eFDHd1J56flXDmDrDCzHQUEHCEWrHjN8hsJFkvQ-Z9XgrWCACl71N76VzOlTUFj_6h9DV-J9RJ7RiU2wViy57ULZmzGt2iG_QXHI4cTH7xfbERTRwhYOOGrneGzSsQ3X/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SSz8CWu2BPLyvgvjPM6Dn49uAOJ4FG6peFYHM5qy0fJEBK_rtjPSSkKkPSw-eFDHd1J56flXDmDrDCzHQUEHCEWrHjN8hsJFkvQ-Z9XgrWCACl71N76VzOlTUFj_6h9DV-J9RJ7RiU2wViy57ULZmzGt2iG_QXHI4cTH7xfbERTRwhYOOGrneGzSsQ3X/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7xv-2k1MkyNQiDaZ5mn5_7Pwoa18Ynr6g0vAEqPM4G7x16Tn_bjUP-HL1JgyYYXvHCywm0OntZtPNOmSXPwdEGuD-3d284XtTNKPQf4GP9hKQ23j8G095mMfqy_Zs4jYuxZdvs66A9j2OIMhVSTmzUcOZq5V2BzC0etqc6LvtRzqtCFYHmWAtyL_nLSt/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7xv-2k1MkyNQiDaZ5mn5_7Pwoa18Ynr6g0vAEqPM4G7x16Tn_bjUP-HL1JgyYYXvHCywm0OntZtPNOmSXPwdEGuD-3d284XtTNKPQf4GP9hKQ23j8G095mMfqy_Zs4jYuxZdvs66A9j2OIMhVSTmzUcOZq5V2BzC0etqc6LvtRzqtCFYHmWAtyL_nLSt/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qDgyCNfw1x-kLJrMx3CgVYsEpZyOA2r2VV61jfsJ22IHXmdzK0Kkcav2xTdZh9RAvkHU1b-PaNxjJck3XebKjHw3zcrqJ0ZLsxe0fPQEPBzlvjBfVskupLJsvLjnnpCsBvlq6R2qlnZKwfRn7x-76XGnPy2d1QupyrTNghWfES6-dpyftOrq7yVPNM0p/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qDgyCNfw1x-kLJrMx3CgVYsEpZyOA2r2VV61jfsJ22IHXmdzK0Kkcav2xTdZh9RAvkHU1b-PaNxjJck3XebKjHw3zcrqJ0ZLsxe0fPQEPBzlvjBfVskupLJsvLjnnpCsBvlq6R2qlnZKwfRn7x-76XGnPy2d1QupyrTNghWfES6-dpyftOrq7yVPNM0p/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goldfinches<br />tend to stay up high in tall trees cheeping to each other</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF5dRQ7PIb1q7DGT4ugUrHpWbNXqbmRNzR1xmbDxE-rWCiszHQTTDl8RZcHfNy6wNSwPGRFf26y1gHJfgax-HV_tN-j9ifmI7XKMNiUbHi62AEUssVaKytXvPZxTQkQ_KHioGbU6_xm2oi0R-mHog-LNiFBTL9PsoSuRFfqHbR8Ws1TvsleXhwxktCqGr/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF5dRQ7PIb1q7DGT4ugUrHpWbNXqbmRNzR1xmbDxE-rWCiszHQTTDl8RZcHfNy6wNSwPGRFf26y1gHJfgax-HV_tN-j9ifmI7XKMNiUbHi62AEUssVaKytXvPZxTQkQ_KHioGbU6_xm2oi0R-mHog-LNiFBTL9PsoSuRFfqHbR8Ws1TvsleXhwxktCqGr/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another shower of rain or hail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvi5ln4El02huqZn-Do5GpMfxNmxJ9t_GD6dKM66NuBw9xWIdMmURmGq_we7d_E0KPquui1aa9bLhZfRrIY5ruxWJh4ukDF5KRXzYF-Zwe679RZ0C4P03wjscnhn5tbPOoVX6HQkZ5LPYrsFYI7ELImBKIP-xxG6uz3WFJr9haslRXE-zKUH4aIOT2qd_x/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvi5ln4El02huqZn-Do5GpMfxNmxJ9t_GD6dKM66NuBw9xWIdMmURmGq_we7d_E0KPquui1aa9bLhZfRrIY5ruxWJh4ukDF5KRXzYF-Zwe679RZ0C4P03wjscnhn5tbPOoVX6HQkZ5LPYrsFYI7ELImBKIP-xxG6uz3WFJr9haslRXE-zKUH4aIOT2qd_x/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">grey wagtail down near the tunnel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1sAGKfM4flZxqucM9NU8gTCtfu-6sVF22pPh-BJSSGIx9UM0aI_vIQAuKd9ervVPIfrf91RxZwngt8cnAsbdPS61yEfBmXCzKrP-2OTJyR4XYOEPgGDcJjfbDbPpYuIAoqgzMmRMiYYhC1aYv_aVKtsOcASbUmeempTPYBpMl65Mzk2D6tq1_XZSTAuA/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1sAGKfM4flZxqucM9NU8gTCtfu-6sVF22pPh-BJSSGIx9UM0aI_vIQAuKd9ervVPIfrf91RxZwngt8cnAsbdPS61yEfBmXCzKrP-2OTJyR4XYOEPgGDcJjfbDbPpYuIAoqgzMmRMiYYhC1aYv_aVKtsOcASbUmeempTPYBpMl65Mzk2D6tq1_XZSTAuA/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> a pair of robins in the riverside area<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well the new birdfeeder has not been destroyed by the squirrels. I have been filling it with a low quality birdseed which the squirrels aren't so keen on. They can access it but it is not their favourite foodstuff and takes too much upside down acrobatics to justify the reward. They might pay more attention if it was filled with sunflower seeds or peanuts. It is being emptied quite quickly. There are a few garden birds in the vacinity - the pair of robins, a pair of chaffinches, some great tits and blue tits and blackbirds although they wouldn't be able to perch on the feeder.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxcErfIB7XMCJ1FtgfGT50P03reVi4JyLXOks-8Tvx-Z_axU1pzcsZkETXZidymY5spm7gDkq8dMR_nQ8vx45K6ChObXw-DYJpA4gvvXmhIDcI2wJBOc7c0I1DRCs1R3U-se7nJqJjepT5sEtjcZJdL7tsUPMl4oS_2frH-n0Qlnx1rC81KbUL6KFrWYz/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxcErfIB7XMCJ1FtgfGT50P03reVi4JyLXOks-8Tvx-Z_axU1pzcsZkETXZidymY5spm7gDkq8dMR_nQ8vx45K6ChObXw-DYJpA4gvvXmhIDcI2wJBOc7c0I1DRCs1R3U-se7nJqJjepT5sEtjcZJdL7tsUPMl4oS_2frH-n0Qlnx1rC81KbUL6KFrWYz/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTcCARDW6ih4huuEzzuqL7emu8SPBSUjBu_VyOq-zkU-8KVI4iF-k8qDvN_BJperVuYNUBvhrTev_RGj3hDyi4KGeDKVOvTLd4guI9y3m_0qM-HHQlL2eYP3E7i48LUZQs0PuAd5bKwFK4w-ixtlLOha0-pTaxfIOOLire0s1Pucxg20Mzzh_V5OumYTP/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTcCARDW6ih4huuEzzuqL7emu8SPBSUjBu_VyOq-zkU-8KVI4iF-k8qDvN_BJperVuYNUBvhrTev_RGj3hDyi4KGeDKVOvTLd4guI9y3m_0qM-HHQlL2eYP3E7i48LUZQs0PuAd5bKwFK4w-ixtlLOha0-pTaxfIOOLire0s1Pucxg20Mzzh_V5OumYTP/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-GzVeF53XqFsH9aJAfLXd81-z02_OAVB2j1MrDCAh8FtiNiRh7WhilSRHi67CbF6XXuG13cU5SBn57XAM4EQaDVoSAQYH_QgQQ_vKKG-hxJfJdrfRhUjnG9BOVIw5R0nhUR_KRhJuDYwLKLIJ4UJIOJEagzJknf-thFLHhQCDzof4r4G_7guNlDyzLs0/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-GzVeF53XqFsH9aJAfLXd81-z02_OAVB2j1MrDCAh8FtiNiRh7WhilSRHi67CbF6XXuG13cU5SBn57XAM4EQaDVoSAQYH_QgQQ_vKKG-hxJfJdrfRhUjnG9BOVIw5R0nhUR_KRhJuDYwLKLIJ4UJIOJEagzJknf-thFLHhQCDzof4r4G_7guNlDyzLs0/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn7TPbkqh2AGhzsjN6jzQFDbx5GtfQ6X5uxX77Lbk0M-iNDgKBvgm1Qz3TVnW83Xb_UaP2p9btc8qjZuwje4GNyhmXiJfWwBcOc0ftGe2Ph_3Rvf2rY3HrrSABaUl5uQHn5FdIxib91PDACVttwbOkfrJrXBTXjnIhsNuD-_4goHbktcwnfxIsTO0i6qP/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn7TPbkqh2AGhzsjN6jzQFDbx5GtfQ6X5uxX77Lbk0M-iNDgKBvgm1Qz3TVnW83Xb_UaP2p9btc8qjZuwje4GNyhmXiJfWwBcOc0ftGe2Ph_3Rvf2rY3HrrSABaUl5uQHn5FdIxib91PDACVttwbOkfrJrXBTXjnIhsNuD-_4goHbktcwnfxIsTO0i6qP/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had heard there was a goldcrest or 2 in the area but hadn't seen one till today. It was working away on fast-forward which made it incredibly difficult to photo and about 90% of the shots were (at best) of its tail end disappearing behind foliage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC2rkrteKBetg7qV-KXHZeHT3Tk-9lcz1-YQtYcm5Uu-moDz-X3V1xAyoV9_eEGdu3VUjyFuYMpzrdpnLnHFP5fctf2HUFCfP1HdZuClIVbhneTweX3YEQv5IkwkDxXsHda_dyfRcQgolFi5OM1L8zskBrePNiR-FQcgnh9WFiw0-ezDV0fWMU-YqOfHa/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC2rkrteKBetg7qV-KXHZeHT3Tk-9lcz1-YQtYcm5Uu-moDz-X3V1xAyoV9_eEGdu3VUjyFuYMpzrdpnLnHFP5fctf2HUFCfP1HdZuClIVbhneTweX3YEQv5IkwkDxXsHda_dyfRcQgolFi5OM1L8zskBrePNiR-FQcgnh9WFiw0-ezDV0fWMU-YqOfHa/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG8-hMuZ63_lsD6AfIBFEh9FHS4zR602H9B82KkHPgcRciuwYRe5Vw8mqkvX1XTbF2pfyIHrbEgW5gnaaShfDMFT8DVPiMoJfEWg9rGuQLQRfL8q8R5EcF_eYU-jonAAsVk7C7GGU71Pvxn8__Zi-Yfrm0T7xPKslhfVdb_kad8Z649JyhDFTLntD3SHN/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG8-hMuZ63_lsD6AfIBFEh9FHS4zR602H9B82KkHPgcRciuwYRe5Vw8mqkvX1XTbF2pfyIHrbEgW5gnaaShfDMFT8DVPiMoJfEWg9rGuQLQRfL8q8R5EcF_eYU-jonAAsVk7C7GGU71Pvxn8__Zi-Yfrm0T7xPKslhfVdb_kad8Z649JyhDFTLntD3SHN/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goldcrest!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YGL5FVX3-XPDjhedhBbqqKfwvDZ6FvS4v08Ga2ea09v-IRr_qFB6g3HW6ZiYgK6qF0_ZuPLmJkm3kUqwp3i4m9VXBn6tAo7ZbVPqbxt2_okfQ6cJ3OLBhl0uFXs3VeKLNFmh7ri8_ID72hUfIZ3Eh81r5i08vFJgF0R6XSuXuTaeJIvsnC-14hV-7JIs/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YGL5FVX3-XPDjhedhBbqqKfwvDZ6FvS4v08Ga2ea09v-IRr_qFB6g3HW6ZiYgK6qF0_ZuPLmJkm3kUqwp3i4m9VXBn6tAo7ZbVPqbxt2_okfQ6cJ3OLBhl0uFXs3VeKLNFmh7ri8_ID72hUfIZ3Eh81r5i08vFJgF0R6XSuXuTaeJIvsnC-14hV-7JIs/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhs_3nHtwXPCf9Mv9tOcCSwwEnYIqnp0jADx2pd2n5-a6DmMm-em-skgEFXCoY7nodcbOLoLyeJmYg7nOpxdD9ystM_GFKEtkwkQfQCAuCzBycXE9p0Tx_dLYXXadNXTnaeA8NHt6rBxdqDbWbi654HhClUo9KHCxl0pp88dvJHROxjOn13l17b7uQoTp/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhs_3nHtwXPCf9Mv9tOcCSwwEnYIqnp0jADx2pd2n5-a6DmMm-em-skgEFXCoY7nodcbOLoLyeJmYg7nOpxdD9ystM_GFKEtkwkQfQCAuCzBycXE9p0Tx_dLYXXadNXTnaeA8NHt6rBxdqDbWbi654HhClUo9KHCxl0pp88dvJHROxjOn13l17b7uQoTp/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bee waves hello<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next day and I felt I would be more surprised if I didn't see a butterfly than if I did. And yet it looked uneventful for the first half an hour I was in the Botanics. I had been waiting for the cloud to clear before leaving the house and lost most of the morning to that. Sure enough it was warm enough to remove gloves and hat until about 5pm. This is often the signal for the first butterflies of the year to appear. I texted Ken, reckoning he'd be somewhere in the gardens watching a handful of butterflies swoop and glide. He wasn't, having opted for Newington Cemetery as a likely venue, but it was also failing to produce the goods. I tried a couple of different spots in the Botanics, while avoiding the weekend crowds at the more obvious places like the Chinese Pond. It felt like there should be butterflies on the wing but I had to settle for bingo bees. I was there by the pulmonaria when Mary arrived. She had been for a swim and joined me for a walk round the gardens and Warriston. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sK82_nXMQLU7ux6tMVwvunpPDMYOdYULd0wTTE0p6qHGLRtn9uILRNCazP9fvan6EO1lk0ZIl_gYg5aUMnVWL86yN1fq2wjrD32_DFMptiQGo71rBRRblDHmUJUhRZo0MVzYu_m5BxtJZeetUAItMNMChpBF0D8UqaGTHtxVlDT8VMZh_cn3l_pBL_EX/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sK82_nXMQLU7ux6tMVwvunpPDMYOdYULd0wTTE0p6qHGLRtn9uILRNCazP9fvan6EO1lk0ZIl_gYg5aUMnVWL86yN1fq2wjrD32_DFMptiQGo71rBRRblDHmUJUhRZo0MVzYu_m5BxtJZeetUAItMNMChpBF0D8UqaGTHtxVlDT8VMZh_cn3l_pBL_EX/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3xRplortbS7yFas6Z_BLEfM4ijQPdBQRMdNCIidRh1pAbz9vygF2XFikBqZUkIZCf7osKzdH2YNBWjgd50cb_zHQfCUKuptvEW_eqHMo2Vsr5OVM0p52o154A4ITqa7W5A6Dd82yyCD4fmSoRwS0FYOmEWZfhewgOcwQDp7SVlikIx5-bgvZ3ECpDFEY/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3xRplortbS7yFas6Z_BLEfM4ijQPdBQRMdNCIidRh1pAbz9vygF2XFikBqZUkIZCf7osKzdH2YNBWjgd50cb_zHQfCUKuptvEW_eqHMo2Vsr5OVM0p52o154A4ITqa7W5A6Dd82yyCD4fmSoRwS0FYOmEWZfhewgOcwQDp7SVlikIx5-bgvZ3ECpDFEY/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPsazu_i7D2iR8ZFp1wyEk5rYqj_wK5h9q1eINXeT8eWNGGGPPF7V8IhQl-e266uWGSYbuiCuG7o7Bm5SmhwjGipDQA6G7pUM8TpxxBikMHwhyphenhyphenfoTRHWj3GM8YbGP4uqit6PYRSzOhD3EzlfNeT0cS1abnEm26-7JHhq4f4flw-6KkOmN0UrLw4PJEAA2/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPsazu_i7D2iR8ZFp1wyEk5rYqj_wK5h9q1eINXeT8eWNGGGPPF7V8IhQl-e266uWGSYbuiCuG7o7Bm5SmhwjGipDQA6G7pUM8TpxxBikMHwhyphenhyphenfoTRHWj3GM8YbGP4uqit6PYRSzOhD3EzlfNeT0cS1abnEm26-7JHhq4f4flw-6KkOmN0UrLw4PJEAA2/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">number 14 - hairy-footed flower bee</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0WMeCGD9mxJBsNmEmOyCe6QGla9lI4Yqsw8q-Xmzhx3UODx19kPLQ7MUObVStEd-HwnKD8LJPyEvv1ofa90J57N99e-wfCFl-WMQFnm9lQgL-fEZeGORQuqQ5px3QNTvCbXinmy2j9NrE7vQGezxFfUGG6ybYIIfJeNrpzj5iBN-X5RLGqIrGTi4U2v1/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0WMeCGD9mxJBsNmEmOyCe6QGla9lI4Yqsw8q-Xmzhx3UODx19kPLQ7MUObVStEd-HwnKD8LJPyEvv1ofa90J57N99e-wfCFl-WMQFnm9lQgL-fEZeGORQuqQ5px3QNTvCbXinmy2j9NrE7vQGezxFfUGG6ybYIIfJeNrpzj5iBN-X5RLGqIrGTi4U2v1/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This leaf skeleton was a problem to photo. I wanted it off the ground with a blurry background but without changing lens I couldn't hold it at arms length and get it in the frame. So I propped it between other leaves but it kept swaying backwards in the breeze or falling off. I returned to the bingo bees and the challenge of capturing them as they were all buzzing frantically about the pulmonaria. Lots of hairy-footers, some numbered, some not.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlQ-FKOLddrerp9jxwyXGyBpni7G_Er69H9SyMcIUSPfm0bB-RUOX9ffE2vPPxN_4hU5JA27QIyJjqU-4AIk4xqST0betG0yMNBpx7ilkayi12D_Ffae_-b97uQKAvTVc7ReLuZVwmeDhhVhuppbUlnGiaXYCgNK7MU5D1CxU0Cpn3pyauOri18PnFIEb/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlQ-FKOLddrerp9jxwyXGyBpni7G_Er69H9SyMcIUSPfm0bB-RUOX9ffE2vPPxN_4hU5JA27QIyJjqU-4AIk4xqST0betG0yMNBpx7ilkayi12D_Ffae_-b97uQKAvTVc7ReLuZVwmeDhhVhuppbUlnGiaXYCgNK7MU5D1CxU0Cpn3pyauOri18PnFIEb/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievAxunLJyI5fFb0kd1bwcZ-ZLgVnru70R-JYLWxqd1ECNdHwK-HcRCxtCgxYdeb9Y-TfLMjoyx98ew3n_bklu6lB6ORTcs2D318h2sbzbhxr-nJR-L84Lq6yMynapzeIj6vIurm46LslVVJhAdHDSIg8gbM3lIe9vhpMNLP0vgsemaHt9XjYPmuE5lVaw/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievAxunLJyI5fFb0kd1bwcZ-ZLgVnru70R-JYLWxqd1ECNdHwK-HcRCxtCgxYdeb9Y-TfLMjoyx98ew3n_bklu6lB6ORTcs2D318h2sbzbhxr-nJR-L84Lq6yMynapzeIj6vIurm46LslVVJhAdHDSIg8gbM3lIe9vhpMNLP0vgsemaHt9XjYPmuE5lVaw/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">un-numbered hairy footed flower bee</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SB7NhfleHJ-NzUF-eOLw0_uMK5yB9ebho2DeeqXZcK7pAIQpzO1uMgi86EQyCOxUuk1AuQpB_BIbiN-xfpBDS5RSlTdQAzEQqO81EVFx5vHU-Tkp-u3hhlQ_2dt4AYmxGBq3Teng4jBKH_eplZO-3YisFJB8xZGZWSVUYJzeyYZ284_KkDVkIrtmdIRM/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SB7NhfleHJ-NzUF-eOLw0_uMK5yB9ebho2DeeqXZcK7pAIQpzO1uMgi86EQyCOxUuk1AuQpB_BIbiN-xfpBDS5RSlTdQAzEQqO81EVFx5vHU-Tkp-u3hhlQ_2dt4AYmxGBq3Teng4jBKH_eplZO-3YisFJB8xZGZWSVUYJzeyYZ284_KkDVkIrtmdIRM/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2eYmEa0ckcXdgDdK4tOepq3C8bjbBeasV3q32N06Zh5KOPTMU3Jr_tGGD0ZjCGbVQL9Trzo-QIEXqYNZWinVVECaq6lSEgncqeqqHT3uOl3ZuiZbFqo3lImESiBtUe9pwrKzt0rpaNgRGy4DmC75FYhq1OYhIQoMVTkDbg6-4BOqpusyCtYuI_312je3/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2eYmEa0ckcXdgDdK4tOepq3C8bjbBeasV3q32N06Zh5KOPTMU3Jr_tGGD0ZjCGbVQL9Trzo-QIEXqYNZWinVVECaq6lSEgncqeqqHT3uOl3ZuiZbFqo3lImESiBtUe9pwrKzt0rpaNgRGy4DmC75FYhq1OYhIQoMVTkDbg6-4BOqpusyCtYuI_312je3/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Avefa11KXGvrDbTLqYUQeZPh-rbw8bDSUfiQk3_wFZm54bOGPhv8Ib1sSjSVhSmjJBnX0XqpRASj1-IUx9wLak4sVLkC8wnxRukXnIFX3N2DrVrtP_uZohYOlmuWKxcVgyWVGWVHJ0dASF-RnBin6-1PnCTe-zazkJ06e1PtB24fMFV3uTB1Crh6eTbE/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Avefa11KXGvrDbTLqYUQeZPh-rbw8bDSUfiQk3_wFZm54bOGPhv8Ib1sSjSVhSmjJBnX0XqpRASj1-IUx9wLak4sVLkC8wnxRukXnIFX3N2DrVrtP_uZohYOlmuWKxcVgyWVGWVHJ0dASF-RnBin6-1PnCTe-zazkJ06e1PtB24fMFV3uTB1Crh6eTbE/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXId-QaJ8UYrqcCDeYnJp1nieS1jvrNcZ996zueo-5MGm-EoSNMPJfw8VIzQYnPuM_MTPWTcVhYv2EltaI4PN6guvgqgR1cKXkWTSqWdd-yzMipayrj_7NV6_YNtwxRHLSr5gNY52bt6cCmB1MPMLJbl9Zi5vnfksYAwYXDLbbYSb-eaPAKay5pSY5Ehpm/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXId-QaJ8UYrqcCDeYnJp1nieS1jvrNcZ996zueo-5MGm-EoSNMPJfw8VIzQYnPuM_MTPWTcVhYv2EltaI4PN6guvgqgR1cKXkWTSqWdd-yzMipayrj_7NV6_YNtwxRHLSr5gNY52bt6cCmB1MPMLJbl9Zi5vnfksYAwYXDLbbYSb-eaPAKay5pSY5Ehpm/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbX7YZylX9CphClCCRcg2Akctj3HNVcfQTPHoL_Oe_BjJLEgtDn-MPI_K_aSKKKo9FULl5y4fG1Je3ISKstYXWkkV0WqfJj1tyFJY1QjkiftlsSRI-aFHN0LAxK3HulI5NpqpeiMb2-IkA2W-ljuqC4Lgqq8B6ZS7b_qOXBsgcIeEE1sp286hLC4k-NOY/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbX7YZylX9CphClCCRcg2Akctj3HNVcfQTPHoL_Oe_BjJLEgtDn-MPI_K_aSKKKo9FULl5y4fG1Je3ISKstYXWkkV0WqfJj1tyFJY1QjkiftlsSRI-aFHN0LAxK3HulI5NpqpeiMb2-IkA2W-ljuqC4Lgqq8B6ZS7b_qOXBsgcIeEE1sp286hLC4k-NOY/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZF4sQ1YZfKNKH-EtUlmdDowAbwQNuKW2_7NE_Q3zEW6vFGH9IdwIk2Gjxqzt6XXiUPdUpfueNFNkYynEDwhjpgI4phf84cPQTDkSm2akapuV9lcgy4skJSmyCG7TMjjPWw227cpHquk-VNAr9szv4RZldpqCFK5gQFEAmrpmuprkD1VnV83me7foz05p/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZF4sQ1YZfKNKH-EtUlmdDowAbwQNuKW2_7NE_Q3zEW6vFGH9IdwIk2Gjxqzt6XXiUPdUpfueNFNkYynEDwhjpgI4phf84cPQTDkSm2akapuV9lcgy4skJSmyCG7TMjjPWw227cpHquk-VNAr9szv4RZldpqCFK5gQFEAmrpmuprkD1VnV83me7foz05p/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />chaffinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW35HwzN0X5nFZi0XnRWAOUcUjguU5OBfAE4s5t7G1ydh1nrlAA97syxktYZkuXgVJBqIpAqj4KCdRLUZq-zCuTcPYpLO8ZGxRcPq4caRaGc87JK9IT7YfUgOpSRweFmGjbOEboMReWU3sF9f8owDj8DexPj9qNJaWQInqXn3MVdcPGU-k_i1XJBOjA7jZ/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW35HwzN0X5nFZi0XnRWAOUcUjguU5OBfAE4s5t7G1ydh1nrlAA97syxktYZkuXgVJBqIpAqj4KCdRLUZq-zCuTcPYpLO8ZGxRcPq4caRaGc87JK9IT7YfUgOpSRweFmGjbOEboMReWU3sF9f8owDj8DexPj9qNJaWQInqXn3MVdcPGU-k_i1XJBOjA7jZ/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQGBaVD3B60uMRItLFBR6MBQhyARxGiUOQGlgyX_5e1sJdKTINR1oNJHd6AecIw2ZBXaDF8fhudbd5eUSV7gr6aUlHsj_wUIf4wCdvSRIAzrsHn6a_8pLeFKNgNJXaM5Hwjges8mO7IEQXpRYq_EgIqHEVMzUtGRmL5EbqT_4r55X83N0Uq8adaoYYQzZ/s2048/014a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQGBaVD3B60uMRItLFBR6MBQhyARxGiUOQGlgyX_5e1sJdKTINR1oNJHd6AecIw2ZBXaDF8fhudbd5eUSV7gr6aUlHsj_wUIf4wCdvSRIAzrsHn6a_8pLeFKNgNJXaM5Hwjges8mO7IEQXpRYq_EgIqHEVMzUtGRmL5EbqT_4r55X83N0Uq8adaoYYQzZ/s320/014a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKVhOiER6gCpZiqifFRZnnnVIQN_CyY-QDApmEi0bCXK9ks3v5_aYSnl7A0Ig_B-oC_5bXidf4Z_IyT5aJwxtCq6sg6X3hOkZlqLaAXJ7EhM4S0ZMHERlSyP0MoEkB7xy0FHI03IIjybl9q6MxVYSUpDPXDGLUJwFJFrET1E-ZkERRp7miPS3G1vkvyS8/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKVhOiER6gCpZiqifFRZnnnVIQN_CyY-QDApmEi0bCXK9ks3v5_aYSnl7A0Ig_B-oC_5bXidf4Z_IyT5aJwxtCq6sg6X3hOkZlqLaAXJ7EhM4S0ZMHERlSyP0MoEkB7xy0FHI03IIjybl9q6MxVYSUpDPXDGLUJwFJFrET1E-ZkERRp7miPS3G1vkvyS8/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Mary thought this looked like a preacher giving a lesson,<br />I though a conductor in front of his orchestra</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoUtJMBRMD9f8X-I0uVklK6PdUyloQqtkwxuZOMYnRbG8GW83MDDfymZz4cwsFoQUo4dU3laYytwZ526MBxX7Ek6gnnElhAlBQagTsOYSSFLNqGRstdsxtsreiDrP9me2GcPBPyQ7giDionjwzPnxOAplHAgLIsc3NwNdxX0HMLpoUINdnBW9IVLVUJ4d/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoUtJMBRMD9f8X-I0uVklK6PdUyloQqtkwxuZOMYnRbG8GW83MDDfymZz4cwsFoQUo4dU3laYytwZ526MBxX7Ek6gnnElhAlBQagTsOYSSFLNqGRstdsxtsreiDrP9me2GcPBPyQ7giDionjwzPnxOAplHAgLIsc3NwNdxX0HMLpoUINdnBW9IVLVUJ4d/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmOUB7wB2JB_a6ivQaBaLA96SjjEWcm4nq8ZQvLL8RIjn-Z3q5pOtA6LHpoNXZiP9TpHjtqpVGS-Dc7dRM7Zb8m_n53BoKsqR33RbmleK-hnHMKtWwIUwW9rzSms46xXsVxPC0gUSLjbV1lHicoq7UR1vx6zUuc8QohlwZbSO5jYat7vr07q4E1B2ykug/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmOUB7wB2JB_a6ivQaBaLA96SjjEWcm4nq8ZQvLL8RIjn-Z3q5pOtA6LHpoNXZiP9TpHjtqpVGS-Dc7dRM7Zb8m_n53BoKsqR33RbmleK-hnHMKtWwIUwW9rzSms46xXsVxPC0gUSLjbV1lHicoq7UR1vx6zUuc8QohlwZbSO5jYat7vr07q4E1B2ykug/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wHA-WmUVeHNv_2wGKgkB_Rhjf8ggWZ1T0nTpABzLChUjoMQpLg0j3AwPAzw_1Znk4rFhAQqRMCSCIfBwd7NCmhIIcc09tWZYiuYj3P7Wth2Hu1MLDup5jBUlIrV_SJD4uFGSORN3Tz0iYt6Jr1B_APxh1aMlj1CtNlzbqW9hBeqMttRwhe3WxYDNkJ4t/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wHA-WmUVeHNv_2wGKgkB_Rhjf8ggWZ1T0nTpABzLChUjoMQpLg0j3AwPAzw_1Znk4rFhAQqRMCSCIfBwd7NCmhIIcc09tWZYiuYj3P7Wth2Hu1MLDup5jBUlIrV_SJD4uFGSORN3Tz0iYt6Jr1B_APxh1aMlj1CtNlzbqW9hBeqMttRwhe3WxYDNkJ4t/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary managed to find a hand friendly robin</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfTT9mjf_QxzfiTCMZgCBxLtcS5U9PfOy_zALDAnDT45QGLyiMT7URmlQVdxYqsNDfbyVCIVySOZZFiKIzePBzx8o_YRzK9MPP7uEL3O6gke_19IP5P_3I-P-q2iP66HB-d7KNkeExbDvlkhjG27IiMqUF5hBizMrfdx1LDjFDd3-R0QA1jgt6FejFVS6/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfTT9mjf_QxzfiTCMZgCBxLtcS5U9PfOy_zALDAnDT45QGLyiMT7URmlQVdxYqsNDfbyVCIVySOZZFiKIzePBzx8o_YRzK9MPP7uEL3O6gke_19IP5P_3I-P-q2iP66HB-d7KNkeExbDvlkhjG27IiMqUF5hBizMrfdx1LDjFDd3-R0QA1jgt6FejFVS6/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />this medium-large and quite black bee landed near us<br />I believe it is a female Andrena clarkella, a mining bee.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aq4zPGWMW7dVdcWvZ7zMlGAUR83bNdUS5KalEzN_epvPy9ZkNknR4YCLe9gPDxLlgRtTVBIEH_t_IIkpeYGrBsTXGr5Fvu0gXyWBkPQ1QqUJ4zQ-4TcyLjaDq8vwQ4D71_W4Loh-pw57ZDw8K6AR2QPfn8vk09pj7II7oxdnwu3uh-9-KBgvDQMJV4c6/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aq4zPGWMW7dVdcWvZ7zMlGAUR83bNdUS5KalEzN_epvPy9ZkNknR4YCLe9gPDxLlgRtTVBIEH_t_IIkpeYGrBsTXGr5Fvu0gXyWBkPQ1QqUJ4zQ-4TcyLjaDq8vwQ4D71_W4Loh-pw57ZDw8K6AR2QPfn8vk09pj7II7oxdnwu3uh-9-KBgvDQMJV4c6/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKsdwftaTxYbM5cloYeTjl9MOUzsjX9KwUNlKqYKzJlq7MfaSSJ05vz-KmA7u2Zea8se_U321Rc8xbAr1_WR7jrN1sQsHjj2dy9lR-QqfY-DqTpVR8kHKhpLmktdTKd-bS15du4I7zJ62018g79mo5YQye6vYqCBIdABxwWGJ9y-IWC07zD0wQEOSoDXZ/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKsdwftaTxYbM5cloYeTjl9MOUzsjX9KwUNlKqYKzJlq7MfaSSJ05vz-KmA7u2Zea8se_U321Rc8xbAr1_WR7jrN1sQsHjj2dy9lR-QqfY-DqTpVR8kHKhpLmktdTKd-bS15du4I7zJ62018g79mo5YQye6vYqCBIdABxwWGJ9y-IWC07zD0wQEOSoDXZ/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wTYwncmdtSuaQq7p-pGaOMvdnKhc6F58YhPyUZxBRom7OMC2LXWddIlZ8q3hbECfSMn_S0fWAmR309aOn-unxRqN1u-Oa9xYyYPyuzaX1xHDV4tM2BMEeUXod0pW2at36YtVeUxlxpQ3MjOaOgIUtUhj19y40G5FO0zugseAkXrv9rEYFSO4GmwTJTZ1/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wTYwncmdtSuaQq7p-pGaOMvdnKhc6F58YhPyUZxBRom7OMC2LXWddIlZ8q3hbECfSMn_S0fWAmR309aOn-unxRqN1u-Oa9xYyYPyuzaX1xHDV4tM2BMEeUXod0pW2at36YtVeUxlxpQ3MjOaOgIUtUhj19y40G5FO0zugseAkXrv9rEYFSO4GmwTJTZ1/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXurueTU_h3630uOabfc93WBPNjh0we5xBAfdIoT7da0_8wm9G7FLWaOwd0Wf0_nXMqCYtFm_iW53Lr0zi1pekaVonbvs7HdtdqoU-ZBn2jmmHOtdHGcglhZ30h0sg2_WJG_-zlwrdl95-SCayFA6ML_s0RmmxUkGIVFKz91evJ_7b1lozcs2dtOZtFMVd/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXurueTU_h3630uOabfc93WBPNjh0we5xBAfdIoT7da0_8wm9G7FLWaOwd0Wf0_nXMqCYtFm_iW53Lr0zi1pekaVonbvs7HdtdqoU-ZBn2jmmHOtdHGcglhZ30h0sg2_WJG_-zlwrdl95-SCayFA6ML_s0RmmxUkGIVFKz91evJ_7b1lozcs2dtOZtFMVd/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Western skunk cabbage apparently (says google)<br />at the duck pond</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2nMbKVLCUlle3GqdjYe6oEe0zDzP-jA6Nj1Vak6vntUAdoKl5aHzC4v81rn7VGp1syVq3InonSpJMjFeurU-1NkjcrTvx2Qytxro62efmIEV-l6sxyldGVzo0imHAgMZl3X_oKx6o3AnBt0ADqTojwc0NUGHaeM1Oh8ok-4eNni2-kpsIyr135akRUPw/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2nMbKVLCUlle3GqdjYe6oEe0zDzP-jA6Nj1Vak6vntUAdoKl5aHzC4v81rn7VGp1syVq3InonSpJMjFeurU-1NkjcrTvx2Qytxro62efmIEV-l6sxyldGVzo0imHAgMZl3X_oKx6o3AnBt0ADqTojwc0NUGHaeM1Oh8ok-4eNni2-kpsIyr135akRUPw/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The sun was still shining from time to time so we called it a day at the Botanics and headed to Warriston. Mary had disturbed one butterfly near the beech hedge but it flew up into the trees, declining a photo. Almost certainly a peacock, although maybe an admiral. Along the road to Powderhall Mary spotted this Small Tortoiseshell on the ivy sunning itself. We got cursory pics before it up-and-overed the hedge, disappearing onto the shaded side. <i>Of course it will return to the sunny side </i>says I. It did not. Onwards and upwards. I am not sure if that was a victory (torts being rare this year so far) or a defeat: the single photo was nothing to write home about. <br /><br />Actually there were 3 more of it sitting with closed wings but they are so non-event I won't bore you with them. Anyway top marks to Mary for spotting both butterflies of the day. So much so I won't shame her (much) for dropping her hat (again!) which we found an hour or more later. Can't think why they put zippers on jacket pockets, can you? Once bitten, twice bitten, but no lasting harm done. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_zfzIQ7wDf4w-Re-fHNNmmzNFdlIOgvCtdAwf8FmwZyY_fEft3IrVUYdmhelICCcpqlc2PF0lOTrdYF2UuP3tODrpno1FMHI1T1M4-j-WpzZtjk1PbKIgOPsVw5A4JXH7nDCcCpoiCaYeJQIeZ35HFHXVq8GZyuzQDYtpVcQbNKMXUFn0w90rT6CdnL6/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_zfzIQ7wDf4w-Re-fHNNmmzNFdlIOgvCtdAwf8FmwZyY_fEft3IrVUYdmhelICCcpqlc2PF0lOTrdYF2UuP3tODrpno1FMHI1T1M4-j-WpzZtjk1PbKIgOPsVw5A4JXH7nDCcCpoiCaYeJQIeZ35HFHXVq8GZyuzQDYtpVcQbNKMXUFn0w90rT6CdnL6/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">house sparrow</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQU7lFnM2PWTtDmD_-ubNApWiodU0Fyv95s_ta8Yy16CG0xJuBIr3TPxWlcgu1EJzsD9AN7qoZTirH25NYUPYza5XfxWWZ_bWGio55Ik_uZ6Mj6wAbBs5BcSQn8AHcCBjk13UGM1OqJtqKtSxLYu4c7DXFLRtmsvu5NGsfrZlGsWI8h6FgBLtFsoRy3lV/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQU7lFnM2PWTtDmD_-ubNApWiodU0Fyv95s_ta8Yy16CG0xJuBIr3TPxWlcgu1EJzsD9AN7qoZTirH25NYUPYza5XfxWWZ_bWGio55Ik_uZ6Mj6wAbBs5BcSQn8AHcCBjk13UGM1OqJtqKtSxLYu4c7DXFLRtmsvu5NGsfrZlGsWI8h6FgBLtFsoRy3lV/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bird feeder nearly empty again!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZTn5LXYosYRbc0xeJMtzImzLcwsFg39R7A07Rk3Q0hA9J7XrVRYJwPBXwGTnSbPxeFNAxrhakuOEwA7RuBIOUPW-GgB8euknE3dIYmxat7nKDyKD2kuhJiJM1f37_MTfBVRelIe3MjLbAX8rKfDuP486nV4qxoSWzhon7JNalH3d4PLVfA6FrSGsYuXq/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZTn5LXYosYRbc0xeJMtzImzLcwsFg39R7A07Rk3Q0hA9J7XrVRYJwPBXwGTnSbPxeFNAxrhakuOEwA7RuBIOUPW-GgB8euknE3dIYmxat7nKDyKD2kuhJiJM1f37_MTfBVRelIe3MjLbAX8rKfDuP486nV4qxoSWzhon7JNalH3d4PLVfA6FrSGsYuXq/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">crows still posing for peanuts</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWdaR4sfYI9zoDdzUzSKNKJUOOYf7D9FgUn8cEM4tW4C8tJOPLXiu-q_x7btfWoJ7LnZlU0SVMRakmFvRdfpiKNrfGcsYkPnAkOrzWp_wtlLXe_n30a-ieoyonidQVfXIMCINJT_kt6V8bF789I_oY_jv6iUycJbuJh4An4Hkbjjdu05YnlkKd7ML-ZUB/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWdaR4sfYI9zoDdzUzSKNKJUOOYf7D9FgUn8cEM4tW4C8tJOPLXiu-q_x7btfWoJ7LnZlU0SVMRakmFvRdfpiKNrfGcsYkPnAkOrzWp_wtlLXe_n30a-ieoyonidQVfXIMCINJT_kt6V8bF789I_oY_jv6iUycJbuJh4An4Hkbjjdu05YnlkKd7ML-ZUB/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi7Z3tlvMM1JqfR6Mu3AkKltZfx-NuucBsJH6Byo3ZUl8TIqXivhHiGvri1nh4gEeu8Qu9_buKvgCviHEDf936DoY-MPWSA-N7U3ZvJNe-WLCuPanpF5LECkSt8OQjuzeK-20xq9U9ZzwxJ-8T3s4ENsOwmvr9gIfi1UFJL5j50xSi2zVehV97gPxwSN7/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi7Z3tlvMM1JqfR6Mu3AkKltZfx-NuucBsJH6Byo3ZUl8TIqXivhHiGvri1nh4gEeu8Qu9_buKvgCviHEDf936DoY-MPWSA-N7U3ZvJNe-WLCuPanpF5LECkSt8OQjuzeK-20xq9U9ZzwxJ-8T3s4ENsOwmvr9gIfi1UFJL5j50xSi2zVehV97gPxwSN7/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Tei-eTzy0Jlf0R98vRD2onEokg9Vuvq0CS0do6tz5HSTe_Q9Je76L0myL20U4jyGD-8Dayvzj7BCwoWln-4VTWpSeiGLTfxPBavQsfVn75DINkcH14DsqPpTr13bJTeDjI9FGEa5X3wW9RRnIQa067koxMUfPilb0tgVzYOLG81mSfppr_ZeUB1pT7V/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Tei-eTzy0Jlf0R98vRD2onEokg9Vuvq0CS0do6tz5HSTe_Q9Je76L0myL20U4jyGD-8Dayvzj7BCwoWln-4VTWpSeiGLTfxPBavQsfVn75DINkcH14DsqPpTr13bJTeDjI9FGEa5X3wW9RRnIQa067koxMUfPilb0tgVzYOLG81mSfppr_ZeUB1pT7V/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNW5_cMNF1Asl2Kjy8FlTzpFBP7cLVq_JFMqnF1fdqbL-XToP9kjPgDZ0VrL-nf5mymqNzYRrGxmwfRIaXocgqfZqr5Or6M_zwNAuNEOK5VJPalDp2ThgpcLXePQFMGslZaJSarfNfWSSMQt3jziH7DGlgxU7tHqEw9jpExgaPT0vGlUf85V4LydrDMib/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNW5_cMNF1Asl2Kjy8FlTzpFBP7cLVq_JFMqnF1fdqbL-XToP9kjPgDZ0VrL-nf5mymqNzYRrGxmwfRIaXocgqfZqr5Or6M_zwNAuNEOK5VJPalDp2ThgpcLXePQFMGslZaJSarfNfWSSMQt3jziH7DGlgxU7tHqEw9jpExgaPT0vGlUf85V4LydrDMib/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">snakeshead fritillary in secret garden</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEZHO7RoonMe-zD439OphbRN6qj7P50nymi5n4faXofcyISNGS0rUryUdauqBHlcgP5-p-mo5jFKqNkSPlsvl_dFHD0FPlw03RozI-k-2NGBztZt8dQLqtYJiEjN3lBDivgOuChYQqvpo7Fu759fAzYCz9loe1NwbMe2q-eSL5xWGqgokyz7RpITpYe__/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEZHO7RoonMe-zD439OphbRN6qj7P50nymi5n4faXofcyISNGS0rUryUdauqBHlcgP5-p-mo5jFKqNkSPlsvl_dFHD0FPlw03RozI-k-2NGBztZt8dQLqtYJiEjN3lBDivgOuChYQqvpo7Fu759fAzYCz9loe1NwbMe2q-eSL5xWGqgokyz7RpITpYe__/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9v2jWJT_JLMt7dIO5TLmAFPidPxzHoSc7ZV9fy5IB4LX-FnhmS0RiUJQbBIeHVmqDQasko9Jl5-X9blDme2XpxR_muQC9l73WjoefdAq38nN69R9_NW6qJeJGRMIAI-idolqmD5Lrn0ldtYogiZ1RMNe2yee9O6FiD-Z_LKrsFO7tYctxsm9G9S1Gv0c/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9v2jWJT_JLMt7dIO5TLmAFPidPxzHoSc7ZV9fy5IB4LX-FnhmS0RiUJQbBIeHVmqDQasko9Jl5-X9blDme2XpxR_muQC9l73WjoefdAq38nN69R9_NW6qJeJGRMIAI-idolqmD5Lrn0ldtYogiZ1RMNe2yee9O6FiD-Z_LKrsFO7tYctxsm9G9S1Gv0c/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4914ckt09kDSq6LxrJaNVPfevriy34wDXAYeA1U3qYlIIoBV5KzAvBk_dIQ1wIn1WONTPKIgUfaxaRw37bx5zXnBk9LY82IDMBX7uZSWV_ZIDcgmut6QV7OAMBoWmcvTJJUKOV55_4I-yM-UGtkSAeh2e78RE35cj5V6CWWxzPpLLdOu6Jjrq2LJCbgV/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4914ckt09kDSq6LxrJaNVPfevriy34wDXAYeA1U3qYlIIoBV5KzAvBk_dIQ1wIn1WONTPKIgUfaxaRw37bx5zXnBk9LY82IDMBX7uZSWV_ZIDcgmut6QV7OAMBoWmcvTJJUKOV55_4I-yM-UGtkSAeh2e78RE35cj5V6CWWxzPpLLdOu6Jjrq2LJCbgV/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and these are mine...</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mary had had her fill (and to be fair she 'd been swimming earlier) and went home. I stayed and hung around the riverside area to feed the squirrels and robins. I failed to temp out the rat and although the place was alive with cheeping and squawking, didn't photo much else. Although the light was pretty good in places and there were some nice moments.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnecg9ObnOMX8pVDCboUzSMFj0katu_K9Rem1Cz99T8lWF-lHwL9QR2HtmZM5Csx5DXRHpKh2_pnJbJu2W_HYpO9dQyqn4UUczmlbt8LhjfkAuy2-vAZnKznvECRkw4c94PdApnfL3k60_fPXc7k0t77rL-WNz9AZ04Y4_WFtMFjLL6Mhyphenhyphen_UnlIxiHvtbT/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnecg9ObnOMX8pVDCboUzSMFj0katu_K9Rem1Cz99T8lWF-lHwL9QR2HtmZM5Csx5DXRHpKh2_pnJbJu2W_HYpO9dQyqn4UUczmlbt8LhjfkAuy2-vAZnKznvECRkw4c94PdApnfL3k60_fPXc7k0t77rL-WNz9AZ04Y4_WFtMFjLL6Mhyphenhyphen_UnlIxiHvtbT/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NBWtl_U8ix2iXcEIcp5PZHfPxTTd5XwA7QAkh426mIOti1nlS7E8LS89veP_T-hvskc0kaRqXQRPPeiVwE_bIIEZ9thoPz8erFQzMLQeD3ugM6JfpBZDJROwXQgwjE6w01fPc6RIqhneJRKD-KW_1_k_tV8F_ONFBiOhyhyClMPd2lsemUt8gXv7rBKS/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NBWtl_U8ix2iXcEIcp5PZHfPxTTd5XwA7QAkh426mIOti1nlS7E8LS89veP_T-hvskc0kaRqXQRPPeiVwE_bIIEZ9thoPz8erFQzMLQeD3ugM6JfpBZDJROwXQgwjE6w01fPc6RIqhneJRKD-KW_1_k_tV8F_ONFBiOhyhyClMPd2lsemUt8gXv7rBKS/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Bac4iDXdqgC6diFVgO4j2J0zC0A2i9q83beZS6JM2bUpAm1davJSpzWYG5BHWRFEETEzMV9VMXJH7ie7gn-NsnRckXA6UApyY5I0-aG3V439CVpl8123noi8ObK-XRbf3jFMxwTuuADzP6QFykWaPs331wGQODIVXgctzurGcCCV3WbRmZ9vROpw61C2/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Bac4iDXdqgC6diFVgO4j2J0zC0A2i9q83beZS6JM2bUpAm1davJSpzWYG5BHWRFEETEzMV9VMXJH7ie7gn-NsnRckXA6UApyY5I0-aG3V439CVpl8123noi8ObK-XRbf3jFMxwTuuADzP6QFykWaPs331wGQODIVXgctzurGcCCV3WbRmZ9vROpw61C2/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg3YUxex_bF4Gi_QU5anzGVyCDEsvM7Vj2Lpv-pxv52r9FAK9lH50YUMN4-9hLBa46zqSGyy4iLYgx8_h9XWesKqGOiG1uVUFpVdWGISrZRWpoyjOrKQoo4jaHu2GNIRVhESKkcsNvWzHX6DRW3o5cVfP3PTBgxp6lKlSnH2x3U5GqSq7BSUpBKTpTD3H/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg3YUxex_bF4Gi_QU5anzGVyCDEsvM7Vj2Lpv-pxv52r9FAK9lH50YUMN4-9hLBa46zqSGyy4iLYgx8_h9XWesKqGOiG1uVUFpVdWGISrZRWpoyjOrKQoo4jaHu2GNIRVhESKkcsNvWzHX6DRW3o5cVfP3PTBgxp6lKlSnH2x3U5GqSq7BSUpBKTpTD3H/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This female blackbird seemed very young or gauche and kept making a mess of landing on branches that weren't supportive enough. She was nervous of eating off the gravestone and eventually flew off after several failed attempts. Note beak colour.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjcZRiSUjZwgW0qdupJqh_OCp5GSvC5YA5Qpu7-Xna1UJntsRdpc1fkKAJt31rNyd3tu90NaIVfX-cecoWU9hJPhLFYpAG2V630aDGkczOeF-SgEA9Qgbx8dvMhhRTsuf7zdTx07Q1dH9EhozeMaWvTayn3KvdhHhKmhdS4De_5T8ZH2m9go4CH4dJDHB/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjcZRiSUjZwgW0qdupJqh_OCp5GSvC5YA5Qpu7-Xna1UJntsRdpc1fkKAJt31rNyd3tu90NaIVfX-cecoWU9hJPhLFYpAG2V630aDGkczOeF-SgEA9Qgbx8dvMhhRTsuf7zdTx07Q1dH9EhozeMaWvTayn3KvdhHhKmhdS4De_5T8ZH2m9go4CH4dJDHB/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-bxHCJt1ldOzpCqp-WKrpBC0ftc6j7F7c7HYFzuRGSu_KmbJxg3E0UKoPGluiizmt_a9YPkHg83WYBLQnmZPbRu-9V2xj6lCMBCglmOfoaO8SyKsOqQD9ULyLSy1Phz4N7X7ly5jDqEQBkgeq2r1pu5DiaMbdQpkr65QjeMjooF5ZpWOgWN2WllDBcz2/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-bxHCJt1ldOzpCqp-WKrpBC0ftc6j7F7c7HYFzuRGSu_KmbJxg3E0UKoPGluiizmt_a9YPkHg83WYBLQnmZPbRu-9V2xj6lCMBCglmOfoaO8SyKsOqQD9ULyLSy1Phz4N7X7ly5jDqEQBkgeq2r1pu5DiaMbdQpkr65QjeMjooF5ZpWOgWN2WllDBcz2/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chaffinch (f)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbbyy1KzbHIvK-_HkQagnD8jegO51uDpl2hWxsNEWCANSVeu6Ry6Qp2ZbVRASFdf0p1dyvkpSCuKM0cFISyvcSkmxzg2lFkcknhJ28HhATHws2C2QoT3i0PdqUSeMtzf3QuTCEcsaWMTluhxAE4boKpyVrGL1Mj05GbTfuNZ5scr7BckUpUmyafDxoaBX/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbbyy1KzbHIvK-_HkQagnD8jegO51uDpl2hWxsNEWCANSVeu6Ry6Qp2ZbVRASFdf0p1dyvkpSCuKM0cFISyvcSkmxzg2lFkcknhJ28HhATHws2C2QoT3i0PdqUSeMtzf3QuTCEcsaWMTluhxAE4boKpyVrGL1Mj05GbTfuNZ5scr7BckUpUmyafDxoaBX/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />chaffinch (m)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SX_G-mwzLpGmMSMdNT4HccI6gLz4hQxid-f3JkpJnKeUWX4Ozz9Fu64Ks5IJPIhyphenhyphenjey9RnSokXZDAsg-CCQ9BNAtMNY8MMRpcdGEI9pB8LMTbIJJdQN3_g8y76RNvb4PQD4wiL5o74blzq-tbPcaR1u0_AH4mlLI8vkQF1Tijv789YTrB1fV-n7a1HOu/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SX_G-mwzLpGmMSMdNT4HccI6gLz4hQxid-f3JkpJnKeUWX4Ozz9Fu64Ks5IJPIhyphenhyphenjey9RnSokXZDAsg-CCQ9BNAtMNY8MMRpcdGEI9pB8LMTbIJJdQN3_g8y76RNvb4PQD4wiL5o74blzq-tbPcaR1u0_AH4mlLI8vkQF1Tijv789YTrB1fV-n7a1HOu/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z8FHdDDrxwU6daHoNRLRTkzLoxfU4D2bsqkc7miVp668iJNBqUILi-2VRIMfmnr2_zOtro9DVG1TFx9oNmEXeAcMQ8x96IAVmL300QEsE7JKraSCI71lFNOYksikKqlOdw5prSl2BO8aFAjYGLO_Aqk8pni5zXjwGRk51JzB9mVdMvLAyTucob1Bc73N/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z8FHdDDrxwU6daHoNRLRTkzLoxfU4D2bsqkc7miVp668iJNBqUILi-2VRIMfmnr2_zOtro9DVG1TFx9oNmEXeAcMQ8x96IAVmL300QEsE7JKraSCI71lFNOYksikKqlOdw5prSl2BO8aFAjYGLO_Aqk8pni5zXjwGRk51JzB9mVdMvLAyTucob1Bc73N/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKF-C9E9ztECGDJjWsWlUp_f3PSslz844iJ9XJELUyxp2oO7mg3x0U2UCgUNLULjNrFy5J_Zxa2CJW-CSjus47jhTD521rz2oogywJBTtR3-K967YLAphDIso0r80vTsrdvMS-V14yhJy-2phSTMq9B3jbKgWh92ZPxoJ1iqJIKHx3dNBS2v1DnlXx2PJ/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKF-C9E9ztECGDJjWsWlUp_f3PSslz844iJ9XJELUyxp2oO7mg3x0U2UCgUNLULjNrFy5J_Zxa2CJW-CSjus47jhTD521rz2oogywJBTtR3-K967YLAphDIso0r80vTsrdvMS-V14yhJy-2phSTMq9B3jbKgWh92ZPxoJ1iqJIKHx3dNBS2v1DnlXx2PJ/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tvmsWGNFlDIOt71xlU-ALXGVnYkxLeMm6OZ9ErALX3fvgAmaYGZ5UmrSiyJp1zcCtfYKaSbq-QPYkjTHBgqM8I8NP_HjO0jEQWq5V6-KbCuN9UDVehdAbjM9yoH3oaQ7JelGLbxBU3R2zHvqRlUZLRDK6VOIi9inTs-4vjpYy7vSX2st9p4v7epwOhSV/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tvmsWGNFlDIOt71xlU-ALXGVnYkxLeMm6OZ9ErALX3fvgAmaYGZ5UmrSiyJp1zcCtfYKaSbq-QPYkjTHBgqM8I8NP_HjO0jEQWq5V6-KbCuN9UDVehdAbjM9yoH3oaQ7JelGLbxBU3R2zHvqRlUZLRDK6VOIi9inTs-4vjpYy7vSX2st9p4v7epwOhSV/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I saw this pair maybe 80 yards up the path and thought they might be stock doves. I could see they weren't the more commonplace woodpigeons. Through the long lens I saw they were indeed stock doves and had to settle for that photo as they immediately flew high into the trees.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ-iaTiLly9d44UEA75W-s8SwV5KIeKrJ6fgFCR2NMiuc0I9ODwUphHcA7nzy7xTqUOrPMGlFfSi2g7Z6bCBkD70cgEUZ18pB-Vb2maqLPml7lVMgE4U3H3LkgT0jhstcOvQTz4wB2ZdU4h4qFaPkLRbzSVmsskRu47q_kaAdalrQ3YwnXQvzNM78kj5a/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ-iaTiLly9d44UEA75W-s8SwV5KIeKrJ6fgFCR2NMiuc0I9ODwUphHcA7nzy7xTqUOrPMGlFfSi2g7Z6bCBkD70cgEUZ18pB-Vb2maqLPml7lVMgE4U3H3LkgT0jhstcOvQTz4wB2ZdU4h4qFaPkLRbzSVmsskRu47q_kaAdalrQ3YwnXQvzNM78kj5a/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23NTqAV4T0UkiTnMEgb4YGuGIcfBuz7gvFpWODFVzbPinxF9fd2OBCIse3OC1XhF4CPoMVSq-IocZe303k7r7hnWP1qNGF-Gd0_s9ATihohl9PbkcXDW5QZFWbxoUFD9aBG0nPFrhp_s8WKFM2t5LeQjZttkGYHBJNzA8P2RZLW_HpKiHr9vaP5wDDTqd/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23NTqAV4T0UkiTnMEgb4YGuGIcfBuz7gvFpWODFVzbPinxF9fd2OBCIse3OC1XhF4CPoMVSq-IocZe303k7r7hnWP1qNGF-Gd0_s9ATihohl9PbkcXDW5QZFWbxoUFD9aBG0nPFrhp_s8WKFM2t5LeQjZttkGYHBJNzA8P2RZLW_HpKiHr9vaP5wDDTqd/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit in muted colours</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-5tpV59WjL11HNHjec3zg0bTBePzzJTMfjf58oaWr4jeIHwVpbSB5xj9C7P8TgRpD04xyyA95Ga26hR41SvrARsYn_GUJPTgbLef3PaByzfDdIvB2GTHYxYMt0oWEJLrp47awBCX7OHlOA-6n3jjY_UvAqJkz6HqfE7GiqG8rpFO2yR_kG31_7BiIieu/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-5tpV59WjL11HNHjec3zg0bTBePzzJTMfjf58oaWr4jeIHwVpbSB5xj9C7P8TgRpD04xyyA95Ga26hR41SvrARsYn_GUJPTgbLef3PaByzfDdIvB2GTHYxYMt0oWEJLrp47awBCX7OHlOA-6n3jjY_UvAqJkz6HqfE7GiqG8rpFO2yR_kG31_7BiIieu/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_ceD9jxK7dBaQMwBd-pbwJ6bbJjnzUfREua0z-wH1P2FLy1E-kt-QD9VLo09IQi9K-0T2nGfeiXd9KN5di5NZo4hR5lVdYBtFYSmTc01lhNoKEmlTqTXm_vAV1JILxZbBBVGEY0SZgcOMAtNoQXuEQk_il5c7lOCdql760VQSvt-do8VI_xO6QTudG6j/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_ceD9jxK7dBaQMwBd-pbwJ6bbJjnzUfREua0z-wH1P2FLy1E-kt-QD9VLo09IQi9K-0T2nGfeiXd9KN5di5NZo4hR5lVdYBtFYSmTc01lhNoKEmlTqTXm_vAV1JILxZbBBVGEY0SZgcOMAtNoQXuEQk_il5c7lOCdql760VQSvt-do8VI_xO6QTudG6j/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />blue tit<br />who was waiting for the crow to move on before feeding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E2MS1rMSNxS9CekxUs7qPOYcqR9G-AjBJ1Rg5wE6J2seVMWXt33KRfgqMVN8MScFEvZw7BOJ-F5XSGUX22zZSYNaI3RqAhmv2_rmuzClONFP6foyHXJFO_ZfCwd4BbIP9Y7v3ONlby1VRTYGmgtn5EMBzf95cmtlMDIfPyGysS73C0pM8s3LvJ-iI2FS/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E2MS1rMSNxS9CekxUs7qPOYcqR9G-AjBJ1Rg5wE6J2seVMWXt33KRfgqMVN8MScFEvZw7BOJ-F5XSGUX22zZSYNaI3RqAhmv2_rmuzClONFP6foyHXJFO_ZfCwd4BbIP9Y7v3ONlby1VRTYGmgtn5EMBzf95cmtlMDIfPyGysS73C0pM8s3LvJ-iI2FS/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhguidiJRZjDt-IV9rLKF9AYwsd3J0pWG5NwZChdIjEHKX8IB7XU2Cc8Zjxrrtb04F4-ONYiqTggmEHUD9s4R1Kp9vr1bb_-0gDNIX0CjzI0WXRa3xFqz5qHm-1nnBaiKb8us42-0L_WQxWLjGsebql29q5GHVbGZt4Qwl8PbUoJyXkF7lVgtd0NqdCN/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhguidiJRZjDt-IV9rLKF9AYwsd3J0pWG5NwZChdIjEHKX8IB7XU2Cc8Zjxrrtb04F4-ONYiqTggmEHUD9s4R1Kp9vr1bb_-0gDNIX0CjzI0WXRa3xFqz5qHm-1nnBaiKb8us42-0L_WQxWLjGsebql29q5GHVbGZt4Qwl8PbUoJyXkF7lVgtd0NqdCN/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">male blackbird<br />there seems to be a strain around the cemetery with very orange accessories</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdBT3YpvEUKtyEPCWLUevEmrTuVOJ9AnMjyLSb_rJ1B6SJGOqhGOciFbKNdY8HzhujQ0CkTdJ0udU5JgORybQlghjUDHRfBkhmyDQVAL0Gp-sLunGwgBokMa115tCgTOeOBW2hZGrpwn9Q0QQhg2Zelh7E2nH72dJwpyjt6qEzW36B5eb5ZnyLgnIvQo4/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdBT3YpvEUKtyEPCWLUevEmrTuVOJ9AnMjyLSb_rJ1B6SJGOqhGOciFbKNdY8HzhujQ0CkTdJ0udU5JgORybQlghjUDHRfBkhmyDQVAL0Gp-sLunGwgBokMa115tCgTOeOBW2hZGrpwn9Q0QQhg2Zelh7E2nH72dJwpyjt6qEzW36B5eb5ZnyLgnIvQo4/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I moved to get a uniform background blur<br />while the blackbird posed perfectly</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO_tpzZCYWoXvjwgHJg7-jrIMt1fQNyFirgd-QwtAUP3dP45bWNKvOELe5W3LxYHHi_QXabZssRDyQ5YIf59IOL8p7KXvQnavbMAjYnJdryN8P6gCDyDKPchRLCR2t6WXyDYWixpepxELmBu54BqyZCpDx0ZhMYG_wHwB1LVrsawVr81LyXfKTXfNbxCL/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO_tpzZCYWoXvjwgHJg7-jrIMt1fQNyFirgd-QwtAUP3dP45bWNKvOELe5W3LxYHHi_QXabZssRDyQ5YIf59IOL8p7KXvQnavbMAjYnJdryN8P6gCDyDKPchRLCR2t6WXyDYWixpepxELmBu54BqyZCpDx0ZhMYG_wHwB1LVrsawVr81LyXfKTXfNbxCL/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM7DQHQpUa7LOPx0AuAdM6EnxSNB8OPt2_nEr9-7O6Kq0uBrRMB0yX_JFqG7tX8GEEfSs73mAWjI9trxfa2E8AJTHpR1UVkDFCgrI3ok8V2jdTAHiy6d4nJ-q4u2WPy_AD6T3UXAPLCfNgT8qf2vJflJg3DVq4wdMeIaDiAoONuEdD_CDWAZSdnsQJ_Uh/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM7DQHQpUa7LOPx0AuAdM6EnxSNB8OPt2_nEr9-7O6Kq0uBrRMB0yX_JFqG7tX8GEEfSs73mAWjI9trxfa2E8AJTHpR1UVkDFCgrI3ok8V2jdTAHiy6d4nJ-q4u2WPy_AD6T3UXAPLCfNgT8qf2vJflJg3DVq4wdMeIaDiAoONuEdD_CDWAZSdnsQJ_Uh/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />mature female blackbird with more orange beak</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxLeXj3xSsPII-BiPP97Lmq7a1tPWbEB6SitrczBCo1Z1lC2rkUFEAIRhBvZ1YlbuCOYJKKYHw6FPJtLRvVV7g1P4TuUfjYrKnymDKhHDZ46le7H4DgdlQWu1gn03YvEflrCY0rxKAuqZu8Ikpdk09w_3hoPNS0A37SQbgMQPs13k0zXSLrah1u03LkY0/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxLeXj3xSsPII-BiPP97Lmq7a1tPWbEB6SitrczBCo1Z1lC2rkUFEAIRhBvZ1YlbuCOYJKKYHw6FPJtLRvVV7g1P4TuUfjYrKnymDKhHDZ46le7H4DgdlQWu1gn03YvEflrCY0rxKAuqZu8Ikpdk09w_3hoPNS0A37SQbgMQPs13k0zXSLrah1u03LkY0/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this crow - not one of my usual pals - hogged the feeding platform<br />I moved forward until he flew off (see video below) but got very close</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWmpNqObT_bwHiZtWVTADvrAXBJ23RpL9aMEJYRzosOZHlB1lmxh69XP5yNSMEZ5RXmSrUOZpLQ1PENjzGYUMGHoysegNqPaR1uTCUrebJgdTHMpLi_-KQlITtPg-sZbsb1ipGXYpOqsUqnIU2sUjnohHVdQdNQJkhc0i5GxJtoJBAffNiWZXYzbUIHXQ/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWmpNqObT_bwHiZtWVTADvrAXBJ23RpL9aMEJYRzosOZHlB1lmxh69XP5yNSMEZ5RXmSrUOZpLQ1PENjzGYUMGHoysegNqPaR1uTCUrebJgdTHMpLi_-KQlITtPg-sZbsb1ipGXYpOqsUqnIU2sUjnohHVdQdNQJkhc0i5GxJtoJBAffNiWZXYzbUIHXQ/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />I did a bread dump before leaving<br />- no point in taking it home</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe8qBaOPCkEYNeVdTT34NipXL9KnTJs-jIus7SL7oBe0KUoNSjnmKsMj3HYaIJCDh_cyBLbx1Ocy3DT_kP2CyCbUA9RoJVayXNSLGFdQbmVAFbKmARk65xNKuAzUWDzSDsr_hDbhZpeEZpYIgkya2QdVt5TxXwADMYC_6Q053M3cs-Fc7ScBC8CQvgdQz/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe8qBaOPCkEYNeVdTT34NipXL9KnTJs-jIus7SL7oBe0KUoNSjnmKsMj3HYaIJCDh_cyBLbx1Ocy3DT_kP2CyCbUA9RoJVayXNSLGFdQbmVAFbKmARk65xNKuAzUWDzSDsr_hDbhZpeEZpYIgkya2QdVt5TxXwADMYC_6Q053M3cs-Fc7ScBC8CQvgdQz/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />on the way home: more stock dove action on the cyclepath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQAskpy_G9yLlLHNbqihf4saVc5rIVrJpMYdmPiECh0xi-xHbw6q_W7nlA9XJ780FQZYJQ27-1-OCyHr2ivQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">crow hogs the feeding area</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-25008913803005908492024-03-23T07:11:00.000-07:002024-03-23T07:11:33.622-07:00against the odds<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUfDC7f9L0qMukorNxHFVKktX_V-j5DYCKa71ZqkEZNhwO5IyV2bTQG9wNMSApnOOHLAswpqwqQUmvZ0gwYyQ_6EKDDxg6leWbIvmR9YQqA_DuNJn4UV2aUQcTwAcud6mrgsHBAklfqIPTiXC2kU6KuSx4mNwq2AvHQ2DGksqs2N_kdqWde1nK1bK92Ig/s2048/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUfDC7f9L0qMukorNxHFVKktX_V-j5DYCKa71ZqkEZNhwO5IyV2bTQG9wNMSApnOOHLAswpqwqQUmvZ0gwYyQ_6EKDDxg6leWbIvmR9YQqA_DuNJn4UV2aUQcTwAcud6mrgsHBAklfqIPTiXC2kU6KuSx4mNwq2AvHQ2DGksqs2N_kdqWde1nK1bK92Ig/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">23-03-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">As the photo and blog title suggest today turned out pretty well despite baltic temps and several showers that hosed down mightily while we were out taking photos. Mary was swithering between activities but the intermittent blue skies encouraged us out and up the Water of Leith via the Botanics. We took waterproofs and had something of a false start when met with a heavy shower at the front door. We stepped back inside the close for a few minutes while it passed over. The strong westerly breeze kept things moving all day, so if it was overcast, there was a good chance it wouldn't be 10 minutes later. The breeze reduced the warmth of the sun by 5~7 degrees and while at the front door I ran back in to replace my buff with a woolly hat which I was very glad of. Later I wore the buff under the hat. From many years experience I know the butterflies only really start to appear when the gloves and hats come off and yesterday they stayed on all day.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_uYfZACNsOnOaARCKkP-_PFmiVQX99aFNi9ilHVKZkFG9NoVvC7IAO2EdWZI_MHpMd5PiE8RO7YeEGD4Mvzg6SJ44EGfYTRRXEwNElBFCIDxMZP7AYayRmY74QvUe_VaF-r445iIXwoIjf7Rq10uYrJc459gSV-F5IR1fnG8_x99C2xn4NX50VWbpigR/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_uYfZACNsOnOaARCKkP-_PFmiVQX99aFNi9ilHVKZkFG9NoVvC7IAO2EdWZI_MHpMd5PiE8RO7YeEGD4Mvzg6SJ44EGfYTRRXEwNElBFCIDxMZP7AYayRmY74QvUe_VaF-r445iIXwoIjf7Rq10uYrJc459gSV-F5IR1fnG8_x99C2xn4NX50VWbpigR/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one of only 2 butterflies photographed today<br />and you'll like the second one even less!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAPcBBmfDwYjgZrl1yAWljtkNh__aQ3ykoEv_Ns8ebYDyb7i3m-GgPZF9fFnsZ6nP-8hh3DlzXUPSSB7XrBlFRsdqDiu-uoTljq0rJjzYhmCmCGyGRo0GMvlK3CrLRPSPvyhjhIBnx5OVeQLKEPi2C_BgjSWJi4kvRlkXDk-QNmFxYx35K1jXkd-bNyZy/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAPcBBmfDwYjgZrl1yAWljtkNh__aQ3ykoEv_Ns8ebYDyb7i3m-GgPZF9fFnsZ6nP-8hh3DlzXUPSSB7XrBlFRsdqDiu-uoTljq0rJjzYhmCmCGyGRo0GMvlK3CrLRPSPvyhjhIBnx5OVeQLKEPi2C_BgjSWJi4kvRlkXDk-QNmFxYx35K1jXkd-bNyZy/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sulky moorhen at Botanics</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIatQnOdPhSpXD6pneT-nfMn5H2zdrToqlB5Hd1IvquY3kszYb33qhPWLR1IqlsH6F8fcbYFvOSjMSHjOxPZbe1i9Dc-jYFCJv4XnvA0u_WEgV_Qg1zJmtxKpcJgPVWQJLVhEsBhI4irjBGWDkhUYWTQNeffaBp8iWr-5Uh1E3Hry7VYs61Tq0sS1Y0h7a/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIatQnOdPhSpXD6pneT-nfMn5H2zdrToqlB5Hd1IvquY3kszYb33qhPWLR1IqlsH6F8fcbYFvOSjMSHjOxPZbe1i9Dc-jYFCJv4XnvA0u_WEgV_Qg1zJmtxKpcJgPVWQJLVhEsBhI4irjBGWDkhUYWTQNeffaBp8iWr-5Uh1E3Hry7VYs61Tq0sS1Y0h7a/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Almost as soon as we arrived, we bumped into Ken at the Botanics. We joined forces and on the way somewhere were held up as I pointed out a robin that is particularly tame and will come to your hand for food. Mary got a handful of bread out, meanwhile Ken noticed the goldcrest (above) and I made a poor job of taking a photo of it. I called across to Mary to ask if the robin was performing and she said it had already been to her hand twice. I had missed the photos chasing an ungrateful goldcrest between the branches. We wandered over to the pulmonaria where there was a chance of bingo bees.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyELTohpmHzQ5qVSpggG0_d5RnOPfUvBUSCFVK0Xd6ahxdzwU5NLHbZ1C91dEfpXxQ3QaAnl2htgJiJb2FtJUi2idvjmBBua9R9VbM19Sk9Ng3M6Hs5-PRuypBlZ04lL_UnasaJYJXsSHTxXc90zpn5EyCTBgcRn8ZSfgaGY888_EcSXqD8JTN9AvDAxT/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyELTohpmHzQ5qVSpggG0_d5RnOPfUvBUSCFVK0Xd6ahxdzwU5NLHbZ1C91dEfpXxQ3QaAnl2htgJiJb2FtJUi2idvjmBBua9R9VbM19Sk9Ng3M6Hs5-PRuypBlZ04lL_UnasaJYJXsSHTxXc90zpn5EyCTBgcRn8ZSfgaGY888_EcSXqD8JTN9AvDAxT/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tame robin</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMgjOlR0Au7HrjhzPM7c2oL0C8Gdjw-52GD5vW5kLyr2EgRaEP287FCbKYYXHa13lGGdpWTgvO_GYdcNruSD7uAxLXzKDyi02aZ_BtjSR4LXLcg0MLieN0xbEtLFIQ_coQ1sJkoD59jC2ZYS_zdpoOdVM-u2iZRmMwc-prVvGQCAzw1tQtqsuD9HHkPmj/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMgjOlR0Au7HrjhzPM7c2oL0C8Gdjw-52GD5vW5kLyr2EgRaEP287FCbKYYXHa13lGGdpWTgvO_GYdcNruSD7uAxLXzKDyi02aZ_BtjSR4LXLcg0MLieN0xbEtLFIQ_coQ1sJkoD59jC2ZYS_zdpoOdVM-u2iZRmMwc-prVvGQCAzw1tQtqsuD9HHkPmj/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bee wrangler<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The university bee team were there again and seemed to be catching on this occasion rather than releasing. I think they may catch, glue number, then release, but am not sure. Ken said they have been doing this for 3 years now. More on that later, but first our attention was taken up by the magnolia trees which were all in flower. Oooh, let's check out the Campbell's Magnolia near the cafe. It was in full bloom and I was pleased to catch it and get photos. Often we will only see it as or after the petals drop; as it does this so early in the year. There was another curious robin nearby which refused to come to Mary's hand but was happy to perch nearby for photos and was suitably rewarded.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtesuUrZ_XuZGCfH3dGCvaHS7Hezb0zICFPJWIJNvw-70hOWTXc0kNCbkhxTlqEPRbKTS_DCwxNJmdS-ShqL-Y7N2rmfFY8pmVCI1fBKhWRFIv5ZeDHN3-fGTpsBpAQYo3EONqLE_OLG3FZRvFcPs30i8AyRpw-nhcQU6F4NqpU89cfM-slJabvRuLshKO/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtesuUrZ_XuZGCfH3dGCvaHS7Hezb0zICFPJWIJNvw-70hOWTXc0kNCbkhxTlqEPRbKTS_DCwxNJmdS-ShqL-Y7N2rmfFY8pmVCI1fBKhWRFIv5ZeDHN3-fGTpsBpAQYo3EONqLE_OLG3FZRvFcPs30i8AyRpw-nhcQU6F4NqpU89cfM-slJabvRuLshKO/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqTeveHF_gCHGxoO3k-6TgpHgZFYg-l099H_THXAeGYV-TX49Wr_axAG1rxZY0d5sPKrYkdB9WPQQG96Bj11Y42H-Jf67yuXVAlInRVBshok8kIYcbqi5kyE3IRP_CSytOzJc7CyaeS5ySuEKT62hbGTjemLPe5OODDbxyfETm1hOUUj7yNjbr0R_5s7F/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqTeveHF_gCHGxoO3k-6TgpHgZFYg-l099H_THXAeGYV-TX49Wr_axAG1rxZY0d5sPKrYkdB9WPQQG96Bj11Y42H-Jf67yuXVAlInRVBshok8kIYcbqi5kyE3IRP_CSytOzJc7CyaeS5ySuEKT62hbGTjemLPe5OODDbxyfETm1hOUUj7yNjbr0R_5s7F/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoEf2fBV5oRL8wALd_go9hxMizp7sIAcTmIFo54tN-CKtN3wK_pdyMceBtM6r_bf1yoxsYs9lqyWoAiWhctN9YD2c_ra6Y88BD0TzCusKi43uK0vFJT80CudDkG2dwi6i8E2vs8Oo_YNsLhehkNntHR3k_-hXyF_fF86D_h1yBscDqIVdePGtFrQQdEdg/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoEf2fBV5oRL8wALd_go9hxMizp7sIAcTmIFo54tN-CKtN3wK_pdyMceBtM6r_bf1yoxsYs9lqyWoAiWhctN9YD2c_ra6Y88BD0TzCusKi43uK0vFJT80CudDkG2dwi6i8E2vs8Oo_YNsLhehkNntHR3k_-hXyF_fF86D_h1yBscDqIVdePGtFrQQdEdg/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />compare this with later photos<br />(the difference the sunshine makes)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sun was disappearing behind a large grey raincloud so we headed into the cafe and had a pot of Earl Grey, a savoury scone and a slab of cake. We bought just 1 scone and 1 tray bake and had half each in case we didn't make <i>enough</i> mileage to offset the calorific damage. (In the end we walked about 10 miles so it was not too bad.) The scone came with a chili jam which was sweet and spicy and highly recommended. It is not a cheap cafe but the food is great quality. When Mary went to the facilities I spooned the last of the small ramekin of chili jam into my face. We waited out the next heavy shower before going back outside and then got much better sunny photos of the magnolia tree, dripping from the rain, sparkling in the sunshine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDekddjIHXPYuU62RkltC8tyDJtRCm68WmRcOJF8r1pFcnDxzLeD6mjrNw2aWcy4JkCuV46BHToiefSRI34wdTPsLF-0JJF6zVXDWXzOY-u1JHVlU2KtGzJs4tm5_YRNylGL_YdMjvxWahJFa2mWbozmw07rSLzWhDSRNJQpQWFq7xzuUy1Piwp-KAg6C/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDekddjIHXPYuU62RkltC8tyDJtRCm68WmRcOJF8r1pFcnDxzLeD6mjrNw2aWcy4JkCuV46BHToiefSRI34wdTPsLF-0JJF6zVXDWXzOY-u1JHVlU2KtGzJs4tm5_YRNylGL_YdMjvxWahJFa2mWbozmw07rSLzWhDSRNJQpQWFq7xzuUy1Piwp-KAg6C/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZl4YzXkhgklP-rGuQzLaISWmK9I4qvIlaFzu4PBVbT0EQDzcaakGEUQg51Y27EM5XVdSeR-HCZp-tF43oRPC_9cGrU34WUmur0bInza4tSZK7lc_iR-1jfTrNgNRxiCuF3L7zCX0iDs4gedXxovYJ1iuO7m2PF2K_Uo6Y2urd3X_Aq2cwsnNQTBQshv5l/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZl4YzXkhgklP-rGuQzLaISWmK9I4qvIlaFzu4PBVbT0EQDzcaakGEUQg51Y27EM5XVdSeR-HCZp-tF43oRPC_9cGrU34WUmur0bInza4tSZK7lc_iR-1jfTrNgNRxiCuF3L7zCX0iDs4gedXxovYJ1iuO7m2PF2K_Uo6Y2urd3X_Aq2cwsnNQTBQshv5l/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Campbell's Magnolia</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstPd4rIji_DZ7_or66U3o_Zs3hmvwFIHGFGT3S1RQgKhvHnDcZJ7tA2FRVko_HXHhkqzw82Tn4sWQLI-w0umFeKJDK75r9tBod91bWx-vuldLyPBxweI3ih8jbX_u44EkX1GgjRAyn6UF4PxqJ4BONUbp1hYzwI41_6UcK3BeGGCJENvakBAf9TI1Sbq/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstPd4rIji_DZ7_or66U3o_Zs3hmvwFIHGFGT3S1RQgKhvHnDcZJ7tA2FRVko_HXHhkqzw82Tn4sWQLI-w0umFeKJDK75r9tBod91bWx-vuldLyPBxweI3ih8jbX_u44EkX1GgjRAyn6UF4PxqJ4BONUbp1hYzwI41_6UcK3BeGGCJENvakBAf9TI1Sbq/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuRqb6jhe3cYW3KLZnibpGN79fFIT1UShOPmtozD0Zb51a7oT30i6tf9yLxk3hEB8FkmtRKWEgvcfXWHjH3ijHdk3EQhdRhIWayb8Mvls3zLolVCz6cC_YbTHU135zJE84cHCYBBpPTv8RQew3fLENCheD7q6lGLK2ye7VsaZBkeY1rfnCtGZjMZ9-ziV/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuRqb6jhe3cYW3KLZnibpGN79fFIT1UShOPmtozD0Zb51a7oT30i6tf9yLxk3hEB8FkmtRKWEgvcfXWHjH3ijHdk3EQhdRhIWayb8Mvls3zLolVCz6cC_YbTHU135zJE84cHCYBBpPTv8RQew3fLENCheD7q6lGLK2ye7VsaZBkeY1rfnCtGZjMZ9-ziV/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GNaII6QTv52_PqCm-Si8HysN8wsw7TdJHeMZtk06_vwRUNg_IsidhpVmm45B_jzz9uuhwB2yOqGwmh905_xuIXDDeUrNhq6xj0CBms7DvR8htHzrQN9oeK0VS7cLm_VRCK8tplKSrBVMqI11Mq5voKNY2VqX1kVOmq5y3qEXir8Cj8_-qu2-mqoMPkTF/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GNaII6QTv52_PqCm-Si8HysN8wsw7TdJHeMZtk06_vwRUNg_IsidhpVmm45B_jzz9uuhwB2yOqGwmh905_xuIXDDeUrNhq6xj0CBms7DvR8htHzrQN9oeK0VS7cLm_VRCK8tplKSrBVMqI11Mq5voKNY2VqX1kVOmq5y3qEXir8Cj8_-qu2-mqoMPkTF/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sunny delight</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nk2Eo5sU9wgirPPSXIEBJPAZErbQm4s7lbKRlN7Nm2Rx-1t4LFhxOrmHvM7m1I01LuBKhG1q3PqFS1BbxOxCUbyTQzq_tl6LL7d3T66gakEP881aiERazlG9rOKB-YjSO2FMsn4dq82j9iW7-GkJ7PoatSdqKysoMaRqiFxYOd0x_C0TXXe7R4Rl3VlS/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nk2Eo5sU9wgirPPSXIEBJPAZErbQm4s7lbKRlN7Nm2Rx-1t4LFhxOrmHvM7m1I01LuBKhG1q3PqFS1BbxOxCUbyTQzq_tl6LL7d3T66gakEP881aiERazlG9rOKB-YjSO2FMsn4dq82j9iW7-GkJ7PoatSdqKysoMaRqiFxYOd0x_C0TXXe7R4Rl3VlS/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULDPEThRyusnEMDeuQSwVvz25fsl0Olr_cQN99kXkJNJkbiIl4V97m2-Jx2FBOF52-Ye2azJba2sF-S547UjICX4VhOG282_S_hjvPfoiobex61fsbWo9huQENMpTOJFz8b24YPIDpc24vaBNj8ONx9-Yad4gHbbs7HiSxi1zcTUEhC5EccbHXoYQ7m_o/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULDPEThRyusnEMDeuQSwVvz25fsl0Olr_cQN99kXkJNJkbiIl4V97m2-Jx2FBOF52-Ye2azJba2sF-S547UjICX4VhOG282_S_hjvPfoiobex61fsbWo9huQENMpTOJFz8b24YPIDpc24vaBNj8ONx9-Yad4gHbbs7HiSxi1zcTUEhC5EccbHXoYQ7m_o/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQuQSa1vqbCbYDg_cUS7V02YfZPj37r468S9KL6GJRLrJZcaDCvCzc7-f7412N0jd6-uZLz4eJNePYO6_5WINfw9b4BL28U3XVfPkZL7xn6tf1T0kFJ6KsAgmKvIaSxkPhshzuXokuGvg8sw8erSRN82vrDPxUDrwM0I9y_UekChdm74Qd8SBam8FxHE-/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQuQSa1vqbCbYDg_cUS7V02YfZPj37r468S9KL6GJRLrJZcaDCvCzc7-f7412N0jd6-uZLz4eJNePYO6_5WINfw9b4BL28U3XVfPkZL7xn6tf1T0kFJ6KsAgmKvIaSxkPhshzuXokuGvg8sw8erSRN82vrDPxUDrwM0I9y_UekChdm74Qd8SBam8FxHE-/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the robin appeared again too</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4MtVK9PXKvEb-8OxgEWVPvLRQqm3AxzbMfQPveVY-j-QOriDM2QJ8FgYUPDzfWCM6wWDWN0LSn6AGg94PfXxsKTds_56xUgMOXEGgsrgCDv4pr1wis3SanusjJWMoa3qYv_ZP6do9zSPuu_vp5Ab53uPpQXwAD9Q_GSR8c0oienkhe7wV4mtim7_hdSZ/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4MtVK9PXKvEb-8OxgEWVPvLRQqm3AxzbMfQPveVY-j-QOriDM2QJ8FgYUPDzfWCM6wWDWN0LSn6AGg94PfXxsKTds_56xUgMOXEGgsrgCDv4pr1wis3SanusjJWMoa3qYv_ZP6do9zSPuu_vp5Ab53uPpQXwAD9Q_GSR8c0oienkhe7wV4mtim7_hdSZ/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf2mUpCziF1EOc_Gmtc-XPI49wd5VHfwNQu4KdBGCz0-O-6kr7eLsmGz8UlUNgH96PeswepWlvydpr0VmiaQNS1sWfcZB-JWG_3TWew_cXi3kBtqLwx4wb7Njxr3hyPlkp0Xd9GKyvF1yfiqkJhqjWHtD967Q4G4LLrLpsHWmmRFcm5Gra2faliWud8K3/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf2mUpCziF1EOc_Gmtc-XPI49wd5VHfwNQu4KdBGCz0-O-6kr7eLsmGz8UlUNgH96PeswepWlvydpr0VmiaQNS1sWfcZB-JWG_3TWew_cXi3kBtqLwx4wb7Njxr3hyPlkp0Xd9GKyvF1yfiqkJhqjWHtD967Q4G4LLrLpsHWmmRFcm5Gra2faliWud8K3/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQlY9RMLJ2IJWFrMeD8clF4jdQr9boyn042LxQp3XrJ3tx_TZ4NGFeVUcAuhDxnwyigHopkvTQKMklh5zKqJJOA7mcjI_XVDWYxjC50sb4XoWaQl3YKOjio0WRwFmpP7ZePm1EcplMkX9veJhibaiRoTKtBK7SJMMuaT2vdZfSUyXCePjRiPRMYeUWfa/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQlY9RMLJ2IJWFrMeD8clF4jdQr9boyn042LxQp3XrJ3tx_TZ4NGFeVUcAuhDxnwyigHopkvTQKMklh5zKqJJOA7mcjI_XVDWYxjC50sb4XoWaQl3YKOjio0WRwFmpP7ZePm1EcplMkX9veJhibaiRoTKtBK7SJMMuaT2vdZfSUyXCePjRiPRMYeUWfa/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We returned to the pulmonaria to find Ken had stood under a nearby tree to wait out the rain (we did invite him to join us in the cafe!) and we took photos of a hairy footed flower bee. (Above, with hairy front feet.) It felt very unlikely there would be any butterflies although the sun was warming. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ytQ_xdypxDNlGJ3o8Xo6t5y2v6WCDgERDis6r2yMH2zT9jxEg6Y2gf5jth0AnVFDAVXbykpesBYXwswfsSkhygmP3HS5bT9Ih3phRljspuDbg57iTwxXHAwsrNHyInQIJaVYcOz6vAUdxStDN5q_W_T52RdpHuhe4hob_GhG52bN-739sHUUHpjrJcsO/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ytQ_xdypxDNlGJ3o8Xo6t5y2v6WCDgERDis6r2yMH2zT9jxEg6Y2gf5jth0AnVFDAVXbykpesBYXwswfsSkhygmP3HS5bT9Ih3phRljspuDbg57iTwxXHAwsrNHyInQIJaVYcOz6vAUdxStDN5q_W_T52RdpHuhe4hob_GhG52bN-739sHUUHpjrJcsO/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6apQgwElWdlPo-_8MszWnffSPNxMc61JYSmpTJm2HnAKS36l3ssVeW2T9RaJZMTLN9Vt347Mc5ZelvqkQQ7P4VNqJ4OC6is7-VxLBtQGw0YTURMKjYMybZgSKZWzLVm-a1PxqpQMMhZEIy72yc0ynoIJ0-YDEb2AFvClQMomnPKwx_wTmxkLS0O6e-dy/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6apQgwElWdlPo-_8MszWnffSPNxMc61JYSmpTJm2HnAKS36l3ssVeW2T9RaJZMTLN9Vt347Mc5ZelvqkQQ7P4VNqJ4OC6is7-VxLBtQGw0YTURMKjYMybZgSKZWzLVm-a1PxqpQMMhZEIy72yc0ynoIJ0-YDEb2AFvClQMomnPKwx_wTmxkLS0O6e-dy/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGy4sycmupYzs0E7rYxPQKFjZFqBFUnCNBMLp5Z7utF78C1FZ3KUhIQdHUgtJ6Kvtp8gtke9zBSBPV_M1M5xCxrTBsVVbpUiRXtzTVTo3H-3t-ajT5MOPdGi2nKa1iFfGeIqim9kT1XtsK5dwNjdSub5aPhPRUuhsZs3qCcX48YNw5QsPFS88_J3Z0ZAp/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGy4sycmupYzs0E7rYxPQKFjZFqBFUnCNBMLp5Z7utF78C1FZ3KUhIQdHUgtJ6Kvtp8gtke9zBSBPV_M1M5xCxrTBsVVbpUiRXtzTVTo3H-3t-ajT5MOPdGi2nKa1iFfGeIqim9kT1XtsK5dwNjdSub5aPhPRUuhsZs3qCcX48YNw5QsPFS88_J3Z0ZAp/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUdvDtBCQqjD9L-dlCQ93V_gh_zV8IcPoWMzUt2324OxOabGzZeZFhLgOjdmXqv1lRuDPuAio9wc5N3jox8D2TNto-a75Ldgp_UE1Zzw4fOHCWhxmbAZ4d7MbvP6fZTBZV6bc_sqmXMJFlwHOF7kSmf_uEGnFzWpvXYA3J6NE-9qswtiRydRyvBPLFFKZ/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUdvDtBCQqjD9L-dlCQ93V_gh_zV8IcPoWMzUt2324OxOabGzZeZFhLgOjdmXqv1lRuDPuAio9wc5N3jox8D2TNto-a75Ldgp_UE1Zzw4fOHCWhxmbAZ4d7MbvP6fZTBZV6bc_sqmXMJFlwHOF7kSmf_uEGnFzWpvXYA3J6NE-9qswtiRydRyvBPLFFKZ/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We said goodbye to Ken and left via the Chinese Pond. Our intention was to head up the WoL in search of the kingfisher although we got sidetracked at the pond by a couple of friendly robins who sat on Mary's hand and were happy to sing for their supper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAgZu9uffVpErsGsBi43wVK9xuCqtz7JVN66vB5wCH5hms0ftxkUKM2FlQABzsvfAST04BMAyuAFOjNXslQKRfIvMvQ3r4soLoCZ1rQDklhQDiOrBdlmr7BpjNQtzKfqkawNUaKSvkk6sSqzcjhXZH72jKBgxLCl5XnIbK-Ow5gn6xQu2lJfsLlpWNyqn/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAgZu9uffVpErsGsBi43wVK9xuCqtz7JVN66vB5wCH5hms0ftxkUKM2FlQABzsvfAST04BMAyuAFOjNXslQKRfIvMvQ3r4soLoCZ1rQDklhQDiOrBdlmr7BpjNQtzKfqkawNUaKSvkk6sSqzcjhXZH72jKBgxLCl5XnIbK-Ow5gn6xQu2lJfsLlpWNyqn/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9F0BQ7P1inCA01LHfPKpErdYtS_myr-LWbXHD_-uD2ciHpmaysm8XZs_tih2A77e_LugJseSxE41xLO8511wJbSyfEYIuRuXAlkQh6TyKllSISeO_cNd3UVr4YptpfejyvQJ8dSgGc9MhVtEgmlJekI2ygXn7oa7TnMZP8cLvJABak9Rkmyjpt6D_bCa/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9F0BQ7P1inCA01LHfPKpErdYtS_myr-LWbXHD_-uD2ciHpmaysm8XZs_tih2A77e_LugJseSxE41xLO8511wJbSyfEYIuRuXAlkQh6TyKllSISeO_cNd3UVr4YptpfejyvQJ8dSgGc9MhVtEgmlJekI2ygXn7oa7TnMZP8cLvJABak9Rkmyjpt6D_bCa/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_6yL2GwH4LYqgKgX4LG8X5itnQRxPPuc4RkEY-rTjdbEvfiZD9-G2Nt4qvSusLA3WYWL5yyy9L2qB7XlISdd_iCCugay-JFsQTWCSEUMRjE5gk5nVlijeZt83h0RZlNwNi9uc2aEI2Vr29jKbxMG4cTwovJhaeOFRlhtZJcxPDjY25vMZ6xyugJyBgig/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_6yL2GwH4LYqgKgX4LG8X5itnQRxPPuc4RkEY-rTjdbEvfiZD9-G2Nt4qvSusLA3WYWL5yyy9L2qB7XlISdd_iCCugay-JFsQTWCSEUMRjE5gk5nVlijeZt83h0RZlNwNi9uc2aEI2Vr29jKbxMG4cTwovJhaeOFRlhtZJcxPDjY25vMZ6xyugJyBgig/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYYojseYXHrw-fToxOZqc8-8jlzkJEiXY7tn99WN0tShU-DWJlfcFJXNtirmy9pTPHL7MbDTvV2UPxG8cqoJyNafzIbW8OMAYzTlnBiDYTXP2kkU6ejGD96Ohk-t9GY3VkVI6qaPaGnN_Jm2tjYLjMPeoqdD1zYNM1nX6BowGgf4bz9pXgolmXgi0BYj4/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYYojseYXHrw-fToxOZqc8-8jlzkJEiXY7tn99WN0tShU-DWJlfcFJXNtirmy9pTPHL7MbDTvV2UPxG8cqoJyNafzIbW8OMAYzTlnBiDYTXP2kkU6ejGD96Ohk-t9GY3VkVI6qaPaGnN_Jm2tjYLjMPeoqdD1zYNM1nX6BowGgf4bz9pXgolmXgi0BYj4/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4EidsucASAdISXKMAeHbJfzvs8aQy1oDmuJOHg5gU0FcBAQ-Xk9idUCZrk9MIzLX6bJCpAoQRhAt-AZHO2FjsQPWJnoB69nsWMJ84bbXlnoVkwbYwrjIaa5F_AcTXkxRcVvWhVLyizlXU6-AA9SRBSvsqMgtUKTqX-u9ghEKnK8NSWQ6SumAUJZX_u_A/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4EidsucASAdISXKMAeHbJfzvs8aQy1oDmuJOHg5gU0FcBAQ-Xk9idUCZrk9MIzLX6bJCpAoQRhAt-AZHO2FjsQPWJnoB69nsWMJ84bbXlnoVkwbYwrjIaa5F_AcTXkxRcVvWhVLyizlXU6-AA9SRBSvsqMgtUKTqX-u9ghEKnK8NSWQ6SumAUJZX_u_A/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a rare wobble from the autofocus<br />which jumped from the bird to Mary's thumb</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yDVRxO01drfuk5KtALd-5qN2opq4F-LOK8Fey1jOF7aAOhIhHKyXzUFf4xTMj-knpz17BTPq4NGVLu_Xtcv4eytqskh3mDHjvMl1q5H2PWcbjocU2Nz6X7LE75HJMTUbAz2Zpf3vKiBRYXUBWciRfxUSRQa5oEjbG3FPGSN64Al-jrXsNMMruSa01zze/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yDVRxO01drfuk5KtALd-5qN2opq4F-LOK8Fey1jOF7aAOhIhHKyXzUFf4xTMj-knpz17BTPq4NGVLu_Xtcv4eytqskh3mDHjvMl1q5H2PWcbjocU2Nz6X7LE75HJMTUbAz2Zpf3vKiBRYXUBWciRfxUSRQa5oEjbG3FPGSN64Al-jrXsNMMruSa01zze/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeD_fpJLGPVrJkA5S41uA0CVuvMPlVt6nCESNCWCmYRpF7hVSQ0Lmt3VlBRE46PP9DZYqV-ONJqJGh2h77qkYy5ufU74XqKZ-5AjretwdabR0sYFvLoG8bog4oGbOCplEEVhXaKw-vVBLkjLmuVREmARTP4SCkerxc9kP8fmecht3rFGPnu7T5r7v4yf9/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeD_fpJLGPVrJkA5S41uA0CVuvMPlVt6nCESNCWCmYRpF7hVSQ0Lmt3VlBRE46PP9DZYqV-ONJqJGh2h77qkYy5ufU74XqKZ-5AjretwdabR0sYFvLoG8bog4oGbOCplEEVhXaKw-vVBLkjLmuVREmARTP4SCkerxc9kP8fmecht3rFGPnu7T5r7v4yf9/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpGNrRL84dfv8x7FXDC1J_NTmGcVb_Q5Vo2S3RO8i7-PFsv9tOsjbyoKqfyOLDdpxfGO5ga4i42_uq0uE4PaCCji8g1tmHzHm1Ekw7VUJEYBFVrsF0W_kOySisgCU7wj7Zha5v9Ij2c2AdIWjlAJl7ttxoJ_4pc69U8K8g3B2KJaT3DgwMDqTPK6beQrU/s2048/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpGNrRL84dfv8x7FXDC1J_NTmGcVb_Q5Vo2S3RO8i7-PFsv9tOsjbyoKqfyOLDdpxfGO5ga4i42_uq0uE4PaCCji8g1tmHzHm1Ekw7VUJEYBFVrsF0W_kOySisgCU7wj7Zha5v9Ij2c2AdIWjlAJl7ttxoJ_4pc69U8K8g3B2KJaT3DgwMDqTPK6beQrU/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrKLzsLoLKJTHrbzxrkhVuboDV9ch4s18NLh7yWi7Q3D0pfhlh0RU6DbfAGKF_n1JtSnG1tS5T8fqqxbtfRb8L0nOFx185wQYia52ymc1TxGfYerAuverLq3AiFEu8zaaQpJ61ARzh7FCzUtm5w8uoB0fDAA-_JphotuPur8jY5II4G0D5LbOEfOHoTCv/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrKLzsLoLKJTHrbzxrkhVuboDV9ch4s18NLh7yWi7Q3D0pfhlh0RU6DbfAGKF_n1JtSnG1tS5T8fqqxbtfRb8L0nOFx185wQYia52ymc1TxGfYerAuverLq3AiFEu8zaaQpJ61ARzh7FCzUtm5w8uoB0fDAA-_JphotuPur8jY5II4G0D5LbOEfOHoTCv/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFV51NX9mbiZ_ndRWoqVfijfG3h4jEx62iIMtH6g1Lr6isIcAIHare6fAHx8Xr2-FzNKwjIWAiHvtRFU-kyzD6kg7LU1h9mnXa8nRD_ESG4AK066oC-SXXYWZhu6X7Mdi-ZNRGvnzTDmUpcBx84m1TxHPNA2G3ZHl4U7YIGOVvLOdaxgFmZ9HCnNK0Glv3/s2048/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFV51NX9mbiZ_ndRWoqVfijfG3h4jEx62iIMtH6g1Lr6isIcAIHare6fAHx8Xr2-FzNKwjIWAiHvtRFU-kyzD6kg7LU1h9mnXa8nRD_ESG4AK066oC-SXXYWZhu6X7Mdi-ZNRGvnzTDmUpcBx84m1TxHPNA2G3ZHl4U7YIGOVvLOdaxgFmZ9HCnNK0Glv3/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was a three robin day for Mary and she was chuffed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It is great camera practise to have such an obliging subject that will sit reasonably still, giving you the chance to try different settings or DoF options. Or walk about to shoot into the light or with it behind you, while the bold wee robins don't fly off and let you get very close. And they are super cute. There is not much else comes close to the joy it brings and we left the Botanics feeling rich.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3IBLFkzu5h5c6yHF6EEib-P-OqfDD3TCgutzvXRlwz0hnFTy_NYR5HILj4oObrJZOcIwAhAt_bdJ-U0si0JlBW-9kmGVJDfeCDZfTa8b9VdhdC_WNmYiDeKURccT_kxMFMg2cSuvae2UJ3yETNnVetMmsMrsRbtHd7YQ33uFWubUk_ZFJl4-PoQyIdiU/s2048/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3IBLFkzu5h5c6yHF6EEib-P-OqfDD3TCgutzvXRlwz0hnFTy_NYR5HILj4oObrJZOcIwAhAt_bdJ-U0si0JlBW-9kmGVJDfeCDZfTa8b9VdhdC_WNmYiDeKURccT_kxMFMg2cSuvae2UJ3yETNnVetMmsMrsRbtHd7YQ33uFWubUk_ZFJl4-PoQyIdiU/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1ljxgzXBwoXh2fyG3-QXmxV06wYJFGXelAJkdc72CuNIW57c6d8_lfNAQFjv4WDtSNiok7BE7iNE3acVYfmyUCnvHMJaprQLVOZoXW54dRjX-qA6Vgz0q81mDJCa35PFB_kgswAhk3HRGXIif8lBOnUdoxUpzzQco1ymJKiVjUJVzgr57ELImDcU05Vy/s2048/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1ljxgzXBwoXh2fyG3-QXmxV06wYJFGXelAJkdc72CuNIW57c6d8_lfNAQFjv4WDtSNiok7BE7iNE3acVYfmyUCnvHMJaprQLVOZoXW54dRjX-qA6Vgz0q81mDJCa35PFB_kgswAhk3HRGXIif8lBOnUdoxUpzzQco1ymJKiVjUJVzgr57ELImDcU05Vy/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSWCqgluACn6SkTxjv190Kz7yNJ_DBkxlpnKh_qqjVVl2tzdpBJ740VRM-a_y56tGhJRTEzl9Nm5tmy7htfA1IDh_bpcSp6I2nIdPHknlr_bUCJNDsy0x8pctiwNvvtHI9hEReYmINGwJYIUwKOXA_RBAUPG4Ub4xOmq1CtZ4pBlP46dJ9L-D8m8Z9pud/s2048/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSWCqgluACn6SkTxjv190Kz7yNJ_DBkxlpnKh_qqjVVl2tzdpBJ740VRM-a_y56tGhJRTEzl9Nm5tmy7htfA1IDh_bpcSp6I2nIdPHknlr_bUCJNDsy0x8pctiwNvvtHI9hEReYmINGwJYIUwKOXA_RBAUPG4Ub4xOmq1CtZ4pBlP46dJ9L-D8m8Z9pud/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KM9ebs9e3CLzJN0PZUIh-pfdjIP-8qeZHc6vLxpvsTyMrqt5fqti-aNBsQIt7T9Rcp_McodyOE8ML586r1X8SB8Wr-xHO_TCb6ae0t44fWz9SOHQOj6bYDmRof77lUP-VBgxoqVJwbh6LprF8UsrqAEMQ7xCK9iuYimFmOPhBuaARhvGTuxa7G_-LyUc/s2048/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KM9ebs9e3CLzJN0PZUIh-pfdjIP-8qeZHc6vLxpvsTyMrqt5fqti-aNBsQIt7T9Rcp_McodyOE8ML586r1X8SB8Wr-xHO_TCb6ae0t44fWz9SOHQOj6bYDmRof77lUP-VBgxoqVJwbh6LprF8UsrqAEMQ7xCK9iuYimFmOPhBuaARhvGTuxa7G_-LyUc/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWQuqmMbIof4EXbq42zO-vMKd1DhAlb1Yvg4dYZvvZ1JIrSzGSnbQi7BxhvsEG6S1eE6GZlbITcCKMJ8wtuJEpgOY5qBISWLtKf0eAGDVdHZV3EFa7O9qrSK6kBkcKE_zYUwGHoEG01RtH5W92FdN3TzRuidZNCawVatPuFO-QIlgpxA3WEqjhegUil6_/s2048/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWQuqmMbIof4EXbq42zO-vMKd1DhAlb1Yvg4dYZvvZ1JIrSzGSnbQi7BxhvsEG6S1eE6GZlbITcCKMJ8wtuJEpgOY5qBISWLtKf0eAGDVdHZV3EFa7O9qrSK6kBkcKE_zYUwGHoEG01RtH5W92FdN3TzRuidZNCawVatPuFO-QIlgpxA3WEqjhegUil6_/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GACIjXdZ-QkGmJwfiOoLXq47XAEhTEDiNgbYPx2v04_DPQ1mzTgp4oMlT30vqmEiwcl3C8Gox7uINBPrOryJnHLtvG5kJxR7HVwf0su3-27Aqm6GkMNR8kAi-AK1KByK6BVLD-ZYxUALOyuqD0vIOM5qTTDhGhDK5DvqFDGyTdcink0VTnJQ_ePl08wq/s2048/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GACIjXdZ-QkGmJwfiOoLXq47XAEhTEDiNgbYPx2v04_DPQ1mzTgp4oMlT30vqmEiwcl3C8Gox7uINBPrOryJnHLtvG5kJxR7HVwf0su3-27Aqm6GkMNR8kAi-AK1KByK6BVLD-ZYxUALOyuqD0vIOM5qTTDhGhDK5DvqFDGyTdcink0VTnJQ_ePl08wq/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuN2M3JJj9lZFmOoIwpPktNTDQdquVa_kLwnQVwhC6onLqd9_XsO741GJmx81X0AGdYUN0lsFB4M6yJyiq91ajl02jfRwcDrU-n2gk8F8dPNPnByN_HLPuZCi3MwrtnkUw44RggxlD-AWccwlCFrZfxx4081oKC32yIQ3DAWFHhvLT2uupHzCMdRU2XOv/s2048/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuN2M3JJj9lZFmOoIwpPktNTDQdquVa_kLwnQVwhC6onLqd9_XsO741GJmx81X0AGdYUN0lsFB4M6yJyiq91ajl02jfRwcDrU-n2gk8F8dPNPnByN_HLPuZCi3MwrtnkUw44RggxlD-AWccwlCFrZfxx4081oKC32yIQ3DAWFHhvLT2uupHzCMdRU2XOv/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">camellia japonica beside Rocheid Path</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Qxo3XQfhVDOwXR6GrzbrzVZDYZsap4gX91SX1KUY1om3T7-OMpJZfOfIBtvP1pJBkbJ_UxqdPbY5yBsNU0uduuvFSNhrsyHIwZS8Kw9XurutZM0gOlHfXsMAZqy56XBBSCKnzNvsFZN5XFZKucBVEF9VuMXL5DG5CgsNYLsm3NMX7ccLTyMRCtMvC7f7/s2048/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Qxo3XQfhVDOwXR6GrzbrzVZDYZsap4gX91SX1KUY1om3T7-OMpJZfOfIBtvP1pJBkbJ_UxqdPbY5yBsNU0uduuvFSNhrsyHIwZS8Kw9XurutZM0gOlHfXsMAZqy56XBBSCKnzNvsFZN5XFZKucBVEF9VuMXL5DG5CgsNYLsm3NMX7ccLTyMRCtMvC7f7/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">grey wagtail by Dean Village Gormley<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another huge dark grey cloud engulfed the city as we made our way up the Water of Leith. Mary joked we should hide under the Dean Bridge which she was having trouble remembering the name of. The <i>Bridge of Dean</i> sounded wrong. <i>You know, the big one</i>. We arrived just as it started tipping down and hid on the leeward side, the wind swept torrent coming in hard from one side only. Rather than get out waterproofs we waited till it swept past, cameras protected from rain; mine in a hi-tech tesco carrier bag, Mary zipping hers into her jacket like an unlikely pregnancy. It seemed like we had made a poor choice and would be best getting off the path near the West End and getting a bus home. Both of us cycle so much we are not up on which bus routes go where, which delayed the retreat plan sufficiently that the sun re-emerged and maybe, just maybe it would be back out by the time we arrived at the Gallery Bridge, <i>just in time to see the kingy arrive</i>, we joked. And yet...!<br /><br />There was a grey wagtail hopping around the flotsam near the Gallery Bridge. I stopped to take photos thinking it may be the best wildlife we bump into here, and Mary continued upstream. As I ran to catch her up I saw her lower her camera as a bird flew upstream. <i>Kingfisher or dipper</i> I asked and she said it was the kingy. As things progressed it looked very much like our plan was panning out. The sun came out and lit up the area, and the kingfisher appeared to be the same one we shot here a year or 2 ago. It has the unusual trait of being inured to human traffic and not only ignores most passers-by, but will actually land and perch on the same side of the river as you are stood (with open mouth). The average KF will, upon seeing you, fly half a mile up or down stream and are very frustrating. This one will move to a new perch but often within 50 yards and you can then walk along and catch up with it again.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTFh2h76uEZsWVnwFJeuYGUj_eYDI2TRLzk395zXIWZy7XBytCkPsT4yx4gohSlvtfu9FIQeyrWLQyPifO1__TbgbSON8IC9DucveuDU0CPj30eQVL58ck1gesB9YvYTsSR6cP16T1LntWGijDif-d7nN0bfp47ZupkhcMv8rEBSsCruJ-kDRapjt_ZdX/s2048/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTFh2h76uEZsWVnwFJeuYGUj_eYDI2TRLzk395zXIWZy7XBytCkPsT4yx4gohSlvtfu9FIQeyrWLQyPifO1__TbgbSON8IC9DucveuDU0CPj30eQVL58ck1gesB9YvYTsSR6cP16T1LntWGijDif-d7nN0bfp47ZupkhcMv8rEBSsCruJ-kDRapjt_ZdX/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic33uNQjWrmrs3FqeXONodwdf2Qb51UUIsos914HYTZ-0FKCfPqd9m4q6Tz0qhMJFEmkoDE6x-syF_SYY-yoNXCXEZuRh1W-kHru833a4dNIJSmBbjGEl31cFadpbMId2O6iS6JNAfAi-I4xEU-Gfhmes8pln6Oihc3uGTH2bAYsMERC838L7taBV0yjwM/s2048/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic33uNQjWrmrs3FqeXONodwdf2Qb51UUIsos914HYTZ-0FKCfPqd9m4q6Tz0qhMJFEmkoDE6x-syF_SYY-yoNXCXEZuRh1W-kHru833a4dNIJSmBbjGEl31cFadpbMId2O6iS6JNAfAi-I4xEU-Gfhmes8pln6Oihc3uGTH2bAYsMERC838L7taBV0yjwM/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />it caught several fish while we followed quietly behind</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qC6OOeMJPz81MqumkM9l-3VtybJM7O5G98PdDHm0FBCfEnA-mhdHhqM3HSdWi7T1O5uiPfhVsYFScDRJNzUbjwxFRpCAuZ7ZAefq5qwAGs7lG5h13rSZelu8TzqCpZY06YGSgD9Zhiiyl1yhplCIiH2QAnvkC3wbWKEtb0tBJsBJnt85A4jScbJqhyphenhyphenSB/s2048/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qC6OOeMJPz81MqumkM9l-3VtybJM7O5G98PdDHm0FBCfEnA-mhdHhqM3HSdWi7T1O5uiPfhVsYFScDRJNzUbjwxFRpCAuZ7ZAefq5qwAGs7lG5h13rSZelu8TzqCpZY06YGSgD9Zhiiyl1yhplCIiH2QAnvkC3wbWKEtb0tBJsBJnt85A4jScbJqhyphenhyphenSB/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWbIpMDITi_9b8oyYf1k9nr26VPRxzE8ZldYcvWrugVt-koCNH_sv01rdybdupO1GIxglrsx4jmhsJFB4HpCyYJbMjnHng2uzJmVycl48frVNOMBkRPfF4i2RbQOO60-iNsTdYYKBLtZdvPD94GzKknkyRIr8Hn5YUV7nv4OoWrkEhoof_q56PI1pY9NH/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWbIpMDITi_9b8oyYf1k9nr26VPRxzE8ZldYcvWrugVt-koCNH_sv01rdybdupO1GIxglrsx4jmhsJFB4HpCyYJbMjnHng2uzJmVycl48frVNOMBkRPfF4i2RbQOO60-iNsTdYYKBLtZdvPD94GzKknkyRIr8Hn5YUV7nv4OoWrkEhoof_q56PI1pY9NH/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just after it landed and we both stealthily approached and were getting the first decent photos of it, I heard 2 schoolboys approaching. In uniform and glad to be out of school they were shouting, laughing and making quite a racket. I knew they hadn't seen us and would continue up the path and scare away the bird. I ran down the path to meet them and pointed out what we were up to and pleaded that they tone it down until they were past where the bird was sat. I can't recall what school uniform they wore (red piping on black blazer?) but suspect it was of the fee-paying posh type. And was delighted they were well brought up and did not tell me where I might shove my camera, and behaved perfectly. The kingfisher remained sat staring into the shallows for fish. Result!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QFgbBP2MV0AnDsSIhijxJC32yHla785ek7Q1f1rAhUVujFpxd8dIVCXREIXO69VM8rPqC56o87v8hhqhUFg5OUp6jcAL3897h3r5zzDimzLhQStuI8OofKjRMJmbkQCOsZje8T3nHAopSs5S2y0RIf4_F8DUwVp8ZY3tZXi73w6zcHSwSlQN_Izj_xYd/s2048/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QFgbBP2MV0AnDsSIhijxJC32yHla785ek7Q1f1rAhUVujFpxd8dIVCXREIXO69VM8rPqC56o87v8hhqhUFg5OUp6jcAL3897h3r5zzDimzLhQStuI8OofKjRMJmbkQCOsZje8T3nHAopSs5S2y0RIf4_F8DUwVp8ZY3tZXi73w6zcHSwSlQN_Izj_xYd/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The bird sat on our side of the river and it was all going very well. It felt like the perfect photographic storm of light, bird and behaviour. A couple of other folk went by, some enjoying the spectacle, others unseeing dogwalkers. To be fair a couple of dogwalkers went past us then returned later and said <i>you must have got some good shots there</i>, noticing the proximity. We stood and chatted, exchanging stories of otters, foxes, kingfisher and deer. You remember me taking pics of 3 deer walking through the gardens on the opposite bank of the WoL (<a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2023/11/fox-news.html" target="_blank">back in November</a>) just a little downstream? Seems they live in those woods. Just half a mile from the West End. It does seem to be a good spot for wildlife.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLGhmK7YvjebfX5TyuT45MvKVwaeCCn7okUx-bQb5e-dRQ4h6DsUs-nKncusa1B-UwkYlK4fOdQVzuWlRpJQUodfxGWfISorE5BGW9wOa-XjsHT_0z4nYRTCtUDTRhbapMt0wbHnNGcDsjkUKyInB87L-YronWJojmhi4YwxE9THXY-N-QM0xL8sb5x3n/s2048/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLGhmK7YvjebfX5TyuT45MvKVwaeCCn7okUx-bQb5e-dRQ4h6DsUs-nKncusa1B-UwkYlK4fOdQVzuWlRpJQUodfxGWfISorE5BGW9wOa-XjsHT_0z4nYRTCtUDTRhbapMt0wbHnNGcDsjkUKyInB87L-YronWJojmhi4YwxE9THXY-N-QM0xL8sb5x3n/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF5tW5e1H_vQYAYsahEGszgFMHqkm8sk_1rZ7XQ-BZFjokyaa8d6wYSXNNKAUYrg_4yq4pnrl1LVsjrV2H7nl9V8xeH0Qx8LVxtkpOm4kVsNB57pNMJar6ehuA0N89tScARYT88Gs-UB29KYZASwDZPeCJrxUZZnYJS0AWecqC3P6wRt3GCvb213YzlO5/s2048/054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF5tW5e1H_vQYAYsahEGszgFMHqkm8sk_1rZ7XQ-BZFjokyaa8d6wYSXNNKAUYrg_4yq4pnrl1LVsjrV2H7nl9V8xeH0Qx8LVxtkpOm4kVsNB57pNMJar6ehuA0N89tScARYT88Gs-UB29KYZASwDZPeCJrxUZZnYJS0AWecqC3P6wRt3GCvb213YzlO5/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij72ND9VMMWm8CKFKxUw63mS7ym8-1PEVluo-bHBXCMrtupvhkNf66QHi1krR8qLYy-ufzLkuyGp2e5ELoyC0SdCzyPfxLFisKGq5glAJJkSVSs2omzaKJcSBEooAHtNLM6fn0CbKEOlyfjgh2cPFqPiytt-zad5dUIYlp1aTBlKioxQ8VS2K-rwfEmLSp/s2048/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij72ND9VMMWm8CKFKxUw63mS7ym8-1PEVluo-bHBXCMrtupvhkNf66QHi1krR8qLYy-ufzLkuyGp2e5ELoyC0SdCzyPfxLFisKGq5glAJJkSVSs2omzaKJcSBEooAHtNLM6fn0CbKEOlyfjgh2cPFqPiytt-zad5dUIYlp1aTBlKioxQ8VS2K-rwfEmLSp/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWX8_BnMB3YiDtN3RfDXCEFOMsKbjTSZw-3sMCJ2B70PnoQtb1bR_5cMzAtuc7TFh6flUJMOa83gJX_yqJt18f7hKWruxyxXKN19gppdLEYfm55By8dNiqGCEyiF9cklxkSTOQ6gDWvbUjIdvrVFS2ixI1vPOjRuFa0O8HULlWt9gQnPvnOSR7p8mxB5/s2048/056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWX8_BnMB3YiDtN3RfDXCEFOMsKbjTSZw-3sMCJ2B70PnoQtb1bR_5cMzAtuc7TFh6flUJMOa83gJX_yqJt18f7hKWruxyxXKN19gppdLEYfm55By8dNiqGCEyiF9cklxkSTOQ6gDWvbUjIdvrVFS2ixI1vPOjRuFa0O8HULlWt9gQnPvnOSR7p8mxB5/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6g6GSBP_QvyiANYX1rxzR14cYW-PREBwbTPwHS7idbw6IlY7hxciFJuzTO_zVAlRYfkX7Y7AA6Jkl5zEPiiQqoBmRGHrzsnCRLZC45w4kNI6o-r9ay16gqWlMZKUP8D_u0sAlVH76lxBk_YjnBH_rbqOuBW_DoK285oa4PVucPxw6vM4zQ3JgFS08Qrg/s2048/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6g6GSBP_QvyiANYX1rxzR14cYW-PREBwbTPwHS7idbw6IlY7hxciFJuzTO_zVAlRYfkX7Y7AA6Jkl5zEPiiQqoBmRGHrzsnCRLZC45w4kNI6o-r9ay16gqWlMZKUP8D_u0sAlVH76lxBk_YjnBH_rbqOuBW_DoK285oa4PVucPxw6vM4zQ3JgFS08Qrg/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFw7EmeKHEIgaXXjMB9xXG3BQNdDoropFrqGJVzFPpZpPlR41wuHfRxtz_xmVFX7peN2yGjRyJvaNwc-9qw_JGNpEdS6am4fQeEUgzVbsRo37t9l5JUWW82uEt3R5aFWeNLLBgYsJEnk8toRp_GKPV4EU595nX5HBXP8hrtPiTnVGNn3mBvS4IRjnWdX_/s2048/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFw7EmeKHEIgaXXjMB9xXG3BQNdDoropFrqGJVzFPpZpPlR41wuHfRxtz_xmVFX7peN2yGjRyJvaNwc-9qw_JGNpEdS6am4fQeEUgzVbsRo37t9l5JUWW82uEt3R5aFWeNLLBgYsJEnk8toRp_GKPV4EU595nX5HBXP8hrtPiTnVGNn3mBvS4IRjnWdX_/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We followed the kingfisher (a male) from perch to perch. He seemed remarkably unfazed by our presence and even flew towards us, landing on a branch near to where we were taking photos. I was sorely tempted to scramble down a steep and muddy bank to get closer but resisted the potentially camera-killing muddy slide into the water. Distance from the subject was not so much the problem as was the high contrast light and getting into a decent place with a clear line of sight. My camera with its animal eye detection made it easier for me than Mary who didn't get the results she hoped. But that's why I paid ten times the price of her camera. It was a great pleasure to get so much time with an otherwise elusive species and we both came away buzzing. Who'd have thought while standing under the Bridge of Dean with the rain hosing down...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqsXKYTj7Jjh2FqEKbfeIBfgR_R6QPzBtHNdt23cAW0hCYjWiqoYwLRJVLIfCdmlkvWJJOeILDTTpfjbUzlOgP2Ib7payHi0MtxISFB66Lgzlh1eGVSDhTZWxO1pwbKPA1ssTm40OSTlFpZppucUmNB54cmAD4hRZQI_DjWBiHwdWr67Mc2NT3QEXpo23/s2048/062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqsXKYTj7Jjh2FqEKbfeIBfgR_R6QPzBtHNdt23cAW0hCYjWiqoYwLRJVLIfCdmlkvWJJOeILDTTpfjbUzlOgP2Ib7payHi0MtxISFB66Lgzlh1eGVSDhTZWxO1pwbKPA1ssTm40OSTlFpZppucUmNB54cmAD4hRZQI_DjWBiHwdWr67Mc2NT3QEXpo23/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTB2m_O8CdXX4hWzmKPzFXKEAihxGFfolA57A3MbY3mBn0ef9LFUB48TU3uoFzOm0CLsgaUKpZHw84QN5x-GXFQy-xaDg3S2ZmQYYQ4PRuBUQXu2jk8A6WKcMmzCCWdNoTlIX6BrDIDtHcRwZMmG8lwljZz-rj0P8FK4cumfAf-kAJ62i374KmhBGvVKo/s2048/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTB2m_O8CdXX4hWzmKPzFXKEAihxGFfolA57A3MbY3mBn0ef9LFUB48TU3uoFzOm0CLsgaUKpZHw84QN5x-GXFQy-xaDg3S2ZmQYYQ4PRuBUQXu2jk8A6WKcMmzCCWdNoTlIX6BrDIDtHcRwZMmG8lwljZz-rj0P8FK4cumfAf-kAJ62i374KmhBGvVKo/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlTHuhHEDb-d0cmr1dJQWohq3PVanytyU-6SLM1vEtNM38m10XYyhDrR1X3ME7bx8qo3eZAGV0zL8OmG62stNp5o2Pzvhg3CK0CJ-G9aOu5nFsaD5Xnqm0RlhgB8l6YX4LXsSA2AGpkFjH004xfV5grDMnw566WBjjwrMvQhN53v02tXcxJCizx5q-AFa/s2048/064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlTHuhHEDb-d0cmr1dJQWohq3PVanytyU-6SLM1vEtNM38m10XYyhDrR1X3ME7bx8qo3eZAGV0zL8OmG62stNp5o2Pzvhg3CK0CJ-G9aOu5nFsaD5Xnqm0RlhgB8l6YX4LXsSA2AGpkFjH004xfV5grDMnw566WBjjwrMvQhN53v02tXcxJCizx5q-AFa/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">distant dipper<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We walked up to and under the large stone Belford Bridge. There was a distant dipper and then Mr Kingfisher zipped back downstream in a flash of electric blue from a spot we never knew where. We felt we had got the best possible pics of the day (more cloud cover moved in blotting out the sun) but were so uplifted we decided to walk rather than bus home. We kept an eye out for the turquoise and orange flashes but saw no more of Mr K. <br />What a great day, thanks to a bit of sunshine and several orangey feathered friends.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBk3dhD2YjsiQrCD-d_HMN4Csv-2vlMUNzjiPVKA9F3nbTDncuP1LsqpK0fkFPW_AKF_ytZTse5TSr9Aogyhz5HNq1YRm5pV3gsemxOks2ba2aIJHCxcHlnYy2l3skdU7ZTJE-IeWhWJ955kMQ5TkdM3qYaNF6kT2zfQDRzPJP2YMRZulGBgqXFVG4QTC/s2048/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBk3dhD2YjsiQrCD-d_HMN4Csv-2vlMUNzjiPVKA9F3nbTDncuP1LsqpK0fkFPW_AKF_ytZTse5TSr9Aogyhz5HNq1YRm5pV3gsemxOks2ba2aIJHCxcHlnYy2l3skdU7ZTJE-IeWhWJ955kMQ5TkdM3qYaNF6kT2zfQDRzPJP2YMRZulGBgqXFVG4QTC/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">second butterfly of today<br />in charity shop on way home (spotted by Mary)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzT4Nwt4jIgF-kttDWYSaCsI3K_MNi7Gl9KID-w8mz6rtx-hFCzR0Wso4ootoCfY3HxIVUnVz_fhdrSuWQ2eg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-20796021350417930582024-03-17T09:19:00.000-07:002024-03-17T09:19:14.645-07:00charging the batteries<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TtFvz07CudOA7GXMwxr7nOywb4yl3rxJbcxzLBAjfSMaTIBR0nAuE4BCqLfqC9KsKAN9GK_SvlscfMNEs_xEwBx9umNIXpba-6x-KliqOIGFJuBESbZ-r17fBDG1PWVYHOnxm7ma5UmuHtizcC_pAXcvOuVkEaaBWQYnjRmX0e8MpEN_nX772zfgnwBp/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TtFvz07CudOA7GXMwxr7nOywb4yl3rxJbcxzLBAjfSMaTIBR0nAuE4BCqLfqC9KsKAN9GK_SvlscfMNEs_xEwBx9umNIXpba-6x-KliqOIGFJuBESbZ-r17fBDG1PWVYHOnxm7ma5UmuHtizcC_pAXcvOuVkEaaBWQYnjRmX0e8MpEN_nX772zfgnwBp/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">16-03-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">A Saturday that felt a bit more like a Sunday. The forecast was struggling to realise its potential, but just in case it did we drove to Gullane for a wander. Not just to stretch our legs but because we hadn't turned the Berlingo's engine over in 6 weeks or more and it doesn't like a cold damp Winter without exercise. It took a moment clearing its throat, then chugged into life. Hurray! We still have wheels. Best do a few miles and properly charge up the battery. Being of a certain age it is always a risk filling the tank, knowing it may not be a good investment. We checked the levels (added water, but oil was fine) and that the electrics still worked; they can be vulnerable to the ingress of water during a monsoon. Depending on the direction of wind and the aspect of the van facing it, there can be small lakes in the footwells.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc1ZksrYwmOcVvr2jJVxv91KhgSHpsSNCSyhkeh_GrjIVW41f3wdK-d7F26SD6FJmZlJUpCFxAXbLmpdNWtWpCuO6nENkdpDVfLQEhklFcF3D1N1bDSGwGnxN2idhnjPEf3OVZ51vzK43tAjNk3l0dCBx0Yb3BHzN1X8Od8854RyWxccAqn4SDfxVMN9U/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc1ZksrYwmOcVvr2jJVxv91KhgSHpsSNCSyhkeh_GrjIVW41f3wdK-d7F26SD6FJmZlJUpCFxAXbLmpdNWtWpCuO6nENkdpDVfLQEhklFcF3D1N1bDSGwGnxN2idhnjPEf3OVZ51vzK43tAjNk3l0dCBx0Yb3BHzN1X8Od8854RyWxccAqn4SDfxVMN9U/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was bright but not exactly suntan weather at Gullane. As we stepped from the car we saw AGF out walking her dogs. Not the first time we have bumped into Amanda here although none of us actually lives in Gullane. Far too long since we had a catch up and a delight to exchange news and meet Hamish and Hercule. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVRpp_E_oQFNXarYiKj2cjpbE1GzMtqWaFO881Mgc6ot-PtEfT5xH4qT65rQH1f8yH3cZqwr4XBKfpvWKeKUaOe7RJv-PndBfX51RE_nFNWBfzVf2uwmU6wBnoqDbsIadZ_WMzS3gRSMPWNLRaWIQ9PgqnGGd05On5fbdk-euxS60G_OU0WjOU4kBXaeJ/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVRpp_E_oQFNXarYiKj2cjpbE1GzMtqWaFO881Mgc6ot-PtEfT5xH4qT65rQH1f8yH3cZqwr4XBKfpvWKeKUaOe7RJv-PndBfX51RE_nFNWBfzVf2uwmU6wBnoqDbsIadZ_WMzS3gRSMPWNLRaWIQ9PgqnGGd05On5fbdk-euxS60G_OU0WjOU4kBXaeJ/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have commandeered Mary's DJI Pocket as it fills the gaps my 400mm lens fails to cover: selfies, panoramas and pics of pals (without them having to stand at the other end of the car park.) We joked that Amanda would have to stand in Fife for me to take her photo with the long lens. I unpocketed the Pocket and took loads of pics of dogs and AGF and Mary posing. The great thing about the Pocket is it is really small. The worst thing about it is the screen is about the size of a 6:19 fingernail and you can't really see what you are doing. Like pushing the on/off button instead of pushing the record button. So after 15mins of chatting and taking photos I hadn't actually taken any photos of the three of them and was raging when I got home and realised this. Only a week since I was on holiday using it fine and I have already forgotten how. Curses. This getting old and forgetful business is a real drag! Once AGF and doggoes had said goodbye and wandered off up the hill I took a couple of pics with the long lens, otherwise I'd have no record of just how lovely it was to meet Amanda.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDaqDwMoJw8C_WvMoiPyJxM0EvdHYkeCczKGpqR414lmZ0cB_ZuNwdpNK6YGY-ISXZ96UUoB01qW4ikj7vpOqWEc8dWC3k5rnc1OgRmgCUol7W-XCAu4K0xEwBzibd0DKEcxz29cghKieE7v0M9s2cwhFLsRPFL7pfl1IMjxs9pdJz5IcJF9oOQxrcrfe/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDaqDwMoJw8C_WvMoiPyJxM0EvdHYkeCczKGpqR414lmZ0cB_ZuNwdpNK6YGY-ISXZ96UUoB01qW4ikj7vpOqWEc8dWC3k5rnc1OgRmgCUol7W-XCAu4K0xEwBzibd0DKEcxz29cghKieE7v0M9s2cwhFLsRPFL7pfl1IMjxs9pdJz5IcJF9oOQxrcrfe/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did something like the usual circuit although it was only really to the far end of Aberlady beach and then back on the path that rises up between the fairways of the golf course and back towards Gullane Point. There was a tiny chance of an outlier early butterfly but we had more fun trying to get close to skylarks and stonechats as there was several of both species about the place. We did not hang about to look for the short eared owls that are regularly spotted there. We saw a birder with a tripod and telescope whose slumped shoulders suggested 4hrs of humping around equipment without much joy. Also no sign of the waders and sanderlings who must have been hanging out along shores of the Peffer Estuary. We didn't bother going looking. And we also didn't check Marl Loch for toad- and frogspawn. 19th March tends to be the average date for that. Or first really mild evening around then. Which is anytime now. Same will be going on in Holyrood Park up around Dunsapie. All the toads come out for an orgy. The herons also come out, for a toad and frog feast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmgZicZMAuEm0RFb5ClRRU782GqwMC_nt4lAClEGP_ukEcMlFMpPaeRztjzktev4Wmif6Ph4lQtuFSSyRkXftT3uHjlOFEcGiVu3JJVpAWqGXTvL-1t-Z2IxZWt5RjIuu1oaEDniRwsSxEikG5ITcBQ_idu_2m3zF9gzoRPuSDH3sfyJv4F4A3bidr1c3/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmgZicZMAuEm0RFb5ClRRU782GqwMC_nt4lAClEGP_ukEcMlFMpPaeRztjzktev4Wmif6Ph4lQtuFSSyRkXftT3uHjlOFEcGiVu3JJVpAWqGXTvL-1t-Z2IxZWt5RjIuu1oaEDniRwsSxEikG5ITcBQ_idu_2m3zF9gzoRPuSDH3sfyJv4F4A3bidr1c3/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">skylark</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBwZxK8DJh5qrBCQcr1I3zkgLIKsVSf44JGvWJR8YLnoIOkC4TAtUOEcWmMDXMO84kBPdGdxuxcZL1IWOOoOGhhiFqS4OqCee0JZGT9K5hR4hzuWRTxZDCpvoTv0d8OOZYGkaGIFNzuj7nBCNOOna3_Daegu9BuDBxSczt10jqtZm0JM0OGEC94HmeSCi/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBwZxK8DJh5qrBCQcr1I3zkgLIKsVSf44JGvWJR8YLnoIOkC4TAtUOEcWmMDXMO84kBPdGdxuxcZL1IWOOoOGhhiFqS4OqCee0JZGT9K5hR4hzuWRTxZDCpvoTv0d8OOZYGkaGIFNzuj7nBCNOOna3_Daegu9BuDBxSczt10jqtZm0JM0OGEC94HmeSCi/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-7GBFEEFsMo7weGCKfwnXDCOGOT7MZYqWG02e2lmD7NwfJ41kXOqR9x8ygOPdWK0T7y1P8IhVdJ5ah5pwZ6GRsn22EOTp_r90Wekd53uMx8TjZYNdXWSwQKk9vgQ-C5OpluumOX6_Pi5j0xHr9fgH5IozzosOKF2lhXf7IY3OM94P-qJY_8vyHfnv0tB/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-7GBFEEFsMo7weGCKfwnXDCOGOT7MZYqWG02e2lmD7NwfJ41kXOqR9x8ygOPdWK0T7y1P8IhVdJ5ah5pwZ6GRsn22EOTp_r90Wekd53uMx8TjZYNdXWSwQKk9vgQ-C5OpluumOX6_Pi5j0xHr9fgH5IozzosOKF2lhXf7IY3OM94P-qJY_8vyHfnv0tB/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hairy oobit<br />(one of several fox moth caterpillars seen)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMqkUjQeIABJiBhdiUDcmShRKe-ayQlnkVdgGozNN8tl1ZURsiEYxmV4HNc7feYNhdOoHcUFmf1vuhw4VG0w9zw47_-KZUAEJX8MrBJa2U2wmddLS36KJ9txn2wmurgGJvMP40WEmbRWK369mS77kFYJWpufe_cf6uUb217w91zRxaBsGNs4SbRkIivOm/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMqkUjQeIABJiBhdiUDcmShRKe-ayQlnkVdgGozNN8tl1ZURsiEYxmV4HNc7feYNhdOoHcUFmf1vuhw4VG0w9zw47_-KZUAEJX8MrBJa2U2wmddLS36KJ9txn2wmurgGJvMP40WEmbRWK369mS77kFYJWpufe_cf6uUb217w91zRxaBsGNs4SbRkIivOm/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">clam</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3fR4yEz5hyphenhyphenX_apkU45OBOIlmAJYKr7mavvJpSmYKeRdLMS0ZDcDxWFrEiLzZ2A8v2pja5gy-9UxtGeBdteUkQAuyDzThIW47lqOlXOERyMY8ctKS7iyp8p9RS29UfehcV_xhmEmV64VrHC1P_QxPUafFi_UG0rqBkrKj6k_Bf1zo7v3q2jdykSOX_Y8B/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3fR4yEz5hyphenhyphenX_apkU45OBOIlmAJYKr7mavvJpSmYKeRdLMS0ZDcDxWFrEiLzZ2A8v2pja5gy-9UxtGeBdteUkQAuyDzThIW47lqOlXOERyMY8ctKS7iyp8p9RS29UfehcV_xhmEmV64VrHC1P_QxPUafFi_UG0rqBkrKj6k_Bf1zo7v3q2jdykSOX_Y8B/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">madam gets down on the sand for the right angle</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgH8POcwPQz_ZiShcBJwV42oaiXYGQfpgNMCMKj_9xeK3wyXfGTrZbPkrYLJYl64pfBeo-8HfWtFJbe3W6r0WAkh8YG3rDuW0T7glIbs99-ZtgzFESi-y_zsXaSYMISNlffLY1kT75r4dH0iRzyi51L4BVJiGoVU_c_kxg-qJIA8moLSIEB7SOr0HztcH/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgH8POcwPQz_ZiShcBJwV42oaiXYGQfpgNMCMKj_9xeK3wyXfGTrZbPkrYLJYl64pfBeo-8HfWtFJbe3W6r0WAkh8YG3rDuW0T7glIbs99-ZtgzFESi-y_zsXaSYMISNlffLY1kT75r4dH0iRzyi51L4BVJiGoVU_c_kxg-qJIA8moLSIEB7SOr0HztcH/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">distant kestrel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnwn0slIttXvDoeLLG9fv-8QsCztlfwtZjk6kZu2lFtkO6LiGHxcIxbrvahKvkp58RkcViPcB8-0DFxWpaM6c9TI1Wlf1iNSy6YCpEZWikCOQhKjXOrRIKTWDDiC5InNfA6LNDsosEwmS03l8L6D1YLHlB-1K2Gr_h4IU_FCrJ3DGT1eEVnIfET_aMb6a/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnwn0slIttXvDoeLLG9fv-8QsCztlfwtZjk6kZu2lFtkO6LiGHxcIxbrvahKvkp58RkcViPcB8-0DFxWpaM6c9TI1Wlf1iNSy6YCpEZWikCOQhKjXOrRIKTWDDiC5InNfA6LNDsosEwmS03l8L6D1YLHlB-1K2Gr_h4IU_FCrJ3DGT1eEVnIfET_aMb6a/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">close by bunny</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqarsEVBse5I8NNBOuiWexORLrDe6-CUKYF6cLINuJp4dskUGI74Fs6u3OOez955NQDVootAH2GMSniasDyFEotJ0hfrBEXwBhTbPHjRD_E4uv5U2X3YeZx4U0jRVNdbhgMZoHBJFzh54RsBZG8saMY0XZ2-iNBW9pNQ1hn1EdCxYpgoFs2gTIOjqd9A0/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqarsEVBse5I8NNBOuiWexORLrDe6-CUKYF6cLINuJp4dskUGI74Fs6u3OOez955NQDVootAH2GMSniasDyFEotJ0hfrBEXwBhTbPHjRD_E4uv5U2X3YeZx4U0jRVNdbhgMZoHBJFzh54RsBZG8saMY0XZ2-iNBW9pNQ1hn1EdCxYpgoFs2gTIOjqd9A0/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">paths quite waterlogged</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCc9l-DG9zX0orN-nU88Qiezg7uMKqj1hbDyNGWAAOiLyF9WUFW9yLRNS0tfyRwKL68PqQ5E4fbhDgLnLNEmFMAd0pcq6m0UoohuDyA9rHkM_nYojImBOwe76tIS-rO6eKf2bXtrbDq7T2UNMAPhZ72mRUGuylp_q0N7P6N164YkN98yutZxA0C6U15ye/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCc9l-DG9zX0orN-nU88Qiezg7uMKqj1hbDyNGWAAOiLyF9WUFW9yLRNS0tfyRwKL68PqQ5E4fbhDgLnLNEmFMAd0pcq6m0UoohuDyA9rHkM_nYojImBOwe76tIS-rO6eKf2bXtrbDq7T2UNMAPhZ72mRUGuylp_q0N7P6N164YkN98yutZxA0C6U15ye/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGv4qgL3YNv3vM5GWhPB-Hw6PrcXe3zwZGryQDQvwzaIRnlvGeWA1VdIxZobb9O_8PDpPeF828I0kc2C55OtBPk8qjSAVsmb0gRalxwH6wjMTAryiPEQVLfcyIaMxmSmIxghSF0vm4cNF9HyCxiAakEkjcyzv9hPp5vggOKfgCxvwlX5ZiDcYTf_T3nI6/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGv4qgL3YNv3vM5GWhPB-Hw6PrcXe3zwZGryQDQvwzaIRnlvGeWA1VdIxZobb9O_8PDpPeF828I0kc2C55OtBPk8qjSAVsmb0gRalxwH6wjMTAryiPEQVLfcyIaMxmSmIxghSF0vm4cNF9HyCxiAakEkjcyzv9hPp5vggOKfgCxvwlX5ZiDcYTf_T3nI6/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A couple of times I got quite close to skylarks. They are very well camouflaged and nearly impossible to see among the long grasses if stood still. I think they know this and don't always use flying off as a defense, if you are not approaching them directly. So, how to look like you are not approaching them directly but still move towards them incrementally without chasing them off. It is something of a zen-like art. Happily there are quite a few about, to help you practise. When not looking for likely nesting spots they will fly high into the sky and hover in one spot while doing something between a twittering babble and a car alarm. Then they parachute down and disappear into the long grass. I was pleased to get this one with crest raised looking in my direction.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvQm5IdPcE9bVTzHGVb1Cwf75JDtTBwMuYSmkd4DokJFBHJ_AweJ7L4LgkjGTwuer3aDxXolhVgTBE1ge6w2wJLucVGviLDCNbw-pQha5C2cH8Yq2vF4wkvztBjjLiVY0wkY0u3t4DpATQS-7KM55ch4XjehyWhuWuTCli-bE150Y9dTgwR5jIeJKTD7N/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvQm5IdPcE9bVTzHGVb1Cwf75JDtTBwMuYSmkd4DokJFBHJ_AweJ7L4LgkjGTwuer3aDxXolhVgTBE1ge6w2wJLucVGviLDCNbw-pQha5C2cH8Yq2vF4wkvztBjjLiVY0wkY0u3t4DpATQS-7KM55ch4XjehyWhuWuTCli-bE150Y9dTgwR5jIeJKTD7N/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatTZppTYHYp_PqBkkg1cIu2Ap7qGhXzdZdSE6f77lBA84rO7el9RgLXsjD5ZNDCZ2P03BY32VE7fMHek-J35dX3pax5p6pjTl-9iFJfjWL7R772qEZBPWEh2t7f8aM4Wa77cf026xShki3-9yhXyM_P5e-Qjf9jLhjMzo8kRYLruG3PrEsDQAatlyPd2e/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatTZppTYHYp_PqBkkg1cIu2Ap7qGhXzdZdSE6f77lBA84rO7el9RgLXsjD5ZNDCZ2P03BY32VE7fMHek-J35dX3pax5p6pjTl-9iFJfjWL7R772qEZBPWEh2t7f8aM4Wa77cf026xShki3-9yhXyM_P5e-Qjf9jLhjMzo8kRYLruG3PrEsDQAatlyPd2e/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODC5bKWPr8ZuW2_UwYoma6NFiDSIes7oI5blIRBsKMg04nEKA22SZvWYEX5tKnAxHG-4xPSRYBR79virXNZ36z2K5_uqhSSeC3EA64gmAdiogndk-onO6fu2BWgezHmrXDe8fB4ig_HoAKdlynIF30aQkhVLjTZ1EygD66AspMzJLCkAowYfodfhU75cJ/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODC5bKWPr8ZuW2_UwYoma6NFiDSIes7oI5blIRBsKMg04nEKA22SZvWYEX5tKnAxHG-4xPSRYBR79virXNZ36z2K5_uqhSSeC3EA64gmAdiogndk-onO6fu2BWgezHmrXDe8fB4ig_HoAKdlynIF30aQkhVLjTZ1EygD66AspMzJLCkAowYfodfhU75cJ/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuucq1PfaLJv1OpZt_0_GamiHZpFdiXy-TGFRuRaXDxCZ1Cj9NqTZaPlNAL35INamwcunwDzHl-5tznxTtSS-VprNpDMhJ8ekbk-VCpbZYQWGcJovKmI9yzcgFmhwjHFGkF5f_kI9JGaEDaT4-uAqnKyH0ujeyve2n5YksrBlufvwA6w-gyysHqTV4LlR/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuucq1PfaLJv1OpZt_0_GamiHZpFdiXy-TGFRuRaXDxCZ1Cj9NqTZaPlNAL35INamwcunwDzHl-5tznxTtSS-VprNpDMhJ8ekbk-VCpbZYQWGcJovKmI9yzcgFmhwjHFGkF5f_kI9JGaEDaT4-uAqnKyH0ujeyve2n5YksrBlufvwA6w-gyysHqTV4LlR/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">heron</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg970xdybbRWaAoLcjQedtccpAUiJ9_XXovd1-IZSv3AjSQsajYNbwabLOSktq4ZW40_pVFh6KfgIWCay9fiqzwBJodO8R6dHjjPSKKNF3RonrHz28OhDOwgs7hVH3YjrB1qrin6xIV6o_UL7oaHyJpL_RXDy6X3KE417hv71e5dZt5sA8x__xJ0QZe7FyB/s2048/019a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg970xdybbRWaAoLcjQedtccpAUiJ9_XXovd1-IZSv3AjSQsajYNbwabLOSktq4ZW40_pVFh6KfgIWCay9fiqzwBJodO8R6dHjjPSKKNF3RonrHz28OhDOwgs7hVH3YjrB1qrin6xIV6o_UL7oaHyJpL_RXDy6X3KE417hv71e5dZt5sA8x__xJ0QZe7FyB/s320/019a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">contemplative Mary</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWZYO53iISptlQxwMN-LZZi8lUPv2EcbJWIbLv8q970jjET6I2vbarMr69P-cZ2btbfW5AZLB9afbRBnFGWm6j-U1lFZUfDcDd-oTKoWEmsoywjwg00OdvWSLaW7Wv32GDAX2eMemTyeHmfp_ZE7TKHphb7_PrtqHVpUr5Ye7Hl-qyWQJUyGcRasAULV/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWZYO53iISptlQxwMN-LZZi8lUPv2EcbJWIbLv8q970jjET6I2vbarMr69P-cZ2btbfW5AZLB9afbRBnFGWm6j-U1lFZUfDcDd-oTKoWEmsoywjwg00OdvWSLaW7Wv32GDAX2eMemTyeHmfp_ZE7TKHphb7_PrtqHVpUr5Ye7Hl-qyWQJUyGcRasAULV/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stonechat (f)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7FksjLCEEANksTgYJ6N0zlzRm5zQGAQx_8z9iAf5FhzAAOOPmerzhZ872cRcCSGk1-guUe3VBSPhS2D2n5VNYhXO42BiYx6MkQbUgHcIUwou0OPABwjJqSfK2WFtAnnkpdgVFlYyIDcYMa01knfN2ew7nGMANaJL8FKfJUKe6Zh5FkQHbM3qEL9HYpkS/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7FksjLCEEANksTgYJ6N0zlzRm5zQGAQx_8z9iAf5FhzAAOOPmerzhZ872cRcCSGk1-guUe3VBSPhS2D2n5VNYhXO42BiYx6MkQbUgHcIUwou0OPABwjJqSfK2WFtAnnkpdgVFlYyIDcYMa01knfN2ew7nGMANaJL8FKfJUKe6Zh5FkQHbM3qEL9HYpkS/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stonechat (m)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are several pairs of stonechats around Aberlady too. They have the great habit of sitting on a high perch and telling you off for trespassing on their private ground. Which makes taking their photo much easier. I suspect, like robins, they are curious or just like to keep and eye on things and so if you approach slowly you can get really quite close. Mary took a couple of photos and moved on whereas I was on all fours crawling across the damp tussocks. This sometimes (but not always) makes for better results. I got really close to this male who was particularly bold (his missus had flown off ages ago) and I was snapping away thinking how clever I was when he took off and flew to within inches of where Mary was standing. I felt events were conspiring to humiliate me. And had Mary even seen it had landed on the top spot of the bush beside her? I could only stage whisper and make elaborate "it's behind you" signals. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb-daxe-VehabMvG18oVcktPGFubPJhEw2QKUUVvJzvTz6EGn_HRdcMrRsT7UTPd2KUVE225BIgk1tWbdzu3wI7n_lvsTerT0wmyOg5nDLm78Eklt8-VzPnYPdHsxhgkT9OZ23jbMbss8IMkqzde2Cl-8oOcIWIymZyPlAWgPAam4pWBOY-om4H_ClKnm/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb-daxe-VehabMvG18oVcktPGFubPJhEw2QKUUVvJzvTz6EGn_HRdcMrRsT7UTPd2KUVE225BIgk1tWbdzu3wI7n_lvsTerT0wmyOg5nDLm78Eklt8-VzPnYPdHsxhgkT9OZ23jbMbss8IMkqzde2Cl-8oOcIWIymZyPlAWgPAam4pWBOY-om4H_ClKnm/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's behind you! <br />okay you knew.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWyHOzvbLXdwJIWsZmdpeQhnSHcpY8eVYVUbPzgVpLN0DTPGUsYV27IBH5nSMDFu_utlRf-f4Rui59qWmajiokwJCyZ1UgIL30hRRz3_lUxr2WwglKwpjG-zuKqOUYTqLA43KwYmBiHY0Qxoxz6nM6o3_xKIttOPYv5oRpVotEb8etqNJWyFHr_Q6E6Dt/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWyHOzvbLXdwJIWsZmdpeQhnSHcpY8eVYVUbPzgVpLN0DTPGUsYV27IBH5nSMDFu_utlRf-f4Rui59qWmajiokwJCyZ1UgIL30hRRz3_lUxr2WwglKwpjG-zuKqOUYTqLA43KwYmBiHY0Qxoxz6nM6o3_xKIttOPYv5oRpVotEb8etqNJWyFHr_Q6E6Dt/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C8Ox9jQRoK8yl_T462wFzKOI-V04dBznZQ8ncCAmws0RW4mn2yZtx7YRNMIJiGJ50ByV20Mp4shtPKJvyTvQQAeJLOGJ5IjrdzSj8MvTaK9kb3vu99srg2jneHCeGhJ0cWLY6qEdc7gRreoPPo_LqYISYjmlulvtERxr2lqc0U2F2QujgU-DHVj39Ya1/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C8Ox9jQRoK8yl_T462wFzKOI-V04dBznZQ8ncCAmws0RW4mn2yZtx7YRNMIJiGJ50ByV20Mp4shtPKJvyTvQQAeJLOGJ5IjrdzSj8MvTaK9kb3vu99srg2jneHCeGhJ0cWLY6qEdc7gRreoPPo_LqYISYjmlulvtERxr2lqc0U2F2QujgU-DHVj39Ya1/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcx3DAL2x2BEk4zqxFV4622I_SZP0Nsia-LhQo49Iea81HdUiFbZQxwSwRuvKJMDieR_IO5d3Ev-f4Nm967W1NrGDIOVV9zpDTt50Cy7i1ZyCPn3evaQbtB6F1VytHJDRQfnm4H6XsjOO-_xBRN-x2DRT1qY6UaRdDy0Hfp2JNaUb8oLPh9_h__30Skb4/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcx3DAL2x2BEk4zqxFV4622I_SZP0Nsia-LhQo49Iea81HdUiFbZQxwSwRuvKJMDieR_IO5d3Ev-f4Nm967W1NrGDIOVV9zpDTt50Cy7i1ZyCPn3evaQbtB6F1VytHJDRQfnm4H6XsjOO-_xBRN-x2DRT1qY6UaRdDy0Hfp2JNaUb8oLPh9_h__30Skb4/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCZjEAvWiWxoq_3DeupNYQJZpoN4CndAQp0pufbEanXWiMeEABxk9vITCGNzaGRN5EvbiXRAUodwZz8XIigt_mPtlayOwjGfGCrhFPJUnehtNp2HhzmGd4Tu6cTexSFuDG96Q3NypzS_xXTgQDVhfGL-Itgb7-O3Y5wP0mhZan0J2dZOSN2Y-8gWmFBbk/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCZjEAvWiWxoq_3DeupNYQJZpoN4CndAQp0pufbEanXWiMeEABxk9vITCGNzaGRN5EvbiXRAUodwZz8XIigt_mPtlayOwjGfGCrhFPJUnehtNp2HhzmGd4Tu6cTexSFuDG96Q3NypzS_xXTgQDVhfGL-Itgb7-O3Y5wP0mhZan0J2dZOSN2Y-8gWmFBbk/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetMtXnz39d_H6eocn6LS7d0mLsZdjh-NcWGLGZAJ6iGjEpEehyjHZbMw6GReaMyJE_0elG-U3nLzJqLy2FcdIGdNm21JnB6Iy1FYTOoshVgM3Vmu5fheqMYgzQQVI1-7JSM65OsI7aQVhbyf7NFM6HbvKO4R9MqKCRyTCPjY0B4T4G8ThIhquX3yV6EtR/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetMtXnz39d_H6eocn6LS7d0mLsZdjh-NcWGLGZAJ6iGjEpEehyjHZbMw6GReaMyJE_0elG-U3nLzJqLy2FcdIGdNm21JnB6Iy1FYTOoshVgM3Vmu5fheqMYgzQQVI1-7JSM65OsI7aQVhbyf7NFM6HbvKO4R9MqKCRyTCPjY0B4T4G8ThIhquX3yV6EtR/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoArbQxCE2DiLXYLx7rR68HsRsKt61tHcYqajD7ubMXGTaoARZxnnvTh0eiyO3A3fA-79uwM_zPo_HKkZTByCVpKsHXCzrffEXWX6mX-BE4jlz7GxHK3ccw1lQt0AVw3IoZnVGdHwLUqOgKy_LsieFkRd42VduJCQDc-uTzd0Myf3YFuraxiNrNTBgLZs/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoArbQxCE2DiLXYLx7rR68HsRsKt61tHcYqajD7ubMXGTaoARZxnnvTh0eiyO3A3fA-79uwM_zPo_HKkZTByCVpKsHXCzrffEXWX6mX-BE4jlz7GxHK3ccw1lQt0AVw3IoZnVGdHwLUqOgKy_LsieFkRd42VduJCQDc-uTzd0Myf3YFuraxiNrNTBgLZs/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great day out<br />a bit waterlogged in places<br /><br />No map as I forgot to wear my gps watch. About 4.5 miles.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-8321069265950268592024-03-15T05:41:00.000-07:002024-03-15T05:50:02.701-07:00feeding the rat<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO9YDdAbGPrwesMjBcIz4H515LHkUfAbyWwv44TyKGhDlYLToRXFOQSb3fiJno5DAqdXsJN9PUaSGitODGRTm3T9QFmuZxGftTrCBFfxTH-Qw7No-g1TjB9tg8CkDSDEQmiY_ke0oLdJyLcILYaukvbIeZIlCt2lIt68Vhji_BnUP5uZii2hYfPXk9V5I/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO9YDdAbGPrwesMjBcIz4H515LHkUfAbyWwv44TyKGhDlYLToRXFOQSb3fiJno5DAqdXsJN9PUaSGitODGRTm3T9QFmuZxGftTrCBFfxTH-Qw7No-g1TjB9tg8CkDSDEQmiY_ke0oLdJyLcILYaukvbIeZIlCt2lIt68Vhji_BnUP5uZii2hYfPXk9V5I/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">27th Feb</div><div style="text-align: left;">Another wander along to Warriston a couple of days before we jetted off to Majorca. I hadn't got round to sorting the photos and posting this blog before we left. I may not have bothered if it hadn't been for Ms. Rat, a rare sight and therefore worth putting down here. I know rats aren't everyone's fave creature but they are wildlife and have as much right to exist as kingfishers, otters and the more glamorous beasts we hold in high esteem. It is their very success and adaptability that ruins their PR as they invade basements and attics in search of shelter and food. They are smart enough to know where they stand and consequently will disappear into the undergrowth when they see you coming, making them far more rare to capture shots of than kingfishers and otters. "Feeding the Rat" btw is a book about the addiction of rock and mountain climbing by Al Alvarez about Mo Anthoine and it is so long since I read it, I can only recall it made an impression at the time. Must get it out and have a re-read now I am no longer feeding that particular rat.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7B-WMlcoCfnZ-W1XJctzzKsBg02B9O9a9lCZMVQDr27yMI9itZYkrJy6Ulz9cMNuPFRD50SII77MP8jsQDHXo6EfyPL4r4lPcWXJboD7iq4Jun_dwdbWSC1svXp_dddG-Em3ETP-qA2nkDpJ55fzCtxp1MvSF2bj3OU-fQuqYQcsBtMVtfYvGQwKquJ6/s2048/000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7B-WMlcoCfnZ-W1XJctzzKsBg02B9O9a9lCZMVQDr27yMI9itZYkrJy6Ulz9cMNuPFRD50SII77MP8jsQDHXo6EfyPL4r4lPcWXJboD7iq4Jun_dwdbWSC1svXp_dddG-Em3ETP-qA2nkDpJ55fzCtxp1MvSF2bj3OU-fQuqYQcsBtMVtfYvGQwKquJ6/s320/000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">robin with a square meal</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BZIr7T_KOYJEfABQVo6B-ZsuYovyPVd8xYOBB7ltjhr9_E6hq-3iaN8ouv19GVD1HnGHhY1JxoB8y8h8mErvREzviji5L0eGgdkBQ_-afm-70xznvhWqb4gEopoxj0UlBuG4LiuBtI3dedmhpKTQWrjvBsKT84RF84bPplVYZSn0ERAWbQ7yig-u76Pz/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BZIr7T_KOYJEfABQVo6B-ZsuYovyPVd8xYOBB7ltjhr9_E6hq-3iaN8ouv19GVD1HnGHhY1JxoB8y8h8mErvREzviji5L0eGgdkBQ_-afm-70xznvhWqb4gEopoxj0UlBuG4LiuBtI3dedmhpKTQWrjvBsKT84RF84bPplVYZSn0ERAWbQ7yig-u76Pz/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT6H8SMbJy5-D9kjuzkDtMVDFAIgt6G0TIuLPC-_1zNgIYokmGNmg-PthU-FhAZJ0YJtOjEj8HkKQTG6bLfYLi7kRnBe6mgi6Ob96UGed1gPaGI4Uwmkq775LdFQIc8B6Sq6o3VrT3cMjq7ebbQFKi7R4rLH6vZLINzWpNxp-3IiBC5Qe-AAQLXklazEt/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT6H8SMbJy5-D9kjuzkDtMVDFAIgt6G0TIuLPC-_1zNgIYokmGNmg-PthU-FhAZJ0YJtOjEj8HkKQTG6bLfYLi7kRnBe6mgi6Ob96UGed1gPaGI4Uwmkq775LdFQIc8B6Sq6o3VrT3cMjq7ebbQFKi7R4rLH6vZLINzWpNxp-3IiBC5Qe-AAQLXklazEt/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this blackbird is a regular visitor and arrives with great enthusiasm when I put out food</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG6eaTiAKOFHgnJM9lW9vhKtzI932UZJFP2lKMM3SRzh6qJN0-DcZqvYjvxifuKAHhnilngHoeFY_3Ml9qb3JlP4hJldjkO9wPa-G3SN7NGHrOoDB3RdfGoCer8aX5DuojI_773_P8_FXInQK8xLuzHFjlv5c-vZTr5eZsgSLTd2fg5gYuWkeOO2mcpmB/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG6eaTiAKOFHgnJM9lW9vhKtzI932UZJFP2lKMM3SRzh6qJN0-DcZqvYjvxifuKAHhnilngHoeFY_3Ml9qb3JlP4hJldjkO9wPa-G3SN7NGHrOoDB3RdfGoCer8aX5DuojI_773_P8_FXInQK8xLuzHFjlv5c-vZTr5eZsgSLTd2fg5gYuWkeOO2mcpmB/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW6Ak8oiG8bOt4mMK5PZtGnUgjZiWolB3WGs2w7SGj81jqbODzxbDYmzE2IUZvDlV5ov0AUfLBIsT2-uix0EZn-b3xpRFF9NZu2esbtuhsV-EYLhEwgSt4ke2cvaoBwvzzPsP1ffK6sjuIad4l1ZwhRTMkWqMBjOGcsEcF5AWFND4arfqfRiTuNWvSCZr/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW6Ak8oiG8bOt4mMK5PZtGnUgjZiWolB3WGs2w7SGj81jqbODzxbDYmzE2IUZvDlV5ov0AUfLBIsT2-uix0EZn-b3xpRFF9NZu2esbtuhsV-EYLhEwgSt4ke2cvaoBwvzzPsP1ffK6sjuIad4l1ZwhRTMkWqMBjOGcsEcF5AWFND4arfqfRiTuNWvSCZr/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilC9dqSB9ZQIoptUpImeYgT7A1cS4MLqLiFmT9YnFAMJg_GQ6EoLb-hP3fRbr9M_QpjV3OnZd6crQxY4af4HoXF77Er8W3-PGCyU4qV4PfTTQz0yKqY0XsbTIueqGJHl8gCgb0ScDwkjsr2jWO6D_vP9SARqBqYDlUx2Fv2_MkwlVjSn8Ysmvc1O6LSzC/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilC9dqSB9ZQIoptUpImeYgT7A1cS4MLqLiFmT9YnFAMJg_GQ6EoLb-hP3fRbr9M_QpjV3OnZd6crQxY4af4HoXF77Er8W3-PGCyU4qV4PfTTQz0yKqY0XsbTIueqGJHl8gCgb0ScDwkjsr2jWO6D_vP9SARqBqYDlUx2Fv2_MkwlVjSn8Ysmvc1O6LSzC/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRN38RnqJ6otfb5EflmSfG5E3rOgr_6YSHFWLwoS7rDIrBJiqtuV9p64NdUEH7xCHWvIHflXAVWT1D5cRmmFGPLsOrwKFclz8C08Kw5sdWHysEZov4pvmp9KJAjTqdedrdHVwNZfeSXWOpMCPc2Q52irFhaXnM55KoQ2J8u64Ov4CBlUVLwvlnNhpkD1X/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRN38RnqJ6otfb5EflmSfG5E3rOgr_6YSHFWLwoS7rDIrBJiqtuV9p64NdUEH7xCHWvIHflXAVWT1D5cRmmFGPLsOrwKFclz8C08Kw5sdWHysEZov4pvmp9KJAjTqdedrdHVwNZfeSXWOpMCPc2Q52irFhaXnM55KoQ2J8u64Ov4CBlUVLwvlnNhpkD1X/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JdcR9LystyBM4Ubo9W71AjRU3s4NztQoZqQZsfU0eqrtLCluilxRcGeoNl3qdBc9pzZ59tMK9fOcKODGTZQ5koPMm5RyBgKp3IBqAxgvc_2mNU-3EQz3pexfVanQTa-8_UadEC6vcM8IyIZQp23VADsIfuA_LH3nKTXXWx7vjRmm-bPvtwQc6qNwpUp-/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JdcR9LystyBM4Ubo9W71AjRU3s4NztQoZqQZsfU0eqrtLCluilxRcGeoNl3qdBc9pzZ59tMK9fOcKODGTZQ5koPMm5RyBgKp3IBqAxgvc_2mNU-3EQz3pexfVanQTa-8_UadEC6vcM8IyIZQp23VADsIfuA_LH3nKTXXWx7vjRmm-bPvtwQc6qNwpUp-/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Up above the crypts and the rain starts lashing down. There are a couple of coniferous trees that are the only dry places to stand rain-free and consider how shit the weather can be in Winter. Interestingly the new camera is far more water resistant than the previous one. However a couple of years of making sure water and camera never mixed has imprinted the habit and I am reluctant to let rainfall anywhere near the new camera. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL77dNPetiGSr_jy_Cnbx6H7hlZ1cWqdUijguva11VN0zpENhliAeANV7wizt6_vGuLXE2em-n4gx9vpQ9Tywjvo610moYr7WdzCKdHf3xawRJLSsY0lvU8tyZd4O5xpBHQyP-Ptlj4m9vkpV-GOfYs99LsxVUriz3tinAriwV-kGVkoSCQGU_Tq_DJGrL/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL77dNPetiGSr_jy_Cnbx6H7hlZ1cWqdUijguva11VN0zpENhliAeANV7wizt6_vGuLXE2em-n4gx9vpQ9Tywjvo610moYr7WdzCKdHf3xawRJLSsY0lvU8tyZd4O5xpBHQyP-Ptlj4m9vkpV-GOfYs99LsxVUriz3tinAriwV-kGVkoSCQGU_Tq_DJGrL/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">An annual delight this singular sprig of Glory-of-the-snow has appeared in the same pedestal trench several years in a row now. It is a harbinger of Spring and sign that life will take root in the most barren of places given half a chance.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM008Re4a5LreS0Tpit-relGabSBtS26CEPJmA3DOIJnPJzO9V4hsY8pBWd7JaoPkCcGQGHrmTHwvyau6pFvavMMG88qSCm5Cm_LyDMVX-1hS_1Mxhi5AmHAZC91SjVHuzTJo-mVs4PwKA-0pyo0uLqOn1PlL_DFGSG4phx5Vuw2gQMTztp4GN98wi-9T/s2048/008a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM008Re4a5LreS0Tpit-relGabSBtS26CEPJmA3DOIJnPJzO9V4hsY8pBWd7JaoPkCcGQGHrmTHwvyau6pFvavMMG88qSCm5Cm_LyDMVX-1hS_1Mxhi5AmHAZC91SjVHuzTJo-mVs4PwKA-0pyo0uLqOn1PlL_DFGSG4phx5Vuw2gQMTztp4GN98wi-9T/s320/008a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">glory-of-the-snow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXpOBZO05-jnvL0K-MJJNvRyYYqqxyU0iny8XkckykR8AiSub18ivIoNCibOEHvqD06EV0urUgsI0nv-CbDydI5UXOKzYAyRvxswz_mv-G675FHCiYX7pH3js13nMf0cwqqNtMNgZyzUKjSNfMp9ugrFQGC15HdXjYGml3bkaifqwvjbHTKM816_OQQb2/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXpOBZO05-jnvL0K-MJJNvRyYYqqxyU0iny8XkckykR8AiSub18ivIoNCibOEHvqD06EV0urUgsI0nv-CbDydI5UXOKzYAyRvxswz_mv-G675FHCiYX7pH3js13nMf0cwqqNtMNgZyzUKjSNfMp9ugrFQGC15HdXjYGml3bkaifqwvjbHTKM816_OQQb2/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz7pJon4GVXE1yWFvquMQ5cMcM5lS8oDQGEO-RhBRUcFZzsjUhZCQ_LYynDwZ3nty2YcclGGPMf9hh_5UPB6M7QBqmSwhb4puO9WgmxH8huLdR4lRhmSYCEVVFkVyL4uHk8tbByCA1okWCMMZmZlAGZH1gHbIXGpcpyUHNNXlg7Vw4sv6g5xgGCnTd6ky/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz7pJon4GVXE1yWFvquMQ5cMcM5lS8oDQGEO-RhBRUcFZzsjUhZCQ_LYynDwZ3nty2YcclGGPMf9hh_5UPB6M7QBqmSwhb4puO9WgmxH8huLdR4lRhmSYCEVVFkVyL4uHk8tbByCA1okWCMMZmZlAGZH1gHbIXGpcpyUHNNXlg7Vw4sv6g5xgGCnTd6ky/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajkLfHx-kiJ7HawjwUrHup4MUQqKEhEOKJcY2yOl-EbuJnuF3yKS72j4EPAaifaY9qNPb5atvaXmbkehwM9Vr5Br0vgn4O5WtJ6YlUOpprMHpA3Zs4eSRc7Jf3UIgxXC32cjMDPIZ4fHfkz3vCZHOZ25TmvWpmISkhDpAFZemMBi9BmvSqhHfopizi-O2/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajkLfHx-kiJ7HawjwUrHup4MUQqKEhEOKJcY2yOl-EbuJnuF3yKS72j4EPAaifaY9qNPb5atvaXmbkehwM9Vr5Br0vgn4O5WtJ6YlUOpprMHpA3Zs4eSRc7Jf3UIgxXC32cjMDPIZ4fHfkz3vCZHOZ25TmvWpmISkhDpAFZemMBi9BmvSqhHfopizi-O2/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhJOKpRsNf5JSmnB47YVNpI145iJbvlTkzN3R_FYMsKtArVk3LGQ4QDESAgiQfB2nKwGxyZcg_M9COVf_G3AxtaEHL4U-1-XmUNKDLAIJy3Ouis9erG5Vxn3ARV4HCarRsfWRe9pRhJRRA7eFO2SN-9swnT3XOCr9Zj1mRyPt0PFgj6983yXyqfiBB4vN/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhJOKpRsNf5JSmnB47YVNpI145iJbvlTkzN3R_FYMsKtArVk3LGQ4QDESAgiQfB2nKwGxyZcg_M9COVf_G3AxtaEHL4U-1-XmUNKDLAIJy3Ouis9erG5Vxn3ARV4HCarRsfWRe9pRhJRRA7eFO2SN-9swnT3XOCr9Zj1mRyPt0PFgj6983yXyqfiBB4vN/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay this is the third birdfeeder on trial. The second one; plastic cage holding fatballs, lasted about 24hrs before the thick plastic bars containing the balls were chewed through making it redundant. "Release the balls!" There was zero sign of any fatballs on the ground below and I wonder if they even fell that far before being dispatched by the squirrels. I have no evidence it was squirrels but I doubt it was the crows and pigeons. Previously the squirrels hadn't shown that much interest in fatballs (their preferences in order are peanuts, bread, sunflower seeds with fatballs a poor fourth) so I hoped they might leave the hanging device alone. Unfortunately I think they enjoy a challenge, especially if there is a hint of food-reward. I was in Tesco's and saw this feeder (only about £5 so nice and cheep!) and it was made of a heavier plastic that wouldn't be so susceptible to squirrel teeth, although I held little faith as they dispatched the first 2 in minutes. The birds took about 20 minutes before giving it a go and 2 days later it was half empty suggesting it was bedding in nicely. I wouldn't be able to refill it as I'd be away for the following week on holiday but it was a good start and maybe the squirrels wouldn't tear it to bits like the first 2.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ0ElpTQR8CC5keARiWQQGKbvnhzTwVSyCzVj25WeR7iMZdc7M9Fcj_bh47miKFkkSbmnEJcRu3i-Lu4s3L-U3P1jL8h1AeLQhscOk7lrlsGit9K2kIAwGTKFv2G6MpNe-u1UZTjl0zb_EwJ5PIf4P5ZlbxrSSpbGc0vyNI_T8QCkl-DpF-sA5lX4MNRQ/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQ0ElpTQR8CC5keARiWQQGKbvnhzTwVSyCzVj25WeR7iMZdc7M9Fcj_bh47miKFkkSbmnEJcRu3i-Lu4s3L-U3P1jL8h1AeLQhscOk7lrlsGit9K2kIAwGTKFv2G6MpNe-u1UZTjl0zb_EwJ5PIf4P5ZlbxrSSpbGc0vyNI_T8QCkl-DpF-sA5lX4MNRQ/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkerwpbXNF6fblyCSHD2Ci1MLueRsyF_FSnk3JPWw8WTvq8lDRi6xwh7CVwV55K3YraDkQUOLXjmIyI5Bl2d3Bmcq7jK6Zf2XjlEP4KYPIfCuX9WIwKaAI7MGKo4uBZ1vVjAeEsdd4WDuVcpxgNa68PQzYS8m2vIFHfW280a88A_56H1lbznE_HsfynmZn/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkerwpbXNF6fblyCSHD2Ci1MLueRsyF_FSnk3JPWw8WTvq8lDRi6xwh7CVwV55K3YraDkQUOLXjmIyI5Bl2d3Bmcq7jK6Zf2XjlEP4KYPIfCuX9WIwKaAI7MGKo4uBZ1vVjAeEsdd4WDuVcpxgNa68PQzYS8m2vIFHfW280a88A_56H1lbznE_HsfynmZn/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">instant success</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP7E-7y4ozEg6JCRDAfYdaYGE3tHKWOEefkw3_y76m_1Opfc4NdJR9ZImh2Kt8Uye620yz6cZ-UK7tJqLkCf4UHMPYYBQ-9_z8-eJiVLGReZjY2WUECN7i4HVCDoJybFvRVzgdbJr965cRBDaOLtCIiolM9hKg6t45WMaCf-iALDwG3lDawN5TDi7-8T6/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP7E-7y4ozEg6JCRDAfYdaYGE3tHKWOEefkw3_y76m_1Opfc4NdJR9ZImh2Kt8Uye620yz6cZ-UK7tJqLkCf4UHMPYYBQ-9_z8-eJiVLGReZjY2WUECN7i4HVCDoJybFvRVzgdbJr965cRBDaOLtCIiolM9hKg6t45WMaCf-iALDwG3lDawN5TDi7-8T6/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQaoGZvMAyPpqlrQrec7c2Due_n6QQzlr2GMJcgnH-OWA1HaFAdiWLx6JDSvWrw2BX1nlapWfFQvP2jbipdc0DJDIxlZSuKDZ7I7EdyIZzlUEmoaqAWLFh7qknDDOejkBvF8oU-SWfrNie0CwjUTK4EISIyTw0yip-vi-geHPiqYOnKE1PP7zqJGiE2it/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQaoGZvMAyPpqlrQrec7c2Due_n6QQzlr2GMJcgnH-OWA1HaFAdiWLx6JDSvWrw2BX1nlapWfFQvP2jbipdc0DJDIxlZSuKDZ7I7EdyIZzlUEmoaqAWLFh7qknDDOejkBvF8oU-SWfrNie0CwjUTK4EISIyTw0yip-vi-geHPiqYOnKE1PP7zqJGiE2it/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"thank you for my new feeder<br />I'll try and keep those other thieves off it!"</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile there were two conflicts going on. I lay out food in several places at the far end of the riverside area. The squirrels are very quick to come looking and I put peanuts on the low stone (below) for them. I have grown tired of discouraging the pigeons and they are getting bolder. Two dropped in and settled on "the squirrels" stone. It was interesting to watch the squirrels react as "their" food stash was decimated by the greedy pigeons. Would they stand by and watch or get pro-active? The boldest hatched a cunning plan and climbed the small tree on the right of the monument and then leapt between the grazing pigeons onto the top of the stone. It was more the sudden jump and appearance of the squirrel that chased off both pigeons than the attack and I wondered how much thought went into this clever strategy, or was it just a lucky break forced by frustration.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCdSn5VkfJc1ckVxfrkaH7N_wgTv5DlHTccO9YbrIaOPMpNTviVnUHz6EgwGuhHsQF0xXtHX84qPAskBJO37pEnecyHlJJGwQzZRb5NHyuwLmEE24iWqG40ct360f4s87jpwEO39LVpNYQsMHFaIinGD47YNitj9RRXrWS00SI08f0WLGn5pNMHdRhRGl/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCdSn5VkfJc1ckVxfrkaH7N_wgTv5DlHTccO9YbrIaOPMpNTviVnUHz6EgwGuhHsQF0xXtHX84qPAskBJO37pEnecyHlJJGwQzZRb5NHyuwLmEE24iWqG40ct360f4s87jpwEO39LVpNYQsMHFaIinGD47YNitj9RRXrWS00SI08f0WLGn5pNMHdRhRGl/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The other conflict was 10 yards away on the ground. There is a gravestone the smaller birds come to and I put seeds along the narrow top. A certain amount spills onto the ground and the ground feeders (blackbirds, wrens and dunnocks) prefer this. There must be a rat home somewhere near as very occasionally a rat appears from behind this war-grave. It has been a year or more since I last saw one and their appearances are rare. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzdPHn3gPcOSCKAfsed_h4X99zHXXRV0xXQUaeT-nbn6PPSi9izD-ZYZ56Mh6jqjUNrFQuvq330glAkBhJVXgp6g7MR5Na0VkOKwCt8Cgx9JVnwXFqJwteywTDiZh-ffP-IFMhbdfKjAZ2sj9xCxj4NlZXWaTZ4du1NXLD1UzBqVIuAnjfoWztjEkvv8f/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzdPHn3gPcOSCKAfsed_h4X99zHXXRV0xXQUaeT-nbn6PPSi9izD-ZYZ56Mh6jqjUNrFQuvq330glAkBhJVXgp6g7MR5Na0VkOKwCt8Cgx9JVnwXFqJwteywTDiZh-ffP-IFMhbdfKjAZ2sj9xCxj4NlZXWaTZ4du1NXLD1UzBqVIuAnjfoWztjEkvv8f/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCin0mynubQkX1334g7bK2eY7OIS3pIthfqGdRnDrLjP-Hj6g1aQqVK25X7jg6s7eLaHyTd-Idi8P5jAsiRy3z4Ysv70HWgdeXpAJG-b2BC6n00AfkbY6bFe8bjN5Aic7ouOd-GlUsX5EJNC5ggBYsmf9Id4dZWYljZ9atdZZ0dpw8NzC7ZI-IFUo3TXZ/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCin0mynubQkX1334g7bK2eY7OIS3pIthfqGdRnDrLjP-Hj6g1aQqVK25X7jg6s7eLaHyTd-Idi8P5jAsiRy3z4Ysv70HWgdeXpAJG-b2BC6n00AfkbY6bFe8bjN5Aic7ouOd-GlUsX5EJNC5ggBYsmf9Id4dZWYljZ9atdZZ0dpw8NzC7ZI-IFUo3TXZ/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today I was in luck and a whiskery nose came out from behind the stone. It spent quite some time assessing me - with twitching nose as much as beady eyes. Before it got up the nerve to come out a few inches from behind the stone. It was very cautious and on the dalek bark of a crow, it shot back behind the stone, before waiting 2 minutes and reappearing. In those moments I would creep another step closer and place more food slightly further out in the open to coax it out. We continued this until we were nose to nose! They are reckoned to be smart creatures and I think it worked out I was good news more than bad news, a source of food more than a predator, and it became emboldened. Although the light was poor I was able to get a few decent photos at low shutter speeds (1/60th) while it held still assessing the danger or eating. It looked a pretty healthy specimen - I reckoned a female as the males have an ungainly undercarriage visible in retreat.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKf5xxVnsoqHjpz6wWw8ir663WEL3Gh6EFJeK7m0oSWvVMsyYmcnZ5TVdVT9Y9-TAzrk3EKhD3HoZB0z2hPHps7EiXioRNZ8bo5fxjVEcXp1QU87X9A6-by9gSSJfWdOd1zSfiiFxrDtLt7xv7_TLs9lXs7KaF5IfB2oTCm0vD9PyLQ01vK5RoSXMyRhw/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKf5xxVnsoqHjpz6wWw8ir663WEL3Gh6EFJeK7m0oSWvVMsyYmcnZ5TVdVT9Y9-TAzrk3EKhD3HoZB0z2hPHps7EiXioRNZ8bo5fxjVEcXp1QU87X9A6-by9gSSJfWdOd1zSfiiFxrDtLt7xv7_TLs9lXs7KaF5IfB2oTCm0vD9PyLQ01vK5RoSXMyRhw/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUka5bc4lUeV1NTITAgoDeSfrzHmICQsiSvNFXosZOwieaP7nPs4vIdzrC2YmmVITYhCszZW5Mnm970IWDAUXk9-zBNkQFHnOF8yhWm5N8XgC504Cj78MZJS01hTzaOy3D42aCki0jtSYfzPml0Mky1YcddyWnItOh0FS61YznPPnXqupYkvklvU3hvOlD/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUka5bc4lUeV1NTITAgoDeSfrzHmICQsiSvNFXosZOwieaP7nPs4vIdzrC2YmmVITYhCszZW5Mnm970IWDAUXk9-zBNkQFHnOF8yhWm5N8XgC504Cj78MZJS01hTzaOy3D42aCki0jtSYfzPml0Mky1YcddyWnItOh0FS61YznPPnXqupYkvklvU3hvOlD/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YFSDJ-fkcRjEWlV1k8QZEi5iC6NUUSSiiDPblOlseGSqt1zi8_uAFHmm6OKbFoclcV3bxl_3oflWu1kesgrp_iqWeDyfDQ_ZfB4e_qYhRkyrT3zQBPqmIOrx_ZhhpQjk1OG0lZM_FOTzwGetk6ByvDQoCF8__SylOCZuxBOol0UQ3OLXA6eqqcSkQ69z/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YFSDJ-fkcRjEWlV1k8QZEi5iC6NUUSSiiDPblOlseGSqt1zi8_uAFHmm6OKbFoclcV3bxl_3oflWu1kesgrp_iqWeDyfDQ_ZfB4e_qYhRkyrT3zQBPqmIOrx_ZhhpQjk1OG0lZM_FOTzwGetk6ByvDQoCF8__SylOCZuxBOol0UQ3OLXA6eqqcSkQ69z/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn57TtMbBCAEVRs4zjVCakecSBwGqmVEGy7_55l6mvsJ1o36ljGOK-lZdCZZp5MAtNd_iPMvGXHcEET9FdR3v855SfSUKI037MNRdzx6Uyvf0bQahwcNjM0Ntp-9wAIgQCJCUPj0rtHj4fvpUQnreGNduOvxKyQ9UrpfZXxNbutmDKbvS5N6QR7MOrSCdo/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn57TtMbBCAEVRs4zjVCakecSBwGqmVEGy7_55l6mvsJ1o36ljGOK-lZdCZZp5MAtNd_iPMvGXHcEET9FdR3v855SfSUKI037MNRdzx6Uyvf0bQahwcNjM0Ntp-9wAIgQCJCUPj0rtHj4fvpUQnreGNduOvxKyQ9UrpfZXxNbutmDKbvS5N6QR7MOrSCdo/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQxzULKt5cWZDVEh-HTw_KJGXDjY1WrIWWHvUD2yQac1pVPBSfnmZzDaFY5u6gIF2PtwOZW53fQr9fYn6l4tadYcnyOKPEPG6cGFnqH97Lrrqk9W-H1UzIBdx23jCx4Ru3cd_XRhHXjJo4yldDqpj-IG2ysgua01NHiinfJRT1zU9fk1cLH_Lij3GQnNF/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQxzULKt5cWZDVEh-HTw_KJGXDjY1WrIWWHvUD2yQac1pVPBSfnmZzDaFY5u6gIF2PtwOZW53fQr9fYn6l4tadYcnyOKPEPG6cGFnqH97Lrrqk9W-H1UzIBdx23jCx4Ru3cd_XRhHXjJo4yldDqpj-IG2ysgua01NHiinfJRT1zU9fk1cLH_Lij3GQnNF/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the most ambitious heist of the day</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNWWcPfXHNkw-DP8DdPmrS69Sd9gKDQ87s1JuJU-jXbwVz8rOUOzq8pkmgTPVZz2gW_v8svRumjFCydsvMxQJpjsuwS_Ri3E_V2GNz8pjPWqFsXWrlFblv7j5LIaTEoHfRgrPjlPSwnJEMu0f6JQm0UQIJBt0ED7ptvtzGJ8PaUYK8fhBPlES2YeP1ry4/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNWWcPfXHNkw-DP8DdPmrS69Sd9gKDQ87s1JuJU-jXbwVz8rOUOzq8pkmgTPVZz2gW_v8svRumjFCydsvMxQJpjsuwS_Ri3E_V2GNz8pjPWqFsXWrlFblv7j5LIaTEoHfRgrPjlPSwnJEMu0f6JQm0UQIJBt0ED7ptvtzGJ8PaUYK8fhBPlES2YeP1ry4/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>now where is that almond I had my eye on<br />I'm sure there was one right here</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbST8O4fZB7e1uKqFrqKqQMBu8MzRreGILynIoTwpnSeQZOPgFt6HUmhkTNtPSlRHXxY7UuBD6UqSZtyT7_G7eGWdVgFyQha6LeY4TFUSYRWRBRxdyAMQLF1gpbGlyT1uueaUBl2-fd1Pj0g1QAmcXIaJZCF70XvpUMKz8VyR9u6siddHYx1Qgh8Mho7i0/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbST8O4fZB7e1uKqFrqKqQMBu8MzRreGILynIoTwpnSeQZOPgFt6HUmhkTNtPSlRHXxY7UuBD6UqSZtyT7_G7eGWdVgFyQha6LeY4TFUSYRWRBRxdyAMQLF1gpbGlyT1uueaUBl2-fd1Pj0g1QAmcXIaJZCF70XvpUMKz8VyR9u6siddHYx1Qgh8Mho7i0/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The second conflict arose when this blackbird saw all the seeds on the floor and hopped down for a closer look. Unfortunately for him the competition won out, although they were suitably unnerved and then tied to quickly transport as much of the booty to a safer spot.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzX1YCqF7CYqrCoDyib7tb9wyUtSVeLmnB0DC6K2zc2_4ZXFEL21xxzp_abV2t-AnIgR6ODa7KxxVEIzExC3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-21468977760544981052024-03-13T18:31:00.000-07:002024-03-13T18:31:47.897-07:00number two and the bingo bees<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutCk0xxMBXnjcF3UueP3hUNyXmkhwRgZfRN2PJp5MTaKJxX3xyB0l_jcl4vsCV_ZoElTbXS4cecgS9K0HK2v-S5pdt9wm-0D6_qkriUkriIHcpYMytm2_P5nDR5x-Y7LjIsOJ7KhH07vph2XVuFzlomivLNrEa20PZOQRwdpbuxHJUOzj18MNlbNd7yFE/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutCk0xxMBXnjcF3UueP3hUNyXmkhwRgZfRN2PJp5MTaKJxX3xyB0l_jcl4vsCV_ZoElTbXS4cecgS9K0HK2v-S5pdt9wm-0D6_qkriUkriIHcpYMytm2_P5nDR5x-Y7LjIsOJ7KhH07vph2XVuFzlomivLNrEa20PZOQRwdpbuxHJUOzj18MNlbNd7yFE/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">26-02-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so busy buying tupperwares for Majorca that I didn't have time to write up this day out at the Botanics at the end of last month. It was notable for the second butterfly of the year and the release of the bingo bees.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNKg19_UraRca7YcuO_o8uYx_DX73NCfMwGzoL_lCGD1-_Q58Dir_zeOhtKvFhH476xtzsW4i9uHQ5ORAm6216hFjKMwNpDuSEUuJnJKVnrCfMGHL2qHDefqJ8iLrfG0Zd6NXJn22JjmbE4rDCY8xh2VzlGkpQ6EJQZGGv4wbD8BEoBwbTpJT_u-siAtW/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNKg19_UraRca7YcuO_o8uYx_DX73NCfMwGzoL_lCGD1-_Q58Dir_zeOhtKvFhH476xtzsW4i9uHQ5ORAm6216hFjKMwNpDuSEUuJnJKVnrCfMGHL2qHDefqJ8iLrfG0Zd6NXJn22JjmbE4rDCY8xh2VzlGkpQ6EJQZGGv4wbD8BEoBwbTpJT_u-siAtW/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk27LRZ2Td7yQgF9hmB1t3v9v3tIPiu9inVYhH0KYfsh1MGGqnOIzPgsUglg3tDVaLgCdkmBi4NpCzF8O3uuQGNsvNo_vlHwbQ4OPUCrUjZWnUSTPOThxpgBzTar7mGVlldbvAsGgrr90LNQo9n19QOSKtUdulR9YxBAJoNBWn0IQWsQpxb4ZNgxZHjKCw/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk27LRZ2Td7yQgF9hmB1t3v9v3tIPiu9inVYhH0KYfsh1MGGqnOIzPgsUglg3tDVaLgCdkmBi4NpCzF8O3uuQGNsvNo_vlHwbQ4OPUCrUjZWnUSTPOThxpgBzTar7mGVlldbvAsGgrr90LNQo9n19QOSKtUdulR9YxBAJoNBWn0IQWsQpxb4ZNgxZHjKCw/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long tailed tit<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I met a pal I hadn't seen in ages and we compared notes on getting older, while having a wander round the Botanics. It was a pleasant enough day for it and certainly better than any either side. Just about warm enough to cast off hats and gloves. There was a lack of kingfishers (and not even any friendly robins) at the Chinese pond. However we bumped into Ken along near the viburnum, who pointed out the second red admiral of the year on the bergenia leaves. As we chatted the admiral flew up onto the viburnum and gave us a better opportunity for photos. Close inspection suggested it wasn't the same individual as the first one I photographed on the 18th Feb, although it was in a similar area.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvcHgFrZWbUr97pkKhGRHENmHa3mXW281fMGiNkHaTns67nDkR0tjJOjl_cPh707azZ5Q_KrY4SAlJLzZ5YQYS5oq7c1F5qfcxCEau69F9MRpxtD3vSuhac8dUz9QFEMNICb09QRlPqmqB9UMGMQ00FnWGvA83mOYq0U2HV3Ru2ETjgL7meM7pDQzIV_x/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvcHgFrZWbUr97pkKhGRHENmHa3mXW281fMGiNkHaTns67nDkR0tjJOjl_cPh707azZ5Q_KrY4SAlJLzZ5YQYS5oq7c1F5qfcxCEau69F9MRpxtD3vSuhac8dUz9QFEMNICb09QRlPqmqB9UMGMQ00FnWGvA83mOYq0U2HV3Ru2ETjgL7meM7pDQzIV_x/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />RA on bergenia</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3TI0FK-ESiHm9dK2_VxhoB9y87B2-noeNdAeL_krWOLAr2MxwVcT1Yda7gffXF4CT_zEeI8sM485DPDohOsqIOCpQeL00sk4XPzHVUo9fFHFNQyWe_ynOv39dDVLqgiqW8-g3DCMqWCZ_97t-MnwB4NcfCpDwdV9rmXwCY5Jhyphenhyphenu9AB6Qk47zCEn-W9Ec/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3TI0FK-ESiHm9dK2_VxhoB9y87B2-noeNdAeL_krWOLAr2MxwVcT1Yda7gffXF4CT_zEeI8sM485DPDohOsqIOCpQeL00sk4XPzHVUo9fFHFNQyWe_ynOv39dDVLqgiqW8-g3DCMqWCZ_97t-MnwB4NcfCpDwdV9rmXwCY5Jhyphenhyphenu9AB6Qk47zCEn-W9Ec/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on viburnum</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X6hYoKXyUkBTk2lS15QC825oiM72DytqQjP4QP8z-hC14bPkrE1ju4Q7fUXXQrFwawdy0b6egJGfGKGhBb99NCjdwW0rIwGhHP-wEsRWmtq7lj_aZjQFmSSFUiXv6Sqvte-O0WC9wHnwYgBoZq8mXVblW0roPrR-yOZlSAYjw9tQ9JVjvEpGFGi4Nnjs/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X6hYoKXyUkBTk2lS15QC825oiM72DytqQjP4QP8z-hC14bPkrE1ju4Q7fUXXQrFwawdy0b6egJGfGKGhBb99NCjdwW0rIwGhHP-wEsRWmtq7lj_aZjQFmSSFUiXv6Sqvte-O0WC9wHnwYgBoZq8mXVblW0roPrR-yOZlSAYjw9tQ9JVjvEpGFGi4Nnjs/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEu9n8ajF6h1IcjjF-TGBLUrVQF6V1W-tSPjxdNGGEnKOb9vG_mNfe1nVBqpIuN6DG4NMkbUZpwCwAGxAlgp06j2aFtZwv5pfyMULH2TVwp5q1o8xZ8PPMFkZkiwhYawVTlHXQWRPnYVg9OfwVMkW6MhXBoQ8uINs8cGGuYHAXx4ZiCy5drR1srK6SOt0/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEu9n8ajF6h1IcjjF-TGBLUrVQF6V1W-tSPjxdNGGEnKOb9vG_mNfe1nVBqpIuN6DG4NMkbUZpwCwAGxAlgp06j2aFtZwv5pfyMULH2TVwp5q1o8xZ8PPMFkZkiwhYawVTlHXQWRPnYVg9OfwVMkW6MhXBoQ8uINs8cGGuYHAXx4ZiCy5drR1srK6SOt0/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw43x2IfL5nsqYTOfOlRY4K-FiwbTW4iqJPxf_tqDwMSdYj4yqsNg80RgEN4yiQSURtbSMIqNgsezkp5OF9QA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chatty passers-by 😟</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0njQUkOqJbYprJMvV3bVY0palgF6pg9ZoJ3zHbVJlX-MAM9zKBol5aNamuDhycpwfyYQYCDYi60UPUmAKD455QGeC-_s9OZuKBsNcBtYwp2ClxO8MSC-TzhZRBHSesR7zL9D2ePvmb7ybgy8Iy7x-k-ENYIsXSSxldKap1QjbkCI0gKaRYIBSE9FR62B/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0njQUkOqJbYprJMvV3bVY0palgF6pg9ZoJ3zHbVJlX-MAM9zKBol5aNamuDhycpwfyYQYCDYi60UPUmAKD455QGeC-_s9OZuKBsNcBtYwp2ClxO8MSC-TzhZRBHSesR7zL9D2ePvmb7ybgy8Iy7x-k-ENYIsXSSxldKap1QjbkCI0gKaRYIBSE9FR62B/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrhaBs3MK5Z8IwQBHPsG2xucmVYqRe7vGUc0c6Bh9GRvIcoAkEJ0A0ht6A14VWjZHNAibE2LkD9kuNkyBuM5-NdwznybDty6vpJ1G1XPlQ7VLF_qDX-KGl5p6MeeIsvWvp6aylAA9KWtwUr7O5rRzVvoKq4DNvu4PVrXU7f3glRUY1It5pbRSa5WJJt4X/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrhaBs3MK5Z8IwQBHPsG2xucmVYqRe7vGUc0c6Bh9GRvIcoAkEJ0A0ht6A14VWjZHNAibE2LkD9kuNkyBuM5-NdwznybDty6vpJ1G1XPlQ7VLF_qDX-KGl5p6MeeIsvWvp6aylAA9KWtwUr7O5rRzVvoKq4DNvu4PVrXU7f3glRUY1It5pbRSa5WJJt4X/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdCLrI1FY8FNotg6hoKv9L9Zw-ANLDffw6nW6qM3edi6WrJF23jN6EAmDmZWriGcE7oYsTi9_VDDc093IuLiHWALfbxuf2Txiy3sd868p2z1Y22fpFVv4Zrx2QUsTn8iJVD9xHEepVEG83jx9cQoX30QlD_LZ7SnLIpXS4cbC5U8ezLojMRzr3dih0XO-/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdCLrI1FY8FNotg6hoKv9L9Zw-ANLDffw6nW6qM3edi6WrJF23jN6EAmDmZWriGcE7oYsTi9_VDDc093IuLiHWALfbxuf2Txiy3sd868p2z1Y22fpFVv4Zrx2QUsTn8iJVD9xHEepVEG83jx9cQoX30QlD_LZ7SnLIpXS4cbC5U8ezLojMRzr3dih0XO-/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While chatting the <i>bingo bee</i> girls turned up. They are Edinburgh University students who are studying bees and have permission to release the bees in places of their choice within the gardens. In order to recognise or monitor the bees they glue tiny numbers to their backs. Hence bingo bees. They (the students) also carry sonic equipment with a view to locating the bees by the sound of their buzz. I am uncertain of the end goals of the project but they have been carrying it out for some while. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGJp9dfLOkPdfBj2_6yrayUApOjYlNgQTLqIQBVjayip-DvLrVLfuR12gABIghnhgGa-OCE2YHadqu1jq37WIvVONqpPmqq4BAxgE5OyexuRSzYfidkr56ZNI-iIKmWCstuoqHbqiMWLbr47Kr0olizN3wS0U5RCGbIqfWfzVVUDuMP8PM0SIYcdxMghV/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGJp9dfLOkPdfBj2_6yrayUApOjYlNgQTLqIQBVjayip-DvLrVLfuR12gABIghnhgGa-OCE2YHadqu1jq37WIvVONqpPmqq4BAxgE5OyexuRSzYfidkr56ZNI-iIKmWCstuoqHbqiMWLbr47Kr0olizN3wS0U5RCGbIqfWfzVVUDuMP8PM0SIYcdxMghV/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I remember last year Ken suggesting (in the absence of butterflies) we search for numbered bees. We found a few and there is something much more compelling about looking for bees with numbers than just looking at unadorned bees. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where this added value comes from, more than just the joy of a bee wearing a number, which is pretty good fun! (While remaining a sober scientific experiment of course.) It is sort of like the strap line of The Prisoner but in reverse.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I am not a number, I am a person."</div><div style="text-align: center;">vs</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I am a number, I am a bingo bee!"</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l3Esjk1RH8XxEByOJQAcJPjuwcwgdITiqhb-4_jU5jisHrIqjEwRDTIj4ooz3wIbAcBF2LNcBoVrCUdGr07e7wcnCzgd2647UDGA55NUIoUMJsQjxrduxUda_FWBxt156RlQpoehKOyCm-qcHRmUn_SwDOMAN2eJG6kyB09ZraQD8InHu5RTwP025wqw/s640/im-not-a-number-im-a-person.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l3Esjk1RH8XxEByOJQAcJPjuwcwgdITiqhb-4_jU5jisHrIqjEwRDTIj4ooz3wIbAcBF2LNcBoVrCUdGr07e7wcnCzgd2647UDGA55NUIoUMJsQjxrduxUda_FWBxt156RlQpoehKOyCm-qcHRmUn_SwDOMAN2eJG6kyB09ZraQD8InHu5RTwP025wqw/s320/im-not-a-number-im-a-person.gif" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Talking of prison, the bees have to be chilled in order to stick their numbers on. And travel round the gardens in a low temperature deliveroo-type bag. So before release they are actually being held in the cooler. I trust it will benefit them in the long run. Well not them perhaps, but their future generations. I will be looking out for 155 and all her co-workers.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7uJPozW8t6qQuTIJv6lDvtI5JPHUT_VFksuSquqg8p_IFFanFtl_qbtClMWNiDJsM8ZkODGOO2-hrB1rpuGpCht7ClBxOrFO3teSxxmy8q7WfYQ9Wyi1qq5P8iqFnSEwtOFamAhUGzAHe6Vh6BIaQE72sS-n7VGTR5mfa49WLddqujlbOCB2fXJLpoDx/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7uJPozW8t6qQuTIJv6lDvtI5JPHUT_VFksuSquqg8p_IFFanFtl_qbtClMWNiDJsM8ZkODGOO2-hrB1rpuGpCht7ClBxOrFO3teSxxmy8q7WfYQ9Wyi1qq5P8iqFnSEwtOFamAhUGzAHe6Vh6BIaQE72sS-n7VGTR5mfa49WLddqujlbOCB2fXJLpoDx/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />we thought maybe number 3<br />but closer scrutiny suggested it was just number 2 relocating</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoMA9c2TvHPEzQqvLnIwh_sweQU0SBsy44cguaN_oUW6RDQ78Muc75pT1TNdqRVJuVQTI5HAFedUosEkWVL9JNaG5PaPLsrRwnUE9q2QyTjY-sE2htMutWmVYuRqEn4xAYvunAJa6-xrHoEEXX1_S50imScxQCFsLX3EZL5FjrwZPJhjTZgVsDs3wSRlk/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoMA9c2TvHPEzQqvLnIwh_sweQU0SBsy44cguaN_oUW6RDQ78Muc75pT1TNdqRVJuVQTI5HAFedUosEkWVL9JNaG5PaPLsrRwnUE9q2QyTjY-sE2htMutWmVYuRqEn4xAYvunAJa6-xrHoEEXX1_S50imScxQCFsLX3EZL5FjrwZPJhjTZgVsDs3wSRlk/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">small flies in sunlight<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After all the excitement in the Botanics (AND marmalade hoverflies) I said goodbye to Ken and my pal and returned home via Warriston. There wasn't much going on but the crows were happy to see me. And the robins.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6r2nN3PUkuqC_c_3Is1A01Pv5UUosfT54zITKxjZuOWGcaOK64-e5-Vz27vaXKXVARY6VXAFr2kA-HgoS9FC181cIQOeWx35WT1oBJ93EUxWFHI06QxE1mF31UmQd-nOldbFchDzjXWZt_f8ahPDbQnot5_Pv1ZGsPSioBXKLnO4yhsrsoQ03SETbpPH/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6r2nN3PUkuqC_c_3Is1A01Pv5UUosfT54zITKxjZuOWGcaOK64-e5-Vz27vaXKXVARY6VXAFr2kA-HgoS9FC181cIQOeWx35WT1oBJ93EUxWFHI06QxE1mF31UmQd-nOldbFchDzjXWZt_f8ahPDbQnot5_Pv1ZGsPSioBXKLnO4yhsrsoQ03SETbpPH/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUBoA0zzJZVlJm9X3yBPCDKZymTpqD36736-lM3DY4GVKmN2Qiq1X6PNRp5oILwAEXbAMZQAWfpO3WZFVni5qImk_nopqFPyjL8MSmdQ04Y6FMoW_dO3nCmamp4lM1zzesYaNMFx6BZzVGMwPWKaxsaFSIVyEtcuXOKtb1N4IJzNuxwpsYz177fPJWK3R/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUBoA0zzJZVlJm9X3yBPCDKZymTpqD36736-lM3DY4GVKmN2Qiq1X6PNRp5oILwAEXbAMZQAWfpO3WZFVni5qImk_nopqFPyjL8MSmdQ04Y6FMoW_dO3nCmamp4lM1zzesYaNMFx6BZzVGMwPWKaxsaFSIVyEtcuXOKtb1N4IJzNuxwpsYz177fPJWK3R/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bullfinch (m)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5EHGlMlPb-7Qt8qJwqbTybAiXcIemIFfkt3hQ-fC8yCk9hzTPRup8VHe1pE7Jwp6cnsugT9173LXGi2odh6kVFrghmgii8eR8NV5xB2J8T84laWuhd_rWUsNuewN8oMRU9PHOnvjlGkssPTe937BEx0kW9U99AW8v0eFSq8TMI7dkMyylm4b8m4vRjZp/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5EHGlMlPb-7Qt8qJwqbTybAiXcIemIFfkt3hQ-fC8yCk9hzTPRup8VHe1pE7Jwp6cnsugT9173LXGi2odh6kVFrghmgii8eR8NV5xB2J8T84laWuhd_rWUsNuewN8oMRU9PHOnvjlGkssPTe937BEx0kW9U99AW8v0eFSq8TMI7dkMyylm4b8m4vRjZp/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS48tLFy-sfx1ugtH6rnq0dhGwX4cz79T-Uiq5HzamImmO-7EpkSsvEf1bU0p3KEpPTJ1hCIwS6FxzrSPruGlKAkKOVkjA8Qb4WDuSGyEZ7yixddBJIiwx7ih3sMWPoRdDd-YWU1Oxzvb8nlHmeWfUsINkOdB8yYMkL6W8z79utiw-zhoONoUQ5SCxSMyI/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS48tLFy-sfx1ugtH6rnq0dhGwX4cz79T-Uiq5HzamImmO-7EpkSsvEf1bU0p3KEpPTJ1hCIwS6FxzrSPruGlKAkKOVkjA8Qb4WDuSGyEZ7yixddBJIiwx7ih3sMWPoRdDd-YWU1Oxzvb8nlHmeWfUsINkOdB8yYMkL6W8z79utiw-zhoONoUQ5SCxSMyI/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Robins have 2 levels of audio. Usually they find a decent perch and holler as loud as possible with beak wide open, in something that is a blend of threat, declaration and song, to let everyone know this is their patch. The other voice they use (video below) is more conversational chat with mostly closed beak, and the sound seems to emanate from their throat in a quiet burble. Since there were no other birds within earshot I presume this was for my benefit. He is probably offering to share his worms as long as I keep turning up with the bread and seeds, but should accept it it his manor and I should not go feeding anyone else. A great honour.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZSmyKddgXGMVyj1RRLirxiRRf62cZ1UDlfacq4x46X7f-xUAtF0MIDqTDnGJsetTTYqom9F9723CORM4yYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chatty robin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1ILw9PqvBm2Xr6ws1qK8j8jkPduB2E0_rtyiQ0iIOI-lFbsHjTg4SxHWYC-O8vSGLxVEGG6Uu1AuD3t3FB9kdC8Bh8CWAGmJedz9AoVX6nivjXuLaYtf-mMZXOXc74IZTW9TaLm1QH8VPulYaBs63jmgqmtbrTN9uzePfVNue7ohnxbtO-31FtOO9GSu/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1ILw9PqvBm2Xr6ws1qK8j8jkPduB2E0_rtyiQ0iIOI-lFbsHjTg4SxHWYC-O8vSGLxVEGG6Uu1AuD3t3FB9kdC8Bh8CWAGmJedz9AoVX6nivjXuLaYtf-mMZXOXc74IZTW9TaLm1QH8VPulYaBs63jmgqmtbrTN9uzePfVNue7ohnxbtO-31FtOO9GSu/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoTX3rY-Iyim2BeEYbkWS6inAxQx1YI98J4F-gyexsw6vrlvt0itcp5GJ5n1g2wtrHWEaqjFaMRcp6O1pbszoZ6q_50Z79LdeYKtcahKq8ihkSb73hB9mqzJhV3CEhUgQL8a39eSkBdrysLwfo8AxMbU0c6Mh-WzyjQVFHe_luqdMBNBNc6os4-qZ4w6P/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoTX3rY-Iyim2BeEYbkWS6inAxQx1YI98J4F-gyexsw6vrlvt0itcp5GJ5n1g2wtrHWEaqjFaMRcp6O1pbszoZ6q_50Z79LdeYKtcahKq8ihkSb73hB9mqzJhV3CEhUgQL8a39eSkBdrysLwfo8AxMbU0c6Mh-WzyjQVFHe_luqdMBNBNc6os4-qZ4w6P/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unusual to see these 2 together and no fighting!<br />must be relatives or spouses</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGOcOYm4dM0-5ESnrvaTTiMRKKc_E1RU4dy_CTr5giOOLtXUuTib5DScuKAUXyMENdo-QVy7hhq68QFly4ijkgOEmUIy1tYQo4eT65r6GCJXE2qYw27b2TQPZZmiekqfSD8ehMxcwhdj1NzEBivIih1L_nTUMSfsJZRFNuAKk9VCAOv-UafAbGMJQ9XHS/s2048/019a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGOcOYm4dM0-5ESnrvaTTiMRKKc_E1RU4dy_CTr5giOOLtXUuTib5DScuKAUXyMENdo-QVy7hhq68QFly4ijkgOEmUIy1tYQo4eT65r6GCJXE2qYw27b2TQPZZmiekqfSD8ehMxcwhdj1NzEBivIih1L_nTUMSfsJZRFNuAKk9VCAOv-UafAbGMJQ9XHS/s320/019a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this one showed me his impressions<br />He also does Anne Robinson and Robin Williams.</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-57448944465402161392024-03-12T09:24:00.000-07:002024-03-13T18:58:05.493-07:00day trip to Sant Elm<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBD0QaXDWl9ezDAN7bLHIwpsovs5r7x72yDdUcMqBFvfdtfkEA5cL4rVDwwX69cmtSyO7SKzcwqXYpo1ihVg_JrqrTgRlkEswWw7KHpnGcivG6MRIBB6xL0rqZslxh0p691yuBXcevf6sMVR_pIJBOQeFyOkLg4n63yEdO7dFXsSFsscAAH4LVxMsVNTd/s1020/091a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1020" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBD0QaXDWl9ezDAN7bLHIwpsovs5r7x72yDdUcMqBFvfdtfkEA5cL4rVDwwX69cmtSyO7SKzcwqXYpo1ihVg_JrqrTgRlkEswWw7KHpnGcivG6MRIBB6xL0rqZslxh0p691yuBXcevf6sMVR_pIJBOQeFyOkLg4n63yEdO7dFXsSFsscAAH4LVxMsVNTd/s320/091a.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">05-03-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">A big day out in the middle of our Majorcan trip, we hired bikes and cycled to a pretty coastal town 15miles North, where we climbed a medium sized hill. The worry with an escapade like this is that something goes wrong because you are unfamiliar with any one of a whole heap of stuff. From the workings of a bike you've never been on, to cycling on Majorcan roads, to misinterpreting the red arrows on the hike. Huge potential for cock-up and instant death. Or at least a little sunburn. Anyway, somehow we survived and it was one of the best days of the trip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC0ur0jjPBtWBjo3kj30joftAeRRg-M8satTL8j5Bq1ZQL1wFScVLNe20tJyZdmQkfpPKWpZtP1PVin0aTfzKBxzoPmZBmNNNPZc1KmMJQD305ZQnEaVdXBIyP2Ad2Yuz83OPT1LxxD4jydZLwU5tY3n8erkmQ0RHaq2OLxOXu2wa5IP4h7qkcRsd4JYI/s1374/071a%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1374" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC0ur0jjPBtWBjo3kj30joftAeRRg-M8satTL8j5Bq1ZQL1wFScVLNe20tJyZdmQkfpPKWpZtP1PVin0aTfzKBxzoPmZBmNNNPZc1KmMJQD305ZQnEaVdXBIyP2Ad2Yuz83OPT1LxxD4jydZLwU5tY3n8erkmQ0RHaq2OLxOXu2wa5IP4h7qkcRsd4JYI/s320/071a%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">15 mile cycle Santa Ponsa to Sant Elm<br />(slight variation on way back)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMZOmAougG4-s6sT2uD_Oi37QMxvPU0WwAcNWKbnBIIoTUgH4vprsZJ-yEp26QSP-jjrRBWziDPVQTiMYVxV8cGICK5VuSbGclO4jlXaphIRXWlaCP71L8eQNmXtWHLq0eAOlENGkH39f6sC72ruYxctrur6_cyaQfNHiyLTcUTx2eXpWEGWGSz5frBeJ/s2048/072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMZOmAougG4-s6sT2uD_Oi37QMxvPU0WwAcNWKbnBIIoTUgH4vprsZJ-yEp26QSP-jjrRBWziDPVQTiMYVxV8cGICK5VuSbGclO4jlXaphIRXWlaCP71L8eQNmXtWHLq0eAOlENGkH39f6sC72ruYxctrur6_cyaQfNHiyLTcUTx2eXpWEGWGSz5frBeJ/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So Mary crocked her foot a couple of weeks prior to the trip. While it was defo on the improve it wasn't up for any heavy impact work like running. I knew there was a bike hire place near us from google homework so I packed a few things with what I thought was remarkable foresight. I didn't take a helmet as they'd surely have them for hire. However I did take a puncture repair kit, tyre levers, the bike handlebar attachment for the DJI Pocket camera and a cheap light padlock I'd bought specially. I have a couple of decent locks for my own bike but they are too heavy to take abroad. So I bought a cheap padlock and wire (£10) from a local Asian shop. I saw it while in buying tupperwares for sugar and tea-bags. I imagine it would open if you spoke harshly to it but it was all about looking the part. It was suitably lightweight to take in a suitcase and did the job very well. <br />I am very pleased to report there were no punctures.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG5YQfI6wprCq7dPodsU8L5irGYv1Cjz9K3zfYFizjrLkUfi9_5KMX_Ze0DZ4j7EuaHHUWNJvPBNvxIb9m-byKRQO63rFo4hyphenhyphen2MztPmT3flY3c2ZfZgrE2MME3g5i9S54L7z8SlW5DLVj7IQ6SFY2WTsapCpc4LKZPCScTGeb4yV-qh4hsaeWdU1H64g_/s1377/072amap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1377" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG5YQfI6wprCq7dPodsU8L5irGYv1Cjz9K3zfYFizjrLkUfi9_5KMX_Ze0DZ4j7EuaHHUWNJvPBNvxIb9m-byKRQO63rFo4hyphenhyphen2MztPmT3flY3c2ZfZgrE2MME3g5i9S54L7z8SlW5DLVj7IQ6SFY2WTsapCpc4LKZPCScTGeb4yV-qh4hsaeWdU1H64g_/s320/072amap.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We collected the bikes about 3 minutes after the hire shop opened. The guy was surprised to see us as we had claimed it would be a relaxed start to the day for us, when we arranged the hire the day before. We started to say how we'd changed plans and were now going a more ambitious cycle but he waved away explanations saying he didn't need to know what we hoped to do. He was very friendly and relaxed although did require a 50 euro cash deposit in case we didn't return. We had got the cheapest bikes in his place, which looked modern 20 years ago. 21 euros per day per bike. I was impressed the price included helmet and spare tube and he didn't try to sell any added extras. The bikes could be dated from their V brakes but everything worked perfectly, was well maintained, and they got us there and back.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbdBeNjvJ3jYc3qnTv1E-kfGsjFoYbRhhrTPrvWD5mVvC60c3R0VB2bBlT3b7nAP_T4KlT5iTc5EllCPwZMOK2ulMLr4jq8AnlS7Dh_U9Gx4c_OuO9LMOuW7ejEl7TbbukHK23Kn89KgfMNs6JkNXMQj2qX1TGchHIltEyFIWZrm8kjQgP6EL25uSKtbz/s2048/073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbdBeNjvJ3jYc3qnTv1E-kfGsjFoYbRhhrTPrvWD5mVvC60c3R0VB2bBlT3b7nAP_T4KlT5iTc5EllCPwZMOK2ulMLr4jq8AnlS7Dh_U9Gx4c_OuO9LMOuW7ejEl7TbbukHK23Kn89KgfMNs6JkNXMQj2qX1TGchHIltEyFIWZrm8kjQgP6EL25uSKtbz/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Cycling on the wrong side of the road was better than I remembered. We'd done some cycling in the North of France maybe 30 years ago and when the traffic thinned out on remote country roads it was all too easy to switch off and go round a roundabout clockwise. Or turn left onto the wrong side. However there was enough Majorcan traffic to remind us which side was preferred. A couple of times we had to brave horrendous large roads with traffic coming from all sides on slip roads, but the majority was diverted onto cyclepaths running parallel to the larger roads. Great to see cyclists being looked after and encouraged this way.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlJz8aCjdnEDCGFfTbUai0lzxMbYgKZwAuRO4gRHtakmVQuUQTln2rQSJ99GE11aEeURbqqB6_Trmq7q8fRtrmBhZRCILwKpM1pxsGmCXb-B8bgz76i18gjoECD8PSrDKWs8gJB9xdj5W9ocGYRuQHl9ddWB1Q4gxjF6FuhMPASU2t_XprHbg_MToXgHU/s2048/074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlJz8aCjdnEDCGFfTbUai0lzxMbYgKZwAuRO4gRHtakmVQuUQTln2rQSJ99GE11aEeURbqqB6_Trmq7q8fRtrmBhZRCILwKpM1pxsGmCXb-B8bgz76i18gjoECD8PSrDKWs8gJB9xdj5W9ocGYRuQHl9ddWB1Q4gxjF6FuhMPASU2t_XprHbg_MToXgHU/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />this was like a Bond Villain's HQ on top of Dragonera Island<br />(shaped like a dragon's head)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The trail was a bit boring to start with but quickly got halfway up the hill when the views became amazing. We went slightly off piste for a while and this became an issue when we got to a tricky place where there was only one route up as a decent path but it was not well marked and if you took any of the other alternatives you'd end up scrambling or rock climbing. I had my big expensive camera and was intending doing zero rock climbing. Mary found the correct path after a bit of toing and froing and we went up no problem. We left a couple of German or Dutch ladies who had decided to go another way entirely. We were following a route I'd put on my Suunto before leaving Edinburgh which was accurate if we paid attention. It eventually took us up to La Trapa which I believe might be a disused trappist monastery but I haven't had the time to research it. It was super photogenic and there were loads of small birds about cheeping and peeping which added to the brilliance of the place. We ate our sandwiches then carried on climbing to the top of the hill then round the back which then joins the original route back to the start.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3O4Jn_Rjszp_H-B62q63UZ2A9kaLQqr3knFwOilYOWpSXB-gZKuNyoVNAvcJx8gDyipEsord8ZQYRaekOdL7pVn_PO4MaX5yyS-hhl5_TUmlQNrHVHllJ-OwrLaroXLy3iwm0fkYNdUO9yYtUaQHVDtrFPSaSSPl_ohMIl2qTo-zGFlOoe36xkVQu727/s2048/075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3O4Jn_Rjszp_H-B62q63UZ2A9kaLQqr3knFwOilYOWpSXB-gZKuNyoVNAvcJx8gDyipEsord8ZQYRaekOdL7pVn_PO4MaX5yyS-hhl5_TUmlQNrHVHllJ-OwrLaroXLy3iwm0fkYNdUO9yYtUaQHVDtrFPSaSSPl_ohMIl2qTo-zGFlOoe36xkVQu727/s320/075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />further back</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06q-LRonD4vEKUZcjeAIAOEZd2KkrSjdTz-F5LR7IhjJ-tma8PkVmEGp3-CYAYYUD9cX3cYRBLOC4lUWdWhWx_030yWJa3BgHpKzr9-IXycu1fXLw-CA8dZR_5Aa8YznYYL4JGewXnkq0t6FUOz_wzkekJnLNVll5mxrthECgRAfZFOXiIzV16P4MrS0V/s2048/076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06q-LRonD4vEKUZcjeAIAOEZd2KkrSjdTz-F5LR7IhjJ-tma8PkVmEGp3-CYAYYUD9cX3cYRBLOC4lUWdWhWx_030yWJa3BgHpKzr9-IXycu1fXLw-CA8dZR_5Aa8YznYYL4JGewXnkq0t6FUOz_wzkekJnLNVll5mxrthECgRAfZFOXiIzV16P4MrS0V/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">showing the whole island</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7WdaMRnXwkw8_OYGkjp6hzLcBjld9HOrIUbSec40nx-XyTVtRtxtzjxobyBrzIt0tYt59aHdYaGAeeS1VO_aJ5aO0b3yd-3d2Cp5I6jpmgaYqRSZYr8SVqMTT4B2duGSkLZC8YMRQTfNfoe-iDB1hkyemWwITvY9u-QP2cwkPL5FYoTWV_SMyE-uIQau/s2048/077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7WdaMRnXwkw8_OYGkjp6hzLcBjld9HOrIUbSec40nx-XyTVtRtxtzjxobyBrzIt0tYt59aHdYaGAeeS1VO_aJ5aO0b3yd-3d2Cp5I6jpmgaYqRSZYr8SVqMTT4B2duGSkLZC8YMRQTfNfoe-iDB1hkyemWwITvY9u-QP2cwkPL5FYoTWV_SMyE-uIQau/s320/077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">black vulture</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9VvOesyk-zEuDTFe8cSmumR-8uD4fTKieiL6wqhE0UT3hXU4JZPGiwATZPFJqE0zi-tQW0CCFXdc20oqcC6wg6cPzyBht9wt2JanEg-gPyMbowhJfOiny6cUV50fcYLLSG2u3PN5t9JRz0PkJ48cau_3swCdbR5K-hC5Z6ND9QId6Js6DsDwUcRcAOTe/s2048/078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9VvOesyk-zEuDTFe8cSmumR-8uD4fTKieiL6wqhE0UT3hXU4JZPGiwATZPFJqE0zi-tQW0CCFXdc20oqcC6wg6cPzyBht9wt2JanEg-gPyMbowhJfOiny6cUV50fcYLLSG2u3PN5t9JRz0PkJ48cau_3swCdbR5K-hC5Z6ND9QId6Js6DsDwUcRcAOTe/s320/078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lighthouse on dragonera island</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GxxMpBxiiRNZ3krutjYtNhyLO8IuUMPHMpgISWRti3_f21ai-4yjq0owxMV42M2zHJhpRrzwZnpyrrvLe17bYsF_CjyIM8cLyoAhMX9IuUj1Ym5Z6ziFxJq15wXJAcE_WL0zsq0pg7fzfNny3-QNZRT-jgkL_01wBGIKNWcohbRa48xxWmO0lRbosdF2/s2048/079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GxxMpBxiiRNZ3krutjYtNhyLO8IuUMPHMpgISWRti3_f21ai-4yjq0owxMV42M2zHJhpRrzwZnpyrrvLe17bYsF_CjyIM8cLyoAhMX9IuUj1Ym5Z6ziFxJq15wXJAcE_WL0zsq0pg7fzfNny3-QNZRT-jgkL_01wBGIKNWcohbRa48xxWmO0lRbosdF2/s320/079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spilostethus pandurus</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDRRn67JbLk-uek2XaV8z_A_NlSiPlt8vbWiY6VqmTwtJnarKZcI4KZtckjP1UoHlZIc84G1xYa56tELcb_wSKLp6F6OZp9f9EHXK3TNGm6DQ-yo00w8s8f5BrvklDi1edmHVcIeBT98-NqXEVRBRE_Zxv0uwIQW0bDyzG4xBbVCMRim_0QiTeE6KLz4P/s2048/080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDRRn67JbLk-uek2XaV8z_A_NlSiPlt8vbWiY6VqmTwtJnarKZcI4KZtckjP1UoHlZIc84G1xYa56tELcb_wSKLp6F6OZp9f9EHXK3TNGm6DQ-yo00w8s8f5BrvklDi1edmHVcIeBT98-NqXEVRBRE_Zxv0uwIQW0bDyzG4xBbVCMRim_0QiTeE6KLz4P/s320/080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wall (f)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nj7cZezYrEVTProsc1AsgMUPeIrVbOhEwdG_soAIDVXD5qGDZITjXr8Gkp3BLC1yNwosMczYqeaKiEizpkwmWccQAQg_ZG89e82Zek9ZTrgFTennHWFFuwOWfnCfznlsoxy8CBwpYzfyhulJjwWGo6r2mp7DOyno2Tq0KG4la8c8wE3Mc_EWGAJ6yg22/s2048/081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nj7cZezYrEVTProsc1AsgMUPeIrVbOhEwdG_soAIDVXD5qGDZITjXr8Gkp3BLC1yNwosMczYqeaKiEizpkwmWccQAQg_ZG89e82Zek9ZTrgFTennHWFFuwOWfnCfznlsoxy8CBwpYzfyhulJjwWGo6r2mp7DOyno2Tq0KG4la8c8wE3Mc_EWGAJ6yg22/s320/081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">black redstart</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHNwRTZTNCM4jLZ_D1gKFNxVlTObgW2hsxmKONc6WXhOqHR9O1TAh8djIQmiL9ATOiV9FF5WiuxcEJHGDsByvFHEk2W3mZVh4nlRLANkfb42QioIMATu-EKGa0J2s7p05tuCLLef83W8K6g2FHM5yNRUXGciqu3uLjeg75-GBHllZrjTPMyYd3DTAfclg/s2048/082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHNwRTZTNCM4jLZ_D1gKFNxVlTObgW2hsxmKONc6WXhOqHR9O1TAh8djIQmiL9ATOiV9FF5WiuxcEJHGDsByvFHEk2W3mZVh4nlRLANkfb42QioIMATu-EKGa0J2s7p05tuCLLef83W8K6g2FHM5yNRUXGciqu3uLjeg75-GBHllZrjTPMyYd3DTAfclg/s320/082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cirl bunting</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRa_L3OB8fsYpOagWRdZhANb9UDh4s4E0-d0EzQgrk8lJZdS3bczOi8I9-J3hYP79UYwfOSboF0bpjZBwXwtd_YTgC8wgsJLxAVZm2hCy7ICYgphqSBOaSoBvW6LUR1Ncj0mU44FbObQ3A13mMV458Dz73cSXQvVnOUuyM2WBNBpu-f0WhpPJQslhwrHz/s2048/083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRa_L3OB8fsYpOagWRdZhANb9UDh4s4E0-d0EzQgrk8lJZdS3bczOi8I9-J3hYP79UYwfOSboF0bpjZBwXwtd_YTgC8wgsJLxAVZm2hCy7ICYgphqSBOaSoBvW6LUR1Ncj0mU44FbObQ3A13mMV458Dz73cSXQvVnOUuyM2WBNBpu-f0WhpPJQslhwrHz/s320/083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cirl bunting</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Je4Yjh4HSDlUYocJiODpZns9N6LFPwY5qvmRqwEGrqLUx_GF__ZQ5uhV-QqwBnZk7H4LAv2kPzqQ5E0Vh9_cYSIXUu8q7f2AzwI3zvPfcFhEDmMVaffuMGrEWZ5hKC63r8ilQJ-7TXxS478p9k8EHOQN1A3G7ezd0lgsLvhB4EIqVreTqgO_a_nYqCPL/s2048/084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Je4Yjh4HSDlUYocJiODpZns9N6LFPwY5qvmRqwEGrqLUx_GF__ZQ5uhV-QqwBnZk7H4LAv2kPzqQ5E0Vh9_cYSIXUu8q7f2AzwI3zvPfcFhEDmMVaffuMGrEWZ5hKC63r8ilQJ-7TXxS478p9k8EHOQN1A3G7ezd0lgsLvhB4EIqVreTqgO_a_nYqCPL/s320/084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">black redstart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxtIDHkDK-GWAyPbDTljAaESarPuarzBj2RL85FatcIGYNPFSQ2RY74azuPfcPpFSEWDjqfPaxQcf1XOmiGA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I was pleased to get a decent video of a black redstart. Although they were seen regularly they were quite shy. This one had quite a lot to say standing on this post. And wasn't going to let a gang of German tourists who were just arriving right behind me put it off. Happily the Germans were doing the circuit in the opposite direction from us. </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvHyNfJFvLhc0LjKzB_L6UvSpam7U0as6Vlw0rsMXU_w1UW8hMZ-KIUCIhx6tqrfCwKFU810jHOLRxNtfAV4FbljnXwEKOg44lr4Z2Kx82cof6iM7HwMuvxNQBjnlUfFAgWLg4YdgN0lAQH2g4J-NCfKIcrELgi9YvyCL4GcbAB_VpLU5czJAcOBFcqOg/s2048/085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvHyNfJFvLhc0LjKzB_L6UvSpam7U0as6Vlw0rsMXU_w1UW8hMZ-KIUCIhx6tqrfCwKFU810jHOLRxNtfAV4FbljnXwEKOg44lr4Z2Kx82cof6iM7HwMuvxNQBjnlUfFAgWLg4YdgN0lAQH2g4J-NCfKIcrELgi9YvyCL4GcbAB_VpLU5czJAcOBFcqOg/s320/085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lunch time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The trappist monastery was one of the most spectacular venues I've visited. It helped we were there on an amazing day and everything was singing or buzzing away. Just a tremendous place and highly recommended. I think the video at the bottom of the page shows it best. I made the video a bit large and have had to stream it through Vimeo as it was too large to blog directly. If I can get that to work. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHE1NwEVi5-62pwzlDmGrpa9jojfh0tixSGZwKcFBEAVKntTdI_uXZxGr1YkC3tNgRXqWJVuai99Y0oIuVHqh1wkPZi8HqTMGqgSLiA-IEHmb3kU0dD2AO_M9IuZYppkAe442RP-_3EUYIe4Q1UvycYHetsbeIFJVohCipoZNjydahB4-0TMiFCtfjDhN/s2048/086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHE1NwEVi5-62pwzlDmGrpa9jojfh0tixSGZwKcFBEAVKntTdI_uXZxGr1YkC3tNgRXqWJVuai99Y0oIuVHqh1wkPZi8HqTMGqgSLiA-IEHmb3kU0dD2AO_M9IuZYppkAe442RP-_3EUYIe4Q1UvycYHetsbeIFJVohCipoZNjydahB4-0TMiFCtfjDhN/s320/086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wall again</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQIAnNA0X1gKymubqBCXGdL0-RICtWg_hCBbSd0OKeBjadMTs_F99_1lcNeMblMKXmjt-XfqRyMqh_Z8AIoESezkI1NYAlsoehBRxuVJYg2Fc1rAS0O3MZAecyTSUtwrJy1-Xx-sHegfL3OAig1Yta0M4tFMfZMX0p1V0tLKUFKtXhZ2iM5G0DFU3T_q0/s2048/087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQIAnNA0X1gKymubqBCXGdL0-RICtWg_hCBbSd0OKeBjadMTs_F99_1lcNeMblMKXmjt-XfqRyMqh_Z8AIoESezkI1NYAlsoehBRxuVJYg2Fc1rAS0O3MZAecyTSUtwrJy1-Xx-sHegfL3OAig1Yta0M4tFMfZMX0p1V0tLKUFKtXhZ2iM5G0DFU3T_q0/s320/087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-n9deeD0zsDnOwKtbKbjtX8YNFBbOJVUMm-Wg7Fg9BxklHAMIEyitAJ81esy-F7LPATaSd3UXyTb7ONUYWuIznb12iWVxVMd0WhkQCq5nI3vUdHDABviEGfAd4xUWSdAEptuDAiQmIGdEm9CHjxt_8e6lw2KCqSqu-YB_m-DwcNiFJ0Qf63qpY4UL8Gh/s2048/088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-n9deeD0zsDnOwKtbKbjtX8YNFBbOJVUMm-Wg7Fg9BxklHAMIEyitAJ81esy-F7LPATaSd3UXyTb7ONUYWuIznb12iWVxVMd0WhkQCq5nI3vUdHDABviEGfAd4xUWSdAEptuDAiQmIGdEm9CHjxt_8e6lw2KCqSqu-YB_m-DwcNiFJ0Qf63qpY4UL8Gh/s320/088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">eyprepocnemis plorans maybe?<br />or any one of half a dozen google suggests!</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLS-WXfG_ciYQN90OWXNzGMH8_XJyZlvUqwGXeMe_jz8v1QcinIVWE03Cb3Zsx0ywyleNwrSnoHuGX1AVkihYa6Rgm9FS4P_i4B7gdgTBCB5G6U_4QRZWbJDz8OIeM4PSNg8HNdvYgTZS78NIvFeZaH0afjd3VClK4YZrqLoUjuCB4_aJK1cwEbH5ZyOd/s2048/088a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="2048" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLS-WXfG_ciYQN90OWXNzGMH8_XJyZlvUqwGXeMe_jz8v1QcinIVWE03Cb3Zsx0ywyleNwrSnoHuGX1AVkihYa6Rgm9FS4P_i4B7gdgTBCB5G6U_4QRZWbJDz8OIeM4PSNg8HNdvYgTZS78NIvFeZaH0afjd3VClK4YZrqLoUjuCB4_aJK1cwEbH5ZyOd/s320/088a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the view at the back of the hill, once summited</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_58qu1ddo0ETpHNPZVUmDa5qm7yuNE4FGAbpt7YDKtvLXe8H1wwrup56SPN_bZwMBNU3n3LvaHyIf5TbFdi1XfHEnM86uHzWI5lQV3Yy_GX6ZUnnNIz5HDb4PIbfQu5d0JcVZxlw5BdkPjCqTXOpo5k1N61Lqu37_9wM_-Igz3a0hBhuhLU_TGQUrw-c/s4000/088D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_58qu1ddo0ETpHNPZVUmDa5qm7yuNE4FGAbpt7YDKtvLXe8H1wwrup56SPN_bZwMBNU3n3LvaHyIf5TbFdi1XfHEnM86uHzWI5lQV3Yy_GX6ZUnnNIz5HDb4PIbfQu5d0JcVZxlw5BdkPjCqTXOpo5k1N61Lqu37_9wM_-Igz3a0hBhuhLU_TGQUrw-c/s320/088D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliNnEOcV9H5wZ08rIdjk_0srexhxGhtrrkyQU2Fzlf-3XyoLr4uJ_UYQgj7-C-yXsRJIwC2e7suiK8UlXSzxmPyRI8qSqZHKsDfqe6DWNjy9XXxU_PTGpCyiqcn1A5g_f-4CVZbupdSLOZUXM120g0OTb7o_jqvZbdtiqzaNj2cre_ezaw37LXLlYu-xf/s2048/089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliNnEOcV9H5wZ08rIdjk_0srexhxGhtrrkyQU2Fzlf-3XyoLr4uJ_UYQgj7-C-yXsRJIwC2e7suiK8UlXSzxmPyRI8qSqZHKsDfqe6DWNjy9XXxU_PTGpCyiqcn1A5g_f-4CVZbupdSLOZUXM120g0OTb7o_jqvZbdtiqzaNj2cre_ezaw37LXLlYu-xf/s320/089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHvfkPKdJ3U_Nsn0khPa5AzKzjQYkUMTydK8ClSviCpmkexpCy3_lSW7w_ybGdxdzGdW8nNXhrj0l5Vln9nWiaFldAR1LaMR5J5MLzdtdBPMcpArN_9hDIYDzEwqqNfxtJLQKbH4nIAjzm9fcl6DNh_UgoJbivufoWU3IxR3aOmYoRXJ2e34JUGnkDdUA/s2048/090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHvfkPKdJ3U_Nsn0khPa5AzKzjQYkUMTydK8ClSviCpmkexpCy3_lSW7w_ybGdxdzGdW8nNXhrj0l5Vln9nWiaFldAR1LaMR5J5MLzdtdBPMcpArN_9hDIYDzEwqqNfxtJLQKbH4nIAjzm9fcl6DNh_UgoJbivufoWU3IxR3aOmYoRXJ2e34JUGnkDdUA/s320/090.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />It was quite a hike to get back down off the hill however it was much easier going <br />than on the front seaward side and just a matter of keeping going</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYJ9LrtMWI11248AJhmu3Ui-CTmH3Ukpbh_KP9CtacjCTkK38qnQ0GMX7nDuCW-MpAxZHTdXAai523pzgi9oHnLuz9LM97DMPOJUa_xWqLwvrXqY-BpbykQWH3EmqZlbpPbE8fxiHsLEHY1vkWImmq-ypAsL243qZAFzmdk9DpCGpF6JFdzpg7_PGbECP/s2048/091.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYJ9LrtMWI11248AJhmu3Ui-CTmH3Ukpbh_KP9CtacjCTkK38qnQ0GMX7nDuCW-MpAxZHTdXAai523pzgi9oHnLuz9LM97DMPOJUa_xWqLwvrXqY-BpbykQWH3EmqZlbpPbE8fxiHsLEHY1vkWImmq-ypAsL243qZAFzmdk9DpCGpF6JFdzpg7_PGbECP/s320/091.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were pleased to find the bikes where we left them and took a slightly different route back to SP. Mary was doing the nav off her new gps watch and it was the first time she had set it up to use as a SatNav. So there was more than just an element of this could go wrong at any time. However we mostly got it right and another 90mins or so took us back to to the bike shop for about 5pm. I had a minor mechanical when a spoke broke or became detached from the rim, but after some headscratching just folded it around the others and handed it back with a broken spoke. What a great day out!</div></div><div br=""><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQxb6l-x5NMiBfFieSK7Y5EoulhBl0vYcMsPpwXkED7HGl5_Ndab-t1kk0ZcE5lUI6RCB1lG5ay8xbwH9IVfUwNVVUcWPHRvlMAgh3TFnmWR9barL7TQURJjLv1JJWs944Z8T-tqN4BpQTTFGT3xmUj1-ps5OJgq7ihD5TBeWlWfBr0pQolTtCwSItkb2/s1020/091a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1020" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQxb6l-x5NMiBfFieSK7Y5EoulhBl0vYcMsPpwXkED7HGl5_Ndab-t1kk0ZcE5lUI6RCB1lG5ay8xbwH9IVfUwNVVUcWPHRvlMAgh3TFnmWR9barL7TQURJjLv1JJWs944Z8T-tqN4BpQTTFGT3xmUj1-ps5OJgq7ihD5TBeWlWfBr0pQolTtCwSItkb2/s320/091a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3UuCgyJKBaJefLe-uOtFHZtqyMMnlT98K2iy3xF4V-rIV7ikgDqXJcklZsq4ShqFBd_0dvnog9c_j5pGr629Rj6jYGxE_uH8z5hCd4S9xrgOOQhuOqGUi8FTIHeywCk4nesM924oP8QmEPkOQvJdZGd4SzjFtjbFFIHH2KmwhFvea2J5G6SQ85WQLkF5/s952/091b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="952" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3UuCgyJKBaJefLe-uOtFHZtqyMMnlT98K2iy3xF4V-rIV7ikgDqXJcklZsq4ShqFBd_0dvnog9c_j5pGr629Rj6jYGxE_uH8z5hCd4S9xrgOOQhuOqGUi8FTIHeywCk4nesM924oP8QmEPkOQvJdZGd4SzjFtjbFFIHH2KmwhFvea2J5G6SQ85WQLkF5/s320/091b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwEdRLVTVaCwby87yWUn2ZJzq-mYXebh2TnvOUjmyHCxecDx0QC06mWIqIkg7AoTmhvuOcRN2JarpnHXwQQ5xVsA_UPuvPJsxG2naTzaCdJPJg1THPmIhC143M0TOAO2NaF1l_3HbsumnsE2_DuqJpC0hD6OAz-pS7fHdM9SPzXNp5_3yRUkf1GTpEn1p/s978/091c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="978" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwEdRLVTVaCwby87yWUn2ZJzq-mYXebh2TnvOUjmyHCxecDx0QC06mWIqIkg7AoTmhvuOcRN2JarpnHXwQQ5xVsA_UPuvPJsxG2naTzaCdJPJg1THPmIhC143M0TOAO2NaF1l_3HbsumnsE2_DuqJpC0hD6OAz-pS7fHdM9SPzXNp5_3yRUkf1GTpEn1p/s320/091c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/922508649?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="Santa Ponsa to Sant Elm and hike to La Trapa"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-68995975390592181332024-03-12T06:52:00.000-07:002024-03-12T16:17:40.147-07:00Majorca!<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXGwrjfBT9M1cKTSZdunuIsgtBiweyLKb7RyKRXYN2MDfKCOaRs2YmL9sq3ra5HyCdd3g_dWjK6fLX4hTAoCYJK-DdAV7jtrpob-nwHN89LGijvu9ybKM8R9db-QHzG-WNsJ5T7wwJ8wxjr7eXHc_KYjiW0RN324PsAsMyB0yejjW1pEsZAxnhyGLCWzT/s1776/000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1776" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXGwrjfBT9M1cKTSZdunuIsgtBiweyLKb7RyKRXYN2MDfKCOaRs2YmL9sq3ra5HyCdd3g_dWjK6fLX4hTAoCYJK-DdAV7jtrpob-nwHN89LGijvu9ybKM8R9db-QHzG-WNsJ5T7wwJ8wxjr7eXHc_KYjiW0RN324PsAsMyB0yejjW1pEsZAxnhyGLCWzT/s320/000.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">1st to 8th March</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mary was keen to go away in March - something to keep us going, something to look forward to, through the dreary months of Jan and Feb when the sun stays hidden behind a thick layer of cold grey clouds. She flagged up a hotel in Santa Ponsa, Majorca and a price. The cost was minimal but the hotel was surrounded by lots of others in a built up area that had little in the way of nearby interesting green places where we might explore and seek out wildlife. I suggested the South side of town would be a better bet. I got <i>the evils </i>for about a week until I was sent another Santa Ponsa address further South than the previous one. (And who could resist the name of <i>FlipFlop Hotel</i>.) (It unintentionally called the <i>Palace Flophouse</i> to mind.) Okay that might work. Peace was restored and slowly we counted off the days till March.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpajnDbBxomlNBMxFSUJi_UAp3QP-JkP37p2G679N1yAcLaPCptfkQRgAr7AaAfrKen6Qb651P3W12HW27ZiqFJl-KBFD71LOrLApz9S4G-PfKGwyDHK6cPdlHzT5aFQwn8lH4bqBY1XA64xAT4y3pQIoPYU2YbI6pJdOk6wg8DyJ0wuoex4Hd2DUsnCU/s2048/000a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpajnDbBxomlNBMxFSUJi_UAp3QP-JkP37p2G679N1yAcLaPCptfkQRgAr7AaAfrKen6Qb651P3W12HW27ZiqFJl-KBFD71LOrLApz9S4G-PfKGwyDHK6cPdlHzT5aFQwn8lH4bqBY1XA64xAT4y3pQIoPYU2YbI6pJdOk6wg8DyJ0wuoex4Hd2DUsnCU/s320/000a.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">South coast of France and the Med at sundown</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutFJt3_PBRdaWQoGWLNmYzpXJHYgDXnUVzH7XFJnZ96BJNQqlDwW8cAyoYhdo80UV5yPPcH2RTAFTaVCTzI4nFG4OVGQja37nTLi1HGU2h8tRuSRRm7Q8khhXBiWh7MEf_hPsks06VwTzc3RmB7c9ig9Hdh3G-R9lg2mfmccXZj398R9CgKh8R2qSIOtn/s2048/000b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2048" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutFJt3_PBRdaWQoGWLNmYzpXJHYgDXnUVzH7XFJnZ96BJNQqlDwW8cAyoYhdo80UV5yPPcH2RTAFTaVCTzI4nFG4OVGQja37nTLi1HGU2h8tRuSRRm7Q8khhXBiWh7MEf_hPsks06VwTzc3RmB7c9ig9Hdh3G-R9lg2mfmccXZj398R9CgKh8R2qSIOtn/s320/000b.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As ever, the travelling was ball-achingly dreadful: arriving 2 hrs early to wait around on uncomfortable airport furniture; breathing in other people's bowel-gas on the plane for an interminable 3 hrs, then more waiting on a coach which eventually drops us off, (after visiting several nasty hotels in Magaluf) in Santa Ponsa. Which by now is closed. I had spent so long studying SP on google maps I recognised the area when we were 2 streets away from the drop off. Luckily we had anticipated it would be dark, because without a phone- or head-torch we would not have been able to find the keycards to our apartment which were in a lockbox on the other side of the darkened complex. It was a relief to arrive and unpack.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63FnXBrrQ2Qhftkmw6C6sfHYMKcuAD8jYv92tvOZl7fnq9aHj_boGhKyHylxUrI9yjCbMQh6yzerLeIk11YJ0bvvBnOCk8xehLLZ-zACyAAWxlNaKsWXxphyphenhyphenbcPR_NZQ2DhlftkowyJplKSOHBqjZZrr3_NWEnQDWAQThPauAvxhl1YQA_CN3idfhQAGj/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63FnXBrrQ2Qhftkmw6C6sfHYMKcuAD8jYv92tvOZl7fnq9aHj_boGhKyHylxUrI9yjCbMQh6yzerLeIk11YJ0bvvBnOCk8xehLLZ-zACyAAWxlNaKsWXxphyphenhyphenbcPR_NZQ2DhlftkowyJplKSOHBqjZZrr3_NWEnQDWAQThPauAvxhl1YQA_CN3idfhQAGj/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Hotel FlipFlop apartments<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We hadn't eaten since our plane sandwiches 6hrs before, so I went out in hunter-gatherer mode in search of supermercados. (Mary's foot still in recovery. She broke it 19 days before.) From googlemap homework I knew where the 3 nearest were and they were all closed. However while searching I spotted a 24hr take-away pizza place which also sold beer. Apart from those first night pizzas, every other meal we cooked ourselves in the self-catering apartment. I often wonder if we are the only people in the world who actually cater in self-catering apartments. We had prepared for it by carrying small tupperwares of salt, sugar and tea-bags as well as a sharp knife (has to be in hold luggage) and hot chillies, which experience has taught us are hard to come by in Spanish places. Also muesli and bread which <b>are</b> available locally but handy to have at least the first breakfast to hand. Or a stop gap if everywhere is closed on arrival. Still had to buy a wooden spoon so we didn't scrape the cheap pan. It's funny how you get used to non-stick and thick pans and gas hobs. So when faced with only 2 electric hobs and only one large, one small pan, we treated it as an adventure more than a shit show. Hell we had a microwave AND toaster this time, which we didn't last trip to Tenerife. But had to cook the pasta first, then the sauce, then microwave the pasta before combining. On the upside, the local fruit and veg were FANTASTIC!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0qYqxsrDxmiXFYxk8ZiCbQwiQ8huyz9VdwR1ABUkJSt9xEm1B8fwqZoXNfcCDsIgqClfupMS3lnFRJtUnQMlnFFb3CF_xsa4e8Sj-Q3rixn_swClMpMqmuErHs5FsgAvBgpKhxgdKyRbkoEgDCnZfmDqi2mZbjucEL9BURPd5yGuu7LrmSS0B9W1p6Wc/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0qYqxsrDxmiXFYxk8ZiCbQwiQ8huyz9VdwR1ABUkJSt9xEm1B8fwqZoXNfcCDsIgqClfupMS3lnFRJtUnQMlnFFb3CF_xsa4e8Sj-Q3rixn_swClMpMqmuErHs5FsgAvBgpKhxgdKyRbkoEgDCnZfmDqi2mZbjucEL9BURPd5yGuu7LrmSS0B9W1p6Wc/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our own private beach 200 yards from the apartment<br />(in as much as nobody else wanted it)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSf-SdGlcz7oDZQ7qwAbzODxTnWNMvl6JQ6BmzLudKUK7KYVyRUyTJB5lxthirDI78zIZdZsFh1Njw2bXHVS4PhOqfZDB9Mbc4rK0Dz5jM_yg458V8q7rtSn3_Yi4jKkx2-dadVXoDpiRxaPcsUtIoDQ-Dz4zwxUL3uxhIy800dH0EdJFzQoajwFCUVL/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="2048" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSf-SdGlcz7oDZQ7qwAbzODxTnWNMvl6JQ6BmzLudKUK7KYVyRUyTJB5lxthirDI78zIZdZsFh1Njw2bXHVS4PhOqfZDB9Mbc4rK0Dz5jM_yg458V8q7rtSn3_Yi4jKkx2-dadVXoDpiRxaPcsUtIoDQ-Dz4zwxUL3uxhIy800dH0EdJFzQoajwFCUVL/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Day one and I think I did a quick essentials shopping at the nearest grocers then possibly we went for a wander round the area. There was a good looking hill nearby surrounded by a <i>Parc Arqueologic</i> next to a golf course. I had watched a youTuber video herself up there and it looked like a potential spot for our stuff. I had no idea of butterfly species possible, but hoped there might be a couple out. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR9G50YTDE84kaLWZMe6jFuyfdPZO48eBeges23RMNW7J3AClJ73OZWHqREzaRPnUgroStTL8ntyGtcO3kbDsf7_DcV_ktmMKquxCDn_fn1oQEXCDUy8GIJmQz2VRY8mdpCifeVmyz_mkO4JGLsptnM_6QJCY93LQDik7Bn2j_Kaclgrm8YOgvv2uMDFV/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR9G50YTDE84kaLWZMe6jFuyfdPZO48eBeges23RMNW7J3AClJ73OZWHqREzaRPnUgroStTL8ntyGtcO3kbDsf7_DcV_ktmMKquxCDn_fn1oQEXCDUy8GIJmQz2VRY8mdpCifeVmyz_mkO4JGLsptnM_6QJCY93LQDik7Bn2j_Kaclgrm8YOgvv2uMDFV/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was still quite early when we disturbed this humming-bird hawk-moth which was sunning itself on warm stone. Ever since we visited one on a nearly daily basis (July 22 - the <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2022/07/hummertime-special-hummer-of-love.html" target="_blank">Hummer of Love</a>!) while Mary was in recovery, they have been something of a <i>spirit animal</i> for us. So it was delightful to be welcomed to Majorca first thing by one. We said our hellos and thankyous, took some photos and followed the path we were to take on most days in Majorca. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy35AKm6ZAA6FSlwJoMEJs5eW8dC7FX3vyBTUIoS-QgCds87fweu0imRnexg7ZszAP1f8viY0rgdP1DCPSdP_TGv0NeSinZQmx0n3-oqtJ9LwMzODqNmUa5J89AyV6ocQezmdfqSX28MQ8JxucZAlWRkjJrlE5x0ysEFYnCg2mRuoVbx6iXLwlpOiqi29A/s2048/094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy35AKm6ZAA6FSlwJoMEJs5eW8dC7FX3vyBTUIoS-QgCds87fweu0imRnexg7ZszAP1f8viY0rgdP1DCPSdP_TGv0NeSinZQmx0n3-oqtJ9LwMzODqNmUa5J89AyV6ocQezmdfqSX28MQ8JxucZAlWRkjJrlE5x0ysEFYnCg2mRuoVbx6iXLwlpOiqi29A/s320/094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am not sure why the name or why a dirt trail through a long triangle of rough ground and scrub even needs a name. However it took us to the Parc Arqueologic and the bottom of Puig de Sa Morisca (the hill of Sa Morsica.) We could have gone along the streets but would have missed several species we only saw in this remarkably fertile stretch. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKy7zYWQ-kp2kVUxBLBlu5VEqYqqopQDTuq2wd2Ps8FlPii9nlQEFC9RyJqPwwAwtXnnBTbN_YGNuT0SM3RaDn7sQg8at6XwuAQjAKyRG2QD6cHqFtG6zKP94bdSiqxJo9hqssXJ5435pg2OKkmHDzBIfN_caPtIddpOvxqwsCnge38EtsAsfd8hK7_As/s1374/003a%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1374" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKy7zYWQ-kp2kVUxBLBlu5VEqYqqopQDTuq2wd2Ps8FlPii9nlQEFC9RyJqPwwAwtXnnBTbN_YGNuT0SM3RaDn7sQg8at6XwuAQjAKyRG2QD6cHqFtG6zKP94bdSiqxJo9hqssXJ5435pg2OKkmHDzBIfN_caPtIddpOvxqwsCnge38EtsAsfd8hK7_As/s320/003a%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3E950Ppr60T_C_RLDaTkAV0MT-GP6IPPBYjeXrJXrNus9IS5FzdQxiJvgJcMknKuzg3n1xPTT9m2Jp4vAVjPGwycPjHD-0fUbIhyphenhyphenOPVsrEcYKVMejsEmSN3bQ8TIaEt7jEId65YuXYF_XKEVVwJFqD7muXLweWJK1Vd4S2k7e4O54QHjBBCKtJ5exMvS/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3E950Ppr60T_C_RLDaTkAV0MT-GP6IPPBYjeXrJXrNus9IS5FzdQxiJvgJcMknKuzg3n1xPTT9m2Jp4vAVjPGwycPjHD-0fUbIhyphenhyphenOPVsrEcYKVMejsEmSN3bQ8TIaEt7jEId65YuXYF_XKEVVwJFqD7muXLweWJK1Vd4S2k7e4O54QHjBBCKtJ5exMvS/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c04N-ZFdxAUz0Ztw-dSputGkllzqDKJ3AJx-xWtqkohnEqma_3Aod3fKCxYj7Hvux7bpJqBZXDPg-MkrCvSqIxV6bHrAsGZoVN7Dwn-lafHzvKCeOrTDQikhUe_xJRby2O30wq4-EHsEhXgk3CS0vyejFpyKjtjHt1OZzvDM-Nhe6EJ9QEegKrIMiL8G/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c04N-ZFdxAUz0Ztw-dSputGkllzqDKJ3AJx-xWtqkohnEqma_3Aod3fKCxYj7Hvux7bpJqBZXDPg-MkrCvSqIxV6bHrAsGZoVN7Dwn-lafHzvKCeOrTDQikhUe_xJRby2O30wq4-EHsEhXgk3CS0vyejFpyKjtjHt1OZzvDM-Nhe6EJ9QEegKrIMiL8G/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The very next thing we saw was a chain of caterpillars. I was entranced by this conga line of hairy troops all marching to the same beat. Mary not so much. I think she felt they were a bit creepy or the stuff of nightmares. We posted photos on facebook and very quickly Matt (and also Sarah) who live in different parts of Spain warned they were Pine Processionary Caterpillars, a well known concern at this time of the year as they can be harmful to humans and animals. Sarah said she spends a lot of time watching out for these snaking lines as the toxins exuded by this caterpillar can be irritating and harmful to her dog. More info <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_processionary" target="_blank">here</a>. They are so far a Southern Europe moth but have got as far North as Paris and will be moving further North with global warming. While they appear charming they can be harmful to pine plantations and require care when dealing with them. I liked them a lot! They appeared everywhere, both rurally and in urban areas.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMwXjeKixRZBfPI_y6_q39WWBRME4jR44tlKOrQe8l1CHVSVWT8IAWdP50trWVigGXRnSitKGcdtncWHiY4h7qZOo1sH9N9mPbRQNaTyz_rr8KapXys_iEUYuNT8A1r4Ijj-b_u_mQW3D2IEczqSPovAlgYgmI2Cn-sEC_P4F6_Y3bIZSA2EdIsZ3yA9T/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="2048" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMwXjeKixRZBfPI_y6_q39WWBRME4jR44tlKOrQe8l1CHVSVWT8IAWdP50trWVigGXRnSitKGcdtncWHiY4h7qZOo1sH9N9mPbRQNaTyz_rr8KapXys_iEUYuNT8A1r4Ijj-b_u_mQW3D2IEczqSPovAlgYgmI2Cn-sEC_P4F6_Y3bIZSA2EdIsZ3yA9T/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJafsHEv1pDpUNAw91QlxGmMsuTsJvgEg5sbmhFY9V3uxWStgMl43pqLjaOgddGI8_fF44Nh1WnWu-JkfDrmO8N8DNVTt-oFqKf5cxyTl77kCqsjJivK9lAil1JOW4zubfY2IYkqvH5_ctR0KR614M6BIXwiVCJ-Z1YBplq_Q4lNuCul9O78I1Fay2WaCk/s4000/007a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="4000" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJafsHEv1pDpUNAw91QlxGmMsuTsJvgEg5sbmhFY9V3uxWStgMl43pqLjaOgddGI8_fF44Nh1WnWu-JkfDrmO8N8DNVTt-oFqKf5cxyTl77kCqsjJivK9lAil1JOW4zubfY2IYkqvH5_ctR0KR614M6BIXwiVCJ-Z1YBplq_Q4lNuCul9O78I1Fay2WaCk/s320/007a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">halfway up the hill</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA875hfmZtlilcsxSyMX99F0PzQCi7dCbb12c8cGYx4hVj4C_o17eNeqMez_DZpUcWXOISxwvFozjEIKzNIriGoucGc3s62-7mEhvt2OpGI21IPSkFCK14dYM6mv8XfYswQAcGWBtK66H8z4O7x_XGQfrDvpDM6y7Br2TnKQ9RptIGud_6VgieAwfHpTE/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA875hfmZtlilcsxSyMX99F0PzQCi7dCbb12c8cGYx4hVj4C_o17eNeqMez_DZpUcWXOISxwvFozjEIKzNIriGoucGc3s62-7mEhvt2OpGI21IPSkFCK14dYM6mv8XfYswQAcGWBtK66H8z4O7x_XGQfrDvpDM6y7Br2TnKQ9RptIGud_6VgieAwfHpTE/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then BOOM! Swallowtails! Not my favourite butterfly, but one you can't ignore. Actually they continued to grow in my affections all this week and I enjoyed their company a great deal. It was quite windy and they are large sails on a rough sea. They were perhaps so busy steadying themselves they weren't too bothered about Mary and I creeping up and getting the best photos we've had of these yellow giants. I failed to appreciate them (on previous holidays) as they were quite skittish, didn't like their photos being taken, and were yellow. (I prefer orange!) They are a weird yellow which often looks like a washed-out, flatter colour in photos, than the vibrant yellow they appear in real life. However when fresh, (and many of them seemed straight out the packet!) they are undeniably spectacular.<br /><br />Although we saw the occasional one elsewhere, they were sporadic at best, except up the larger/higher of the two smallish peaks in the <i>parc</i>, where there were always between one and half a dozen. They fly fast and furious so it is tricky to assess how many are about at any time. There were a couple with distinctive notches or missing sections of wing, but the majority were in good-to-mint condition. Interestingly some had much more hair down their backs than others. (Just like real life!) A quick google suggests sexual dimorphism in swallowtails is limited to the females being larger than the males. If you know otherwise do let me know as I haven't taken the time to read up. (Just processing the photos and video from this holiday and writing it up has taken ages!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh2-ezRkWAZMbPaW-NR840BvHat92g8eE8MtBCc4s8LAdUrNM2Omju-X_cg6VdDIcSnKmP9HDiQcdBKnarYokuZ4ZgWSfcOORoZVK25waFfXzoDfRNJ8iTR7W6TkxXijnMMwLxKQlqsKDf0wWCl35LBFb61C_GbG5a7zcACd_FyFV8hJbUi2_KECMQ3uN/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh2-ezRkWAZMbPaW-NR840BvHat92g8eE8MtBCc4s8LAdUrNM2Omju-X_cg6VdDIcSnKmP9HDiQcdBKnarYokuZ4ZgWSfcOORoZVK25waFfXzoDfRNJ8iTR7W6TkxXijnMMwLxKQlqsKDf0wWCl35LBFb61C_GbG5a7zcACd_FyFV8hJbUi2_KECMQ3uN/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rhodanthidium sticticum<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Google image search is excellent for identifying butterflies and other insects (as above) but less certain about grasshoppers. It gives a selection of possibilities. Or maybe grasshoppers look too much alike to be discerned from one photo? That said I googled an image of the underside of the <i>brown argus</i> and it suggested several Lycaenidae. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOysFEL0KhceNfsvKN9yYRiq5ElGoCJrtjubpiXkS0inRKM9pE06er8Cjp506HIJNeupqVyOrZHD_Og7lRR7LY5jGUpnVKxvEB-g9vt3lLM_nbsJsepvnnu2mlxfZ1etYYwEdwsV2X8Tr6gOxUxtjlTVza2Gh_FNubDsy9ISjNx2LfutFX85j9qG-tSDyf/s2048/009a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="2048" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOysFEL0KhceNfsvKN9yYRiq5ElGoCJrtjubpiXkS0inRKM9pE06er8Cjp506HIJNeupqVyOrZHD_Og7lRR7LY5jGUpnVKxvEB-g9vt3lLM_nbsJsepvnnu2mlxfZ1etYYwEdwsV2X8Tr6gOxUxtjlTVza2Gh_FNubDsy9ISjNx2LfutFX85j9qG-tSDyf/s320/009a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">view of Santa Ponsa from the top of the hill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our place is this side of the bay, about a mile away</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DzNY8ZcQmlMKJZH8wki_fDrDVYE8f-sFnqb4c7YoYRJcE7XVUlqYTyMdkVNf_A2MzzrEKLyrcEv2pXDLTBvEL62DvP2NE8vBivqHt5VODXv79N8dadLYHeuZd5aDPNpbs_yDx8mIqlww6ku8oRrwXMKVeUY0tGOHKZ3AzKJBH57fqUR1gZ5G4YATzAZh/s2925/009b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2925" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DzNY8ZcQmlMKJZH8wki_fDrDVYE8f-sFnqb4c7YoYRJcE7XVUlqYTyMdkVNf_A2MzzrEKLyrcEv2pXDLTBvEL62DvP2NE8vBivqHt5VODXv79N8dadLYHeuZd5aDPNpbs_yDx8mIqlww6ku8oRrwXMKVeUY0tGOHKZ3AzKJBH57fqUR1gZ5G4YATzAZh/s320/009b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlec8FrF7dTiXxjsUo_DsJ91hwHEjDmwpXT_e7pxlVkLhLLt3IQWBeUVtwkS7jpjPbeRfdWeGF7sljQBD47Y5RnEow6RX6e2mW3we6nZVWNLW48u8ScjvGa70CIJe0O5BuEue3PiurksmmGyj1NJrHyngvSmFRHjxxYhzwPVUTjLd4sO6GMNx8ksWLOJp/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlec8FrF7dTiXxjsUo_DsJ91hwHEjDmwpXT_e7pxlVkLhLLt3IQWBeUVtwkS7jpjPbeRfdWeGF7sljQBD47Y5RnEow6RX6e2mW3we6nZVWNLW48u8ScjvGa70CIJe0O5BuEue3PiurksmmGyj1NJrHyngvSmFRHjxxYhzwPVUTjLd4sO6GMNx8ksWLOJp/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the main beach behind Mary</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaCLVRFKqJ0ICHGnvxjrJApBEVeUJJpZEVORAK6rB1YhvQs4CqUda-EF3OSUL9zNdgF19qi_c-z7C02v2a87KYlRm_45Vx3bVGt7tQQmFDWU9PiXGX0RzEYc_bTTvBXj3JDMTRiWZ5HHhVgflNF0qShSkApAXwRFM1N5NpmKLT92TCMiEWXsb6x5jaP-H/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaCLVRFKqJ0ICHGnvxjrJApBEVeUJJpZEVORAK6rB1YhvQs4CqUda-EF3OSUL9zNdgF19qi_c-z7C02v2a87KYlRm_45Vx3bVGt7tQQmFDWU9PiXGX0RzEYc_bTTvBXj3JDMTRiWZ5HHhVgflNF0qShSkApAXwRFM1N5NpmKLT92TCMiEWXsb6x5jaP-H/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sardinian Warbler - thanks Neil for ID!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm guessing this is the male and female is the muted colour version further below</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRMC-Upq14Utq7KKxxoocLhGsbg5OQ2Wk-_AkSrkzqEMzGSfzP7YoW3HW8RFA0yLegS9txWd1wWLXoBnpF2ET0Nb3TH2-SC8q7xsxQ6xDc3KhZVMbzxlV1c7nVglHvVAQLCSacnW_zDwmwL8rd8o47jz6L-6J8NsZYsSiOVm0lc3Bp-QnxVCctq5SbNKA/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRMC-Upq14Utq7KKxxoocLhGsbg5OQ2Wk-_AkSrkzqEMzGSfzP7YoW3HW8RFA0yLegS9txWd1wWLXoBnpF2ET0Nb3TH2-SC8q7xsxQ6xDc3KhZVMbzxlV1c7nVglHvVAQLCSacnW_zDwmwL8rd8o47jz6L-6J8NsZYsSiOVm0lc3Bp-QnxVCctq5SbNKA/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhpdQy_95T8cTcYAeKOO7Rw5ZslFyRkLBp_XV5GnyifOyqJKB3mZLr83TDrpj3KVSI51QVPPIc-6-duHsFdPQew48v5eI7BN4yTnQ-HRMl51-DMvcVqe-OupdcAnoEiW8v8Ktk7I-eIfA73TDZh0zkpBfpGPrOkZxe_cNhYdXnNwCG8sfgP4HeJP4kGYB/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhpdQy_95T8cTcYAeKOO7Rw5ZslFyRkLBp_XV5GnyifOyqJKB3mZLr83TDrpj3KVSI51QVPPIc-6-duHsFdPQew48v5eI7BN4yTnQ-HRMl51-DMvcVqe-OupdcAnoEiW8v8Ktk7I-eIfA73TDZh0zkpBfpGPrOkZxe_cNhYdXnNwCG8sfgP4HeJP4kGYB/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a solitary Holly Blue up the top of the hill. <br />One of only two seen all holiday, and not partial to having photo taken.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUTrXRqFY1E7hdO9vY-9snxd8XDnCqO4Y1vWGd65Ab63hFFXzIW7rW3s1XyGGAiB1OOdBV__lNhZwvvGf9kbNekyskzuQbATLhf9BBCXQPYsdxwJ7XgmQSw5-Oj4QzLkSUzFu6GPhVvB6s648mKv1BoRyvHNWh6mkIpdKjYfZ-3lJ_s8FyLbAgWC04B1j/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUTrXRqFY1E7hdO9vY-9snxd8XDnCqO4Y1vWGd65Ab63hFFXzIW7rW3s1XyGGAiB1OOdBV__lNhZwvvGf9kbNekyskzuQbATLhf9BBCXQPYsdxwJ7XgmQSw5-Oj4QzLkSUzFu6GPhVvB6s648mKv1BoRyvHNWh6mkIpdKjYfZ-3lJ_s8FyLbAgWC04B1j/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That bee again on the <i>branched asphodel</i>, a pretty flowering plant <br />I thought was an aloe. There were a lot of both flowers and bees.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RStIcEEBf3nUyTWMCi3f4wm9j41ZTjAeQY-4rUABcFSoG2ygPytwfO9oYSPXmAC6urQ3eV4uVtxMHaOIXGu8Sm2eIh7UZSm-KVQl3_jx624gNelMix86IV0xVfJi7EHtgKQ1UKiZTF4sxldBhqQWCRULN9xLy1vorxuD6sr0wRQOMNb2TP7CH6yZ-I4K/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RStIcEEBf3nUyTWMCi3f4wm9j41ZTjAeQY-4rUABcFSoG2ygPytwfO9oYSPXmAC6urQ3eV4uVtxMHaOIXGu8Sm2eIh7UZSm-KVQl3_jx624gNelMix86IV0xVfJi7EHtgKQ1UKiZTF4sxldBhqQWCRULN9xLy1vorxuD6sr0wRQOMNb2TP7CH6yZ-I4K/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl9oyuq6f92-yxiHw9iaN0B7ioKxdROElgEEJOTi2xJ6ap_L81Fvv1jJs79F0Du8uPJ5trwe3GCVZdy_YPjS5ilK-Y2wdQbXIVXIieq67An8-taPZ3pXBCkMFt5ZkcnJSDPKwNByRxcP81N8Gp52OImmIFJzy_30fpCPbcw-oxAtWxOiONUvoEOi3ErGH/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl9oyuq6f92-yxiHw9iaN0B7ioKxdROElgEEJOTi2xJ6ap_L81Fvv1jJs79F0Du8uPJ5trwe3GCVZdy_YPjS5ilK-Y2wdQbXIVXIieq67An8-taPZ3pXBCkMFt5ZkcnJSDPKwNByRxcP81N8Gp52OImmIFJzy_30fpCPbcw-oxAtWxOiONUvoEOi3ErGH/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9vkL3Hfig6Sp4cWuqmpn0h3SN13CA77lmvnRm-Xaz57FQO-Y3Jr2xUKFTHMwwrdyALlngTDmgsyg5MZwn2wDweYZAFcloecmy8LDN33q_aESPmkHdOl8fTcGy8tqAZs51MOPTZbctDQSDLzOypHybqNHa7rL5dC8zzymwTN7NEcCyeffB2tnj9HmlRNR/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9vkL3Hfig6Sp4cWuqmpn0h3SN13CA77lmvnRm-Xaz57FQO-Y3Jr2xUKFTHMwwrdyALlngTDmgsyg5MZwn2wDweYZAFcloecmy8LDN33q_aESPmkHdOl8fTcGy8tqAZs51MOPTZbctDQSDLzOypHybqNHa7rL5dC8zzymwTN7NEcCyeffB2tnj9HmlRNR/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first hoopoe of the trip!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu7x92hqy2dijc-GOYsR1nGuF_c9ejXNf8ebnuqxxOrP-fLpkrpBxWRKoIqU-3o17W38HNb4jD4V7E1oD4ha28p0R8JHwzg1DJhdBF9PkYIIaW4hcFF-ALk6onSIM6tf9wMm6hBOyzrPomk-mrUfZHBx8cUcIQm_m036hny8X36jAA1u9BT9sWmT_bFF6/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu7x92hqy2dijc-GOYsR1nGuF_c9ejXNf8ebnuqxxOrP-fLpkrpBxWRKoIqU-3o17W38HNb4jD4V7E1oD4ha28p0R8JHwzg1DJhdBF9PkYIIaW4hcFF-ALk6onSIM6tf9wMm6hBOyzrPomk-mrUfZHBx8cUcIQm_m036hny8X36jAA1u9BT9sWmT_bFF6/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">distant volcanoes</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y2DRAl-FtAWuPmcxtgnLei61C6poPkbenNkk0KvG-dU5CxhhXPvHkE802-r1JwXJXWEJgoxyWPHCHFWzVsqBmLEGh7TrMsjpfJFzcHoQGYU9Fw2wvSJyoTD8nJDXHlM0Qcqn-bGR0AxYJi8-Tt2rAWkyI6d8yXlQ4PW8UtNWDgC45Nj1uSD4KGkQ6ald/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y2DRAl-FtAWuPmcxtgnLei61C6poPkbenNkk0KvG-dU5CxhhXPvHkE802-r1JwXJXWEJgoxyWPHCHFWzVsqBmLEGh7TrMsjpfJFzcHoQGYU9Fw2wvSJyoTD8nJDXHlM0Qcqn-bGR0AxYJi8-Tt2rAWkyI6d8yXlQ4PW8UtNWDgC45Nj1uSD4KGkQ6ald/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />we arrived just in time to catch the last of the almond blossom season</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQfzl4YyzYqB3ERcAVvWwO-4RA5rqQ1dLSMH1TsfJrWfDJ_XkQJzarSgWqqfmNzvzyhvD-srFybkbtoTW1CWLw07hrlTMNrq7_E-Hvv-v5HfcuusQKMAIMTs5tx71OUk7_vfkUKaZJNEliHQZDWnXh57mX6XosyuD8opUaBkGcruvHwxlHcLvZF_iuv1Q/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQfzl4YyzYqB3ERcAVvWwO-4RA5rqQ1dLSMH1TsfJrWfDJ_XkQJzarSgWqqfmNzvzyhvD-srFybkbtoTW1CWLw07hrlTMNrq7_E-Hvv-v5HfcuusQKMAIMTs5tx71OUk7_vfkUKaZJNEliHQZDWnXh57mX6XosyuD8opUaBkGcruvHwxlHcLvZF_iuv1Q/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lovely fields of almond trees</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrUtbuclcvKjaySGsfB9DZI4mym75vH6oi7aa0DDmnZg0xNZMJRRquxWf_27PzFhKJXo09tIZ9Ce9M-AipcJZxse7DHm6KWAphIUasjfBU80lMDEERqp0L5lQw9wUMifqhOmx3f9b4qNAyKr_31ZzHj1H-MqTVjEmpw5WDI986XwT2_jiDW3c2gjFDY67/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrUtbuclcvKjaySGsfB9DZI4mym75vH6oi7aa0DDmnZg0xNZMJRRquxWf_27PzFhKJXo09tIZ9Ce9M-AipcJZxse7DHm6KWAphIUasjfBU80lMDEERqp0L5lQw9wUMifqhOmx3f9b4qNAyKr_31ZzHj1H-MqTVjEmpw5WDI986XwT2_jiDW3c2gjFDY67/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">linnet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXIauXupDq1ax5CBqqsYUuXVh5qA4zlxrBAIvp6Twk2WMUIse5SOlzsEI1RZYKt6Tjr9PkeiPKiGg2rTZ_pDKiEH5pTQPKZh6VBZMcnwaS1ymLyaSHlf-Bl_-BzeRyb1GE7093pBf8Co5QRdYCYVDUaB4CuW4kKWIiiF4Mcc5mykMRxh3-gHQajPNjSIf/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXIauXupDq1ax5CBqqsYUuXVh5qA4zlxrBAIvp6Twk2WMUIse5SOlzsEI1RZYKt6Tjr9PkeiPKiGg2rTZ_pDKiEH5pTQPKZh6VBZMcnwaS1ymLyaSHlf-Bl_-BzeRyb1GE7093pBf8Co5QRdYCYVDUaB4CuW4kKWIiiF4Mcc5mykMRxh3-gHQajPNjSIf/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBM7-6UMYedRuTsbV-LIEqg53erWloH1UpIObjuHJFjQDwWrIwpbbtzhzscmOwTeuGi83XadbFqNvhaa23f5NU1zLWWvx8YX3BRgQaaLqQI_Z_6Rqzh2aeANhDUALKVCuQqutq3GTVYvcCuxSltCUO5uxh1KIcM3nE7N8qbkagf5Gl5ZBkPzLfugwNhdw/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBM7-6UMYedRuTsbV-LIEqg53erWloH1UpIObjuHJFjQDwWrIwpbbtzhzscmOwTeuGi83XadbFqNvhaa23f5NU1zLWWvx8YX3BRgQaaLqQI_Z_6Rqzh2aeANhDUALKVCuQqutq3GTVYvcCuxSltCUO5uxh1KIcM3nE7N8qbkagf5Gl5ZBkPzLfugwNhdw/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">only dragonfly of whole trip<br />I looked for more but couldn't find many ponds etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7OvivLqUkizEDBZuAx4xAHZJGOFIVVVFgMzJezf4274FnHCOw573-eSCSTria8RrHa9ioXRZ-qbulLRRhTgY8Ln991sJhwY-3Mz1YyMWlXMvIVQrBnl5dPzPK1rsPi8laqSWfKPuY9SyCDtt7qXcxdirqAqDfMfrrkg3uaTJ07nv77PE2QCMjjsX-rZN/s2048/024aa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="2048" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7OvivLqUkizEDBZuAx4xAHZJGOFIVVVFgMzJezf4274FnHCOw573-eSCSTria8RrHa9ioXRZ-qbulLRRhTgY8Ln991sJhwY-3Mz1YyMWlXMvIVQrBnl5dPzPK1rsPi8laqSWfKPuY9SyCDtt7qXcxdirqAqDfMfrrkg3uaTJ07nv77PE2QCMjjsX-rZN/s320/024aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hotel FlipFlop - mostly fine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrSWyuC-bV-kXGwgeYsdXPoPvDDAR8Oq-teLwLjSCTEcbIYBEMFlpikvMBIyGpXpIA7yJ1oeGegkd5CEWpGgWidrPO08078FOfLNpl2T5zNqFXkYL7K-xTunRvhGbCVsTxXog3RgMEfi-R-NT7BeHXNabXcmIU8WukUyGztsBP7Rg3Bgr-dP9KtKWKOIr/s4084/024b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="4084" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrSWyuC-bV-kXGwgeYsdXPoPvDDAR8Oq-teLwLjSCTEcbIYBEMFlpikvMBIyGpXpIA7yJ1oeGegkd5CEWpGgWidrPO08078FOfLNpl2T5zNqFXkYL7K-xTunRvhGbCVsTxXog3RgMEfi-R-NT7BeHXNabXcmIU8WukUyGztsBP7Rg3Bgr-dP9KtKWKOIr/s320/024b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our apartment</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55YJ-gosxEa9-NA2n1cXRgyCYoR7KdTBltG7vrCV5or8L4CJkk8KYSKXd5GChvZ9M36LvaBmyoMVouwHQFcO1ndzkYY48lKV_kmsY5SOAAKM1b_iUjssXrJf49rIFlHur31-ezKwZyDpTxeYWcgm7qQ1_hNR5ITINM2wR18AlDNANbKIhjrcIEjgPmwFQ/s4000/024c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="4000" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55YJ-gosxEa9-NA2n1cXRgyCYoR7KdTBltG7vrCV5or8L4CJkk8KYSKXd5GChvZ9M36LvaBmyoMVouwHQFcO1ndzkYY48lKV_kmsY5SOAAKM1b_iUjssXrJf49rIFlHur31-ezKwZyDpTxeYWcgm7qQ1_hNR5ITINM2wR18AlDNANbKIhjrcIEjgPmwFQ/s320/024c.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />what happens when you (accidentally) take a panorama shot<br />when walking down the street<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So this trip I decided to get the DJI Pocket working. It is a tiny handheld camera on a gimbal that lets you record stills, video and panoramas and is really small: 5" x 1" x 1". Mary bought one after we saw the smooth footage of stabilised video of a hillrunner descending Arthur's Seat. However it wasn't particularly instinctive to use and got left in a drawer for a year or 2. Since buying my new G9m2 I have been missing taking panoramas, pics of Mary and other stuff the 400mm lens doesn't do, so it made sense to watch a few youTube tutorials and master this miniature wonder. The Pocket fits in your pocket, as well as attaching to a mobile phone which gives a screen large enough to actually see. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3A0IhW30W2_sj2iusB1L9gcvpZAUgPyBpsdLwhZGDIWHpTAIhoEtQaH01A9VToU36ovcKpZgenzcs3ZLpKqOex4Z43L-4ozkfEV8GKHjpkKHZ-T22pQ1cStTerTugSbvPwNlgV6W7GhCMlx4qSmH4S9NqJKuXX2GkVFdU55FlV72tQ7h7HKsVqIOLe8H/s1876/DJI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1876" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3A0IhW30W2_sj2iusB1L9gcvpZAUgPyBpsdLwhZGDIWHpTAIhoEtQaH01A9VToU36ovcKpZgenzcs3ZLpKqOex4Z43L-4ozkfEV8GKHjpkKHZ-T22pQ1cStTerTugSbvPwNlgV6W7GhCMlx4qSmH4S9NqJKuXX2GkVFdU55FlV72tQ7h7HKsVqIOLe8H/s320/DJI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DJI Pocket on right of Mobile phone <br />both attached to selfie-stick / tripod (can also be used solo)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is a tiny onboard screen but in sunlight and with worn out old eyes it is impossible to see in any detail. So I bought (for my sins!) a selfie stick that holds mobile-and-Pocket together and a bike handlebar attachment in case we went cycling and wanted a handsfree video. The former works very well, the latter is great on very smooth roads but any small bumps transfer through the handlebars into the video and it generates wobble and blur. I think I would use it handheld (or using a lapel/backpack strap clip I also bought) on the bike in future. The gimbal stabilisation is brilliant. This has always been a problem for any kind of walking or running handheld videos as they have proved too shoogly for comfortable watching. With the rise of vloggers (a sad state of affairs on the whole) this has been addressed and the latest GoPros etc. all have great stabilisation. The Pocket not only has this but is easier to carry than a mobile phone. And fairly easy to work after a quick tutorial. You can see more results on the bike-and-hike day trip to Sant Elm blog directly after this one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwfjRjFkA5DV8oB9L5fZ_V5O0vdYUThPr2xffc3Mk5_jcoyVDqlSZEFpFDrgAmhpSGVNB9Nzt8Ed9haV87tKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">walking down the street vlogging <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I promise not to make a habit of this, but two things are worth noting: how smooth the above video is, not bump bump bump with every step. And also how cheerful it is. That isn't the camera's work but the sunshine's. And the main reason we went abroad twice in 4 months. I find the drab Scottish Winter intolerable and a bit of decent weather instantly lifts spirits and puts a smile on my face. It also lets me do what I enjoy most; go for an adventure and take photographs, the latter being useless in crap grey Scottish Winter weather. I realise it is not the most eco-friendly answer, but I'll just have to live with it.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11jb_6A8ILZdDahDuqlh5M-2K97JIMeGYBQfx9YCH3Iu5gjC2NlMw9Oq98ixfAxs8IQj8b7-xUHAdMH866l5eyuaW5t74yXSwljghyUs156ttH-gccdtwlTp5FhHf6vpexi0gP5Y9ENQS21CPYxmE2dJpymgHFdnKp1Sx_N92PfgQCjMOZ-XL7None9YA/s2048/024d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11jb_6A8ILZdDahDuqlh5M-2K97JIMeGYBQfx9YCH3Iu5gjC2NlMw9Oq98ixfAxs8IQj8b7-xUHAdMH866l5eyuaW5t74yXSwljghyUs156ttH-gccdtwlTp5FhHf6vpexi0gP5Y9ENQS21CPYxmE2dJpymgHFdnKp1Sx_N92PfgQCjMOZ-XL7None9YA/s320/024d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">still photo from the DJI - pretty decent quality</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWTKq3blm12nlIEWPClhO9rXpCWSxNRytru5mEHr1QAAB4p3vtKc0DxGzw0MNUi_mxrJIXBDoAZCXIASeue34sCQsLLAq7NS4utmNgjqz9P7y4nQ1IbKJD-kkz0ZYw8dZT0TErIFQeOoZg7OOsRlRgcodIXkfbCuEtAybGEYANuki8d2pt6tf_fF1sk-e/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWTKq3blm12nlIEWPClhO9rXpCWSxNRytru5mEHr1QAAB4p3vtKc0DxGzw0MNUi_mxrJIXBDoAZCXIASeue34sCQsLLAq7NS4utmNgjqz9P7y4nQ1IbKJD-kkz0ZYw8dZT0TErIFQeOoZg7OOsRlRgcodIXkfbCuEtAybGEYANuki8d2pt6tf_fF1sk-e/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Back at the apartment and we found a caterpillar on the terrace. Our terrace was pretty useless as it backed onto a road and apart from drying swimwear and towels we never used it. Unlike the Glaswegian oldies next door who faced the pool and were tanning their tattoos at the same time as drinking something and cokes, (Rum I imagine?) and chain smoking their way through the 5000 duty free fags they bought on the plane. I got the feeling they were having the time of their lives. Although they were probably ten years younger than us while looking ten years older.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Anyway, there was this caterpillar. At this point nobody had given us the heads up about Pine Processionary Caterpillars. So I got out the macro lens and got some close ups. There also may have been slightly more contact than is recommended...</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUfX3qYL7ZaRXHjSiihauqLaOiIPFjcWOj2jHPDAl3HNtMPr7UvGXCJnhy-1n6Xx6cSphqBDjJ6FKSr6k6mR60DdWRQ4m3PnEqO5gRpPk_dPYM-3h07HmdAUfMMKvQLpL1bztHIvS8fOlAbBi6IiCisjEJAE_msm2C_pZz6buFFrIIBd1rAMR7SaWOx_z/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUfX3qYL7ZaRXHjSiihauqLaOiIPFjcWOj2jHPDAl3HNtMPr7UvGXCJnhy-1n6Xx6cSphqBDjJ6FKSr6k6mR60DdWRQ4m3PnEqO5gRpPk_dPYM-3h07HmdAUfMMKvQLpL1bztHIvS8fOlAbBi6IiCisjEJAE_msm2C_pZz6buFFrIIBd1rAMR7SaWOx_z/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1s8len3kS-1n4xk422SE6u5knTj5Ma8jl9kktQBUIFYUsbQb3E7_YytMMGWxFymGmyd2Jt7MUBbj48kpdm4VMhiyE4S07MRALwRPp2iJFURKIkKqQGPpFEIo97AtiJTwyPxsL3GdVM7QzNnPgK4-gm9MHO7kNCGf6fj1e7G1kleIbfXrDA0L9roUAYu6/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1s8len3kS-1n4xk422SE6u5knTj5Ma8jl9kktQBUIFYUsbQb3E7_YytMMGWxFymGmyd2Jt7MUBbj48kpdm4VMhiyE4S07MRALwRPp2iJFURKIkKqQGPpFEIo97AtiJTwyPxsL3GdVM7QzNnPgK4-gm9MHO7kNCGf6fj1e7G1kleIbfXrDA0L9roUAYu6/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had had great ambitions to use the macro lens extensively in Majorca, however these pics are the only time I bothered to change to the macro. I used natural light since there was so much of it about. Most of the other stuff I was shooting was either moving too fast or I was capturing well enough with the 100~400mm and getting the macro out was too much faff.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMJrNTqZ78_wlV4cubpQmWzailYYesHkJpzqM6Fvk6Bm0E-nN9-pkZoKniL5QLXiiyHwEzbnSXv7BgQ11jpzxwaPw4UOzHkDKeLFNjj2BJvGcvInJZxO-4Ao4DoHCXGHw-pPxN301o3HsCTrRFU6EoYT60YOOXYV-MiNlF6SoV1MNBCxxqUeh51tBQYsZ/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMJrNTqZ78_wlV4cubpQmWzailYYesHkJpzqM6Fvk6Bm0E-nN9-pkZoKniL5QLXiiyHwEzbnSXv7BgQ11jpzxwaPw4UOzHkDKeLFNjj2BJvGcvInJZxO-4Ao4DoHCXGHw-pPxN301o3HsCTrRFU6EoYT60YOOXYV-MiNlF6SoV1MNBCxxqUeh51tBQYsZ/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">do NOT do this</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLtDvjYdfjd051akMvO8Nrdi_J0dZuUY2xct50ANcShzBcar9-BByZboeRIqhnZMam2UVOMrm9rzos-l98qks5AQjNvby9FuBeqH_eyp2ZHCwNyNajKSSpTNOxT9OoGUXx_1_obcOCPY-MuKuLFt4i0eTjlhjJa6Ed-87WzbvtXIDn6O-c6r5SPcfgKKQ/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLtDvjYdfjd051akMvO8Nrdi_J0dZuUY2xct50ANcShzBcar9-BByZboeRIqhnZMam2UVOMrm9rzos-l98qks5AQjNvby9FuBeqH_eyp2ZHCwNyNajKSSpTNOxT9OoGUXx_1_obcOCPY-MuKuLFt4i0eTjlhjJa6Ed-87WzbvtXIDn6O-c6r5SPcfgKKQ/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NOPE!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So I had this caterpillar all over my hand. However I did not make the mistake of trying to eat it, which I suspect is when things turn bad. Also I didn't poke it or aggravate it. Just let it walk over my hand and treated it very gently. (No ill effects afterwards.) Apparently the fifth instar larvae can shoot venomous spines shaped like harpoons into your flesh! I just came across a report in The Portugal News of a gardener who had 4 heart attacks necessitating a triple bypass after "coming into contact" with these beasties. I reckon he must have been trying to eat them.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT-t1LX4bt_DIfR5QNJpx56ebnt574JFdxpmIxJMYFVp2YPJOBv0_V3G7P3MrmmashNrfICnrXFrxlO7EFoOx_XtR0odmTrPNoqLVGK0f5Iax1Zpdag4a4RyQ8BpWNZdzyfyOZPOIbNEBnxFEdb9T-JlnirLibq3m9CaRwrW2uUndgXJ0IZjLqb9lUJRJ/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="2048" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT-t1LX4bt_DIfR5QNJpx56ebnt574JFdxpmIxJMYFVp2YPJOBv0_V3G7P3MrmmashNrfICnrXFrxlO7EFoOx_XtR0odmTrPNoqLVGK0f5Iax1Zpdag4a4RyQ8BpWNZdzyfyOZPOIbNEBnxFEdb9T-JlnirLibq3m9CaRwrW2uUndgXJ0IZjLqb9lUJRJ/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzzpYvjiQPopx5wIaW4PRqdzJ9EOaFBZXzXXYpegR2bB60JJXjS9cjIRyaJ5C_J2FZMtI23MEqm9BtBjL8QeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I count 52 in a row</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2B0OcjPI5YQTVJwVLXj3PnpD_DqL1TXmLN39HHnwtMpWp4XQAf60nshgQuPVcJz6pc9nDEmftfHozOfEw1cN_EY4uThqHN5Rio4PVBmoccOsuD0O8xdUyevS4uFv2bL-Z2oVK8QCG0bbN50_B7SCsegmT0qNrAYZz-vySVJFejhCFbc7yYiFPX3emavU/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2B0OcjPI5YQTVJwVLXj3PnpD_DqL1TXmLN39HHnwtMpWp4XQAf60nshgQuPVcJz6pc9nDEmftfHozOfEw1cN_EY4uThqHN5Rio4PVBmoccOsuD0O8xdUyevS4uFv2bL-Z2oVK8QCG0bbN50_B7SCsegmT0qNrAYZz-vySVJFejhCFbc7yYiFPX3emavU/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is their nest in which they overwinter<br />note the frass (poop) fallen to the bottom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1jGHpgMugSfkJVc82JGYcqJ3HLFa9QvXD94XAaZJiMyl2advkprbvqoV88AXKvmaRnRnKKaJvJaZQeaSip6lO8hdccmys0k1WIKPnRnbZpFaiHEeo6xQt86468c-Jx2F_mXprHxPpANrTtJ100fvYo_TrZZAPU0dIv1JCsTvWYlEm-3J3naE2BezDklL/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1jGHpgMugSfkJVc82JGYcqJ3HLFa9QvXD94XAaZJiMyl2advkprbvqoV88AXKvmaRnRnKKaJvJaZQeaSip6lO8hdccmys0k1WIKPnRnbZpFaiHEeo6xQt86468c-Jx2F_mXprHxPpANrTtJ100fvYo_TrZZAPU0dIv1JCsTvWYlEm-3J3naE2BezDklL/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />this tiny Braconid parasitic wasp<br />has a colourful secret...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jzPY79A9gw12KrvzV5c8zcnL8x73M9u0PvZCj4GpiDRgHvzFpyMLZtX_qn5SkNbq6Qfv45ca3nGv2CSXrcvRxwOaYhIEiHfa6GceEP54gm4AKNubK8gvlxbNEsptt7_-prsl02r8-OIuk5IYr5usL6mGhgdQs6TQFHZEO65fzMPi_lFAue8-JNqr_nt/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jzPY79A9gw12KrvzV5c8zcnL8x73M9u0PvZCj4GpiDRgHvzFpyMLZtX_qn5SkNbq6Qfv45ca3nGv2CSXrcvRxwOaYhIEiHfa6GceEP54gm4AKNubK8gvlxbNEsptt7_-prsl02r8-OIuk5IYr5usL6mGhgdQs6TQFHZEO65fzMPi_lFAue8-JNqr_nt/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yellow! <br />with ovipositor</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0hE8tCs-RzzJhlqdUgzqpZN2H2t6QfI8PNazu3_Kd82l8ifqetEqCc4-8GOSWDeT-E8caloNYO7r4xcvsbSGQbhXwxfAErRJiVNJ3x5xIsqYkSEv8SonfKF5PrQPj7Gy_alrxeWXQuNht3B-3XgQrlboWsG1rFDmYwIG-m34hiJBV_izpfZxGZ-nawo-/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0hE8tCs-RzzJhlqdUgzqpZN2H2t6QfI8PNazu3_Kd82l8ifqetEqCc4-8GOSWDeT-E8caloNYO7r4xcvsbSGQbhXwxfAErRJiVNJ3x5xIsqYkSEv8SonfKF5PrQPj7Gy_alrxeWXQuNht3B-3XgQrlboWsG1rFDmYwIG-m34hiJBV_izpfZxGZ-nawo-/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We called the magical spot (marked on map as "small butterflies") along the <i>Musulmana</i> path the <i><b>motorway service station</b></i>. It was exactly the same as the rest of the path except for 3 or 4 tiny heather-like plants with blue flowers. Presumably those attracted the small gang of Lycaenidae. It was the only spot we saw Small coppers and Common blues. Every visit there seemed to be another species as the temperatures built during the week. There were a couple of Common blues - one perfect as above, the other had lost the ends of its hind wings. It was always there and welcomed us each visit, happy to pose for pics. Appearing throughout the week we also got a Southern Brown Argus (possibly, after extensive googling) and a Lang's short-tailed blue. Hummers would regularly put in an appearance, and on the hottest day a Cleopatra (similar/related to a Brimstone) did a fly by. It was possibly the best butterfly spot we found although looked like nothing other than a roadside flytip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wC3QYn_2aoAyYNtO4TWZnmfwo8eYY0Z922vj8HtAE2COvh-9TE66Nc5nY-f74osCGiQmsF3u6gGCCpi31pAlJJWuR5iFALHeEbxwbBdAhP1B2aGrJmXh0gyQkCy6r5UD8tM7qQK3XXW0ugj2gTqHVMHUSE9dF8smsrpHMyPKm6naOW3W-kfw6P0heHr0/s1374/003a%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1374" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wC3QYn_2aoAyYNtO4TWZnmfwo8eYY0Z922vj8HtAE2COvh-9TE66Nc5nY-f74osCGiQmsF3u6gGCCpi31pAlJJWuR5iFALHeEbxwbBdAhP1B2aGrJmXh0gyQkCy6r5UD8tM7qQK3XXW0ugj2gTqHVMHUSE9dF8smsrpHMyPKm6naOW3W-kfw6P0heHr0/s320/003a%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxPXZWlxn7jw535yoJ2u1QM20pePr6Sz-bhkpOl0BY7DiljU1tC9wekiOfPTp_d1iMKxRzKETlLEPv8mcipcbvSNe3blVRMWyfCCVaV0NUZHXmxBYgaQbDZr-ANBEhgau5GUwDf4G5kQpW-HryBkQIIe7LPNJOB_6CBO9_AZo_4_sDgOxlGO8rG9xpYqL/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxPXZWlxn7jw535yoJ2u1QM20pePr6Sz-bhkpOl0BY7DiljU1tC9wekiOfPTp_d1iMKxRzKETlLEPv8mcipcbvSNe3blVRMWyfCCVaV0NUZHXmxBYgaQbDZr-ANBEhgau5GUwDf4G5kQpW-HryBkQIIe7LPNJOB_6CBO9_AZo_4_sDgOxlGO8rG9xpYqL/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCipGdYP3-smey60NcII7DU_auqQPI3FC_Yi1Ko-7sQbM0OjFeQc-Tjf2BwOq4rz7zS2SWaumtJI6sofp4LHdVXmF-oJDvFsrYhvmT9eYh-l6lejuZAUcMc4yq07NSkjm3w77Ig0ZiJKA_kvQAWgFE-8QN_4YLpIJOawS_LG6GsCuqKxrpQ7V4U-GVCPGv/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCipGdYP3-smey60NcII7DU_auqQPI3FC_Yi1Ko-7sQbM0OjFeQc-Tjf2BwOq4rz7zS2SWaumtJI6sofp4LHdVXmF-oJDvFsrYhvmT9eYh-l6lejuZAUcMc4yq07NSkjm3w77Ig0ZiJKA_kvQAWgFE-8QN_4YLpIJOawS_LG6GsCuqKxrpQ7V4U-GVCPGv/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FwXvJgYEkI5cg1t8Nqjhj1y0EjLdgrHgRFX4wgaWNPFX3lECJBMvqsJbsrYYtQdfyYqpXYCDAR31-ru8yF_xCVbgUy1dpynUu4IpCjalz_o-wWpW26o58XQziaGA_-Bj3Oi0H1e5P-qMqR6n8kN_Yjx__1RM_6f3P4T4XVjkOOeSzVWjYoNC1V4Zv13Y/s1469/099a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1469" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FwXvJgYEkI5cg1t8Nqjhj1y0EjLdgrHgRFX4wgaWNPFX3lECJBMvqsJbsrYYtQdfyYqpXYCDAR31-ru8yF_xCVbgUy1dpynUu4IpCjalz_o-wWpW26o58XQziaGA_-Bj3Oi0H1e5P-qMqR6n8kN_Yjx__1RM_6f3P4T4XVjkOOeSzVWjYoNC1V4Zv13Y/s320/099a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The common blues were as small as I've ever seen. The above photo taken by Mary gives some idea. I wasn't sure at first if they were defo common blues as they were so small. (Conversely the brown argus was larger than the Scottish NBAs we are used to.) I put the small size down to the nutritional disadvantages for the caterpillars here; being quite dry and barren all around, though I have no real idea why. I was trying to hold the vegetation steady in the above photo as it was blowing back and forth in the stiff breeze making photos impossible. I shot much less video of butterflies and birds due to this.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOZGNbQ3mhF5Kcxnvl2HsZtN_fK7ri3DescTRTzlKHcIwJnYSyblM8qBqKwjC9FkYFHddwQC0tf7kDDuZIalvJeopztQcITcmnqG79HS5i3HJy7N65tLTZVFnRstMYvQY-ZOpfFZhEkY173eFbbg_RVU1sWIrK978CQjBQoXZi5KXjvkKCIxdS8hK-AXC/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOZGNbQ3mhF5Kcxnvl2HsZtN_fK7ri3DescTRTzlKHcIwJnYSyblM8qBqKwjC9FkYFHddwQC0tf7kDDuZIalvJeopztQcITcmnqG79HS5i3HJy7N65tLTZVFnRstMYvQY-ZOpfFZhEkY173eFbbg_RVU1sWIrK978CQjBQoXZi5KXjvkKCIxdS8hK-AXC/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">small copper!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFLvXoyUlXeCW6eGYF2VCCxuLDQQfbqeF-jbZAGXemx6aaKOJxhmy3CQmwuovnM91gUoT5E_uM7fMOCdVGk4F-46tsnK7xnRMURLosFmN5FVNevzknC5d6hDJY8fZzQIz4Pkf8BjIlsa0xYQqfiJM0BzUe5eMJ56u8yrElVuk1dGuqVr0-Itb1Sgbkeyv/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFLvXoyUlXeCW6eGYF2VCCxuLDQQfbqeF-jbZAGXemx6aaKOJxhmy3CQmwuovnM91gUoT5E_uM7fMOCdVGk4F-46tsnK7xnRMURLosFmN5FVNevzknC5d6hDJY8fZzQIz4Pkf8BjIlsa0xYQqfiJM0BzUe5eMJ56u8yrElVuk1dGuqVr0-Itb1Sgbkeyv/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our favourite place, we were here most days<br />various spellings occurred due to Spanish / Catalan languages</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUsAPk8eCcpeW9bglvkLu4giaMeuT9AVnMBcHZXMBgTg2UwtFLiBgorZbdA4tn-AJMFVW_YWC_UXyn6rBtVAGFW2rvc2x6AfR0DC0RWSwNo1-kQXiSduykSScPuZ_31GvhFgT7axHiuLF9h3G0mF7dKDh9lKnBbxFT5dxTQLVRSdqnmraqZ7dicsKa_O2/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUsAPk8eCcpeW9bglvkLu4giaMeuT9AVnMBcHZXMBgTg2UwtFLiBgorZbdA4tn-AJMFVW_YWC_UXyn6rBtVAGFW2rvc2x6AfR0DC0RWSwNo1-kQXiSduykSScPuZ_31GvhFgT7axHiuLF9h3G0mF7dKDh9lKnBbxFT5dxTQLVRSdqnmraqZ7dicsKa_O2/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Mary leans up against some recreated archaeology</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCHdFR-EdB32JnbM_fv-PFeonuB45TcAOC_0OzAMMBKhQmfCAyMIsf2sXWthcfJ_kNH8wF-QQ9Qi0-y91FbdueGBmlFuSDuRCzPuCl_66DChvm4-XRm2G1_rsXCSIJzDuabMhZ42QvJ_jFy8Ku0Bg4xZSdDa18WrVqCNVjCN0k_ybLDgEj33O2t52gcdZ/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCHdFR-EdB32JnbM_fv-PFeonuB45TcAOC_0OzAMMBKhQmfCAyMIsf2sXWthcfJ_kNH8wF-QQ9Qi0-y91FbdueGBmlFuSDuRCzPuCl_66DChvm4-XRm2G1_rsXCSIJzDuabMhZ42QvJ_jFy8Ku0Bg4xZSdDa18WrVqCNVjCN0k_ybLDgEj33O2t52gcdZ/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis7Ww98gJmhLV98Ffx6UvAEb4QQ6rJsoF_1pyJYLJm0-9x1bPW-JDjPu_GfNTA8Ac9PisKnV5rCCzJQbte5oGpkWXbcngJF2tJZgoFvLanwXr6uodWGct3zSox6G2uomy11qhIJnd95IFSIkn6hdCLeoKRJplWSijSY9SBqrkQc8Qub3egBayAdBQva_z/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis7Ww98gJmhLV98Ffx6UvAEb4QQ6rJsoF_1pyJYLJm0-9x1bPW-JDjPu_GfNTA8Ac9PisKnV5rCCzJQbte5oGpkWXbcngJF2tJZgoFvLanwXr6uodWGct3zSox6G2uomy11qhIJnd95IFSIkn6hdCLeoKRJplWSijSY9SBqrkQc8Qub3egBayAdBQva_z/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5VUEckc0J6mMQWsRM4Y0cjEFmeSC3sWGBDXAekH0lk-14CDD0k_8f3DzngbPOf4mINbTQufKrvR2tA651CUB-_gLRcnxrPPyo_6PeKNOZPP24Fb89zJWg40xugsa0Rm14secWBQo-ullo23tdCqd1u3f09F9YV8EwmtzObLzaP3t-y7iItOUq3V2CEzF/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5VUEckc0J6mMQWsRM4Y0cjEFmeSC3sWGBDXAekH0lk-14CDD0k_8f3DzngbPOf4mINbTQufKrvR2tA651CUB-_gLRcnxrPPyo_6PeKNOZPP24Fb89zJWg40xugsa0Rm14secWBQo-ullo23tdCqd1u3f09F9YV8EwmtzObLzaP3t-y7iItOUq3V2CEzF/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhHM3Cex8y5gUWP1HNzMrIpwIngrGm5An8Tvxk102ALQXIdSy96iQ5I-kzuXyXuCCU5p9Nl2jm__kpzKYsXJSuXjCCP1WTg06j-mKNs112PXaMNObVpmfMQNYWHdvfH4BV4GUTDR1REnJhyMDldsniHOvbx1k2gXjFRp3iIqYxixhOYhMjdJtULc2wyHR/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhHM3Cex8y5gUWP1HNzMrIpwIngrGm5An8Tvxk102ALQXIdSy96iQ5I-kzuXyXuCCU5p9Nl2jm__kpzKYsXJSuXjCCP1WTg06j-mKNs112PXaMNObVpmfMQNYWHdvfH4BV4GUTDR1REnJhyMDldsniHOvbx1k2gXjFRp3iIqYxixhOYhMjdJtULc2wyHR/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR_clTBo9OT9EF6R_hAas5JI83QcwPnh8lahW8IZnybmpbuAlWWwQ5yen2IoDNtH5fvat7ishGdWGdDdCfmegZ89O2WHLR6GZd74V_Jui0HMXtgqDl-VghXWrASqRvDym8iliBmjaqStsbIsEx494jqomC2fQrOpKcpyRs5fJDKrAqiv4sxSSwcfe3ed7/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR_clTBo9OT9EF6R_hAas5JI83QcwPnh8lahW8IZnybmpbuAlWWwQ5yen2IoDNtH5fvat7ishGdWGdDdCfmegZ89O2WHLR6GZd74V_Jui0HMXtgqDl-VghXWrASqRvDym8iliBmjaqStsbIsEx494jqomC2fQrOpKcpyRs5fJDKrAqiv4sxSSwcfe3ed7/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hummer on the blue flowers at the <i>motorway service station</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckiQG_YguuovEqL0lYSAjHFArFtozMVQx8OVHfkb1_YfvxO_xAA-ZTxzV1qonZxebF7-cm51mEAq4aZ7eoj7LCPiTJlyUz0TZvZJEBAjADjCo6gG3CDZeenXnGdXz3ER1ZcK4oY9ZZom_jedgNrMWJibX_8BGrFHmMgQS_O4iitElxw5wGssrZyf4DM8k/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckiQG_YguuovEqL0lYSAjHFArFtozMVQx8OVHfkb1_YfvxO_xAA-ZTxzV1qonZxebF7-cm51mEAq4aZ7eoj7LCPiTJlyUz0TZvZJEBAjADjCo6gG3CDZeenXnGdXz3ER1ZcK4oY9ZZom_jedgNrMWJibX_8BGrFHmMgQS_O4iitElxw5wGssrZyf4DM8k/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG63O5e7_tBItnnIHaWgIYzPvJAhUQozSO2FPPIlKskSeq6nTh1VoU-yw2BnoJVscczYfR7cUprXci_Dao1lh5aMWd8H11-uM1bYP-9Mrzh9pO2bfK5rz0mFj9f__v_25Os8AUxM7bKbb5or75nR63_8GLxsFDWBns4erL3Go5eO1af5b02l3pCD9vN6b/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG63O5e7_tBItnnIHaWgIYzPvJAhUQozSO2FPPIlKskSeq6nTh1VoU-yw2BnoJVscczYfR7cUprXci_Dao1lh5aMWd8H11-uM1bYP-9Mrzh9pO2bfK5rz0mFj9f__v_25Os8AUxM7bKbb5or75nR63_8GLxsFDWBns4erL3Go5eO1af5b02l3pCD9vN6b/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Monday we checked out the bike hire and lined up bikes for Tuesday. I was going to run solo to the place I thought might be worth a look but reckoned it was too far for Mary's injured foot. (15 mile round trip) However she said she was up for maybe half that and we could go as far as the trail head and check out the quality of the trails. I planned to visit the light house at Cala Figuera which was out roads on the South to trails for the last 5 miles. I wanted to know whether those trails were decent to bike or better to walk. Mary came too. The roads out of town were a bit samey apart from seeing a hoopoe and those caterpillars again. We saw them nearly daily.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhve5_WY9fx0YcXg1VN2y01ivNpgYl87Tn5DFOOQIn2ELKDP__f5QcS7MFS0dr0iMHAzT9W3U-6sTwz-93LdTIv7welTtPz1Ep6rJ_-SUzrP-Fj_NLbFzcLfzdkU63b0SPg3S7wQZOhfdeZ1g403KBj2qbY-y5KOiaN_7BCCXju-8jYD0WvPZono7CDqqqc/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhve5_WY9fx0YcXg1VN2y01ivNpgYl87Tn5DFOOQIn2ELKDP__f5QcS7MFS0dr0iMHAzT9W3U-6sTwz-93LdTIv7welTtPz1Ep6rJ_-SUzrP-Fj_NLbFzcLfzdkU63b0SPg3S7wQZOhfdeZ1g403KBj2qbY-y5KOiaN_7BCCXju-8jYD0WvPZono7CDqqqc/s320/049.jpg" width="215" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had found a dirt trail while googlemap homeworking (not unlike the John Muir Way) going along the side of the golf course. It proved to be better than the urban streets and we came across the only other holly blue of the week.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39TnFI_6USmkbLGXVMBq1L1TKqF4KZYSa5PCymGMdGyMFMgrrD2yO8KV2_lpTDSAakXul4PJVWXhPhG9Wc7eUSzfkwUpmF5f2uO0zHxeEbO5vbJS9WWFtph74aTFSzGAq7p34cQMX4Ci0DvhfVGmu9JZwYHJHqjBMN_-EdPUokuyILBCUbVBNAdXBNo5N/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39TnFI_6USmkbLGXVMBq1L1TKqF4KZYSa5PCymGMdGyMFMgrrD2yO8KV2_lpTDSAakXul4PJVWXhPhG9Wc7eUSzfkwUpmF5f2uO0zHxeEbO5vbJS9WWFtph74aTFSzGAq7p34cQMX4Ci0DvhfVGmu9JZwYHJHqjBMN_-EdPUokuyILBCUbVBNAdXBNo5N/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23K6wwxvRwLLgndS4dkNpNAH-NsK5SW3eMO_lLqpMwamS0ALARdD2Ek6sIwRIYcVTtuj_DwNG4Gk65h1YZJr-WLavijqpZV9itzk60Iu77B9nWLiyfeL7VQgZ1Yc0NGie1L4q-lpR8F0tFC0wDXa-JQP30ZdTfaPgQkm0mGokirTUm_0iV-0PIsTP9FcJ/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23K6wwxvRwLLgndS4dkNpNAH-NsK5SW3eMO_lLqpMwamS0ALARdD2Ek6sIwRIYcVTtuj_DwNG4Gk65h1YZJr-WLavijqpZV9itzk60Iu77B9nWLiyfeL7VQgZ1Yc0NGie1L4q-lpR8F0tFC0wDXa-JQP30ZdTfaPgQkm0mGokirTUm_0iV-0PIsTP9FcJ/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm9T1MlMF2Q8CIeOJvLrsUIGfIAchLToDimxYnlZO2O8hcEhm1wFdh4DwnkJuWBMcrN46yJvMMUTrtm6UA9qfEDMVwmxDCm1UNheLfOqC3p84WkS85QYphHkqXyc4rWe93HI3cVAQFox8uHPNBW7tgwJiMkp-x0hIdO3HEHxxgwHzyosDUf02ABYnPuKH/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm9T1MlMF2Q8CIeOJvLrsUIGfIAchLToDimxYnlZO2O8hcEhm1wFdh4DwnkJuWBMcrN46yJvMMUTrtm6UA9qfEDMVwmxDCm1UNheLfOqC3p84WkS85QYphHkqXyc4rWe93HI3cVAQFox8uHPNBW7tgwJiMkp-x0hIdO3HEHxxgwHzyosDUf02ABYnPuKH/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />best photo of the week of a hoopoe<br />they seemed most prevalent on the outskirts of urban areas</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZyOzEQoLzT5d4EVppJkiysTGRtUGUFdCDPKIhSUOrWISbGb1aRUBjvRkoghXT28_3EgHjMNHU7BQujl_y9mMqEi0efGX_8ySmwou3J2fzpjrgaPFC1NMOqGWrWS2_7YRC5Ub2fHtcVBzBHIl_l3TkuA0QowTm85bm7cq4UI8MOQ4lsGRO_ULWBtzCSkM/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZyOzEQoLzT5d4EVppJkiysTGRtUGUFdCDPKIhSUOrWISbGb1aRUBjvRkoghXT28_3EgHjMNHU7BQujl_y9mMqEi0efGX_8ySmwou3J2fzpjrgaPFC1NMOqGWrWS2_7YRC5Ub2fHtcVBzBHIl_l3TkuA0QowTm85bm7cq4UI8MOQ4lsGRO_ULWBtzCSkM/s320/054.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long undulating roads<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When we got to the trailhead it was almost disappointing. The road turned around and the trail set off but it was fenced off on both sides with notices announcing it had been done by the military and not to leave the path. My whole life is about getting off the path and chasing shit through the bracken. It was good to find this out and the limitations of this area of wild paths and trails which was now greatly limited. The main trail was nice but it had lost much of its appeal. Especially as we could not divert to get views of the impressive peninsula that stretched off towards an island out in the Med. That was all out of bounds. I had admired lots of online pics taken around here and now it was out of bounds.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClFn443aytNz6HG_20M_Bjrmu3foddEEXqLiMZpav92LPsI1rjeecddgTHBXxkjmZ3m0mjg9VkiU55iVm4PLYMwQNIT4eK_BvBlwHUjuto6NISfJ3WD1a8vZb05p6ZlsrNHAfwspWmvjP4DmxftIERoexG1TpvdU85MNS_PQUZwOR35EoSlD35f6B9UUv/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClFn443aytNz6HG_20M_Bjrmu3foddEEXqLiMZpav92LPsI1rjeecddgTHBXxkjmZ3m0mjg9VkiU55iVm4PLYMwQNIT4eK_BvBlwHUjuto6NISfJ3WD1a8vZb05p6ZlsrNHAfwspWmvjP4DmxftIERoexG1TpvdU85MNS_PQUZwOR35EoSlD35f6B9UUv/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On the upside we saw a Lang's short-tailed in decent condition. It was still a bit more faded than the bright blue specimens you find online but they do seem to fade very fast. Mary also saw what we think was a Bath White but it declined a photo. We saw several distant whites all week but none landed close by and we had to make do with distant pics or in flight photos. Most would likely have been small whites. Mary remarked the Bath White was a species she had never seen before, (I took photos of one up Teide in Tenerife.)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFRmVLzH8e4kGDCyzTBomsp40Xoeicpoq-wut3pWHCUkpXIXLjlOLbs6C0Lb1zbaBlDdCrnUucM7eEEXyhLPnkB3djoM0TvPdZREiPWwRZHR5ytAHlwqqaHtvSej0kTC_1dmWi-NiZ2E0TYicZ_wEu49WsxZXpli9tsOQXundjE9Ibp5YHTEHX6SfjPRM/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFRmVLzH8e4kGDCyzTBomsp40Xoeicpoq-wut3pWHCUkpXIXLjlOLbs6C0Lb1zbaBlDdCrnUucM7eEEXyhLPnkB3djoM0TvPdZREiPWwRZHR5ytAHlwqqaHtvSej0kTC_1dmWi-NiZ2E0TYicZ_wEu49WsxZXpli9tsOQXundjE9Ibp5YHTEHX6SfjPRM/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Lang's short-tailed blue</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz109BfjkkBL3uFEEfQtZelfEjh68iAe3Kd7vLuSLAFm135RNUTceexOEBcHsu9nUajxp_BGpefeqk9lJTqYBDhR4Th0fDBCbn5UaiI6UDNecGcSnr8PlfijBnED9c3GSmvQMISTBKqHIj1vWFCQtKSV24mOCsN9W3yc-EIXmMUeMlA-tHf2fdimedjRkb/s3901/056a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="3901" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz109BfjkkBL3uFEEfQtZelfEjh68iAe3Kd7vLuSLAFm135RNUTceexOEBcHsu9nUajxp_BGpefeqk9lJTqYBDhR4Th0fDBCbn5UaiI6UDNecGcSnr8PlfijBnED9c3GSmvQMISTBKqHIj1vWFCQtKSV24mOCsN9W3yc-EIXmMUeMlA-tHf2fdimedjRkb/s320/056a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />spectacular peninsula no longer visitable</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGzncWk2luVGW5jMQ0Tp0l3FK2O5AJ8usyKaeexgwDeAIpKlblEYpHfqzwLccmeIH1thDtHdqP0V3SXKnsMyIf6b_KsQQw_oDm-w5zTwwHDf0kJiXhVsWnujkZrBdqDVIXUArM_HX7gYUo09D7-oXpuHYAn1VGrJSE_zy_f-aqa76KshiQcUpNl-vOvzT/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGzncWk2luVGW5jMQ0Tp0l3FK2O5AJ8usyKaeexgwDeAIpKlblEYpHfqzwLccmeIH1thDtHdqP0V3SXKnsMyIf6b_KsQQw_oDm-w5zTwwHDf0kJiXhVsWnujkZrBdqDVIXUArM_HX7gYUo09D7-oXpuHYAn1VGrJSE_zy_f-aqa76KshiQcUpNl-vOvzT/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fenced off linnet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMmjShFES5BVlYEWGHevLpwbgUYOlIHvXnPDJwsrmeNKxIFPu6NxQARiMCpqc0Kah3SlN5ARdS0vQPqra4trQFyky9MZ3EqUDL3euaWHHYDrUNBzyDM6wNBsvoqT-n_Qfj5LhnK38ZXNJq1sQU-DaFiwQQKC_Qj0DAss3dQG79HRn2wyZ15NnVZaMEcs2/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMmjShFES5BVlYEWGHevLpwbgUYOlIHvXnPDJwsrmeNKxIFPu6NxQARiMCpqc0Kah3SlN5ARdS0vQPqra4trQFyky9MZ3EqUDL3euaWHHYDrUNBzyDM6wNBsvoqT-n_Qfj5LhnK38ZXNJq1sQU-DaFiwQQKC_Qj0DAss3dQG79HRn2wyZ15NnVZaMEcs2/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnt4MPt9UX7sQTx7OxqqLno7vUlPSoZrZEzXh28c7WOK80gQA8doIZR9Ey2wOKmyn6fGB3pMH_2rmBb8lCsWIyIbjEaI5kLZQuQkwtoCM7R970EKa1lVhv6bxDMLAsUkbrN9PrPGs53QJP96XwF1yKDKs8J8O1Ytxr0M2qmyJfvCVAa7gipi3hbCcFIyT/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnt4MPt9UX7sQTx7OxqqLno7vUlPSoZrZEzXh28c7WOK80gQA8doIZR9Ey2wOKmyn6fGB3pMH_2rmBb8lCsWIyIbjEaI5kLZQuQkwtoCM7R970EKa1lVhv6bxDMLAsUkbrN9PrPGs53QJP96XwF1yKDKs8J8O1Ytxr0M2qmyJfvCVAa7gipi3hbCcFIyT/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cat behind bars (for purrjury?)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPcfoh1TL3YMW1PtyLZ3rZ8e1pM_MAt0SjA59jTFJRfkM3CLina-NPn5F9qICXKOaHSiqbvuD3uadAVD8SvIP_bccCSHTdBRIHfnoksZ97z5nE1keec2jkgO7edM8KydvC1WYjC35r8TgNeNGaNkNAZS4OH7qCYJtodw5aOZScG12nfgfUaDLzBTcYduX/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPcfoh1TL3YMW1PtyLZ3rZ8e1pM_MAt0SjA59jTFJRfkM3CLina-NPn5F9qICXKOaHSiqbvuD3uadAVD8SvIP_bccCSHTdBRIHfnoksZ97z5nE1keec2jkgO7edM8KydvC1WYjC35r8TgNeNGaNkNAZS4OH7qCYJtodw5aOZScG12nfgfUaDLzBTcYduX/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">kestrel on tv antennae</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumg9HqSclOqPT-oMgJaABBSnUz7WkP4q_QOYFtmaRYjL9QXSbm50L1Ll7ZehYxqzCO5GuKdbXbxjoY98KJRfDZuBWsNnGhSbdlDdmVP_pvDBw6WvIVBeoKD3Ozppcg9TUjwpk9huGMxayOuK2x6BjRgc9RJzbvSpXEBlvxz0DVI73bb50F-tOyeAy1auh/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumg9HqSclOqPT-oMgJaABBSnUz7WkP4q_QOYFtmaRYjL9QXSbm50L1Ll7ZehYxqzCO5GuKdbXbxjoY98KJRfDZuBWsNnGhSbdlDdmVP_pvDBw6WvIVBeoKD3Ozppcg9TUjwpk9huGMxayOuK2x6BjRgc9RJzbvSpXEBlvxz0DVI73bb50F-tOyeAy1auh/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one legged hopper</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtihsBCNpmgyc1Un0gW5m7x8wRrCG0evheZkT5Le-io936mWIOFyxXi1pKSHr65PUVuFf4lZeMOJgdZuiHTihD12sbjwRcLz-4ynUIo8gn3LYvYTPKZ0YyQD5BVosti6hBlJ85jB4pklTwHr18qc8KdG5RrFgsUWukhgNWSRuvtdc3CBAqE1L23pkMipQp/s2048/062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtihsBCNpmgyc1Un0gW5m7x8wRrCG0evheZkT5Le-io936mWIOFyxXi1pKSHr65PUVuFf4lZeMOJgdZuiHTihD12sbjwRcLz-4ynUIo8gn3LYvYTPKZ0YyQD5BVosti6hBlJ85jB4pklTwHr18qc8KdG5RrFgsUWukhgNWSRuvtdc3CBAqE1L23pkMipQp/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG_tALYmvZncqQQvDpfvK5nztLYPja-EwALBW4iBFS31AIoiS5lUPjluMLjXe-FhpTzHm0dsOWBjP5PIFDl-p_5dV4d02As1Txb93E6hj6rqhner3F6uRwbFKXt0KxG3_ec6JZVrlyjBozA0tNIdFdGal1dVXUznIPHoG7vekpFEDvJcJhY-i_gQzvrwN/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG_tALYmvZncqQQvDpfvK5nztLYPja-EwALBW4iBFS31AIoiS5lUPjluMLjXe-FhpTzHm0dsOWBjP5PIFDl-p_5dV4d02As1Txb93E6hj6rqhner3F6uRwbFKXt0KxG3_ec6JZVrlyjBozA0tNIdFdGal1dVXUznIPHoG7vekpFEDvJcJhY-i_gQzvrwN/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">distant shot of red kite</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l1ieiGmi8ltbfsyBMqIq74GvQ6pO9PdiHZIqQQ62oEgJX22ml922t5sDiuqu_76U9XdktlKqdgRpboFxFBYTO-XouV_BjP5zuS5JVHmWkv36NORd6zMyu1sJFiAVGHdpGKDc7J2tmgbDT-XjTlLut-6-luoLqqP23thU83YbMwN1P0_30q861W1skFtS/s2048/064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l1ieiGmi8ltbfsyBMqIq74GvQ6pO9PdiHZIqQQ62oEgJX22ml922t5sDiuqu_76U9XdktlKqdgRpboFxFBYTO-XouV_BjP5zuS5JVHmWkv36NORd6zMyu1sJFiAVGHdpGKDc7J2tmgbDT-XjTlLut-6-luoLqqP23thU83YbMwN1P0_30q861W1skFtS/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more hoopoe chasing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizdAQPIBJFrUToVp3cQ11nI-Y4TkjGbU0RC8P99ZM9qIT0K-KlFbyfUv8qjYlEqE6QNIqDJ7Sq9pBzcQxwhbAypTDq3ST0beY77opIpOWdXGJHywJSHpytZOZlSmWW3W2IWAHA-dIr4r3dlfKldsPtwab5paYJ4HxXIA1eFY0EmGIm0jZ3Lj4YMNsv8f7/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizdAQPIBJFrUToVp3cQ11nI-Y4TkjGbU0RC8P99ZM9qIT0K-KlFbyfUv8qjYlEqE6QNIqDJ7Sq9pBzcQxwhbAypTDq3ST0beY77opIpOWdXGJHywJSHpytZOZlSmWW3W2IWAHA-dIr4r3dlfKldsPtwab5paYJ4HxXIA1eFY0EmGIm0jZ3Lj4YMNsv8f7/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP4R60tFkubPtIRL_u_lzhyphenhyphenwlzhIub0uR6O5QWq9CUSYz7bSFiZQxXBJB5uEyaCviLUUaH-a0WIFFsCvP0Sfimo8-Ntu5Aeo10-0_N6LiBspEDISNOnX58JQH9toTMoezZ6bIURsprhZn5xN8zkbruBzZkKkC5HPBDsh9jJT_R3A2ywOW7PttfvPuL9tq/s2048/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP4R60tFkubPtIRL_u_lzhyphenhyphenwlzhIub0uR6O5QWq9CUSYz7bSFiZQxXBJB5uEyaCviLUUaH-a0WIFFsCvP0Sfimo8-Ntu5Aeo10-0_N6LiBspEDISNOnX58JQH9toTMoezZ6bIURsprhZn5xN8zkbruBzZkKkC5HPBDsh9jJT_R3A2ywOW7PttfvPuL9tq/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We finished off our trail recce (9 miles!) by walking back "home" via the motorway service station where there were 2 small coppers, the new arrival having just 3 wings. Many of the butterflies had injuries and missing wing parts. There was a large and vocal population of small birds although they weren't at all keen to pose for photos. I saw a lot of what I reckoned were black redstarts and google eventually agreed. Also sparrows and warblers and linnets and other unfamiliars. They probably kept the butterflies nervous.<br /><br />Meanwhile we decided to change route for the cycle. Instead of the lighthouse, we thought we would cycle to Sant Elm about 15 miles away and climb one of the best hikes up a hill on the island. Which we did. It was spectacular and gets a page to itself on next blog. (link <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-trip-to-sant-elm.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3mtGEjY79Sna1H5EHYa81tb97TDU_DqGhJSnSNOMPONlelXG1t6x87FQaOlrOWW2qj4tasNrOeOEsbi7yZGFzx_9rNwBbbkGE24ja95upKBeRtSn9BswVa0ah52Ww3TVYHMJ4zMpYnsXbbo421Vjoi8s9GQcgEwncwVu8iVbyDl4Qs2eIFX6WAdmSFvd/s2048/067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3mtGEjY79Sna1H5EHYa81tb97TDU_DqGhJSnSNOMPONlelXG1t6x87FQaOlrOWW2qj4tasNrOeOEsbi7yZGFzx_9rNwBbbkGE24ja95upKBeRtSn9BswVa0ah52Ww3TVYHMJ4zMpYnsXbbo421Vjoi8s9GQcgEwncwVu8iVbyDl4Qs2eIFX6WAdmSFvd/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the new arrival</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6BzhaGT4MKYvGN1_MASAE8toXhKaFIPn6qOkFQrytBCQGajH-1vEpdZgikPgZbarl7Qk0rLVfcIJIW7fyYEq0YSwnaaJoUleki1YNkKOaI438gUEWAib_5tJ3UOqqjNxx1wCf4N6XO8y0shKOcG09ZVL8gefS9-6CR3ESGZwTwBGnrkCIhRrRvzL40tj/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6BzhaGT4MKYvGN1_MASAE8toXhKaFIPn6qOkFQrytBCQGajH-1vEpdZgikPgZbarl7Qk0rLVfcIJIW7fyYEq0YSwnaaJoUleki1YNkKOaI438gUEWAib_5tJ3UOqqjNxx1wCf4N6XO8y0shKOcG09ZVL8gefS9-6CR3ESGZwTwBGnrkCIhRrRvzL40tj/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the regular copper on the beat</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMdqKaMWtrwJ9x_cdAleqWNviwPIjQB6_I4EsT_aFgGsUoYWKlaYaFk21WD1KeK15I2lx-Q2B-LJlFHN7ftiiKz6tInGWgIRBK_CW85r6Gy6pe3yhNRN2vI6DVPMwi3UwX7KYpAxlqm75q27EhdFoVKguhUbHvhSy5lBmYHgMKpf18MvJWCCrjl0swe5D/s2048/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMdqKaMWtrwJ9x_cdAleqWNviwPIjQB6_I4EsT_aFgGsUoYWKlaYaFk21WD1KeK15I2lx-Q2B-LJlFHN7ftiiKz6tInGWgIRBK_CW85r6Gy6pe3yhNRN2vI6DVPMwi3UwX7KYpAxlqm75q27EhdFoVKguhUbHvhSy5lBmYHgMKpf18MvJWCCrjl0swe5D/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the regular blue (with tatty tail)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfw002zEPVZgT7PH-G-d96fdxKlto8nN5I5WU47AJyk9xUtLXQGCacaED0407PdtpsTgZPbnIK0fWwGW5371Fy3g3AwB4tE1s-4K7b1NhY4_V3VFc1py7JH3TYE7NItLTMWvuSamlRpC8VJIPLpVcbqtnfDe97PGtAP8LhRjbtrWUrR_md1_OPSiRvNs6/s2048/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfw002zEPVZgT7PH-G-d96fdxKlto8nN5I5WU47AJyk9xUtLXQGCacaED0407PdtpsTgZPbnIK0fWwGW5371Fy3g3AwB4tE1s-4K7b1NhY4_V3VFc1py7JH3TYE7NItLTMWvuSamlRpC8VJIPLpVcbqtnfDe97PGtAP8LhRjbtrWUrR_md1_OPSiRvNs6/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">perfect specimen!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was following what I thought was a small copper until it landed and I realised it was a small heath. Its uppers had been so bright and golden that I mistook it for a small copper. It was a delight and one of only 2 all week. The other was up the hill with the swallowtails and a far greater prize than the swallowtails which were (by now) ten-a-penny!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3noTEf5oXMulTw9PvPx5dIo8oKoTP5X5DbOBiYnc8udUGqqic2mdQZJEDih45GLSumtuVDKlemY0YwaIuyplWGxoYH5dLd9325n7PNf_ndq7ULr69a_vqrIw6IqjCWhPAs7svIvZaffiSw4E65TyKMcJ-uMo8_QvKsWX3k9KcVSauQiDnFD93pp8c_9y/s2048/071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3noTEf5oXMulTw9PvPx5dIo8oKoTP5X5DbOBiYnc8udUGqqic2mdQZJEDih45GLSumtuVDKlemY0YwaIuyplWGxoYH5dLd9325n7PNf_ndq7ULr69a_vqrIw6IqjCWhPAs7svIvZaffiSw4E65TyKMcJ-uMo8_QvKsWX3k9KcVSauQiDnFD93pp8c_9y/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS9DXnh5eEr3xNAMuPzfG6G9mPVWRdCTy8meZ49lxCwBBAVq_71hPrbRWuXuyoUYzZLMheuB43axMgMGc5HthA98OP1JympMHSMMJjfsGduB3BQCBZK256qkvBeRFsZei-NXnQ-6-wGcwOaBoYcokmBshS-76PsZjOb7apIjagbpr7vszyippUSwBWk1C/s2048/092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS9DXnh5eEr3xNAMuPzfG6G9mPVWRdCTy8meZ49lxCwBBAVq_71hPrbRWuXuyoUYzZLMheuB43axMgMGc5HthA98OP1JympMHSMMJjfsGduB3BQCBZK256qkvBeRFsZei-NXnQ-6-wGcwOaBoYcokmBshS-76PsZjOb7apIjagbpr7vszyippUSwBWk1C/s320/092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">speckled wood - not many about by comparison to Scotland</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiRDiyoUdFtcyzGyW4Zlz9mJC1IFNUXPfFB8uWV7b7CQpelFql24FmTte41DpILJL7x-QmY4Y6El1HvbyiXmvei8xYxjOx4DwNbEHRx77cFK6J7P1PXDkThB8Ws9ptuAk8HcQPcMgZB8666XW6qMByRLDEjVnRzpTCsmDOP5QORMcZdvj7ppFoXRBqRPP/s2048/093.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiRDiyoUdFtcyzGyW4Zlz9mJC1IFNUXPfFB8uWV7b7CQpelFql24FmTte41DpILJL7x-QmY4Y6El1HvbyiXmvei8xYxjOx4DwNbEHRx77cFK6J7P1PXDkThB8Ws9ptuAk8HcQPcMgZB8666XW6qMByRLDEjVnRzpTCsmDOP5QORMcZdvj7ppFoXRBqRPP/s320/093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue pimpernel, Lysimachia arvensis?<br />(says google images)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFtpAPprgcRdIeUBcjwzgNalnvauNShT3_H4XxB8rAjRisIikyTf5osC0pzIvE5ScRm-UAzarhxeGcea5jqzCxIc9JP6RdI2G-65nPIoQTNDoxiveQtbo4I_uasCGDrqmDI_v2c8UHluj8HSR-eZUVQlJRkCNJJ46YBURKW314Q98bHxzIXMoPQ7Se1Op/s2048/095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFtpAPprgcRdIeUBcjwzgNalnvauNShT3_H4XxB8rAjRisIikyTf5osC0pzIvE5ScRm-UAzarhxeGcea5jqzCxIc9JP6RdI2G-65nPIoQTNDoxiveQtbo4I_uasCGDrqmDI_v2c8UHluj8HSR-eZUVQlJRkCNJJ46YBURKW314Q98bHxzIXMoPQ7Se1Op/s320/095.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So this brown job - looking a lot like our own NBAs but with black wing spots on uppers not white, was maybe a Southern Brown Argus. I have searched for lists of Majorcan Butterflies and this is the most likely suspect. Although again let me know if you think otherwise. What is in no doubt was how much I enjoyed getting down in the dust and taking photos of it. Slightly larger than our tiny NBAs, about the size of a common blue it was neither helpful nor unhelpful. It wouldn't fly off if you got close but also had a bad habit of being upside down and hidden between flowers and twigs. So it was challenging but also fun.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xUU-vSum0VlQRWrIxFfaKvH_zVu7MpHS8z3iIXGu34vela5MDsyhE65fQLR3NGtSxt-e71Mss1hIFzhjbfW2XoUVOaYDA0ufOGyp3mI3MkROuPrF0QX5ovQMLd62ZeEQQb0cwQHIg0URhQXcXSE0ptbn_dmQ8k1KqsNYmAKYl0kexENY1nZRDoe16AgH/s2048/096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xUU-vSum0VlQRWrIxFfaKvH_zVu7MpHS8z3iIXGu34vela5MDsyhE65fQLR3NGtSxt-e71Mss1hIFzhjbfW2XoUVOaYDA0ufOGyp3mI3MkROuPrF0QX5ovQMLd62ZeEQQb0cwQHIg0URhQXcXSE0ptbn_dmQ8k1KqsNYmAKYl0kexENY1nZRDoe16AgH/s320/096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnvOebjjPkh0M9IFw8OfJ2b8XwtRFOZu1d0jD1GJHlMXvXoPwvNpBbY2FAhnPqIrrB-v8Ba0erlZG3K3ldA_gSOXTrYRZYMnTa8q7DEonxTaCRaLivItHz53mCKZOkzazVQLkM-Jo1MpJx9QQdgl3hmfzwb92j9ws6Mze867m3ZEJK031BGCakUPtafB-/s2048/097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnvOebjjPkh0M9IFw8OfJ2b8XwtRFOZu1d0jD1GJHlMXvXoPwvNpBbY2FAhnPqIrrB-v8Ba0erlZG3K3ldA_gSOXTrYRZYMnTa8q7DEonxTaCRaLivItHz53mCKZOkzazVQLkM-Jo1MpJx9QQdgl3hmfzwb92j9ws6Mze867m3ZEJK031BGCakUPtafB-/s320/097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a scarred hummer</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEYClY7rjQ9jGV0VHUzGNd3E4GogOdJZhPJTuSlrct0Ro90P3vr8BIGXBYc1uv_Y2zuqaT1vTA-15C8th0DgNXR85krqsMlE-5ntM0haeX00Fw15-QgzhQQAJecwHamYBLex5gY-N_PcMNdm6HH3MIXusHmvOh-Ijyv9diRdijx8-HLz0PVzc4z_F8F6M/s2048/098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEYClY7rjQ9jGV0VHUzGNd3E4GogOdJZhPJTuSlrct0Ro90P3vr8BIGXBYc1uv_Y2zuqaT1vTA-15C8th0DgNXR85krqsMlE-5ntM0haeX00Fw15-QgzhQQAJecwHamYBLex5gY-N_PcMNdm6HH3MIXusHmvOh-Ijyv9diRdijx8-HLz0PVzc4z_F8F6M/s320/098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndzpEpWktlC1kDJX1ag6gKInBHorCi7egQv8GUnQ13HiEXwydrJsyiQxZEs7h60c1MOJTZBbFwSX2_6umaOUO2ORcapv-EbI7J9jWsfS-NB0PFUjlHPIWzpolvOFIj-PCfWT5HPuiLPLA4b59kN04d13rgYoVr0NFGDlZzkN2x-Is2iw4uNPEwC7UDHKx/s2048/099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndzpEpWktlC1kDJX1ag6gKInBHorCi7egQv8GUnQ13HiEXwydrJsyiQxZEs7h60c1MOJTZBbFwSX2_6umaOUO2ORcapv-EbI7J9jWsfS-NB0PFUjlHPIWzpolvOFIj-PCfWT5HPuiLPLA4b59kN04d13rgYoVr0NFGDlZzkN2x-Is2iw4uNPEwC7UDHKx/s320/099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the fresher common blue</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ20Fh9JDPGgZaki48dIh-k810_gtiqdbeG0VH0VwjuvjZ8jQ4pLkeEPy7Vvnhlg2_sP5BEJN743gn023lUV5XLp8frlgJUOWwhgILe06fBR9Z6_k8TTLQXaJNpyAwmS0oCR4giRSBgBRNeZFMjC6_kI5ymqpWzpH3r3FMpOrJSKzr8DQeKois3Emj7-09/s1743/099b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1743" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ20Fh9JDPGgZaki48dIh-k810_gtiqdbeG0VH0VwjuvjZ8jQ4pLkeEPy7Vvnhlg2_sP5BEJN743gn023lUV5XLp8frlgJUOWwhgILe06fBR9Z6_k8TTLQXaJNpyAwmS0oCR4giRSBgBRNeZFMjC6_kI5ymqpWzpH3r3FMpOrJSKzr8DQeKois3Emj7-09/s320/099b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo Mary</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-eKNvYcip2cRQA34-OEr8tAF4Y9Rrm4-shtcIEf98aDIbNSVotnv4C4wOn9SycQ5jPZw45c4FdYTNVrvYRvwwfutD_-eXLpdmRD0SNJWeQecJKFD8ik2dQUARTQY2WjkpiJiMTCZXf9eWCnxwwrVxop0MxgkbW85uHUMIvi8-6eOrGjLFfy1NQHfRIBi/s1920/099c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1920" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-eKNvYcip2cRQA34-OEr8tAF4Y9Rrm4-shtcIEf98aDIbNSVotnv4C4wOn9SycQ5jPZw45c4FdYTNVrvYRvwwfutD_-eXLpdmRD0SNJWeQecJKFD8ik2dQUARTQY2WjkpiJiMTCZXf9eWCnxwwrVxop0MxgkbW85uHUMIvi8-6eOrGjLFfy1NQHfRIBi/s320/099c.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />this was the unprepossessing <i>"motorway service station"</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">It looks like shit but was a great spot for butterflies. I checked all around in case there was another great patch nearby but this was really the only place up and down that long area of shrubs and scrub that had lots of butterflies.</span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQCYgFl9yFMfB91E5dbrXYEoObdpup3pobd1uRmxXa6oMN-m7q35eMtsuSR-MESf0pS0uZvGwgdY0-X_3JlX6bkX-NQbRMFZCblu0mzNvzb0HRXGo6QrVF3_ZXXG8YuIzbR7cXDAR8QwrLc3HNv8eNgWvUOERuyps1zTg_ok9WClHIwR-VnhxYM3qSi6Y/s2048/100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQCYgFl9yFMfB91E5dbrXYEoObdpup3pobd1uRmxXa6oMN-m7q35eMtsuSR-MESf0pS0uZvGwgdY0-X_3JlX6bkX-NQbRMFZCblu0mzNvzb0HRXGo6QrVF3_ZXXG8YuIzbR7cXDAR8QwrLc3HNv8eNgWvUOERuyps1zTg_ok9WClHIwR-VnhxYM3qSi6Y/s320/100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">best blue!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgospaxnMq96BWV0Kj_m138XSL6iWpwdB_eNdNXbDgy5kUbzDfNTj4Z7ZquYsV0_EJLYKnY0ZaEHkTlUNCR_luhZCFBtKEKI_jYkoLSBLbEK0uCkuKGl2db7GGxAL8bRqycv0awXygaQVWcC9nSStX4mttUF_Qxy8A7RiUOeBztUgYHTFhc3lzhCjkLoi/s2048/101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgospaxnMq96BWV0Kj_m138XSL6iWpwdB_eNdNXbDgy5kUbzDfNTj4Z7ZquYsV0_EJLYKnY0ZaEHkTlUNCR_luhZCFBtKEKI_jYkoLSBLbEK0uCkuKGl2db7GGxAL8bRqycv0awXygaQVWcC9nSStX4mttUF_Qxy8A7RiUOeBztUgYHTFhc3lzhCjkLoi/s320/101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKxNYCtJnwBbw5Fbujv-aLLZliyxMLvsg5Cc8JOEIe2H9bIeyjXV_ZrHCrMg_YgKJ6yKK0Yg5LhDz9udR96kHovWLO1VugjmRUukQmUdM-99FEZLgKribsm3wX4uhzy4X0A-1fp4H4kaVnl1lx5hVBcvOYEQIRj204Aw8xxLNJ8X1QVJYIgxg8Zv37bTC/s2048/102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKxNYCtJnwBbw5Fbujv-aLLZliyxMLvsg5Cc8JOEIe2H9bIeyjXV_ZrHCrMg_YgKJ6yKK0Yg5LhDz9udR96kHovWLO1VugjmRUukQmUdM-99FEZLgKribsm3wX4uhzy4X0A-1fp4H4kaVnl1lx5hVBcvOYEQIRj204Aw8xxLNJ8X1QVJYIgxg8Zv37bTC/s320/102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL1lEDMyGWyF0mRRhAZgkyqUJjTLYGGnX4THfaNbtz7Gc9bucQUkiSJmNsJm0XOHM58NSwuEuWoggWkgEJiZlbyHerF6I-eRSRf8EgAUyfEmk1h4RfxhMk9DSrTqfogqAj5ME-1CAHStiL14-8Pwthn3iWthQdq7VV1tAzkYsZq5FsoxbHPncjyn1RgPn/s2048/103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL1lEDMyGWyF0mRRhAZgkyqUJjTLYGGnX4THfaNbtz7Gc9bucQUkiSJmNsJm0XOHM58NSwuEuWoggWkgEJiZlbyHerF6I-eRSRf8EgAUyfEmk1h4RfxhMk9DSrTqfogqAj5ME-1CAHStiL14-8Pwthn3iWthQdq7VV1tAzkYsZq5FsoxbHPncjyn1RgPn/s320/103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKquM5ziyY7tKuW3zL67iE-8B9OUc-obqWBa93pzIIwIFHAvVvT4dEr9XjEhS-fI77xrE9kTrvrbOftobE8rmVnqG0eSaa1zh2ks1hq7DC7AD66j812BVATKEcndjhrOAl2xUxNij-kaUO14KBKYHbtA2rnhrUBtjClLi4qQ95Unl2KCAPm-3OVP4cPR7/s2048/104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKquM5ziyY7tKuW3zL67iE-8B9OUc-obqWBa93pzIIwIFHAvVvT4dEr9XjEhS-fI77xrE9kTrvrbOftobE8rmVnqG0eSaa1zh2ks1hq7DC7AD66j812BVATKEcndjhrOAl2xUxNij-kaUO14KBKYHbtA2rnhrUBtjClLi4qQ95Unl2KCAPm-3OVP4cPR7/s320/104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd61TTQvvfm63ca7wIt3pWfup8V3n_RFrSSo131ofusp1s81fQRX6PQHjzNFzlbHzG78mwIiKjlDc_m_DSTaRhjmcYyyLyHhcCd6xR3_IWZrLFcd_wnep4SD2FHPKP-pdDxIdQVkltBUq9V7ORm-O4x97V3JE3Ht7Nb5IpkVKY84erX6ZbU32MyakUIzbg/s2048/105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd61TTQvvfm63ca7wIt3pWfup8V3n_RFrSSo131ofusp1s81fQRX6PQHjzNFzlbHzG78mwIiKjlDc_m_DSTaRhjmcYyyLyHhcCd6xR3_IWZrLFcd_wnep4SD2FHPKP-pdDxIdQVkltBUq9V7ORm-O4x97V3JE3Ht7Nb5IpkVKY84erX6ZbU32MyakUIzbg/s320/105.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRb5A2zjcN_R_GKs4jaY549HdSWUHuxXYwCbctIgI7Iw_MGBh2R2Fipa43tmgNSyy-B6ONE1SoRR9uSKeHcPzPJMr-ehgO1CAp_64D99-MfJaOfosNSmg-R_oIN_LlneJ9acVwgozehmGAtxOZNADdW9qSKKp9SbrTjm4C6ShAClOnuOi22FmxYxyO6wC/s2048/106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRb5A2zjcN_R_GKs4jaY549HdSWUHuxXYwCbctIgI7Iw_MGBh2R2Fipa43tmgNSyy-B6ONE1SoRR9uSKeHcPzPJMr-ehgO1CAp_64D99-MfJaOfosNSmg-R_oIN_LlneJ9acVwgozehmGAtxOZNADdW9qSKKp9SbrTjm4C6ShAClOnuOi22FmxYxyO6wC/s320/106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">take off!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6S5ZvL0TGqfvXl8NZ675C8lALnHbCNjn1D0qNxJ1LJmVC_rxuL8hAEK9Z7LNyr3YHePdRdHJmX700jpM7G3EoM4yX8SrlTo4kHZBKVhEAwe_LOL-0YMo9KBLe9Ja_GZ-Km2aZED5BDju2DB7WdyYThq-c_qxdkeqX5Ju7RBlZb6Dror2sg2x6QFMPj2y/s2048/107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6S5ZvL0TGqfvXl8NZ675C8lALnHbCNjn1D0qNxJ1LJmVC_rxuL8hAEK9Z7LNyr3YHePdRdHJmX700jpM7G3EoM4yX8SrlTo4kHZBKVhEAwe_LOL-0YMo9KBLe9Ja_GZ-Km2aZED5BDju2DB7WdyYThq-c_qxdkeqX5Ju7RBlZb6Dror2sg2x6QFMPj2y/s320/107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Khi92rhS2NAX-_VX5hdxETGZq-e8gh6ShhwtOr6wKLQ5vNzGIuFs8hXTAu9-JOY9jYAnReSgADbx6o0kWg6T_9G8lZYeUJ8INqRCXUUoHoUUsgfSiP3UnBZ8SSkEl-g_jvz2-K92PtSswCVpjsTXTlns6ni5Of1NXl8_icP1E-1Rgcl6PuUq_zaUaCXU/s2048/108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Khi92rhS2NAX-_VX5hdxETGZq-e8gh6ShhwtOr6wKLQ5vNzGIuFs8hXTAu9-JOY9jYAnReSgADbx6o0kWg6T_9G8lZYeUJ8INqRCXUUoHoUUsgfSiP3UnBZ8SSkEl-g_jvz2-K92PtSswCVpjsTXTlns6ni5Of1NXl8_icP1E-1Rgcl6PuUq_zaUaCXU/s320/108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">red kite</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJGzJ4wNleaipYx8KPasSbmxQC13w3XivfUIvsm04m7VvWxO6nwhyN26WoFwmkUWKSXeje6shzWSoztcUrcGKBmRkmIBqVv7kchUVQzTkWWm3GRQKuYZXGk9OxAd9nZQLyWMdP3GirmbRloHKgR6Q7nmoGJNx44FD0Si53if695q9iwe0-w_Rd0rODWeQ/s2048/109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJGzJ4wNleaipYx8KPasSbmxQC13w3XivfUIvsm04m7VvWxO6nwhyN26WoFwmkUWKSXeje6shzWSoztcUrcGKBmRkmIBqVv7kchUVQzTkWWm3GRQKuYZXGk9OxAd9nZQLyWMdP3GirmbRloHKgR6Q7nmoGJNx44FD0Si53if695q9iwe0-w_Rd0rODWeQ/s320/109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQhB1YUnkh-2z4uMhdeDJ6LPyJj9sB_8MllUVVB_DgP6zjTTO4EwAeiglgfpq7lWj66JQvK0eXTmUg6YHvQxvzH-lvJxBO0CSQOltDgDu6sMKfGvuDW8CPdyH0DckHMyXUrkCSoY1nDCSNE38pqoXQEuZdK18JdEbxxq0paWwwZeH8q2fnfgkHTkLw0h/s2048/110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQhB1YUnkh-2z4uMhdeDJ6LPyJj9sB_8MllUVVB_DgP6zjTTO4EwAeiglgfpq7lWj66JQvK0eXTmUg6YHvQxvzH-lvJxBO0CSQOltDgDu6sMKfGvuDW8CPdyH0DckHMyXUrkCSoY1nDCSNE38pqoXQEuZdK18JdEbxxq0paWwwZeH8q2fnfgkHTkLw0h/s320/110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24KhCrhwTs_oOUjXa7psyJrHfM2NzxUMHq103g2xjPOd64Zum4D7iDOnJmIUFeFRXbDZpHHhpCxqhYNXq1V91NRzCtXN7AD_h0OD_5JlIik8FUwYHHWaRPTq8oKfbCLEMzTA-7av8HOmUyg0ij_lpoa-LojyqDlg_x3LyisJxAxQUkNS6YCAU0e_GbtuK/s2048/111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24KhCrhwTs_oOUjXa7psyJrHfM2NzxUMHq103g2xjPOd64Zum4D7iDOnJmIUFeFRXbDZpHHhpCxqhYNXq1V91NRzCtXN7AD_h0OD_5JlIik8FUwYHHWaRPTq8oKfbCLEMzTA-7av8HOmUyg0ij_lpoa-LojyqDlg_x3LyisJxAxQUkNS6YCAU0e_GbtuK/s320/111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPzWicfRY56Se2jPgOZBoSdUOW184ibgmTTaakG-PM0uu7G6oVXfJFjDUbgZmuL5PKquxE-Hu8TSzDTqYZvW9fxb1TZaM5-BSaxDg6tSLbFHaJ4oYRAD3ItYsyIlsKL52kyRc2i6KnSg_qE4WmoMGoa_AoBlqDL6uQ7r7Fl31pCNf9G_p-NGdMUKxNrIl/s2048/112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPzWicfRY56Se2jPgOZBoSdUOW184ibgmTTaakG-PM0uu7G6oVXfJFjDUbgZmuL5PKquxE-Hu8TSzDTqYZvW9fxb1TZaM5-BSaxDg6tSLbFHaJ4oYRAD3ItYsyIlsKL52kyRc2i6KnSg_qE4WmoMGoa_AoBlqDL6uQ7r7Fl31pCNf9G_p-NGdMUKxNrIl/s320/112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(female?) Sardinian warbler</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqObm-UrmJ3tzpVVR2xGgKkBzNKdR2bGq5DLl8yHGEPGoyIRJEgDBr_zbWiJYmLkVaBjRN6sN3TRxxqOXEwiqz33woDzzs_Ha5rdMwxD8x1HqqgzHkfT95jMhWyBN6GkzH0dhY6GxZ0D5Ry-6zhS9l5kOMc0jPoCaipWtA79P_TQH4OAoRWY9pRCA6T0/s2048/113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqObm-UrmJ3tzpVVR2xGgKkBzNKdR2bGq5DLl8yHGEPGoyIRJEgDBr_zbWiJYmLkVaBjRN6sN3TRxxqOXEwiqz33woDzzs_Ha5rdMwxD8x1HqqgzHkfT95jMhWyBN6GkzH0dhY6GxZ0D5Ry-6zhS9l5kOMc0jPoCaipWtA79P_TQH4OAoRWY9pRCA6T0/s320/113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNs5q5c7PHl74U6N9jjImK68g_ln-nuluN0BhnPhxE8ehpZobSJI7P34YVf5fZq8hcRjVrMIdPYFEYHVxO8WNz-E8wJ6eABkZtpA_0jeU3RpgEqfThzEXawbaMV4UKUu3_XbiM1l72iECRk2D7SOK0zU7DxqJyufyLbcgt1uh0fhR6_aVy8DvmVsAQf9Nw/s2048/114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNs5q5c7PHl74U6N9jjImK68g_ln-nuluN0BhnPhxE8ehpZobSJI7P34YVf5fZq8hcRjVrMIdPYFEYHVxO8WNz-E8wJ6eABkZtpA_0jeU3RpgEqfThzEXawbaMV4UKUu3_XbiM1l72iECRk2D7SOK0zU7DxqJyufyLbcgt1uh0fhR6_aVy8DvmVsAQf9Nw/s320/114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0KpSi0OAeQZHZL_d3ek7sq7FfbMrDKs-qerXXXNo2XFlshdb_-f6_RlNLfLXr0H9Rch0Hb9ktzBox7cOfCKKHfA5kRq483oYf4XRcCh-pdflwsXgUNGtICvGy2U0hBxT0o9DesZuYfw3fnpZRFpVU63swHr66dJKqp0gDhtZahADL9ICeMJtA9QWdnTD/s2048/115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0KpSi0OAeQZHZL_d3ek7sq7FfbMrDKs-qerXXXNo2XFlshdb_-f6_RlNLfLXr0H9Rch0Hb9ktzBox7cOfCKKHfA5kRq483oYf4XRcCh-pdflwsXgUNGtICvGy2U0hBxT0o9DesZuYfw3fnpZRFpVU63swHr66dJKqp0gDhtZahADL9ICeMJtA9QWdnTD/s320/115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Egyptian grasshopper (says google)<br />it was a cracker and was watching me carefully</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWz36eb2yrb1qrr60M0ZIr9eiw8dU1ZfSMO3Mv7pQg287IaraQlSjzW3Vj813CYZpOtjrWzgu-PrEWuUxXt0QwbGERczQEyHaHU21W6Cknkto0bOYZXrBjWzqnpveL0-eUGblynqypchyphenhyphen7itU9kd5G5of9jzRJhKpGn7awBL5hvdxDH9b8a3j5GMmcScL/s2048/116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWz36eb2yrb1qrr60M0ZIr9eiw8dU1ZfSMO3Mv7pQg287IaraQlSjzW3Vj813CYZpOtjrWzgu-PrEWuUxXt0QwbGERczQEyHaHU21W6Cknkto0bOYZXrBjWzqnpveL0-eUGblynqypchyphenhyphen7itU9kd5G5of9jzRJhKpGn7awBL5hvdxDH9b8a3j5GMmcScL/s320/116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WeI-fepSxjKfcnpguSer0m-EP1QNEEs-LFkzfYUKMroDmOTSLd5qqL8v67TsZ8mdZNrUtonaDRMT_LhStgOebcnsIjKjw30gmqMJg2NCIPe_6N2Mu9ARnODdAXDDzsbEqlHLeAasGLaF5RHFPjaE8rr4nhCj16tPHKM-jzSpEp73Is12Gm7pfFVA1IRG/s2048/118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WeI-fepSxjKfcnpguSer0m-EP1QNEEs-LFkzfYUKMroDmOTSLd5qqL8v67TsZ8mdZNrUtonaDRMT_LhStgOebcnsIjKjw30gmqMJg2NCIPe_6N2Mu9ARnODdAXDDzsbEqlHLeAasGLaF5RHFPjaE8rr4nhCj16tPHKM-jzSpEp73Is12Gm7pfFVA1IRG/s320/118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iqHEnoQCN9LAHBPivEGeOFe1PVklwEOSWNYGatNCJv7necF6sLPBJATzYVogDNRv2j1IoJ_Kt1K8_6-8tSoE5TN-P6zcazL-J8xeGb3mxIP-VW_WzDvRqkba42mUKoWIcTO5G-bKKlV5LTDBnoMU74rA_Uj02hosGMEOEuY-kGz5KVmbpNgkULjHDyZM/s2048/119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iqHEnoQCN9LAHBPivEGeOFe1PVklwEOSWNYGatNCJv7necF6sLPBJATzYVogDNRv2j1IoJ_Kt1K8_6-8tSoE5TN-P6zcazL-J8xeGb3mxIP-VW_WzDvRqkba42mUKoWIcTO5G-bKKlV5LTDBnoMU74rA_Uj02hosGMEOEuY-kGz5KVmbpNgkULjHDyZM/s320/119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these beetles were everywhere and go by several names from <br />hairy rose beetle to Mediterranean Spotted Chafer</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7yJnkGdR0od8MW-RzGDpAgck3zmJ04WAszqsF-QmFnME0hwVdIkqAKEJbWmmMwpUsfYlHbVHdhigiyzILS4za50DEc0LLJx71Xy1JEAp-eacw4wiWgL9Il5ZFOYTs6_XknSfPXI7n83-2_QhiTIB69-N_wIZC-i8eq5gW6cva62XX1ZOUoIAUURPSrZb/s2048/120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7yJnkGdR0od8MW-RzGDpAgck3zmJ04WAszqsF-QmFnME0hwVdIkqAKEJbWmmMwpUsfYlHbVHdhigiyzILS4za50DEc0LLJx71Xy1JEAp-eacw4wiWgL9Il5ZFOYTs6_XknSfPXI7n83-2_QhiTIB69-N_wIZC-i8eq5gW6cva62XX1ZOUoIAUURPSrZb/s320/120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOOUZBCIpJ7ET3or77qHmlZ7LjqHqMlr0yTLiAiosIazyC9AQWN7DerJSd7c0GtMMHZY-K8H3Klmn1ftmw6I-nQGdkymuQ0BJuIYYmF3vzxUWACklUD5XV-LmoANtseVntELcWROZxfVrq5RljD0Nu8U-SYGHj4a40gqpHThnv4W7QXhGxaDVU-D5zo7w/s2048/121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOOUZBCIpJ7ET3or77qHmlZ7LjqHqMlr0yTLiAiosIazyC9AQWN7DerJSd7c0GtMMHZY-K8H3Klmn1ftmw6I-nQGdkymuQ0BJuIYYmF3vzxUWACklUD5XV-LmoANtseVntELcWROZxfVrq5RljD0Nu8U-SYGHj4a40gqpHThnv4W7QXhGxaDVU-D5zo7w/s320/121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">growing long hair and getting stoned all day</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylJVsWZYCqiGpnT_Qs-loUh0iPx6QtsRtvO_MpVRRw9yMgw_XgA76Rx-JUD-vo0Z2_1_BswBla2uf33IxfuK0hkKweAyA8BcFy498_ta3eom95NYzyR45vmQbQ_dB-42ZN3-UTpy6ClAn8drQ6tFCamxl9KZvyUutP7S4G6R3uMDZYPSayYdtToFhz89D/s2048/122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylJVsWZYCqiGpnT_Qs-loUh0iPx6QtsRtvO_MpVRRw9yMgw_XgA76Rx-JUD-vo0Z2_1_BswBla2uf33IxfuK0hkKweAyA8BcFy498_ta3eom95NYzyR45vmQbQ_dB-42ZN3-UTpy6ClAn8drQ6tFCamxl9KZvyUutP7S4G6R3uMDZYPSayYdtToFhz89D/s320/122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts474I6bxr-SEQzragwPdKbGtuZSBnDG5dbbNzCnuwgLoFjRWxE7Vu3fqIj2-OfOfkjIFuwwaJ0wPcITkKk8Xaa_rnsERPReT-e1Cv3VJi8F6iPLNl39iAAb4HPqZsm4V0iJkmrDGw9l4VvknJvMi-_rOj_C5YCfDObKWFU42ZfKq4ETtD5hOlLPIfSOH/s1901/122a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1901" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts474I6bxr-SEQzragwPdKbGtuZSBnDG5dbbNzCnuwgLoFjRWxE7Vu3fqIj2-OfOfkjIFuwwaJ0wPcITkKk8Xaa_rnsERPReT-e1Cv3VJi8F6iPLNl39iAAb4HPqZsm4V0iJkmrDGw9l4VvknJvMi-_rOj_C5YCfDObKWFU42ZfKq4ETtD5hOlLPIfSOH/s320/122a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary took this great shot of the flowering branched asphodels<br />which I thought looked like aloes - they were everywhere</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPT54cL44QkGo-g8xD9zD46m8XsWJDvriJJOPT7Ru4CmAXXdjk_jtN074wAPsHYtf0sSISG3JDcg1KXboII98pRsynFTvkgEG0r3nVRDWOt-0VHNtjhn7ujZJUPnERvNrD_-pTC2MweO9sZ0VHHa25vLzv_LX8P8LAr4HLxDwFniyjHszLWFpLwTLE4ZW/s2048/123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPT54cL44QkGo-g8xD9zD46m8XsWJDvriJJOPT7Ru4CmAXXdjk_jtN074wAPsHYtf0sSISG3JDcg1KXboII98pRsynFTvkgEG0r3nVRDWOt-0VHNtjhn7ujZJUPnERvNrD_-pTC2MweO9sZ0VHHa25vLzv_LX8P8LAr4HLxDwFniyjHszLWFpLwTLE4ZW/s320/123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">two very large hoppers<br />google suggests Grey Bird Grasshoppers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq8qP_vYnh-tZ92GzNq9rCehdR3Y-q1yC11LsQM_ndEHFzXNboLZW5CbcKLl0DCAnkvDtrFhS4yNfssRX2hPaLx-VZY4vWIQbEC578PKpxmI8ZODZyEN3OP02K35sdeoXpAsk3NY7L0obq-vcsWZre2LSL0aYuqoazMxytD3zYjf6WsU3EvBK-KupLLw8/s2048/124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq8qP_vYnh-tZ92GzNq9rCehdR3Y-q1yC11LsQM_ndEHFzXNboLZW5CbcKLl0DCAnkvDtrFhS4yNfssRX2hPaLx-VZY4vWIQbEC578PKpxmI8ZODZyEN3OP02K35sdeoXpAsk3NY7L0obq-vcsWZre2LSL0aYuqoazMxytD3zYjf6WsU3EvBK-KupLLw8/s320/124.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We only saw them because they were flitting about the trees like small birds. Except they made a rattling sound like paper and twigs moving quickly. Awesome! And slightly OMG!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hzpcsAh3FVmBJn-JYxTJLMPLzftoCF8psCIlOJ5I6pOq-9zJ_w3IVuaALx80LNPpNHGWX71ue9VkxrOG_E4CCs3fBNXObYbtbjpnzcvbvGPkPkiP6qopXrwgCN1KAcoNIKnR_Fn9228IEuJZfZ-vmBRDi3P0UFJMa1GrkIg77AcvUADHvM5EFODxZ-W_/s2048/125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hzpcsAh3FVmBJn-JYxTJLMPLzftoCF8psCIlOJ5I6pOq-9zJ_w3IVuaALx80LNPpNHGWX71ue9VkxrOG_E4CCs3fBNXObYbtbjpnzcvbvGPkPkiP6qopXrwgCN1KAcoNIKnR_Fn9228IEuJZfZ-vmBRDi3P0UFJMa1GrkIg77AcvUADHvM5EFODxZ-W_/s320/125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">red admiral</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN7pAVPIMYJUljelq56u-ADULPp_tONTohdSPBYUZ8Dteb6T2BEA_4VU_CM0CNbo-raiEcubHIMSY4CYCVKolZltKwkN4hTEAuUmx7v97A_Bc9qZa1mAdzoSh884Iz0R_COWJVo4urDQK3W_Nn1iZi1Q0B_st24ozpa8qSbrmj9bqnuE2Lz3obTkJGDXU/s2048/126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN7pAVPIMYJUljelq56u-ADULPp_tONTohdSPBYUZ8Dteb6T2BEA_4VU_CM0CNbo-raiEcubHIMSY4CYCVKolZltKwkN4hTEAuUmx7v97A_Bc9qZa1mAdzoSh884Iz0R_COWJVo4urDQK3W_Nn1iZi1Q0B_st24ozpa8qSbrmj9bqnuE2Lz3obTkJGDXU/s320/126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of walls most of which were quite faded</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89jG6Rn1C6fwzrtE_HWG8opiGeQJqiYItvAcc56dm1NvFf0Xve19Fv-MAdRFgP9p0BlZXTAcaSB0GFX2mEEcaUaPjFeyT2J9KWnBLC26MPpu_N1YR5ferYQW9PAqYrAh7Y99wn8iY8qFkdo3xpqmKPhaurEncvLA7J9fbeF9mkCqTyYTgt-dVwIzepnZK/s2048/127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89jG6Rn1C6fwzrtE_HWG8opiGeQJqiYItvAcc56dm1NvFf0Xve19Fv-MAdRFgP9p0BlZXTAcaSB0GFX2mEEcaUaPjFeyT2J9KWnBLC26MPpu_N1YR5ferYQW9PAqYrAh7Y99wn8iY8qFkdo3xpqmKPhaurEncvLA7J9fbeF9mkCqTyYTgt-dVwIzepnZK/s320/127.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This was the most outstanding and the least expected wild animal we came across! Mr Tortuga was so charming and a great surprise. I would have walked right past him as my eyes were up looking for butterflies. However Mary saw him at the edge of our trail and we stood about for 5 mins till he poked his head back out and then eventually continued on his way. We showed great restraint not touching or interfering with him. We carried about a wee ziplock bag of lettuce for the next 2 days but saw nothing more of him or his relatives. We did wonder how many were in the parc and if they bumped into each other regularly. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3qwS1ijUY8-sC1ar9ZtRv9hBZG8LJeiSOa1HmeGep7Ed4Kf2VG0On_usMZ8ZS7MK86Nd8aSQgPIQ4GjPlKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">slow moving video<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This seems likely to be a Greek or Spur-thighed tortoise. There is plenty stuff online about them including a rather depressing tale of how loads were brought from the Med to the UK as pets in the 70s onward. These beautiful creatures can live upwards of 125 years in their warm natural habitat. Or as many months in the UK having a shit time because they prefer the sun. About 50 years ago my family had one for maybe a year or less before it gave up and died. You can currently buy one for £300 plus starter kit. But DON'T! Unless you can guarantee you'll look after it for 100 years. We did joke about bringing this one back to Scotland in our hand luggage. 125 years a Slave, the video. Tear-faced emoji.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFtimqVSLrp-Z49Iajv-m_nwlMgNtB1AKV1_gG1sS_ML3vkoFJJe4flmiM9YissN5nc0yNTS1MYG-T_YftSofKIRPokZbkd6ba1Wdz6RL_Pj_hZAoL3Wq3CpWpC9LV-WsAaidh1t9oTaxvBpVd-b7BAUcUJpeEGfgkXUZ0Ax0jHoqNAAAjOHZUlGQaIb4/s2048/128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFtimqVSLrp-Z49Iajv-m_nwlMgNtB1AKV1_gG1sS_ML3vkoFJJe4flmiM9YissN5nc0yNTS1MYG-T_YftSofKIRPokZbkd6ba1Wdz6RL_Pj_hZAoL3Wq3CpWpC9LV-WsAaidh1t9oTaxvBpVd-b7BAUcUJpeEGfgkXUZ0Ax0jHoqNAAAjOHZUlGQaIb4/s320/128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not many speckleds about and this was the finest of them</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTDkP9ihl9sCtY-agetcWIJ78a8FEh_UpCRlt_MTQvSAecr82-8NZCtC12JYZw0nf2k8Bgt7IaY6FesjRenzL-SkY6mv5nlP9H2HW2DdOGNgyQUP141Ug1zkP9UlOtIi0ycoePJfvcdKZ_SuGCA6zFH8GVeMWOZjr5WYKSWAGAKMme6chNhpayUQCmgR9/s2048/129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTDkP9ihl9sCtY-agetcWIJ78a8FEh_UpCRlt_MTQvSAecr82-8NZCtC12JYZw0nf2k8Bgt7IaY6FesjRenzL-SkY6mv5nlP9H2HW2DdOGNgyQUP141Ug1zkP9UlOtIi0ycoePJfvcdKZ_SuGCA6zFH8GVeMWOZjr5WYKSWAGAKMme6chNhpayUQCmgR9/s320/129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr8eKTTxXs2GbLJXBDfktcqBk0ehO1AoLmKz0wBBl_JNxeR17W7KLE-57QSR8F4dTujxE3DGuubUTInkHo4bUQ_Y4Cc5v22GaumYdk9K_TOK9gObJUpGAhq7er_a83eKDAgqevsXnEefOW8tDC9CxyMZSFmKJsy7ueIAzw4SvAxGg3hVUV4Pq4uBGsUj5/s2048/132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr8eKTTxXs2GbLJXBDfktcqBk0ehO1AoLmKz0wBBl_JNxeR17W7KLE-57QSR8F4dTujxE3DGuubUTInkHo4bUQ_Y4Cc5v22GaumYdk9K_TOK9gObJUpGAhq7er_a83eKDAgqevsXnEefOW8tDC9CxyMZSFmKJsy7ueIAzw4SvAxGg3hVUV4Pq4uBGsUj5/s320/132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">collared dove<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I think these are very pretty birds but didn't get much contact with them despite them being all over the place. I sorted this when we went for a walk on the second to last day around the more commercial areas of Santa Ponsa. Like pigeons, they are anywhere there is human life and trash.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK_ZryEFQZzHU_usZwNvkEhKCNQ_ZQZvPq3PGppEQDw33QqmHUizMvypmoy_PjtbpM_XGu1UYV__9hNUf7_Ssi_HzZ8WdaSadeq7A5nAhbpM27byQq9s6lNjvJsHTdTUZhLc2AZx-51yH8BvnhOXvY-QHKqDEi9o7C1q0LmxW1XxgtzUxJVuxye-vD7CI/s1961/130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1961" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK_ZryEFQZzHU_usZwNvkEhKCNQ_ZQZvPq3PGppEQDw33QqmHUizMvypmoy_PjtbpM_XGu1UYV__9hNUf7_Ssi_HzZ8WdaSadeq7A5nAhbpM27byQq9s6lNjvJsHTdTUZhLc2AZx-51yH8BvnhOXvY-QHKqDEi9o7C1q0LmxW1XxgtzUxJVuxye-vD7CI/s320/130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the hottest day (Wednesday) we saw a couple of large yellow jobs fly past. Brimstones (and their cousins Cleopatras) tend to fly through in a great hurry rather than stop to feed or sunbathe. So I would point the camera at them and hope they ended up in the frame. Mostly not, but I got lucky with these 3 record shots. Both brimstone and cleopatra are regulars in Majorca, the latter (this one) having darker coloured patches on their forewing uppers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkuYE3P0beIr_IErcHPX94qV4B17ZsLk_xZQvLE1CarSu-lFkKJsMhuBQuxUIn58z9TJyfnRuOHrdFStQZqK1ROKy2Kz2dkJpl6K065L4tAc5BQlL_elV2OrV03VbeeSg5tVONtmUppKWC6gGUuJzpJji6oXeILi_AMD3qhN1xoRt2HxNIUKfPg0LqbPk/s2048/131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkuYE3P0beIr_IErcHPX94qV4B17ZsLk_xZQvLE1CarSu-lFkKJsMhuBQuxUIn58z9TJyfnRuOHrdFStQZqK1ROKy2Kz2dkJpl6K065L4tAc5BQlL_elV2OrV03VbeeSg5tVONtmUppKWC6gGUuJzpJji6oXeILi_AMD3qhN1xoRt2HxNIUKfPg0LqbPk/s320/131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gonepteryx cleopatra balearica</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgQGMWPxFmxvHdOu5QoIRGathc-kKqxA2c2GjcJE-Zn-A7IfQHCsJo3tuCBh_kRM69riTGvU_VQtj6OPQhtAWafwzkJku2tgKCZAciCfKLEtFgRJ4fA8hZ217M0gQp3ja-ynJxluptGf-Ls-KtpJw6rPiGXfoxnvsGtKScKi6eTgdCvgUpPhsA0-82RxD/s2048/133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgQGMWPxFmxvHdOu5QoIRGathc-kKqxA2c2GjcJE-Zn-A7IfQHCsJo3tuCBh_kRM69riTGvU_VQtj6OPQhtAWafwzkJku2tgKCZAciCfKLEtFgRJ4fA8hZ217M0gQp3ja-ynJxluptGf-Ls-KtpJw6rPiGXfoxnvsGtKScKi6eTgdCvgUpPhsA0-82RxD/s320/133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So on Thursday we were running out of ideas and decided to walk around town and do some street photography. That was the high minded version of what turned out to be taking pics of the seafront pigeons and sparrows, and laughing at the tacky souvenir shops. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60yIEBCnA_7h2tVdule-zy8zcV1LMICwJnWK6jtP7CC8qEEFyqlyQe-TH73W6dyGHbNShwF0Ywmo1IrIDmU-EZNYAQ4N7xVV2f83tAoisXcKHa2bQhFcFw9ZtpGF4jCRIBLp8-tuzDndpAMc9GHTvD7S5LkSuVNc1jic9QjrkowWupjArvaHWFT2djl8n/s2048/134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60yIEBCnA_7h2tVdule-zy8zcV1LMICwJnWK6jtP7CC8qEEFyqlyQe-TH73W6dyGHbNShwF0Ywmo1IrIDmU-EZNYAQ4N7xVV2f83tAoisXcKHa2bQhFcFw9ZtpGF4jCRIBLp8-tuzDndpAMc9GHTvD7S5LkSuVNc1jic9QjrkowWupjArvaHWFT2djl8n/s320/134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so paella is still big in majorca?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX6OrG2CSbt-6ojKogDPJqn6TbnYmiISdo1TQWNIKd7zstOjtAox6-jwML2xY75PwPKq5XwJEReVk-PlMWo4DN_nZaNUDWUtZ_Glr-mNjrTTRhn8w_Bo3M3VhFdf3CM0NK7nrToeOAUziXzHvV2yI_e185GbEo85C_wWfR9Q-4wkMpEXV-XWa1ef3uIqZ/s2048/135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX6OrG2CSbt-6ojKogDPJqn6TbnYmiISdo1TQWNIKd7zstOjtAox6-jwML2xY75PwPKq5XwJEReVk-PlMWo4DN_nZaNUDWUtZ_Glr-mNjrTTRhn8w_Bo3M3VhFdf3CM0NK7nrToeOAUziXzHvV2yI_e185GbEo85C_wWfR9Q-4wkMpEXV-XWa1ef3uIqZ/s320/135.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was so busy taking pics of the paella fridge magnets I didn't notice these which are surely in violation of many triggering offenses. Mary had to poke me in the ribs and point them out. They are so deliberately non-PC that I (nearly) felt a teary-eyed nostalgia for the saucy seaside postcards of yesteryear and Carry On films. Despite the cast of the latter being dead or in care homes. We have moved on from the 70s and that is a good thing although I was tempted to buy one of these just to offend the only-too-happy-to-be-offended crowd. Maybe I'll just post a photo here <i>in memoriam</i>.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNYDtOMqd_plHPYQDBKCcSQ5BaIYJjZEzzIopI7bb99JKKAcdj6xyWx19jSRstsBli1probx6nbmXBkCnrS4zBvqHufCIKqXTEVCg9AoX1jUKcH4p2P8a9FkDdxUuP3P6el2spiTWUQQxJwLWp65CYveU9qUduqEaH5fpRHId6c281CFrq2iq3jNbr-Oz/s1920/135a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1920" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNYDtOMqd_plHPYQDBKCcSQ5BaIYJjZEzzIopI7bb99JKKAcdj6xyWx19jSRstsBli1probx6nbmXBkCnrS4zBvqHufCIKqXTEVCg9AoX1jUKcH4p2P8a9FkDdxUuP3P6el2spiTWUQQxJwLWp65CYveU9qUduqEaH5fpRHId6c281CFrq2iq3jNbr-Oz/s320/135a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was disappointed Mary didn't do a better job of photo-ing <br />my new holiday t-shirt which features a goliath beetle</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HhrTGz7GJQhIrp3mmj2qJQFCjGFNINYDmAYC7pN5hju6utfPVae-hTHve9eVwD126hamZN5Ki9ZpyJ-51sOpnAvX6iz-f1QA1YUYLGFX2h28EEzFexMZxaNmIq3sfBdgK12TS5LS709YVlxbmvoTVbmm3CYDUu2qn1qIgqylsyKMV5nTsURKCy-smf4d/s2048/136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HhrTGz7GJQhIrp3mmj2qJQFCjGFNINYDmAYC7pN5hju6utfPVae-hTHve9eVwD126hamZN5Ki9ZpyJ-51sOpnAvX6iz-f1QA1YUYLGFX2h28EEzFexMZxaNmIq3sfBdgK12TS5LS709YVlxbmvoTVbmm3CYDUu2qn1qIgqylsyKMV5nTsURKCy-smf4d/s320/136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kp-dv3V0NUjh__VYZehQs5zbvegeI10bFZqLzuKf7_KPZtXLRa66NMtHiS9RPRMwGGBrJD4IJaDZwUW_FOwRWnmZk9ADhjYmK_hn-cLgc1DVdXSiMFHsJpi5R2qVTETEzTEb5AxWHvm-YMXXIfeKnmSPQ-0fvLT4TWd1xeOKCNwOc4wZh3LCYMjNd65B/s2048/137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kp-dv3V0NUjh__VYZehQs5zbvegeI10bFZqLzuKf7_KPZtXLRa66NMtHiS9RPRMwGGBrJD4IJaDZwUW_FOwRWnmZk9ADhjYmK_hn-cLgc1DVdXSiMFHsJpi5R2qVTETEzTEb5AxWHvm-YMXXIfeKnmSPQ-0fvLT4TWd1xeOKCNwOc4wZh3LCYMjNd65B/s320/137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciKLWNF03w1Xojac3I1azqxXjJUqu01BTAR_nO0RX7Vt6Wu7IZ-Spw2WSEXSrJBUSwnVR8YrlQQ5OaxAjMH9qoGiphqzqy2piuniyvj57QrptsrnRQRIRUN8wVMWHQ2LQWHIN5jco4tZ5czzw0AWMiBiw0reuOh1mM7eNj1L1yWXvjxKHg-xwz9CQQ1Ay/s2048/138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciKLWNF03w1Xojac3I1azqxXjJUqu01BTAR_nO0RX7Vt6Wu7IZ-Spw2WSEXSrJBUSwnVR8YrlQQ5OaxAjMH9qoGiphqzqy2piuniyvj57QrptsrnRQRIRUN8wVMWHQ2LQWHIN5jco4tZ5czzw0AWMiBiw0reuOh1mM7eNj1L1yWXvjxKHg-xwz9CQQ1Ay/s320/138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dobBcGtaiA30j4egJ0_g925yhPdXr2z4eQ_OnpUssLpesFMM2-Zt9W3PBSbP2GCtnJgsqY6nqjE9lfdzxakYNWpCkAUzLeeaLDiSco0inF-Rx6mUjPEofwzLdhTeMisEX9N0zRbtdeNq4c-TdIwk02901X5BN9Y2FhxOL8d4k5SSFBPpbUXqVSVddWFK/s2048/139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dobBcGtaiA30j4egJ0_g925yhPdXr2z4eQ_OnpUssLpesFMM2-Zt9W3PBSbP2GCtnJgsqY6nqjE9lfdzxakYNWpCkAUzLeeaLDiSco0inF-Rx6mUjPEofwzLdhTeMisEX9N0zRbtdeNq4c-TdIwk02901X5BN9Y2FhxOL8d4k5SSFBPpbUXqVSVddWFK/s320/139.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had taken bags of bird bribes to bring about this situation. The birds at the beach were well up for it and even with the 12~60 lens there was a danger they were getting too close. I got the chance to record the collared doves, a very common species, but a pretty one I have a lot of time for, as well as sparrows and mallards, also available by the ton. Not only did I gather a small crowd of mixed birdlife but that spectacle gathered a mixed bunch of oldies who like to watch birds. I could have made a very small fortune selling bags of birdseed to local pensioners.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEji9pud9gEMniVuAxNpq1xR7B1oBplzL0v-RYndb4zHt-H2c5Xoly4pZCWQWQybVZupX4l4OGIDO-ERd41QnPplKzKBLZ4-VX6ieRHf-DGjXY-B4Y6YONYukw6wFSMWEHwGcZfY4b_w49wWwhsKzfYTxjGHIaY32UCtZx8aNPiKYmfMZKLtw_4uj6hx7/s2048/141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEji9pud9gEMniVuAxNpq1xR7B1oBplzL0v-RYndb4zHt-H2c5Xoly4pZCWQWQybVZupX4l4OGIDO-ERd41QnPplKzKBLZ4-VX6ieRHf-DGjXY-B4Y6YONYukw6wFSMWEHwGcZfY4b_w49wWwhsKzfYTxjGHIaY32UCtZx8aNPiKYmfMZKLtw_4uj6hx7/s320/141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZCtMdEGAeE8ZEgLT8VKOGkiW34RynabgZZgnCVnL4VMjvA3k7xtZI0OsfRfH3vdQiXauGwqsKlA-gvwoyhCAbYwuUIBRk2ZHSEm3YMflnBdwZqahJzCyrjkGhWRRwVgSuDU4pE40kG-7opljzbt3s4YBoiIvExxr0tI7Rb92DqkMO3RwUIzng7XZamL-/s2048/143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZCtMdEGAeE8ZEgLT8VKOGkiW34RynabgZZgnCVnL4VMjvA3k7xtZI0OsfRfH3vdQiXauGwqsKlA-gvwoyhCAbYwuUIBRk2ZHSEm3YMflnBdwZqahJzCyrjkGhWRRwVgSuDU4pE40kG-7opljzbt3s4YBoiIvExxr0tI7Rb92DqkMO3RwUIzng7XZamL-/s320/143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10r9rD5Fv53BjSW-4j2QG_wYe6aEuB1sdjHmSvwB8g2Mg9aVAPpTjB4zpkf9v6QgR8jkdS8cSjbB6-r05KnrmRUpTS8gDa3xvdccJ3k65T1biORXD4_0iWGJ4s232Cbixy8eFyPIfp9yc7EAB8yhnuJloleYDv0DpsURFApp6HdWj772v6Y6p4fDAdQjk/s2048/144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10r9rD5Fv53BjSW-4j2QG_wYe6aEuB1sdjHmSvwB8g2Mg9aVAPpTjB4zpkf9v6QgR8jkdS8cSjbB6-r05KnrmRUpTS8gDa3xvdccJ3k65T1biORXD4_0iWGJ4s232Cbixy8eFyPIfp9yc7EAB8yhnuJloleYDv0DpsURFApp6HdWj772v6Y6p4fDAdQjk/s320/144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E3YMixvfk6YFTc3C6yMkhlJ6znTHW6Udihfon65_euLjCOMQnTI_esUn0xYnr7yRzcOAO1_XaNck36MmsbSSQ2-jZ8uLa1bV8GGm9S2VqwWXYgjmVRpQbnHAjzvEIArFArRBAQ5fLu5Wzt1bwJCY_Htst4Ad3F9A1YkrCvctE74E_nQNe4MO8pH9Px1M/s2048/146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E3YMixvfk6YFTc3C6yMkhlJ6znTHW6Udihfon65_euLjCOMQnTI_esUn0xYnr7yRzcOAO1_XaNck36MmsbSSQ2-jZ8uLa1bV8GGm9S2VqwWXYgjmVRpQbnHAjzvEIArFArRBAQ5fLu5Wzt1bwJCY_Htst4Ad3F9A1YkrCvctE74E_nQNe4MO8pH9Px1M/s320/146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLCySL9ZiXQPnRYdImVNG3LirDU1l2rCVYHHaOwJt7M00HMbNKUKSyyAKMG07fFNydgb69qmVhAcW0WVnexu2-UURmXLtyBEy1qTbE0y-4GvKlBHpenjs3HYmdNLrnrxJy45tBSXdbR4YJSMYF__i1WAm6nl6TQdxkZIKluSKWZYXPl4VsUHWVWq8jk8a/s2048/147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLCySL9ZiXQPnRYdImVNG3LirDU1l2rCVYHHaOwJt7M00HMbNKUKSyyAKMG07fFNydgb69qmVhAcW0WVnexu2-UURmXLtyBEy1qTbE0y-4GvKlBHpenjs3HYmdNLrnrxJy45tBSXdbR4YJSMYF__i1WAm6nl6TQdxkZIKluSKWZYXPl4VsUHWVWq8jk8a/s320/147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1TkYbb-GEstvhyphenhyphenvIbD1IUKAnZRIXL3KNqEPWH3W4uGKm1DDc7cCmvAsnS9uEEiij4oao6szhq1QzgY1tTLDtH2YoEjp0f01GQOLQVAXVuK7NPMf-fY1y-Pg1hX4xQPXIkWbC7vo1B6xQ1aMe4sv1B_zyThAoznAIbXcU8oQueOZ7h5Ow02E3lsmckyy0/s2048/148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1TkYbb-GEstvhyphenhyphenvIbD1IUKAnZRIXL3KNqEPWH3W4uGKm1DDc7cCmvAsnS9uEEiij4oao6szhq1QzgY1tTLDtH2YoEjp0f01GQOLQVAXVuK7NPMf-fY1y-Pg1hX4xQPXIkWbC7vo1B6xQ1aMe4sv1B_zyThAoznAIbXcU8oQueOZ7h5Ow02E3lsmckyy0/s320/148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32xF94PPm2zgUv-7D1zkOZwnEQCYf5BLztzm4TW844wbFiJHiA-6LO2mDuhQx2tZomFD4p1dSiX7VE6ngCQ1SFpG2s91CUikn8Ue152jsOFHOrbdsuI9D9qld9spQ1Tja7EHog4Cdkk5oYU_maceaPFQhJZ9n76gazq5qU9AAKucLabYDxNr3vLvqTT9s/s2048/149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32xF94PPm2zgUv-7D1zkOZwnEQCYf5BLztzm4TW844wbFiJHiA-6LO2mDuhQx2tZomFD4p1dSiX7VE6ngCQ1SFpG2s91CUikn8Ue152jsOFHOrbdsuI9D9qld9spQ1Tja7EHog4Cdkk5oYU_maceaPFQhJZ9n76gazq5qU9AAKucLabYDxNr3vLvqTT9s/s320/149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0Y2AjNV9Y1CAHe9Rcile1Fkowjg24JOSGVQVWynQoVXlaXUbyOyu-HJqqyB69W9hAliLBFgdNXnfHJQa4cMGbWXlrGT0sgU_Ezul91RQSul9goN7X09AxfS4HkSA-UvhnhLibI-lj8uTPSCGy69krgDNsJHyAY76napHacmHBUCCt1_2XEsnwCPgumdk/s2048/150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0Y2AjNV9Y1CAHe9Rcile1Fkowjg24JOSGVQVWynQoVXlaXUbyOyu-HJqqyB69W9hAliLBFgdNXnfHJQa4cMGbWXlrGT0sgU_Ezul91RQSul9goN7X09AxfS4HkSA-UvhnhLibI-lj8uTPSCGy69krgDNsJHyAY76napHacmHBUCCt1_2XEsnwCPgumdk/s320/150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmThi5cIMV1WOnaC-MK-TU3OdQHO7EXZkxQpWEZ0qOys55zshDKm2EVJ3HiNBOKxdwYKN-TY1RZZEIMrRam4SBP1osESMI1vKXAFZI0RhILTFTiQSOO3HR1zEKSBBwJp61KJYNlzNQg5wMzvZtMr39jMAGidU38H6A11lPryBecdYn8jeo4tQWnUUMng9/s2048/151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmThi5cIMV1WOnaC-MK-TU3OdQHO7EXZkxQpWEZ0qOys55zshDKm2EVJ3HiNBOKxdwYKN-TY1RZZEIMrRam4SBP1osESMI1vKXAFZI0RhILTFTiQSOO3HR1zEKSBBwJp61KJYNlzNQg5wMzvZtMr39jMAGidU38H6A11lPryBecdYn8jeo4tQWnUUMng9/s320/151.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonQLJGpsJqdzG5O6QURm0lYExmrt-mJs1wLjBuA9uDNgnjJNCJxKqPq39b2OHGQDYhr5GxlOgFR59JyKbvIeEHyvHyvSRz4v-sbNWwIH22-YpUsg7RB6SVFm1bvsbl788B8zjCiqwz2ucchDDuSrF54cUzyJ2GZZbRNADE84YZnNU9jIdj3lvt3oUvmMP/s2048/152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonQLJGpsJqdzG5O6QURm0lYExmrt-mJs1wLjBuA9uDNgnjJNCJxKqPq39b2OHGQDYhr5GxlOgFR59JyKbvIeEHyvHyvSRz4v-sbNWwIH22-YpUsg7RB6SVFm1bvsbl788B8zjCiqwz2ucchDDuSrF54cUzyJ2GZZbRNADE84YZnNU9jIdj3lvt3oUvmMP/s320/152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje3PzitxL7bR4P6QsvLf_NzorzhesHsrPMW-dVTr2K-IlYBxItYtlAl7QuByE_otNGj-GQqHC4RH-HrgwENvSmsEnrdxYB8p61Js4K7LowD6E2naNPvDgK_yBUay-1IFhkcrVgfuossKRVzJ-aPaT-OrbyD8WQY1V9eOGBsq73oTYMqUOTx4XSKqSV9eq/s2048/153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje3PzitxL7bR4P6QsvLf_NzorzhesHsrPMW-dVTr2K-IlYBxItYtlAl7QuByE_otNGj-GQqHC4RH-HrgwENvSmsEnrdxYB8p61Js4K7LowD6E2naNPvDgK_yBUay-1IFhkcrVgfuossKRVzJ-aPaT-OrbyD8WQY1V9eOGBsq73oTYMqUOTx4XSKqSV9eq/s320/153.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />record shot of a small white<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This was about the closest we got to a white butterfly all week. They were mostly doing their own thing at a great distance and not stopping nearby for a better photo. Plenty about though.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jGDZFeaWPLMMXAmTXuxiu_2G1hlQ86NhZDDDPFdWKR5iUKl3wf08tI9v5bgKb3pIG7hg2RqsP6NOgxru9okDEbPUEcEwMOc1HlmiNzh9UikW_Vwgu-WBDfVBxC6rcbwysrPLqnO8Ohl1jVWzIliW9fn5G-C51JWFAEUO62xBOGNYJfxa3WUcL0u2_fqL/s2048/154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jGDZFeaWPLMMXAmTXuxiu_2G1hlQ86NhZDDDPFdWKR5iUKl3wf08tI9v5bgKb3pIG7hg2RqsP6NOgxru9okDEbPUEcEwMOc1HlmiNzh9UikW_Vwgu-WBDfVBxC6rcbwysrPLqnO8Ohl1jVWzIliW9fn5G-C51JWFAEUO62xBOGNYJfxa3WUcL0u2_fqL/s320/154.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />more souvenir tat</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGZgfHUy47TBwzQT39ZTdNO53nxF0aH7omB2r-JiUt7PcMXQ6VlRbQflVXhk_N0ZSs4UISQMvBesQ5s5TyxFUpQyO87LiE3tuTv2g8dIeaxy87-ulKXU1X2RpnpE-L71PV-UkQU9j543g5FGGbr5zglt_DHczZlqm_n-oU_4PYjfIaof13btxd3IzgEv/s2048/155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGZgfHUy47TBwzQT39ZTdNO53nxF0aH7omB2r-JiUt7PcMXQ6VlRbQflVXhk_N0ZSs4UISQMvBesQ5s5TyxFUpQyO87LiE3tuTv2g8dIeaxy87-ulKXU1X2RpnpE-L71PV-UkQU9j543g5FGGbr5zglt_DHczZlqm_n-oU_4PYjfIaof13btxd3IzgEv/s320/155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bloody Mary!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xi9NxVxS_8DIggbO_STaH9qk0BFB54AaCE5J20eYBRwf-awEZ2nYNmXG9rgRoqiwWaRaLh4ZeB1E8GStmGunymekUgmbUedvVGjUWONkwSMTxrM3Lr_I7On9_MwIqASP3huSEMMJgdArMMMVcW5spcCUpsbdyUOs0-122vdx8MH1PDOxFx_ZAa5REwaf/s2048/156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xi9NxVxS_8DIggbO_STaH9qk0BFB54AaCE5J20eYBRwf-awEZ2nYNmXG9rgRoqiwWaRaLh4ZeB1E8GStmGunymekUgmbUedvVGjUWONkwSMTxrM3Lr_I7On9_MwIqASP3huSEMMJgdArMMMVcW5spcCUpsbdyUOs0-122vdx8MH1PDOxFx_ZAa5REwaf/s320/156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wow! headless objectification and titty beer openers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywoy8sc1fOumLvf7i0NBJlW-rAhFIxarQb-sM0fBbYTbmyahVB4LUaUnTiL8DwAH6-z8-Ezh8zW_WDoZu7uXXu1rG6ydUsamDFYeAz13mAq1zgA3k4ZSf6tg-Hd8YaBujBErqgPR1Z2_oLIDcxA-YUgtlUWtisrkyJ_kqhywsrh5OfyqKpuTdYHCGuKGq/s2048/157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywoy8sc1fOumLvf7i0NBJlW-rAhFIxarQb-sM0fBbYTbmyahVB4LUaUnTiL8DwAH6-z8-Ezh8zW_WDoZu7uXXu1rG6ydUsamDFYeAz13mAq1zgA3k4ZSf6tg-Hd8YaBujBErqgPR1Z2_oLIDcxA-YUgtlUWtisrkyJ_kqhywsrh5OfyqKpuTdYHCGuKGq/s320/157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our pool being closed till April was the second least good thing about the Palace Flophouse. (Worst was thin walls through which we heard the folk next door.) I presume because it costs to hire an obligatory lifeguard and Mary would have been the only swimmer in the tepid water. This was a shame as it was one of the things that drew us to the place. However there was a small and beautiful beach just 200 yards away. Since it was not swimming weather unless you were keen, the place was largely deserted. We went round there and had a splash. Well I went in wearing shorts and a rash vest and it was about the equivalent of the warmest Gullane ever gets at the end of a long hot Summer (if we ever had one) possibly warmer. A bit of a slow wade to get in but nice once you had got under. Mary declined a swim, I'm still not sure why, I'd probably done or said something wrong.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dCRPqJuAyzudTU8hmh0ygfYIdOmIMJFMUdlWTzaAKbbq7dL17MIX_uCME-s_Jgjsp3O2v16IlplXzo2ECl9QAQG0j_WaRQbWW-ppmveNMcru_LgPpas_aHqWjQOiMY12OLEvvO4r_Ux2pk0VeHrogPLAkDA3w4A82xlk9zCG_vDcSIrJMQYglk7USHNR/s2048/158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dCRPqJuAyzudTU8hmh0ygfYIdOmIMJFMUdlWTzaAKbbq7dL17MIX_uCME-s_Jgjsp3O2v16IlplXzo2ECl9QAQG0j_WaRQbWW-ppmveNMcru_LgPpas_aHqWjQOiMY12OLEvvO4r_Ux2pk0VeHrogPLAkDA3w4A82xlk9zCG_vDcSIrJMQYglk7USHNR/s320/158.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86itQFMnAJS7Xt4qT8PxDRs5fri3zi6DWTlmVl1u1Mu0SfEFG00zVV8llNzP9heK6oiiZTdmXnCqqWvhonD68TM6sqigPxhmKJiFy-e4X0POyydNBh11rsXgUzpZJ-dUmW2cU9KUiw9dvtN6ZBWr6sU3LSpsANU9-PQwQklPj0P94lJtT25Qh3Ro78Rm3/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86itQFMnAJS7Xt4qT8PxDRs5fri3zi6DWTlmVl1u1Mu0SfEFG00zVV8llNzP9heK6oiiZTdmXnCqqWvhonD68TM6sqigPxhmKJiFy-e4X0POyydNBh11rsXgUzpZJ-dUmW2cU9KUiw9dvtN6ZBWr6sU3LSpsANU9-PQwQklPj0P94lJtT25Qh3Ro78Rm3/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzhDIbstxcXy3nzcFUXQdYptnjh6gSQIaoa8bs31cxhKeZMIdfHfs_DtJeCO9K3G_KkOEe9lf9okXZ4VfME4QKW7iGJ1U-hK-FxztpTQloY3BBxXtMeKoUrMfktf3iGiDteLRHkVNutePhyphenhyphenCAldXkxWMGK7PGQDhSmLITBlcTPWdHdQRqwpQxvDWo53se/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="2048" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzhDIbstxcXy3nzcFUXQdYptnjh6gSQIaoa8bs31cxhKeZMIdfHfs_DtJeCO9K3G_KkOEe9lf9okXZ4VfME4QKW7iGJ1U-hK-FxztpTQloY3BBxXtMeKoUrMfktf3iGiDteLRHkVNutePhyphenhyphenCAldXkxWMGK7PGQDhSmLITBlcTPWdHdQRqwpQxvDWo53se/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd4n8VxUVrakgN6BecgWImblXJtHY9n4nmB4TKc27blKRWLQjliACgljAC8HoBrG3ekRTf2wVdWoXDF0RpVDn-nytVtpDYiU57kD6bm49nmkx2VBk1zucwHEGr3mgkpulhDkKxYbPwDw-Hu6c6LxvquxJ4WY3bNexEnHaFFoHcYv3IHsKDBHjWiPuG4OK/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="2048" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd4n8VxUVrakgN6BecgWImblXJtHY9n4nmB4TKc27blKRWLQjliACgljAC8HoBrG3ekRTf2wVdWoXDF0RpVDn-nytVtpDYiU57kD6bm49nmkx2VBk1zucwHEGr3mgkpulhDkKxYbPwDw-Hu6c6LxvquxJ4WY3bNexEnHaFFoHcYv3IHsKDBHjWiPuG4OK/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR1KmOQkdYEZINowU_xxNpDUsLxz70Egvqx16kbt_6i60Slb8B7zRRFrZbn_T51SnGxfDGSiAH4SFLWLx496qhe528JwpsLevA6kSIi13CzxiPNJUVw5aOVX7t4aYrGQ5yxZpvxwotIMDV4pYBAKeeWimQdst_xC_FfADSl069k47S2fkCJXGapGcJzP_/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="2048" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR1KmOQkdYEZINowU_xxNpDUsLxz70Egvqx16kbt_6i60Slb8B7zRRFrZbn_T51SnGxfDGSiAH4SFLWLx496qhe528JwpsLevA6kSIi13CzxiPNJUVw5aOVX7t4aYrGQ5yxZpvxwotIMDV4pYBAKeeWimQdst_xC_FfADSl069k47S2fkCJXGapGcJzP_/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEdzTPH5So2gPD5tQr6CAiSn6JDo_wZ3m8yA3ZKspeVYbqCIUfozFbrnv6U2sXTncNY2n8EewX6GD66pt_BFSwBpYLydzggyQDmNA60wM7cvPqTuyHh6z7EQ_fBbBDR7FxUEEM7PgqUlY0ML5JhtPOywvKInHP_TEYaS5Q_l1QXy8t0LDNHWR9gc0ghyh/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEdzTPH5So2gPD5tQr6CAiSn6JDo_wZ3m8yA3ZKspeVYbqCIUfozFbrnv6U2sXTncNY2n8EewX6GD66pt_BFSwBpYLydzggyQDmNA60wM7cvPqTuyHh6z7EQ_fBbBDR7FxUEEM7PgqUlY0ML5JhtPOywvKInHP_TEYaS5Q_l1QXy8t0LDNHWR9gc0ghyh/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nice clear water</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPmhew1Rh8CKa__oMfCKdh1qfwwY2wMDF2cbM9BsILv7AoygRzgCudVG9Mt4JndGPpeW6-Py8qwLLxDx023-Y-8JGM3Rr22wjDZfkqYMcV5i6oAQOscfyNK_HXtjYzbHnvgvDLXv-dF2z_QswQ9uHh8DlqMDOwygxNMwveFgPFU_hzeUSolSdLU2DMOyU/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPmhew1Rh8CKa__oMfCKdh1qfwwY2wMDF2cbM9BsILv7AoygRzgCudVG9Mt4JndGPpeW6-Py8qwLLxDx023-Y-8JGM3Rr22wjDZfkqYMcV5i6oAQOscfyNK_HXtjYzbHnvgvDLXv-dF2z_QswQ9uHh8DlqMDOwygxNMwveFgPFU_hzeUSolSdLU2DMOyU/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHJV0aG3GAvvntugLyAvk28-MvYI741NO2WfhBjldMsgywN3xlyTwTPB3SY7MW-ncM-kMaDHymxs9tCq7OkHABo1XadbojSXHupDZGqWFfbdRsvAp6DBzOvgU4yV8kcg3uLP10-WDy36axFlMOnk5w2AmHwraeFv0YsxOVtkDNzpri68axmWX7QSMtL_Y/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHJV0aG3GAvvntugLyAvk28-MvYI741NO2WfhBjldMsgywN3xlyTwTPB3SY7MW-ncM-kMaDHymxs9tCq7OkHABo1XadbojSXHupDZGqWFfbdRsvAp6DBzOvgU4yV8kcg3uLP10-WDy36axFlMOnk5w2AmHwraeFv0YsxOVtkDNzpri68axmWX7QSMtL_Y/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_puJ-MRf4QZwpdQns_rzV0W4Ur4oe6_4Ug60XCjQFX3akOB1z-PE4D975eTTbNMS6iPc_DG-Qpg06e4LmfG_RLqjPbjB1LB677IexpmoClpYbiYwmxO0eMDqxAY7mSPpb9PWcNMuSJLKztWEqk1-GrV4eMiM1FB2cBAODaznNxj8KQsGHYEpKevsEkWV/s2048/159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_puJ-MRf4QZwpdQns_rzV0W4Ur4oe6_4Ug60XCjQFX3akOB1z-PE4D975eTTbNMS6iPc_DG-Qpg06e4LmfG_RLqjPbjB1LB677IexpmoClpYbiYwmxO0eMDqxAY7mSPpb9PWcNMuSJLKztWEqk1-GrV4eMiM1FB2cBAODaznNxj8KQsGHYEpKevsEkWV/s320/159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">back there again!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAcrB2tSk8Pc9SqV9jT-S59a9-fLpMhTMx7E3onJQ7sS0yAKoE5f4upZn-ZX_O7pQ6j-BvK5RGmGFyXZiH08TXqqQkMeHUM3BmLblgYtgbArWxWJ0uN1h2VaAhpwF-4O4qepmcMNwYGMT5H848IlTLwaVLlNYL23cNJEXErrW0q6OsFJppJKOhS1B0zgV/s2048/161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAcrB2tSk8Pc9SqV9jT-S59a9-fLpMhTMx7E3onJQ7sS0yAKoE5f4upZn-ZX_O7pQ6j-BvK5RGmGFyXZiH08TXqqQkMeHUM3BmLblgYtgbArWxWJ0uN1h2VaAhpwF-4O4qepmcMNwYGMT5H848IlTLwaVLlNYL23cNJEXErrW0q6OsFJppJKOhS1B0zgV/s320/161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIMS0rbs2Wxd3fkmDqFkjIRkZyBIhdTM6ruhV2lh7oGdCNoiR4pi-trKPZCO6IiJPu1hmaquFWqbfMGejtfUsLnnqtmDb7_X6pVScH01jUYiL7whCD2jawqhCrh2Flj05UkSP8ltLVk3pBrcm0QMGLSNXYQRf4M9y7xlVHSs1-5bIb2O0n2IPz-NGV05j/s2048/163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIMS0rbs2Wxd3fkmDqFkjIRkZyBIhdTM6ruhV2lh7oGdCNoiR4pi-trKPZCO6IiJPu1hmaquFWqbfMGejtfUsLnnqtmDb7_X6pVScH01jUYiL7whCD2jawqhCrh2Flj05UkSP8ltLVk3pBrcm0QMGLSNXYQRf4M9y7xlVHSs1-5bIb2O0n2IPz-NGV05j/s320/163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another great quality Lang's stb</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswkD9ImjRzGz4iOpXdS4LZAQj-wf2FsXBUGUJ0NhjWXSbOf3WZ75ybCtTAKnnqRtzSewGkK60vlWiF0gNuzTT3jJwG1PhC3T2Q4JtW6ebQ7GEdMBL4ibebZ2fMLIoIyGzxdMWichT0TVYcz6IPivGVuPIgahGA0TnZoxafS48epvptip1lQXMy38IkA11/s2048/164.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswkD9ImjRzGz4iOpXdS4LZAQj-wf2FsXBUGUJ0NhjWXSbOf3WZ75ybCtTAKnnqRtzSewGkK60vlWiF0gNuzTT3jJwG1PhC3T2Q4JtW6ebQ7GEdMBL4ibebZ2fMLIoIyGzxdMWichT0TVYcz6IPivGVuPIgahGA0TnZoxafS48epvptip1lQXMy38IkA11/s320/164.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4U6vnRW4yNYzurKVfPbUMHSVAEWABSqa7OremqipQu4Um8uobRNGU5_EogmooA6uEkrrTz9WCpEG48nrviooH39DZ-xSmvhTHOHnB8xS9Hy72Rr0T-CJX-LMsZ5kyqA1edjOaB2yJkM43_FtmWs6DY3AY8o2vaTdUP9hIGDCQh8GV77qG7YAco3ebjg7/s3256/163a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="3256" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4U6vnRW4yNYzurKVfPbUMHSVAEWABSqa7OremqipQu4Um8uobRNGU5_EogmooA6uEkrrTz9WCpEG48nrviooH39DZ-xSmvhTHOHnB8xS9Hy72Rr0T-CJX-LMsZ5kyqA1edjOaB2yJkM43_FtmWs6DY3AY8o2vaTdUP9hIGDCQh8GV77qG7YAco3ebjg7/s320/163a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our favourite roadside venue</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gnN8K5rAos6_XbaY-S94T2szCQgmKKh1G2Mgjyg75FDUwAbLC8ecefVoXvI2MDdwlpOlO6xzSB4J17e5q084YlsVMC7THk4AadZsMnSv0VJFLTWUDzL5uwNHdlU5T3V9RPIdyib5tcajorGnU5vvk09W9r2ZMv3uDBVOEaUwvwt2ETu4S32u9erVd48x/s2048/163b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gnN8K5rAos6_XbaY-S94T2szCQgmKKh1G2Mgjyg75FDUwAbLC8ecefVoXvI2MDdwlpOlO6xzSB4J17e5q084YlsVMC7THk4AadZsMnSv0VJFLTWUDzL5uwNHdlU5T3V9RPIdyib5tcajorGnU5vvk09W9r2ZMv3uDBVOEaUwvwt2ETu4S32u9erVd48x/s320/163b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_F5WQZaOrsDQaAeUPNJkhkS-7_mIbEqa9-K2vsiECxOVxtG8LizbXM0vLInkYHClZJ_rODDV1fc0B3S0TCoIzm4DEVc22OawpL7H_fLc0cuf3MV43GBbyTixcS9T515QZvH3ejC6Lr_ocqXO1OnClp9mI1bYW0ATjdl5bviLZLYUr9W1zr0YvTkT-tPn/s2048/165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_F5WQZaOrsDQaAeUPNJkhkS-7_mIbEqa9-K2vsiECxOVxtG8LizbXM0vLInkYHClZJ_rODDV1fc0B3S0TCoIzm4DEVc22OawpL7H_fLc0cuf3MV43GBbyTixcS9T515QZvH3ejC6Lr_ocqXO1OnClp9mI1bYW0ATjdl5bviLZLYUr9W1zr0YvTkT-tPn/s320/165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fCOyqTkZoWIeWDg-rMXxPqvmCWMvJEhzVxiBiOF1LIRhbRmA-wX9ata5DF-ebobtgMiDzZN2wGhiDjBCk_cbyFjYGuYSjYPZzL-1l6jVlkzuuNwjKE9T8OY1HUghmoWdslzmT-5L6Nox2crk9HXWO-niAcgXLri0PytSiioo5aMzD_H2GCDhOK55wNSh/s2048/166.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fCOyqTkZoWIeWDg-rMXxPqvmCWMvJEhzVxiBiOF1LIRhbRmA-wX9ata5DF-ebobtgMiDzZN2wGhiDjBCk_cbyFjYGuYSjYPZzL-1l6jVlkzuuNwjKE9T8OY1HUghmoWdslzmT-5L6Nox2crk9HXWO-niAcgXLri0PytSiioo5aMzD_H2GCDhOK55wNSh/s320/166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKgAyVCSsWDSvPqxpSOBX5SS3d5OkE91HI0gMaD8KAycjXnn8JRT5ESpQ5CgbL-kTXKRN9_0h2WSr-J_ykSmUxhaE9hpabQ8enr0wU0f6kQyr1ukCrvPPmWqA1aBBEjURHTfVmm30F3i46dyKzdBGXo5yd59QW9HSlHmkQMcOPzRtw7MSGfA05xNGMdWP/s2048/167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKgAyVCSsWDSvPqxpSOBX5SS3d5OkE91HI0gMaD8KAycjXnn8JRT5ESpQ5CgbL-kTXKRN9_0h2WSr-J_ykSmUxhaE9hpabQ8enr0wU0f6kQyr1ukCrvPPmWqA1aBBEjURHTfVmm30F3i46dyKzdBGXo5yd59QW9HSlHmkQMcOPzRtw7MSGfA05xNGMdWP/s320/167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNTKG8lpsDOdmFOge4ha6BGnQjWiczhRWljGAB-xUmPTM7IyOjV-NjleeEXNGut0r3UUHBGtAYLDOLyqrC2M4LJZNT_F65ptcUViW6XRMIxOAg57BC4q1wt3n78O4jRulZzA9gGzd83TG6xWR3oKLF0TcdzOJBr50NAJp5VHqYIW_yAFXYEep_Qo2MBN0/s2048/168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNTKG8lpsDOdmFOge4ha6BGnQjWiczhRWljGAB-xUmPTM7IyOjV-NjleeEXNGut0r3UUHBGtAYLDOLyqrC2M4LJZNT_F65ptcUViW6XRMIxOAg57BC4q1wt3n78O4jRulZzA9gGzd83TG6xWR3oKLF0TcdzOJBr50NAJp5VHqYIW_yAFXYEep_Qo2MBN0/s320/168.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQKuNZ4RoZXzxusHjeB2_LG2OUIHhTZkPkcglgaJeaYTUdCQDLc0YNR_JjY5vQeAMj_1DFxybSCCwLbBelucdp-5tKnDiDulh9Rv3ebk3iEnlAsZ92oBcm26Gh4ODfRmx3XrqkUhVHqoPSJYGZFOe3pYi-1g7oF_oGrTlozic_QOLFuRngJgSV7MAuwdL/s2048/170.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQKuNZ4RoZXzxusHjeB2_LG2OUIHhTZkPkcglgaJeaYTUdCQDLc0YNR_JjY5vQeAMj_1DFxybSCCwLbBelucdp-5tKnDiDulh9Rv3ebk3iEnlAsZ92oBcm26Gh4ODfRmx3XrqkUhVHqoPSJYGZFOe3pYi-1g7oF_oGrTlozic_QOLFuRngJgSV7MAuwdL/s320/170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWveLKI_PZ7Bm0PNh8RiCLoK1jN8j48V6lzB5KV7PGgfq5syXFWx-iuYnllVYclMNuZq7uY9aNljoLrJBPP5yALwMO83g0r8eQYC6PfKafycM-F0l8UhLVQiD0-zXkyvcqdjn4K99yOQVg6bFx8FUomonkKBNQznzuGGS6YU0pr6OX9u4Hk0IapyAlvaz/s2048/171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWveLKI_PZ7Bm0PNh8RiCLoK1jN8j48V6lzB5KV7PGgfq5syXFWx-iuYnllVYclMNuZq7uY9aNljoLrJBPP5yALwMO83g0r8eQYC6PfKafycM-F0l8UhLVQiD0-zXkyvcqdjn4K99yOQVg6bFx8FUomonkKBNQznzuGGS6YU0pr6OX9u4Hk0IapyAlvaz/s320/171.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsB19DVC9MxVP362Nh9puQ7hcGaILrdbzYBiKy0a3nSeBRRGCm0LEeYGwpRaGRjycwuE7vxtvzL8CaZmQgfn-H-DXXNXscJTIjjXhdTfoLSjo_D1R2Pg6DBbxZLq4hSiAfpxueDRoR-JdbxJM-8LqOcrZjHgcvSVklOGiqBqjk_TFj5ofabAMXiPszIdd/s2048/172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsB19DVC9MxVP362Nh9puQ7hcGaILrdbzYBiKy0a3nSeBRRGCm0LEeYGwpRaGRjycwuE7vxtvzL8CaZmQgfn-H-DXXNXscJTIjjXhdTfoLSjo_D1R2Pg6DBbxZLq4hSiAfpxueDRoR-JdbxJM-8LqOcrZjHgcvSVklOGiqBqjk_TFj5ofabAMXiPszIdd/s320/172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">very hairy back!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2xHWHcL-LJA1T77bZgoObK2r7IUKqqgDwpEtbm2lM5I3CJELHrb3_gab5LlqCqXZaqGdAmhhe_k5K_Ks0rZyPAIIqjN55kYt64xNPC3ZHasnA1Yo_rviP63KffBX3gCyDud1G6emIYHH57-PnNIJhQ3Ng4cxS_9Obj1DGJZWmeI3ZXaIid8OfCnL-_Az/s2048/173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2xHWHcL-LJA1T77bZgoObK2r7IUKqqgDwpEtbm2lM5I3CJELHrb3_gab5LlqCqXZaqGdAmhhe_k5K_Ks0rZyPAIIqjN55kYt64xNPC3ZHasnA1Yo_rviP63KffBX3gCyDud1G6emIYHH57-PnNIJhQ3Ng4cxS_9Obj1DGJZWmeI3ZXaIid8OfCnL-_Az/s320/173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqwRTWsvGVRcJFlFhbrastqyhAAvrrSL3YQfE81hWUEgzN3HmncO06mfpJ55RQpbX9ehnlvc7mA2Ek1cKUbeTLyds7SDuDXxnaJli2fcytdBq9pfV02pbQKDQ7GYMjVWDoIh-6_m3sFVfUgFgSTaqk2SRiQoN_ZnyK2Uaycx6hUMJml761dUaIKGhuB5v/s2048/174.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqwRTWsvGVRcJFlFhbrastqyhAAvrrSL3YQfE81hWUEgzN3HmncO06mfpJ55RQpbX9ehnlvc7mA2Ek1cKUbeTLyds7SDuDXxnaJli2fcytdBq9pfV02pbQKDQ7GYMjVWDoIh-6_m3sFVfUgFgSTaqk2SRiQoN_ZnyK2Uaycx6hUMJml761dUaIKGhuB5v/s320/174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpuDbGJHU7AT_eUV01aykOkcHulxm4r8dvxLK3YPFjLlKaWS-4o050VsuV4daRLyVGh8sJRavoFxid5Zxd-gu1upiArwqkPbWY_VzS7NnJQDdFLvgCMrUxo-sf506ryPh0dfP_0B6DWxd_b76OdrTaRK_8qVqDeU1SkXv_tTG2F5bLNgH1PQX_UiEeA7q/s2048/175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpuDbGJHU7AT_eUV01aykOkcHulxm4r8dvxLK3YPFjLlKaWS-4o050VsuV4daRLyVGh8sJRavoFxid5Zxd-gu1upiArwqkPbWY_VzS7NnJQDdFLvgCMrUxo-sf506ryPh0dfP_0B6DWxd_b76OdrTaRK_8qVqDeU1SkXv_tTG2F5bLNgH1PQX_UiEeA7q/s320/175.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2nd and final small heath</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB9QtdUOUPzZ25VFJb9LCTmuODNZQxgI3JiX9dMWajNxiUUyXLHb1vMzWwvhUOUBbC8QBCnp4BbRvnhdSaomgu25064wyHshbPPt9PshPMvEbSB9irR9CLJ9G4kUzcaDxVgEDqi3EOXnAeMEgB_vuxNHT6-LW8-fMxQfQGjlCrJmqUR9o9WLPrrNmaPAd/s2048/176.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB9QtdUOUPzZ25VFJb9LCTmuODNZQxgI3JiX9dMWajNxiUUyXLHb1vMzWwvhUOUBbC8QBCnp4BbRvnhdSaomgu25064wyHshbPPt9PshPMvEbSB9irR9CLJ9G4kUzcaDxVgEDqi3EOXnAeMEgB_vuxNHT6-LW8-fMxQfQGjlCrJmqUR9o9WLPrrNmaPAd/s320/176.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">climbers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44Y235SptDKVeIYgnElgR8qx34BpvUjoi1i13LgKxuJOsKqyBnH3NEt_mImuGBjEqH24fQ4UhdDnIHpp2ED7hg05_WCumM76vGIH0X-LZQ_oukp8H9szEgK5KFT7uswyRX7VkgDHZu5kjn1azh_r3TVtg5oRYOoQDd5tZCLZYuyy8m_-Vt4ul0nuGP-T/s2048/177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44Y235SptDKVeIYgnElgR8qx34BpvUjoi1i13LgKxuJOsKqyBnH3NEt_mImuGBjEqH24fQ4UhdDnIHpp2ED7hg05_WCumM76vGIH0X-LZQ_oukp8H9szEgK5KFT7uswyRX7VkgDHZu5kjn1azh_r3TVtg5oRYOoQDd5tZCLZYuyy8m_-Vt4ul0nuGP-T/s320/177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz6rvxHufp8KkC5HxRlt_eWsKvlHB4demLl4CfDaCfZrkmw-soQgfFqphNrPW7JnqHU_1XS7i0x2YhJ9SA2mdm_ujvNFCNoulFoPaPub6_FYfk6Ns5MQW0V025CKivkylYHWDEyv4k7gO5VsI6sU_JHk8Gc1962xQZU5AeO9L1VYmkrOjKj9JfqXrUZz2/s2048/178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz6rvxHufp8KkC5HxRlt_eWsKvlHB4demLl4CfDaCfZrkmw-soQgfFqphNrPW7JnqHU_1XS7i0x2YhJ9SA2mdm_ujvNFCNoulFoPaPub6_FYfk6Ns5MQW0V025CKivkylYHWDEyv4k7gO5VsI6sU_JHk8Gc1962xQZU5AeO9L1VYmkrOjKj9JfqXrUZz2/s320/178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsvVzIyV3L_BFQhdIpnM-pmmJwTPyuCXk0YgYwfutXDFFT1nnPfT6c4-hfASc8OuXI09OgMzsMns6hC4whTQVR_Hm53KDTQZ0a8MW1dmP-_pI3hOhZLNtd-i1jld__uYmQb5nS2DAKJULkyeB02FgtOMBvN8_6LYj6xQuvLAK6sN24kR6RjqlaY_xUr77/s2048/179.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsvVzIyV3L_BFQhdIpnM-pmmJwTPyuCXk0YgYwfutXDFFT1nnPfT6c4-hfASc8OuXI09OgMzsMns6hC4whTQVR_Hm53KDTQZ0a8MW1dmP-_pI3hOhZLNtd-i1jld__uYmQb5nS2DAKJULkyeB02FgtOMBvN8_6LYj6xQuvLAK6sN24kR6RjqlaY_xUr77/s320/179.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">last swallowtail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3vZ5PskzlywDw260lV2WFtZ_wgp_MlILytoLibYEcHOlmqS2pTM2MRiu1WoGGjpIX3MQlwnYEICc68zR6V9QHXHqLe6EpoA0t7xw4rumROPH-dAupGgS-ROwstFyn-HHIu1vrX6EvQHo71YCEIBbzayQvLlQJSOxHyan11S1_sh84QMBJaoL7ExZPKC0/s2048/180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3vZ5PskzlywDw260lV2WFtZ_wgp_MlILytoLibYEcHOlmqS2pTM2MRiu1WoGGjpIX3MQlwnYEICc68zR6V9QHXHqLe6EpoA0t7xw4rumROPH-dAupGgS-ROwstFyn-HHIu1vrX6EvQHo71YCEIBbzayQvLlQJSOxHyan11S1_sh84QMBJaoL7ExZPKC0/s320/180.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">last hummer</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0dcfaJRUIvhc4v2IhmuIHYPH_nQbeIY01lfl7mP5ug4TZ0JN4KsPTxLH6H7wSZQeMLFmx1DZzxMhBJ4etZmdbsDUVnvAdPoPH2HRr9rXwRMtswteC17wGrl7UWbhzgd2G2DGaDmny2k_iKpOtCDkVERU9nC2uExzkt79VxSyeeaW_It_Hf4geP6XH2XJ/s3391/181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3391" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0dcfaJRUIvhc4v2IhmuIHYPH_nQbeIY01lfl7mP5ug4TZ0JN4KsPTxLH6H7wSZQeMLFmx1DZzxMhBJ4etZmdbsDUVnvAdPoPH2HRr9rXwRMtswteC17wGrl7UWbhzgd2G2DGaDmny2k_iKpOtCDkVERU9nC2uExzkt79VxSyeeaW_It_Hf4geP6XH2XJ/s320/181.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">last procession</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy8aOuwZhEx-A5f71bp_7dkGB0HyD1fWhAEWX8sd9Tc28ZmRcz-wqATE5Bha_gqkTQGVbs2PtiY7_Z2Q_Uk4CxEG47k8XkHEpq8leqLfCuJRM-i2GkG9o6SAaFXTA1Pn7wFCI6mGQc5xupYGD02wqidKMuUr8luoVh_wfRQwBM_JwNckgdp9L2JKkdJDx/s1603/181a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1603" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy8aOuwZhEx-A5f71bp_7dkGB0HyD1fWhAEWX8sd9Tc28ZmRcz-wqATE5Bha_gqkTQGVbs2PtiY7_Z2Q_Uk4CxEG47k8XkHEpq8leqLfCuJRM-i2GkG9o6SAaFXTA1Pn7wFCI6mGQc5xupYGD02wqidKMuUr8luoVh_wfRQwBM_JwNckgdp9L2JKkdJDx/s320/181a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Mary got this quality red admiral as we were leaving.<br />I didn't, so I have nicked hers!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iDGa5f8DZN-JhdcxsSfA3lSmAR-Mrs-m1EES3f5uwnE7uwCy6iTPrI4u10zmr8Cqkvss5Xf-HTg5FKvJckcMRqrPIypPn4uFXXqi0ZqmfjQqUcjR0eY4WmwYKDENfH7b8OUhZiM4rg95rjFuB2ar-m4CgWZerqu7MfxcNrdjOPkyKpSNlwE49jcL156x/s2048/182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iDGa5f8DZN-JhdcxsSfA3lSmAR-Mrs-m1EES3f5uwnE7uwCy6iTPrI4u10zmr8Cqkvss5Xf-HTg5FKvJckcMRqrPIypPn4uFXXqi0ZqmfjQqUcjR0eY4WmwYKDENfH7b8OUhZiM4rg95rjFuB2ar-m4CgWZerqu7MfxcNrdjOPkyKpSNlwE49jcL156x/s320/182.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goodbye Puig!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzGz3ln5tsk6OQhmjV4-iF9t8_Go6P6kQa0Rj1N_24CY8v-WY83liitoE8NYslXeZ1SFFbwDucoFvXvYImBQ50R3Yrlwl-nAZCFD4gTZqftaybpsk9LO0H7CRL_KCjIe7ztBzo5TK39P7MnileEPhs_GdVBz_YR8Iq-mZrOlIelRlr0GPBTHkPXgiYllR/s2048/183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzGz3ln5tsk6OQhmjV4-iF9t8_Go6P6kQa0Rj1N_24CY8v-WY83liitoE8NYslXeZ1SFFbwDucoFvXvYImBQ50R3Yrlwl-nAZCFD4gTZqftaybpsk9LO0H7CRL_KCjIe7ztBzo5TK39P7MnileEPhs_GdVBz_YR8Iq-mZrOlIelRlr0GPBTHkPXgiYllR/s320/183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgmB3xZXlUrJVWfVXuGoAknoQm4uHAMN8HJslaJKxBE5VeIWE7Um6FrvSls-91EsNpbbvjbCYzMfydG2h65eQ7rUCpf1JCiXAQXTrnb9yF1XxOjfZBxrVbkItJTgNvCdjWECH6_GiDrQv-mJpTeKV2BgPAiFgY5Lnc6WENEkcvnBN27guGYwUzsr-OhM2/s2048/184.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgmB3xZXlUrJVWfVXuGoAknoQm4uHAMN8HJslaJKxBE5VeIWE7Um6FrvSls-91EsNpbbvjbCYzMfydG2h65eQ7rUCpf1JCiXAQXTrnb9yF1XxOjfZBxrVbkItJTgNvCdjWECH6_GiDrQv-mJpTeKV2BgPAiFgY5Lnc6WENEkcvnBN27guGYwUzsr-OhM2/s320/184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when fate gives you lemons</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgRqZ2aKEUwyfHRzEcvsPWSHf7Q-wvoNc0b4g0D4VwrkAwwy5FqzhKwAyqaUdcoqSTh9u58ltmduCmbrfOCwR3ujkxaxsZ5YxE2fp3mAaeiUOg98BKQWKsOFo2rWb6HMrR40PFEQHV-hleMxD9afhXegK_8TJ2EkeONt7_UsMi3QLc3AKGWkKfB9Fejan/s1698/185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1698" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgRqZ2aKEUwyfHRzEcvsPWSHf7Q-wvoNc0b4g0D4VwrkAwwy5FqzhKwAyqaUdcoqSTh9u58ltmduCmbrfOCwR3ujkxaxsZ5YxE2fp3mAaeiUOg98BKQWKsOFo2rWb6HMrR40PFEQHV-hleMxD9afhXegK_8TJ2EkeONt7_UsMi3QLc3AKGWkKfB9Fejan/s320/185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this was the best bottle of red of the 4 we bought <br />I believe Morrison's do one similar</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJR2ad8oTS5nTdY_FKkQ_4mwQ8EwfKjOihuvGmXwksQMS4Qk_BfY_Klf8IEtdf52UU6gAmagTvgQA26WLqDDBGjrClsS6xOVaGj1YxNyG5g_lAlS92Vmh92mzHqBToe8giWmYB1UtLH6XMQtkhB1TV0v2FcovSoUJvcyIs4HjIs80-56DGvKFguRsDrqG/s4275/200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="4275" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJR2ad8oTS5nTdY_FKkQ_4mwQ8EwfKjOihuvGmXwksQMS4Qk_BfY_Klf8IEtdf52UU6gAmagTvgQA26WLqDDBGjrClsS6xOVaGj1YxNyG5g_lAlS92Vmh92mzHqBToe8giWmYB1UtLH6XMQtkhB1TV0v2FcovSoUJvcyIs4HjIs80-56DGvKFguRsDrqG/s320/200.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />adios Santa Ponsa!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0WuRP4mlCwKV4hIT-TsPyl-A5lEnMFyM-9iSGhFVf3Kcj0OPq6MLL_2SQHz6H86BYvOHJT0JLetycQ3Ncug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">perfectly rehearsed mallards crossing the pan of the bay<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So in summary it was a fantastic break. It really helped to get to know the place on googlemaps before going - to estimate where would be within range to run/walk/cycle and where the supermercados were. On reflection I'd probably go to the North West of the island next time as the birds (and presumably butterflies) are reported to hang out more, at the wetlands near Alcudia. However we had a lot of fun based in Santa Ponsa which was very relaxed and friendly. And found more to point the cameras at than expected. And a wild tortoise, can you believe it? The weather was perfect and was more than compensation for the discomfort of travelling. A brilliant week.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw679zGH1JkEZ6wVW2KyMILkEOJM5kpLDV3V9f3Xx8z0ZkybRM2-2NyBUTCJ4PJVAne480-hvgMXrU32w7hL70ktlk7Hpd39mvgwlrQGn3O98ydxS0hxFja4YM9FAefuaxABZimnAWVP5SZczkooTuJi4wlruNvTXPMvbX6nyPRpLVazIvrlu7onide3l/s4300/201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="4300" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw679zGH1JkEZ6wVW2KyMILkEOJM5kpLDV3V9f3Xx8z0ZkybRM2-2NyBUTCJ4PJVAne480-hvgMXrU32w7hL70ktlk7Hpd39mvgwlrQGn3O98ydxS0hxFja4YM9FAefuaxABZimnAWVP5SZczkooTuJi4wlruNvTXPMvbX6nyPRpLVazIvrlu7onide3l/s320/201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-91257328603417055962024-03-01T03:11:00.000-08:002024-03-01T03:11:56.656-08:00kestrel<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7rKmbkKKTIfSw-sfwZF8-kuvIFPg0RJD-B3F56gMHQol5XYUBGjT8lEWHYR4XmBWlkF10qV1oXs69X2Nh86xplw7u3cpmSEKYnBC4pHA9v6imqzklHkiWrp7mef4dWBfSZRLyfczedZX-GPWSJGMBl1enK5HIT9FCK7FVTHlMJbp9kDyXnGMNQMCpXHW/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7rKmbkKKTIfSw-sfwZF8-kuvIFPg0RJD-B3F56gMHQol5XYUBGjT8lEWHYR4XmBWlkF10qV1oXs69X2Nh86xplw7u3cpmSEKYnBC4pHA9v6imqzklHkiWrp7mef4dWBfSZRLyfczedZX-GPWSJGMBl1enK5HIT9FCK7FVTHlMJbp9kDyXnGMNQMCpXHW/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">21-02-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">A fine shift at the graveyard. All the usual suspects plus (as the title and photo above suggests) another. It was a bit windy and not the best light. However a feeling that Spring might be getting closer brought out a friendly flock of the smaller garden birds. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GIJLpMmdxW8IPziaWlqHCbn0u4lOGAyh1XYtNTuF9i3HZoRdQPVXaPz-3eo91VDWnBK_XU22FodKVlNRrlbwr6uHJ-BEPX6d9u_xsSibg5PrbS9UR9V5cZZqyRU9gJkvBNeyj77zQEpMyMKWyIenAnLGlH2Wkwm1dmiyzt-13xK8V7_bB5aiZCeAQfsC/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GIJLpMmdxW8IPziaWlqHCbn0u4lOGAyh1XYtNTuF9i3HZoRdQPVXaPz-3eo91VDWnBK_XU22FodKVlNRrlbwr6uHJ-BEPX6d9u_xsSibg5PrbS9UR9V5cZZqyRU9gJkvBNeyj77zQEpMyMKWyIenAnLGlH2Wkwm1dmiyzt-13xK8V7_bB5aiZCeAQfsC/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fP09viJ5_SgZPLYI1Pa0x5YrS5Bhhkf3DpzZi-8Zttqb0Gp2lm3cPMxoCfTfnE9LmwJvf9uh-DB-JRjXkA5BK5IjOdr-lnQrJyy1Ac7bBhpfK7Vx-pP8rkNSmJ2LZbh-hAQ-euhxan0O-y1JHSCXYnFbLKN_u91ycvvgq_qrdH0Wz4dHl0D26TuYeqvu/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fP09viJ5_SgZPLYI1Pa0x5YrS5Bhhkf3DpzZi-8Zttqb0Gp2lm3cPMxoCfTfnE9LmwJvf9uh-DB-JRjXkA5BK5IjOdr-lnQrJyy1Ac7bBhpfK7Vx-pP8rkNSmJ2LZbh-hAQ-euhxan0O-y1JHSCXYnFbLKN_u91ycvvgq_qrdH0Wz4dHl0D26TuYeqvu/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02pTlC-PvZwCJn5mg9qr2u83QlwWTflKtmCB0AMcWGH_oaCdUD834oOCegzPJQEQjkJtHpYy3j1zNUAjOpJLG4SLLgU08LZBZCMIrj911z3TFk16k9fxHvlLk9DZr_bIYGpshgxuiLZA0RHpiHvp20MU0FPNQ2WpANYyn-TIdEO26E08-7gTjlDjkgFmv/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02pTlC-PvZwCJn5mg9qr2u83QlwWTflKtmCB0AMcWGH_oaCdUD834oOCegzPJQEQjkJtHpYy3j1zNUAjOpJLG4SLLgU08LZBZCMIrj911z3TFk16k9fxHvlLk9DZr_bIYGpshgxuiLZA0RHpiHvp20MU0FPNQ2WpANYyn-TIdEO26E08-7gTjlDjkgFmv/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwj-njsLwDKKkRn-OrUp9cmCLkPkwwNW9D2Kr78CRlnBJs9uUmFCva120593xNbPy3HGRThSLBSlGmUjaVPsC4aBAViiXYZJai1-eMeaNV-Ur_L45X9Bk2bTJZReMJ4hEZBHwiWsVN2EQ_mt_soFWkRnrHQIV-EpF-0yvt6TBO4RFVolBOUfG-Am2_DGK/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwj-njsLwDKKkRn-OrUp9cmCLkPkwwNW9D2Kr78CRlnBJs9uUmFCva120593xNbPy3HGRThSLBSlGmUjaVPsC4aBAViiXYZJai1-eMeaNV-Ur_L45X9Bk2bTJZReMJ4hEZBHwiWsVN2EQ_mt_soFWkRnrHQIV-EpF-0yvt6TBO4RFVolBOUfG-Am2_DGK/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWTtRxqVVTztS0cmVnHJnaVRRPr8a7534c2WE0nfrMPCwmoFfOhJhFXx8Z2rMX_jrFlqyD5KkYDvrT_kFMRdu8JcAupHW01ozSxSm2JJxXVu77Ykr9Tl-EBiR4UKjQJRipsu8IpioQTV2rqCpl8jnw_XZPUn91N56O7JJoRrhxFieVweOGzNY-mzpWfLg/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWTtRxqVVTztS0cmVnHJnaVRRPr8a7534c2WE0nfrMPCwmoFfOhJhFXx8Z2rMX_jrFlqyD5KkYDvrT_kFMRdu8JcAupHW01ozSxSm2JJxXVu77Ykr9Tl-EBiR4UKjQJRipsu8IpioQTV2rqCpl8jnw_XZPUn91N56O7JJoRrhxFieVweOGzNY-mzpWfLg/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeT_DS73WcS9njuykXd3mTroEYjVU7hIMlklCiZbWlqM4Px_7OD9EjfNBX7B4zymUXPr32sxSRvzOzLVHdaBVig0duI7coUnErPLbP2ARM3XfMqle8vEIU8LjOmibpIfmHPkhOi9ocjFaLqFhTVY9UOfuW_wx3pqiHut6Sz_mJ51fbqQ1QAHLshqhUH1Q/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeT_DS73WcS9njuykXd3mTroEYjVU7hIMlklCiZbWlqM4Px_7OD9EjfNBX7B4zymUXPr32sxSRvzOzLVHdaBVig0duI7coUnErPLbP2ARM3XfMqle8vEIU8LjOmibpIfmHPkhOi9ocjFaLqFhTVY9UOfuW_wx3pqiHut6Sz_mJ51fbqQ1QAHLshqhUH1Q/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dxy_QDIq8Ft-fZWfA1hyKgGKrvA4-7-ItpFckxsWLGGof-BUcmyqW2KNjJiT0MDaEej58w0KAumuiAbhl4e2rfIayxLcDMcdKLdR-95V_I2XSQTnvhGYSrYILYyXmhysucUFfl1w_i2kqxJpv1RZx5qNaMDo0z436pbYU1G29w4rJ4LnHOWs-rbxcRgv/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dxy_QDIq8Ft-fZWfA1hyKgGKrvA4-7-ItpFckxsWLGGof-BUcmyqW2KNjJiT0MDaEej58w0KAumuiAbhl4e2rfIayxLcDMcdKLdR-95V_I2XSQTnvhGYSrYILYyXmhysucUFfl1w_i2kqxJpv1RZx5qNaMDo0z436pbYU1G29w4rJ4LnHOWs-rbxcRgv/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AaTv4zzNt3kBFUBXZUbiKMlRqNrXR10m7e1BL9EdeTs7EJ5C104pMIT_5nINYiQm2EjKxYH5bwJbzY9_ZRLw2IEkkx1HkfXJnikANgiJJZUyVDYGayDN1U3e5xqPNn35XBXUJ13b2xH_tLVXRkFnYWPpuK34lCR8LYiAdKB4-vORxEq_206loX2q-3vX/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AaTv4zzNt3kBFUBXZUbiKMlRqNrXR10m7e1BL9EdeTs7EJ5C104pMIT_5nINYiQm2EjKxYH5bwJbzY9_ZRLw2IEkkx1HkfXJnikANgiJJZUyVDYGayDN1U3e5xqPNn35XBXUJ13b2xH_tLVXRkFnYWPpuK34lCR8LYiAdKB4-vORxEq_206loX2q-3vX/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26oE6xTMTPqCbTDMvYv4oYxevMiKZUAPhwBu8aefis0q2RPfm17orb34e7cDriT1wYbMLAeFBUSEQM6FN30UfvalRTKBLPSpWYVMBHkkuIS1oMb5aQrv9b7vg4KmwxVrvX9novTxhP4vxo0wj-qmpDhEYFktPmAf8gfq7n7A6JTuvkoSIF6e2kY67baXD/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26oE6xTMTPqCbTDMvYv4oYxevMiKZUAPhwBu8aefis0q2RPfm17orb34e7cDriT1wYbMLAeFBUSEQM6FN30UfvalRTKBLPSpWYVMBHkkuIS1oMb5aQrv9b7vg4KmwxVrvX9novTxhP4vxo0wj-qmpDhEYFktPmAf8gfq7n7A6JTuvkoSIF6e2kY67baXD/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJH5dXGckLmiVCRg_wSHOxpf0zISPmemW7FAv1A5YO7xVwTkmjE56j-VNC8_Hz7NzT3xE5vHILyvamYhxFtfzJjtCh0YxULROiF2NHJYPz5xHP8mkmGxuXyNB5bRVqZiX5A2BGHUssiIUFaisXrMPg63iwhkajFokrLLQ3jarX6xsTk8jwovXEdkr5b9i/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJH5dXGckLmiVCRg_wSHOxpf0zISPmemW7FAv1A5YO7xVwTkmjE56j-VNC8_Hz7NzT3xE5vHILyvamYhxFtfzJjtCh0YxULROiF2NHJYPz5xHP8mkmGxuXyNB5bRVqZiX5A2BGHUssiIUFaisXrMPg63iwhkajFokrLLQ3jarX6xsTk8jwovXEdkr5b9i/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEP5la0eK_eVCjIEOCkkX5y58kBERdiqYAzHNDHDSdibbd62ss0nV4Rqm5bGqCiDZ4iK16kCkYsPhjraYO-dcPaEy0kaUyZ5ZLpAw_x14gRmrJ4iNAgOLUBjyRJmnZPoP936oF1YXnKqAaBAuCkYk1Ca-mSTobtmLVXQzbgQ5JQDwTZ7OzgMRcFNGbSVI/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEP5la0eK_eVCjIEOCkkX5y58kBERdiqYAzHNDHDSdibbd62ss0nV4Rqm5bGqCiDZ4iK16kCkYsPhjraYO-dcPaEy0kaUyZ5ZLpAw_x14gRmrJ4iNAgOLUBjyRJmnZPoP936oF1YXnKqAaBAuCkYk1Ca-mSTobtmLVXQzbgQ5JQDwTZ7OzgMRcFNGbSVI/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOC1CuhVlHNN0gwNJmEihfu9qvAZY3cu04vGPeXWeoRwXxb6RSSXTs2YbPdzZtW4RgzJ1bXgETtLCZnZ0s0w41YZA1teL1e2aR560oEBYHV-I2V4J-m2lDPvCBt_DiQWg9n6XZc0M1eq_f_eH5BQcogG2KRlNtbBGXJH4V9v3PAE8t523Suwv2L4Py4Pd/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOC1CuhVlHNN0gwNJmEihfu9qvAZY3cu04vGPeXWeoRwXxb6RSSXTs2YbPdzZtW4RgzJ1bXgETtLCZnZ0s0w41YZA1teL1e2aR560oEBYHV-I2V4J-m2lDPvCBt_DiQWg9n6XZc0M1eq_f_eH5BQcogG2KRlNtbBGXJH4V9v3PAE8t523Suwv2L4Py4Pd/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR1mu6dxCrh-GKEswzS_3qABAP-ktE6lwn8G4cskFMVzEv9LCFycBdmiSGh3qGK-aAb6hFJh4cllDZmGWG5r7c5q7i1bgm2unozH50kqCouO-1u2wB9IpMAfDn_5XeLz1lazvH6UnHCHFcm0-Lsr1WFTuXayi3ggBLU5ysaBlr9l5cyFsmEnR-tzslhPf/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR1mu6dxCrh-GKEswzS_3qABAP-ktE6lwn8G4cskFMVzEv9LCFycBdmiSGh3qGK-aAb6hFJh4cllDZmGWG5r7c5q7i1bgm2unozH50kqCouO-1u2wB9IpMAfDn_5XeLz1lazvH6UnHCHFcm0-Lsr1WFTuXayi3ggBLU5ysaBlr9l5cyFsmEnR-tzslhPf/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />this chaffinch at the back of the riverside area</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">was happy to pose for photos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyesJHC1yz7I1nUnpmI8tWbIfz3EFJsCsso5jipv0FVBM0Iwx3R4kxnDn8adp5dvkPwy1fEI05DRE6TI20wNw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SbhBQPY-RzFNaXzWLEkCOwm-yB_-csNqy88wIaKw-YtY0TWoRjgREqnr_RzLq7TpPRkSD2FCaKJPr5hjCy0yp0orKQltFxLFnNR_pr_cECnAw8lVlAF3Uezpl4vs8tLiBRBS2R5X4okHZ4e-DtsvCvTs__M-oAKUrIQtuEepeaPBjXyTwbHiupqoK3Y9/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SbhBQPY-RzFNaXzWLEkCOwm-yB_-csNqy88wIaKw-YtY0TWoRjgREqnr_RzLq7TpPRkSD2FCaKJPr5hjCy0yp0orKQltFxLFnNR_pr_cECnAw8lVlAF3Uezpl4vs8tLiBRBS2R5X4okHZ4e-DtsvCvTs__M-oAKUrIQtuEepeaPBjXyTwbHiupqoK3Y9/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />the grey wagtail was as usual wading through the water and mud at the tunnel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPV7PPpbyt2xvxHHeEg8Z7q3-RXfN9lFyHhii2d7_MZc3v9DxPtz_hyphenhyphenUJeDuiKB8mJnRdQv-044Km4wtuvM9dgXwMeUEucChpC02fc6Eq2UFVMpo1zDkcdXh0WA1MPmiUK55jMMMZqrjCNsM9KCsjebRk88X3zRQrb3Ci4V4scFtPuSfqVwaaqvGU2uz4/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPV7PPpbyt2xvxHHeEg8Z7q3-RXfN9lFyHhii2d7_MZc3v9DxPtz_hyphenhyphenUJeDuiKB8mJnRdQv-044Km4wtuvM9dgXwMeUEucChpC02fc6Eq2UFVMpo1zDkcdXh0WA1MPmiUK55jMMMZqrjCNsM9KCsjebRk88X3zRQrb3Ci4V4scFtPuSfqVwaaqvGU2uz4/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWYbeb-fKzPLE0N66s_naQmv0qUY_RdQX8ey6JCSm6mZv2d1sctCLrceB_YiJHyoXSdSuKM1b_ukLgFhu0n9-4hDDdF9OE63E8fzxHvuKwBn4HEhm70U2q8v7viQpurDwrbAedzKOD5ycSr1nQD6d73vvWpAZBpGaQR4wHFpsJ8_32IHrPGzH6atPH1P4/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWYbeb-fKzPLE0N66s_naQmv0qUY_RdQX8ey6JCSm6mZv2d1sctCLrceB_YiJHyoXSdSuKM1b_ukLgFhu0n9-4hDDdF9OE63E8fzxHvuKwBn4HEhm70U2q8v7viQpurDwrbAedzKOD5ycSr1nQD6d73vvWpAZBpGaQR4wHFpsJ8_32IHrPGzH6atPH1P4/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tq-KMPCigc55Jmh2VK6gY9gMPGuhdNILjeYhskuPwQX2P3S1MlqHDopMhzwv1d6mrJQBSiLl5-oF5m_bjvUxYeZgCZgvT9XYqvLUQl0zmBqeLZodJv4SLNuHH0NvMZlq4HW_6wRvQxo0tCG0hJMpRlt5YhTgKpxqZXZexiBx25NW_iI3b5zsa-5qpZkS/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tq-KMPCigc55Jmh2VK6gY9gMPGuhdNILjeYhskuPwQX2P3S1MlqHDopMhzwv1d6mrJQBSiLl5-oF5m_bjvUxYeZgCZgvT9XYqvLUQl0zmBqeLZodJv4SLNuHH0NvMZlq4HW_6wRvQxo0tCG0hJMpRlt5YhTgKpxqZXZexiBx25NW_iI3b5zsa-5qpZkS/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren - there are quite a few about, establishing territory</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoh3CdaIGeA-Y94aGgCasYRmDTjII7Nbc6oiOp2xVKKVMESEXOQXdcMvkdtWHvtia7p7iTId7DMDgwu1DsirhB94DuMpXM-bIN5b6sMHE7uAIMgGfnUVdKBLtzz7JqaRb_oV4sIpmIKDiHVMCt6GwNBYFqU78O8OElbv4JnW7vXxx9xJdtBCazwYgBhrG/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoh3CdaIGeA-Y94aGgCasYRmDTjII7Nbc6oiOp2xVKKVMESEXOQXdcMvkdtWHvtia7p7iTId7DMDgwu1DsirhB94DuMpXM-bIN5b6sMHE7uAIMgGfnUVdKBLtzz7JqaRb_oV4sIpmIKDiHVMCt6GwNBYFqU78O8OElbv4JnW7vXxx9xJdtBCazwYgBhrG/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl1NODozbk46lAAyRgjYyFTyLCrV-rVz89ZQtPfM5Qa2yrpbun3ih82-qFs1d4a7su7T6rhCBPeSIYJFMTkyn15rg6UF2p6Txsss81YKjS2VMPD0pi4s4Pk2ZQt-2OMK4OCMZT11epXlg4521LkYKPYk7S_0sih8RJuUXkRyAUygrYE-Pag9pFrcQ0gww/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl1NODozbk46lAAyRgjYyFTyLCrV-rVz89ZQtPfM5Qa2yrpbun3ih82-qFs1d4a7su7T6rhCBPeSIYJFMTkyn15rg6UF2p6Txsss81YKjS2VMPD0pi4s4Pk2ZQt-2OMK4OCMZT11epXlg4521LkYKPYk7S_0sih8RJuUXkRyAUygrYE-Pag9pFrcQ0gww/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I couldn't be bothered swapping lens from the 400mm to the macro, so this is as close as I could get to a fly. I have been keeping note of the smaller invertebrates and insects and hope to produce more macro stuff as the season progresses.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdu3z_5oB1h-AP9H5cUc4VSo7GzW8-cHIcrbFxpV3Zx9COhOFQ4hiWpnV1Rz3heARjaaj41N9Ln27CtmXkyh9yUwNdK7dgINdbWYsiASO6MC1iL_6vb8-Hvkq8hvrXfa2ln1gwQZtqA1J_yPVNf4ccGU6Jm5tZCJW3IH_0tlSNma9Rj9XYaluGuuSQtjE/s2048/022a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdu3z_5oB1h-AP9H5cUc4VSo7GzW8-cHIcrbFxpV3Zx9COhOFQ4hiWpnV1Rz3heARjaaj41N9Ln27CtmXkyh9yUwNdK7dgINdbWYsiASO6MC1iL_6vb8-Hvkq8hvrXfa2ln1gwQZtqA1J_yPVNf4ccGU6Jm5tZCJW3IH_0tlSNma9Rj9XYaluGuuSQtjE/s320/022a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As usual the crows were following me about. I made the mistake of putting out some food on the James Young Simpson memorial which is halfway between the lower crypts and upper and all 4 of my crow friends turned up to feed. The 2 upper and 2 lower usually keep their distance and if there is any trespassing the other pair let them know about it. It was quite a tense stand off along check point charlie.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d5cu3oF2iXFsryOUTmgymdS3dy_wLju9cSJASRk9ZhPUNSTb9hWVBEQNyQu-vMqlg6CD4npn6ZKsMUk5yoaO6zWfHixWfJU985wbVdIej7tl8L2vCWMq_6SyR-ZE_T_0HldDGGUm2L3qDWlhs9SArnSEQNApBVMBiADC65JaN0eXy0d4T5jT2PouoQvo/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d5cu3oF2iXFsryOUTmgymdS3dy_wLju9cSJASRk9ZhPUNSTb9hWVBEQNyQu-vMqlg6CD4npn6ZKsMUk5yoaO6zWfHixWfJU985wbVdIej7tl8L2vCWMq_6SyR-ZE_T_0HldDGGUm2L3qDWlhs9SArnSEQNApBVMBiADC65JaN0eXy0d4T5jT2PouoQvo/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_pXO2jE6T3kffZ0_3I6vj08P-ywGM0SOHefpWhZvLB2c7sBPLwp2ucZXHXnkXDGgxTtXz9KkH_EPzUTTohjmD1M_LXjYNmj4NxWjpk8YfP31EPnrB-vi5OMkUXnX74iBb0Q9YOE5G52hQRqpicJkmZ9zw36i68kUv1KqUavo4IGWVKmzbe7v2xxiAyoY/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_pXO2jE6T3kffZ0_3I6vj08P-ywGM0SOHefpWhZvLB2c7sBPLwp2ucZXHXnkXDGgxTtXz9KkH_EPzUTTohjmD1M_LXjYNmj4NxWjpk8YfP31EPnrB-vi5OMkUXnX74iBb0Q9YOE5G52hQRqpicJkmZ9zw36i68kUv1KqUavo4IGWVKmzbe7v2xxiAyoY/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6MFiGziWF-aco9Mtm2vdpJ2BX8G5oLAdc3Ive_jv147YOiZJ9HC7VrDX_m1eC_eORrBA7CQOc2VSyLY0Lgp4y0wnDaP00ZxtsiGFmAUqE7lpgaLmb33pbilurEU1SvbPnQ904rDwpN97DIGs6JVMdjnPdMY2RIZclNQGsW0NO0kI9lU16f2q090HcRKs/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6MFiGziWF-aco9Mtm2vdpJ2BX8G5oLAdc3Ive_jv147YOiZJ9HC7VrDX_m1eC_eORrBA7CQOc2VSyLY0Lgp4y0wnDaP00ZxtsiGFmAUqE7lpgaLmb33pbilurEU1SvbPnQ904rDwpN97DIGs6JVMdjnPdMY2RIZclNQGsW0NO0kI9lU16f2q090HcRKs/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">love the wee legs in the air<br />Interesting one at top; could be a 10 spot which don't always have 10 spots</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwQhDpFjPgK4BMKdCY5yEMUUm3BKsllPTsy5R8zuo_IGaLW6cjhaV7uTOUoulcOCGboJf2awWfz6n3tAkBqI3NvHQQmX5j5HsxfTM8rGtyep0RucrtVoyoC7W6yK7eaaUwa2qKfUn8hbIW0cneHvaFmu5_fdb2nW60uDys30E0a3vfr7K17d7nIw-DYfv/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwQhDpFjPgK4BMKdCY5yEMUUm3BKsllPTsy5R8zuo_IGaLW6cjhaV7uTOUoulcOCGboJf2awWfz6n3tAkBqI3NvHQQmX5j5HsxfTM8rGtyep0RucrtVoyoC7W6yK7eaaUwa2qKfUn8hbIW0cneHvaFmu5_fdb2nW60uDys30E0a3vfr7K17d7nIw-DYfv/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So around this time I bumped into Vicki, whose long lens camera revealed she was out to photograph nature, in particular the kestrel. As we stood talking, it flew over and landed on top of a gravestone. We quietly moved towards it but it is more wary than it used to be and doesn't much like company.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1_IDqU3EcE2kS-15aYKXbqF3ibmfLs-9CxRDJc7d-dTKMrYbDIFAVzDJJlrhDsp9f6T9dIqz1Byzqm_Piub0RnlazW2lItX7CohUFovP21oyquxXzDgOLB3HOHD5AA9U9Nmv7tTllVxwRSOoNqYrI4Jgv9aRUL6qChwAWdrV5nnXv4tn-6aS9kcPiIoI/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1_IDqU3EcE2kS-15aYKXbqF3ibmfLs-9CxRDJc7d-dTKMrYbDIFAVzDJJlrhDsp9f6T9dIqz1Byzqm_Piub0RnlazW2lItX7CohUFovP21oyquxXzDgOLB3HOHD5AA9U9Nmv7tTllVxwRSOoNqYrI4Jgv9aRUL6qChwAWdrV5nnXv4tn-6aS9kcPiIoI/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSOSj9lXBUqJly5DmgdcMODpZAd9cS_B3k-I-lqK17KdxE2nuyGLQ0vVlWQzy_NziLtt1_3FHGiV_gOsJBC0Aex2HoXypqGzCA-oq80jLYMNKsOwLJ-XkgfsiSZMxc7vlnFq3NTRu4RX37KZ9s22POlQ2wK7NL8fIJcMiHypI4u3GRsW3ylidwQ0TUPwT/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSOSj9lXBUqJly5DmgdcMODpZAd9cS_B3k-I-lqK17KdxE2nuyGLQ0vVlWQzy_NziLtt1_3FHGiV_gOsJBC0Aex2HoXypqGzCA-oq80jLYMNKsOwLJ-XkgfsiSZMxc7vlnFq3NTRu4RX37KZ9s22POlQ2wK7NL8fIJcMiHypI4u3GRsW3ylidwQ0TUPwT/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">giving us the stink eye</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC7r2ITAUs3zs_-bZD4a0TpjTPnWxGBE5-KZvb8PY_uK8grJ-v9v0cn8CsQGc8gssaKbKElC3LQLiTZzNHLA3V5Y8jPjJJevB6kLGzFZ4RnaH2Huz5EXtE_6UNq1SjzyqZlbUrHHde8nDCV8mm3Xlw9SZ84NtCQLDkEPt9O4Qudu-nss74nw-FFPm7CDY/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC7r2ITAUs3zs_-bZD4a0TpjTPnWxGBE5-KZvb8PY_uK8grJ-v9v0cn8CsQGc8gssaKbKElC3LQLiTZzNHLA3V5Y8jPjJJevB6kLGzFZ4RnaH2Huz5EXtE_6UNq1SjzyqZlbUrHHde8nDCV8mm3Xlw9SZ84NtCQLDkEPt9O4Qudu-nss74nw-FFPm7CDY/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGiE-3xE5-l6Jt2PDxJPJHpWkHIxk7nsPj3wPJ37juFnZluMQmbnHNTgpGsBmXZZkXUSxi4CIgflbHtfXmMd2Fo1e9zfSJIiD5MiWNIS8KMHT2p6fVqNg1E02AmyNyJCpXa8ujQ5IzKLWPbmVfXvF1QQyM_yOO-GI9STAaT0pakpvZ4CzqwUulXVZgEPV/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGiE-3xE5-l6Jt2PDxJPJHpWkHIxk7nsPj3wPJ37juFnZluMQmbnHNTgpGsBmXZZkXUSxi4CIgflbHtfXmMd2Fo1e9zfSJIiD5MiWNIS8KMHT2p6fVqNg1E02AmyNyJCpXa8ujQ5IzKLWPbmVfXvF1QQyM_yOO-GI9STAaT0pakpvZ4CzqwUulXVZgEPV/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">best photo today<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was cursing I didn't set the camera to a faster shutter-speed for the take off. I was also hoping to get closer before it moved. Could have been worse, could have been better.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLx4rlpT7OESCCNj6jimUZwH9FZQtp52BAasFgJM7RqdUiEMN7Dvhk1uKdvgZHrj6ULESRxg-4NxPH_cE4b0_8G24JOWXmJYZAjSgTj_NABKGmvNQIa98wjeefN89iD-Ol1PO-oa9Qn6X_-Y-ul9p42T4YZ2JicgBD_oy7QyfY-UTA2jlzaLWOxPXZlZ4/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLx4rlpT7OESCCNj6jimUZwH9FZQtp52BAasFgJM7RqdUiEMN7Dvhk1uKdvgZHrj6ULESRxg-4NxPH_cE4b0_8G24JOWXmJYZAjSgTj_NABKGmvNQIa98wjeefN89iD-Ol1PO-oa9Qn6X_-Y-ul9p42T4YZ2JicgBD_oy7QyfY-UTA2jlzaLWOxPXZlZ4/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwm7eVCkmtvkH7ReI9UA4a35XRZb6g8M5ujfFTAiYDfmnAkdoBK5HTsYYO7LUSQYDSJC-E5emEcHtnRFbiguw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iAScT29u603l3gaQf8174-01u4FJ3jaGVwBDzbUBojWDRMDenYmtUgA4kbGEnOoOZQGMkK15A6JTFy_LPiIbztwk8Vy05RH3ew1E5lL8EK7O_ez6tB7gPjn5qXQ2A62izN08rQ4XazZcJqx4KslKEe9uh1UTiu1N2pfMzuga6DlkfkoAh9MF304c_7iH/s2048/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iAScT29u603l3gaQf8174-01u4FJ3jaGVwBDzbUBojWDRMDenYmtUgA4kbGEnOoOZQGMkK15A6JTFy_LPiIbztwk8Vy05RH3ew1E5lL8EK7O_ez6tB7gPjn5qXQ2A62izN08rQ4XazZcJqx4KslKEe9uh1UTiu1N2pfMzuga6DlkfkoAh9MF304c_7iH/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />the wind was so strong it blew the kestrel off the gravestone</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoS9TMsHEH1LUVjdxf6733skl-OmCDTYv_WHsA7_UAxrfGViuW-LpMVpEIWlV7_Qxy-qHlhL4uan_8cM1R4Y3JnxHe4Vuj6T0maOjHiO2Su4lGDh9R6r-shS9bSrsmDYYCSmb70P49V9XPh45zfM4KwnK0r2ElT50lxxcowEFUnONf7308NebYw3luQmW/s2048/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoS9TMsHEH1LUVjdxf6733skl-OmCDTYv_WHsA7_UAxrfGViuW-LpMVpEIWlV7_Qxy-qHlhL4uan_8cM1R4Y3JnxHe4Vuj6T0maOjHiO2Su4lGDh9R6r-shS9bSrsmDYYCSmb70P49V9XPh45zfM4KwnK0r2ElT50lxxcowEFUnONf7308NebYw3luQmW/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zSfNCNashfp4MbVr1n7onwYnxVbL35byKJ6cNnGkZ6mX1EO5FJZx_yL9tz8SpAmsrc-mlMVha5NJMGHALWSQPk14UgQ9HOVt_KAvLbVAF1IwxlIdSEzWIVbACeI7qxQl7KDBEpBdVmz-xR4INwXjuZPllenqd5LO5wWP72I7q2n4QHlEqHx6dco2CAjy/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zSfNCNashfp4MbVr1n7onwYnxVbL35byKJ6cNnGkZ6mX1EO5FJZx_yL9tz8SpAmsrc-mlMVha5NJMGHALWSQPk14UgQ9HOVt_KAvLbVAF1IwxlIdSEzWIVbACeI7qxQl7KDBEpBdVmz-xR4INwXjuZPllenqd5LO5wWP72I7q2n4QHlEqHx6dco2CAjy/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgABi2lJLjCD_u5fhZFqv_HNUyV9fV8PMiXsztCPIuc4VlQ4VYkN2YG09N7iYEDSEYCBwcgs6FRlIuS51e89T6Qzmy-Mn5IKGJd7Hy83xutWtphwMe05IQDxMEE3ATyRi0Bw4Za3XU_kLKPkRdrvmLHa4Jthlpuylp6LoliBBy916cD1OSahsGzDMtDUv/s2048/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgABi2lJLjCD_u5fhZFqv_HNUyV9fV8PMiXsztCPIuc4VlQ4VYkN2YG09N7iYEDSEYCBwcgs6FRlIuS51e89T6Qzmy-Mn5IKGJd7Hy83xutWtphwMe05IQDxMEE3ATyRi0Bw4Za3XU_kLKPkRdrvmLHa4Jthlpuylp6LoliBBy916cD1OSahsGzDMtDUv/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the crow was unimpressed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0IxDQpNkC4wvD4XHy7kCTDC4maVx9qNzPPcMbSlOMyd5bsGs46dszJL5cQQDCUX_tXbgaUEVWybjOhezQjSaqIBIeQAqoccotQYUPftOKHj9EzjXK9TwGLlwErW18bMjYGm0Tpt45lOitvCYPqqgHbkFhopglrGBd1_3vRdVP_MWf-WoG1s-ciqS9YuI/s2048/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0IxDQpNkC4wvD4XHy7kCTDC4maVx9qNzPPcMbSlOMyd5bsGs46dszJL5cQQDCUX_tXbgaUEVWybjOhezQjSaqIBIeQAqoccotQYUPftOKHj9EzjXK9TwGLlwErW18bMjYGm0Tpt45lOitvCYPqqgHbkFhopglrGBd1_3vRdVP_MWf-WoG1s-ciqS9YuI/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />kestrel checked me out from above</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WFFYDpYD75lTJn6hj9VWv3CahYhuJSfnt53vzoMNvbJZR6AiWOKIpSnQs3ym1ZcCYBgSXTcB1wAJ87vrsYgVMDZz4KtFdEeJfz7dwekz9iKPdTBs5aDVJ-EKaqKEJIvPxCL4oj0z0j6hXToanvPSNd0PTXTI5raYTnAPXfg7VN46ej1b3dhnjIRmwM0j/s2048/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WFFYDpYD75lTJn6hj9VWv3CahYhuJSfnt53vzoMNvbJZR6AiWOKIpSnQs3ym1ZcCYBgSXTcB1wAJ87vrsYgVMDZz4KtFdEeJfz7dwekz9iKPdTBs5aDVJ-EKaqKEJIvPxCL4oj0z0j6hXToanvPSNd0PTXTI5raYTnAPXfg7VN46ej1b3dhnjIRmwM0j/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXvzraVltNblX_EtUM39gVWMngHqfYZ-QxPieFnMw1tGkKkFMsbhZVFBhpHL77CgpiXiql9anYYe0CEJtZnFw_lJsRzT1JiETCcFVu7Q5Stt0zAyBc_Y3l9mN94mT0GNmCC6n6m-JalJNQCN2IobtwxSeVdjXPQslKEaODg6SdgHFdKnfBDy_mz0HsiQz/s2048/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXvzraVltNblX_EtUM39gVWMngHqfYZ-QxPieFnMw1tGkKkFMsbhZVFBhpHL77CgpiXiql9anYYe0CEJtZnFw_lJsRzT1JiETCcFVu7Q5Stt0zAyBc_Y3l9mN94mT0GNmCC6n6m-JalJNQCN2IobtwxSeVdjXPQslKEaODg6SdgHFdKnfBDy_mz0HsiQz/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Vicki headed off and I mooched about until the bird made another appearance. I quietly followed it about for a while and although got near, it was sat with the light behind and didn't make for great images.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsxq1oHVbJFnKaGIsLVHrImlI03twhyK7l4QPYSVXz9jeG1IfOhz24aJM_U7fzrJys6JjgS4RAbBIbJDqcxSbAuw5KIpZRiVNuVr9nhy2f0MSQghtqmtPuQh51fNRjZIYxA8io5-1cnlKH_YCeswd88oBsxapVn2bWTWhXLat3h9TafyeSUP8TLytmsZp/s2048/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsxq1oHVbJFnKaGIsLVHrImlI03twhyK7l4QPYSVXz9jeG1IfOhz24aJM_U7fzrJys6JjgS4RAbBIbJDqcxSbAuw5KIpZRiVNuVr9nhy2f0MSQghtqmtPuQh51fNRjZIYxA8io5-1cnlKH_YCeswd88oBsxapVn2bWTWhXLat3h9TafyeSUP8TLytmsZp/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7ECE9cEnRCJEtlykXEsdGqeFSX-MDpJ9iCQ7vR1BI_7eR99dAVg0oFTwABxlGn_WucNPIqRBvAi7u1IDmVoWn2eSXKPSSYs82-MCUufezJ75Lgs-04n3rngdA9lzOd6sPkTuFapsbXnngTOI1QSa5blKgqj9FlMQ_ttK0BYDa1-pklbXM9JcGv33EnO9/s2048/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7ECE9cEnRCJEtlykXEsdGqeFSX-MDpJ9iCQ7vR1BI_7eR99dAVg0oFTwABxlGn_WucNPIqRBvAi7u1IDmVoWn2eSXKPSSYs82-MCUufezJ75Lgs-04n3rngdA9lzOd6sPkTuFapsbXnngTOI1QSa5blKgqj9FlMQ_ttK0BYDa1-pklbXM9JcGv33EnO9/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp12ioetzfGM_nEB7mfmAwKdaIm9TaHMwzCCG3QRFiIla7WDihqph0v8V5I1AfzPCC55ud7US6o6Qmk0MPMOfxWYEBR9KeaJr6CCCFDWDrIjVBqmK_3l9X2RTSJ3sjEfL_OVwHJGdfTm0vwA6QjzLzTW02v32elX9m4-Zp58ZxwPrTfDQU9y5njUETvIcS/s2048/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp12ioetzfGM_nEB7mfmAwKdaIm9TaHMwzCCG3QRFiIla7WDihqph0v8V5I1AfzPCC55ud7US6o6Qmk0MPMOfxWYEBR9KeaJr6CCCFDWDrIjVBqmK_3l9X2RTSJ3sjEfL_OVwHJGdfTm0vwA6QjzLzTW02v32elX9m4-Zp58ZxwPrTfDQU9y5njUETvIcS/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQvfVWbz4XFPKlznb7dAEMZUx8sH8RZRRqZpSCj3lrx9cp4o1H-8t7qZFZBxvx8uu0sofshqvxxjyTdFosAYJICTebddqdW7aPXRt4KuNoNbS_2aYWEAhW9Cx5nlX0DZV-Q8A_T98IdNn7Ul2YM2rBIEUNKrViRekt-W43521qnK6HvIECEbejiarEewZ/s2048/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQvfVWbz4XFPKlznb7dAEMZUx8sH8RZRRqZpSCj3lrx9cp4o1H-8t7qZFZBxvx8uu0sofshqvxxjyTdFosAYJICTebddqdW7aPXRt4KuNoNbS_2aYWEAhW9Cx5nlX0DZV-Q8A_T98IdNn7Ul2YM2rBIEUNKrViRekt-W43521qnK6HvIECEbejiarEewZ/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZclgjqt33Uej-Of-WgDa4lW6QraprRgtLCt4ceT3ajEcN3wDYW8WLc81siHwnjyUlPJ_QpLrxwxiHl83h__Ig9v-l1OZQMUzZeKi__h7yDubiXhdNVWzforbEMcrmyS3-6w5r_ehWJzEX567T8f6YgH0zxe9d-_CiGzIZ4Ar948ffuI5-ZVnnOQeewQ1/s2048/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZclgjqt33Uej-Of-WgDa4lW6QraprRgtLCt4ceT3ajEcN3wDYW8WLc81siHwnjyUlPJ_QpLrxwxiHl83h__Ig9v-l1OZQMUzZeKi__h7yDubiXhdNVWzforbEMcrmyS3-6w5r_ehWJzEX567T8f6YgH0zxe9d-_CiGzIZ4Ar948ffuI5-ZVnnOQeewQ1/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">female blackbird also at the tunnel on nearly every occasion</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw1ruxAvFxiklIhC37tXqCorctfWF93J1jjTEERFRiklGCXrcrIO89AANr4yMe3Y6Q9jhKqsJ7Z5LGXMJWC3g96T1zfqdXf4uvOGf2jX3otrhU-G9j8RIJJi3WpBVt0w-TA6jr50jTLtC3YHBhAz_heCmXDoUG5EhBND2b5x5-J_XJ_1Vqu7zJv4fYLxu/s2048/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw1ruxAvFxiklIhC37tXqCorctfWF93J1jjTEERFRiklGCXrcrIO89AANr4yMe3Y6Q9jhKqsJ7Z5LGXMJWC3g96T1zfqdXf4uvOGf2jX3otrhU-G9j8RIJJi3WpBVt0w-TA6jr50jTLtC3YHBhAz_heCmXDoUG5EhBND2b5x5-J_XJ_1Vqu7zJv4fYLxu/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLxbWn9cDsNEPir8HUOx22LENq49-8ij_3gYyvDq68088OKE8GXaRs3QdW3yabfzDaiJZoaSPuo6D6FtClz-LxXf795rWx7xZmiM72I0HpoaPxik19egJDuRt_WKwi_Fdg2QGes3oTaU-ic4d2j-3IuRDDvM8U2WKGYeCMSlmtPvq9MWV1S7f2aFm0wXJ/s2048/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLxbWn9cDsNEPir8HUOx22LENq49-8ij_3gYyvDq68088OKE8GXaRs3QdW3yabfzDaiJZoaSPuo6D6FtClz-LxXf795rWx7xZmiM72I0HpoaPxik19egJDuRt_WKwi_Fdg2QGes3oTaU-ic4d2j-3IuRDDvM8U2WKGYeCMSlmtPvq9MWV1S7f2aFm0wXJ/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8axycnDNmuwDOoHo9bu3nGuDjw6dfcYsyD8kxHK1-h2rMgKShu9ILNVxmLIYgnK9PLrMKuJO64llpHTswVyCfwDcHhtlG0wdeNEAvR42p2eeryls6UTQ_xcrdpOBiLC344U_EQoL75gkkxbXZfb6XdaD_MLBGbtWfnqqJKLuuNUfrY159WExLbqcD381F/s2048/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8axycnDNmuwDOoHo9bu3nGuDjw6dfcYsyD8kxHK1-h2rMgKShu9ILNVxmLIYgnK9PLrMKuJO64llpHTswVyCfwDcHhtlG0wdeNEAvR42p2eeryls6UTQ_xcrdpOBiLC344U_EQoL75gkkxbXZfb6XdaD_MLBGbtWfnqqJKLuuNUfrY159WExLbqcD381F/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />A good day out with lots of birds about. More later.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwdG-l-a-7yA15nUbYLcVvFCfRMRi02zH9jXp-2vebk7v0Ma2lH7TsT3W-X1wDuJZ93ydb7gGc3OqaKukU2lSpdhDmxecxbe8-rTyJeSFGFygzicaQun7OUqN8D5J9N_qY-XvIhFUS2j_yrPWVexTAwScZXAeLeZfhxqJKWIecj4m0_jonpJ5oLF1W_oY/s2048/049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwdG-l-a-7yA15nUbYLcVvFCfRMRi02zH9jXp-2vebk7v0Ma2lH7TsT3W-X1wDuJZ93ydb7gGc3OqaKukU2lSpdhDmxecxbe8-rTyJeSFGFygzicaQun7OUqN8D5J9N_qY-XvIhFUS2j_yrPWVexTAwScZXAeLeZfhxqJKWIecj4m0_jonpJ5oLF1W_oY/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-4716638080271562152024-02-28T07:17:00.000-08:002024-02-28T07:19:24.806-08:00"new congregations" run<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNKcNgEXUAXKssTmjt-GS2akPKRz5dHwLFtfmcpgin1JDneIRoxf22x2lwj7hpZ-6QNYEPKXYl9coF-xSqgnAc6Zlx439bqOHS6V3M5yh1eIrh2_V25ApwbNAvU-7nfVa6swsnWU951qdR6HuFaCOI3e2v5xGTsC8clad_425ekd6RKTV73bZp8c1zp7Y/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNKcNgEXUAXKssTmjt-GS2akPKRz5dHwLFtfmcpgin1JDneIRoxf22x2lwj7hpZ-6QNYEPKXYl9coF-xSqgnAc6Zlx439bqOHS6V3M5yh1eIrh2_V25ApwbNAvU-7nfVa6swsnWU951qdR6HuFaCOI3e2v5xGTsC8clad_425ekd6RKTV73bZp8c1zp7Y/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">21st Feb 18.30~20.30</div><div style="text-align: left;">Another (the fifth?) of Mike's Themed Urban Social Runs for Carnethy. I was asked if I could turn up with my camera and record the night run around town visiting places that were originally church buildings that have been sold off and are now used for other activities. Purchased churches repurposed. A good crowd of 30+ runners turned up. The conditions were perfect - no rain, and mild enough to stop at each of the 20 venues for a 2 minute description and background, before heading onto the next no-longer-church.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj50bQ1BouBGxLuylbXonOepfO5S0B7PSntTK3p6ExVAoWbOJfHeW_H17WdEIPcPkwX44NzVVJdxE9x7xI7GN0Sp2If20xkijP7MGP0DOaxZmbBciCCrWDAB8-OQuLMvxxLkA8klzhsJdE6qIdXDiRBXwqnkZbQN01lpqHrTzVViQ2FvJdDJzdfBRaSeX/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj50bQ1BouBGxLuylbXonOepfO5S0B7PSntTK3p6ExVAoWbOJfHeW_H17WdEIPcPkwX44NzVVJdxE9x7xI7GN0Sp2If20xkijP7MGP0DOaxZmbBciCCrWDAB8-OQuLMvxxLkA8klzhsJdE6qIdXDiRBXwqnkZbQN01lpqHrTzVViQ2FvJdDJzdfBRaSeX/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The social aspect of tonight's run was for me as compelling as the church theme. It was great to catch up with lots of faces I haven't seen for a while (being less event-based these days.) Louise (above) has been commuting from Fife to East Lothian and so was able to take in the run before driving back to Fife. Nice to catch up with Gregor, Olly and Mike (first photo) and everyone else. We met at the Morningside Clock and ran the short distance to Pizza Express.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBO0CArY5QoQY2w69Ufec-j8FotrmPpH6DATueDI9Le5wVrxLLJUF15VxqQ2vy9dZYVrk3nMFc84RGyfxNzAmE7-RYUr9riWtZZNThEp_URmWSmwo7QmBBQzUJNqFyP3665wnpSBicPvejca_u1P8CNITTAhP8phT5-0OgaAuSWB8f4MrLM3jI9m78rM5Y/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBO0CArY5QoQY2w69Ufec-j8FotrmPpH6DATueDI9Le5wVrxLLJUF15VxqQ2vy9dZYVrk3nMFc84RGyfxNzAmE7-RYUr9riWtZZNThEp_URmWSmwo7QmBBQzUJNqFyP3665wnpSBicPvejca_u1P8CNITTAhP8phT5-0OgaAuSWB8f4MrLM3jI9m78rM5Y/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pizza Express, Nile Grove,<br />Formerly Braid Church</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLUYP7wR4LlqwVUdXKR0FJCnbD_kG_8sQjiFL-9xBRk0SBR2A1jswgNuUP5qLO11D6osvwQo3jlELlTOb5UNN0_pHdDC-paMOSrNDZltXnCgrhEyeDjMAaQMjzW3TapLBGt7U2Ll2TPpD_GIROqIUfrFOqCxiOyVrb38t6JUNX0kFsz64K0tnXNWGrM3B/s1024/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1024" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLUYP7wR4LlqwVUdXKR0FJCnbD_kG_8sQjiFL-9xBRk0SBR2A1jswgNuUP5qLO11D6osvwQo3jlELlTOb5UNN0_pHdDC-paMOSrNDZltXnCgrhEyeDjMAaQMjzW3TapLBGt7U2Ll2TPpD_GIROqIUfrFOqCxiOyVrb38t6JUNX0kFsz64K0tnXNWGrM3B/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />This bench outside Newington Library commemorates Fountainhall Road Church. <br />The library stands on the site of the church, now demolished.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx_je9DhzZE5FMEvr9ufooADnm5PIEdAHmrCBMECDTcGRCiLlxtcplw1kDdUX2EP94l58qhRtHAyCR8U475IwiifOww1sXFwUFcjHQlEwPx5oA5ch5Tl2jLaxdtcuL6UN5PNJrj4069WaTcPnVUbnFfugHSQsigJ5UR33N5EGK4B6rTUUJ6Kw4u0CiKtl/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx_je9DhzZE5FMEvr9ufooADnm5PIEdAHmrCBMECDTcGRCiLlxtcplw1kDdUX2EP94l58qhRtHAyCR8U475IwiifOww1sXFwUFcjHQlEwPx5oA5ch5Tl2jLaxdtcuL6UN5PNJrj4069WaTcPnVUbnFfugHSQsigJ5UR33N5EGK4B6rTUUJ6Kw4u0CiKtl/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEvxkjQYwrsfocXAJ5ncjvCi5upZ-t5GpVBT9jqjcpyTQwkWsSw2eBpfrfrGCCSEmUZO14Qaobcyo3wWzU71jbfV07zNHhJawxG6hyphenhyphenUop8cfMaPOal-VfB3W0CYtZ-fPNNjeoEu75K1FxffSMLsL19XpSgT74dxWxqZlSiQB7yPXV9CJG_7rkAm6FqxXV/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEvxkjQYwrsfocXAJ5ncjvCi5upZ-t5GpVBT9jqjcpyTQwkWsSw2eBpfrfrGCCSEmUZO14Qaobcyo3wWzU71jbfV07zNHhJawxG6hyphenhyphenUop8cfMaPOal-VfB3W0CYtZ-fPNNjeoEu75K1FxffSMLsL19XpSgT74dxWxqZlSiQB7yPXV9CJG_7rkAm6FqxXV/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8a8USFKUZ2L5W3JEQDPDingmb6LqNX40IxXsD-uemCuDLNdXGTyexficCWPbnonMGPRFHQEeNuP66I_T3kYxFbewsuEvhSXa9lDF07D3dbpdVS9yBofrWpewNUeH8JKrSdlp2sKXigqv_HGPc0va6ty_pGQjWQ4uuhnU2wprnpcYIJleYjTniEPRuVLI/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8a8USFKUZ2L5W3JEQDPDingmb6LqNX40IxXsD-uemCuDLNdXGTyexficCWPbnonMGPRFHQEeNuP66I_T3kYxFbewsuEvhSXa9lDF07D3dbpdVS9yBofrWpewNUeH8JKrSdlp2sKXigqv_HGPc0va6ty_pGQjWQ4uuhnU2wprnpcYIJleYjTniEPRuVLI/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">At Findhorn Place we stop<span style="font-family: inherit;">ped by this plaque in the road to commemorate Alan Ker. <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">He was 35 years old, and a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, when he won the VC for holding off 500 enemy for 3 hours, with a single Vickers gun, some men and a few revolvers.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;"> <br /><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">The perceptive among you will notice this isn't a repurposed church but more in line with Mike's previous run Plaque Attack.</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9B9dv8JPXUK0iR1t-3iufEwOa3o2_mmX9CMwF4i0qGP4MBx-PaamaX-ZTrU1vVrI-O7nmABEoL32BsulQw9tM8yGhhHxiNYEsiaSvoMcqBUbJNfBpYfKK-9_MyXRg3kDzbi3sYylHY3o43C39xwbrrNrU5b_MYIB7139PUnjI9EdbVSAfM2Yw3xC3yLD/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9B9dv8JPXUK0iR1t-3iufEwOa3o2_mmX9CMwF4i0qGP4MBx-PaamaX-ZTrU1vVrI-O7nmABEoL32BsulQw9tM8yGhhHxiNYEsiaSvoMcqBUbJNfBpYfKK-9_MyXRg3kDzbi3sYylHY3o43C39xwbrrNrU5b_MYIB7139PUnjI9EdbVSAfM2Yw3xC3yLD/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the corner of Grange Road and Causewayside is Cotterell and Co lighting, formerly the United Presbyterian Church with seats for a thousand. Ironically it was in such darkness that no suitable photo was taken on the night worth posting here. Next up the Queen's Hall. Again not the best photo. Oops, sack the photographer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0luWCSvF5vA9iDvZez8mkmQvJmM07mFV0dwxQggJzLD5QgDR9hdC7U1GNw6tOperFfsWQQgqLuOprNU8rj8wYR9el0EwwllnP4BYRmkLgocIDZp2skOLIFt6WxFEhVWgjUIDdwUq329IjSTozQm4972gymBqaf7ldp6FbtUT4le_SxhHoxGIt0ohokFh/s2048/008a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0luWCSvF5vA9iDvZez8mkmQvJmM07mFV0dwxQggJzLD5QgDR9hdC7U1GNw6tOperFfsWQQgqLuOprNU8rj8wYR9el0EwwllnP4BYRmkLgocIDZp2skOLIFt6WxFEhVWgjUIDdwUq329IjSTozQm4972gymBqaf7ldp6FbtUT4le_SxhHoxGIt0ohokFh/s320/008a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Queen's Hall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This started life as Hope Park Chapel. After various changes t<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">he building was bought by the Scottish Philharmonic Society and converted to a performance venue. It was officially opened in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II, after whom it is named..</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TU_VVHSjzmenIdQGUL4Z_PZcSPmOzvNXVoQMuem5ATZuySIP8gIUREVtbIKSQs4EyYkMyZunaP5BxwY-iTmd3QR_CLkunzbucd4aCJaD8yrJGgVVAdY8qs7uuGSJvk6r5shcvnTXScHgrMgjyEk2gF90XbPYaginuoYTvRzMM00oWkQXWoJ24XMSnrCL/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TU_VVHSjzmenIdQGUL4Z_PZcSPmOzvNXVoQMuem5ATZuySIP8gIUREVtbIKSQs4EyYkMyZunaP5BxwY-iTmd3QR_CLkunzbucd4aCJaD8yrJGgVVAdY8qs7uuGSJvk6r5shcvnTXScHgrMgjyEk2gF90XbPYaginuoYTvRzMM00oWkQXWoJ24XMSnrCL/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The former South College Street United Presbyterian Church was built in 1856. It is now the</span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.32px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">National e-Science Centre and e-Science Institute, University of Edinburgh, South College Street</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvz6c8YcTV_a6wo_OkvpMzjl4uy7Dg4iWZgXbR91n0id4ZEjhTCj1B_G6aFjzgnSiWDeF9JoN7uS5sB044uDGJx1IXjKoi_mfxUcj-Jhl69QWuwI7C_hqcMr1r2Ddp581vTTBeZaXdugrvu-hT9a7v5BTLDATdvR_KpXJzEC8lSC8wrLfo73X6v1gNBWd/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvz6c8YcTV_a6wo_OkvpMzjl4uy7Dg4iWZgXbR91n0id4ZEjhTCj1B_G6aFjzgnSiWDeF9JoN7uS5sB044uDGJx1IXjKoi_mfxUcj-Jhl69QWuwI7C_hqcMr1r2Ddp581vTTBeZaXdugrvu-hT9a7v5BTLDATdvR_KpXJzEC8lSC8wrLfo73X6v1gNBWd/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEq1BuJChDHhyphenhyphenEG4yHHzfiK0WLnv0whp63mE3ZyKVYCJf5-mzBroiGE7gyGXmfPYpBGVbcv1dG-wUtHRcfh-5K-rtaQyfpX3Iecezfy3staKoc0r_cnVVvefxXG0o4w35ZDGEbmPUGKKzGLLnO9zkxjTaE-zAG3G5WBWR9sbzof2APQxhA9H89FTAD8NG/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEq1BuJChDHhyphenhyphenEG4yHHzfiK0WLnv0whp63mE3ZyKVYCJf5-mzBroiGE7gyGXmfPYpBGVbcv1dG-wUtHRcfh-5K-rtaQyfpX3Iecezfy3staKoc0r_cnVVvefxXG0o4w35ZDGEbmPUGKKzGLLnO9zkxjTaE-zAG3G5WBWR9sbzof2APQxhA9H89FTAD8NG/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: start;">The Bedlam Theatre takes its name from the former asylum and poorhouse which used </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: start;">to stand on this site. Its </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">building in Bristo Place started life as the New North Free Church in 1848</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVBRwLp7ToNHlhghPE-awlI4C0TPmrJESybnylh7ZWQtge6XfQjx-vuKiB4rPeTFeLRx-1WCRzRwFtM-cIJ1PcDRRFtoK69sgCS__xPOBIBUaANBQ3Pe-5n-LO-F7o4Qt3Lvv0z9STir_Fzq9pVFmRb5xudz5bAw192G5jo8VbQcOMDjC2aD78mEfKb71/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="2048" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVBRwLp7ToNHlhghPE-awlI4C0TPmrJESybnylh7ZWQtge6XfQjx-vuKiB4rPeTFeLRx-1WCRzRwFtM-cIJ1PcDRRFtoK69sgCS__xPOBIBUaANBQ3Pe-5n-LO-F7o4Qt3Lvv0z9STir_Fzq9pVFmRb5xudz5bAw192G5jo8VbQcOMDjC2aD78mEfKb71/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Frankenstein Pub, George IV Bridge<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">was originally built in 1859 as Martyr’s Free Church for the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1GXvrpHcUyQgTbq94ry2-dk6prexdcjENVUdFV3eOz0kxi-aBxiBKdWcBABY-3vM5S3ssXtmb2LUrgkZWWnJ4Y9H1Rzh0cSlZq5z9ANyaJvimrODw1BciflEZAS4wwikkIzcvT-2lNOHDUaLm8cP9MvQG60XTdJ3ODuixBw4hK-9UW8f0jh2KV6orOGi/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1GXvrpHcUyQgTbq94ry2-dk6prexdcjENVUdFV3eOz0kxi-aBxiBKdWcBABY-3vM5S3ssXtmb2LUrgkZWWnJ4Y9H1Rzh0cSlZq5z9ANyaJvimrODw1BciflEZAS4wwikkIzcvT-2lNOHDUaLm8cP9MvQG60XTdJ3ODuixBw4hK-9UW8f0jh2KV6orOGi/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Hub, Royal Mile<br />Previously the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpSor4YWinnSUbLzp91d9g0tdz3JkZiokTpSQyev3WY-BIbJQGzmvXxycU40R-B-23fEPrZyF0wN9nrFjNyTHUSQuLbP5-Klh23IAaUlaiUVLfCJNGCUh3cu7cRCk-8vmunvkHjLco1dJVxWgvfn37GlWm2gLgCw_ss7S_zGHFMQo51L3EttQ42jhZpMz/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpSor4YWinnSUbLzp91d9g0tdz3JkZiokTpSQyev3WY-BIbJQGzmvXxycU40R-B-23fEPrZyF0wN9nrFjNyTHUSQuLbP5-Klh23IAaUlaiUVLfCJNGCUh3cu7cRCk-8vmunvkHjLco1dJVxWgvfn37GlWm2gLgCw_ss7S_zGHFMQo51L3EttQ42jhZpMz/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">down the High Street</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4uEDRo5g8_mu40fDP7hI5aggPKmiqzBi7EzmlINIm-eGFaxG7OBqdOhUPRbvwvnMZSYbxGOpAeWxDne0rn1vzR26GQEc8lyB2yAjz9MkfXeiuiQBppf6zx2p58T7qMsKhQz9L8E9dt5vl_zSS_RO-4mtfG4dSZJ1aH3iHWR3LzoCKazyCOI1KcmBXjTQ/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4uEDRo5g8_mu40fDP7hI5aggPKmiqzBi7EzmlINIm-eGFaxG7OBqdOhUPRbvwvnMZSYbxGOpAeWxDne0rn1vzR26GQEc8lyB2yAjz9MkfXeiuiQBppf6zx2p58T7qMsKhQz9L8E9dt5vl_zSS_RO-4mtfG4dSZJ1aH3iHWR3LzoCKazyCOI1KcmBXjTQ/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Homeless charity Crisis Scotland, Canongate<br />Formerly a Christian Mission</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC-KrhaztKBKMEGzTFtHPqJutmXw-iQnhTohJwNuaS10faX0CxH9kbyl3f9NdUCZfPYBXg73ZandFKrTC08zrdxtObDDYB0w74whHNKA6p9pT2u8UPRWEgxg9REqDvBqQ5t1yNVk_NHo79bKapGKRY-IWDtj-z7g9qtuAJcvuYlnd10K-j4zpvD9HKIL1/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC-KrhaztKBKMEGzTFtHPqJutmXw-iQnhTohJwNuaS10faX0CxH9kbyl3f9NdUCZfPYBXg73ZandFKrTC08zrdxtObDDYB0w74whHNKA6p9pT2u8UPRWEgxg9REqDvBqQ5t1yNVk_NHo79bKapGKRY-IWDtj-z7g9qtuAJcvuYlnd10K-j4zpvD9HKIL1/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Glasshouse Hotel, Greenside Place<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Formerly Lady Glenorchy’s Low Calton Church dating from the 1840s, <br />this former church is adjacent to the Playhouse theatre</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwByNjyqtxVY983zEPeUK9PQEwQ6j0u-rQjhAW4V7UKzHmi_Ybb1VCWS7h_LKAkNjWMx8hqF4S_Yo71wSkMZLffBDgY-5mIQHT6GvrdXShi-Rz9UdM5HVmBfpppRVwLEWZ9hfkhjj8589c_0hy2LmQJznsa6QP_XTp2JwZHR9RuUgG6pUkunsYeKUsi5xR/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwByNjyqtxVY983zEPeUK9PQEwQ6j0u-rQjhAW4V7UKzHmi_Ybb1VCWS7h_LKAkNjWMx8hqF4S_Yo71wSkMZLffBDgY-5mIQHT6GvrdXShi-Rz9UdM5HVmBfpppRVwLEWZ9hfkhjj8589c_0hy2LmQJznsa6QP_XTp2JwZHR9RuUgG6pUkunsYeKUsi5xR/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Lyon and Turnbull Ltd, Broughton Place<br />Once was Broughton Place Church</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6QqZFqErrOb5KuVvB7EJvYk0RA5EXpC3MYskzyGDg646iva_Zo-ThQ3aYQom3eRaCiSWjTXCHLtAnz6Gh83PyHsT18AuRTLVYb4ObZ4yNlWqnutWr4LSVfH0CPle679klyRjr88G8HgIaAkvVXjd8VsCHkQBvsXxlKC5XjMO9aAoLl1is3grv6T9AzF-/s2048/017a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6QqZFqErrOb5KuVvB7EJvYk0RA5EXpC3MYskzyGDg646iva_Zo-ThQ3aYQom3eRaCiSWjTXCHLtAnz6Gh83PyHsT18AuRTLVYb4ObZ4yNlWqnutWr4LSVfH0CPle679klyRjr88G8HgIaAkvVXjd8VsCHkQBvsXxlKC5XjMO9aAoLl1is3grv6T9AzF-/s320/017a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ingleby Gallery, Barony Street<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Previously </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">Glasite Meeting House, t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">he Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) took on the building in 1989 after the six remaining members of the congregation decided they could not carry on.</span></span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WuG89E-DmEfpnW5PctPcjIqJ9fIzueGK5mUzVL5AeCUFNYh6ZWx9jdM9OCzJY2kJ_hRk_YqDzNsMbbXdHnH3-44wqUro4YczMhPybVIyB3Dpt7J2NWIn62PMHbgWXK5Re6Acdez_KwTPX4D8RChL5D1JhV-UKj5UQzhPEAL8ERtaGiVHOWG7Gj4QLlT7/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WuG89E-DmEfpnW5PctPcjIqJ9fIzueGK5mUzVL5AeCUFNYh6ZWx9jdM9OCzJY2kJ_hRk_YqDzNsMbbXdHnH3-44wqUro4YczMhPybVIyB3Dpt7J2NWIn62PMHbgWXK5Re6Acdez_KwTPX4D8RChL5D1JhV-UKj5UQzhPEAL8ERtaGiVHOWG7Gj4QLlT7/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Assay Office, Albany Street<br />Used to be Albany Street Chapel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6BH3YbH_cHGHm_GwtK8QlusacD0HSJzxoOz7RRCISLT_fs8SG26pghdfjcQL_g1q3VKIdJtZOTt08Lbsuk89x_PHknXJj4MtXFgjrixbV3hg1MNIcmAVGIbGc5A7VM8Zp5IhgfEPV82PUw5Sm3BChaioAu00-D6hyGj7JvV-xBkPEPamL9TMyqJ0mxzu/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6BH3YbH_cHGHm_GwtK8QlusacD0HSJzxoOz7RRCISLT_fs8SG26pghdfjcQL_g1q3VKIdJtZOTt08Lbsuk89x_PHknXJj4MtXFgjrixbV3hg1MNIcmAVGIbGc5A7VM8Zp5IhgfEPV82PUw5Sm3BChaioAu00-D6hyGj7JvV-xBkPEPamL9TMyqJ0mxzu/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Genting Casino York Place<br />Previously St George's Episcopal Chapel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVKOIge_OF5n6_NojvGba5EvpXJDw5QfAvM7P0-Shp8Et5Wb-tXXWO2CjNJN-6hb6PS5mc4ezmiA5kX9n10844oxiIa6rFZljF_ol8ES6ng-ud8w2nW5LMpnmVuKdGICeQanOe8MNQuxCbuHqZFnLTQnq7EbsEwZYU8NGtULaeSAAjlnyYm1uSPghR_Uq/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVKOIge_OF5n6_NojvGba5EvpXJDw5QfAvM7P0-Shp8Et5Wb-tXXWO2CjNJN-6hb6PS5mc4ezmiA5kX9n10844oxiIa6rFZljF_ol8ES6ng-ud8w2nW5LMpnmVuKdGICeQanOe8MNQuxCbuHqZFnLTQnq7EbsEwZYU8NGtULaeSAAjlnyYm1uSPghR_Uq/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Bannatyne's Gym, Queen Street.<br />Was St Luke's Free Church</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sS2Oo4oUb_ter6A5_owzoiS_Z9mdA4r7g3LKytJO3siQlWBtMz1h0i1s7giptPIXDg3AWS-6T3twboYOVP7sbAN7-UXyK8DYXjGFDhqwSfL8D0OvkwI3FEBmBFw2CzutOdTZwaMRgorZCrbQVbrTr8elJQA_v6yPy_L0sB7ps3s1IhizgPd-9QcV-83v/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sS2Oo4oUb_ter6A5_owzoiS_Z9mdA4r7g3LKytJO3siQlWBtMz1h0i1s7giptPIXDg3AWS-6T3twboYOVP7sbAN7-UXyK8DYXjGFDhqwSfL8D0OvkwI3FEBmBFw2CzutOdTZwaMRgorZCrbQVbrTr8elJQA_v6yPy_L0sB7ps3s1IhizgPd-9QcV-83v/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />West Register House, Charlotte Sq.<br />Formerly St George's.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovRgXzHhswaNRzCckctIp6GOGn2AxF1vHuT5AVRC2a0K2eZVXvgkd-zdZGXD5cdEXOZQ0XlQGzDX2ZuzzgZFbRwdyYK-FK3N8a6bYoLqBGpeGndXwDmIzu9_nB5bxiIyr4i7pXRtyU55UHkVccBn3dX3nb5xY5Ps6V_OFc8NZIvOfdPTVaGx2O_bCGT2u/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovRgXzHhswaNRzCckctIp6GOGn2AxF1vHuT5AVRC2a0K2eZVXvgkd-zdZGXD5cdEXOZQ0XlQGzDX2ZuzzgZFbRwdyYK-FK3N8a6bYoLqBGpeGndXwDmIzu9_nB5bxiIyr4i7pXRtyU55UHkVccBn3dX3nb5xY5Ps6V_OFc8NZIvOfdPTVaGx2O_bCGT2u/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbGK2tkfq_zICq9cqkfsd5FnMWxQG_ZH6PVxXc4lKSH0wx3FD4FH_khUsqt7dbD_j4vypXKBqif8g-6fDQqTGx9c8FfS7t45l_EnMr_T_-PGrArVu7An6yu5X8ljFEYX84IBMxawhRH9WWPwoiPjbGHjSGWLvrFcpYhWJ0LSuqs-SQp7Gu694ScdA2fe9/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbGK2tkfq_zICq9cqkfsd5FnMWxQG_ZH6PVxXc4lKSH0wx3FD4FH_khUsqt7dbD_j4vypXKBqif8g-6fDQqTGx9c8FfS7t45l_EnMr_T_-PGrArVu7An6yu5X8ljFEYX84IBMxawhRH9WWPwoiPjbGHjSGWLvrFcpYhWJ0LSuqs-SQp7Gu694ScdA2fe9/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LJAcM4bZrFufznM6SDdOggO3u4Ri3Ni9Fowte7CBeVfOSG7b4zqQvfP0eYrGCQ2PqZTjP1HQxAuaCUaIEIPTc6bLR2drhKFVL3QSF940qCBhNxIuEQ__KTkQB3ach6XWDP19dw5PvKNk4v58Lh09bpHEbVmyqehL60MJH-a9i2poKELJ7z4fycNfPWJM/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LJAcM4bZrFufznM6SDdOggO3u4Ri3Ni9Fowte7CBeVfOSG7b4zqQvfP0eYrGCQ2PqZTjP1HQxAuaCUaIEIPTc6bLR2drhKFVL3QSF940qCBhNxIuEQ__KTkQB3ach6XWDP19dw5PvKNk4v58Lh09bpHEbVmyqehL60MJH-a9i2poKELJ7z4fycNfPWJM/s320/024.jpg" width="207" /></a><br />The Ghillie Dhu, Rutland Place<br />Built as St Thomas' Church in 1843</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wORxm43B399bNLC4hGbOrSG6MImqrF274bV9QbqixbLC2Vz78EAM8JjulG06ryxXr9FilPyLlF7C5yMyD8frRU8M0VARKkBfLtumQKtFmDWocWrOiTW7_1VhjyntzLYp3TtqPsOgTPPRuIYxwuuNisWghz-1C9fl_vbJocVPYnIZ67Z2h1EEt9UW1Ecf/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wORxm43B399bNLC4hGbOrSG6MImqrF274bV9QbqixbLC2Vz78EAM8JjulG06ryxXr9FilPyLlF7C5yMyD8frRU8M0VARKkBfLtumQKtFmDWocWrOiTW7_1VhjyntzLYp3TtqPsOgTPPRuIYxwuuNisWghz-1C9fl_vbJocVPYnIZ67Z2h1EEt9UW1Ecf/s320/025.jpg" width="207" /></a><br />Edinburgh Filmhouse, Lothian Rd.<br />Was the United Presbyterian Church</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGWebg3rWPgjs9jQ7vKQICA2TJC29VTqjMX071exa1XE5EpD-zNwKx6Ll2tMQtcCg72D5w8jUQV1B2jHMILaSlRzatGmmdjPH3JiBLJEnqToGtSnCcV3uaaTnMffVWewEe0jvAC3OqfYoW023XTyYSfm3DmbH7ktSpuJD7ciypiNHExEV7XnJRVnsqVWK/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGWebg3rWPgjs9jQ7vKQICA2TJC29VTqjMX071exa1XE5EpD-zNwKx6Ll2tMQtcCg72D5w8jUQV1B2jHMILaSlRzatGmmdjPH3JiBLJEnqToGtSnCcV3uaaTnMffVWewEe0jvAC3OqfYoW023XTyYSfm3DmbH7ktSpuJD7ciypiNHExEV7XnJRVnsqVWK/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">acrss the Meadows</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWP-2d7y2Ega-oMMDnkMEK27M1g1F2gJ8kuq0RUSzGLrAI1U2Gb0BxxPJlWMpzfxkbtlmpmj2kFaHtbkN3dA5XRlvw0mQ5yjbuqmbl5WG6zrSZN3xtMn0hVZZyjjpha6VwE68yz9H490EkAZ9W_wL1L_XBDEhvlx_sIyfsIVji7HS9Xt2Frhcxq9upr1X/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWP-2d7y2Ega-oMMDnkMEK27M1g1F2gJ8kuq0RUSzGLrAI1U2Gb0BxxPJlWMpzfxkbtlmpmj2kFaHtbkN3dA5XRlvw0mQ5yjbuqmbl5WG6zrSZN3xtMn0hVZZyjjpha6VwE68yz9H490EkAZ9W_wL1L_XBDEhvlx_sIyfsIVji7HS9Xt2Frhcxq9upr1X/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Church Hill Theatre, Morningside Rd.<br />Was once Morningside High Church designed by Hippolyte Blanc<br />(who is buried in Warriston Cemetery)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf7noT1J_1vIXgtBefXXBVKe8q1UQXEzO35uqkf9SmO08uUajmAj9bAV7hz1GxcbQYE7Y0aZxkfBMr1rktcgub_ci1lYwbVG_JWZEvyUERFIf6VX_wcXoKyPhvDRQTi_XNZ2bXGEdDNy66ziskJE4t02tCAHuT6qICc_Z8pvE5xspgAIJ70Hq1zzgCH2g/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf7noT1J_1vIXgtBefXXBVKe8q1UQXEzO35uqkf9SmO08uUajmAj9bAV7hz1GxcbQYE7Y0aZxkfBMr1rktcgub_ci1lYwbVG_JWZEvyUERFIf6VX_wcXoKyPhvDRQTi_XNZ2bXGEdDNy66ziskJE4t02tCAHuT6qICc_Z8pvE5xspgAIJ70Hq1zzgCH2g/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwOkgQtq-StZNUz7IN2XsV9DXGHJQqQ1jGBRMd9Jz0-n9moQKpQz35insUZSc8xJyCvsPql35T8PXl2KRzY3Cy5VHZLNb_fXm0yfUxTZUiVlOxKH2iz7X3nfO_Wny80dXk3MSROl7ti2JfCv-tG05O1dh9ZNcV8vyTb9TtqXyvGfP63B7A_ufIlSbNIL_/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwOkgQtq-StZNUz7IN2XsV9DXGHJQqQ1jGBRMd9Jz0-n9moQKpQz35insUZSc8xJyCvsPql35T8PXl2KRzY3Cy5VHZLNb_fXm0yfUxTZUiVlOxKH2iz7X3nfO_Wny80dXk3MSROl7ti2JfCv-tG05O1dh9ZNcV8vyTb9TtqXyvGfP63B7A_ufIlSbNIL_/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And we returned to the Morningside Clock to finish the run. It was a fine evening out although I enjoyed the chat and company more than the historical facts which were interesting but not a subject I am very moved by. As always these trips show that the gaps in my knowledge are much larger than the spaces in between. So a big thanks to Mike for trying to educate me, although I suspect it might be something of a lost cause. For much more detailed information about the buildings and their transformations follow this <a href="http://carnethy.com/2024/02/new-congregations-a-night-run-around-repurposed-churches/" target="_blank">LINK</a> to the Carnethy page where Mike has written up the tour more comprehensively.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3f19fzsDYIlt9gk862p3Ygrg5tWmf00ZFzrYQyPBrD6PrDfLd2asM-lCC6ybK9l-SJtpQVIgt0cCseqIFPt9Z-neaAV8cR941r4_U9BSaqqgj4PS1gs_PlZ9TzFRDm2_zfwrOeU_crQAXoiYEARgq_EY43qgaOWOMiPRAC6uUdENuoXLK9eBOAu0GAlAr/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3f19fzsDYIlt9gk862p3Ygrg5tWmf00ZFzrYQyPBrD6PrDfLd2asM-lCC6ybK9l-SJtpQVIgt0cCseqIFPt9Z-neaAV8cR941r4_U9BSaqqgj4PS1gs_PlZ9TzFRDm2_zfwrOeU_crQAXoiYEARgq_EY43qgaOWOMiPRAC6uUdENuoXLK9eBOAu0GAlAr/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a lovely night for it!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nMbXBSZ09e3QRlGLI6I6SEsOEoLRzZD9qC3cgKYd8MtVRnkRmoAn6wAGsqHIQ0op_nLbbu-4Mhd7xu89OiBLnjPsn45u6whBsx9LCQU9VydVWhPZEST117PzcBRjTysWADhb1TY5_AdGyC6y5tC1P7Q5x3hdoau__bbrDjfYMp0rKPYST8hvnRPTIeRU/s1377/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1377" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nMbXBSZ09e3QRlGLI6I6SEsOEoLRzZD9qC3cgKYd8MtVRnkRmoAn6wAGsqHIQ0op_nLbbu-4Mhd7xu89OiBLnjPsn45u6whBsx9LCQU9VydVWhPZEST117PzcBRjTysWADhb1TY5_AdGyC6y5tC1P7Q5x3hdoau__bbrDjfYMp0rKPYST8hvnRPTIeRU/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9miles in 2hrs</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-68304086823288559222024-02-25T10:34:00.000-08:002024-02-25T10:34:34.415-08:00lucky, dip<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPsRokZzBaXUFEPWOg6jL4A1yGZBR_lvxhFdQW9vJv6k_k-WS7SU0T3QuJCZ7-DNeqvL6M6J9lXi35MMNaWmmRd9TOPBnVcZyiRQ5jfQfO_yMMQgumTMsJp4Ivj-8VWURZ0e61qakTrPzcUG56r-2VaeekP44p3Mx7BeclkV9XewUy4U6VMZT0iIb0Xkz/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPsRokZzBaXUFEPWOg6jL4A1yGZBR_lvxhFdQW9vJv6k_k-WS7SU0T3QuJCZ7-DNeqvL6M6J9lXi35MMNaWmmRd9TOPBnVcZyiRQ5jfQfO_yMMQgumTMsJp4Ivj-8VWURZ0e61qakTrPzcUG56r-2VaeekP44p3Mx7BeclkV9XewUy4U6VMZT0iIb0Xkz/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Monday 19th Feb</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am a fairly pragmatic person and try to put to one side the temptation to think I can sway fate with hocus pocus or mumbo jumbo. Same goes for flim flam, argie bargie, tittle tattle, bric-a-brac or spick and span. It just won't wash. It's a one way road to hopping in circles while chanting and throwing rice over your shoulder thinking anyone is paying a blind bit of notice. Instead, ask yourself <i>What Would Brubeck do*?</i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvfQ401t_lbPcrbtYvSxT0YkcVh0pc7yAXk0TU4LccCeHbY7t3TWpi6CL9VjcaREYYDpODWhBIWZJ2_TIrOJvo4AXnUe0kOJk_Sr9lfq4XqaHJEMuk9kjV2Ne3cbd-4zhwy-1GkAQ6Q39g9BXdMaKGt8ygfoId2r2O5jN3lqC6lyjDyaiJJIjJJdjqdYq/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvfQ401t_lbPcrbtYvSxT0YkcVh0pc7yAXk0TU4LccCeHbY7t3TWpi6CL9VjcaREYYDpODWhBIWZJ2_TIrOJvo4AXnUe0kOJk_Sr9lfq4XqaHJEMuk9kjV2Ne3cbd-4zhwy-1GkAQ6Q39g9BXdMaKGt8ygfoId2r2O5jN3lqC6lyjDyaiJJIjJJdjqdYq/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I felt my luck boat had docked yesterday with the unexpected appearance of a butterfly long ahead of schedule and placed ideally and perfectly, right in front of my lens in perfect weather. The chances of that happening were slim to none and yet, like winning the lottery, it happens nearly every week, albeit to someone else. I was further awarded the supreme accolade of cover photo on East Scottish Butterflies, the jewel in the crème de la crème of the butterfly world. <br /><br />At the time I did wonder what I had done to deserve this. Luck-jobs of this size do beg the query <i>where did that come from</i>. At the time I was at a loss. Having accepted fate as a random accident that sometimes parks outside your front door and sometimes crashes in your front window, I find I am probably dealt an average amount of yin and yang, of up and down, of fun and games. Too much of what we'll call <i>good luck</i> must necessarily be paid for, either in hard cash or an absence of good fortune until life is in balance again. Statistically that has to happen. I may have used up all of February's luck in one encounter. I heard recently "jesus gave you that burden because he knew you could shoulder it". Really? Because he has a dark sense of humour? Because where would we be without suffering? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvoKsf7l8nMOSfFMmvBjUfjlHrkFJWHIahUZQBDbbDqY-YwMJgfQamdcVXSbPVyme4Yi0VxDh6ruHL1-aiccTKYP60C3YhJzz0mUiyw4Pjdx33znuL1wk2ot4pqK94_2MPeg8R2XKICmu_nqk_d30A3J0iyXCvdPQ-M09lP57Vck-1FCFrrRLCwfh0o_S/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvoKsf7l8nMOSfFMmvBjUfjlHrkFJWHIahUZQBDbbDqY-YwMJgfQamdcVXSbPVyme4Yi0VxDh6ruHL1-aiccTKYP60C3YhJzz0mUiyw4Pjdx33znuL1wk2ot4pqK94_2MPeg8R2XKICmu_nqk_d30A3J0iyXCvdPQ-M09lP57Vck-1FCFrrRLCwfh0o_S/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, all this is a long way round to explain why the next day after the butterfly encounter, I got an invoice for the outstanding luck. To be paid in full immediately. Well actually it all went fine till about midday and then the lights went out. *BTW did you know Brubeck graduated college on the understanding he would never teach piano? Apparently his professors were concerned about his sightreading or lack of. He had bad eyesight and faked his way playing by ear through early classical lessons from his mother.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My plan was to run off the early train to Longniddry, up the cinderpath to Haddington and then down the riverside paths to East Linton. If my cup was still not overflowing I'd run across to North Berwick and use the return stub of my NB train ticket back to Waverley. 13 miles to East Linton. About 20 total. Although there was a potential wee diversion downstream of East Linton to a corner of the river where early bird butterflies have been seen, half a mile beyond Preston Mill.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFdWNBllrSMocnwe4uo0BwWMd1az8b5LWR7EIuRp1WXTbBNjkEqwjBcUY0enZbOdTNbHqrg1vZ5AdImGafB7SiF1zRGUSJs2h-LXJPVfSbwMULtO1SO6X0wVgk_6zPIqqGtQkWgVJaTvFr7kNc9l8_92gvVmxwfslUYa469b4bMbBTwj7yx50a02U6uTS/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFdWNBllrSMocnwe4uo0BwWMd1az8b5LWR7EIuRp1WXTbBNjkEqwjBcUY0enZbOdTNbHqrg1vZ5AdImGafB7SiF1zRGUSJs2h-LXJPVfSbwMULtO1SO6X0wVgk_6zPIqqGtQkWgVJaTvFr7kNc9l8_92gvVmxwfslUYa469b4bMbBTwj7yx50a02U6uTS/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm pretty sure I've done this route under the same circumstances in previous years. Rivers are a good place to check for early butterflies although you also need sunshine and temperatures in double figures. I've certainly chased absent orange tips here a week before they appeared, just because I was keen to bring about the event. It does not always return the investment although if you are happy just to be out and about you can pretend it was everything it wasn't. And I'm imagining that is what religion is - talking to someone who doesn't reply but having a good conversation anyway? Although I aspire to being that mature and mindful, I am much more readily pleased by the tangible gain of a snappy butterfly photo or Portuguese Custard Tart. (Henceforth known as a PCT.) You can't argue with either of them.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hdtha0D8GFImRaHIC08VQbK3eCZZP01V4lWoLwwHPwa25037x8HeEN57_c1MvqOjLxZ9VkVUpZSoicI-oy_JVpIjZPECdUO-3s5lIO2bAYpjWENtpcfnDKYra6hsmTd0q3s9X1wwiok8E_A9nhkDQx1kUrBN9jN2SNtJ3Fsar8Fm-dzEX5ViuU1sssUr/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hdtha0D8GFImRaHIC08VQbK3eCZZP01V4lWoLwwHPwa25037x8HeEN57_c1MvqOjLxZ9VkVUpZSoicI-oy_JVpIjZPECdUO-3s5lIO2bAYpjWENtpcfnDKYra6hsmTd0q3s9X1wwiok8E_A9nhkDQx1kUrBN9jN2SNtJ3Fsar8Fm-dzEX5ViuU1sssUr/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we've discussed these before</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkt5fte7g0-EGcfTFUyv1ybwe305ij8ke2d-qILiFWtb2dcdsVykMkNIq1NLH_va3t_RLWLxBLMyWF3QQyH1PgrM32LkD_vb8Izax11idX7DTfTNDH1_-dDaXSPyOdanGNv7Jy9QIHKBU26qxZopJFG9Ea9AiROUrG3vb5dypUp4RDUC8ta__0DnQsAQX/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkt5fte7g0-EGcfTFUyv1ybwe305ij8ke2d-qILiFWtb2dcdsVykMkNIq1NLH_va3t_RLWLxBLMyWF3QQyH1PgrM32LkD_vb8Izax11idX7DTfTNDH1_-dDaXSPyOdanGNv7Jy9QIHKBU26qxZopJFG9Ea9AiROUrG3vb5dypUp4RDUC8ta__0DnQsAQX/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPm_Sdp9kJQtoEsYbDUPicgYAg4SBaPqJJX5yObgZ1VlbPjXxdM5xK91avSWjIL2lF3-iQcmtpuFRFY8SxQzALNQ9MWQ7_ODsxwBHIZaT3GyLB-c63F6c0XJly1odMD5qo4XgtKIX6miwFLApPbtryj4VSjd6BXzvdVdjToRaYST_-tHaE5wI9DCS40li/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPm_Sdp9kJQtoEsYbDUPicgYAg4SBaPqJJX5yObgZ1VlbPjXxdM5xK91avSWjIL2lF3-iQcmtpuFRFY8SxQzALNQ9MWQ7_ODsxwBHIZaT3GyLB-c63F6c0XJly1odMD5qo4XgtKIX6miwFLApPbtryj4VSjd6BXzvdVdjToRaYST_-tHaE5wI9DCS40li/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1wSfHfu32IuIEjX5Cn-mh0eU6AJS3LsUdTHuuh_qT9_vsaKvEliKuFi5AngA-vinHCPlxBDiIaB4Cm3JND0uJKIYOuBZcWFiCeKkOaNhfSZuqIeY4TjyfaJJ-E1SCrl9wv_d7bXYymCuhvePU2gxy3cb-bNTZ-tqSeUwybjFqN_iXYAB3X0kZSqSrv0Z/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1wSfHfu32IuIEjX5Cn-mh0eU6AJS3LsUdTHuuh_qT9_vsaKvEliKuFi5AngA-vinHCPlxBDiIaB4Cm3JND0uJKIYOuBZcWFiCeKkOaNhfSZuqIeY4TjyfaJJ-E1SCrl9wv_d7bXYymCuhvePU2gxy3cb-bNTZ-tqSeUwybjFqN_iXYAB3X0kZSqSrv0Z/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Early on-ish this deer walked out and across the path. It is way further away than it appears here - this is full gas zoom and then cropped. It has seen me but realised I was no longer Usain Bolt and never again would be. It sauntered, the cheeky devil. Then 2 more appeared, lazily following the larger beast across and into the field on the southside. They weren't in any hurry so as soon as they were out of sight I did an elderly Usain Bolt impression up the trail and half-hid among the trailside shrubs to take their photos in the crops. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ouc3OnHIpG3zj4Y7pyJKGhdPWkZZpkc6OE5Img4JHyN4eIOxtgpmb4cx7jjIhckKjPfyHnpyhKRdDjeNEvD5-JOWg7zi9UeTmijMVmML7804lViy1UMA75LVyECL7VzIq6qVIO_7HW5X-TWuVZxZ-1dwFvA4jZJYkigrm-cyrV0XIcxqU0YBZPhdmYN-/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ouc3OnHIpG3zj4Y7pyJKGhdPWkZZpkc6OE5Img4JHyN4eIOxtgpmb4cx7jjIhckKjPfyHnpyhKRdDjeNEvD5-JOWg7zi9UeTmijMVmML7804lViy1UMA75LVyECL7VzIq6qVIO_7HW5X-TWuVZxZ-1dwFvA4jZJYkigrm-cyrV0XIcxqU0YBZPhdmYN-/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl-IHAdt1h2ozVxRFOKdr3G0YVQcGMbNp871-TVWlPMtwkGtgcOjIbdSmztNKZMzQxPN0awvP4bKxQPy2OHfVtaghMPNGLCArYbgIU_jiy-91CuG5upEfVvsnGSS7-k4PHS9F8nmMn-ITE4FhICAPEOMiIHE0AoGZPhBq4fmAvnwJADLwt5xOzl9T0uHn/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl-IHAdt1h2ozVxRFOKdr3G0YVQcGMbNp871-TVWlPMtwkGtgcOjIbdSmztNKZMzQxPN0awvP4bKxQPy2OHfVtaghMPNGLCArYbgIU_jiy-91CuG5upEfVvsnGSS7-k4PHS9F8nmMn-ITE4FhICAPEOMiIHE0AoGZPhBq4fmAvnwJADLwt5xOzl9T0uHn/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHbSvi_OQmAtrs7p79tQA9Fn6PalEHHRZEEj7YvUsBDWZ_7dMmc1D2JLj7e-2PEh70yYXBKZtEiLH913mwFznDl8EVgpzB9L3ErF8XObB4TCxtmHuuY9G5wLjH_n8IYHHe1yatzapabvm53y7BQKzk6ovEkSlREByuro8eK8nVnbeXTFv5g5zeBX1jigM/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHbSvi_OQmAtrs7p79tQA9Fn6PalEHHRZEEj7YvUsBDWZ_7dMmc1D2JLj7e-2PEh70yYXBKZtEiLH913mwFznDl8EVgpzB9L3ErF8XObB4TCxtmHuuY9G5wLjH_n8IYHHe1yatzapabvm53y7BQKzk6ovEkSlREByuro8eK8nVnbeXTFv5g5zeBX1jigM/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">deer pee! <br />Now that is relaxed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJedhmItRu5SFQChIlEyyijZq8Bq0G_MjRATL6nfIKkCtCe03tqAw2YHbuoNQz_Xg2RJ_T2DAL9k21HKTMGJD-nor78Dso7A5DmlQLPh7m5u82DSDq4ndCNRgEWb9lcpcbSNKldWjNgZGldf5efmBsEErT5LDIUKqrpC9-T5MBpYaKmMBtyp9AN2hqXENn/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJedhmItRu5SFQChIlEyyijZq8Bq0G_MjRATL6nfIKkCtCe03tqAw2YHbuoNQz_Xg2RJ_T2DAL9k21HKTMGJD-nor78Dso7A5DmlQLPh7m5u82DSDq4ndCNRgEWb9lcpcbSNKldWjNgZGldf5efmBsEErT5LDIUKqrpC9-T5MBpYaKmMBtyp9AN2hqXENn/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB86lyT9qZwMw8BqJxBR2oEcvGa05XVJL40NHY6Wk4trxSRe-G7xHfgAtXmlAbN65Un17JL5R-KBGkgk70AtrO6xVD38XzhKpC6DwmHRUSlpXeb5Sv4st48xCzM26Vb7XoOtshu8mTPxE2tsN7Sb_751v2uxzfsu0FvX5GjymRT98p31djb8AZDKgRrudk/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB86lyT9qZwMw8BqJxBR2oEcvGa05XVJL40NHY6Wk4trxSRe-G7xHfgAtXmlAbN65Un17JL5R-KBGkgk70AtrO6xVD38XzhKpC6DwmHRUSlpXeb5Sv4st48xCzM26Vb7XoOtshu8mTPxE2tsN7Sb_751v2uxzfsu0FvX5GjymRT98p31djb8AZDKgRrudk/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(no) mudguards and the benefit of hindsight</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvywlINKkpnTXjCytviUKCAUUca5-oTpNhDuUEn_QtyNVwX5yneJwV0SsNle0vZXXXTQbBUx70af0c4m1GkLRkMtQL7hJZcNJVUoqLn1ho8jTq3Jc1FRHVZbUx4QAb1v1V-Hil1ZUHfMa6aNUcoBw7XUeCoDAxgwZb_X9SEj-g-snn_3WJx5o7y3MaZJm/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvywlINKkpnTXjCytviUKCAUUca5-oTpNhDuUEn_QtyNVwX5yneJwV0SsNle0vZXXXTQbBUx70af0c4m1GkLRkMtQL7hJZcNJVUoqLn1ho8jTq3Jc1FRHVZbUx4QAb1v1V-Hil1ZUHfMa6aNUcoBw7XUeCoDAxgwZb_X9SEj-g-snn_3WJx5o7y3MaZJm/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ-FAYM8z4pU5x6z2Vzxz5yVMC5WUapbVJM_UcBTbygflPkh742k3yIOEUBUvOZRPTZe5jbQIzBfz185A0xWKxVBtvczhJWtdOdrGrzo9HivUMFk2YN8gjWqRBQh_-y7vF_AblAPncN_NCUF478jW8vgKXs3_zvZyZd9-2xQEjYihhPTw-LbbsD_mRelz/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ-FAYM8z4pU5x6z2Vzxz5yVMC5WUapbVJM_UcBTbygflPkh742k3yIOEUBUvOZRPTZe5jbQIzBfz185A0xWKxVBtvczhJWtdOdrGrzo9HivUMFk2YN8gjWqRBQh_-y7vF_AblAPncN_NCUF478jW8vgKXs3_zvZyZd9-2xQEjYihhPTw-LbbsD_mRelz/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqgmBenp6FBG1vFiq4QJowCjndLL8VtOzFprWs0MkYCZKc22E_7QHxCrgi5QiJ2MurymXoKQNGlje_fILyuIFJ1r5MhH_xvkuD3JasnwNgLBazGaQKEnAAPZYR46iPqfMoTZrcO3YIZQ3sKQ2KcfO2uU6gs5GdPnmqM5z0ozC-huCDCz2KW5G-Gn9Bl7Z/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="2048" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqgmBenp6FBG1vFiq4QJowCjndLL8VtOzFprWs0MkYCZKc22E_7QHxCrgi5QiJ2MurymXoKQNGlje_fILyuIFJ1r5MhH_xvkuD3JasnwNgLBazGaQKEnAAPZYR46iPqfMoTZrcO3YIZQ3sKQ2KcfO2uU6gs5GdPnmqM5z0ozC-huCDCz2KW5G-Gn9Bl7Z/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D86a23oNmpXByt7Wawfjx2-CCZbd2dj4Gwwm_S2y6slD7dGnloik2Mxu1xQuTBK1f-BjThXjNb4rDKyd4mcc9DZpRVd3lvSdB5N9KwfVoM6pQB99gqANvjpF6zCvdswfcOOnyXRE2Y6XYTudo7RNoqRrqi5iC46H48_U1DlUAW12BbX04-yifLEdQrPk/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D86a23oNmpXByt7Wawfjx2-CCZbd2dj4Gwwm_S2y6slD7dGnloik2Mxu1xQuTBK1f-BjThXjNb4rDKyd4mcc9DZpRVd3lvSdB5N9KwfVoM6pQB99gqANvjpF6zCvdswfcOOnyXRE2Y6XYTudo7RNoqRrqi5iC46H48_U1DlUAW12BbX04-yifLEdQrPk/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hopetoun Monument</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0d1JaehezVtTJT4U8OaW6DYlUDSDZmTKe0APvsykA5i46KCHZl0xdLo79QT-s6d2RVIUQUfDdvM-78SGFjQ0GTULYtKyP4bIbPYF8xbGW9m1c_j-lYOduQVAIytyH5HYlCxHw4fCdGhN3MKKIKfxI-LZSi4-W__chlCCA4iRyAF-8kCRuK1X6h_WrGGp/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0d1JaehezVtTJT4U8OaW6DYlUDSDZmTKe0APvsykA5i46KCHZl0xdLo79QT-s6d2RVIUQUfDdvM-78SGFjQ0GTULYtKyP4bIbPYF8xbGW9m1c_j-lYOduQVAIytyH5HYlCxHw4fCdGhN3MKKIKfxI-LZSi4-W__chlCCA4iRyAF-8kCRuK1X6h_WrGGp/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuGbewJdmbjcVXZfSEoj2abnQqgfXpwiFRa151nwhgAp0rtPKEZ5ghWDINYRhpumuRv1O9fafrDpn7arlqoqqwpjbwVfUT0KVXIUnJuaZReStFjAnzdSOIptEckcRuM0PVkdpsqldBHJqwEesfVdDm9YecWosWVPOr_XLs1WxoCkemH-n4rIu24m5KiEf/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuGbewJdmbjcVXZfSEoj2abnQqgfXpwiFRa151nwhgAp0rtPKEZ5ghWDINYRhpumuRv1O9fafrDpn7arlqoqqwpjbwVfUT0KVXIUnJuaZReStFjAnzdSOIptEckcRuM0PVkdpsqldBHJqwEesfVdDm9YecWosWVPOr_XLs1WxoCkemH-n4rIu24m5KiEf/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oGzdqh4DBH6qi1WDCwmX1jS_szN9OnBnjq2ceScxO4gUKCtY9VyxVLQmG5Xw2TtzsBKQn2l2IGKVohGYVGIwGADZXRSqYo1rJY8XLGJrErGqib9T_exn9NcGb9LFZjtCnCR3zDo5fO2usxh2M8ZFhcOQwQZmTdSYWYWPiFWDj_WjqXn1h5pWZGiIdR38/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oGzdqh4DBH6qi1WDCwmX1jS_szN9OnBnjq2ceScxO4gUKCtY9VyxVLQmG5Xw2TtzsBKQn2l2IGKVohGYVGIwGADZXRSqYo1rJY8XLGJrErGqib9T_exn9NcGb9LFZjtCnCR3zDo5fO2usxh2M8ZFhcOQwQZmTdSYWYWPiFWDj_WjqXn1h5pWZGiIdR38/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chipper chaffinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0TqH_wV4ZNALCyVo2IW9gpSuHBeF0JP7pmeS281OE-Go07b-cbP_RxXpi0S1hkzIvXlyvaii2efUBvBa_aRn6CCNnHWEessC2B-hgC8NFANPrDv7zpQHPypEHnDpPial7Pw7pWD2rgpKNJ2z9s1h6ChCglYqKj075ra8tt6wY8nXZIMktK5-ZoTWaHGJ/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0TqH_wV4ZNALCyVo2IW9gpSuHBeF0JP7pmeS281OE-Go07b-cbP_RxXpi0S1hkzIvXlyvaii2efUBvBa_aRn6CCNnHWEessC2B-hgC8NFANPrDv7zpQHPypEHnDpPial7Pw7pWD2rgpKNJ2z9s1h6ChCglYqKj075ra8tt6wY8nXZIMktK5-ZoTWaHGJ/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7jUdL_iVGw8-4VLsSPmFIVfSZ-IQiDKKM1LCclmjA8pz5cc4SG647Cb6Ze2RCPCeTxGr_SdCWDSrEtZ5ifBWJCDgq4mYbNYsQnj3pKpM7xxpTJTKsyDHrYGFm3IwzZKokUOcnfEGYW-RjKNO7AwOeRbZipRavibHB9XE2mVrsZjB-o_a_TjZbWat2EUh/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7jUdL_iVGw8-4VLsSPmFIVfSZ-IQiDKKM1LCclmjA8pz5cc4SG647Cb6Ze2RCPCeTxGr_SdCWDSrEtZ5ifBWJCDgq4mYbNYsQnj3pKpM7xxpTJTKsyDHrYGFm3IwzZKokUOcnfEGYW-RjKNO7AwOeRbZipRavibHB9XE2mVrsZjB-o_a_TjZbWat2EUh/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwXe7r2yAwG-8dJkzrKYtvTBp-xXuDt9nN-lyELQ0XAxs9Vu1VmWvSVKhWOTVzBW-eRWAqF3gLXIeqyGRvWsuDN9IZrwc806-xqPP4tJB_tfE8Ifi5_JmO1Iwvl18XBigMDk5SRqUzZ9bjhRUNH3YkyscExc1M3EaAEOYLUlRUmWdFS7syvlKtXw0S8A0/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwXe7r2yAwG-8dJkzrKYtvTBp-xXuDt9nN-lyELQ0XAxs9Vu1VmWvSVKhWOTVzBW-eRWAqF3gLXIeqyGRvWsuDN9IZrwc806-xqPP4tJB_tfE8Ifi5_JmO1Iwvl18XBigMDk5SRqUzZ9bjhRUNH3YkyscExc1M3EaAEOYLUlRUmWdFS7syvlKtXw0S8A0/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Coming off the cyclepath in Haddington you are faced with this building. Every time I see it I congratulate the architect for those colourful windows which add such an element of style that you forgive the shoeboxy-ness of the building. Even though I have seen it loads I still take a photo each time I run past. That has to be a successful outcome: to <i>zhuzh up</i> an otherwise dull office warehouse. Talking of jazzy, Dave Brubeck was one of the most successful jazz artists of his generation and didn't have a problem with drink or drugs. Isn't that refreshing?! He was married to his wife for 70 years and died at age 92.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZomR79xjfa_u75-Z2ZiLyUgL_lbzh9LcU4MzuJWn8BJUOJBbvtxtV5JnhYmCqpECUIj_9HESF98I_j20gV5wIs_DRSW9bgCp_RLi1Zv51f9ALX26Bf_koJWA4z9rIUVhTmMBnkK9H3v7ngm8ftcFjvwgKjogF1Kt4lD_gA4g0nc5o6XgkFcsGONSfWrQ2/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZomR79xjfa_u75-Z2ZiLyUgL_lbzh9LcU4MzuJWn8BJUOJBbvtxtV5JnhYmCqpECUIj_9HESF98I_j20gV5wIs_DRSW9bgCp_RLi1Zv51f9ALX26Bf_koJWA4z9rIUVhTmMBnkK9H3v7ngm8ftcFjvwgKjogF1Kt4lD_gA4g0nc5o6XgkFcsGONSfWrQ2/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBfbhRpwRCC53ra5-e3Ij0oqs5C39aztRv-0cbmWqb2pcY_IOufXlUlWSwA4-rdlpBJpWT1JRKXsFINmTu_735FmWQcnxKdCjOnb9Dip6mLaIXvM3BYFSQEH2SU3XMz4vX7Weojla-5tVuYqOkOL203GYBd2G0oQrXlP2sYXNPKVXrxMzTF8Mnbwuy_3Q/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBfbhRpwRCC53ra5-e3Ij0oqs5C39aztRv-0cbmWqb2pcY_IOufXlUlWSwA4-rdlpBJpWT1JRKXsFINmTu_735FmWQcnxKdCjOnb9Dip6mLaIXvM3BYFSQEH2SU3XMz4vX7Weojla-5tVuYqOkOL203GYBd2G0oQrXlP2sYXNPKVXrxMzTF8Mnbwuy_3Q/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I haven't been this way in a while I forget which right turn to take to cut through between some houses and hook up with a stream which runs into the Tyne. Those seed-pods or whatever they are, are a good reminder I am on the right path. The cactii waving from a window are possibly a new addition. If I take the right line I get to see grazing bunnies. They are used to passing traffic and don't mind you walking quietly closer until about 14 yards when they keep a beedy eye on you and shuffle closer to cover.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Egj5p3F_sDO8fSspOf857ukgo9EAl27S3E5vCML7IKsRxDteHcnll9g_41Er9UE_ChyyeITBvUxh7_eLuVyDcLPWtky5skqscAkdwpx6OT7sraQ1CNccGHnbmPgYYaZ1jpOgYFsg9RrFsFAb9o0aeTQ1by5mNiU2-AIiX8OhbTPG3Lc9Vah2PYynQnk/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Egj5p3F_sDO8fSspOf857ukgo9EAl27S3E5vCML7IKsRxDteHcnll9g_41Er9UE_ChyyeITBvUxh7_eLuVyDcLPWtky5skqscAkdwpx6OT7sraQ1CNccGHnbmPgYYaZ1jpOgYFsg9RrFsFAb9o0aeTQ1by5mNiU2-AIiX8OhbTPG3Lc9Vah2PYynQnk/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATGz3qVIGmM1_Jh2zeewGRf72AwjGWDBmsn4Rb7dCtOL22obbs_J32aF6Bu-nfTeqHGyUgnWY6G-hENUYVI-uvN-MGOZGXxC1DK8dbmmZZnGuGns6ZSkK8Zo8RoGe5sUjYn2ZNK0vqcXb9YUQLxhEjzghSU7zGXy8IFjd-1r84dGYIEGM_6ZcppNYsFJ7/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATGz3qVIGmM1_Jh2zeewGRf72AwjGWDBmsn4Rb7dCtOL22obbs_J32aF6Bu-nfTeqHGyUgnWY6G-hENUYVI-uvN-MGOZGXxC1DK8dbmmZZnGuGns6ZSkK8Zo8RoGe5sUjYn2ZNK0vqcXb9YUQLxhEjzghSU7zGXy8IFjd-1r84dGYIEGM_6ZcppNYsFJ7/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupJsfT0WQlijBBtwdBe0-K-an8xxFx9DLwM6L24T2mMV1dbBBzWScsIPksZISHu-UbLswpSLPvNWsdcrHsgNS3PZSnvF11qyGsGbFDLPImZ03A-6cQPP8apsUUwwc8e2hoYceXKeIR-XWn1d0GlIyxqNTOHxliQWmQoD4cTzKHvuS7N4roLjZDU-X6TmX/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupJsfT0WQlijBBtwdBe0-K-an8xxFx9DLwM6L24T2mMV1dbBBzWScsIPksZISHu-UbLswpSLPvNWsdcrHsgNS3PZSnvF11qyGsGbFDLPImZ03A-6cQPP8apsUUwwc8e2hoYceXKeIR-XWn1d0GlIyxqNTOHxliQWmQoD4cTzKHvuS7N4roLjZDU-X6TmX/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">close enough!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoptKbgV70ufaGrEGKAcln4pdfLCSAepzX2JOgNWE6c8oUlzp4cyOmVOmU3T6AKzWa37VurJU7b88fDIjS-ANxWPkZ824off1VGYXEW_xngfP4HDEChAoiAmNu829FkRYk8xyFRxspPpSthAngLyN0P1wixyBn-B-45Q8MUX4HgAgWlwgDxg_qk47F77Z/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoptKbgV70ufaGrEGKAcln4pdfLCSAepzX2JOgNWE6c8oUlzp4cyOmVOmU3T6AKzWa37VurJU7b88fDIjS-ANxWPkZ824off1VGYXEW_xngfP4HDEChAoiAmNu829FkRYk8xyFRxspPpSthAngLyN0P1wixyBn-B-45Q8MUX4HgAgWlwgDxg_qk47F77Z/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of blackbird activity</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOwCUOYZk5BSxHY3rK7JUn8zDfBLHEB518lw88cJO-UOSiUZAH8fSdmRRL6Rw_uEnw_AkiZUhEgeIcvUrHdRDplP64eTN_hsF_EKKWfZ7-gm59rZPpQanIOQxlAXBXyY1deIUQYalCQJTF7RntyL-ATYAa15Bt2Hux8Kbc4k2TfFojkNjNAtkDNTCbLLk/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOwCUOYZk5BSxHY3rK7JUn8zDfBLHEB518lw88cJO-UOSiUZAH8fSdmRRL6Rw_uEnw_AkiZUhEgeIcvUrHdRDplP64eTN_hsF_EKKWfZ7-gm59rZPpQanIOQxlAXBXyY1deIUQYalCQJTF7RntyL-ATYAa15Bt2Hux8Kbc4k2TfFojkNjNAtkDNTCbLLk/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhozjkN6f7ZAINovmXurs7HEBayhmSvsIXGiD-aeHVkyNUiZ9-AlozO-unSeo23R23qplefDP271yeRZ6i8UhToo574-mAPsorV7zeYxWkzw3qOY6aO5wLfLK7wXFif8rNFUOM-t_3NHM9zCjaElIG3En_TAhKzM9siTD593pF-hzmQ3xAQmFEIyE8ohsH/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhozjkN6f7ZAINovmXurs7HEBayhmSvsIXGiD-aeHVkyNUiZ9-AlozO-unSeo23R23qplefDP271yeRZ6i8UhToo574-mAPsorV7zeYxWkzw3qOY6aO5wLfLK7wXFif8rNFUOM-t_3NHM9zCjaElIG3En_TAhKzM9siTD593pF-hzmQ3xAQmFEIyE8ohsH/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQIX399lkXNWfi7I7hBq3ka6MBr1g1LNLhvrkdoltakYMbMhsV3nnA2bNkcAo_OXE4W2Js3J7jomQAWJOl_WdWX5VymhyphenhyphenyL-tne3ZT32Acw0pNSS5ebne2hQt04ZcoNn8EbRazF7nNOaOMkAfrys4fIxbs5WFG32Q0Z-a-KtHr2PxbTX9EkTTVlvXrkfV/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQIX399lkXNWfi7I7hBq3ka6MBr1g1LNLhvrkdoltakYMbMhsV3nnA2bNkcAo_OXE4W2Js3J7jomQAWJOl_WdWX5VymhyphenhyphenyL-tne3ZT32Acw0pNSS5ebne2hQt04ZcoNn8EbRazF7nNOaOMkAfrys4fIxbs5WFG32Q0Z-a-KtHr2PxbTX9EkTTVlvXrkfV/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcZG5ITVM-4EEuJMegh-LJOA218-Sn4H5xP1iYiavzVz2Qf68jKgaH64Xrb2CWwXOMGXA9TvIf5gfHs-J2WA_NBywuEmPKVX30z0elV34l9clqNd4vxrtSYiHZyojPSpEAqZku3LsWwRfpikOHCcMzrtHl3qOP6aFN5V8CYpsfQyknbo0xIPBw6ulZrI/s2048/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcZG5ITVM-4EEuJMegh-LJOA218-Sn4H5xP1iYiavzVz2Qf68jKgaH64Xrb2CWwXOMGXA9TvIf5gfHs-J2WA_NBywuEmPKVX30z0elV34l9clqNd4vxrtSYiHZyojPSpEAqZku3LsWwRfpikOHCcMzrtHl3qOP6aFN5V8CYpsfQyknbo0xIPBw6ulZrI/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GBva5jhKSsl3rWNXgqi_WEb610ntgmdtuN1Y7DpIe3Hyu0EigrNdWVheFdoc8T53zLxvdXdhaN3PIZZc-LlShOcfI2f5dmemfIsdps7QFZdHd78pTtvRtH9YDpmJp34yZwkNp33mPAp-MtnflsG-YK_cMJRAhvCBBRZi__bHVfldM1L76CamSjhG-s0/s2048/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GBva5jhKSsl3rWNXgqi_WEb610ntgmdtuN1Y7DpIe3Hyu0EigrNdWVheFdoc8T53zLxvdXdhaN3PIZZc-LlShOcfI2f5dmemfIsdps7QFZdHd78pTtvRtH9YDpmJp34yZwkNp33mPAp-MtnflsG-YK_cMJRAhvCBBRZi__bHVfldM1L76CamSjhG-s0/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">note the look of <i>butter wouldn't melt</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A_vEYi-a9gARPlf3u0Thy7J9t2tNWGTuNUbd5nXoeAAygTylW1V0yTVRqYf-kKvAnUUmrTDPVE8LXWI1bB3W-0ZTju1yB2s0ce2QdpdT723YQr3GjkzqNoeCpiToPknKnvMg6HN60JQ3x4EZDoYPgnkgQwJ6xOwx1YtECLk30Emvov_HYDGagtc8sbst/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A_vEYi-a9gARPlf3u0Thy7J9t2tNWGTuNUbd5nXoeAAygTylW1V0yTVRqYf-kKvAnUUmrTDPVE8LXWI1bB3W-0ZTju1yB2s0ce2QdpdT723YQr3GjkzqNoeCpiToPknKnvMg6HN60JQ3x4EZDoYPgnkgQwJ6xOwx1YtECLk30Emvov_HYDGagtc8sbst/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp4KPN-ytGAA6xJh_9H97wtKQ2t48SD_JwrWlGMgvakc-rg3Kplcx6e0Je9l5b0mFZK9dN3xPCkObVHZmn1dGSKqz_eWc0MUvpHA5yOHE408wCEoQthSBUTivqkSK2AvBH4bz9o8XANJ6jb8xu5a4pyxXokrEizkVHRMeFUVd7DRagNS3x_sDMJ2PP3t2/s2048/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp4KPN-ytGAA6xJh_9H97wtKQ2t48SD_JwrWlGMgvakc-rg3Kplcx6e0Je9l5b0mFZK9dN3xPCkObVHZmn1dGSKqz_eWc0MUvpHA5yOHE408wCEoQthSBUTivqkSK2AvBH4bz9o8XANJ6jb8xu5a4pyxXokrEizkVHRMeFUVd7DRagNS3x_sDMJ2PP3t2/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQtE9rIpcj0arHmGMRuuhqcIhk7gYxRVdHDTFsR_QCojNFLWPl4eKjN8-XPvVwv-VS5Z0-6d_BBvhtLfbR-Diry28dLOoNTgfRfArwJ-iDzg9qOvMYBlX3KN6ayF4vosPn1MZqV_b0gYDLFllHYaHLl4b9iFh7X9c6r3z1suZ-zbdTRd2RHg2WAcQ8jEt/s2048/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQtE9rIpcj0arHmGMRuuhqcIhk7gYxRVdHDTFsR_QCojNFLWPl4eKjN8-XPvVwv-VS5Z0-6d_BBvhtLfbR-Diry28dLOoNTgfRfArwJ-iDzg9qOvMYBlX3KN6ayF4vosPn1MZqV_b0gYDLFllHYaHLl4b9iFh7X9c6r3z1suZ-zbdTRd2RHg2WAcQ8jEt/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tradition has it I take this photo of this unusual street name.<br />The fact the daffs weren't out behind it did not bode well.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWjcG1jVPDPg5Vg2j9qOOz4SIJqwBIh2BynW9DrGzrkNnXs0AnRgGZcZmwUs75KINf_M7ABniqEnmc1LDUfllLSgNA5Vqvu_NfwBt2lek-wYtv2K2RzJGYLbE1NoBQI1ZriIuofJ-uh2crPQw6P3w_vlzAoliuDc45AJWj_s_2bi09i_Q1Wwv3FFFLrCR/s2048/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWjcG1jVPDPg5Vg2j9qOOz4SIJqwBIh2BynW9DrGzrkNnXs0AnRgGZcZmwUs75KINf_M7ABniqEnmc1LDUfllLSgNA5Vqvu_NfwBt2lek-wYtv2K2RzJGYLbE1NoBQI1ZriIuofJ-uh2crPQw6P3w_vlzAoliuDc45AJWj_s_2bi09i_Q1Wwv3FFFLrCR/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETbFIoYuxcsj4TUEagHXSrWqDFdgKl2QVhfFU6de_0mMuxPDcvG1Lz5I4JsMDZtov6oqPv6S2-jRlBOZjLIQodNEUpsfL-rh31HKVJIjd5ag9qtiM3oITW5JIH-pA_ws6XzXvM1ZaEKyA65a4AKQbyScGCH7O01CvjGw3lPklr3NYp6fjC8mehpFQeM5b/s2048/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETbFIoYuxcsj4TUEagHXSrWqDFdgKl2QVhfFU6de_0mMuxPDcvG1Lz5I4JsMDZtov6oqPv6S2-jRlBOZjLIQodNEUpsfL-rh31HKVJIjd5ag9qtiM3oITW5JIH-pA_ws6XzXvM1ZaEKyA65a4AKQbyScGCH7O01CvjGw3lPklr3NYp6fjC8mehpFQeM5b/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goosander (m)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jbhTKkDi4fLkXcimzamKz7Waa0zgraeAZhvzB1qr5BJYqRgDEwxIxm6kXTTB7g5AyXi1URYArHE5iISzAKK9hkZsNQ-DvESOec5pSub5eYJQ5QwVqTbLpjrephoPaU1t6Pqamv63eUGbjMzuFEF_wiNQdSTNsK0ouWsOar6LTAkI99_vztXydHYVvt1k/s2048/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jbhTKkDi4fLkXcimzamKz7Waa0zgraeAZhvzB1qr5BJYqRgDEwxIxm6kXTTB7g5AyXi1URYArHE5iISzAKK9hkZsNQ-DvESOec5pSub5eYJQ5QwVqTbLpjrephoPaU1t6Pqamv63eUGbjMzuFEF_wiNQdSTNsK0ouWsOar6LTAkI99_vztXydHYVvt1k/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren with tick near eye</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio64sspxctCGX-rUGLSC9vaJI8hONRHp2PagWMjV-gPUPcFYxoWCklTQIHYG_4hKGuT9-abAZlERgF-Q9SYiR90E2Byg0kI60sWsx0GcS1YYI1gUEfudywuTLT8DtLFiQYjew5OqIWHK9BniIdq3w-l9b9EUFBOVXSzzF0WUgsKjcGCkog4j4LufwSWKPf/s2048/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio64sspxctCGX-rUGLSC9vaJI8hONRHp2PagWMjV-gPUPcFYxoWCklTQIHYG_4hKGuT9-abAZlERgF-Q9SYiR90E2Byg0kI60sWsx0GcS1YYI1gUEfudywuTLT8DtLFiQYjew5OqIWHK9BniIdq3w-l9b9EUFBOVXSzzF0WUgsKjcGCkog4j4LufwSWKPf/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN8CNdktZGEDx98O_IhM_DdYmh4BTPvo4aorRQed6H9ar-V04lXM8Y_Wua9sLpMhxCnPUIRZviEhatl6AlQIiw-YouNPucQIAYxeHNVda7TZh-h6aEJJh03TGmDhZOfLzdI2oraDoD522-r4V-8YhfGXW2I72hkya-y_ZCeYvRF_qxrBHc6of41oqZ7dG/s2048/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN8CNdktZGEDx98O_IhM_DdYmh4BTPvo4aorRQed6H9ar-V04lXM8Y_Wua9sLpMhxCnPUIRZviEhatl6AlQIiw-YouNPucQIAYxeHNVda7TZh-h6aEJJh03TGmDhZOfLzdI2oraDoD522-r4V-8YhfGXW2I72hkya-y_ZCeYvRF_qxrBHc6of41oqZ7dG/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x-CKfrL_rnWmCM1_1WXSZPGxV0Vmv9va3oIh2X4RjzIleD_1WagD1eJ7U30qq0W8RFZLosA1EcbZpILBOjKD2UDc4sheMRRxvfm-p0CaoYdoW3YGFIgUpRM0n3kch0Jk5Gui3_CeU2u3h5K-Eg9DgHDvMK29UVMErIhD8vgzAT_Ac6OQ0HxFZUVilNft/s2048/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x-CKfrL_rnWmCM1_1WXSZPGxV0Vmv9va3oIh2X4RjzIleD_1WagD1eJ7U30qq0W8RFZLosA1EcbZpILBOjKD2UDc4sheMRRxvfm-p0CaoYdoW3YGFIgUpRM0n3kch0Jk5Gui3_CeU2u3h5K-Eg9DgHDvMK29UVMErIhD8vgzAT_Ac6OQ0HxFZUVilNft/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLHAEeZ8p2XBqx7lXSCftMnGLIDAZLQPmr81ayrSHqb2WcITHWnsz11-EbF-P4Vpqj6ESs8kzp4iE6BKqapWspR33TFr1kYcDHIUmekSiMXNy-qmIOPUYtMsyyjm3DtgVYsJBboIyq6Tm25vZiheH3EHl5zv5Z6s-OOlHSBgoN6_XFJJ8x9O9Z86r7hBv/s2048/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLHAEeZ8p2XBqx7lXSCftMnGLIDAZLQPmr81ayrSHqb2WcITHWnsz11-EbF-P4Vpqj6ESs8kzp4iE6BKqapWspR33TFr1kYcDHIUmekSiMXNy-qmIOPUYtMsyyjm3DtgVYsJBboIyq6Tm25vZiheH3EHl5zv5Z6s-OOlHSBgoN6_XFJJ8x9O9Z86r7hBv/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of duckies and crocuses near the bridge at Haddington</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmveJMrFbuvdIDCJNMZ_2iK2E0NKPGXVHgnbuMnaSki0axCbMBKCMZRZ4auxJukHEwa-iEVXCjq5iV7qFrgOA3uuV5qXARyQNtv3QW4Tx8nDgijt6v6aI36t2uHXA44eg73WWueJ_DXrKxUIEV1fgBPiYAqDn8xAuerkaY5wJzrHOxCL3kUnyqr5iIMZID/s2048/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="2048" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmveJMrFbuvdIDCJNMZ_2iK2E0NKPGXVHgnbuMnaSki0axCbMBKCMZRZ4auxJukHEwa-iEVXCjq5iV7qFrgOA3uuV5qXARyQNtv3QW4Tx8nDgijt6v6aI36t2uHXA44eg73WWueJ_DXrKxUIEV1fgBPiYAqDn8xAuerkaY5wJzrHOxCL3kUnyqr5iIMZID/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZGPnOl-pgo18NGx35dXOuygrxnVZpcKHxFdZZskPU4kk8whiGsXAqf52V3C6tmOmAszyA75Z-5x1CFDFuvbo1xs3I0IP0b0AnbEYIKErQlFWIYOMNZUs4C-UUZE_6GZz3Hd9Hjqq0diKnvxe9FFpeuA91aq_Bp8hCShErXVWzezhKxSaloDGkbCv8IFv/s2048/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZGPnOl-pgo18NGx35dXOuygrxnVZpcKHxFdZZskPU4kk8whiGsXAqf52V3C6tmOmAszyA75Z-5x1CFDFuvbo1xs3I0IP0b0AnbEYIKErQlFWIYOMNZUs4C-UUZE_6GZz3Hd9Hjqq0diKnvxe9FFpeuA91aq_Bp8hCShErXVWzezhKxSaloDGkbCv8IFv/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRzi6zqRaseV8dF4JzlB3SRiGYFzRgqwI_7uhac1NMIVMWGMFCQoZ91e0z1F_h7MVlwQ8Ed2tvIV9jAMd3YLg6nQLu1sgWNrwzSqvV6FtGu7WyyZ9KDxIS6LL2nhAeSiLfMXqaQcW-eXcC3v1vKAuwFQ3ndV7UpAp2xQbBLI8670nxpBoolVoVtddYCQC/s2048/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRzi6zqRaseV8dF4JzlB3SRiGYFzRgqwI_7uhac1NMIVMWGMFCQoZ91e0z1F_h7MVlwQ8Ed2tvIV9jAMd3YLg6nQLu1sgWNrwzSqvV6FtGu7WyyZ9KDxIS6LL2nhAeSiLfMXqaQcW-eXcC3v1vKAuwFQ3ndV7UpAp2xQbBLI8670nxpBoolVoVtddYCQC/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">geese</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIFKMzSRZUkGLoc1wr7ZJQpDQOwGoFfSjj-1klRoVvHmsAPWRU78SwNTIPNFEH3jjizxCk5qEjxJNVZUpmvJz4SkWrwb58oJR7Nw_3BrwXq1qCSF6IjPoSNRZRhDWiGTo7jInSpPV0YLNkKcGmug1MDMyLZ3g7ZyH6hsJCrYPcSM02keooeSqy2TSqa38/s2048/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIFKMzSRZUkGLoc1wr7ZJQpDQOwGoFfSjj-1klRoVvHmsAPWRU78SwNTIPNFEH3jjizxCk5qEjxJNVZUpmvJz4SkWrwb58oJR7Nw_3BrwXq1qCSF6IjPoSNRZRhDWiGTo7jInSpPV0YLNkKcGmug1MDMyLZ3g7ZyH6hsJCrYPcSM02keooeSqy2TSqa38/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">starling</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN3-cTUBiefXUSxFZ2JkxOv3NSU628ZcB-8jAyjXbNT-nwcDIQKoJ5gk7PLp8QpCwb7m-2hJzvBrtc5jdEREx3z0o_7Rqu32i8bHeLCsAk9PP3YJPcDOGZKqyR7D37GC3cbVCv-0e-ffzL7RxsCNW2xqkqWx14w5rtEM-XwAcODAMdUgXMZB625-bhI0L/s2048/048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN3-cTUBiefXUSxFZ2JkxOv3NSU628ZcB-8jAyjXbNT-nwcDIQKoJ5gk7PLp8QpCwb7m-2hJzvBrtc5jdEREx3z0o_7Rqu32i8bHeLCsAk9PP3YJPcDOGZKqyR7D37GC3cbVCv-0e-ffzL7RxsCNW2xqkqWx14w5rtEM-XwAcODAMdUgXMZB625-bhI0L/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more jazz</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7V6LD5818JtntUhI2aqD9t0xAizOToRNMvG6Uv__b7Gxv2WN7uza_vY189PiUkhWP0Syn0dd1cjYhnPyd4vlxBb4d6h_kqhB56rJ84eLRz6NPhyfqzQZk9MEv9nKZqnXqoTpIYIalKNw5-PTOUydxBJnfZQ4li8zTKsmY2l1Xw01qYX1eif3GGaSqrL9/s2048/049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7V6LD5818JtntUhI2aqD9t0xAizOToRNMvG6Uv__b7Gxv2WN7uza_vY189PiUkhWP0Syn0dd1cjYhnPyd4vlxBb4d6h_kqhB56rJ84eLRz6NPhyfqzQZk9MEv9nKZqnXqoTpIYIalKNw5-PTOUydxBJnfZQ4li8zTKsmY2l1Xw01qYX1eif3GGaSqrL9/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzPMZxZVl2_2KE34S6YGsIe4mG9HIticVaK7fb_gp6TeCTrtel4haMzW3GdlPLI-My7uCQYSj_1ZsEu-NIn8uN3Tsvbhw68wIdasJHRgNBpdTsdqytKExRW8GMBEHWBWLygJbC0j1q13CUrqsoEFTQOLRs7udTeA_QNfKEZAhClghEjfqRZFr1uqJ4kYH/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzPMZxZVl2_2KE34S6YGsIe4mG9HIticVaK7fb_gp6TeCTrtel4haMzW3GdlPLI-My7uCQYSj_1ZsEu-NIn8uN3Tsvbhw68wIdasJHRgNBpdTsdqytKExRW8GMBEHWBWLygJbC0j1q13CUrqsoEFTQOLRs7udTeA_QNfKEZAhClghEjfqRZFr1uqJ4kYH/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple of streets through Haddington and you leave by way of this bridge. This blackbird posed magnificently, gleaming in the sunshine. Although it was cool, the sun was out and I felt there was a good chance of seeing an early butterfly at a spot just this side of East Linton. I was very chipper and feeling very positive.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vjjxb1D14jqOb8S6Jkgu-SfkQReglhVu5y8j8GLaHQFvCdPbfPtjPTw-i8aKqWiDpueHT_DEjHxAn98xeStvfUQexY0csQsCi3rlP6vy_HpGCRWAROGn3kwaKBt5Xig6yYhXCBBaqQGj9uF3wJxGNYo6MjC_ap_aqGV_CGAJgFJjRPDXeF9dwETzov2y/s2048/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vjjxb1D14jqOb8S6Jkgu-SfkQReglhVu5y8j8GLaHQFvCdPbfPtjPTw-i8aKqWiDpueHT_DEjHxAn98xeStvfUQexY0csQsCi3rlP6vy_HpGCRWAROGn3kwaKBt5Xig6yYhXCBBaqQGj9uF3wJxGNYo6MjC_ap_aqGV_CGAJgFJjRPDXeF9dwETzov2y/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2s4TgDG-V-PzCPhWffWeU_DEtyvupBIGRizkOoE9KO8zz-03eAbKSjzYFI3531-2OByJsqa8kPmP07mYeEkKqWzGCywBURGvJiL9rxUV5bbWyQMiWfSeUvChkNqEG_yp-RgWslZjTxrR3Y9uEnPfE7eouKV_j0dK_W5NHdFlWG3qjZfheAfUq5JUwXFf/s2048/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2s4TgDG-V-PzCPhWffWeU_DEtyvupBIGRizkOoE9KO8zz-03eAbKSjzYFI3531-2OByJsqa8kPmP07mYeEkKqWzGCywBURGvJiL9rxUV5bbWyQMiWfSeUvChkNqEG_yp-RgWslZjTxrR3Y9uEnPfE7eouKV_j0dK_W5NHdFlWG3qjZfheAfUq5JUwXFf/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that look again! <br />(It wasn't me!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bT3g5YebfT0nad7nm6G3nXAN75hMimyBx6ALwO2tvLQ5O-nOKc7ZY8iq3SyMyTCdy_34PqRZc2VJB6faVQp7MQQ8L8D0XsAX5RHEyslNoP2BkVbGhYb32t_2Noliz-nodrzUCD3xUy7pMS7YJZIam-ssO2PzcWRM4j_Rc4D98hH8seIS7PTKRJo0qu8H/s2048/054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bT3g5YebfT0nad7nm6G3nXAN75hMimyBx6ALwO2tvLQ5O-nOKc7ZY8iq3SyMyTCdy_34PqRZc2VJB6faVQp7MQQ8L8D0XsAX5RHEyslNoP2BkVbGhYb32t_2Noliz-nodrzUCD3xUy7pMS7YJZIam-ssO2PzcWRM4j_Rc4D98hH8seIS7PTKRJo0qu8H/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blossoms on the tree by the weir</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhC_8zyPgvtzdIGAW3rg70omoKjtMwwk1nBGHHRALuu2wkBk-J0yMA6RfM5MEPdHDeUW1UbCK3061hqib3yRTlLfqYWcKkjT0MJJ0lEltv0rRRt-GMP1V_HsHBNtoC9j-OOLg1QK1Y2S_1uoB1s9LY0UC6SAo-V221oQIAODfSEq4BHKjKPkkv8paQBgU/s2048/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhC_8zyPgvtzdIGAW3rg70omoKjtMwwk1nBGHHRALuu2wkBk-J0yMA6RfM5MEPdHDeUW1UbCK3061hqib3yRTlLfqYWcKkjT0MJJ0lEltv0rRRt-GMP1V_HsHBNtoC9j-OOLg1QK1Y2S_1uoB1s9LY0UC6SAo-V221oQIAODfSEq4BHKjKPkkv8paQBgU/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZMfuHIvPIMymlC9wjiehPH9PO6oSbHtDN9D5NiEqrymI-JvWgsVMnpXEE0VVBDMBcmMWhEey4jH_IkclsWirSt9l3AV1fqV7NEvqoBrKqkGJ6OrplxaG8kIuQoV3XLIYfRTy7QAFRzYc3GOK7iwqM1NtoQNQiZMHPyXkKZOwLOdvrMZIie8U8X6v2o0v/s2048/056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZMfuHIvPIMymlC9wjiehPH9PO6oSbHtDN9D5NiEqrymI-JvWgsVMnpXEE0VVBDMBcmMWhEey4jH_IkclsWirSt9l3AV1fqV7NEvqoBrKqkGJ6OrplxaG8kIuQoV3XLIYfRTy7QAFRzYc3GOK7iwqM1NtoQNQiZMHPyXkKZOwLOdvrMZIie8U8X6v2o0v/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that was about that. A bank of cloud swept in and covered the sun. What warmth there was diminished and it became cold and dull. The imaginary butterfly-o-meter went from about 5% to 0%. I tried to keep buoyant and upbeat and continued to watch the riverbank for kingfishers, otters and sparrowhawks. But I might as well have been looking out for pelicans and parrots. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMw2ziCIDYr5rVEO_y_0HzX3SCplQOjgPfnJPa31gtVM_WemuJTHMtGpFuPX1IeJvYxllD5BG7JP_ysFr9NaWSVhPd7la2S8vPrA0x_7EyEk6HPzUu7qeEcW6l7oElC7oQymCqhRJDfanZFWITCFLqxcFlIACpgQaGzPlY4Kt4X_XGy1FJ5At72AytkH2/s2048/057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMw2ziCIDYr5rVEO_y_0HzX3SCplQOjgPfnJPa31gtVM_WemuJTHMtGpFuPX1IeJvYxllD5BG7JP_ysFr9NaWSVhPd7la2S8vPrA0x_7EyEk6HPzUu7qeEcW6l7oElC7oQymCqhRJDfanZFWITCFLqxcFlIACpgQaGzPlY4Kt4X_XGy1FJ5At72AytkH2/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">strong winds had taken their toll and there were a few fallen trees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some had been sawn and partially removed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFtM0sRSLD722UUe5Efi04vyJaEEfQrhA9BW2PoyxLN0c56LBprDvnZ9LSFxzbcFOgK1qx4kT1gP1-QcvPebjujB5q1_0zrIPFuNi1Gwzee40N7EWdAfosTH-NGNlswa1yraOM9cNPHHiEbXu9dUjG6CgzesYp0fyMvP5b0qEtUCEgWIIdxKl28vs79RI/s2048/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFtM0sRSLD722UUe5Efi04vyJaEEfQrhA9BW2PoyxLN0c56LBprDvnZ9LSFxzbcFOgK1qx4kT1gP1-QcvPebjujB5q1_0zrIPFuNi1Gwzee40N7EWdAfosTH-NGNlswa1yraOM9cNPHHiEbXu9dUjG6CgzesYp0fyMvP5b0qEtUCEgWIIdxKl28vs79RI/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvkqIu83TYa6pXZJ_3wKXV0qjYrcvwvHjiOKQAjrVosHzk0MNVwAtrFdSvecuD5JJbfv6Ogx2_Ae78wwZexZTCXmyCnagGRYwdHJ-xLGeXR0cykagVmHZMMTL28eEVHQ-wdEVvFo7kjcSc7jjg7MSt9eagn7Zt-kQBJZCedvfWuP4xIolKdPzR7wpOxqe/s2048/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvkqIu83TYa6pXZJ_3wKXV0qjYrcvwvHjiOKQAjrVosHzk0MNVwAtrFdSvecuD5JJbfv6Ogx2_Ae78wwZexZTCXmyCnagGRYwdHJ-xLGeXR0cykagVmHZMMTL28eEVHQ-wdEVvFo7kjcSc7jjg7MSt9eagn7Zt-kQBJZCedvfWuP4xIolKdPzR7wpOxqe/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This dipper was nearly the last decent thing spotted. As I struggled to get a line of sight through the sticks and bushes it flew off. I got several photos but none better than this one and all in drab grey light. Jackdaws perched on the castle ruins across the river. I searched my memory banks for the name of the ruins. It took 5mins of rummaging to remember Hailes Castle. Mary and I regularly set ourselves the challenge of recalling (rather than googling) a film star's name, a place name, that band who played the gig we saw, the name of that film, the word for fingers, the word for memory. Oh the joys of getting old.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVlM3wcyDDfVIHtD4eS4UbcjqWCTKPr3Q_dVGKzvEEtqYwie54V2l4HA9zTHcW5o9_wwvR9k79W4alYlC_d13ASvYF0x45tY6fTa17_YeFtii6BTh62KrnGHIicVVy3lZV4SnImjKECjExYCqV_Y585ovxhtXSltlP3MikGH9h8vZevrKyKthJnl1ggDD/s2048/060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVlM3wcyDDfVIHtD4eS4UbcjqWCTKPr3Q_dVGKzvEEtqYwie54V2l4HA9zTHcW5o9_wwvR9k79W4alYlC_d13ASvYF0x45tY6fTa17_YeFtii6BTh62KrnGHIicVVy3lZV4SnImjKECjExYCqV_Y585ovxhtXSltlP3MikGH9h8vZevrKyKthJnl1ggDD/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfyd7abPK888QlMqQT6YrqWcHEC4aCARIukZBY8QQ601FxACCLUvCcaTfcgtqy5BUTehbYin4xRVcFhw_5SaqcQpKDju_m-MnRIYPQeBQye3pzMcnuOilV6cx9TPeJ-VFLhhx4bDZr5SYT7SP_1NmtVccF3-Gu5QDO0L4pW4QGOTBGrqN7x4cuMLL1f1U/s2048/061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfyd7abPK888QlMqQT6YrqWcHEC4aCARIukZBY8QQ601FxACCLUvCcaTfcgtqy5BUTehbYin4xRVcFhw_5SaqcQpKDju_m-MnRIYPQeBQye3pzMcnuOilV6cx9TPeJ-VFLhhx4bDZr5SYT7SP_1NmtVccF3-Gu5QDO0L4pW4QGOTBGrqN7x4cuMLL1f1U/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a health bar at a bench where I've made Mary wait while I tried to flush out orange tips. This side of the A1 before it appears round the corner. There were no flowering anythings and no nectaring butterflies on those. It was a sad snack although I enjoyed it greatly as I had been fighting the hunger for a few miles. Things were so bad I threw the bread from the bird-food bag to the swan who had been eyeing me hopefully. It came hurrying back upstream and gobbled the crumbs as they floated downstream. Taking photos of a swan on a sunless day is just desperation. I had already made up my mind to go no further than East Linton as what would be the point? I was sure the forecast didn't say the sun would disappear at midday so comprehensively you almost needed a headtorch at half past. But there we were. This is the price you pay for that outstanding luck yesterday. Utter gloom and doom. Still, in my favour there is a new rail station in East Linton I get to try out. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5D5cPMEl77ZanZnchZ2PrKYeFnrQ8dJIgAMdMRiHyr_8zMIy4Nl5INvZULPBmfRP_ViqYfMhvqfjXluyLLTB0mfMxjeCK__qIa0zyHZryv7O8T4MNF2qCa92sgIcwJ9tv27W6sc1viTzwrItxAPI9q_K7t9dpnpZ-RSekuv0hztgBv5a9YWqXOHGoBuq/s2048/062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5D5cPMEl77ZanZnchZ2PrKYeFnrQ8dJIgAMdMRiHyr_8zMIy4Nl5INvZULPBmfRP_ViqYfMhvqfjXluyLLTB0mfMxjeCK__qIa0zyHZryv7O8T4MNF2qCa92sgIcwJ9tv27W6sc1viTzwrItxAPI9q_K7t9dpnpZ-RSekuv0hztgBv5a9YWqXOHGoBuq/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwP6Y0DlpdZWa2ombuZrTkSJAb38Q8nzyjC_B6BvS61GAg8TlJz0vGvan4dfzE6MN8H-M-N6Eh3m7dDaYOlcUv3Zh-Vn-_DfT9NDWqGP2-TO65Tj6W0wPSVY-JtlMEBoFcG69cl5LiMMfbSr7tn7cwNWLcV11voNOGJOfGyKDVsRLOIJREGyWOV-gN3ZK/s2048/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwP6Y0DlpdZWa2ombuZrTkSJAb38Q8nzyjC_B6BvS61GAg8TlJz0vGvan4dfzE6MN8H-M-N6Eh3m7dDaYOlcUv3Zh-Vn-_DfT9NDWqGP2-TO65Tj6W0wPSVY-JtlMEBoFcG69cl5LiMMfbSr7tn7cwNWLcV11voNOGJOfGyKDVsRLOIJREGyWOV-gN3ZK/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2AwesMqj6ROqrBZZ_5XQkvkI-u40o1Gs-F8Zc0sU5GayKQ8XpYzAOSBPJBQB6nuFJc5oTzOHGBGcPgBGV0KOLbN4spPJS_AqyLHzqLvEcyHvLDxryRV2peXvn24SB29jaA4GhUa8AAnKx8Zi007O6rRMYbB15Z74pZ3RIqQDSZ3uzjKCzdaRZJVG07Fg/s2048/064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2AwesMqj6ROqrBZZ_5XQkvkI-u40o1Gs-F8Zc0sU5GayKQ8XpYzAOSBPJBQB6nuFJc5oTzOHGBGcPgBGV0KOLbN4spPJS_AqyLHzqLvEcyHvLDxryRV2peXvn24SB29jaA4GhUa8AAnKx8Zi007O6rRMYbB15Z74pZ3RIqQDSZ3uzjKCzdaRZJVG07Fg/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdIE3iXVzDDJuD1v_tdkkUYVSyc7ACu-tRTaZ_GIAxm7VNcpLaLCckgjTzWFxFrbm7bmkjLTdZMzg9yrdjzcwE1dRQqVOhvNZyTIFCkX56mfQOUwOqKclMqz6gnF2tee8qGSKpGot3rZVeOleLdBaYW_no8nYx0KfDaPK73-Jh3bWhB8aEhyphenhyphenKRfSeohFP/s2048/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdIE3iXVzDDJuD1v_tdkkUYVSyc7ACu-tRTaZ_GIAxm7VNcpLaLCckgjTzWFxFrbm7bmkjLTdZMzg9yrdjzcwE1dRQqVOhvNZyTIFCkX56mfQOUwOqKclMqz6gnF2tee8qGSKpGot3rZVeOleLdBaYW_no8nYx0KfDaPK73-Jh3bWhB8aEhyphenhyphenKRfSeohFP/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX41jc6ZVQfpOQtvEkva1zony07RYxK7G4HaFWFKfRX5vyv5626keqy_SavZY94m47MWY7aEoGLEVj7Z6DAGJxS73MfF-EqTHT-c1fsmK8uhKg-jFau749TIJBszoToii48DgzeAMi1KuEQVeZdp9iPIH4wsbwq3qagoKISALG4TA0mmQeaCmKBFoSg0t/s2048/066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX41jc6ZVQfpOQtvEkva1zony07RYxK7G4HaFWFKfRX5vyv5626keqy_SavZY94m47MWY7aEoGLEVj7Z6DAGJxS73MfF-EqTHT-c1fsmK8uhKg-jFau749TIJBszoToii48DgzeAMi1KuEQVeZdp9iPIH4wsbwq3qagoKISALG4TA0mmQeaCmKBFoSg0t/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not enough light to bother taking pics of the starlings on tv aerials. I went into the coop to get a sandwich for lunch and my luck wasn't entirely out as they had PCTs. I think I limited it to one but could have happily munched down 5 or 6, but that would offset the calories burned, one of the few decent outcomes of the day. Just call it quits and head home. Going across the park to the new station I was halted in my tracks by 20 finches flying up from the grass into a tree. They looked exotic and my first thought was <i>waxwings? </i>They were bullfinches but also had a few stray chaffinches and greenfinches in the mix and going about in a garrulous gang from tree to tree with visits to pick up seedcases from the ground. I did my best to get some photos although it was nearly pitch black! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU96Mvj4nDu95OHjf-sfjpIi19DVBSH_2uMBaaWmuAY_syVJTidVehPA9HFbhIbkZyYUU6WxK_7gRc7T9HaatSZTx4GQdbKEPJyyFnHsfkKkbKzVNJhJ2GQ0H67QFRRSje3HtFBqBg_1I_NZcIOqM2uAmfIogd7v7hZPEidT4V_qQ_eCM5Wh9pm60H42y/s2048/067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU96Mvj4nDu95OHjf-sfjpIi19DVBSH_2uMBaaWmuAY_syVJTidVehPA9HFbhIbkZyYUU6WxK_7gRc7T9HaatSZTx4GQdbKEPJyyFnHsfkKkbKzVNJhJ2GQ0H67QFRRSje3HtFBqBg_1I_NZcIOqM2uAmfIogd7v7hZPEidT4V_qQ_eCM5Wh9pm60H42y/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg7wAFcwFM4jWx4o3qA-jmOa0xWmRoJi9p6oDO-flXxVXcki_sb4IADasmJjge4ZnDegEsR-7ne_BsAyGpgCexOKJjgA7BTTvSsGuMsiI0jbSJVvmK6Ytz2AXqM55GvM8nG72p3sVQA0zOnuqpHvy1G44kFbrEL61f-2PeqgFPJRqcHyhR9ejYzCLwzQd/s2048/068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg7wAFcwFM4jWx4o3qA-jmOa0xWmRoJi9p6oDO-flXxVXcki_sb4IADasmJjge4ZnDegEsR-7ne_BsAyGpgCexOKJjgA7BTTvSsGuMsiI0jbSJVvmK6Ytz2AXqM55GvM8nG72p3sVQA0zOnuqpHvy1G44kFbrEL61f-2PeqgFPJRqcHyhR9ejYzCLwzQd/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nXOCbIqP2itoNWdGyMWpZ8ge6n3jYvcJeiGpzM6XlajYyFfg90OBlP6KXs0LkxGWzjjYap9KquxLXENEkKjyKq9Aom0CeeE4H-6lfU4Qo7OIzxBKigp9GcndzWs2JZo74u33PA1EIrqVFt9d8z-LOu3IMmUs66ubX6P8wWKAKm1cDn1AXP4q4BtrLYs2/s2048/069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nXOCbIqP2itoNWdGyMWpZ8ge6n3jYvcJeiGpzM6XlajYyFfg90OBlP6KXs0LkxGWzjjYap9KquxLXENEkKjyKq9Aom0CeeE4H-6lfU4Qo7OIzxBKigp9GcndzWs2JZo74u33PA1EIrqVFt9d8z-LOu3IMmUs66ubX6P8wWKAKm1cDn1AXP4q4BtrLYs2/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2MixrBxJH0zc8BOqWfQRy7WRkiCQGyiJHneahPnLAfazY0Pdjklx1EOLkvV7WdMfyPvr4DX0y7-ya_cuoSRBRVl3i_jqHalYkFmGS4mG164fVWu_3dj_krWDN6zq_0dWA5xUXOifONdVSk2zS1eHiDbn8ulWssLKOfJ0bTVBxTmjW7j5a72QTgxUOmOR/s2048/070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2MixrBxJH0zc8BOqWfQRy7WRkiCQGyiJHneahPnLAfazY0Pdjklx1EOLkvV7WdMfyPvr4DX0y7-ya_cuoSRBRVl3i_jqHalYkFmGS4mG164fVWu_3dj_krWDN6zq_0dWA5xUXOifONdVSk2zS1eHiDbn8ulWssLKOfJ0bTVBxTmjW7j5a72QTgxUOmOR/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bullfinches cheered me up nearly as much as the station let me down. The next train back to Edinburgh was in about 90 minutes. Fuck you very much. I had heard you have to check the timetable more carefully than for instance North Berwick to Edinburgh which is every hour. Oh well, looks like I'm getting a bus. I did contemplate jogging over to NB but was feeling too low. I went round to the bus stop and there was no timetable, well hey, thanks. Maybe the hunger was making me feel dismal so I got the (prawn mayo) sandwich out and put the camera away. I'd have a look on my phone to see if I could work out the bus timetable after my sandwich. Only at that point and halfway through my sandwich the bus came round the corner, Edinburgh written on its forehead. I got on, sandwich in hand, fumbling Saltire card and gloves. <br />I think I dosed on the bus like a pensioner and got off in Abbeyhill, a year later, to hirple down the road, home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wsqx99rb5lGOZ9K8dz0Ukk9TsL8x7nnESrf1hU1Gv9AbwfAQPd08b1b2SJGiNl2s19N5V6qJ5Zbuyeqy1HcaOgdUHTU63iUuvnIwO6j0rBwXaF0Nn3G5YBe_i18xJVbCw7Unj0r3zej_2DrvoCFeZIYH6oAAfM_FYTpNYEIiiXGDlDCizDAKmYzVQKue/s2048/071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wsqx99rb5lGOZ9K8dz0Ukk9TsL8x7nnESrf1hU1Gv9AbwfAQPd08b1b2SJGiNl2s19N5V6qJ5Zbuyeqy1HcaOgdUHTU63iUuvnIwO6j0rBwXaF0Nn3G5YBe_i18xJVbCw7Unj0r3zej_2DrvoCFeZIYH6oAAfM_FYTpNYEIiiXGDlDCizDAKmYzVQKue/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not likely</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWWoc8uSC1IQ8-xKJjfRUEWGCVoVGQftkwuhMdoPEe1LMgoEHIrv4baUAbZt_U7qYosOHxs2DIGKTPm42Xv9FiZCBs_lT2EPjhLjiyNiXoTMK_lZrrdYI6MpkSuYd6bO0bXck8zJty-CF5t6mR7FnDpSn8YxIs5QBVdhhdiQhE_d_ww8g77xnkSMMw-Zz/s1199/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1199" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWWoc8uSC1IQ8-xKJjfRUEWGCVoVGQftkwuhMdoPEe1LMgoEHIrv4baUAbZt_U7qYosOHxs2DIGKTPm42Xv9FiZCBs_lT2EPjhLjiyNiXoTMK_lZrrdYI6MpkSuYd6bO0bXck8zJty-CF5t6mR7FnDpSn8YxIs5QBVdhhdiQhE_d_ww8g77xnkSMMw-Zz/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">14 miles in the shape of a sardonic smile</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-29520968887773040332024-02-23T04:50:00.000-08:002024-02-23T05:10:50.335-08:00macro botanical<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rux4ewyvuUuMHb-gpYTcWvhCukAD8X4EwN5JNIbuOBA1eZYo9LtFtgR_J0qlf4OX4B-EwnYiJNz6MQ6RvNbISVCLUz8xpa5h4jKcofaWh3K10nRuqXG4wXZc2CXADneqWDKCQnWfR4PL1FYy5Cho8OcuMIUJhtQytmUKC5vbikXmmHx6hgrVdVf0uJKl/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rux4ewyvuUuMHb-gpYTcWvhCukAD8X4EwN5JNIbuOBA1eZYo9LtFtgR_J0qlf4OX4B-EwnYiJNz6MQ6RvNbISVCLUz8xpa5h4jKcofaWh3K10nRuqXG4wXZc2CXADneqWDKCQnWfR4PL1FYy5Cho8OcuMIUJhtQytmUKC5vbikXmmHx6hgrVdVf0uJKl/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Sunday 18th Feb and I macro-ed the hell out of the botanics; robins, squirrels, the lot. It was excellent. It was a three robin day. Which is to say I had three different robins come sit on my hand. Even if nothing else had happened, that makes it a red letter day. But other stuff did happen! Ahh so many treats!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d7vNzu1dKd9XVh1qj2yj9FuXg3bu9d-8DkVHhXBXWkI-jMGarFv0zoE-JzxnmNzOpl3JkDdMV4Sov99-VezN5wg9FYb3OQBDCMrVDWJG9IkgfULMs3r_tkm_TUAb0hl7nbVdCUHxLGpgYXklgacCig5-sT8x7ugj1JrAG0CoKOpGy9Vt_tti2ZaMpeqM/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d7vNzu1dKd9XVh1qj2yj9FuXg3bu9d-8DkVHhXBXWkI-jMGarFv0zoE-JzxnmNzOpl3JkDdMV4Sov99-VezN5wg9FYb3OQBDCMrVDWJG9IkgfULMs3r_tkm_TUAb0hl7nbVdCUHxLGpgYXklgacCig5-sT8x7ugj1JrAG0CoKOpGy9Vt_tti2ZaMpeqM/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I think that was the day I saw the kingfisher sat on a branch on the WoL at Powderhall (as it has been doing frequently, recently) and I ducked down to get my camera out the back pack behind the wall. When I next looked it had gone and there was no point in continuing to unpack my camera. I had no clue as to whether it moved a few inches into cover or flew a mile upstream. Okay, next! I walked round to Inverleith Row and along to the Chinese Pond in the Botanics. My thoughts had been to visit the rock garden and alpine troughs to photograph the tiny plants and miniature mosses there in their intricate and delicate forms. But first, let's just check the kingfisher isn't fishing the pond.<br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xCAWr9OIhtGMpy3TUbbHj4kkF_jzNkh199mTXKC8lEXmjyJXrzuVZqtmZIGu-M2i44Ot_EPrzbvZq8Dir6x_Kv6fa7Zan6VG0DreA_rD1MzAsqb9Ao9SPNF6mMdBHqTFVECAJNmMJ6AsTxihuFNLxsKkVs-ExW3c5kn6QNLA89ubCSRzM9xBLFrd1_tp/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xCAWr9OIhtGMpy3TUbbHj4kkF_jzNkh199mTXKC8lEXmjyJXrzuVZqtmZIGu-M2i44Ot_EPrzbvZq8Dir6x_Kv6fa7Zan6VG0DreA_rD1MzAsqb9Ao9SPNF6mMdBHqTFVECAJNmMJ6AsTxihuFNLxsKkVs-ExW3c5kn6QNLA89ubCSRzM9xBLFrd1_tp/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No kingfisher. (No surprise.) I had to change from the 400mm lens to the macro and put on the flash unit and diffuser. As I was doing this, a squirrel, supposing I was getting out a huge bag of squirrel food, ran over and sat on my camera case to see if he could help. I felt reluctant to endorse such flagrant behaviour but fished out a walnut to keep him onside. I allowed him to snap off the top half but kept the lower since he was being so presumptuous. Mr. Squirrel was not pleased and burrowed his head into my hand to open the fingers that held onto the remaining piece. It was only later when there was a glimpse of long teeth in one of the photos I reconsidered some of the games we were playing and that he was being really very good natured and not doing any biting or clawing but trying to use gentle persuasion. I kind of forget squirrels have large strong teeth and if they can trash a wire bird feeder they could certainly give a memorable bite. Perhaps they are smart enough to recognise what passes for etiquette when dealing with human food sources.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA6A9JjxKUW9hEkfLYdh7GUYOI6A1zPb1bcFwVBKVSZrBkFGmp9K0b6AEFsCTmM7yRIGz5BwJRqCC8SFqHOvgwHJaZUR32QH9F64FDZaGBMEpnzSGk1tdMKAUleuJLOARR4stHzdPFAEP5XJY0tmU2olZNh3cYomCI21kLbrOCOjP6ZgpDcfKf2UmZFBT/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA6A9JjxKUW9hEkfLYdh7GUYOI6A1zPb1bcFwVBKVSZrBkFGmp9K0b6AEFsCTmM7yRIGz5BwJRqCC8SFqHOvgwHJaZUR32QH9F64FDZaGBMEpnzSGk1tdMKAUleuJLOARR4stHzdPFAEP5XJY0tmU2olZNh3cYomCI21kLbrOCOjP6ZgpDcfKf2UmZFBT/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV_3eGBvVNDMqqcAUxxvxe4B9EbM5ga6XBNRu1XlrpnuqAMPDIBauu_-ZVCz_rZucDdvnPv42A-lZYZVxjBlxzpahhOseXwgGJbDeL7RpHDTBF5LZ4KaJvzFlfqFHJC0HhXalUAjmVgs5CexQGpOC2BNrE7r1Y__zgR1FPMFZWlSpTlsKzNAwvm722HbM/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV_3eGBvVNDMqqcAUxxvxe4B9EbM5ga6XBNRu1XlrpnuqAMPDIBauu_-ZVCz_rZucDdvnPv42A-lZYZVxjBlxzpahhOseXwgGJbDeL7RpHDTBF5LZ4KaJvzFlfqFHJC0HhXalUAjmVgs5CexQGpOC2BNrE7r1Y__zgR1FPMFZWlSpTlsKzNAwvm722HbM/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also waiting patiently in the wings was one of the robins. There are at least 2 in the Chinese Pond area, and they aren't the best of friends. They jealously guard their territory and intruders are seen off. This one, seeing the squirrel was getting the lion's share, came right over to say hello and hopped onto my hand for an inspection of goodies. He took so much time I was able to adjust the macro lens and get his photo. Not easy with one hand busy. And I see I forgot to move into better light. Had I been doing this properly I would have used my kit lens which zooms from 60mm down to 12mm and would have got all my hand and the robin in the whole frame. The macro lens is 60mm only.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5QH9c2wBJTcfpuvUcP-HifJEyhwYIawAQZkj9HoMQpqRlTLy8HaosdEvkFpjKEV5T3dzQcjYSCKJrR5bC0J9y66BqUY61-e0ky8Qj4yxamptcyf3dnABuZwSWD2VSL5Er7-KMs4Kt8cq0SfB5QZfAioP7LYYL7mFNQAtL06YsGxw3GeSV4RHjOcw9zWW/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5QH9c2wBJTcfpuvUcP-HifJEyhwYIawAQZkj9HoMQpqRlTLy8HaosdEvkFpjKEV5T3dzQcjYSCKJrR5bC0J9y66BqUY61-e0ky8Qj4yxamptcyf3dnABuZwSWD2VSL5Er7-KMs4Kt8cq0SfB5QZfAioP7LYYL7mFNQAtL06YsGxw3GeSV4RHjOcw9zWW/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hand getting dirty from tiny paws and claws</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii8wIU8U5tubYg4l6uVLjNR5UDyaGcPjsBCpRpz48KZRvVNLHl5QhOV7DisHzD0FLasfrIAx7JnawdHzJX1hqcNdM3-dxGv-Fr5-lRLtMuB21AkqdBIMGJO6EhDyfHFgO5h0yFfOUxFlilYgiTElpA79hTjrxAESZw1ASaBSgHabzyLdXsse23BrpWTj2/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii8wIU8U5tubYg4l6uVLjNR5UDyaGcPjsBCpRpz48KZRvVNLHl5QhOV7DisHzD0FLasfrIAx7JnawdHzJX1hqcNdM3-dxGv-Fr5-lRLtMuB21AkqdBIMGJO6EhDyfHFgO5h0yFfOUxFlilYgiTElpA79hTjrxAESZw1ASaBSgHabzyLdXsse23BrpWTj2/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWs-JoOW6wVZoCZ2r9yh44ufEvmuHwt_p67-bMf2qzoUU5wESUUWfxEkSvebT7q-NTyDb_bmHm4JuMNi86p4Q4f7lInaVT3XYSg16Db56VzimldIOOFYwkezuNWmeZTTpyjCJ7ErOoobNdBuOIBIhjlrPvg9FREZ4JAfEGKpE7voxs_U0vzjG5OwRS5M-/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWs-JoOW6wVZoCZ2r9yh44ufEvmuHwt_p67-bMf2qzoUU5wESUUWfxEkSvebT7q-NTyDb_bmHm4JuMNi86p4Q4f7lInaVT3XYSg16Db56VzimldIOOFYwkezuNWmeZTTpyjCJ7ErOoobNdBuOIBIhjlrPvg9FREZ4JAfEGKpE7voxs_U0vzjG5OwRS5M-/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuDDIcUe_8fa1pOWYV76u9Uv7sv-c_ZFkkABUpV8xkx0QDA0wB_LFouVKD0pxjm5LB_lN3dqm-LEJAUJ3vD58lkbUv18hxWfl-vn_s2HvjzBxK_OCWyn3AVd1bw44WWeK9vqoYOX8CSif4sHtwCNtuyeIjTj5u-Cja60q0QFdjueY1VPJANdrbcHYxrvp/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuDDIcUe_8fa1pOWYV76u9Uv7sv-c_ZFkkABUpV8xkx0QDA0wB_LFouVKD0pxjm5LB_lN3dqm-LEJAUJ3vD58lkbUv18hxWfl-vn_s2HvjzBxK_OCWyn3AVd1bw44WWeK9vqoYOX8CSif4sHtwCNtuyeIjTj5u-Cja60q0QFdjueY1VPJANdrbcHYxrvp/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The second robin was just down from the pond and near the the main path. Sat in a tree, I'm sure he had been watching, and flew over for a few seeds. The feel of tiny delicate claws hanging on to fingertips is one of the great riches of the world. I got slightly more robin in the frame this time. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1DLzTByoIatWhxZt3Wc3qGCulNy5sPizuOsMddEVagDaDc5BUzUGh0aHifo0v10dxN4CRGsJv-C0MWHTxdHBSS3BcMAiVxgWg_nYcUGL3MqipQtOGR-D7MhWzpBFwaZhnAB0ZFRTozA_7bExjiVEQJSw7zYJJumyCNqFVmMw4b7WdVDafhUvlXl8ocwH/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1DLzTByoIatWhxZt3Wc3qGCulNy5sPizuOsMddEVagDaDc5BUzUGh0aHifo0v10dxN4CRGsJv-C0MWHTxdHBSS3BcMAiVxgWg_nYcUGL3MqipQtOGR-D7MhWzpBFwaZhnAB0ZFRTozA_7bExjiVEQJSw7zYJJumyCNqFVmMw4b7WdVDafhUvlXl8ocwH/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enough of the petting zoo, we're here to do some serious botanical studies. A warm low Winter light was great for catching the rhododendron flowers; some just buds, others fully in bloom. I was keeping an eye on flowering shrubs (for lepidoteral as well as photographic reasons) but also leaves, stems and seedpods that were visually compelling. I had half a thought there might be an early butterfly about the place but it was only just into double figure temps and not really that warm. I kept my gloves and hat on.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZow9-CoVERAV_cFxYr_RnBhlMv_b2mEBh1gkPfaz7EaSVCciD5TAHnibiRUZTfFDAJYSHx8Tvdw6_qJ9bbe5VmQ7KpAfRQHFBWh7CKohdO7497t-jREDDuINo-MUK5hwKMtxUKUmWFS48k3IqYKS5jhL_oX3o97KhkLtrqYyB9kLESHjUjpLt5Wh87BXR/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZow9-CoVERAV_cFxYr_RnBhlMv_b2mEBh1gkPfaz7EaSVCciD5TAHnibiRUZTfFDAJYSHx8Tvdw6_qJ9bbe5VmQ7KpAfRQHFBWh7CKohdO7497t-jREDDuINo-MUK5hwKMtxUKUmWFS48k3IqYKS5jhL_oX3o97KhkLtrqYyB9kLESHjUjpLt5Wh87BXR/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCFGa_Acs6AuUU6inaFD7axPDzcu_RAhq9yZvJJOEsCO22dXwRulYxveSSSFdbGi5NMPbIwhmwVIwdwRNLkYZPt9Jqg47oE7V5iZZ2mlTThKjnsOXdkojmOIjkdYUCf8JR-3ejJMuu_6SeKzWYe8iBuOk84PinxYGk4ltGh2eVXGuwqnjditL8WWx3ekE/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCFGa_Acs6AuUU6inaFD7axPDzcu_RAhq9yZvJJOEsCO22dXwRulYxveSSSFdbGi5NMPbIwhmwVIwdwRNLkYZPt9Jqg47oE7V5iZZ2mlTThKjnsOXdkojmOIjkdYUCf8JR-3ejJMuu_6SeKzWYe8iBuOk84PinxYGk4ltGh2eVXGuwqnjditL8WWx3ekE/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">textural delights</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDcn2ToBaeqUUDQi-wv56eSBr2cnRSj5scD4oUpq_CKCR8JLRXdI_cuppHQigfUx5pkllbDFxuyEjpPuJXCYIv0LRmwIkx7vHhoWEklJtPJHIkl2MS28qeOkLaRMArqZYE3FFipZ1Jm2D2lKMh3sZrbM6oFw-1zDfBDOm9_cHmHPC63C8vFnMbLrO2f3S/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDcn2ToBaeqUUDQi-wv56eSBr2cnRSj5scD4oUpq_CKCR8JLRXdI_cuppHQigfUx5pkllbDFxuyEjpPuJXCYIv0LRmwIkx7vHhoWEklJtPJHIkl2MS28qeOkLaRMArqZYE3FFipZ1Jm2D2lKMh3sZrbM6oFw-1zDfBDOm9_cHmHPC63C8vFnMbLrO2f3S/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjTVDsBmqUpbDaO9iMXdj_OBh42uvUqRLUXH3Fqq5olXTzRP0uPVPNyJvaFQOf0opCeztdVt4W4l5vmuD2-vjgsZblDIZUDwD41_WcGk6p7TQTJ0QhK04hd2txhC4qhnRyNEZ9YaX2hWq2Ovv26QgaRqPKjM0eRK8AsmlwTMq9qE3oWGq9BOeErlEvLmE/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjTVDsBmqUpbDaO9iMXdj_OBh42uvUqRLUXH3Fqq5olXTzRP0uPVPNyJvaFQOf0opCeztdVt4W4l5vmuD2-vjgsZblDIZUDwD41_WcGk6p7TQTJ0QhK04hd2txhC4qhnRyNEZ9YaX2hWq2Ovv26QgaRqPKjM0eRK8AsmlwTMq9qE3oWGq9BOeErlEvLmE/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A distance away from the Chinese hillside and I came across yet another robin watching me from a low tree. I held out an offering and he/she landed for a look and a couple of seeds or nuts. A three-robin day! This one seemed too far off the beaten track (I was wandering between trees on grassy hillside, avoiding the Sunday crowds) to be that used to human interaction although there must be sufficient traffic coming past to encourage such interactions. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXu1QnW9iSzCr0YoTpQ3OC6tXgOlBWBJ074NXuvKM-2nYp5L6_0u7UM1GlHxgsrIxnkv2FEPu4JyJv1fy2u-4c1ONS0TYFd7tjbVQNcynzOAhhh056O5ypxv2oD2sIAOeI6gzyPdMyGCpFvXgzEMGzSy0SWBtY8can5TcMqMdkgdRrjVCL50G_iZSok7V/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXu1QnW9iSzCr0YoTpQ3OC6tXgOlBWBJ074NXuvKM-2nYp5L6_0u7UM1GlHxgsrIxnkv2FEPu4JyJv1fy2u-4c1ONS0TYFd7tjbVQNcynzOAhhh056O5ypxv2oD2sIAOeI6gzyPdMyGCpFvXgzEMGzSy0SWBtY8can5TcMqMdkgdRrjVCL50G_iZSok7V/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(gloves back on)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Y2X7lrsBVW6VjhaIdUqscCuiSOmoQ7Vn2SE61DDv_h28fKW6017rk39qE8yPRwNMPaEYd94gXdDG_QeBzLIgwxLbsWnqsIsU1gUvPFeY9pZHjlyj3BwsaAOrQr5l7qd-YBOPzH8e6GOcH_0oKRhF3WJ3f0g2-6PmPFwwMIsdFb1AnjFRnJA4YT4uk4fx/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Y2X7lrsBVW6VjhaIdUqscCuiSOmoQ7Vn2SE61DDv_h28fKW6017rk39qE8yPRwNMPaEYd94gXdDG_QeBzLIgwxLbsWnqsIsU1gUvPFeY9pZHjlyj3BwsaAOrQr5l7qd-YBOPzH8e6GOcH_0oKRhF3WJ3f0g2-6PmPFwwMIsdFb1AnjFRnJA4YT4uk4fx/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rhodie buds from above</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWxG0zU76v_R_tgfJIAaLjReh5ehSeAV59dFKrDwA8jmMaQ07R63FSOx1wvhYRfo1vmFhKoYxsZvp1LZy_258POnnLDdHLm1_yWB0IVPIM6TExSs2wTEoEzGeMgIdR0Vsg27Dwx-zbEoPxSixKODKfsO03pxoAz1OXsL5bxejh91541S_8Ia94c6vm7Dp/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWxG0zU76v_R_tgfJIAaLjReh5ehSeAV59dFKrDwA8jmMaQ07R63FSOx1wvhYRfo1vmFhKoYxsZvp1LZy_258POnnLDdHLm1_yWB0IVPIM6TExSs2wTEoEzGeMgIdR0Vsg27Dwx-zbEoPxSixKODKfsO03pxoAz1OXsL5bxejh91541S_8Ia94c6vm7Dp/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNpVh1ns81jzsRB6qm3Hq9I6tdS65IQ8O8puhfdJSN9CWtoCohRoe7ydq5E55n4FQlaOj1cOpoR9KsoKqBAnMnqJb3X3lwGjluG59uFKI9ehT21G-vDJbG7kftuE89muSNtJRAmUAEoR72Ob3amNF6czZBF6lynUfKAlE8G3XZhncEr_v-Cu5gEWefpdZ/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNpVh1ns81jzsRB6qm3Hq9I6tdS65IQ8O8puhfdJSN9CWtoCohRoe7ydq5E55n4FQlaOj1cOpoR9KsoKqBAnMnqJb3X3lwGjluG59uFKI9ehT21G-vDJbG7kftuE89muSNtJRAmUAEoR72Ob3amNF6czZBF6lynUfKAlE8G3XZhncEr_v-Cu5gEWefpdZ/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Campbell's magnolia<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Campbells Magnolia was still clamped shut when I checked. It lives just round a corner from the cafe and has flamboyant pink (not <i>magnolia </i>coloured!) flowers any time soon. They appear before the leaves and don't last that long in peak condition. I will return shortly to hopefully catch them in their prime early next week. The buds are ripe with visual innuendo.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdHiBg7H_gYCgYkSl3ksiqtqt231EPHjB-fBgxCvPGqUYMR5qkCl0UNTd8VqdUTvLSv8UJAVBWqnLaU9yue4qVg48Exgv3svP7elTvPgV3q-bpy-bHAmenJWgPUOGQMp0rSvaTki11cKYgi0c9K9e09faJA54pZs4xksByzRINM2-0QB1wsYdbGuK20QD/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdHiBg7H_gYCgYkSl3ksiqtqt231EPHjB-fBgxCvPGqUYMR5qkCl0UNTd8VqdUTvLSv8UJAVBWqnLaU9yue4qVg48Exgv3svP7elTvPgV3q-bpy-bHAmenJWgPUOGQMp0rSvaTki11cKYgi0c9K9e09faJA54pZs4xksByzRINM2-0QB1wsYdbGuK20QD/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM2xo3vzomZ9y06aEtYiPpmoAhEfmcuylPT8XFYNIFrK2aWfX1hFe51amE0zlFac3i8Vei4P4_V5u00c28g6JsnAJaJ403gcvcAaIr53Ig6NLuHXXnk5rfYv8GBRs2gY_7RER6gXQ78skevOYTN18QXgxQWxZHHBgteZhGQAWdMVMJsqYXyR06bF5vHZs/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM2xo3vzomZ9y06aEtYiPpmoAhEfmcuylPT8XFYNIFrK2aWfX1hFe51amE0zlFac3i8Vei4P4_V5u00c28g6JsnAJaJ403gcvcAaIr53Ig6NLuHXXnk5rfYv8GBRs2gY_7RER6gXQ78skevOYTN18QXgxQWxZHHBgteZhGQAWdMVMJsqYXyR06bF5vHZs/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyDY37To-0M_3VnWsK95ARI1tl4P8A8Ozy1VHmo65q9pr0n2U3-QC5-m7anSklY0xCG7-RXXDmK8c42JCq4VO_ZVZnOrGbU_frYoPyxzCrZ-9kq6cSnoNwTv_Co73aU2rBcSxRfmh7EG-F5FDwp7yXAaarF57b4IH6unJmt3172bPUd-wKj14UlFi6_0I/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyDY37To-0M_3VnWsK95ARI1tl4P8A8Ozy1VHmo65q9pr0n2U3-QC5-m7anSklY0xCG7-RXXDmK8c42JCq4VO_ZVZnOrGbU_frYoPyxzCrZ-9kq6cSnoNwTv_Co73aU2rBcSxRfmh7EG-F5FDwp7yXAaarF57b4IH6unJmt3172bPUd-wKj14UlFi6_0I/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAaFPE4vBdTr_XB4XlIuNqtS6TRmshUAHeEdCMzplp8d1cVsN1rtWL-Ahyphenhyphentvl00aC-lYxyNegWIrCvGAZD7vx5quACOwBDglGfKQbCNV-qUG-PUnVzp3xaJXVlFZ-ocZKsGb_yTZECgPyryoh8mLGDuObixXdN5MCcSAD2XDAhOIryOnSdF9lILbAlhOs/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAaFPE4vBdTr_XB4XlIuNqtS6TRmshUAHeEdCMzplp8d1cVsN1rtWL-Ahyphenhyphentvl00aC-lYxyNegWIrCvGAZD7vx5quACOwBDglGfKQbCNV-qUG-PUnVzp3xaJXVlFZ-ocZKsGb_yTZECgPyryoh8mLGDuObixXdN5MCcSAD2XDAhOIryOnSdF9lILbAlhOs/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineYF_T0lfQ0kAAebqhmpjfCynBRaRtfg5La_xdcj9mZevSDXAi_evmeCstDKd6-MXaSilx-MtuutG-u8Jp2LoEWeuOZcPMvvI3DThUua-lYU4tL6H0B44JSMZ044cTf-nbwEpELPL3mifP8HcWwndOLMroQzz9YpXvM8ATa4jbsEq2co9CJWHAzp3zTPd/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineYF_T0lfQ0kAAebqhmpjfCynBRaRtfg5La_xdcj9mZevSDXAi_evmeCstDKd6-MXaSilx-MtuutG-u8Jp2LoEWeuOZcPMvvI3DThUua-lYU4tL6H0B44JSMZ044cTf-nbwEpELPL3mifP8HcWwndOLMroQzz9YpXvM8ATa4jbsEq2co9CJWHAzp3zTPd/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52Ux8YwRY33pPLhXpzT19AcD7A9s2seOZTw8AL4s8vT9Ne9xLmD-tNW4Wft0O71nHCdQfafUH-6L4yCfbGfGPGJnlIaX3ULMeyFjFBmWqdwq8Y9lipUalXnT3zfcvCYo8FKSmuP5t9tdB-HSmlObGmdsalzirPfsrxVYq6Ai2YYdjiPYrUTmjaBzS5NoE/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52Ux8YwRY33pPLhXpzT19AcD7A9s2seOZTw8AL4s8vT9Ne9xLmD-tNW4Wft0O71nHCdQfafUH-6L4yCfbGfGPGJnlIaX3ULMeyFjFBmWqdwq8Y9lipUalXnT3zfcvCYo8FKSmuP5t9tdB-HSmlObGmdsalzirPfsrxVYq6Ai2YYdjiPYrUTmjaBzS5NoE/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JsdWwh6g5VHt_OtKt8rU7KmLvRtVWVKRpZ1y_z7QLeDlH7MiU1ceNSI1q-mw6n5CDJlNvSksdgqlBHwDpWV17zwQZK-QiQ0sEEbCbCAL3AWqRlGJnZdpuXKK6UH2r31gJfkgQfT_0RozHuq1_jZ78qMDnGfODhhdjbOtXKvx670_LafaafyL3Ppc5H1j/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JsdWwh6g5VHt_OtKt8rU7KmLvRtVWVKRpZ1y_z7QLeDlH7MiU1ceNSI1q-mw6n5CDJlNvSksdgqlBHwDpWV17zwQZK-QiQ0sEEbCbCAL3AWqRlGJnZdpuXKK6UH2r31gJfkgQfT_0RozHuq1_jZ78qMDnGfODhhdjbOtXKvx670_LafaafyL3Ppc5H1j/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDSo4VVPj0iNfnoP2_xE9dH5xDPBm_-uNKqTn2JjZ0tdvq_wkgOQYlQhCJRm2kEzWK-6iu0iNZ5TwZbCwIToBUHLQYr-vGWdy2meWLAIn-8Mo4jn48e82RG3UuDKqdd9FR7KsymzPmCbhMv-JC9syga8OvFN4wwhq-F7U6t2qBQb4Ss9yTP3u3GCe0jcp/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDSo4VVPj0iNfnoP2_xE9dH5xDPBm_-uNKqTn2JjZ0tdvq_wkgOQYlQhCJRm2kEzWK-6iu0iNZ5TwZbCwIToBUHLQYr-vGWdy2meWLAIn-8Mo4jn48e82RG3UuDKqdd9FR7KsymzPmCbhMv-JC9syga8OvFN4wwhq-F7U6t2qBQb4Ss9yTP3u3GCe0jcp/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRkbpnBzcozg1lEhpDrkjKBtCRAwdQmphAxHHZAVShUMpB0OdUPuWRjvcWj1_o84c22bGPD0nJtSjepus0a5YwPiZJ5C7LXa60DoOoCQ9anjO_ddl5y5_3aPhgZ9gKBhoC-6kuE3YuPR6gHEtYizQpaSDk0QS9VzpcZbV0lPusiwb9ETgbp2rG3CPVUZT/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRkbpnBzcozg1lEhpDrkjKBtCRAwdQmphAxHHZAVShUMpB0OdUPuWRjvcWj1_o84c22bGPD0nJtSjepus0a5YwPiZJ5C7LXa60DoOoCQ9anjO_ddl5y5_3aPhgZ9gKBhoC-6kuE3YuPR6gHEtYizQpaSDk0QS9VzpcZbV0lPusiwb9ETgbp2rG3CPVUZT/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />praevernum means 'early spring'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I stopped at this shrub, a gloriously flowering rhodie with attendant bees and hoverflies as it was well lit in bright sunlight. I had been on my way to the Alpine troughs when I realised they were out of bounds given all the work there and refurb of the palm-house and greenhouses. I was having a bit of trouble getting close enough to the bees when all of a sudden my eye was caught by a large dark shape descending and a red admiral fell out of the sky and landed plop, on a flower. It was easily within reach of the macro lens and my heart raced while I took a whole heap of photos before even thinking about exposure settings and shutter speeds. I think I was holding my breath. I lost sight of it but knew I had at least a record shot or 5 and so all was not lost. Although admirals are now considered to overwinter in the UK they weren't always. However too many turn up on warmer Winter days suggesting they almost certainly do. I was cock-a-hoop to see one of the few examples, and a higher tariff species than the usual peacocks and commas that are far more likely to show themselves early in the year. There have been a couple of peacock sightings in Bawsinch reserve.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWQnJHpgp7RkJXQNK2JxffhGzbuxPNCrrdGdLaRY6LsfMZv9xeMC7Gx8QHeIeliYoGI2rIbYDH0KhxuXQldGx6ddlWdWM06JTzDstA67WxZmx6od_VjesSK6bKgHgKPS2aGlnasNdUK9JHsCc6dHhYnXS_hoEXphD9EB0FTEBTR3Mp-tvlv2bHRic_aYc/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWQnJHpgp7RkJXQNK2JxffhGzbuxPNCrrdGdLaRY6LsfMZv9xeMC7Gx8QHeIeliYoGI2rIbYDH0KhxuXQldGx6ddlWdWM06JTzDstA67WxZmx6od_VjesSK6bKgHgKPS2aGlnasNdUK9JHsCc6dHhYnXS_hoEXphD9EB0FTEBTR3Mp-tvlv2bHRic_aYc/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKtQPcW8BMSbg8AFwu0W3jC_XSkoHWiZ5r0SONYZuNsyYRqKTqj6mgL4WN12B6rJUJY3ItSNvwBOh1TKyVHJwstbbayi6xsC0_SbtPW-FGQpOboH8pKN935OcojKBC9WgrU_pnmVatLl2lS_a75tGF-6CCw9YBvSGXVPGRwx89-sIP74eMX32BGIWtcyU/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKtQPcW8BMSbg8AFwu0W3jC_XSkoHWiZ5r0SONYZuNsyYRqKTqj6mgL4WN12B6rJUJY3ItSNvwBOh1TKyVHJwstbbayi6xsC0_SbtPW-FGQpOboH8pKN935OcojKBC9WgrU_pnmVatLl2lS_a75tGF-6CCw9YBvSGXVPGRwx89-sIP74eMX32BGIWtcyU/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqWtLSnmV-o-eFS9oAbaqeAfNsr1OHIB08QrhYnoflke9kjTmzazeqBgtPCMMVgZwVp1x-Ih2VfaKFS1baxIOP_ZIJnxFVx5-hjzbBueplUQmETcdgnS9PvCh4yp7zF3JkZ5I5B8A4hoOc3oeaeZXSboRvcBi0ADAq-ThcGoGc85AMkLoDM9y9eWAUwHp/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqWtLSnmV-o-eFS9oAbaqeAfNsr1OHIB08QrhYnoflke9kjTmzazeqBgtPCMMVgZwVp1x-Ih2VfaKFS1baxIOP_ZIJnxFVx5-hjzbBueplUQmETcdgnS9PvCh4yp7zF3JkZ5I5B8A4hoOc3oeaeZXSboRvcBi0ADAq-ThcGoGc85AMkLoDM9y9eWAUwHp/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was just wondering what I had done to deserve this minor miracle when it re-appeared and landed even closer. Had it been 10 yards away I would have been cursing the macro lens and racing to change to the 400mm! However it was a perfect outcome; I could not have chosen a better set up - sunlight coming from the right direction, lighting up a spectacular flowering shrub and the admiral at nearly eye level right next door to where I was standing and a decent specimen. It was almost so good it felt like cheating or dreaming. I moved to get a bit of blue sky in the photo and then shot some video. Checking the results I was over the moon. The photos looked like tropical flora with blue sky background - somehow I'd Hawaii-ed a red admiral in February. There was nobody around when it took place and I felt a bit like walking up to strangers in the Botanics and saying <i><b>check THIS out!</b></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmUVHd4kRSCdRK_JFnmmXA94QVvkjIyX9x9ILkBzv6UfZD0nt0AU6KkPAiwBoEAiffQieRxCRuMWcX4YUXjuu0HYOCcoFkfR5P5oeVYZnltrF4HCRt1y4V0U2DCVIoYTqQaEhubKaotjUWdSqcYlDlw2NKLvGeeC-9zsrW53JGPPxdyi6OkzLcV6i1SAS/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmUVHd4kRSCdRK_JFnmmXA94QVvkjIyX9x9ILkBzv6UfZD0nt0AU6KkPAiwBoEAiffQieRxCRuMWcX4YUXjuu0HYOCcoFkfR5P5oeVYZnltrF4HCRt1y4V0U2DCVIoYTqQaEhubKaotjUWdSqcYlDlw2NKLvGeeC-9zsrW53JGPPxdyi6OkzLcV6i1SAS/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsoEP-vkOO7jcBJBwJyrA3zOXR81KIEg6ztZXHvQCGUmw34IhpRQ7SCdHuJBuT_pMgE6cBW_-AqCKE56jRzj0fKOZVQy_NBqcVrfiYiPyzbY05IFsomU1opl98YE8obmEvB3UJdd06SmQnpbl98gNoY0v2sBg-KWicz4RExs5tdky4G0B7RZK5sGyECHu/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsoEP-vkOO7jcBJBwJyrA3zOXR81KIEg6ztZXHvQCGUmw34IhpRQ7SCdHuJBuT_pMgE6cBW_-AqCKE56jRzj0fKOZVQy_NBqcVrfiYiPyzbY05IFsomU1opl98YE8obmEvB3UJdd06SmQnpbl98gNoY0v2sBg-KWicz4RExs5tdky4G0B7RZK5sGyECHu/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxG41YoVZYloWq6sjQnI_s-VVrqlTIB0irPMw1yoVdurJ5K9o2oqOWz_XZra9tmKyRIhe_oYZ46E4ymuuLsvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It also occurred to me here was the first butterfly I'd shot with the macro lens. What an omen and what a way to start. I had been a little concerned it would be too fiddly a process for butterflies or anything moving faster than a ladybird but this was a fabulous example of its potential. I am feeling super stoked about the whole wildlife photography year ahead!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDOVYbz-FCjlVNSOaA4_ee5zmL4DALy_Dqsq3Q5IyunNPKMVY3swLRNRynPWzMXHgG12WIrIM6RvFgSS8I9z5dsVlccWA_ej86RbWDnvWVI4yzf4Yi-VShSKvRDCtcfNWEpeVqkOGQuNJAK1m9v-hAGufBc6xJRg4CsQ40BpdLq2gw6zDQdPvx106U12i/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDOVYbz-FCjlVNSOaA4_ee5zmL4DALy_Dqsq3Q5IyunNPKMVY3swLRNRynPWzMXHgG12WIrIM6RvFgSS8I9z5dsVlccWA_ej86RbWDnvWVI4yzf4Yi-VShSKvRDCtcfNWEpeVqkOGQuNJAK1m9v-hAGufBc6xJRg4CsQ40BpdLq2gw6zDQdPvx106U12i/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL9-IIcbvzPJvssEfLBskSY86y7JDp326mZccfPTocKBL6KUwLRiXYyOUf-z4UMllDwU1RTlcJmH4IskMdq12YBJRK9san4bc-4UW4c-ubwmhds3fFUUdJh1yo8dAc0QOfUUHk4j6SwL06fO10nSi8widGevaJlUZO8O3r8e7Z5PX2GfHoSsl6N1-m6A1/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL9-IIcbvzPJvssEfLBskSY86y7JDp326mZccfPTocKBL6KUwLRiXYyOUf-z4UMllDwU1RTlcJmH4IskMdq12YBJRK9san4bc-4UW4c-ubwmhds3fFUUdJh1yo8dAc0QOfUUHk4j6SwL06fO10nSi8widGevaJlUZO8O3r8e7Z5PX2GfHoSsl6N1-m6A1/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCL2pZSI0m41Q923Uqkbrn5tOAus-awf4JMcOv5JnoD_vGFB4IHm6ZYBzpw3NaKEmmHmBFI7Nnu9fgeEKOr8ZX74cd2Oqurm77eHV9Az3D3dS1fwAkFsBLMZFKmsJ79BtwrwQlHxysiC7tYC2fQYGIy8BkzRY7mPQbkNFxCGqsnXs97dghg0cJdaD_ju/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCL2pZSI0m41Q923Uqkbrn5tOAus-awf4JMcOv5JnoD_vGFB4IHm6ZYBzpw3NaKEmmHmBFI7Nnu9fgeEKOr8ZX74cd2Oqurm77eHV9Az3D3dS1fwAkFsBLMZFKmsJ79BtwrwQlHxysiC7tYC2fQYGIy8BkzRY7mPQbkNFxCGqsnXs97dghg0cJdaD_ju/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Feeling things couldn't get any better I checked out the Chinese pond again then headed home via Warriston. I wanted to replace the knackered bird feeder (fatballs removed, presumably by squirrels) and hang a plastic feeder in its place. I thought the squirrels might ignore a fatball feeder if there weren't any peanuts on board. I stopped at one of the flat platforms I put out birdfood and getting a fairly enthusiastic reception I loitered for a few moments to photo a robin or 2, a pair of blue tits and a female blackbird. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrrCr1v6-WMhyphenhyphen1OF0rsaVu-0tPdolZCY8bQHfxuK4-3IdXmtjR2gc6lt7jb_brpTDGQI_ey-235T8yuO_TdWfiBmeNv2JvrKpy6YidWv_AGu0DyUytFoSSec5fygjX_iapD2SCqNqBtThVMad8eTXSxGcxHMJ9_rwLHTfFOgycc146H88ghqNwDZDl93W/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrrCr1v6-WMhyphenhyphen1OF0rsaVu-0tPdolZCY8bQHfxuK4-3IdXmtjR2gc6lt7jb_brpTDGQI_ey-235T8yuO_TdWfiBmeNv2JvrKpy6YidWv_AGu0DyUytFoSSec5fygjX_iapD2SCqNqBtThVMad8eTXSxGcxHMJ9_rwLHTfFOgycc146H88ghqNwDZDl93W/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9P1lQKQETkGzoQ7ZK86us-LKvWbXbjr7iEqycQucxpQnSOHM77kHNnJZsHZVUBxsOPiedQd9hgF-879wfBl6TTN0b_NM6nrPMoiB6jixUtJQscVIL7PiOVLhc61HFK2cqVGZKnFYGc6jgURrZ5IqKlFGwV_WBa1iqeeTHcNM31xFfwhmL-4z2e2RVlv5/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9P1lQKQETkGzoQ7ZK86us-LKvWbXbjr7iEqycQucxpQnSOHM77kHNnJZsHZVUBxsOPiedQd9hgF-879wfBl6TTN0b_NM6nrPMoiB6jixUtJQscVIL7PiOVLhc61HFK2cqVGZKnFYGc6jgURrZ5IqKlFGwV_WBa1iqeeTHcNM31xFfwhmL-4z2e2RVlv5/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAR64xtiDG1eagZDguWAWYR55t5JMrTAu4nUVMp5MtHbY3dy3VYx2c4Uozs59grE4XdUqy0SD71kse6YPzUOMgqvp0f_AT76Wm84pTZzQKQkDYhypRgHGF613epm87_oyEJy0vgTSwfh9HmKbiU5GXxpVJUTmTPh0chUwWfFgEBxzjOzPBiM77YPJjAkR/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAR64xtiDG1eagZDguWAWYR55t5JMrTAu4nUVMp5MtHbY3dy3VYx2c4Uozs59grE4XdUqy0SD71kse6YPzUOMgqvp0f_AT76Wm84pTZzQKQkDYhypRgHGF613epm87_oyEJy0vgTSwfh9HmKbiU5GXxpVJUTmTPh0chUwWfFgEBxzjOzPBiM77YPJjAkR/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7CnGzE1E-aB_V9QbAYAbNqyx2KF9NyzllLqDVivvPcyQFsyyEvP88UU27tuosf_iB91SK9N9q4MCSKFYS3KRr1ulp4SbTbRxLch8IfYOaS6fK0BpyGlMRJktI6H0iZHq-fv65oMPFuODEpfbw-ar1CYWs5ukefHF0puGllCbZO41-RMmfChVbE27vno8/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7CnGzE1E-aB_V9QbAYAbNqyx2KF9NyzllLqDVivvPcyQFsyyEvP88UU27tuosf_iB91SK9N9q4MCSKFYS3KRr1ulp4SbTbRxLch8IfYOaS6fK0BpyGlMRJktI6H0iZHq-fv65oMPFuODEpfbw-ar1CYWs5ukefHF0puGllCbZO41-RMmfChVbE27vno8/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bad Peggy!<br />I showed Peggy's owner the butterfly photos - at last an audience! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVR5xARkMHdYEPexjaxWlbKX1fl7xuR4NdIQne1lYDGchZ7lhkEPDK7bhaorour7ggw8d-2jYKmK8T53wsuIEk__XTOo3sYia-ZsnPbzfr3ySOiCU58_CjJTdZ6sXW02cx4XAm-Uw2YrTvMUYSJJxX9J-9ZOYlgfRF5BBp-ZfhCBOiPMNFNQgd1W8pIIZD/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVR5xARkMHdYEPexjaxWlbKX1fl7xuR4NdIQne1lYDGchZ7lhkEPDK7bhaorour7ggw8d-2jYKmK8T53wsuIEk__XTOo3sYia-ZsnPbzfr3ySOiCU58_CjJTdZ6sXW02cx4XAm-Uw2YrTvMUYSJJxX9J-9ZOYlgfRF5BBp-ZfhCBOiPMNFNQgd1W8pIIZD/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HcmQwZX-Rzy8dkEhI0viQAl__EctBMITsV3pR6pkGQFOxwHHV5FDXcD43MLwZphC5e03smPXAiiQDruZh_YW4PRl7pI_syp0BOpAyMiQTKeQaOQ2sHnttSxteeyDRdJrCY1nh6vv77H-kpJwTqz6mqXXKrzLA5K_DwWHtiV0J8NCVbNMF0Fa9VUABLjI/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HcmQwZX-Rzy8dkEhI0viQAl__EctBMITsV3pR6pkGQFOxwHHV5FDXcD43MLwZphC5e03smPXAiiQDruZh_YW4PRl7pI_syp0BOpAyMiQTKeQaOQ2sHnttSxteeyDRdJrCY1nh6vv77H-kpJwTqz6mqXXKrzLA5K_DwWHtiV0J8NCVbNMF0Fa9VUABLjI/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">how long will the replacement last?<br />place your bets now!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gevjTvddhyphenhyphendnNR0gvh5WIx8JK57d4CxDBVoyLMvEjRtHGC_vyc1T3DGVTYSGSuO38-CoBLp2Mbhbf8p_SYK3bB1uNqhyphenhyphenKSpXWyy7QjIhXgvPOerPVjxUNdh0paANG_HaL0fFlqg-p6fo32frcEN6c3EkIKhkzZl0hwNzZKKeU7FW8Oex2HfJSdhxWY7w/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gevjTvddhyphenhyphendnNR0gvh5WIx8JK57d4CxDBVoyLMvEjRtHGC_vyc1T3DGVTYSGSuO38-CoBLp2Mbhbf8p_SYK3bB1uNqhyphenhyphenKSpXWyy7QjIhXgvPOerPVjxUNdh0paANG_HaL0fFlqg-p6fo32frcEN6c3EkIKhkzZl0hwNzZKKeU7FW8Oex2HfJSdhxWY7w/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The daffodils at the West end of the crypts are now in bloom. I tried to get a photo looking down the line of crypts but it was all blurred out too much. I think I was crouched or kneeling on dirt and had the tilting screen out so was probably keen to get stood up before I ended up rolling about in the dirt. I am finally considering all 3 aspects of taking photos: shutter-speed, ISO and F stop. For much of what I was previously interested in, it was all about making sure the shutter-speed was high enough to freeze the action and that the subject was in the frame in an interesting composition. However I have more time for consideration of depth of field especially with stationary or slow moving bugs and how much of the image is in focus or deliberately blurred out. Okay brace yourself for lots more orange ladybird photos.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9hEQlbBOVCy9rnW3gIsNX2h_g3zQPBY_ru6vmljhnG37srFHalrQgSWQZpTrj_coNSd20n5qwLTuk__sYv08oosYx4ZGhJsXprkwXAYjCnvIWxqEQn2rKwMCgEs3eyAALZnowA-BBDXfuQffYQvbMh-A4FTQW1jjZxoWqGCtKxUhmzZGw7ID-3TTFFr/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9hEQlbBOVCy9rnW3gIsNX2h_g3zQPBY_ru6vmljhnG37srFHalrQgSWQZpTrj_coNSd20n5qwLTuk__sYv08oosYx4ZGhJsXprkwXAYjCnvIWxqEQn2rKwMCgEs3eyAALZnowA-BBDXfuQffYQvbMh-A4FTQW1jjZxoWqGCtKxUhmzZGw7ID-3TTFFr/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiparhM67iP_vQuGHaMRGOD7UBmbbE4piHhg_vNbbLxQgad8wUlGkD8jAO7JcbLLTYFguP2hz4VI_iETI2dORklOnAxSdxEtT3wtqrZi5WIczb__dzd2UsT_sYC2wPSplrxoqMH8Cih7O6hMiwx0AeFy9tZbPLQIXAUqRIlJal1XO0DziVjTwiVeBRXfkGJ/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiparhM67iP_vQuGHaMRGOD7UBmbbE4piHhg_vNbbLxQgad8wUlGkD8jAO7JcbLLTYFguP2hz4VI_iETI2dORklOnAxSdxEtT3wtqrZi5WIczb__dzd2UsT_sYC2wPSplrxoqMH8Cih7O6hMiwx0AeFy9tZbPLQIXAUqRIlJal1XO0DziVjTwiVeBRXfkGJ/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8HNVGVqCcAUTcIpdL6mQl-HTezkM4-MBMO91fbG7P_fsL7F7Thb93rA-_QpKmrLkDelELhFYHw1Jw37j3tgVvr2gwl5juQxEbo962PZbZsyKSBqbkwnVzuwb-g1F_TeW-Y7Myc8ApAOD2tUtjkyiabzVIuPygROAHIhLey9IfWksptizmHpQ_2AcET90/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8HNVGVqCcAUTcIpdL6mQl-HTezkM4-MBMO91fbG7P_fsL7F7Thb93rA-_QpKmrLkDelELhFYHw1Jw37j3tgVvr2gwl5juQxEbo962PZbZsyKSBqbkwnVzuwb-g1F_TeW-Y7Myc8ApAOD2tUtjkyiabzVIuPygROAHIhLey9IfWksptizmHpQ_2AcET90/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg01RmwzL7Df73s29WCTzPxbHfKvqcGHvAXWohLJv6t6slDDr6-uzVsbvUtjFedu5Rpd8nSXM2RLq-v1j2we49xwjFMdF7dtzKUqdftns1ThDjhwi8UcwUnodwXFQpNev17wYJQnmHhERJL8RgaJu8rJqBZkDZAFTSFtSvpEEooADt54ML-DK61tTVgxRV/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg01RmwzL7Df73s29WCTzPxbHfKvqcGHvAXWohLJv6t6slDDr6-uzVsbvUtjFedu5Rpd8nSXM2RLq-v1j2we49xwjFMdF7dtzKUqdftns1ThDjhwi8UcwUnodwXFQpNev17wYJQnmHhERJL8RgaJu8rJqBZkDZAFTSFtSvpEEooADt54ML-DK61tTVgxRV/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8 sleepyheads vs 1 adventurer</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsITGkHjVHPuvnBggYthruE82DooJ99TUc8LDuzuDBDgHQVp01Rw3lYHV8VQBRH4vGa63wQgumrG_dErMN_PyKku1aF-s5cytydfv5bNpHgpLmVHJewbMVDhJEZArXlsBrSokaugFIFxy79mPXZ7b8uiaEz5soAkqhLa3iCR8KPS7Bu4otpXh9BmE1M6XE/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsITGkHjVHPuvnBggYthruE82DooJ99TUc8LDuzuDBDgHQVp01Rw3lYHV8VQBRH4vGa63wQgumrG_dErMN_PyKku1aF-s5cytydfv5bNpHgpLmVHJewbMVDhJEZArXlsBrSokaugFIFxy79mPXZ7b8uiaEz5soAkqhLa3iCR8KPS7Bu4otpXh9BmE1M6XE/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mostly ladybirds huddle around (under) overhangs. Presumably to avoid snow falling and lying on top of them. They also mostly point upwards. Initially I was considering if this was like humans they prefer their heads to the top, but I suspect it is much more likely they do this to avoid trouble from raindrops; if they were pointing downwards it would collect around their face parts and could drown them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEi39i3Je86qyWrmWznfLUUWMdpCxm0NvdLZLw3cWJOtx6KW3jfMziZwRBaChCdeoB2ilEgKQM3Nmw37n5qizGeweeJsxLKaYaOA9wXPAz9uFWW687U_XVzhJnGhrASAWN0Kh6ffeXnMK_5Xv8g3TPB1-5gSsUHNUOOOriqtMmb0teoGvdwM8qTKpsbXw/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEi39i3Je86qyWrmWznfLUUWMdpCxm0NvdLZLw3cWJOtx6KW3jfMziZwRBaChCdeoB2ilEgKQM3Nmw37n5qizGeweeJsxLKaYaOA9wXPAz9uFWW687U_XVzhJnGhrASAWN0Kh6ffeXnMK_5Xv8g3TPB1-5gSsUHNUOOOriqtMmb0teoGvdwM8qTKpsbXw/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aEAtmVhapscn3MYquafBjTjCn1rq_Bg62xB81urmvvujgmRcg6rR7pHwz8PR-XnexajIU4W4tU9kxi4_EAmorWI3k0Xjcz54VpQVnaSOqAZrQckRpL67IgCoovXtUbTRexm2IkKIBKBGAekWHcCpDRQRJXwe_vsq60vXYVmfmu7cuJwh1Yl9aEVk2tSu/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aEAtmVhapscn3MYquafBjTjCn1rq_Bg62xB81urmvvujgmRcg6rR7pHwz8PR-XnexajIU4W4tU9kxi4_EAmorWI3k0Xjcz54VpQVnaSOqAZrQckRpL67IgCoovXtUbTRexm2IkKIBKBGAekWHcCpDRQRJXwe_vsq60vXYVmfmu7cuJwh1Yl9aEVk2tSu/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9K0ycSKar4AVpFQfo-WnasYTQEZFHjeu7bJpPU6bSc83uSmmpy75VOv_1pQi2x2ka2q9A1wvpGlENSbk-j5DpqJNrkKWPdMtXzvNhX1SzzvXL9Yr3mHmueM6dMSALN5O-BR-BGRsGtax0VSIKZtpekr9SbyzSDEMHa-tgBLMbX3NVF0EQ7gHTJcSfxKk/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9K0ycSKar4AVpFQfo-WnasYTQEZFHjeu7bJpPU6bSc83uSmmpy75VOv_1pQi2x2ka2q9A1wvpGlENSbk-j5DpqJNrkKWPdMtXzvNhX1SzzvXL9Yr3mHmueM6dMSALN5O-BR-BGRsGtax0VSIKZtpekr9SbyzSDEMHa-tgBLMbX3NVF0EQ7gHTJcSfxKk/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOqxL9H6zIXA56F3aypP-DzOy0IUSb5up12qDCL7sVVWnMiG07uoft-NPnCKcS9sghTyvhTVFUONpgvoYQJF7RV40oBJJ2uXaywcpmpE3FDlUCn0QhqK0rvLZB_1Iko0Qq5WloZ5Bi0Jhhn178gdJ4V5DbawrgG9M_hOvjv6QsyipFQhkTWRjcQXYlmYE/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOqxL9H6zIXA56F3aypP-DzOy0IUSb5up12qDCL7sVVWnMiG07uoft-NPnCKcS9sghTyvhTVFUONpgvoYQJF7RV40oBJJ2uXaywcpmpE3FDlUCn0QhqK0rvLZB_1Iko0Qq5WloZ5Bi0Jhhn178gdJ4V5DbawrgG9M_hOvjv6QsyipFQhkTWRjcQXYlmYE/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a finger for scale</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT30KPGQ6asQfQLLMra4D3r0mktId3IOfuIodZRZqOsJdZv_ut3gzJbs38wl60rZE1McLAputffnVIx-XFZmYdP3WloVNs_VUJNHG_jOYK14DMGoESfi_aD4yHrvd6m4Cn4rOdiqryVcQ6zSygjNakcyqW__BwGyOn1yQY4Jyx-vBJIr12mZaaQneVIyro/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT30KPGQ6asQfQLLMra4D3r0mktId3IOfuIodZRZqOsJdZv_ut3gzJbs38wl60rZE1McLAputffnVIx-XFZmYdP3WloVNs_VUJNHG_jOYK14DMGoESfi_aD4yHrvd6m4Cn4rOdiqryVcQ6zSygjNakcyqW__BwGyOn1yQY4Jyx-vBJIr12mZaaQneVIyro/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking into the abyss!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKERy9rssh0p-TpkAcsTk-a-rWy7gtkxeDdzwXNLhMz-fAdvfpGzh-n__8vFweBnUvgJSkOv2ydRbblyM8-_-K4Xs3qhBeCjgfhGnN84z_wcDrxgHVeJckj8sJiTl_8u9KMMai9R7YUjzlSm94gLrtTnF31UPfDKgoh9aHO6b-wUStO1hmcUathEP8HoL/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKERy9rssh0p-TpkAcsTk-a-rWy7gtkxeDdzwXNLhMz-fAdvfpGzh-n__8vFweBnUvgJSkOv2ydRbblyM8-_-K4Xs3qhBeCjgfhGnN84z_wcDrxgHVeJckj8sJiTl_8u9KMMai9R7YUjzlSm94gLrtTnF31UPfDKgoh9aHO6b-wUStO1hmcUathEP8HoL/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze84NUFWT3rIajCLl68CSbUtuxTHx6OpDAOtIozLBywk9uUuuCHFK2TVpWlrcM4k8dxd_Ramr0H0vPiU5W7C5Pg-YGODr3SgmHFucajITSitQhvECYx0kbhABFP2it2ibIHJzvFVJSIIHVmEy-BITbh3Cmkfqdi0tZ6qRt3TV_X0-CSmS1ED4tJ36sHQF/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze84NUFWT3rIajCLl68CSbUtuxTHx6OpDAOtIozLBywk9uUuuCHFK2TVpWlrcM4k8dxd_Ramr0H0vPiU5W7C5Pg-YGODr3SgmHFucajITSitQhvECYx0kbhABFP2it2ibIHJzvFVJSIIHVmEy-BITbh3Cmkfqdi0tZ6qRt3TV_X0-CSmS1ED4tJ36sHQF/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />I think the crows were wondering why I was wasting time standing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking at gravestones very closely when I could have been feeding them</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_q4fah25f7udo1oNP5Mbo4Wn35orOyWJqZrNYrG7hMOQ8nNAplo63D5NUWOQQWNl88oufg8x9OOhW6UxT1vEZEOzRrKzlqFudHNsGPIqnoqa5hha7Y7CM3YBy7DVKbjOOWCm8dwosF8VpYl3xJNen-FAnmhkE06tR8nXT265dfyhjueO4HJHuutGuuSsO/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_q4fah25f7udo1oNP5Mbo4Wn35orOyWJqZrNYrG7hMOQ8nNAplo63D5NUWOQQWNl88oufg8x9OOhW6UxT1vEZEOzRrKzlqFudHNsGPIqnoqa5hha7Y7CM3YBy7DVKbjOOWCm8dwosF8VpYl3xJNen-FAnmhkE06tR8nXT265dfyhjueO4HJHuutGuuSsO/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJPKNp5GmvV6M2RCfFajPesbuzyI0FKkq4o0dszH34EDMM5NlaSLAAkFUVDK4co32IzstcTp7XzrBOyDQlhlNTLL8k6JnzIeoymOMGAnnrk15VKh_ppJvFAYoiw8fGF_0RAJKN6ptgJ_zlfQIoBswuIMU1eMp3gfwCHeNTd4XO1NcM1vXqUAVRZ3h-2WH/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJPKNp5GmvV6M2RCfFajPesbuzyI0FKkq4o0dszH34EDMM5NlaSLAAkFUVDK4co32IzstcTp7XzrBOyDQlhlNTLL8k6JnzIeoymOMGAnnrk15VKh_ppJvFAYoiw8fGF_0RAJKN6ptgJ_zlfQIoBswuIMU1eMp3gfwCHeNTd4XO1NcM1vXqUAVRZ3h-2WH/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this one looked a bit different<br />later identified as perhaps a cream-spot ladybird</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBuI9Uj-IqD5Po2wP1KKRAs1PK3Xb5qurA2_KK9sgB_ph2vN67YoBoizna_Wvnr98MTm_n7003k2LTHVqYR9nW555yMDeIEONP7TEaQ4RhALCjhzvnHSXLslwHuXAUP53abIg72COUjaSUZUUpHbdceIlsblBYSVGyGdgxN26Y-URIW1P0fAZWjNBGa9d/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBuI9Uj-IqD5Po2wP1KKRAs1PK3Xb5qurA2_KK9sgB_ph2vN67YoBoizna_Wvnr98MTm_n7003k2LTHVqYR9nW555yMDeIEONP7TEaQ4RhALCjhzvnHSXLslwHuXAUP53abIg72COUjaSUZUUpHbdceIlsblBYSVGyGdgxN26Y-URIW1P0fAZWjNBGa9d/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnQSmUgm8LZyXmmyfKMtTvkEpPstnC5acfrIC3wJ0spvelEyzX19tpJuQbJBhc19g0dwaeIkxCWF9TtfeMayIdzkvK_bdPvrd3LvC1BTbcZD2KUtik49lgqfvDS4WGWbZfgoi9dF_9EFwVDMtbP9BKw0p6kKUrFUAEoY-mNLCFJ4w0Rg5gcVFC3eEuXN8/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnQSmUgm8LZyXmmyfKMtTvkEpPstnC5acfrIC3wJ0spvelEyzX19tpJuQbJBhc19g0dwaeIkxCWF9TtfeMayIdzkvK_bdPvrd3LvC1BTbcZD2KUtik49lgqfvDS4WGWbZfgoi9dF_9EFwVDMtbP9BKw0p6kKUrFUAEoY-mNLCFJ4w0Rg5gcVFC3eEuXN8/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent a while sneaking up on sunbathing flies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-ircFY2bR_pB2V1IX41gTg3wDPbU3LiRBHe3YMTbh0DcdXQ67mTHX5g29pM7L0HvGcWV4nd18AFlErLO8P_BYBu3jgdo0WQQ2TMtSL3M-gVd0WJnoVxwI9XX_SA99X3qqiCvZ6l5MlhDX3hnFOHmVrGFMWO7lpwku1NETShGacchQXXbjCormjbO5k5q/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-ircFY2bR_pB2V1IX41gTg3wDPbU3LiRBHe3YMTbh0DcdXQ67mTHX5g29pM7L0HvGcWV4nd18AFlErLO8P_BYBu3jgdo0WQQ2TMtSL3M-gVd0WJnoVxwI9XX_SA99X3qqiCvZ6l5MlhDX3hnFOHmVrGFMWO7lpwku1NETShGacchQXXbjCormjbO5k5q/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a mixed bag huddle</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJPF_CiC_7FDZMldkTIBX30lnxCK9X_o2iFGlmINqTDjrror1_9jz2pA48i0PBe0toaV2jCdRtOrm_AKMUGNiTmvMCCrs6YleJSFO3yvVtvOosnNqB9YtYsxgHjbgA-xboLMk67XCr4N72FBBs1McczSJnjZNgXz3r0za2ZsrqLM0UFXzl-9UMjGByuwe/s2048/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJPF_CiC_7FDZMldkTIBX30lnxCK9X_o2iFGlmINqTDjrror1_9jz2pA48i0PBe0toaV2jCdRtOrm_AKMUGNiTmvMCCrs6YleJSFO3yvVtvOosnNqB9YtYsxgHjbgA-xboLMk67XCr4N72FBBs1McczSJnjZNgXz3r0za2ZsrqLM0UFXzl-9UMjGByuwe/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0MAVOC45puBf0SvETcHsGP5NnbGu0KLkEFfn0MSxvFdbm3cyp8pTHgQZWL6sLitYq52np_Tmv8s1cKZirItCbVz0ZDwQW7Ogscv-3TdrqW10HbnwT_d-JCFtHj8loGy8z5Czc04_m-HWWWPYHLeYsG6U3YrHa8mzPZgA1mZ12qG_zOzuGwSXQjTgOwSA/s2048/067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0MAVOC45puBf0SvETcHsGP5NnbGu0KLkEFfn0MSxvFdbm3cyp8pTHgQZWL6sLitYq52np_Tmv8s1cKZirItCbVz0ZDwQW7Ogscv-3TdrqW10HbnwT_d-JCFtHj8loGy8z5Czc04_m-HWWWPYHLeYsG6U3YrHa8mzPZgA1mZ12qG_zOzuGwSXQjTgOwSA/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bee was looking a bit knackered and had stopped on a gravestone. I considered moving it to a more sheltered, less exposed spot. I got a couple of pics of it on my glove before the excitement got its motors revving and it recovered somewhat and flew off.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z068cIWdlYFRiQv0dWYAJD4ugT3cbES91EA0rbtXJA0lWCa0UnW4jA_V_eBsqWgwJ4SX_Kv-xzKCVMQ2vQls1kAHMdlr1D6Tyuisv5s8Qa-7fttm8SuPtKnIyksiw5vd4Qc_HL35trJtrOnt9euBs7kQUEz1Hs9DCP5udc002E3wZ7_eJBle5c0q7og1/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z068cIWdlYFRiQv0dWYAJD4ugT3cbES91EA0rbtXJA0lWCa0UnW4jA_V_eBsqWgwJ4SX_Kv-xzKCVMQ2vQls1kAHMdlr1D6Tyuisv5s8Qa-7fttm8SuPtKnIyksiw5vd4Qc_HL35trJtrOnt9euBs7kQUEz1Hs9DCP5udc002E3wZ7_eJBle5c0q7og1/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">small island of moss</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_OguZqdYdyNObyjdTLYmxV2HH4H3IrRCBeOe6HTFS7B7KG5lSwgw0x6479ZldgAVdfjS1ekLWYFEOKV_xrWbmDW7T4gqT0Siw33A-p8p-nb-wKaXNGxbRx0-Ve9gyQv9A-yPETk9e4lxW5bYbuMpJ4smdTiAH11wxGw0OrbWRZ_vi06ENZJWkXKHKwRB/s2048/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_OguZqdYdyNObyjdTLYmxV2HH4H3IrRCBeOe6HTFS7B7KG5lSwgw0x6479ZldgAVdfjS1ekLWYFEOKV_xrWbmDW7T4gqT0Siw33A-p8p-nb-wKaXNGxbRx0-Ve9gyQv9A-yPETk9e4lxW5bYbuMpJ4smdTiAH11wxGw0OrbWRZ_vi06ENZJWkXKHKwRB/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What a fantastic day! Great to see the sun out and warming everything up. I think there's some less good weather on the way. Often the way - a pretend Spring, then a fall of snow. Looking forward to the second butterfly of the year and lots more.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn6TcoSP13FhCtrzX9v3Vs63uf-0u_gKhSWz7RG0nkeBKFHQr-8R-Ct7eyCqGXooW35y_B88XSdw0zP0QxIONhmSPihqlolY_N0ODHAqMlbwqVdR9D0ux7LqVOdgqfvVnse2cTvMRngPERHLcgDnRN584D4-zrbWeUJ10Mj01P42PZF9dU1c_74mnHwXy/s2048/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn6TcoSP13FhCtrzX9v3Vs63uf-0u_gKhSWz7RG0nkeBKFHQr-8R-Ct7eyCqGXooW35y_B88XSdw0zP0QxIONhmSPihqlolY_N0ODHAqMlbwqVdR9D0ux7LqVOdgqfvVnse2cTvMRngPERHLcgDnRN584D4-zrbWeUJ10Mj01P42PZF9dU1c_74mnHwXy/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">last robin of the day</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-69150294064075227992024-02-20T03:16:00.000-08:002024-02-20T03:16:33.005-08:00world of wonder<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwtbdOAAM3lESFyK6Iyi_e3sWb13D-Y5orXltmp07W0E_wZ1q5iHrQIrohOT-mSViVCANDis9TH8K89FPqeDvUOsjoVmiAWtU5BuC2kEMtxcaZoYxDCRftK2jimN1mu8P0uqPuehRgVlHd347SRmtfQvir8IVUuC7h6IWGN_iVethRNB0YSATWY0jjzDz/s2048/030AA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwtbdOAAM3lESFyK6Iyi_e3sWb13D-Y5orXltmp07W0E_wZ1q5iHrQIrohOT-mSViVCANDis9TH8K89FPqeDvUOsjoVmiAWtU5BuC2kEMtxcaZoYxDCRftK2jimN1mu8P0uqPuehRgVlHd347SRmtfQvir8IVUuC7h6IWGN_iVethRNB0YSATWY0jjzDz/s320/030AA.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">An unexpected splash of sunshine on Friday 16th February led to a window into a world of wonder. With almost Spring-like temps and semi clear skies I thought I'd take the new 60mm Macro lens along to Warriston cemetery. Get to know how to use it before we go off on holiday and I'm trying to read instructions in the sweating undergrowth being eaten by bugs, lens caps on the ground and temper fraying. I had been inspired by seeing Mairi's photos of small bugs and beasties found locally and she let me know what lens she used. (We both use a Lumix G9.) I watched several youTube videos on settings and behaviour. Not so much a science as an art apparently - start with these settings and work outwards. I also got a speedlight (flash gun) and diffuser. Being a fiddly proposition I reckoned it would be good practise and a steep learning curve with both new items to work out and try to get the best out of.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Iei_YRfN93fKzImi8EN2uiT2y_lja4VI69EWMDrbeVkPGp1dboiOXyIU8AmgMGoK29vygnqmMvNNFtcreWqVwZdMoY-c-_p4rkO0ZpAODIiF8AuMrfbKzXbZ8npvIdw8IE3Ko_VfC5afcxAllQFbOPsWzBomb_bfjI8DNidMHhK5EC4bwwtiFfwQaWa/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Iei_YRfN93fKzImi8EN2uiT2y_lja4VI69EWMDrbeVkPGp1dboiOXyIU8AmgMGoK29vygnqmMvNNFtcreWqVwZdMoY-c-_p4rkO0ZpAODIiF8AuMrfbKzXbZ8npvIdw8IE3Ko_VfC5afcxAllQFbOPsWzBomb_bfjI8DNidMHhK5EC4bwwtiFfwQaWa/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">First though I checked out the Water of Leith at Powderhall. It only puts a couple of minutes on the journey to Warriston and there have been several kingfisher sightings lately. My luck was in and this female was sat on a branch by the opposite bank. I took photos and video. She looked like she was not going anywhere. I wondered if I could race back to St Marks bridge, climb down, along and climb up into the cemetery (camera bobbing on my chest) and run back along the path in Warriston to get some closer photos. I did all this at something of a slow run but in the 2 minutes it took she had flown off. However, I felt it was a good omen and excellent start to the day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2LHri9LcRdUS0LNgi0wV-Wgud75HHUows9vRjqERTxqzFxUkEDx1alDWAEZt3Sw71W5xh84G-1J1Xhic9C_iUSo-A5da0O-_GvANttfFjnMIqJVI_u1Bl5YJVERCxyxSREoqJ1t-huUXvNrXtuvT0aEFEyWAB-juJq_n4qvmyFXggSGGzW7eF4BhJYOp/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2LHri9LcRdUS0LNgi0wV-Wgud75HHUows9vRjqERTxqzFxUkEDx1alDWAEZt3Sw71W5xh84G-1J1Xhic9C_iUSo-A5da0O-_GvANttfFjnMIqJVI_u1Bl5YJVERCxyxSREoqJ1t-huUXvNrXtuvT0aEFEyWAB-juJq_n4qvmyFXggSGGzW7eF4BhJYOp/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL7v0SUMY3OqPB61G7G49bHzK6mIi0jzEtweYNqVRLIoZppsgGy3skos3crgyQY7171ZvS9to8FTW7Wzuwm1gS87HHSxqpXopSt7XzZa75lt0oxUedeaaeSP-m6w-SwOkZOG9i2uNWjquxg7DrwbQfM3fuMgrQaB04Zqh1k1zLknGT0PHp2-aoI0FhHpg/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL7v0SUMY3OqPB61G7G49bHzK6mIi0jzEtweYNqVRLIoZppsgGy3skos3crgyQY7171ZvS9to8FTW7Wzuwm1gS87HHSxqpXopSt7XzZa75lt0oxUedeaaeSP-m6w-SwOkZOG9i2uNWjquxg7DrwbQfM3fuMgrQaB04Zqh1k1zLknGT0PHp2-aoI0FhHpg/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">me and my shadow</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqKcTNP4dBoOJxvGkA6MIKmjIsMlGNJEgpNeTlCrUNUV5qnb8hD19Za_HDLGqIIyxz9-TLVUwVjtgC-ayFJ72wq_kYoosaTd1C0fK4T3gIV7JH0V9wfKlDZE4sMpEUldB1Fs_u5cv94xURGPXXAUvXOMYUC5z6U4wJu-vh-_nxzgszByyyXlPkjyjtvze/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqKcTNP4dBoOJxvGkA6MIKmjIsMlGNJEgpNeTlCrUNUV5qnb8hD19Za_HDLGqIIyxz9-TLVUwVjtgC-ayFJ72wq_kYoosaTd1C0fK4T3gIV7JH0V9wfKlDZE4sMpEUldB1Fs_u5cv94xURGPXXAUvXOMYUC5z6U4wJu-vh-_nxzgszByyyXlPkjyjtvze/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZE6Fh4fqhPIvBS8rQCMll_PxwtYrtX1yqa1PRsQlAiJDoSiwaPFw39G4MKS5m05kaNynf9L9VDmYvDHMbELgjf9R11wHfokla81mRE_XP0nHDo8_Oj8YgMGK16CCOxd1dUlGKK-YUtSQ5ocCwtf8IOGKW_pyl-KWlxlJnWhgV1vKBaYBB5FZm5R_WtU7/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZE6Fh4fqhPIvBS8rQCMll_PxwtYrtX1yqa1PRsQlAiJDoSiwaPFw39G4MKS5m05kaNynf9L9VDmYvDHMbELgjf9R11wHfokla81mRE_XP0nHDo8_Oj8YgMGK16CCOxd1dUlGKK-YUtSQ5ocCwtf8IOGKW_pyl-KWlxlJnWhgV1vKBaYBB5FZm5R_WtU7/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydBv8C0koqNf3kOPUeU7pqOY2euub2dDyozHYlFopnbQefpAIRLCNnmO-lQS3IIUIZWk1qmYg3nKaywqJuIA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIPUpMH4Bf0XcR81gckmouhcHq2X4gdjC0zwwzkjLBV6Us6Kw67l9hWp-kN-0uF-is6SvM3StWQmXyZQmC8YOxzCVipP57BED53QYPdY5aqEXNurfWYoZDYiK60NzBg8evN4i-m0esfF4rQ-8TfHtWhgph4Gwg3GtCO33fTv5iAmZVjPGPQ-Vy2djGQZf/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIPUpMH4Bf0XcR81gckmouhcHq2X4gdjC0zwwzkjLBV6Us6Kw67l9hWp-kN-0uF-is6SvM3StWQmXyZQmC8YOxzCVipP57BED53QYPdY5aqEXNurfWYoZDYiK60NzBg8evN4i-m0esfF4rQ-8TfHtWhgph4Gwg3GtCO33fTv5iAmZVjPGPQ-Vy2djGQZf/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4pNXHEo5fZioBzh2y1TJEZCVYhoomxbxbqHm_8a9XcN_qShDWOLDtkao77cFr-6aIS4NsSHCMrDuPv_AHZnVx9rG_71qPCYpDkJS5wg7PVBe2_IbSyqL15E2qgmOXCJbJcADm_6EaRTZsM_p_1sGDqQ-_h66HdSg8XwT0N-KsPWE8d_Vf-cm-8nv4DGo/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4pNXHEo5fZioBzh2y1TJEZCVYhoomxbxbqHm_8a9XcN_qShDWOLDtkao77cFr-6aIS4NsSHCMrDuPv_AHZnVx9rG_71qPCYpDkJS5wg7PVBe2_IbSyqL15E2qgmOXCJbJcADm_6EaRTZsM_p_1sGDqQ-_h66HdSg8XwT0N-KsPWE8d_Vf-cm-8nv4DGo/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long tailed tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVckOtBP2Cxl_8LpSVIrMtxeXuO12v6IClx21xuIc3pNzgG5DYDXhac8ffbObTvbSRprrwq4zzLMYXyp0DKISNWYy3ohbFNlR3aIn0qlENi98VJPiXNN1pE57ZMcPbkTegJKSz4U6-duDSL-ySNVy5IIqileEQGTKJHKoe6wmTbmAcQ7Agu3rTYHBsrouB/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVckOtBP2Cxl_8LpSVIrMtxeXuO12v6IClx21xuIc3pNzgG5DYDXhac8ffbObTvbSRprrwq4zzLMYXyp0DKISNWYy3ohbFNlR3aIn0qlENi98VJPiXNN1pE57ZMcPbkTegJKSz4U6-duDSL-ySNVy5IIqileEQGTKJHKoe6wmTbmAcQ7Agu3rTYHBsrouB/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">periwinkle</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xTdLL41K6asblygBeGn5g76nV1xPn76O2PdrT-PuIvviYlSjf7-8TSGDXC9ID-AisKbpQ1o5GKkiNpmPWrAEgk38RzlzKZbLoiUKlQz7q6MqwPCpPZYz4kJbrXd7NDy2UyX-0gHuomfziHh7uH3Za0umdKuA8dATYNj7Tm8wQszRYTakXx2KyWKRA1-C/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xTdLL41K6asblygBeGn5g76nV1xPn76O2PdrT-PuIvviYlSjf7-8TSGDXC9ID-AisKbpQ1o5GKkiNpmPWrAEgk38RzlzKZbLoiUKlQz7q6MqwPCpPZYz4kJbrXd7NDy2UyX-0gHuomfziHh7uH3Za0umdKuA8dATYNj7Tm8wQszRYTakXx2KyWKRA1-C/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I arrived properly at Warriston I had a mooch around and went up to the crypts. It was the sort of weather that might just might bring out a foolishly early butterfly and I have this theory they all hide in the crypts. Nope, nothing there but a good area to explore. I checked the <i>Peter Smellie</i> gravestone and the huddles of ladybirds were active. Most were still asleep but the early risers were beginning to stretch their legs. And I saw a shieldbug, first of the year. Right! Time to go over to the bench and swap the long lens for the new Macro lens, let's see how complex this business is!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW2Fl20gZyRLO2dlpGWj_HMi-tb5JvWMwTYAZsiDirjP1BfrIiJfcLstmTX_56qQcFvIhCOieGShyphenhyphenOxwO3cTfxdq22dBUCOZsBiQKHKQkJRT6_JS7wc7s25DVWuEB47UqIREsCQHjmZaUf6miCh3hlccNu7_OEDMpcz42liBKLH9cNQpqPfrjvokKSA5G/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW2Fl20gZyRLO2dlpGWj_HMi-tb5JvWMwTYAZsiDirjP1BfrIiJfcLstmTX_56qQcFvIhCOieGShyphenhyphenOxwO3cTfxdq22dBUCOZsBiQKHKQkJRT6_JS7wc7s25DVWuEB47UqIREsCQHjmZaUf6miCh3hlccNu7_OEDMpcz42liBKLH9cNQpqPfrjvokKSA5G/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-8McxYWTfXoYU9i-oD-b9GdsepkY8j1lxjIwxkQ2uihqvwciUN960ngrCJdM_SZTXVMwWSyRR4SNtEgOpCzU1F_EnTkLlvDCNbUjk_E0u66lNvxV_JhaSPayaHo3G_9ywHotP0i4cZXW_6WLEmh5FbpaAyl4rU1H20HI5zetCZO8c-NieWo9yDb8cdIg/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-8McxYWTfXoYU9i-oD-b9GdsepkY8j1lxjIwxkQ2uihqvwciUN960ngrCJdM_SZTXVMwWSyRR4SNtEgOpCzU1F_EnTkLlvDCNbUjk_E0u66lNvxV_JhaSPayaHo3G_9ywHotP0i4cZXW_6WLEmh5FbpaAyl4rU1H20HI5zetCZO8c-NieWo9yDb8cdIg/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ladybird huddle on Peter Smellie stone taken with 400mm lens<br />Mostly Orange ones but a couple of Pine and no doubt a Harlequin in there too</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xrECxIAbramIXiocfdQ2tsV71yU4XKFN1lblaDI_YHetU13IsrzVRlxn5zd4I5uN36Lg0WXDBpB-Q8-ae36422Df-0IesnYdxUcrfPMg0vL-d7YW57fSJCsPbaNIOo_Xhxrk81UseYS4Mj6674yhIHnKS0dM3GsyjGCmB313ZVzraARBQ5hqI0Ojm1uP/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xrECxIAbramIXiocfdQ2tsV71yU4XKFN1lblaDI_YHetU13IsrzVRlxn5zd4I5uN36Lg0WXDBpB-Q8-ae36422Df-0IesnYdxUcrfPMg0vL-d7YW57fSJCsPbaNIOo_Xhxrk81UseYS4Mj6674yhIHnKS0dM3GsyjGCmB313ZVzraARBQ5hqI0Ojm1uP/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first photo taken with Macro lens!<br />Bronze shieldbug<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay that wasn't too hard. Let's try some more. Back to the huddle and firstly try it without flash. It worked okay but as you zoom in more and more the image becomes quite dark, quite quickly. I put the flash on and try out some of the settings almost at random; TTL (through the lens), M, Multi. They all work and the flash seems to go off in all 3 modes but after a bit of experimentation M (manual I presume?) gives me the option of of fine tuning it brighter or less bright. There is a lot of chimping - reviewing how the last photo looks - does it need more or less light. Initially I didn't make the shutter-speed high enough and there was movement blur. A good starting point is about 1/250 or faster. F8 or higher. ISO 400+ with Flash on manual at 1/16 strength. If image too dark 1/8 or 1/4 etc. (It will depend on your diffuser.) (White balance 5500~5600k although I sorted temperature in post.) However it depends on how much you are zoomed in and how much natural light there is. I tweaked all of those settings and found F11 helpful for a better depth of field. I had intended to focus stack but was so busy juggling all of the above and keeping track of wee bugs running about that I forgot entirely about that. Maybe that is lesson 2. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskeHeYeHb498ne7qIFW6swLymdICBUX50W3s4zdsLWuHyKo9DYbOAoEHwhQNx-PcbmbaBPCmZSbntHF1OWtdEJsFv7UTQpIMsRjcfucxWy61GNvv41emIflAuOP23UAjfHtI98R7H8zeG7UPuxrQp-Zr0MIF-5H8XH7mNrgqpuoRbnbeBuIcPdBiU7x1k/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskeHeYeHb498ne7qIFW6swLymdICBUX50W3s4zdsLWuHyKo9DYbOAoEHwhQNx-PcbmbaBPCmZSbntHF1OWtdEJsFv7UTQpIMsRjcfucxWy61GNvv41emIflAuOP23UAjfHtI98R7H8zeG7UPuxrQp-Zr0MIF-5H8XH7mNrgqpuoRbnbeBuIcPdBiU7x1k/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">macro lens but no flash</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChvW-MoTozsIcMF5Txf_YcaHBjt6D6zpLiRbv2TzcVgri8fhcMwE6KYHNZl0GFrjODdDfRRE0qkixIk2l7Yig3IAbdTOnnFGFVxfDckic7qPl6T0dF45p_NAo00rUBNHZIDwVaOfx3muSrdBdo29VXmG-Dld76vS_sIqY0XgO40kvhP7qSEJV2xjt-uOv/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChvW-MoTozsIcMF5Txf_YcaHBjt6D6zpLiRbv2TzcVgri8fhcMwE6KYHNZl0GFrjODdDfRRE0qkixIk2l7Yig3IAbdTOnnFGFVxfDckic7qPl6T0dF45p_NAo00rUBNHZIDwVaOfx3muSrdBdo29VXmG-Dld76vS_sIqY0XgO40kvhP7qSEJV2xjt-uOv/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">while some slept on others were out exploring</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OQ02R9DvA5itp7Da__F-sAtvUcVJAufTSflE07Z0Cbob20UkzZDYcFNxSDv8iwlkSzDaSKNGAlWcrSbEBZ6qs4edMtaWbHwew3BySyD49F9iVbUpCEpQtisFwlEvOpffejaBU57HbJBs1e8Pn6cmw6-Tjzrgy1eohLKq1W_OvJPuCQuseVg1F5kxOVXX/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OQ02R9DvA5itp7Da__F-sAtvUcVJAufTSflE07Z0Cbob20UkzZDYcFNxSDv8iwlkSzDaSKNGAlWcrSbEBZ6qs4edMtaWbHwew3BySyD49F9iVbUpCEpQtisFwlEvOpffejaBU57HbJBs1e8Pn6cmw6-Tjzrgy1eohLKq1W_OvJPuCQuseVg1F5kxOVXX/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">macro lens closer still, and with flash</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6AX-ym-l1LpYYjmyhq5iPNKBSGQxZHh4xuLd5yqkCLur6JZUc3wdpOUxStZ26UJZXVXB3Zeb5q5bvIju_W9PK-GuoKDTjdhKu5D1S_1ixAID8bNzFkg7YZ0Njd0VjTEmT9xgmi3Y1CnBCQfjLBNBhsCZb5pqAbfTE-HW0oyWUqbylWHhAIij2skYOGn6/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6AX-ym-l1LpYYjmyhq5iPNKBSGQxZHh4xuLd5yqkCLur6JZUc3wdpOUxStZ26UJZXVXB3Zeb5q5bvIju_W9PK-GuoKDTjdhKu5D1S_1ixAID8bNzFkg7YZ0Njd0VjTEmT9xgmi3Y1CnBCQfjLBNBhsCZb5pqAbfTE-HW0oyWUqbylWHhAIij2skYOGn6/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Pine ladybirds</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxmozKLuWmCxkATv_VSZ-4TARjl7xsJtnWH6hPVTlN6yZBdHe6TrdQLT3GgaNYwBknyROafHwzdI4JMW_2OvcY6wI5capvfe4mIC7u6mBKXgQJ35kq4g9Nu_YIuosT0laKVd5ttoFxgOsPAH6pZ_I3eKo6AVLIM9JZ2wD6RvbL8sRNMaa8vr90CC2568D/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxmozKLuWmCxkATv_VSZ-4TARjl7xsJtnWH6hPVTlN6yZBdHe6TrdQLT3GgaNYwBknyROafHwzdI4JMW_2OvcY6wI5capvfe4mIC7u6mBKXgQJ35kq4g9Nu_YIuosT0laKVd5ttoFxgOsPAH6pZ_I3eKo6AVLIM9JZ2wD6RvbL8sRNMaa8vr90CC2568D/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not sure what this is - an egg sack? - you come across </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all sorts of stuff you haven't seen before at this scale</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7S-drram9AW1JyHflGosDMQTrGDlF3sj2mW2aUv3oyTfRq85x3vpS_lcEKuvduoA09hLD2t6AovQ7AWxVtpZkqw8D86_YRGikprXXz2qeeIrDtjggkA71t7umOKFjhkefVWXw6FFBTMOgpou1ch9rXOoMbm2TN4hI9b8LAIBEBMicAm0uuSu2ZfYXRnN/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7S-drram9AW1JyHflGosDMQTrGDlF3sj2mW2aUv3oyTfRq85x3vpS_lcEKuvduoA09hLD2t6AovQ7AWxVtpZkqw8D86_YRGikprXXz2qeeIrDtjggkA71t7umOKFjhkefVWXw6FFBTMOgpou1ch9rXOoMbm2TN4hI9b8LAIBEBMicAm0uuSu2ZfYXRnN/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have never been a big fan of artificial light in photos. So the flash and its settings were all new to me. I bought one with a Li-ion battery as the ones with AA batts were allegedly more prone to uneven light bursts while focus stacking where you'd anticipate the flash going off maybe 50 times in a row in quick succession. I am impressed it gave me no backchat or difficulties and went off every time I took a photo. Focus stacking might be more testing, but so far so good. And it didn't run out of juice for possibly 900~1100 photos. <br /><br />Also the lens behaved well. It is almost like a normal 60mm lens when set to infinity however the other 3 settings define a range of distances from nearly touching your subject to a polite distance away. (About 12") I suspect not many butterflies will be happy to accommodate this proximity. I chased off all of the flies I approached, long before I got in close. I have, until yesterday, never gone out my way to try to photograph flies (except for brightly coloured bottles or anything exotic.) Now I was super-keen for those compound eyes and hairy bodies!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pTKISLszmjrMlNzo7HGWfqfpVriuLlZY0X-h5ulne6Z7dPwvh9tEvVzsvUC6BHeZVad1LoQ74E95vNCtvAIItTS8IpuWEBoWA8H7BekSE0HSpWTMJJaqs2pzmQeUx_UdiFkCy6zPbB1QBp4S7CrC9relmPwwqVDsmYaU5XaXLUm_5RJkNOY2bvyMmX9e/s2048/cam3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pTKISLszmjrMlNzo7HGWfqfpVriuLlZY0X-h5ulne6Z7dPwvh9tEvVzsvUC6BHeZVad1LoQ74E95vNCtvAIItTS8IpuWEBoWA8H7BekSE0HSpWTMJJaqs2pzmQeUx_UdiFkCy6zPbB1QBp4S7CrC9relmPwwqVDsmYaU5XaXLUm_5RJkNOY2bvyMmX9e/s320/cam3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BTW if you think the"his master's voice" diffuser looks like a piece of shit I am happy to report it cost under a tenner (Pixapro) and folds flat without having to undo 23 stud poppers. It is the slightly shonky top hat that completes the outfit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The one thing all the youTubes agreed (about the only thing they agreed on) was to use manual focussing: set an approximation of the distance from your subject then finetune the focus by rocking back and forth (not even inches, but mm!) to get your subject sharp. If this is a moving subject you will need strong magic and a full cup of alchemy. Especially when you get to maximum magnification: the focus jumps from one end of a bug to the other if you move it that same distance so it requires patience. Weirdly my camera was really helpful using auto focus which is not supposed to work at these parameters: I suspect it is the revamped animal detection which goes LOOK! an animal! focus on that. Anyway I went with it, although I did a fair bit of swaying back and forth as you'll see in the video. I imagine somewhere there is a warning saying don't even attempt to video handheld without a tripod at large magnification. <br /><br />As I said earlier it is more an art than a science as there are too many variables to take into account to accurately predict an outcome and you really have to just play around until you get some joy. Frankly, before I set out, I thought it would take all day and I'd get 4 or 5 slightly worse shots than I'd manage with the bridge camera. I was delighted with how things went, although I wasn't sure how much headway I was making at the time. Also very pleased this specialist kit covers a number of situations from VERY small bugs to scenery and portraits.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtYnWb7NyFtX5vLREOhT8bYtEpxncn3nEov54JX1hBV9hRcrCyDXOc7Es5GJEGUkrSWW-3eFqPuIx6wM5pSLzXEowSpgNV0HseNHttKIhITbAhVBJsizfWi6Iy7XUZnjjKg6Y6q-4QA0j3qubNN9dSoUKbHNFaEGbKzaAFbrodbfA7zFoWkqejleeeuBs/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtYnWb7NyFtX5vLREOhT8bYtEpxncn3nEov54JX1hBV9hRcrCyDXOc7Es5GJEGUkrSWW-3eFqPuIx6wM5pSLzXEowSpgNV0HseNHttKIhITbAhVBJsizfWi6Iy7XUZnjjKg6Y6q-4QA0j3qubNN9dSoUKbHNFaEGbKzaAFbrodbfA7zFoWkqejleeeuBs/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">snowdrop in close</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yXTFV2kDE55P29Uhko_HNizRabbeTeHbGJht3QiPnRSSxhiPYERQfqMMgPSP2U7miojGkRjPDcmSU_B8S2aad3YNSOxSGcrsuBQayEJCPtsWLCMtL85mki0jSluG1p_kdUW038tWnn6HYae7Ejm0Qmmhzb164pb4Q1gSuz5nFM1eApBn5yEAwHBxtqX0/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yXTFV2kDE55P29Uhko_HNizRabbeTeHbGJht3QiPnRSSxhiPYERQfqMMgPSP2U7miojGkRjPDcmSU_B8S2aad3YNSOxSGcrsuBQayEJCPtsWLCMtL85mki0jSluG1p_kdUW038tWnn6HYae7Ejm0Qmmhzb164pb4Q1gSuz5nFM1eApBn5yEAwHBxtqX0/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ladybirds, especially sleepy ones make excellent models. They move, which keeps you working, but they move slowly. Also they look great. A bright distinctive colour and you can easily track when they are out of focus. Which is a lot. I took around a thousand macro shots photos today and unsurprisingly had less than the usual hit rate. Most of the deletes were focus issues. Also, how many orange ladybird photos are enough? It's all just practice so when that fantastic and rare bug is about to fly off I don't fluff it. The equivalent of doing scales. Although it was so mesmerising at the time I left my body for quite some time and travelled off to miniature world. I have just checked the gps output and I was taking macro photos for over 4hrs! Yikes.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTyvGHXtBvKut5WqFbvKPCL7wyNzaoPTG2lVQ_pUgsmmgEolhbfq8AMNjF2EY8UHQxhyphenhyphenN_lHZN6HClohWwE8lFL83iVT-s3gf_p29goAXIBb797yyPoUU9DHJ8-PgJklbTVWoT_4S86HEv12KtcBkUwAywwpTNgdv9IXPz8ohmjOE-FTbDSNBMzIKZl7X/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTyvGHXtBvKut5WqFbvKPCL7wyNzaoPTG2lVQ_pUgsmmgEolhbfq8AMNjF2EY8UHQxhyphenhyphenN_lHZN6HClohWwE8lFL83iVT-s3gf_p29goAXIBb797yyPoUU9DHJ8-PgJklbTVWoT_4S86HEv12KtcBkUwAywwpTNgdv9IXPz8ohmjOE-FTbDSNBMzIKZl7X/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL8Pi44OOa7jU1LTtb8muh7aC3l1MtKaWgtbjvNKVVT1BM9k7zrAdr8Mg7Hq0ExJuqu0OVXRZoEK9pSeDiml5zBlI0Wp_bhSNX8d9jZ4NvXY4vDuRDGNh-U9wt9tptQ5oFlVSpUTaIipID5lOKN0kq-vIaCncFUyp83jjh34lrt4O7CKBXd95ANSQOTMn/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL8Pi44OOa7jU1LTtb8muh7aC3l1MtKaWgtbjvNKVVT1BM9k7zrAdr8Mg7Hq0ExJuqu0OVXRZoEK9pSeDiml5zBlI0Wp_bhSNX8d9jZ4NvXY4vDuRDGNh-U9wt9tptQ5oFlVSpUTaIipID5lOKN0kq-vIaCncFUyp83jjh34lrt4O7CKBXd95ANSQOTMn/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2nvOegA40zwpm0qs2vsppmuv5nkM4Sx1q8S-sqbi8pZEXNSLbAF1S0xsk8ZR_xpHiL1BdvVh3vs2VuXkq2EzuTpThtu2C61uc3UDQMon5PRGjvG5j8RE5QMAQR-i4THCHoZcTTQy5evYqLwCafuLou_VsA4GqB1BiCD9I64ocwAmgGdtAnYCWTdN_PdK/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2nvOegA40zwpm0qs2vsppmuv5nkM4Sx1q8S-sqbi8pZEXNSLbAF1S0xsk8ZR_xpHiL1BdvVh3vs2VuXkq2EzuTpThtu2C61uc3UDQMon5PRGjvG5j8RE5QMAQR-i4THCHoZcTTQy5evYqLwCafuLou_VsA4GqB1BiCD9I64ocwAmgGdtAnYCWTdN_PdK/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">duff leg</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToMCOoZjvjQ4jp_GV4WvmLMC_KhzeiQPYk2TYhB6AibSrGxvybYWlyPk9sNZGmY2dbSF381mUIwW8cpCVI1VR5imr_GqchTZNta14MLXIGPU8nWbkiADYs-IaIqzMoVyW2AxGgebEWHvq8kOBsq4FQaVn3uvhSZd0ByFdy3kcOTwa-xDCjDvda1ibpzDc/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToMCOoZjvjQ4jp_GV4WvmLMC_KhzeiQPYk2TYhB6AibSrGxvybYWlyPk9sNZGmY2dbSF381mUIwW8cpCVI1VR5imr_GqchTZNta14MLXIGPU8nWbkiADYs-IaIqzMoVyW2AxGgebEWHvq8kOBsq4FQaVn3uvhSZd0ByFdy3kcOTwa-xDCjDvda1ibpzDc/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a couple of early instars of something</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2zR4WSI_85jHMh-52bjYDwxyTk6Fo7N7xhMv_cBbfaPA_sg1D5Co9hSrvV5Yh5eYjwyi0PTGU10DwGD4-CS1H6ig-98PYan-soACYomKLyD20Me6t9-w0S0abdbF9BD3WTC2aE3Wnihv_b_YhXBZJuTtdV_BYxuoXnu8ffnJRodZfvbe2Wn_QV7qkwaj/s2048/030AA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2zR4WSI_85jHMh-52bjYDwxyTk6Fo7N7xhMv_cBbfaPA_sg1D5Co9hSrvV5Yh5eYjwyi0PTGU10DwGD4-CS1H6ig-98PYan-soACYomKLyD20Me6t9-w0S0abdbF9BD3WTC2aE3Wnihv_b_YhXBZJuTtdV_BYxuoXnu8ffnJRodZfvbe2Wn_QV7qkwaj/s320/030AA.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't realise how successful having a bug walk down a stick ^ was until I got home. The ones below were taken when it walked onto my glove. Which is made from a very smooth almost shiny fabric not a big chunky weave wool! How different stuff looks under the macro scope! Also I didn't notice any injuries the ladybirds had - a withered black leg, a large scorch or lesion mark etc. My eyes are not great and I was trying to avoid the on-off of reading glasses up against the EVF. <br /><br />Also for the gravestone shots - mostly glass smooth marble (from a distance) that looks in these photos like rough hewn rockface with huge natural divots out it - I would lean against them to keep the camera steady. Or just keep a hand in contact as a reference for a steady point. Since all my attention was through the camera and onto a tiny spot in front of me I had to check regularly that I wasn't about to lean on any of my involuntary subjects. I can report that no bugs were damaged in the making of this episode. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeJX-dFUjdk_GOsZEGkEA8SXkB58Gmram1h4BH1LehsDUsPxhuaQd1xVUZWljmAEvhmR80RnQk9bNhmO8Gvc6SpSOCkZlyNVO1XKbtnGFyn72l50dDiSqwPN6y5QUpjiDWrBuaqEv6PKBCAVhIhJFRZnTFE0Nd0b9TtE-JZyJpuuJFnOBbKk42yOffW2J/s1953/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1953" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeJX-dFUjdk_GOsZEGkEA8SXkB58Gmram1h4BH1LehsDUsPxhuaQd1xVUZWljmAEvhmR80RnQk9bNhmO8Gvc6SpSOCkZlyNVO1XKbtnGFyn72l50dDiSqwPN6y5QUpjiDWrBuaqEv6PKBCAVhIhJFRZnTFE0Nd0b9TtE-JZyJpuuJFnOBbKk42yOffW2J/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU6wjCYd-twuICn97HGwwp8ctQje1PkeRPQ27Yl4M9BssmlLM8ND1LzOKCnDHDwlNT_vQuzW038zGtanTCM5MPh8Sx9Pa5AdHD7mUNeIb7TMkQcrhS-rrbi589XR9SZ3RtHXQOHy8JmxQrDnlOHie_r5y2ovlHBCceu2INeT6I6wuVOfL42kQxhK8KaBi/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU6wjCYd-twuICn97HGwwp8ctQje1PkeRPQ27Yl4M9BssmlLM8ND1LzOKCnDHDwlNT_vQuzW038zGtanTCM5MPh8Sx9Pa5AdHD7mUNeIb7TMkQcrhS-rrbi589XR9SZ3RtHXQOHy8JmxQrDnlOHie_r5y2ovlHBCceu2INeT6I6wuVOfL42kQxhK8KaBi/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts2nQiKahXgo304acxD_0fhvZFL4XvmeUn9AjBRUX895d1P0ZvAlNKrER6QmtDfOuOao5Gv8466xXR-LpmT71FcRCg69fw4lqRcWduG2ak9BltkeU4a1nZF_Xzo6mDeen-e8aVGNgZoFq9AFolQO-eB1tp760oStUHRu-3cg6vVG4Em7ENBE-IknVO21B/s2048/032a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts2nQiKahXgo304acxD_0fhvZFL4XvmeUn9AjBRUX895d1P0ZvAlNKrER6QmtDfOuOao5Gv8466xXR-LpmT71FcRCg69fw4lqRcWduG2ak9BltkeU4a1nZF_Xzo6mDeen-e8aVGNgZoFq9AFolQO-eB1tp760oStUHRu-3cg6vVG4Em7ENBE-IknVO21B/s320/032a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP3-Y6XYNCWVZmKRjMzjMIEgWA1tDhbUXWJ2khAsc4-EOTyxze8Per9aCzmT4AZVgoTGaRugk3Hu2ylXVJCzY6wJt45IqYYmmw0NGgHoorNA85kdVyYoDpz-BSpTxKd4pSCuvcIGAB9KvJmKkPmN4hkDn3gqw-GddhQHAT_z2IJzFtHofEE-_faiC8LNY/s2048/033AA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP3-Y6XYNCWVZmKRjMzjMIEgWA1tDhbUXWJ2khAsc4-EOTyxze8Per9aCzmT4AZVgoTGaRugk3Hu2ylXVJCzY6wJt45IqYYmmw0NGgHoorNA85kdVyYoDpz-BSpTxKd4pSCuvcIGAB9KvJmKkPmN4hkDn3gqw-GddhQHAT_z2IJzFtHofEE-_faiC8LNY/s320/033AA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sun roof open for take off! <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXrDgF2qklzDotyvVYVCmI2kx7rO8teX3oK4XxFgOQKUzhQUmVz6MTXDuE4lcKjtf6qUUyeVNojwkT3s5st-sAyhk4EwN5TkI3B2vr_2fK8e3CPt6_HtBqB9tDJaqRgfCmCXEQGBZEiDlTlkkIdLjOoKCWBt4K7S6b6E3lTDgS1317VsL7Kpq1KyS9yFf/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXrDgF2qklzDotyvVYVCmI2kx7rO8teX3oK4XxFgOQKUzhQUmVz6MTXDuE4lcKjtf6qUUyeVNojwkT3s5st-sAyhk4EwN5TkI3B2vr_2fK8e3CPt6_HtBqB9tDJaqRgfCmCXEQGBZEiDlTlkkIdLjOoKCWBt4K7S6b6E3lTDgS1317VsL7Kpq1KyS9yFf/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNcxhfctvC8lSJyxLH5hhC44tMDC-bwcWErXcneRyOgyMmjX1zzpbAG2EN6XbPLYrkuJ_46nZZCD23CzDJ5Q9kCA3n1nlCvDTBLBBHvCZzOKWl2Yh2VUKKnbUg7MVYRPrLFtFrRk_4uIekza-55L6p818e-pPH7Gg00ldVKee5YlAzg1ynpuWso0rBo84/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNcxhfctvC8lSJyxLH5hhC44tMDC-bwcWErXcneRyOgyMmjX1zzpbAG2EN6XbPLYrkuJ_46nZZCD23CzDJ5Q9kCA3n1nlCvDTBLBBHvCZzOKWl2Yh2VUKKnbUg7MVYRPrLFtFrRk_4uIekza-55L6p818e-pPH7Gg00ldVKee5YlAzg1ynpuWso0rBo84/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn2WkQT8KWqs5soI9SkVhQS9cAQgEHfDydRHtT19vIAdc74RgtYmOrP677hvmiys3g7OF35ox5EMHPakHFjEmalbfivAQ33SNe944Au02V5rx5pkyobGxoiXC6TApohWR6CfddSq_BtXIgiavPFWRja9y4LpLhfXaDhW0dXO-oStgKQXnsn_2_Lf0X1HX/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn2WkQT8KWqs5soI9SkVhQS9cAQgEHfDydRHtT19vIAdc74RgtYmOrP677hvmiys3g7OF35ox5EMHPakHFjEmalbfivAQ33SNe944Au02V5rx5pkyobGxoiXC6TApohWR6CfddSq_BtXIgiavPFWRja9y4LpLhfXaDhW0dXO-oStgKQXnsn_2_Lf0X1HX/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfL_twml_EoGjE15-D8cqunZUEemdJB_ygCDW4QSXUlHAVfqdJLe86K_OOpj-tH0MqTYHMPc_F8vtkSKE_ejMXLylkQgWxLtPaog9ZYTkSEl9sR8lejouwLCIbp8LYz_G6GhY8gCe5u7rZPJY9wm3TpkQYwUeXZPgWMtCldULnZ9-5HquATxPPRIEnHOh/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfL_twml_EoGjE15-D8cqunZUEemdJB_ygCDW4QSXUlHAVfqdJLe86K_OOpj-tH0MqTYHMPc_F8vtkSKE_ejMXLylkQgWxLtPaog9ZYTkSEl9sR8lejouwLCIbp8LYz_G6GhY8gCe5u7rZPJY9wm3TpkQYwUeXZPgWMtCldULnZ9-5HquATxPPRIEnHOh/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tiny spider</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFFQmSVv8uZGlGBccUWJQbq-RanS00TU78AHqqNrJ9S3LIo0sVUQx-zm0yutW_FQ3Qd5Ja0urW63XznmvKpZ0ipOT_QiDdNwLY5Flciop7lTBKRIBR_biD6Q9qFDu6_L-8hWTDGC_i0I8lAXCrIPVu9Ox9GoMAgskwi9a6fRe5EiuCtEGlvLMbz9yFaK4/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFFQmSVv8uZGlGBccUWJQbq-RanS00TU78AHqqNrJ9S3LIo0sVUQx-zm0yutW_FQ3Qd5Ja0urW63XznmvKpZ0ipOT_QiDdNwLY5Flciop7lTBKRIBR_biD6Q9qFDu6_L-8hWTDGC_i0I8lAXCrIPVu9Ox9GoMAgskwi9a6fRe5EiuCtEGlvLMbz9yFaK4/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBXHx5JJhj122fc6G8seQYm29MvkM8UiCOVIYowpSZzHRQSjyEt7CiMGKmexOidGxHlGDT9RDleNtnuRSDFP-0zFR374BGnhwux6f-npGfzmrcH9RpukcZ1SZZCSS6BDKGkcIpUAdjsRfQqFi5ytYc9yg0Zz2AfaWNGZROq3hWka9s_QtqHznLf9Xh5aY/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBXHx5JJhj122fc6G8seQYm29MvkM8UiCOVIYowpSZzHRQSjyEt7CiMGKmexOidGxHlGDT9RDleNtnuRSDFP-0zFR374BGnhwux6f-npGfzmrcH9RpukcZ1SZZCSS6BDKGkcIpUAdjsRfQqFi5ytYc9yg0Zz2AfaWNGZROq3hWka9s_QtqHznLf9Xh5aY/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyd-2B0b4b7xte4ie97OlwqaqiKfNUdqzEShK-c0PNelNjgYLtZ7yzkk-hb5-LK760nCMHaMNUntmAsPy87IswOiAnPZ6waMncQ_xF63F3RNDSNEfBG9n3lmNXECfvGKE5sg7qXF8T1Cy2wdtS1ZfDPjnbaprY2_5H7j1FUKCdSgjq98ODz0IbiR5CjOv/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyd-2B0b4b7xte4ie97OlwqaqiKfNUdqzEShK-c0PNelNjgYLtZ7yzkk-hb5-LK760nCMHaMNUntmAsPy87IswOiAnPZ6waMncQ_xF63F3RNDSNEfBG9n3lmNXECfvGKE5sg7qXF8T1Cy2wdtS1ZfDPjnbaprY2_5H7j1FUKCdSgjq98ODz0IbiR5CjOv/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I began to look at every small blot on the gravestones. Is that a fly? Is that a tiny insect? Many weren't. A lot were bird poops, which is possibly the above pic of these seedpods glued together. I didn't notice 2 tiny bugs hiding underneath until I got the photo home.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij-qVMY5hZiUBz-9E0DEGNs4-9Vp003h6IhFoJs6XV9Y1mpO_etKYzs3wqFbdK9FjCRj6EMx1rzi9na7dTqSD_B2UFZOj98SWw9ZK_81GnIn-IgtU-9sBwpslz8l5b65uuAMrzVx-5iNssEiXA-QQBIEzYMtxYz6tFqqOEpNr6j-VLqUvK1UmA5xiZwr2/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij-qVMY5hZiUBz-9E0DEGNs4-9Vp003h6IhFoJs6XV9Y1mpO_etKYzs3wqFbdK9FjCRj6EMx1rzi9na7dTqSD_B2UFZOj98SWw9ZK_81GnIn-IgtU-9sBwpslz8l5b65uuAMrzVx-5iNssEiXA-QQBIEzYMtxYz6tFqqOEpNr6j-VLqUvK1UmA5xiZwr2/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciWD6UJ3W-or94ScqwbXGX1AFmdTSU7Ljw56hd5-jy_03TCF5j242kzJItqJPHH4ZaoBBnBKSbnG1EAyFnAYqFoRwgQuNhEIFlFag9a01ZxwsTb7TKd8mm1AiOLCISEUrBQcqB6Vr1ScQ5JlNnQ98N07uHkYiKsydoLtfa4XhTRPDyG6ZK-zCMNl82IVc/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciWD6UJ3W-or94ScqwbXGX1AFmdTSU7Ljw56hd5-jy_03TCF5j242kzJItqJPHH4ZaoBBnBKSbnG1EAyFnAYqFoRwgQuNhEIFlFag9a01ZxwsTb7TKd8mm1AiOLCISEUrBQcqB6Vr1ScQ5JlNnQ98N07uHkYiKsydoLtfa4XhTRPDyG6ZK-zCMNl82IVc/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as close as I got before this fly flew<br />(spoiler alert: more to come in subsequent posts)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnnWJCWziGPHDiQqk4nydXyXZ3MBC7lr85vpYgnd5WmtOUug4uw21Bd_K3k_GudxhqqnjgDRr1g3BCU01poBs5W1eIhQyFCy5SInQZXT9LNcJ9CbvK7LR4iHpnVBHXPkDFj4wXMqcrrs2rnaNy6NGRLnpbjo4pre3rAiMO8DPXTXBj9mKk6jC5Ku9t-9y/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnnWJCWziGPHDiQqk4nydXyXZ3MBC7lr85vpYgnd5WmtOUug4uw21Bd_K3k_GudxhqqnjgDRr1g3BCU01poBs5W1eIhQyFCy5SInQZXT9LNcJ9CbvK7LR4iHpnVBHXPkDFj4wXMqcrrs2rnaNy6NGRLnpbjo4pre3rAiMO8DPXTXBj9mKk6jC5Ku9t-9y/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGknGCq91VfcrR2TBpveHx44JsO0oW4soqWGlpmruYEfb53kjCMiX0g0crYL-ctsVKYR1wx1_kMjQeJLfXqWpFr2txF4dfek7Wra3enRd1okgfPEFQSaW-rSq_gsma7YfNLZU6aNmlkAllN8u0eeLequAt7JTPnUyzap963SbvTrh3wItOwcgZWozLaT7X/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGknGCq91VfcrR2TBpveHx44JsO0oW4soqWGlpmruYEfb53kjCMiX0g0crYL-ctsVKYR1wx1_kMjQeJLfXqWpFr2txF4dfek7Wra3enRd1okgfPEFQSaW-rSq_gsma7YfNLZU6aNmlkAllN8u0eeLequAt7JTPnUyzap963SbvTrh3wItOwcgZWozLaT7X/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I found some jelly ear fungus on what was likely a dead tree trunk. Yes I know they are weirdly creepy. Again, a long time after the fact I noticed a miniature bug just above the fungii in the photo below. A springtail of some sort. I wondered if it would still be there next visit. (I returned days later and guess what, I couldn't find the tree trunk never mind the springtail!) (Fuck sake Buchanan, old age setting in?)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qfnisnIF-v1xhuZuUitDKKiuaS9svGV2gh5DbFgkQv0l7WxBehgT5P8Ym0AVoVhMNxg_bnh4STg0LHoayvupbD6Uv7Y7vNtuEnD3whkSaJ2OakaIQVooIaMwJhdM3k90dEFEBT0CnRzctr24YsgjWdT5VjXURe_GobJMmB7gOpVAeP4ysR8FIUy68FVB/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qfnisnIF-v1xhuZuUitDKKiuaS9svGV2gh5DbFgkQv0l7WxBehgT5P8Ym0AVoVhMNxg_bnh4STg0LHoayvupbD6Uv7Y7vNtuEnD3whkSaJ2OakaIQVooIaMwJhdM3k90dEFEBT0CnRzctr24YsgjWdT5VjXURe_GobJMmB7gOpVAeP4ysR8FIUy68FVB/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">springtail just above the shrooms</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJ5sRql9REj3Lj-j6Y1yVl-IH-eiDCLdAfGiNXiKSWQU0nmsAuq9D6y3ncu7yn6ItNu1_SQKUbIAnn-RKlI-6XZ_ewho0YEihEz_GDYMYPO2k8-hQ70oP6N2lmK2k7L_k9kZRJJGi78tQVBiGNXOiyOgG9PAh2bxD25dzmAiM8ycQu1AkfsA_l7dbtfSm/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJ5sRql9REj3Lj-j6Y1yVl-IH-eiDCLdAfGiNXiKSWQU0nmsAuq9D6y3ncu7yn6ItNu1_SQKUbIAnn-RKlI-6XZ_ewho0YEihEz_GDYMYPO2k8-hQ70oP6N2lmK2k7L_k9kZRJJGi78tQVBiGNXOiyOgG9PAh2bxD25dzmAiM8ycQu1AkfsA_l7dbtfSm/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nice background lichen</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8L5XfrCZnxQC6yixoSTwwP-8BhGN0oUrdOGztf9v3t8308D-f_lpKCxWJL_20B5XyledJc7kqm7_HhtCc-Z9ScXyC-HKrMNCNfRq7TQC3UuygrmITylnEHb6slEYouskShWN7dDH_T10sC0lECa-WagmGs2PFiiddATv7IzgjfESUmeUPwWmh7XDUici/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8L5XfrCZnxQC6yixoSTwwP-8BhGN0oUrdOGztf9v3t8308D-f_lpKCxWJL_20B5XyledJc7kqm7_HhtCc-Z9ScXyC-HKrMNCNfRq7TQC3UuygrmITylnEHb6slEYouskShWN7dDH_T10sC0lECa-WagmGs2PFiiddATv7IzgjfESUmeUPwWmh7XDUici/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a huddle in the top of a carved 'D' if memory serves<br />pine ladybirds are particularly tiny</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhGgRHTFSfirbiAkhCGDAsrQ3Qr5pQ4s_mJs4tUc7nf7IHtYDzD6UG3zZii-PykEPuIFdfVtlDREqJMIieNYtG6yC5Oqz2cecG1W45u6j00IdEbzHQQvUUzbHkszVb8-SUB7nL24icx0T2qK37MOvuEV2SFmyL-VayhMymFGz1jZGobxr6urI0S6XCipJ/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhGgRHTFSfirbiAkhCGDAsrQ3Qr5pQ4s_mJs4tUc7nf7IHtYDzD6UG3zZii-PykEPuIFdfVtlDREqJMIieNYtG6yC5Oqz2cecG1W45u6j00IdEbzHQQvUUzbHkszVb8-SUB7nL24icx0T2qK37MOvuEV2SFmyL-VayhMymFGz1jZGobxr6urI0S6XCipJ/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This feather was small. About 2 inches / 50mm. And had moisture on it from lying in the undergrowth. I thought it would make a decent subject and zoomed in a lot. As you can see the lens takes things down to nearly microscopic. You move the lens closer and it brings it into focus, magically zooming in on the subject as the same time. You can also set it to .4m~infinity and take portraits or scenery shots. Which seems like a fantastic range, and something I don't really understand. Luckily you don't have to know how it works to be able to utilise its magic.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFGATYCT3AmEO_Z6V3vu-0obBDKbveeUJ5LJ81rsiE8GfzQTN65-PV1VVI01sQ2gWoAec-VA_KqatrjGxoX4TDy5FQ-poHSLR-wgs2i-LzO_NweK3yfyd89mcLNa-_rgRsq603VbxgQ1mRl5w8kvUy9Wh4TDD0um0HELw9yScOoM5G4kQKUgtNZIJntWq/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFGATYCT3AmEO_Z6V3vu-0obBDKbveeUJ5LJ81rsiE8GfzQTN65-PV1VVI01sQ2gWoAec-VA_KqatrjGxoX4TDy5FQ-poHSLR-wgs2i-LzO_NweK3yfyd89mcLNa-_rgRsq603VbxgQ1mRl5w8kvUy9Wh4TDD0um0HELw9yScOoM5G4kQKUgtNZIJntWq/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFXx-ibZHteBONjvqCURvUo_Q-mOAqoJIiUuRnR7xMndV0R3gQZCEG6lGwQZX4tPEnkS7vAhFCZHy_wFHmPvpXX9-7F1nQksoL8noAPlWPEOiGC7rXvtzL1BD-BKxY3xeyeXxaw7BV9Mtnp1F5DdX36p-dXnziTJQJe-LkIC6Ftp1Bl5VhskwSLqcsHeW/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFXx-ibZHteBONjvqCURvUo_Q-mOAqoJIiUuRnR7xMndV0R3gQZCEG6lGwQZX4tPEnkS7vAhFCZHy_wFHmPvpXX9-7F1nQksoL8noAPlWPEOiGC7rXvtzL1BD-BKxY3xeyeXxaw7BV9Mtnp1F5DdX36p-dXnziTJQJe-LkIC6Ftp1Bl5VhskwSLqcsHeW/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr_7oT4Zy0zrmjf5F5S8-g9w7kzeOr2QiaIotbkGD_UZM77E2bXMWZ3Xj9K_Uca2yU50WktVpANSm0VNwCUv1otUGfdHEnRIeCeQgZbk-HQshA_K05fe3SiQCunacOKgFYpHAPGsR8bw-k4578t9lFhBpxvdDtFbrFUjCCwV0opisOnBUkc6C1C-l2gK1/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr_7oT4Zy0zrmjf5F5S8-g9w7kzeOr2QiaIotbkGD_UZM77E2bXMWZ3Xj9K_Uca2yU50WktVpANSm0VNwCUv1otUGfdHEnRIeCeQgZbk-HQshA_K05fe3SiQCunacOKgFYpHAPGsR8bw-k4578t9lFhBpxvdDtFbrFUjCCwV0opisOnBUkc6C1C-l2gK1/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V5NJphWEUNE-poEgd-wjudQucCg1sCk3zYikj3a7V6XqpSCgS1PKMIpxrSirSm68eE4SdoJouKfYMRdF4SkN8y_2Iq9Duk4LLxIrEvzzXRe2y-rYcONDgtyvnoTdZBfD-6A0i2zRgQqW9wScJ5DDDiSxCaTWhH9Jlcb4l39bWjbmPXEe2hMwgvmzTU-4/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V5NJphWEUNE-poEgd-wjudQucCg1sCk3zYikj3a7V6XqpSCgS1PKMIpxrSirSm68eE4SdoJouKfYMRdF4SkN8y_2Iq9Duk4LLxIrEvzzXRe2y-rYcONDgtyvnoTdZBfD-6A0i2zRgQqW9wScJ5DDDiSxCaTWhH9Jlcb4l39bWjbmPXEe2hMwgvmzTU-4/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Similarly you can take flower shots from a little distant back or zoom right in. The light from the flash needs to be adjusted accordingly unless the sky is cloudless and the the flower is not n shade. The next session of <i>learn macro</i> will be set in the botanics for obvious reasons.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoxfPZig1UdjqUTH-lq4_mUHvm8SsYOUFCVl5ZM-w5X3Mh1mcA1BPyWOlpW6318QM8rAptIf-4evaZI6gO9fa052p5st0Tn-ZANjSDnM6E44VPBHlo2OneDNWScvluuabjhN7XsCvVwEiYtIwfa6888b7Y-syYKGZ-L-AZs-AdrJ2QYZFnzo3V5hr1VW9/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoxfPZig1UdjqUTH-lq4_mUHvm8SsYOUFCVl5ZM-w5X3Mh1mcA1BPyWOlpW6318QM8rAptIf-4evaZI6gO9fa052p5st0Tn-ZANjSDnM6E44VPBHlo2OneDNWScvluuabjhN7XsCvVwEiYtIwfa6888b7Y-syYKGZ-L-AZs-AdrJ2QYZFnzo3V5hr1VW9/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0AIrTc7qptr3TyeBRXZAZxxG8KnI5pVA8kdfc3HB4dcELN6Tb1-MAYzLH0UdsGLpqemKsOkIPydeLkeUkPrO9za9nZJvy8qRe09V0uhcWC3wYfgMTaoL6TKJt0wNrnKyZBsC5D4j-wVhUsSV3CD2DvFEw6eS-ZNTwswa760L4uaDqGkh3xakvwXxxu_E/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0AIrTc7qptr3TyeBRXZAZxxG8KnI5pVA8kdfc3HB4dcELN6Tb1-MAYzLH0UdsGLpqemKsOkIPydeLkeUkPrO9za9nZJvy8qRe09V0uhcWC3wYfgMTaoL6TKJt0wNrnKyZBsC5D4j-wVhUsSV3CD2DvFEw6eS-ZNTwswa760L4uaDqGkh3xakvwXxxu_E/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was hunting around for shieldbugs. Feeling they would be the right size and quality of insect to photo in greater detail. The first one, a bronze shieldbug, had flown off. After a hunt I found another, this time a Green birch shieldbug, I think, though I am not an expert. I think it might have been in danger of drowning on a gravestone that had some water on. Or maybe it was just thirsty. I doubt it felt much relief about my rescue as I photographed the hell out of it for the next hour. Hopefully it was not unduly bothered by the diffuse flashes: I haven't actually been round the business side of the diffuser to see what sort of a zap it gives. Anyway the shieldbug did not fly off, so I read that as tacit agreement to proceed. Most of the shots were on gravestones or a dried leaf and I did as little interfering as possible other than place a leaf beside it and photo the result. After a comprehensive session I left it in peace.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3HME2n7HaiAq7dXWoEg4ANd4H2hFxLftQwHYtyfWIDjimhVgrAt4ds4EXQKp5Y6kxpH93-xokh_7vb1IfFSG-tGiEJ76Z1u39Svp1L2Jnboy6XgbFeT69USB0WgwKtxr2vQehJYQTMnjpEPDiYeep2EaeiEYomXLGwyDTOp2NELWuOOEENEd8u8eJgah/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3HME2n7HaiAq7dXWoEg4ANd4H2hFxLftQwHYtyfWIDjimhVgrAt4ds4EXQKp5Y6kxpH93-xokh_7vb1IfFSG-tGiEJ76Z1u39Svp1L2Jnboy6XgbFeT69USB0WgwKtxr2vQehJYQTMnjpEPDiYeep2EaeiEYomXLGwyDTOp2NELWuOOEENEd8u8eJgah/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Z_9CqDzujMUYGhfimeL5bFm-w4or5GWEVXZBiyz3RJpaqBiIERYh6rnXCY3oK4phqkCFZDrs-mQ3rfm6oPgW58pfdtzmbOqVPVwGXDKRa6cbFit_pZcF0ErHK9Uxlje_9SGziu81QP-06oa0y5fVZnUoLdllCVqTQCzeTFjOKsOQH1rbarPEZz8vrJk/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Z_9CqDzujMUYGhfimeL5bFm-w4or5GWEVXZBiyz3RJpaqBiIERYh6rnXCY3oK4phqkCFZDrs-mQ3rfm6oPgW58pfdtzmbOqVPVwGXDKRa6cbFit_pZcF0ErHK9Uxlje_9SGziu81QP-06oa0y5fVZnUoLdllCVqTQCzeTFjOKsOQH1rbarPEZz8vrJk/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseUcjKWme73peWJZNczR8o2vIZ68cPm8ueCd4PvCglz7_npMLLJ4mfumegU55tvPePTUkPHTxZnLSM7d03kS3lqwymtCcZ59CEEn5zkYNmFlI2WfUOjPZo9IV2fBR7ZFq_4dZHithELZ4XN4ZTOHUrFHvyvnQ5oOtehAoYhJSCRWBTJqh3mRE6cfhRHfo/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseUcjKWme73peWJZNczR8o2vIZ68cPm8ueCd4PvCglz7_npMLLJ4mfumegU55tvPePTUkPHTxZnLSM7d03kS3lqwymtCcZ59CEEn5zkYNmFlI2WfUOjPZo9IV2fBR7ZFq_4dZHithELZ4XN4ZTOHUrFHvyvnQ5oOtehAoYhJSCRWBTJqh3mRE6cfhRHfo/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKgdP1xoBY8VC-VqxOOoWtpEg4y68oI6a3C_MICdl-Gw8MYuSklovU1c4WyMvEuk1q0DsQeTclCcva0DyGIXUb0u3IjQFUZRmSXrv5gB105w3q0toPsaMk-u7rO-giUsRm0q1XF5DCtfH2MDlhIj47xyDXZc89nPCJhYno6CWw94vBKLYCW1OUKOh97Ja/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKgdP1xoBY8VC-VqxOOoWtpEg4y68oI6a3C_MICdl-Gw8MYuSklovU1c4WyMvEuk1q0DsQeTclCcva0DyGIXUb0u3IjQFUZRmSXrv5gB105w3q0toPsaMk-u7rO-giUsRm0q1XF5DCtfH2MDlhIj47xyDXZc89nPCJhYno6CWw94vBKLYCW1OUKOh97Ja/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVpu5hgty-3R9O8_T6PrjBgK8SJGWxpQ816esVKpkEJ3QcYj5neWmMgUGQXJgJ6Q6O9710BYaXZutAR9dY0vcmr06xoXDUgNPkXErFe3tg9FeOcV7I2YBQjN3iWMxsCl4sOOPCJKBN9ji3D_WJvA_GXi6W9JkUtZpL4Nnfm2I5PWbXUzZJDKZ-ITx9YwS/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVpu5hgty-3R9O8_T6PrjBgK8SJGWxpQ816esVKpkEJ3QcYj5neWmMgUGQXJgJ6Q6O9710BYaXZutAR9dY0vcmr06xoXDUgNPkXErFe3tg9FeOcV7I2YBQjN3iWMxsCl4sOOPCJKBN9ji3D_WJvA_GXi6W9JkUtZpL4Nnfm2I5PWbXUzZJDKZ-ITx9YwS/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaGkYr24Zb7yeOpLx0OtNGnXEMBrqwe0zOJv_YiywW4rBclZbcqvORjxF68w33JjKGkVLFy7KGghiw2DuUdQisRYQ2AAIeXzXlR66dyBGjzgaK8qCcn-M3nkXYhDk-Nv6SFFa2CP62ftIwRrqlMebHKxdK5EuGUp_rStwNxs4t4vfp2zzlti6wF6FoKrl/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaGkYr24Zb7yeOpLx0OtNGnXEMBrqwe0zOJv_YiywW4rBclZbcqvORjxF68w33JjKGkVLFy7KGghiw2DuUdQisRYQ2AAIeXzXlR66dyBGjzgaK8qCcn-M3nkXYhDk-Nv6SFFa2CP62ftIwRrqlMebHKxdK5EuGUp_rStwNxs4t4vfp2zzlti6wF6FoKrl/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpLfIDjNrQ9nS6lEUdEGb6H3l8dtpv82_iVtzavpR8mUDfRDwkbs1nn_z2WUooMeC1KYhWbrYrxPXCwk5dy6v2MJuINNa32AyNFJzxXjJUwenUA1up9gPnw9ccaN0pJSXZRz6F489Xm_f0sHr8vj0af-mhs8N_ZSn1hSpBVsGdN4Axr9ho4Me1tQbhN59/s2048/062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpLfIDjNrQ9nS6lEUdEGb6H3l8dtpv82_iVtzavpR8mUDfRDwkbs1nn_z2WUooMeC1KYhWbrYrxPXCwk5dy6v2MJuINNa32AyNFJzxXjJUwenUA1up9gPnw9ccaN0pJSXZRz6F489Xm_f0sHr8vj0af-mhs8N_ZSn1hSpBVsGdN4Axr9ho4Me1tQbhN59/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt3UYD7zFyUgPVEv9iiwOkapDoG8tbuQtKlP4EQ8EWEcu71X3HhP4_hyyyJUdSfxh8pmnAR7nv3Ps1DxxRKuSOudQr0jSvXj7fs5t2brzJkzeKS2MZwLgJASiFn0OfVp4b2s91fm4ZAJzkNfHiwDVDADUHUDNvHaL9elT-x0wuMkcz6PAScwi04Ou5jed/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt3UYD7zFyUgPVEv9iiwOkapDoG8tbuQtKlP4EQ8EWEcu71X3HhP4_hyyyJUdSfxh8pmnAR7nv3Ps1DxxRKuSOudQr0jSvXj7fs5t2brzJkzeKS2MZwLgJASiFn0OfVp4b2s91fm4ZAJzkNfHiwDVDADUHUDNvHaL9elT-x0wuMkcz6PAScwi04Ou5jed/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB17_Hl31bxMb3Jewlf9Q2I2YdQE9w81KcfdTAjnFu7SZ0miRKEywE0xCn5RJGHM2pErJ-7HY4em6rbDVzekHyAhNjv2Eq5WorJvKPIzEANyp0MTZc0HyPIxEWt84ULqxwExY3k-XnEQKLCAq9UXJxsyBxMKu6LGhSx7KG7UAh-YX9ziG5o_NFEvnbFzG/s2048/064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB17_Hl31bxMb3Jewlf9Q2I2YdQE9w81KcfdTAjnFu7SZ0miRKEywE0xCn5RJGHM2pErJ-7HY4em6rbDVzekHyAhNjv2Eq5WorJvKPIzEANyp0MTZc0HyPIxEWt84ULqxwExY3k-XnEQKLCAq9UXJxsyBxMKu6LGhSx7KG7UAh-YX9ziG5o_NFEvnbFzG/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakjguqc2bkFTYOiYF66OVGs2iRPwkaCclNaBWLfRz3lMkL8JvYt_1-TvMvY71ldVa_HgcgWvpUtnc50Mksl1BMS9K0ob9RmDsjpxZ2BmxEG6jqd5560-aW80jDhfZH_C03-NBLi5jmAg21x1cMBeAmRQaWjnY1qkQ4hC6eholW-ar4bUu6caIX9aewN8A/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakjguqc2bkFTYOiYF66OVGs2iRPwkaCclNaBWLfRz3lMkL8JvYt_1-TvMvY71ldVa_HgcgWvpUtnc50Mksl1BMS9K0ob9RmDsjpxZ2BmxEG6jqd5560-aW80jDhfZH_C03-NBLi5jmAg21x1cMBeAmRQaWjnY1qkQ4hC6eholW-ar4bUu6caIX9aewN8A/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">It was about this time Alan turned up. He is much more a ladybird enthusiast and specialist than myself and had come across about 10 or 11 species that day. I felt I had maybe seen three or 4 tops. He pointed me towards a striped ladybird (photo below) which only look different (in my dim eyes) from a lot of the others when you get in close. It looked great in the warm late afternoon light but pretty bad under the cold flash of my lamp. It helped to get more background sky in the photo (further below) although I was unsure why I couldn't just record the warmly lit scene in the viewfinder rather than set off the harsh cold light of the flash. Particularly when zoomed right in.</span> </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvxz4EfAJQmJX59pTS4d0ZHVC2Wann4OdPbsG-m0sp2EDxycmLXvLvj2Gw8SluYBlhAK58A4ECsU7_B2hSz7rDv075LpAVNBMFLzmgSDU7I5gPHcHYClMKtVwj212dGT0sTTK_CT-xpt182PXEuu8i3zWxz7CfIQVs9JhtcIfg0GoEB67UAC_Glad3gOk/s2048/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvxz4EfAJQmJX59pTS4d0ZHVC2Wann4OdPbsG-m0sp2EDxycmLXvLvj2Gw8SluYBlhAK58A4ECsU7_B2hSz7rDv075LpAVNBMFLzmgSDU7I5gPHcHYClMKtVwj212dGT0sTTK_CT-xpt182PXEuu8i3zWxz7CfIQVs9JhtcIfg0GoEB67UAC_Glad3gOk/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Striped ladybird <br />- none of the warmth of the real life situation</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaJizJbn8SQo3e47VI-28_Y9Qnx_XNitSj4yKACfAatX2umXmL8aAsjIwmZRNL-_TxLLvoLXJ8vj29W9ElpKoHJbT0SRzujKHG9TDP2vI0lvNZMofw19Jy5mwOT5ZA8pKN31vpylbRmtzk6LfD6ANUpXXCytyOe_XTBRmEVMr-8DCsSf-Z2s_WqZ7wEZB/s2004/067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2004" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaJizJbn8SQo3e47VI-28_Y9Qnx_XNitSj4yKACfAatX2umXmL8aAsjIwmZRNL-_TxLLvoLXJ8vj29W9ElpKoHJbT0SRzujKHG9TDP2vI0lvNZMofw19Jy5mwOT5ZA8pKN31vpylbRmtzk6LfD6ANUpXXCytyOe_XTBRmEVMr-8DCsSf-Z2s_WqZ7wEZB/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 spot?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_HFvQ5IdoTjuCinZQBSCSgTBsIAQq-qpykvuAbsLAPewWr6bc4NEtl4YPlDF5IRv7ZuNMxUJrMnQoGuQEcrAoB4L-wrplDsJrhaveQHI-xij6Lofa28DnGKewzM-eIYi8nERjMzYsouK_jZnUdQIYUjy2KyukInxUoAI4VSNRpwnotTtyrIsAoPv_evD/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_HFvQ5IdoTjuCinZQBSCSgTBsIAQq-qpykvuAbsLAPewWr6bc4NEtl4YPlDF5IRv7ZuNMxUJrMnQoGuQEcrAoB4L-wrplDsJrhaveQHI-xij6Lofa28DnGKewzM-eIYi8nERjMzYsouK_jZnUdQIYUjy2KyukInxUoAI4VSNRpwnotTtyrIsAoPv_evD/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ichneumon or parasitic wasp?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1coi9z4_298Rk2zNpCoJI-SqcbhIxUg2HkaGKj3HPA2WwNB3IafEF254fe4MQY1r9XlOkncXtINsk_amMaMjA5E-InjXQ1uX0zLYuxJMRFF_sW63CvRjdzlBuFkVtNy-R0xyUFvpsdT3D-r4ggjooL6kpTICsbAMlo_D56-dItg4rRghJ_dDDxD4FrkW/s2004/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2004" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1coi9z4_298Rk2zNpCoJI-SqcbhIxUg2HkaGKj3HPA2WwNB3IafEF254fe4MQY1r9XlOkncXtINsk_amMaMjA5E-InjXQ1uX0zLYuxJMRFF_sW63CvRjdzlBuFkVtNy-R0xyUFvpsdT3D-r4ggjooL6kpTICsbAMlo_D56-dItg4rRghJ_dDDxD4FrkW/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOlA45nDQoB9vc2ghC7WVbyu1SBNi_f8HmHnAQZKXqN4Io9MFQtZwYBsU6e8zbxXgJ5VbdYZKsmY3lLNChrQnlseGEKQKhW3fYjeaKyc9d_5z0mPbVuIxou-08w9hDe3kSWDeWJ350UlTDuhHfkJPQKnHPaToi4KLzZ4hdng1q1-qGfboljAsS0fxYA0a/s2004/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2004" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOlA45nDQoB9vc2ghC7WVbyu1SBNi_f8HmHnAQZKXqN4Io9MFQtZwYBsU6e8zbxXgJ5VbdYZKsmY3lLNChrQnlseGEKQKhW3fYjeaKyc9d_5z0mPbVuIxou-08w9hDe3kSWDeWJ350UlTDuhHfkJPQKnHPaToi4KLzZ4hdng1q1-qGfboljAsS0fxYA0a/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The striped ladybird looked better in this scene. Unsure why.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ew1zI4I3JTAhFYKd-9FEhftNiA28V7FuVnLZzNNY8kYw4g-o-kS2A-2VAxayxXknBRyG-joNSmKq22IwrWa0fvyRhKEXhn7Jj0GA-CMKQr99s7GZLOyw27XMZrMQm7R-R3qAPAsbbg5tWiWWj65l90SPSSLRXM3MtzEPo7eQRsAq2PIJUEak7MoXS2HT/s2048/071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ew1zI4I3JTAhFYKd-9FEhftNiA28V7FuVnLZzNNY8kYw4g-o-kS2A-2VAxayxXknBRyG-joNSmKq22IwrWa0fvyRhKEXhn7Jj0GA-CMKQr99s7GZLOyw27XMZrMQm7R-R3qAPAsbbg5tWiWWj65l90SPSSLRXM3MtzEPo7eQRsAq2PIJUEak7MoXS2HT/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs_GEGUTmu5tePAlx67d_6frWYPtTb2GNyjKhQ0MMHiIXnlX3bug_mIra40I0rBrNwLhZ-6HNk0pfSI2Yb4wAv6NKY_7ehOD9ZOwYZ-FdayF3PtvSxh5Ty_lNCoqL6Fdnb1YXRmCytzZIpSDkDh52lD6Muj8NDs8YRtdT9Mh82sExIqt3VvVj6o5QCb9l/s2048/073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs_GEGUTmu5tePAlx67d_6frWYPtTb2GNyjKhQ0MMHiIXnlX3bug_mIra40I0rBrNwLhZ-6HNk0pfSI2Yb4wAv6NKY_7ehOD9ZOwYZ-FdayF3PtvSxh5Ty_lNCoqL6Fdnb1YXRmCytzZIpSDkDh52lD6Muj8NDs8YRtdT9Mh82sExIqt3VvVj6o5QCb9l/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYayr2_mvcz45r-szpPYvhyphenhyphend9mQng_vqSk2Raf4_27vwVqUYeEw-Q7pf6JR2jSgIlNyE2Nw5NNqL-vpiPv0wf1U9Z3G9qgMa1gru-lssml0JwX_6QLht5D1WgQVFq10UkjP7sWWQl8Zrxasosbqma1UIrPICmz1nRbyYeRWooMcr2l3roW7DO_BFZ2XdQ/s2048/074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYayr2_mvcz45r-szpPYvhyphenhyphend9mQng_vqSk2Raf4_27vwVqUYeEw-Q7pf6JR2jSgIlNyE2Nw5NNqL-vpiPv0wf1U9Z3G9qgMa1gru-lssml0JwX_6QLht5D1WgQVFq10UkjP7sWWQl8Zrxasosbqma1UIrPICmz1nRbyYeRWooMcr2l3roW7DO_BFZ2XdQ/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">earwig hiding in a niche</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxBsT5iJXRd1WQ6CRxsdCPwDxKDgYa8yu9_5vF_8eEeC9TpLAACxG5yqagLfWXyBGVYVwmGVMYv-HtAE-1gey1x5wyxVoJ2ejUOfacwF9iH_Rxwy0-eWRhbxnVU-ZYlhlrJnYbwjp5Ic8slQ1CJpEz8kU8yiXQnY_Su6sxL2_mP5bCFdn6CvVSda2c0m3/s2048/075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxBsT5iJXRd1WQ6CRxsdCPwDxKDgYa8yu9_5vF_8eEeC9TpLAACxG5yqagLfWXyBGVYVwmGVMYv-HtAE-1gey1x5wyxVoJ2ejUOfacwF9iH_Rxwy0-eWRhbxnVU-ZYlhlrJnYbwjp5Ic8slQ1CJpEz8kU8yiXQnY_Su6sxL2_mP5bCFdn6CvVSda2c0m3/s320/075.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pine ladybirds</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD_9oorqJcIt4gZIGJfrv3y1BwqDgvFd-Sj9TBj7sA4PE8Cdcm1Z9vZiLquXs8aw5LMKCSWmQWq5nbmyLgnkCsb9svhcsp7y_wZIbYIFYFieAWnIBybF7NOp5-wp38WhTwAeaJzhqelfRbAXRhyQP3wUiY7sbVCb2yvIyZ3eT0c8zWyjiHduxdocx9pOt/s2048/076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD_9oorqJcIt4gZIGJfrv3y1BwqDgvFd-Sj9TBj7sA4PE8Cdcm1Z9vZiLquXs8aw5LMKCSWmQWq5nbmyLgnkCsb9svhcsp7y_wZIbYIFYFieAWnIBybF7NOp5-wp38WhTwAeaJzhqelfRbAXRhyQP3wUiY7sbVCb2yvIyZ3eT0c8zWyjiHduxdocx9pOt/s320/076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitimUrI5zmx5ONb-_EB4mISOVm1jpxVVMnK6JBrXqnPpJ1t_cc9uoMFelttmSTJTBmfd0meukwKHgMcM4AsXeKOLygEeGcllt4_vs7DtybwnzrZv2aYlIDtq8JjH1t1FK1urr45Odh7diGup4zdqd0hrXnodCvH-ie4vJErn7kzD2mXrgi2_BLNd12HG6/s2048/077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitimUrI5zmx5ONb-_EB4mISOVm1jpxVVMnK6JBrXqnPpJ1t_cc9uoMFelttmSTJTBmfd0meukwKHgMcM4AsXeKOLygEeGcllt4_vs7DtybwnzrZv2aYlIDtq8JjH1t1FK1urr45Odh7diGup4zdqd0hrXnodCvH-ie4vJErn7kzD2mXrgi2_BLNd12HG6/s320/077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">most likely a harlequin ladybird, they are becoming more </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and more frequent and can be in any of a hundred+ patterns</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHjPIJx0lpxdZ8E5fKHWuJUoDyBOco7LuEb8AneSs1v9SdIHmvrAgcSjwjM54Xk9YiLnEygjNdDcoOuL0QxihG47-jiW4UjdsDeqr_49H1xHkFFXsk8Ngr4ilfLaJK9uOT0sKmoa-H7pfkHBpkiJO3c9BWARflcJVDWdG5AJO2azKACQndRzykhcA6qUE/s2048/078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHjPIJx0lpxdZ8E5fKHWuJUoDyBOco7LuEb8AneSs1v9SdIHmvrAgcSjwjM54Xk9YiLnEygjNdDcoOuL0QxihG47-jiW4UjdsDeqr_49H1xHkFFXsk8Ngr4ilfLaJK9uOT0sKmoa-H7pfkHBpkiJO3c9BWARflcJVDWdG5AJO2azKACQndRzykhcA6qUE/s320/078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on my glove</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZP22R3BT0KBQEVAKY06Ia_Dvx6ZULYf1s82K74wm1BlXRNvF_pjmk6jaI7qA6agXDwTJ0G09jGN9ch8kZl65MceeqouNosEwEBZLwYqbLGixe1Xf2A5S3csQXgpflG65YDYDdZthw90N1fAAZEsjWkI-8Lc5ActM5rx3JwA7CpB6AnHyGZhzbzMoMUZ9/s2048/080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZP22R3BT0KBQEVAKY06Ia_Dvx6ZULYf1s82K74wm1BlXRNvF_pjmk6jaI7qA6agXDwTJ0G09jGN9ch8kZl65MceeqouNosEwEBZLwYqbLGixe1Xf2A5S3csQXgpflG65YDYDdZthw90N1fAAZEsjWkI-8Lc5ActM5rx3JwA7CpB6AnHyGZhzbzMoMUZ9/s320/080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaNOMnuxrwNGEy2VeqlGJKSPWhFete_VEuvltjRbQP-xOZiVeZLw9KOpzIxQa694Jl7BhokMZ7Zd8ZcH11Zst83IrbCJ7TOj4h2dA7JlWU0vxTKhlX8mo9WUw9VEiDshuMSziBuw4zQmD44dlmO3-FVidUCss0_Vbsae_sLwIe4qFVBpHZPMFFaGWUwDa/s2048/081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaNOMnuxrwNGEy2VeqlGJKSPWhFete_VEuvltjRbQP-xOZiVeZLw9KOpzIxQa694Jl7BhokMZ7Zd8ZcH11Zst83IrbCJ7TOj4h2dA7JlWU0vxTKhlX8mo9WUw9VEiDshuMSziBuw4zQmD44dlmO3-FVidUCss0_Vbsae_sLwIe4qFVBpHZPMFFaGWUwDa/s320/081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh92DzEwYLQoN7bLD0NfwqANcXMSwQHi2eKefvPuinUFb4uVno1VuAKeee-G6c04lrc-olyxEMyqRiQeNpVx7T2Bzr6csQuoEo_0D4_Da8wGBUIfopKTbRxGgR31sxaSqtEAjYJo4vUBBoAennDZ5Rsdvu1lkhxR8FH6WDDL8dll6D2LP-Wu_YzOFuV5p/s2048/082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh92DzEwYLQoN7bLD0NfwqANcXMSwQHi2eKefvPuinUFb4uVno1VuAKeee-G6c04lrc-olyxEMyqRiQeNpVx7T2Bzr6csQuoEo_0D4_Da8wGBUIfopKTbRxGgR31sxaSqtEAjYJo4vUBBoAennDZ5Rsdvu1lkhxR8FH6WDDL8dll6D2LP-Wu_YzOFuV5p/s320/082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Kfly4V9CMa8piv1f_vNqZAMPtxVsOjuYUe3g-v8pBBhQCInUa1ORU0QjYL3xBCS7Xo9djudrJqRyj07qKk2EDEP-KTzQvGgwGcW7mrDeyk2zNl4r2WXwiLIIRMKm8t9XF6RxPiArImIKAoZ0YV2D_SPvi-cEjruFKkMWE1N5eKXh0xfKMqtfIvKfyOY/s2048/083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Kfly4V9CMa8piv1f_vNqZAMPtxVsOjuYUe3g-v8pBBhQCInUa1ORU0QjYL3xBCS7Xo9djudrJqRyj07qKk2EDEP-KTzQvGgwGcW7mrDeyk2zNl4r2WXwiLIIRMKm8t9XF6RxPiArImIKAoZ0YV2D_SPvi-cEjruFKkMWE1N5eKXh0xfKMqtfIvKfyOY/s320/083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48e0mFRz6UF3z7jL9rCp26Qi0VUpNgSp3GZD3FqAMJIgnUHHDvQVXzqI76QmKtKmE11FwGeLcJHxMexIOUZmJKrMObK85REaH7TaeeoM8BscFfwcTn2LRTiWTl6WikwWDV8GQHoyx_yr5R07FqUs1Ywlu1fwgpgDd79P2cr1SGxS6N7Eca-BvUQdi7Yv/s2048/084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48e0mFRz6UF3z7jL9rCp26Qi0VUpNgSp3GZD3FqAMJIgnUHHDvQVXzqI76QmKtKmE11FwGeLcJHxMexIOUZmJKrMObK85REaH7TaeeoM8BscFfwcTn2LRTiWTl6WikwWDV8GQHoyx_yr5R07FqUs1Ywlu1fwgpgDd79P2cr1SGxS6N7Eca-BvUQdi7Yv/s320/084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">also taken with the macro lens</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMMPY__XtD9IL_GGJO_zIMYjxVy6CP-jxhiHBbkn8ApfvooGkGOL6MOA8NHyxNFfow-QTm7P6hh6uJXR3pjH4zDvkehE86vwtW6E-Pg66_I46Ev4IWFVLiSmUF7mtTUIz56VWo8Uemntl15pRk1uvNAagCB1LI9IEd5rgXwMGDgvXGzf_zop5NxUbv4fc/s2048/085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMMPY__XtD9IL_GGJO_zIMYjxVy6CP-jxhiHBbkn8ApfvooGkGOL6MOA8NHyxNFfow-QTm7P6hh6uJXR3pjH4zDvkehE86vwtW6E-Pg66_I46Ev4IWFVLiSmUF7mtTUIz56VWo8Uemntl15pRk1uvNAagCB1LI9IEd5rgXwMGDgvXGzf_zop5NxUbv4fc/s320/085.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had a wonderful time. While there are more permutations and things that can go wrong, I really enjoyed the challenge of the macro lens (and seeing the results) and felt I'd only just scratched the surface. Next trip out is to the Botanics as mentioned. Expect flowery stuff but also some more flies. I know, can't wait, right? 😁</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJhvtR7F5HkVmcR27bF-2gRHbtoKyzD2q_Kd1gWaK73efejcEAr004m3Dg6kEFoix9IPYH0o11lO1T_bPBlw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is not one of my better videos - in fact it is more out of focus than in. It is here to give you an idea of how easy it is (or not) to keep the subject in the small depth of field available and how most of the time it is not. However in its defence I feel a warmth and gratitude to all the bugs featured who have been very patient while I have been leaning over them. I hope they didn't mind too much.</div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-19722342180264582332024-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:002024-02-15T08:00:58.243-08:00west side story<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1gc27AjkBmzMBX66p_m42PuveikQCCTw-QlT_Y77-a4Izs4gCh0726OAKXLD1JLV_yH3BSO7FLn1R6DnID8ucuOTQJhjFNcK25mJ77ZczUfrI5yNWsZMF0uuq68lVOEYiiZdwn0slODw9gNRTzkVYZrFUSwlgliRUqFFGcVePaFTfv_aLC5wytMAhlYD/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1gc27AjkBmzMBX66p_m42PuveikQCCTw-QlT_Y77-a4Izs4gCh0726OAKXLD1JLV_yH3BSO7FLn1R6DnID8ucuOTQJhjFNcK25mJ77ZczUfrI5yNWsZMF0uuq68lVOEYiiZdwn0slODw9gNRTzkVYZrFUSwlgliRUqFFGcVePaFTfv_aLC5wytMAhlYD/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday 13th Feb</div><div style="text-align: left;">I decided to revisit an old favourite and take the train to Dalmeny, walking and jogging between photos back towards Edinburgh. I was doing it solo as Mary had unaccountably crocked her foot the day before on Arthur's Seat. Not even off-road, she had had to limp home and hasn't walked properly since. Hopefully it is on the mend and she will be back to usual shortly. Meanwhile with a final day of decent weather before another 40 days of rain I headed up to catch the last train to Dalmeny before 9am. (Mary had already expressed indifference about this venue, so I took the opportunity to go there while she was in recovery.) I cut it too fine to get a station coffee and couldn't be bothered to do one at the tempting outlet below the platform at Dalmeny. I was keen to get going as I suspected there might not be much worth a photo before Cramond Brig, in which case the plan was to detour to Cammo, which is often a top spot for bird pics.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_GIcZFXwSUWDK7XEI5ZF_3uNsk2uLXmsw00O3m-yEm4R-c7wuR257SLAXg9rRMQFn5xKZSulWZaF82xlZbRj6YzS8fnPg6iaYWymVdntLfUFqHXPurvDOECK1clQ2CbA0m-3Rln8j6KeXc5kUkh4oT0GxT-nGpuBK921BX_8w6CzqFhIfxTsFWDJHDGd/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_GIcZFXwSUWDK7XEI5ZF_3uNsk2uLXmsw00O3m-yEm4R-c7wuR257SLAXg9rRMQFn5xKZSulWZaF82xlZbRj6YzS8fnPg6iaYWymVdntLfUFqHXPurvDOECK1clQ2CbA0m-3Rln8j6KeXc5kUkh4oT0GxT-nGpuBK921BX_8w6CzqFhIfxTsFWDJHDGd/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">my train heading North onto the famous rail bridge</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTdBq1DcntxnggLc3AhibNUArffZXELiEdhdLJAmU4kYXKMEPMfvLyVh0PU9vVGkIPKC08FMWvifC7cUwUgv6TUVXMuMqzaydurLqsik0s8yKFK4LhXHUEaRSgdUlorJj5xJkJQsVajTrAElh5qf7mxIMgsNSBBOCdXVXugrF2yPnZ8C1Iorg_N6ZRmvI/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTdBq1DcntxnggLc3AhibNUArffZXELiEdhdLJAmU4kYXKMEPMfvLyVh0PU9vVGkIPKC08FMWvifC7cUwUgv6TUVXMuMqzaydurLqsik0s8yKFK4LhXHUEaRSgdUlorJj5xJkJQsVajTrAElh5qf7mxIMgsNSBBOCdXVXugrF2yPnZ8C1Iorg_N6ZRmvI/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">While the long lens is great for capturing flighty birds it is difficult to stand far enough back from larger things to get them all in the photo. The very top photo of the rail bridge is a good example. For the first mile I was too close to get the whole thing in the frame and I had to forego the usual photos I take as you go along the dirt track from the station towards the bridge. However I really liked the forced close up I took from nearby as it gives you a new perspective, or rather more detail than usual and helps give a fresh angle rather than just taking the same old photos I take every time I do this route.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I never fail to appreciate the rail bridge as an absolute work of genius and marvelous engineering. The other two bridges are fine conveniences by comparison but are totally eclipsed by the form, colour and magnificence of the original crossing. It occurred to me I can't think of another example of a bridge that looks like this one, which is unusual for a successful design. I just googled multi-span cantilever bridges and although there are a couple built using similar principals they tend not to be multi span nor anything like as elegant. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVixAcY07wtKqXk3PXcjDMfTxL3j5QrAMdQIYbzGj36TahHfAXA9W-UivU0SQVR8IQ4qixElGWbFFJBBoCiHm-B4P_pmtZtHDsoPW3At_I4fnBhgS9hNnDh7cvgYuhkh66RTnSiLuRJVnPAPx3rDu_HuWEDQGiIK_PIVuQ-XBLdIp3tiO5dvA5T3qJyfY/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVixAcY07wtKqXk3PXcjDMfTxL3j5QrAMdQIYbzGj36TahHfAXA9W-UivU0SQVR8IQ4qixElGWbFFJBBoCiHm-B4P_pmtZtHDsoPW3At_I4fnBhgS9hNnDh7cvgYuhkh66RTnSiLuRJVnPAPx3rDu_HuWEDQGiIK_PIVuQ-XBLdIp3tiO5dvA5T3qJyfY/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eclipses the other two</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy3ZgKFvgpZikp8nEcLLJdodACZHxCsHe8aBt0YQRgUwPIH498uO9er_sU3-_7-gxBDlJZRKwh00SziB0UpdTPm1a_IJraoNNpzi5B0ytVwRQupI2uN7xd-HTIqIVocMgqvESdW2MVd2zE6uiAZrsc9kT4OFJq6r7lWBsqPwlJEFs2qEEDRItbzLYp-Gb/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy3ZgKFvgpZikp8nEcLLJdodACZHxCsHe8aBt0YQRgUwPIH498uO9er_sU3-_7-gxBDlJZRKwh00SziB0UpdTPm1a_IJraoNNpzi5B0ytVwRQupI2uN7xd-HTIqIVocMgqvESdW2MVd2zE6uiAZrsc9kT4OFJq6r7lWBsqPwlJEFs2qEEDRItbzLYp-Gb/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The good thing about having a lens as strong as a telescope is you see things that you may have missed on previous occasions. Where was that red stripe lighthouse all my life? And I love the ghost ship in the background I wasn't aware of till I put the camera to my eye.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMxHwuPJJfh_I9Q2u0ZJzYeKPvYDS785O6MRO1eYTHsVqUX5tVyCSmhdCPrcdMZf9js6t0kjAxOjiv14od0bGqQmDTAYiJvK_5afDUNc6t4kDqrBOQYfhVM3fSNte61itf_aRFJqm9f21K0kwD3W50iDy-2iwhb5hoSyBCea3QJ5uyW_7jN7FJdSikSzI/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMxHwuPJJfh_I9Q2u0ZJzYeKPvYDS785O6MRO1eYTHsVqUX5tVyCSmhdCPrcdMZf9js6t0kjAxOjiv14od0bGqQmDTAYiJvK_5afDUNc6t4kDqrBOQYfhVM3fSNte61itf_aRFJqm9f21K0kwD3W50iDy-2iwhb5hoSyBCea3QJ5uyW_7jN7FJdSikSzI/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was pleased to spot this drone hovering above the trees. I thought I heard the angry bee-swarm buzz of a drone overhead. I have been considering getting one recently. Actually since they first appeared many years ago. Each year they get cheaper, easier to fly and harder to crash but I can't really justify it, and it is more kit to carry on a hike. A long while back Mary bought a gimble and miniature camera made by drone firm DJI. (Osmo Pocket.) We have somehow never got round to using it and it has been gathering dust. Recently it caught my eye and I took it with us to Tenerife in December, however we were too busy to fish it out and get youTubed up on how to work it. It returned unused. For something so small it produces really good quality video, panorama photos and timelapse/motionlapse videos. The main reason for buying it was it stabilises handheld running videos and can be carried in a pocket. Although DJI are now on version 3 of the Pocket the first one still seems to be worth taking on the next holiday and messing about with. You'd think with not doing work these days I'd have more time on my hands to get this all under control? Anyway, place your bets on whether any new macro lens shots or DJI Pocket footage come back from the next holiday. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJy4g9AVeL2nE-7Ct3Surc8ZR5qNRNx1PpMXE0T_gWwj0-woGEodbc5su6tTduuBS-hrgtU4AMdTw1lkqBErWRCg543O_yjTIKgE9k21w9r8tlv3fLB3LH09fuh8LFg3JfhmadiPx3_6sH9GKx6f_cFIIIe4Hc3Uj0tt19YLRNZ3FBD4GiWCYbeG35WMM/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJy4g9AVeL2nE-7Ct3Surc8ZR5qNRNx1PpMXE0T_gWwj0-woGEodbc5su6tTduuBS-hrgtU4AMdTw1lkqBErWRCg543O_yjTIKgE9k21w9r8tlv3fLB3LH09fuh8LFg3JfhmadiPx3_6sH9GKx6f_cFIIIe4Hc3Uj0tt19YLRNZ3FBD4GiWCYbeG35WMM/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Barnbougle Castle<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Somewhere before Barnbougle Castle I saw a buzzard fly up into the top of a tree. It wasn't close by and I had to step over a fence. Then hike through some brambly undergrowth. When I got about 150 yards away it took off and I watched forlornly as it sailed half a mile before landing. I muttered obscenities about large cowardly pussy birds and climbed back over the fence.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zifz7-idft-NHPQdmZ1MTNiJjlBSa72PlH1yb6LPNWDvzvhjp4W9o4RoG49BuGWZQG1BiFJRCxZLATBCodYqwlp-ZoQNk4FvViAPTENT6CKaidf3GVMuJjPjcV8s5bjCeQ8Tg_nVRpagfsuzuvtDT7YanJSyeFvCH-lxAMkf-dbQ2EXorPzfz066bLuC/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zifz7-idft-NHPQdmZ1MTNiJjlBSa72PlH1yb6LPNWDvzvhjp4W9o4RoG49BuGWZQG1BiFJRCxZLATBCodYqwlp-ZoQNk4FvViAPTENT6CKaidf3GVMuJjPjcV8s5bjCeQ8Tg_nVRpagfsuzuvtDT7YanJSyeFvCH-lxAMkf-dbQ2EXorPzfz066bLuC/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inchmickery <br />aka <i>Battleship Potemkin</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImd5ndSp1fTfhmX-I4i0BOcSkzeHIfDhef-WWiE8iDyoYym0pocDl3SK7k9BHXgOr_iX_zd7bKFTjvPEYBPDPRHk_fee_78DMZ4HlwEdK9tUl99mjEZCdAFuFczxMV_9X2CeoUKg0i_E_D5F8um97uYUVeXTJNd3cCfAIJq-vQK95TxlsP4sq9V6WuMR8/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImd5ndSp1fTfhmX-I4i0BOcSkzeHIfDhef-WWiE8iDyoYym0pocDl3SK7k9BHXgOr_iX_zd7bKFTjvPEYBPDPRHk_fee_78DMZ4HlwEdK9tUl99mjEZCdAFuFczxMV_9X2CeoUKg0i_E_D5F8um97uYUVeXTJNd3cCfAIJq-vQK95TxlsP4sq9V6WuMR8/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was halfway along the front opposite Dalmeny House when I noticed there were a number of pied wagtails hopping through the debris. Their mottled patterns hide them very well in shoreline flotsam and they were fearless enough to shadow for ten minutes while I mostly failed to get good photos. They would let me get close but were continually hopping and popping and never quite looked at the camera at the right moment despite me whistling, cajoling, cursing and complimenting them. I think it was a nil-nil draw by the time I left although I got a few pics. Bit meh though. But fun. They are charming and full of character.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpf3BMmyTkyY6x_gZpD5OdELu4o5mU9JmcxRmp3uk7ZKM3p7rxBMPV_Dsw5Oxm_ak4JZbEHt-8dS6r-H8xnO08S1GssZ9UbWU0he039Wrwq0bIBYfpqRpZe8GZqSCLbDQ9l3JX_LI3xtjv2DbIm2raQ0LzPf5aKopZXhvynqmPGjkc0VG_4o2oD5X_cnF/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpf3BMmyTkyY6x_gZpD5OdELu4o5mU9JmcxRmp3uk7ZKM3p7rxBMPV_Dsw5Oxm_ak4JZbEHt-8dS6r-H8xnO08S1GssZ9UbWU0he039Wrwq0bIBYfpqRpZe8GZqSCLbDQ9l3JX_LI3xtjv2DbIm2raQ0LzPf5aKopZXhvynqmPGjkc0VG_4o2oD5X_cnF/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3WFm5v8vZwpcpyDeHdzv5zKt-qL8zICRdGztIWtkT943oQWNvoaR3B-7tfGf3Ay_9jL7D9ABjQNUk-lHbLxWputxH3UsixX7eo8ZRvtE7H1TE5uT8LZBvcLKWNlED8XGNQX4bKMX9RQNWQvFWrHxXAVkskuEnZ2K-IEWOuvQY9GWJ-rsWlT9Tqcpy9o4/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3WFm5v8vZwpcpyDeHdzv5zKt-qL8zICRdGztIWtkT943oQWNvoaR3B-7tfGf3Ay_9jL7D9ABjQNUk-lHbLxWputxH3UsixX7eo8ZRvtE7H1TE5uT8LZBvcLKWNlED8XGNQX4bKMX9RQNWQvFWrHxXAVkskuEnZ2K-IEWOuvQY9GWJ-rsWlT9Tqcpy9o4/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqqD-vLxEMjh_EpBGX3FMvM4CxNFcXF_CDOFTk3W5Lihzoj-85TmrtcarxpE2qTRFvMgI-q0pHLVwSCmxdZ_nRXJ-mDCLXHsE7YounLyQXtvY0qxrEhKcmFT1yYOWsjV0N6J-xh_jFGJv3T8op1PmlmvJ4K8U7WgtM-e-26H0j3bpK8NN8hVyQJtl-d-w/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqqD-vLxEMjh_EpBGX3FMvM4CxNFcXF_CDOFTk3W5Lihzoj-85TmrtcarxpE2qTRFvMgI-q0pHLVwSCmxdZ_nRXJ-mDCLXHsE7YounLyQXtvY0qxrEhKcmFT1yYOWsjV0N6J-xh_jFGJv3T8op1PmlmvJ4K8U7WgtM-e-26H0j3bpK8NN8hVyQJtl-d-w/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-R5O2CeuyIm55hJwg1Wh1aL6PlTdYZq5-GkHKPKWBglZXafCpYtJY0S_yQqZjdmHxzHVZfkVipxGD8HmwKkFakZ8yF6lpmX-UwuF7ivbW5encMHyzzi-sCMNLZIciKLFzjjMyBdrf_ZKNgmyeCGVUScPqyUfzUCDPDIMW2Gu9GU2iJJFElgPVnOlvqkL/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-R5O2CeuyIm55hJwg1Wh1aL6PlTdYZq5-GkHKPKWBglZXafCpYtJY0S_yQqZjdmHxzHVZfkVipxGD8HmwKkFakZ8yF6lpmX-UwuF7ivbW5encMHyzzi-sCMNLZIciKLFzjjMyBdrf_ZKNgmyeCGVUScPqyUfzUCDPDIMW2Gu9GU2iJJFElgPVnOlvqkL/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98wSPbliMQ25rHlF5YTZZNVeiMQTuupCJJh_9hHWHe4jsbKhXqSiyvCihKouua5BJNbej3N-z1bPqPmqaKBHRnyIaArivv8gzcoVHMfJXsgjd4mD0GBVX13fEH69oTMYazIaZEMEP3lxZ8FCp2ECYpWFIoWH7MtHoNFg0qP90h128P3eTWdxTtV1I0qN1/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98wSPbliMQ25rHlF5YTZZNVeiMQTuupCJJh_9hHWHe4jsbKhXqSiyvCihKouua5BJNbej3N-z1bPqPmqaKBHRnyIaArivv8gzcoVHMfJXsgjd4mD0GBVX13fEH69oTMYazIaZEMEP3lxZ8FCp2ECYpWFIoWH7MtHoNFg0qP90h128P3eTWdxTtV1I0qN1/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">expensive renovations going on?<br />the downside of living in a huge pile</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuL8EwHdvh577k6T90_-fEdiOxw31oEayanqcGfkhnsqSXMwXDcKV7r4npU9Kt0nF3d_Ju7hBxptur7qnqNqu4ol7k0rCj511i70aVt-PoR3wDnVe-NLcH7unJ6iE_Hj4yoZ4_0Jrjm38U6K_E4XSUL7N3FO-9SkZbL4Co2dRHATXBHvAMupkHXNEN7ar/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuL8EwHdvh577k6T90_-fEdiOxw31oEayanqcGfkhnsqSXMwXDcKV7r4npU9Kt0nF3d_Ju7hBxptur7qnqNqu4ol7k0rCj511i70aVt-PoR3wDnVe-NLcH7unJ6iE_Hj4yoZ4_0Jrjm38U6K_E4XSUL7N3FO-9SkZbL4Co2dRHATXBHvAMupkHXNEN7ar/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptws97jX4TLcrKeoLDkMig1Sg7q2ZuY2HVxdH51zq8AnpDpAJX2DUu0wHIjHtloLrgo2Exab5WJd9lj-yY1I1qxiPt20v16vU83LyAgopg9Kwnr3TwXMvaltj57mE_WTq7E5BUAtV8OHt89QfXhjjcvMio7zzZolloZ6lSdxMaAwTcfzyzL3lsnzsowdN/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptws97jX4TLcrKeoLDkMig1Sg7q2ZuY2HVxdH51zq8AnpDpAJX2DUu0wHIjHtloLrgo2Exab5WJd9lj-yY1I1qxiPt20v16vU83LyAgopg9Kwnr3TwXMvaltj57mE_WTq7E5BUAtV8OHt89QfXhjjcvMio7zzZolloZ6lSdxMaAwTcfzyzL3lsnzsowdN/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the males might be the ones with more pronounced contrast</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGLudIKiXj8omDhagcsLX7bdCZ7DE5F3Und_rSJLAlvkeAsGB3sRDOA_gOvmILSMbR7qGJMNSakX-0EJ9Vff7dpSZWzZyJO79xGlia98r558lZSkm7sgNc76fqpIGhz4ib49OGxUsDmnBSraBrrOTlN6Vsm2t5Mvu9JscUhoydeVqZxZTgUyqznSvkeN4/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="2048" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGLudIKiXj8omDhagcsLX7bdCZ7DE5F3Und_rSJLAlvkeAsGB3sRDOA_gOvmILSMbR7qGJMNSakX-0EJ9Vff7dpSZWzZyJO79xGlia98r558lZSkm7sgNc76fqpIGhz4ib49OGxUsDmnBSraBrrOTlN6Vsm2t5Mvu9JscUhoydeVqZxZTgUyqznSvkeN4/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Barnbougle has not long been through equally eyewatering revamps. Several exterior walls seem to have been repointed. They are presumably upping their wedding venue game as well, judging by the work carried out in the grounds in the last few years. I deliberately left in the foreground pipeline and Dalgety Bay background in the above photo just for realism. Just in case it was all looking a little too Scotch Castle Disney.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtk7q2u_xQMxzeDQ0tT-kBYpPubgZ7JR-f2d1FFRv9otPh_ZjckNjbLM7_AVtgWTkQaIXUALYWAehX5wPxQWkFp23s0LtvTsKnQg1rXdLL7xuiM8XdgtxcBatVP9efZvvTOhx0TgPlAvSkIYsHocnb-gvNgV7qcyiJLP-7GbDyXg3xUgGJKMyTLypMgM_/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtk7q2u_xQMxzeDQ0tT-kBYpPubgZ7JR-f2d1FFRv9otPh_ZjckNjbLM7_AVtgWTkQaIXUALYWAehX5wPxQWkFp23s0LtvTsKnQg1rXdLL7xuiM8XdgtxcBatVP9efZvvTOhx0TgPlAvSkIYsHocnb-gvNgV7qcyiJLP-7GbDyXg3xUgGJKMyTLypMgM_/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGgLvlfO5816nwciRdIhQr2tEPaWQhPY8jnNAdrGyGKK-OhmmO9MMI6M_X_biqoao2QZdNNIZ2wonDL6lMZ_lSYnhMVb1KfYzmdUYlzBBj596-83__Pj4Ydw5oMfdpv0_uT5WDpmAwPj2B5dnJh1OXWyalbp1AbaH0qeNKOQZUO_MMtUYCU-_qK8eF3eL/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGgLvlfO5816nwciRdIhQr2tEPaWQhPY8jnNAdrGyGKK-OhmmO9MMI6M_X_biqoao2QZdNNIZ2wonDL6lMZ_lSYnhMVb1KfYzmdUYlzBBj596-83__Pj4Ydw5oMfdpv0_uT5WDpmAwPj2B5dnJh1OXWyalbp1AbaH0qeNKOQZUO_MMtUYCU-_qK8eF3eL/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The stream that runs out into the Forth (above) has yet again been adjusted. Either the storm or a bulldozer had piled up all the loose shells over what used to be a bit of a jump from the boulders to the other side of the stream. Currently you can't see the boulders under the tons of shells and the stream (almost dammed) now disappears under the shells, trickling out the beach side. You cross it without risk of wet feet. Over the other side I heard jays squawking from nearby in the trees.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Jays, one of the most beautiful of the corvid family, have perhaps the ugliest of calls. It is like a magpie being slowly put to death. They call out as they move from high up one tree to high up another. I quickly made towards the rasping harsh shrieks and saw what might have been 2 or 3 jays moving from high up one tree to high up some more, a depressing distance away. I followed, but not very optimistically, and not for long. I was hoping to see them at Cammo but was very aware you can't count on them always being there.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMciqoCb8tXtEUJzdjarg1t643_7OFw5-rllGdrKV7VQMTveIsWHe4hOchAyj4cWxVFHIO29nqighz99AzRli5DZ0dMJtYISd-ZDN5aQlf66tIxDPxzYMgsUOXBktlC6xTgiwGBsh9GGxZ8lhI7CwqtSX617OP5zoKOau5op-7rQOs0VxbRqQOLurUADRc/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="2048" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMciqoCb8tXtEUJzdjarg1t643_7OFw5-rllGdrKV7VQMTveIsWHe4hOchAyj4cWxVFHIO29nqighz99AzRli5DZ0dMJtYISd-ZDN5aQlf66tIxDPxzYMgsUOXBktlC6xTgiwGBsh9GGxZ8lhI7CwqtSX617OP5zoKOau5op-7rQOs0VxbRqQOLurUADRc/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I kept an eye on the time. I doubted the sun would stay out all day and was keen to press on to Cammo. I was correct about the amount of wildlife I came across in Dalmeny - not a lot - but enjoyed the 6 miles of shoreline and woodland walk. I initially thought I'd take a couple of hours to cover the 6 miles, but about 4 miles in I seemed to have a long way still to go and 11am came and went. Crossing Cramond Brig over the harem scarem dual carriageway is always a consideration, but traffic was light and I was on my toes. Looking upstream from the motorway flyover, I could see a tiny dipper on a rock that had to be 150~180 yards away. At full zoom the camera still managed to pick it out. You can see it doing that slightly open wing dance they do, bobbing up and down and flapping. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pE_3BAWudvb7MtFtMv1x3lk1z7vD11SmoCfIoL0AKYhsCD-euiqo15gLJrpnIu5XCb3v7N4XXCzlpYmNmaxC6FANXLTm1OWzlTX6dIMwBi5AAdZvGpuddgDXlO-hy-FIjBQH72NrGp5gqgW402Ol6vcepfQIAQ7rf4EXfi-QyOfRasfsrAgx5aLto9xt/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pE_3BAWudvb7MtFtMv1x3lk1z7vD11SmoCfIoL0AKYhsCD-euiqo15gLJrpnIu5XCb3v7N4XXCzlpYmNmaxC6FANXLTm1OWzlTX6dIMwBi5AAdZvGpuddgDXlO-hy-FIjBQH72NrGp5gqgW402Ol6vcepfQIAQ7rf4EXfi-QyOfRasfsrAgx5aLto9xt/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcNK5FxRUxzAj3zomMaE90Uzb0GwQeaDiNli3dx4FVJiVtpnMIgUk3uwolCPN84kA_4ixLyhMtZm6SjS3lUTJ5ooGEGcUwJGE24p8sPRh8bhBqOuxGOp7M1gbMjudIVdY6ILI8CB2RmCKLBpyXGlKwrMWuREr-AnTVmR-6EifN6ePobM33PADEnp-M1VF/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcNK5FxRUxzAj3zomMaE90Uzb0GwQeaDiNli3dx4FVJiVtpnMIgUk3uwolCPN84kA_4ixLyhMtZm6SjS3lUTJ5ooGEGcUwJGE24p8sPRh8bhBqOuxGOp7M1gbMjudIVdY6ILI8CB2RmCKLBpyXGlKwrMWuREr-AnTVmR-6EifN6ePobM33PADEnp-M1VF/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIgMZmynaYVJpbfbSyt0sRQLrTmoJci9J0NbZtiBNenXLQ9OatSuA-S0H6fMFkll_OfabwOC2DCF8J9Zt4og1diE1omVVaJ53BtVRtLOwQZbngFq2-pHhBTlz46QJsUWsRSEdkYCm4AURivtaFxzxHtVwxpOrfq5gIE7wU0zVcPPjyjea4CQJLzJIeXNj/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIgMZmynaYVJpbfbSyt0sRQLrTmoJci9J0NbZtiBNenXLQ9OatSuA-S0H6fMFkll_OfabwOC2DCF8J9Zt4og1diE1omVVaJ53BtVRtLOwQZbngFq2-pHhBTlz46QJsUWsRSEdkYCm4AURivtaFxzxHtVwxpOrfq5gIE7wU0zVcPPjyjea4CQJLzJIeXNj/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bin robin<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are a couple of paths that meander through the posh houses near the road to get to Cammo Estate. There are the same pretty purple crocuses I photo every Spring and possibly even the same robin, or one of many seen today, that was posing on the bins. The wren escaped without a photo. I arrived at the Estate about 11.40 - not bad considering all the distractions. I walked along to the curling pond. The sun was fighting through the bare trees and I felt optimistic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I got there, a woman with a long lens Canon was already there. She was enjoying the amount of small birds near the feeding station and I suggested if I put some food out it might improve the headcount. Almost before I had finished putting out bread seeds and nuts, the place was hopping with great tits, coal tits, blue tits, robins, squirrels and an occasional blackbird. They are fed regularly at this spot and know the story. They also almost all get on in a friendly manner with possibly the only aggression between robins, although sometimes there are territorial squabbles between over-excited great tits.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWN0KAiY4dC_2wc1PaeJjMkh_vPg653pjGuGqtOLAqmcp6YoszrexS3fMZoq_r8ucn5DYpEP6hr55dxaVeNyxgOAlev47kKyN-32DJUJz-ikMF_pHk35yfBXRzzwLLjxrq5hDGFCtMFE0bF5Og_nR9hPJIvYMA2bfDz_QT_RLQAvRQorYzvO5MJNUsR2i/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWN0KAiY4dC_2wc1PaeJjMkh_vPg653pjGuGqtOLAqmcp6YoszrexS3fMZoq_r8ucn5DYpEP6hr55dxaVeNyxgOAlev47kKyN-32DJUJz-ikMF_pHk35yfBXRzzwLLjxrq5hDGFCtMFE0bF5Og_nR9hPJIvYMA2bfDz_QT_RLQAvRQorYzvO5MJNUsR2i/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ied6GW8iMDzEkOkAuAPEYnSy3QZgKhxQ-20A5os7KS4iuPKaB-mBhd_-hfPlUfSHgO88B0oHtRhs_3QqY6K4AENgaUP8fm_lWTuvd2rGjjfcZ-nswS62HBZtI_w3rfmvB986HfVaXVGLm3PLGJIYnrfHQ5Lblm_Yx-BgtBUUHZK463JXQIgWuoaD4sYH/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ied6GW8iMDzEkOkAuAPEYnSy3QZgKhxQ-20A5os7KS4iuPKaB-mBhd_-hfPlUfSHgO88B0oHtRhs_3QqY6K4AENgaUP8fm_lWTuvd2rGjjfcZ-nswS62HBZtI_w3rfmvB986HfVaXVGLm3PLGJIYnrfHQ5Lblm_Yx-BgtBUUHZK463JXQIgWuoaD4sYH/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnS3lam8fFnTarokc5XmIVEsce7l0kjF2A5y2mRL029geJxw0Z1gxcLOsiuHOpOml0kR6Qcj7hliI-vFc0XG_HNNJ5bZYQJATYttCl6lmXlzGZrxe6adABQtYxwGHGG08PaoQrT1H_V-Jvyejo41hBgVSFA-qNGsXayRQmD-_99qh-iqdGM4MwaxNi7Jf/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnS3lam8fFnTarokc5XmIVEsce7l0kjF2A5y2mRL029geJxw0Z1gxcLOsiuHOpOml0kR6Qcj7hliI-vFc0XG_HNNJ5bZYQJATYttCl6lmXlzGZrxe6adABQtYxwGHGG08PaoQrT1H_V-Jvyejo41hBgVSFA-qNGsXayRQmD-_99qh-iqdGM4MwaxNi7Jf/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this probably won't end well</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53gaBIG_omvGWWgtz-goaKFkMh4k1qPLVJdU7nFOhJqMGN5RR4Hb9bOwGhQcqB2h6kJe5MqD-0fLqeGN4w2Zc4ykiM7TyDfV_q-tt2ZAt51YD_zIKnINOLZMrVYqDqX7VHmthi05NiZfQWttASep5gB_p03YaDKLuY2jYWQvQH9_WGyMRS60Ud0Hv-B9C/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53gaBIG_omvGWWgtz-goaKFkMh4k1qPLVJdU7nFOhJqMGN5RR4Hb9bOwGhQcqB2h6kJe5MqD-0fLqeGN4w2Zc4ykiM7TyDfV_q-tt2ZAt51YD_zIKnINOLZMrVYqDqX7VHmthi05NiZfQWttASep5gB_p03YaDKLuY2jYWQvQH9_WGyMRS60Ud0Hv-B9C/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyylZ05TePdV3L9wGFOG2DtSam4Hh17gAqwfO9_zWOw8tkMIq-K8BG25wXEqJG81sEI9gqk-xHQRI5ARW0CV8DF7I6U96h-fn3K5VgNiaFCDzzczpJSUnwy2EE_ddMz_p3v5PTJwPcnh-jWV1Mn1QfN7hCSL0KkMokAS7fBXRAsBfO2sTHx47bpo0iy9p_/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyylZ05TePdV3L9wGFOG2DtSam4Hh17gAqwfO9_zWOw8tkMIq-K8BG25wXEqJG81sEI9gqk-xHQRI5ARW0CV8DF7I6U96h-fn3K5VgNiaFCDzzczpJSUnwy2EE_ddMz_p3v5PTJwPcnh-jWV1Mn1QfN7hCSL0KkMokAS7fBXRAsBfO2sTHx47bpo0iy9p_/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coal tit<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It is always a joy to see the tiny coal tits. They are so small and quick moving it is not easy to get their photo. I was a bit surprised not to see nuthatches. They took a while to show up. Usually several turn up here quickly and keep returning as long as there are seeds and nuts - stashing the surplus in holes in tree bark, branch stumps and fallen wood. It was maybe ten minutes before a singe nuthatch appeared and I got the impression that it was a solo specimen at this venue today. Previously I have felt there was at least a couple of pairs attending with enthusiasm. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOgVaoij_bjFxmUatenfT7C1WN_FL8Vhf8det-fCgRJ9KLBsmEClmsus4DtUV1qXxHSB9Ne1-vc8eJPeGGP51BzlcsKB-MTh8OuQtjxKAadLUsDmmKjdUuVK2O82aCkl3FKuhyje0UeAHt-_uisYpkwLTJvLWZU1cWYkONS7PtVE0xCSlvOtckgijOlaY/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOgVaoij_bjFxmUatenfT7C1WN_FL8Vhf8det-fCgRJ9KLBsmEClmsus4DtUV1qXxHSB9Ne1-vc8eJPeGGP51BzlcsKB-MTh8OuQtjxKAadLUsDmmKjdUuVK2O82aCkl3FKuhyje0UeAHt-_uisYpkwLTJvLWZU1cWYkONS7PtVE0xCSlvOtckgijOlaY/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5m6zlgJSTkDzu1-Fpz6V1EZGv9ajHmgIWeT2_vXEsYF3yrK5laUIQEEHCX49M0_Q3DrqBh3LcdHQphWNjq1oPLHpbYg_kFsggV5jxdEyJVRCdOG5lwR7JbuMvPpdHtYqyn9h1TGKfzplOWfXBYNW_8OpSUPolIfOReFqwxDeBjxfldwjHGemvRl-THCMr/s2048/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5m6zlgJSTkDzu1-Fpz6V1EZGv9ajHmgIWeT2_vXEsYF3yrK5laUIQEEHCX49M0_Q3DrqBh3LcdHQphWNjq1oPLHpbYg_kFsggV5jxdEyJVRCdOG5lwR7JbuMvPpdHtYqyn9h1TGKfzplOWfXBYNW_8OpSUPolIfOReFqwxDeBjxfldwjHGemvRl-THCMr/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVynPJzZYO_mBmPpR6NLePgHk5Atbjt0ToZYJRnGRGSGMmYmvOMu9Yd69mPdJumRiiaSrzLdvjce8ibTQM4EU7vNSMpOueuEuRbF2TJO0H6VfrQxhJ1e8uRXpCaKk4a4zmBO-_2mRe-wvoW7UHOh2rMqXSHDL5yMmA7bEV2eVjtOLiUZ_DCHL7ut1Hkp0/s2048/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVynPJzZYO_mBmPpR6NLePgHk5Atbjt0ToZYJRnGRGSGMmYmvOMu9Yd69mPdJumRiiaSrzLdvjce8ibTQM4EU7vNSMpOueuEuRbF2TJO0H6VfrQxhJ1e8uRXpCaKk4a4zmBO-_2mRe-wvoW7UHOh2rMqXSHDL5yMmA7bEV2eVjtOLiUZ_DCHL7ut1Hkp0/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tits</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcgzcciQFwfI8Xdw0wcWZ_DwehJFnZXQGjnoSBYC-UZw0RkYFpqq1XNOMb4b4x0sZQlxTkY71lnkSUGhP7PkoenjdKbtngxAShldWFywC5O3IWN-79FKhgN2qgKmTy2Q8GIV4xlwCyKepvmSBJDn5VLtEktr15VGjiSQUYNOXw5B77NslNc4uZwC397ox/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcgzcciQFwfI8Xdw0wcWZ_DwehJFnZXQGjnoSBYC-UZw0RkYFpqq1XNOMb4b4x0sZQlxTkY71lnkSUGhP7PkoenjdKbtngxAShldWFywC5O3IWN-79FKhgN2qgKmTy2Q8GIV4xlwCyKepvmSBJDn5VLtEktr15VGjiSQUYNOXw5B77NslNc4uZwC397ox/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Incoming!!<br />one of today's better images - luck rather than planning</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRfBBVTbizUuhrFB0MHydvn-dA3K0kzQoY90TRwt0V6NLe5PVkhmts25hBBWQpvk6tNQnsSku4W3LjOMrXP9wTEt_dh47Ba4vpH9klsqSYaGv42PKzqaNDrmktnalB9Svw2TR30uK_7nU1PaFw8SRXjZ49_3qOQLV94qhZpYAnZpAn2zcMU81ZxmiY8VT/s2048/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRfBBVTbizUuhrFB0MHydvn-dA3K0kzQoY90TRwt0V6NLe5PVkhmts25hBBWQpvk6tNQnsSku4W3LjOMrXP9wTEt_dh47Ba4vpH9klsqSYaGv42PKzqaNDrmktnalB9Svw2TR30uK_7nU1PaFw8SRXjZ49_3qOQLV94qhZpYAnZpAn2zcMU81ZxmiY8VT/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFEhksdBFGnXP295J9CUrKJchm-WzYOXoEH5jsRPHellUV5yrrWrWQN4DbI76TefCkoxaoJb90yNc15DCzjMUzZGSiOG8J0Pm2kge3p3J2NluS9L1-kPMDQwPUpHIV6uefsM1CkcoJjJ6gJvtlUqHdohG8_KVkafK2pHMGQin7NYRd7VPc9gQKW0QaWFz/s2048/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFEhksdBFGnXP295J9CUrKJchm-WzYOXoEH5jsRPHellUV5yrrWrWQN4DbI76TefCkoxaoJb90yNc15DCzjMUzZGSiOG8J0Pm2kge3p3J2NluS9L1-kPMDQwPUpHIV6uefsM1CkcoJjJ6gJvtlUqHdohG8_KVkafK2pHMGQin7NYRd7VPc9gQKW0QaWFz/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><i>someone has been stealing the birds' peanuts you say?<br />I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I see anything!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYMLEu6qk1hdp4NX6rG95sqLNZpVk4nspO-wIg0j68ISKrlMy9Qd91MwYhOiJxNF_rJ3A7lMOQ0MlDH0IriJ86t1Uk9v1dxAkx1d1CLRmozr7w4B95ib4GHBNAuXZZMfJSvmGTdKCfwWdUK77jJswo-hHQsULS6fJf-C71FicMOgXAveycNgQVePZ5Mmd/s2048/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYMLEu6qk1hdp4NX6rG95sqLNZpVk4nspO-wIg0j68ISKrlMy9Qd91MwYhOiJxNF_rJ3A7lMOQ0MlDH0IriJ86t1Uk9v1dxAkx1d1CLRmozr7w4B95ib4GHBNAuXZZMfJSvmGTdKCfwWdUK77jJswo-hHQsULS6fJf-C71FicMOgXAveycNgQVePZ5Mmd/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After a short while at the North side of the curling pond I went over to the other side and baited all the usual places with bread, nuts and seeds, hoping to attract jays. I know they are a fan of acorns and had collected a bag last autumn. Unfortunately I kept them bagged (not wishing to house any animals that may emerge from them) and they went kinda mouldy. In their place I bought, at great expense, hazelnuts from Tesco's. Given the huge expense and my parsimony, I struggled with putting them out. Do I wait till the jays appear? Feeling it would chase them off trying to adjust bait stashes after the fact I put them out before there was any sign of jays. Very quickly the squirrels moved in. Dammit I am now feeding tree rats (much as I love them) hazelnuts at £3.50 per 250g! Shortly after the magpies moved in to finish them off. I also baited a couple of the high horizontal branches between trees with sunflower hearts and a few well balanced peanuts. The coal tits and nuthatches like this set up and sometimes give you a better line of sight and background bokeh in this position.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuF-SZy4T7zcmLJzDxFAF3L90hiMfaPiHein55c0Bp1Sp6z-CbyqEOIboVDy3YIF3WGVxFlXur-Wf7RnkG519P05JRVz5651K65xbMokmFDSjaGVx7LTJoIbm_ivp2gVvCsJWb7yuURq-62CLKSDwLU_xhaY6eiRBG8KqlfARrLHbZlSkABLQe00pCCG4/s2048/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuF-SZy4T7zcmLJzDxFAF3L90hiMfaPiHein55c0Bp1Sp6z-CbyqEOIboVDy3YIF3WGVxFlXur-Wf7RnkG519P05JRVz5651K65xbMokmFDSjaGVx7LTJoIbm_ivp2gVvCsJWb7yuURq-62CLKSDwLU_xhaY6eiRBG8KqlfARrLHbZlSkABLQe00pCCG4/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />nuthatch - again thin on the ground</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXvXQ5i9NRBENp-FhelVZRWvGBJy6F-_fBnTMerChKREsl8ueD84OR3aljri0ynDoRKQzMINY1aVx5srQA1VXvI-IwCRPtLZv3sxPg5NgUthIWYjpOvgAZzFshOiOLQEwOlxs47RZnfxMGEDrHy76N_MgLlg7sGW22toAmR_zyFDtmy9mkgF7GDTxCkBC/s2048/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXvXQ5i9NRBENp-FhelVZRWvGBJy6F-_fBnTMerChKREsl8ueD84OR3aljri0ynDoRKQzMINY1aVx5srQA1VXvI-IwCRPtLZv3sxPg5NgUthIWYjpOvgAZzFshOiOLQEwOlxs47RZnfxMGEDrHy76N_MgLlg7sGW22toAmR_zyFDtmy9mkgF7GDTxCkBC/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coal tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGJH8HDXFiP8_k34UgVLR2oA44Hf77nSPfzpUVlB4G_ZpeyKAC00jSuEZuY9-KygUg-B_XqfvzA9pwdk1Au50yGudcPw1JTrcxztRj39tlzrGamkE6a5p4pjvArBcs8HVqzBtr_BgxhResiTKSsyYTKSyCGcmPSBfpceSTaRal0hrrF9AgostbR1PTy-n/s2048/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGJH8HDXFiP8_k34UgVLR2oA44Hf77nSPfzpUVlB4G_ZpeyKAC00jSuEZuY9-KygUg-B_XqfvzA9pwdk1Au50yGudcPw1JTrcxztRj39tlzrGamkE6a5p4pjvArBcs8HVqzBtr_BgxhResiTKSsyYTKSyCGcmPSBfpceSTaRal0hrrF9AgostbR1PTy-n/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9WS2_oCPa_VUeMmxeJoVSkecZ3rpl8dV0PeP09Qii4DZijgwIucwKTbr3g1sodWgr2C9GLUJlF5R71ncEsainQfDN7-K-6qwhPar0-hlTF05OHUgh0jZiK-iLUt6lQx20OwbqmyRx2LX7K3P3EfAcJgLDndgBK9oXWHW-gfNGBAIk_2uoT16F47t6RXS/s2048/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9WS2_oCPa_VUeMmxeJoVSkecZ3rpl8dV0PeP09Qii4DZijgwIucwKTbr3g1sodWgr2C9GLUJlF5R71ncEsainQfDN7-K-6qwhPar0-hlTF05OHUgh0jZiK-iLUt6lQx20OwbqmyRx2LX7K3P3EfAcJgLDndgBK9oXWHW-gfNGBAIk_2uoT16F47t6RXS/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lovin' the hazelnuts!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxtC3zKImM9owV4ynU3m260BkXbVTmvJdVt9suk04cdewqKegnFVCXEVlA_6sABPZdmdVT-K3p6DKgKnMEUYwlTph-4RW4N6pd5gIIfdiLhBMUZDjjQ6giKfGQfopzky_wzQb6Z3cIJ9_TowDHeQk2itC9sA6G6RZhaM9RhWsy2xrgI8udYFkH08roE86/s2048/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxtC3zKImM9owV4ynU3m260BkXbVTmvJdVt9suk04cdewqKegnFVCXEVlA_6sABPZdmdVT-K3p6DKgKnMEUYwlTph-4RW4N6pd5gIIfdiLhBMUZDjjQ6giKfGQfopzky_wzQb6Z3cIJ9_TowDHeQk2itC9sA6G6RZhaM9RhWsy2xrgI8udYFkH08roE86/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp70idE3vak2MrRdCk6nijmusyKeOpDxgN7U11stEtkB630irqP5qc__aqPrxcg_VNGU4_qFqF-Gu6lUTNcCcUWPbCS2I0qVqlaKFYUESkRM9SjsJSWCmIpG8JbxlMW0CaFzVkxkGJntaxKFotdMs9qDEnZ3AkxvE7v3CVK5-g7Do8FhgrNt6uOj2dM6I/s2048/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp70idE3vak2MrRdCk6nijmusyKeOpDxgN7U11stEtkB630irqP5qc__aqPrxcg_VNGU4_qFqF-Gu6lUTNcCcUWPbCS2I0qVqlaKFYUESkRM9SjsJSWCmIpG8JbxlMW0CaFzVkxkGJntaxKFotdMs9qDEnZ3AkxvE7v3CVK5-g7Do8FhgrNt6uOj2dM6I/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trick of the tail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had my sandwich at the second spot, waiting for jays to show up. (Low fat cheese, loads of salad leaves on mayonnaise / tomato puree spread on homemade bread. It was outstanding! And a Nakd bar for <i>Lunch Pudding</i>.) There were plenty of magpies lurking in the shadows and stealing my overpriced bribes but I don't think I saw any jays. I have no idea what makes the difference. Last successful jay hunt here was on <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2024/01/jay-is-for-january.html" target="_blank">January the first</a> when at least 2 or more appeared and I got some photos. Prior to that a couple of no-shows. I hung around for ages then retreated back to the other feeding area.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK5P0-pzxNGCCS8R76Ylz9AoYqCi-aFRr7TFNdAe2LSr_WqoXK7UDRzlMPmqqSgBFAMDC4Wau1yn0tAJxIaDm9pCqOgPgC1AJke293r-7d7vLr8WuNxObnM6G00I6Y2naQ8zwo5tEpnjcjM762t2I3b9WiD7NYmp2xs3GLFuMIx4ZaSMA0-DozGDmdJro/s2048/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK5P0-pzxNGCCS8R76Ylz9AoYqCi-aFRr7TFNdAe2LSr_WqoXK7UDRzlMPmqqSgBFAMDC4Wau1yn0tAJxIaDm9pCqOgPgC1AJke293r-7d7vLr8WuNxObnM6G00I6Y2naQ8zwo5tEpnjcjM762t2I3b9WiD7NYmp2xs3GLFuMIx4ZaSMA0-DozGDmdJro/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKrKG6yi3q_9348wH6zEehKkdeTR1xi5oGzRREFzmk8MzhzMccnEb-sHo5YHb6hbjY8l17WqZf2CPPppoyL28VjkLK8vVcZE9N8VbG3LKbH_BOu2KNrxv5y9A3RdARNRnwVGQq0xzCYYuK5hwPQwAbdLj7IizbFRM_FuN2vNgfA6ScNMdEyNSb7_PC-Fr/s2048/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKrKG6yi3q_9348wH6zEehKkdeTR1xi5oGzRREFzmk8MzhzMccnEb-sHo5YHb6hbjY8l17WqZf2CPPppoyL28VjkLK8vVcZE9N8VbG3LKbH_BOu2KNrxv5y9A3RdARNRnwVGQq0xzCYYuK5hwPQwAbdLj7IizbFRM_FuN2vNgfA6ScNMdEyNSb7_PC-Fr/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Back at the first place the light was falling in a very favourable manner on the tree-trunks. I placed hazelnuts on the bracket fungus growing on the dead tree stump and again they proved very popular with the locals. Perhaps a little heavy for this blue tit to carry off, it sat beside this nut with a paw on it claiming it for itself. It looked super charming and I quickly shot some stills and video.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEfe_GX2tESpoTgWMETH8yRA3bc9Dbq1rU6eu2jlNAM9ZpZTFOi0Sve0ObR7mPI4Mg3fFuxTIlU2fJ2hX1Kdo2EXBt5vokJ1qjEvPKJkykrCKC1XJYSqJuffOYionRSwH3p8SpeE-R-IGkFpDTThAkkowJbj0ZVmNuhTDAJYY8XURR5rlT0eY2c_b7JNR/s2048/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEfe_GX2tESpoTgWMETH8yRA3bc9Dbq1rU6eu2jlNAM9ZpZTFOi0Sve0ObR7mPI4Mg3fFuxTIlU2fJ2hX1Kdo2EXBt5vokJ1qjEvPKJkykrCKC1XJYSqJuffOYionRSwH3p8SpeE-R-IGkFpDTThAkkowJbj0ZVmNuhTDAJYY8XURR5rlT0eY2c_b7JNR/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwm_yi21oVmBZzXVC4bHOn86qfe0e0UJATHRPF9rTAyF_5BXeV6c9HGrrmone474qpoWzMvOVVVA4zTnpRSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsmu7m4jUU6MjzuudWTFarkz7ZOQDdN824XeZom21UmgoP7e68ANnHUED0P_UQU2D_zlz3aHfvlmBplrOD4qG-XRPXJ-b7z8MRI2hVGGnQ0HETu4gyJaWdBmvhx8KOWGqBbjrB3eQaXdy2rhKctGQ9ps8eAkdqwj4X5gJ3znoLfA7nKs60UrJs5MXIDLU/s2048/048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsmu7m4jUU6MjzuudWTFarkz7ZOQDdN824XeZom21UmgoP7e68ANnHUED0P_UQU2D_zlz3aHfvlmBplrOD4qG-XRPXJ-b7z8MRI2hVGGnQ0HETu4gyJaWdBmvhx8KOWGqBbjrB3eQaXdy2rhKctGQ9ps8eAkdqwj4X5gJ3znoLfA7nKs60UrJs5MXIDLU/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">love this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The nuthatch also returned promptly. Shot of the day is a heat between this one above and the one half a dozen below with a hazelnut in its beak. It is the light that makes these images a bit better than the rest. The camera does a fantastic job of focussing on the eye of the bird which again makes my life MUCH easier. Previous cameras needed to be told where to put the focus and if there was a choice it would many times choose the background or a branch crossing the corner of the photo. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuRvsXRHzF9kgiNRkg_N9vAl1-1BeuDtkBcC8kYzEf-JPExPn2zgD7aIhfpATk4LwDS2SkLxNmHueNZexwrMVf5W1bWHfMYtRKDcJEine7nd13EFauSctOK2ptYZdJy6NzZpe9Dn-PeL9G_uaDb24hjAu82nBPLMQn5YwI7WnRikmd8OD0rR_fRvfgIzv/s2048/049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuRvsXRHzF9kgiNRkg_N9vAl1-1BeuDtkBcC8kYzEf-JPExPn2zgD7aIhfpATk4LwDS2SkLxNmHueNZexwrMVf5W1bWHfMYtRKDcJEine7nd13EFauSctOK2ptYZdJy6NzZpe9Dn-PeL9G_uaDb24hjAu82nBPLMQn5YwI7WnRikmd8OD0rR_fRvfgIzv/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coal tit with huge hazelnut</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeLAUf7DrTeAr8nutPICTXi836MwhhXDiERGxmlMc1BEFhTHdUKP1AH72W5Qc0zJ4oaINBS37jjLe8M3Y6SnNZKxFM9mTFqozA61mo0mK3LRWBBYuFbXPEcUOZUfooejz5rnHTrRI25yMpPCelYvOT-K54e0X6_7byfAn4YEElGPUABDt4T8hLSgnhopC/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeLAUf7DrTeAr8nutPICTXi836MwhhXDiERGxmlMc1BEFhTHdUKP1AH72W5Qc0zJ4oaINBS37jjLe8M3Y6SnNZKxFM9mTFqozA61mo0mK3LRWBBYuFbXPEcUOZUfooejz5rnHTrRI25yMpPCelYvOT-K54e0X6_7byfAn4YEElGPUABDt4T8hLSgnhopC/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit doing similar</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rJb0bmAtknkRB2dq8RJDmDH1ceUrR7E7y-N6g1TBb2D58sdHOrPQBB3mJZDa86x2c_YXjUH-OXBzURtp83Uc7EzeU7ousTn-l82uG7XtRNzfOZWOo6WEn53iQqrEepzv3gWdyDc4hgRYFVcs4YFfO-EmnENZPoJzp30saIWaqYHh35LkOxDXqmSqvxdR/s2048/051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rJb0bmAtknkRB2dq8RJDmDH1ceUrR7E7y-N6g1TBb2D58sdHOrPQBB3mJZDa86x2c_YXjUH-OXBzURtp83Uc7EzeU7ousTn-l82uG7XtRNzfOZWOo6WEn53iQqrEepzv3gWdyDc4hgRYFVcs4YFfO-EmnENZPoJzp30saIWaqYHh35LkOxDXqmSqvxdR/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HZxQlZsOZeylvPcxn0ciQcOdL_glqfY_NvHiGPkyAKKbyxA3lPNbAINK870YK5GoXNkyvny1cu4eup7Ve3BdXlR8ptb-j7rkV3lutletw5WsE18TCrSqJB16h2lx-HO_dU7jnxPc-9PzmFBYy5YXccEg7uj51ijXDFUJEATQvBj3xLyK-NMYUVz9zAki/s2048/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HZxQlZsOZeylvPcxn0ciQcOdL_glqfY_NvHiGPkyAKKbyxA3lPNbAINK870YK5GoXNkyvny1cu4eup7Ve3BdXlR8ptb-j7rkV3lutletw5WsE18TCrSqJB16h2lx-HO_dU7jnxPc-9PzmFBYy5YXccEg7uj51ijXDFUJEATQvBj3xLyK-NMYUVz9zAki/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOCMMcGN4vlEBRVRcGg_WyprrYn6dXKE2BwZ4I8IL_7OU9qaSHH3zznrznzRqVlFO31mvD6fTLgWK3gSbNhaupayGGq4dCXh15uCuI8E1ZDnRMEk3m6vvgQiJH579VAVdw4lyVWhOaMnJoiq0BnaU9W5fSWVhT54GHCwjPvPs5l2FakxvuZFAwBWaw8FU/s2048/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOCMMcGN4vlEBRVRcGg_WyprrYn6dXKE2BwZ4I8IL_7OU9qaSHH3zznrznzRqVlFO31mvD6fTLgWK3gSbNhaupayGGq4dCXh15uCuI8E1ZDnRMEk3m6vvgQiJH579VAVdw4lyVWhOaMnJoiq0BnaU9W5fSWVhT54GHCwjPvPs5l2FakxvuZFAwBWaw8FU/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KOqzfsv0dHwNvuN_dUnR9Ws0VeAaUbFgUZUpZkb72o3dJQ3E5fz7ZUDg42RpDUl6W6dssoW9x4r2cFV7rDcKCzfrRNuqdj0_xy26kvTUofJweGltxBLFHnhxeCiQfFvlUszc2uVyxQGqZNtieyozK_jWX5TxCjKbzoCHi2QoQvuJgXN35k8MYQCK_5fg/s2048/054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KOqzfsv0dHwNvuN_dUnR9Ws0VeAaUbFgUZUpZkb72o3dJQ3E5fz7ZUDg42RpDUl6W6dssoW9x4r2cFV7rDcKCzfrRNuqdj0_xy26kvTUofJweGltxBLFHnhxeCiQfFvlUszc2uVyxQGqZNtieyozK_jWX5TxCjKbzoCHi2QoQvuJgXN35k8MYQCK_5fg/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a hazelnut in every bite<br />(contender for shot of the day)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO16HQ6b0BKGmloCZg-fdKxOdvHF_MrWLbDk9fpPg1oeESx8XhhoXXwUnA4SEW-wt8ek81R7KFIB9TQBTRtnswGfW7MilfRFi2wh5oR7PdfxnzvJbme7PoS6784E_C4xOptWhEoOCCQZhr1pLiaJk4O-D3QOQtKJKUL02nW9eMM-7Pfj_gBt3sBl70znu/s2048/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO16HQ6b0BKGmloCZg-fdKxOdvHF_MrWLbDk9fpPg1oeESx8XhhoXXwUnA4SEW-wt8ek81R7KFIB9TQBTRtnswGfW7MilfRFi2wh5oR7PdfxnzvJbme7PoS6784E_C4xOptWhEoOCCQZhr1pLiaJk4O-D3QOQtKJKUL02nW9eMM-7Pfj_gBt3sBl70znu/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrswNnL-gv8Jm5jDDB9f66FBNVqFElmw1S9Oge4nf-3v2crYnFDo9Ru6N5GXs6-SnejIm_O_qevP5heSqPWK8lcy-V1Qpi-q76Y2684vT19mPCenMhSUDkxqvQquerfHp9QH8yYLIAX87aMs6FSpv7rTappnyPNhu5XfB3S2AIqTIE2JyvJ05Q6IYUiwmz/s2048/056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrswNnL-gv8Jm5jDDB9f66FBNVqFElmw1S9Oge4nf-3v2crYnFDo9Ru6N5GXs6-SnejIm_O_qevP5heSqPWK8lcy-V1Qpi-q76Y2684vT19mPCenMhSUDkxqvQquerfHp9QH8yYLIAX87aMs6FSpv7rTappnyPNhu5XfB3S2AIqTIE2JyvJ05Q6IYUiwmz/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLjjoJkCV-AZMitqnRzPa8mHVA0554WDteSNKvkYaEC8ly3isjYiPnYZyNeCOv1wgPZ-gTmbF88JiLKazfyRcZXfCawrRgdaw_f2QSOqThXi4I7GLtTMWEQRLaClLgl700yvKeQW-Q-iY3jlKHJ5Cfsl1Weso2O_EAi4iqe_2AHvS_AJNwUSUOLMBriq6/s2048/057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLjjoJkCV-AZMitqnRzPa8mHVA0554WDteSNKvkYaEC8ly3isjYiPnYZyNeCOv1wgPZ-gTmbF88JiLKazfyRcZXfCawrRgdaw_f2QSOqThXi4I7GLtTMWEQRLaClLgl700yvKeQW-Q-iY3jlKHJ5Cfsl1Weso2O_EAi4iqe_2AHvS_AJNwUSUOLMBriq6/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalE24kxOVkIDFblR1D_TOxyO0BEkHF5vjVP1xKNOJiMTqypldNL9qQ6kzN8GGEAz3a4fI0teAgPyX82wDUYqtu6KdUdm6z9K6rbEkjiWt7ov8WLRS-c1aE4DrCbcXdO9Efsj07_5HABJeDakDihp4YSFSSqK-AKkKN1vPMOfyUthVnh30oPNssDIZEy7a/s2048/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalE24kxOVkIDFblR1D_TOxyO0BEkHF5vjVP1xKNOJiMTqypldNL9qQ6kzN8GGEAz3a4fI0teAgPyX82wDUYqtu6KdUdm6z9K6rbEkjiWt7ov8WLRS-c1aE4DrCbcXdO9Efsj07_5HABJeDakDihp4YSFSSqK-AKkKN1vPMOfyUthVnh30oPNssDIZEy7a/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vacu8DKe_qfS07wbFVxnTUxBXTx3XcMCXiFOUlo5YjaUbHfH_BotBIMLf0XIpDAmbXUU4oPgQxPSEZhvfyLCvDs_298HMMXjXpQOu29PgbJ6EHZFHCmxt_FAoHc9xwG32c1kZ42DuThaFH2kxK-4yC6OZGKwZMzKhyhKxMJFntmVfjNSn9yFFB0snSIm/s2048/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vacu8DKe_qfS07wbFVxnTUxBXTx3XcMCXiFOUlo5YjaUbHfH_BotBIMLf0XIpDAmbXUU4oPgQxPSEZhvfyLCvDs_298HMMXjXpQOu29PgbJ6EHZFHCmxt_FAoHc9xwG32c1kZ42DuThaFH2kxK-4yC6OZGKwZMzKhyhKxMJFntmVfjNSn9yFFB0snSIm/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDn63Cld-O7ZA_EVf5oPtJNr_9CzKxtQzTiRMuOFh8SZ-oz3VUqI2yvxyMsYvnx1Fenu7DhZr5_wFilrVVm_UZZsFeM0-j7FNoP8KrhJX63LDU4dotFgPirDCAEtvB5Er0JCZZS06HsFLLaWwFgoBSymaBNSOpfcOupkxKDq3K032L1SnSKdc74GAB134/s2048/060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDn63Cld-O7ZA_EVf5oPtJNr_9CzKxtQzTiRMuOFh8SZ-oz3VUqI2yvxyMsYvnx1Fenu7DhZr5_wFilrVVm_UZZsFeM0-j7FNoP8KrhJX63LDU4dotFgPirDCAEtvB5Er0JCZZS06HsFLLaWwFgoBSymaBNSOpfcOupkxKDq3K032L1SnSKdc74GAB134/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to record this dunnock but the photos weren't very good. I suspect it spent more time on the ground, hunting for luckies in the leaf litter. It is rarer for them to pop up onto a feeding platform. But they are attractive and with a nice song and always worth pointing the camera at.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDqT0dIseJOCZI7VB45wfazxjYP05X3EkQwsuku3XLwAFwcvtiEe9pyT03uZ0SImEbXIWfh1DRgvyJ79UYOF1eApK4IYxHo2ZCvHDZb24EYngQJFi1eMdrIsTs-iJ3AobTuynNCTpG6LnaBY7ar2vjmbUkGy9hjrWLsDh8jBYatm16M9GlsGDYwkKhcUP/s2048/061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDqT0dIseJOCZI7VB45wfazxjYP05X3EkQwsuku3XLwAFwcvtiEe9pyT03uZ0SImEbXIWfh1DRgvyJ79UYOF1eApK4IYxHo2ZCvHDZb24EYngQJFi1eMdrIsTs-iJ3AobTuynNCTpG6LnaBY7ar2vjmbUkGy9hjrWLsDh8jBYatm16M9GlsGDYwkKhcUP/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Oxr4ZqRzovQvlR-K70zNQBCzn7uteVxqHVP0eazAvl-23ynqtE045uxtraoZL9Mwzxo9jkMHICBsD9D7FjFdsWT-BgI5qCaWyAw4rUUmnXvrEskRL9xWVOk3dWZEbtNl_pBVWYJG9-U2tBoln0CuzhHltrYCbzsuoLUwCNcq07rVm1NzIm38mLH_22E/s2048/062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Oxr4ZqRzovQvlR-K70zNQBCzn7uteVxqHVP0eazAvl-23ynqtE045uxtraoZL9Mwzxo9jkMHICBsD9D7FjFdsWT-BgI5qCaWyAw4rUUmnXvrEskRL9xWVOk3dWZEbtNl_pBVWYJG9-U2tBoln0CuzhHltrYCbzsuoLUwCNcq07rVm1NzIm38mLH_22E/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">same with the blackbird</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshUFVEdYj9iO4NSjaqb6VpbiPmKjLWP0Weos785wNqPO54JR3Whri9IHlId1t7KyLpYCTQWlnoxUMGKDiWBYz5rArUGrLkvz8ldc3R5S-0d1kzRGsGrCMgXqXBnZid5RciO5Z197-Qhca-nE1CdXpH5y99RLYNv5ij0qYAFSGITsm-sMlRflfXLhlkBF/s2048/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshUFVEdYj9iO4NSjaqb6VpbiPmKjLWP0Weos785wNqPO54JR3Whri9IHlId1t7KyLpYCTQWlnoxUMGKDiWBYz5rArUGrLkvz8ldc3R5S-0d1kzRGsGrCMgXqXBnZid5RciO5Z197-Qhca-nE1CdXpH5y99RLYNv5ij0qYAFSGITsm-sMlRflfXLhlkBF/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bracket fungus make good feeding shelves</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNrNJ5DNdceGgfb4I6Xjckl6XQJSDh3EK6PZBZBo01HzRWrC06ftV_SCjGrCAubp3epXAl1KGW4aSKm13sdPwY9YyldVkrYr4G8qbGd369WZK6cuaN-Jcj4ufde2bBBZu9JMXA-Re45o-y-L6bac4JZKqnF2oI0vQSo9mzSMtTIVC_SQ7Drzatw5EIhyphenhypheny/s2048/064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNrNJ5DNdceGgfb4I6Xjckl6XQJSDh3EK6PZBZBo01HzRWrC06ftV_SCjGrCAubp3epXAl1KGW4aSKm13sdPwY9YyldVkrYr4G8qbGd369WZK6cuaN-Jcj4ufde2bBBZu9JMXA-Re45o-y-L6bac4JZKqnF2oI0vQSo9mzSMtTIVC_SQ7Drzatw5EIhyphenhypheny/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The light was quickly leaving the feeding area tree so I took a wander. I had forgotten the walled garden area is tremendous for snowdrops around now and it was an unexpected delight. I took the chance at that bench below to change the lens to 12~60 for some scenery shots, although the cloud had covered the sun and it wasn't looking just quite as fantastic as it could. I remembered catching a pair of blackcaps here a while back but I think it was later in the year. A quick check says mid-April onwards is more likely for blackcaps.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aXQpo5TtWUuhZlra4dNCfEuyYOJIGImOTePswX2dMoPdeqEM02eLNwo-Gj5cCl3Hv5g3Cza2d2dDJ76y7bmW2_iNGWJiUknrR5kq2e9w5W_dA56iNz1UK7giSbi1FNgQhBR5K8rFzALgBUQQA59_TF95peN_7LO1fmaPCa-wxYBIteg78NPz7Qi-prVa/s2048/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aXQpo5TtWUuhZlra4dNCfEuyYOJIGImOTePswX2dMoPdeqEM02eLNwo-Gj5cCl3Hv5g3Cza2d2dDJ76y7bmW2_iNGWJiUknrR5kq2e9w5W_dA56iNz1UK7giSbi1FNgQhBR5K8rFzALgBUQQA59_TF95peN_7LO1fmaPCa-wxYBIteg78NPz7Qi-prVa/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXakQBFgvCN97P-VDvtftvWdTOtm7aA7oF6tMHV63-wlgG3B6ftAEb_F6xXwbIIBJckoTmukGwNxbSIkzoIBTRdwFhMaEi7PvrjKK9D2EmvA7PGi5mPdus9lNiqLtD0up_LjTQtN2pX4ykZc_h_gvr3Eap7oxIXPpzh6HwxAXgNGwflqNpGXBuGGij39dd/s2048/066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXakQBFgvCN97P-VDvtftvWdTOtm7aA7oF6tMHV63-wlgG3B6ftAEb_F6xXwbIIBJckoTmukGwNxbSIkzoIBTRdwFhMaEi7PvrjKK9D2EmvA7PGi5mPdus9lNiqLtD0up_LjTQtN2pX4ykZc_h_gvr3Eap7oxIXPpzh6HwxAXgNGwflqNpGXBuGGij39dd/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcPamxtw2x1j67QmkUp0UO6dqVPtGRKgNQHY7hcjV32Qkvx5tawx6mQvWsgmJ-m_VOCYLKSA_usw49Nf2GWKR7dYedRo_y2a4pFeqtwnWVnUI5iF_K-zWj78m-kCng4NJ6b9FvE3K4HnmV0CsReoCPyZQhj9a3cvN7cBwL9KQsrdD8LihQRvsdih10-wv/s2048/067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcPamxtw2x1j67QmkUp0UO6dqVPtGRKgNQHY7hcjV32Qkvx5tawx6mQvWsgmJ-m_VOCYLKSA_usw49Nf2GWKR7dYedRo_y2a4pFeqtwnWVnUI5iF_K-zWj78m-kCng4NJ6b9FvE3K4HnmV0CsReoCPyZQhj9a3cvN7cBwL9KQsrdD8LihQRvsdih10-wv/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgkzjW6mW-LYWvu3ikLQZ00ZtYei2pWYQyP9vi9TJ80zQiuu7N-B2X5NJA1S0tOXJrXFtw34XgAe21sIL3EQUgCkYqTr7h1OjwK4Dho1-t8MWXi9cFcVwSBWgWJOOudw68E9tArAeMcDNsFsXN7MU6b3NzrnuPnVMssXSd76_KY96fZUF6IGQgeWTikxp/s2048/068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgkzjW6mW-LYWvu3ikLQZ00ZtYei2pWYQyP9vi9TJ80zQiuu7N-B2X5NJA1S0tOXJrXFtw34XgAe21sIL3EQUgCkYqTr7h1OjwK4Dho1-t8MWXi9cFcVwSBWgWJOOudw68E9tArAeMcDNsFsXN7MU6b3NzrnuPnVMssXSd76_KY96fZUF6IGQgeWTikxp/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this was better than it looks!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaiMaaGj12b1GCV9FP0Ef29zsBXeFs-4onqMEajSml9OdV8kFuElvV-DqyiQlZvKNF5kaSTZQ_cqas62FsKOIxzpwf1Jcvbe6HM6DdiCtBHaPSE7xSdbh-DfLZCGrC-7XiHpmOZ4pqw4Ov9XZdePh7UEGkMVY0zLPZNXokzz_06GHrmhZk06DrLW4O4QK/s2048/069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaiMaaGj12b1GCV9FP0Ef29zsBXeFs-4onqMEajSml9OdV8kFuElvV-DqyiQlZvKNF5kaSTZQ_cqas62FsKOIxzpwf1Jcvbe6HM6DdiCtBHaPSE7xSdbh-DfLZCGrC-7XiHpmOZ4pqw4Ov9XZdePh7UEGkMVY0zLPZNXokzz_06GHrmhZk06DrLW4O4QK/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKeiHJhYlDFDL0iccvsDsia9_B1ARf2nUg-4SgV-pLhY7HJOygpkwThbm1ZtbdeZHJSCv1ceyyV5-f3UeJsOoL6ms7h6kEUCSixa9UbsUBjS6gSUwJIxaHTXMQ9GFYr4RvP8Ih1EQlkBykEC4_RZWvPPKGFmW2TXPVoDJLgHcLAdRN6lZROFhsR1P2ZgN/s2048/070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKeiHJhYlDFDL0iccvsDsia9_B1ARf2nUg-4SgV-pLhY7HJOygpkwThbm1ZtbdeZHJSCv1ceyyV5-f3UeJsOoL6ms7h6kEUCSixa9UbsUBjS6gSUwJIxaHTXMQ9GFYr4RvP8Ih1EQlkBykEC4_RZWvPPKGFmW2TXPVoDJLgHcLAdRN6lZROFhsR1P2ZgN/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cammo Tower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcPu2eK7LLxmNK3h81xgJsYja8gHj3kodGsJB4nWt0JRZ6Dvkvegbo7qvj0LchOR_fX69Sx3O7txlMuuvTTXN25xj_thvFN7ibyG9h8nCi_KlmOEoNuJfdvae07xCNAr5Gt9_uk3m7UsTEunk4UomrFLPf73Dsydgl_Q9qtpAlFlIK0oA71OqmIhiJ4Ws/s2048/071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcPu2eK7LLxmNK3h81xgJsYja8gHj3kodGsJB4nWt0JRZ6Dvkvegbo7qvj0LchOR_fX69Sx3O7txlMuuvTTXN25xj_thvFN7ibyG9h8nCi_KlmOEoNuJfdvae07xCNAr5Gt9_uk3m7UsTEunk4UomrFLPf73Dsydgl_Q9qtpAlFlIK0oA71OqmIhiJ4Ws/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMKU_f1_xAap01RQcx0shdDUqEyRtvDu43ZoUBcbo7fP_MhAVoduqNHS-YH6U2C0LQ6e-7Knyl2QkPppcSZ_f7AAeTOnk3MRZJtGONaCHp45qVjHw-mZ_h8w5xTdeVJm7IN91xn91M81v06aJbd9SRy7fBvjR4yBRmYRQ6RM5022cls3ZOIXWh_uHNvPl/s2048/072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMKU_f1_xAap01RQcx0shdDUqEyRtvDu43ZoUBcbo7fP_MhAVoduqNHS-YH6U2C0LQ6e-7Knyl2QkPppcSZ_f7AAeTOnk3MRZJtGONaCHp45qVjHw-mZ_h8w5xTdeVJm7IN91xn91M81v06aJbd9SRy7fBvjR4yBRmYRQ6RM5022cls3ZOIXWh_uHNvPl/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEFwycr8of7MiVRkRjx8VPVLvFDNbU8y373j5MwvRbP4-5DY1nNK3J9NS_bv-6uVtVbouo9gT6ntGfalXIITqBzVIc4sSCwmZYRv-51Bs3NLkHVLD2htaICdcYuKQPDvMsHvu4Vz7iD_0SCm0VvpkxnkP1QjnBkYjHszCk3HX8g65_U4lseiR5d6S_el-/s2048/073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEFwycr8of7MiVRkRjx8VPVLvFDNbU8y373j5MwvRbP4-5DY1nNK3J9NS_bv-6uVtVbouo9gT6ntGfalXIITqBzVIc4sSCwmZYRv-51Bs3NLkHVLD2htaICdcYuKQPDvMsHvu4Vz7iD_0SCm0VvpkxnkP1QjnBkYjHszCk3HX8g65_U4lseiR5d6S_el-/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I left via the Big Field on the North side. You know, the one with that large dead tree right in the centre. I checked the birdfeeder up by the memorial. There was next to nothing in the 2 feeders so I filled them with the remainder of my food except for the hazelnuts. (£3.50!) It began to draw a small crowd of locals but wasn't worth the wait. I went past the big tree but was unable to get the whole thing into frame as I had changed back to the long lens. However I really liked these curtailed highlights which bounce the detailed woodwork off the blue sky background in a very pleasing way. The thing about that tree is the combination of twisty branch detail on stark outline considering the large empty field. It is impossible to do all of that in just one photo. So like the detail of the Forth Rail Bridge back up the top of this page there is a merit to zooming in and taking a close up of the twisting branches against a plain blue sky.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07bO1mR-YnWpKoFOFF3P8UkDjBLosxWZ9PPDiNmy6TUahq9eECTVZFUq25-vjhfgxtNMx_Mmh7tqoaNXp3QXc7CazyTTWSX43L-o4EbBcPDY2Ssa0A3l3s8Oh04ReYvcBXSA4p1bSAQCrvoxqrkRTK5302Z7o4NEfPLlUhLokf2gJFdZ2fWdtvMOuHGUi/s2048/074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07bO1mR-YnWpKoFOFF3P8UkDjBLosxWZ9PPDiNmy6TUahq9eECTVZFUq25-vjhfgxtNMx_Mmh7tqoaNXp3QXc7CazyTTWSX43L-o4EbBcPDY2Ssa0A3l3s8Oh04ReYvcBXSA4p1bSAQCrvoxqrkRTK5302Z7o4NEfPLlUhLokf2gJFdZ2fWdtvMOuHGUi/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCIf8voazB1u0kGAdToiX3xTPuKrLu61S5iMxRqMUBeDaZsaWeCMnK5LR3849NrGz5_RAKoabyhHcHORMp9etbSNAs0HKLh5P8Dyje7wi-VQNa2tqjAUCvnc0SyDr3ezkWK7Qa97pdRwNZotSXWZPEJh5XonwCM3UhHI-yvh97msA0yaUP8UhTK4f8YKE/s2048/075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCIf8voazB1u0kGAdToiX3xTPuKrLu61S5iMxRqMUBeDaZsaWeCMnK5LR3849NrGz5_RAKoabyhHcHORMp9etbSNAs0HKLh5P8Dyje7wi-VQNa2tqjAUCvnc0SyDr3ezkWK7Qa97pdRwNZotSXWZPEJh5XonwCM3UhHI-yvh97msA0yaUP8UhTK4f8YKE/s320/075.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUpVW4rzrvYuJ9W9Cj6k5Nq3DAy9kAdt_fU2WEof_6HNFt29i3uXKwETOZuWG7PKKsFvJlIItzMjPydMQc2KIfgsO6LRqnUEEZm0fcAwKWP5AzpSqQdzQrIbXzRTehpaxdWLSminW4akl3UVyy7uviI5eNlWAvqQlei-zRkQjvepkX9AZYZ-36VPikX2u/s2048/076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUpVW4rzrvYuJ9W9Cj6k5Nq3DAy9kAdt_fU2WEof_6HNFt29i3uXKwETOZuWG7PKKsFvJlIItzMjPydMQc2KIfgsO6LRqnUEEZm0fcAwKWP5AzpSqQdzQrIbXzRTehpaxdWLSminW4akl3UVyy7uviI5eNlWAvqQlei-zRkQjvepkX9AZYZ-36VPikX2u/s320/076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT8RoJcesARAxxfzGbqrEF2jhCFWNPRjRgP4ejpxgRicKbC4iRtackjRQTbV68OTQqhFSHtorNUUrAH-_dg1ex5JUtO6ZSVgsCjdjViNGlamJfj5vnOFjDLzvqHrroqtVJNu5WU5F4XDpBmt-cs4KeY5l8304rq-lJfo8q2pR7YU6TvxHzKPinmwkUetU/s2048/077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT8RoJcesARAxxfzGbqrEF2jhCFWNPRjRgP4ejpxgRicKbC4iRtackjRQTbV68OTQqhFSHtorNUUrAH-_dg1ex5JUtO6ZSVgsCjdjViNGlamJfj5vnOFjDLzvqHrroqtVJNu5WU5F4XDpBmt-cs4KeY5l8304rq-lJfo8q2pR7YU6TvxHzKPinmwkUetU/s320/077.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I walked down the tiny narrow lane (not even wide enough for broad MTB handlebars at points) to the Almond walkway, then under the Cramond Brig, back up to the dual carriageway and along to Barnton to catch a bus. I just arrived there when a Southbound Stagecoach appeared at the stop. Since they take a Saltire Card I travelled for free along to the bus station, nearly falling asleep after more than 5hrs outdoors, then walked home via Sainsbury's to pick up some dinner veg. A great day out which gave me plenty material to tweak and post here while the rain steadily fell for the next 2 days. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEZFudmVbjgAo9B18kpcHIKRJHY7ba5Xjl4jX1z6GYd5aSc3yNbi44KjimZXR3NR1hMeiPEe2CdKR7o85a12aZYFDkODuIyZnFATBBHigHnoyAUaLynFPdyCCbN00aMXuln6RXlw6gM8adjK1uxQrunU3epl5cY7I1lbCpWAI3CApTfbvGJveMVMc8D8o/s1318/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1318" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEZFudmVbjgAo9B18kpcHIKRJHY7ba5Xjl4jX1z6GYd5aSc3yNbi44KjimZXR3NR1hMeiPEe2CdKR7o85a12aZYFDkODuIyZnFATBBHigHnoyAUaLynFPdyCCbN00aMXuln6RXlw6gM8adjK1uxQrunU3epl5cY7I1lbCpWAI3CApTfbvGJveMVMc8D8o/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">10+miles, 5+hrs</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-54783466067490943252024-02-14T09:35:00.000-08:002024-02-14T09:35:42.510-08:00winter sun<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuv-fJMy9_qUO-LUV6Tzfgn28wVmljaa4IB0qrle1gnmFMPNo-QGu1r0I45FuusfGLyNHh8gmLRm-JoUzOypnnbIN85PrxYEEuyx97QNE0tgATl0VmxTKmF3_A4ijFYT1teR8CPIuqNRuPZzmf9QdrsaFIJnOpkLSKV_Brpm-F8zfzGye34QrdhPn9X3R/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuv-fJMy9_qUO-LUV6Tzfgn28wVmljaa4IB0qrle1gnmFMPNo-QGu1r0I45FuusfGLyNHh8gmLRm-JoUzOypnnbIN85PrxYEEuyx97QNE0tgATl0VmxTKmF3_A4ijFYT1teR8CPIuqNRuPZzmf9QdrsaFIJnOpkLSKV_Brpm-F8zfzGye34QrdhPn9X3R/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">12th February</div><div style="text-align: left;">The clouds lift and we get a couple of days of brighter weather. Not warm, but bright. I can cope with the cold, a fair trade for the sunshine which is hugely cheering and makes it worth charging the camera batteries. Although there is a tendency to fall asleep in front of the telly after a baltic day out.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4EEc1IM2tmrGtR3l5lxqAnzrRJSRisqHMGUcGV0UPpjN1wO77OqXjycp4SegnOhPLzK_XmTSFgnXwYHiMHvFPvFR6jkSw8plSrbc5Gi5SuDQbwyk5dsT-kVbgJvvHyZMJNVCJ_o72A4vfC8Bmrs-5f-KHxPGY1qho9kiB_xtutt1fTwcznU6QTGrewWg/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4EEc1IM2tmrGtR3l5lxqAnzrRJSRisqHMGUcGV0UPpjN1wO77OqXjycp4SegnOhPLzK_XmTSFgnXwYHiMHvFPvFR6jkSw8plSrbc5Gi5SuDQbwyk5dsT-kVbgJvvHyZMJNVCJ_o72A4vfC8Bmrs-5f-KHxPGY1qho9kiB_xtutt1fTwcznU6QTGrewWg/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having done a few trips further afield recently, I felt it was time to check out the Botanics and Warriston. I had meant to get into the Botanics as the gate opened around 10am but it was after 11 when I took the first photo there. I had gone straight to the Chinese Pond, hoping for kingfisher action but having to make do instead with moorhens and garden varieties. The moorhens looked fantastic in the low light. I threw them some food and they were happy to model in the shallows, their red eyes and face furniture looking amazing. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePilGOfdaZToO7krIJE6QazqXQinn6uSU-e0Br8zHjW0glpLseYGUfeIrWXVNZHSE8D6J2N3ea4uzK_vPn-6CUDV7dDbWV_Zhmq5IBUJLT7AgkuSsueYvFWXcC1-8o40X-fD9cCeVtc1EgmxHJtBoQx3CtoGKwmEuHKoAPDzNmUcKwiX08OrC5ogiltxZ/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePilGOfdaZToO7krIJE6QazqXQinn6uSU-e0Br8zHjW0glpLseYGUfeIrWXVNZHSE8D6J2N3ea4uzK_vPn-6CUDV7dDbWV_Zhmq5IBUJLT7AgkuSsueYvFWXcC1-8o40X-fD9cCeVtc1EgmxHJtBoQx3CtoGKwmEuHKoAPDzNmUcKwiX08OrC5ogiltxZ/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRhijFNs2eYBOYp1w46UqWoEuSUXngBSosahnl_dXuaVXZlIpAK25AIaVGVfJzTPCZ6N3xnwSQ-BZB4hPVwuTOMkjhPbSfNvB-QhSA07dJMXaeWX4yYArrgFcEsXuN7zs_4WS3J-lMiDTRi1k3MCU9mp_K0aBdeNEoCT2stK1PIIiWMNA2S-Xy7RquabT/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRhijFNs2eYBOYp1w46UqWoEuSUXngBSosahnl_dXuaVXZlIpAK25AIaVGVfJzTPCZ6N3xnwSQ-BZB4hPVwuTOMkjhPbSfNvB-QhSA07dJMXaeWX4yYArrgFcEsXuN7zs_4WS3J-lMiDTRi1k3MCU9mp_K0aBdeNEoCT2stK1PIIiWMNA2S-Xy7RquabT/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38hJaVWoxakuBqDYb9QwFeLRTpzQQfDZCpO9ypqQo_TuhNgSkt71fbc5RyNqe4l_JFmWsuKwqExOirhAMnr1m9XcT2PpEsmFTEn4pflJZ1JKDEE15-L-em_D38b72hzju48AQWw0szv-o-eJJiZslN0LQGmiuVUT9DNhMzARD28Smw-NkH6PSpGVGwnvF/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38hJaVWoxakuBqDYb9QwFeLRTpzQQfDZCpO9ypqQo_TuhNgSkt71fbc5RyNqe4l_JFmWsuKwqExOirhAMnr1m9XcT2PpEsmFTEn4pflJZ1JKDEE15-L-em_D38b72hzju48AQWw0szv-o-eJJiZslN0LQGmiuVUT9DNhMzARD28Smw-NkH6PSpGVGwnvF/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">magnolias in bud - maybe another week till they flower?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FCU-aLijhnzGoyYEWG0vS0KzwFw4wgKWOmIgTU4xTVBaXjUqMBsfWXhONvUjv3uXjQm7o8cAk6c3HYLAo3B5pZwsUFSd3I0uYBUAKQe6A1Ly2z0-GH7RL_fzkwQuxiY7StXOiBk4_MjeLqQhz9KianzF894_BuTDOEuCTk-WzuGS4bUs8T6znKBtRgmC/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FCU-aLijhnzGoyYEWG0vS0KzwFw4wgKWOmIgTU4xTVBaXjUqMBsfWXhONvUjv3uXjQm7o8cAk6c3HYLAo3B5pZwsUFSd3I0uYBUAKQe6A1Ly2z0-GH7RL_fzkwQuxiY7StXOiBk4_MjeLqQhz9KianzF894_BuTDOEuCTk-WzuGS4bUs8T6znKBtRgmC/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">viburnum</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE0wL2_qcTbci2Z3AnHeJ8e6IpOabrVlpblA9G_sEJooZyqiDG3247bbGa6U5goYpq3vVWNev8ONFyetue82facHweDSP4Mr6MzF9hFrWPzt6RoylwOqNQ-XZ4Nbpq5kaSHFlRS-DZyILvCGtg4j0XdmThvEQBl6VVEA5nY7IhdQmUZSAiFi80nCtmLkZ/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE0wL2_qcTbci2Z3AnHeJ8e6IpOabrVlpblA9G_sEJooZyqiDG3247bbGa6U5goYpq3vVWNev8ONFyetue82facHweDSP4Mr6MzF9hFrWPzt6RoylwOqNQ-XZ4Nbpq5kaSHFlRS-DZyILvCGtg4j0XdmThvEQBl6VVEA5nY7IhdQmUZSAiFi80nCtmLkZ/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the rhodies and azaleas also in bud about to explode</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4tmDWEC40asgc7KfHDYSGRINjoVjvb4InQ0d-2Iy6R2mX5xSsNHtmFmOmC2z-FES1puWFfZ5_lArer31TpJ4s7tQNbkhkDHcLx_m-hYOYdSX8vJhnLN2oI9IUrqjjOHDId4NdVBnpGVAP9PyPMA98p8zgq59KQulov14Iwm0sxedGe0M86yU3L6gxz79/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4tmDWEC40asgc7KfHDYSGRINjoVjvb4InQ0d-2Iy6R2mX5xSsNHtmFmOmC2z-FES1puWFfZ5_lArer31TpJ4s7tQNbkhkDHcLx_m-hYOYdSX8vJhnLN2oI9IUrqjjOHDId4NdVBnpGVAP9PyPMA98p8zgq59KQulov14Iwm0sxedGe0M86yU3L6gxz79/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were at least a couple of robins round the pond. I think both of them came to my hand for seeds and bread and then chased each other round in a proprietorial manner. Having only the long lens with a nearest focal point of about four feet I can't focus on a robin on my hand and I couldn't be bothered changing the lens or getting out my iPhone. There were also LTTs and great tits but no sign of siskins, other finches or anything worth hanging around for. I could feel the call of Warriston so headed along there for about 12.30</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsVZgWefElUJSwSi0M1wx6B4FCajWMjvv0Numnly3P2DEftRBr_EKQETcy4qH5fZTz4HY3bksJdeWUP5LQWULhX06lDuQw0WNYduMxh8YtWp22tOrO8eS0L2zLPtVxbSR1da-T-2S5zazi7XBoj3SLjxxJBoZpIczqsCQ2WnQbkRKLMtNEz1NJX5rMGch/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsVZgWefElUJSwSi0M1wx6B4FCajWMjvv0Numnly3P2DEftRBr_EKQETcy4qH5fZTz4HY3bksJdeWUP5LQWULhX06lDuQw0WNYduMxh8YtWp22tOrO8eS0L2zLPtVxbSR1da-T-2S5zazi7XBoj3SLjxxJBoZpIczqsCQ2WnQbkRKLMtNEz1NJX5rMGch/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBbVNCpUrqjmY9VE2a_hujGU6Tx-4brifcLFI93YmyyTpggQX39rAZsBfLLetjAMmP0boXBlCgNtrCj2nfHTQqXLZ4JIZk3vk0kcodNILBZWykWs1VhCbXYG01iKJ2pwXgjO4-pwPAf1TQz4atbivlyFXd9gGfrfQw9B6KU6Im0Ezwe_Sxg7nmegon8U9/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBbVNCpUrqjmY9VE2a_hujGU6Tx-4brifcLFI93YmyyTpggQX39rAZsBfLLetjAMmP0boXBlCgNtrCj2nfHTQqXLZ4JIZk3vk0kcodNILBZWykWs1VhCbXYG01iKJ2pwXgjO4-pwPAf1TQz4atbivlyFXd9gGfrfQw9B6KU6Im0Ezwe_Sxg7nmegon8U9/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZGYsLyO7DmMO278k9s_3HQqoAHSWtyAMcCDIQhQWsBJ5U9m-1PBb8YAV19eJwoAp-f2iln_Ji5r1SdEjwQxFqhpodv1flOO33wYvYXhyphenhyphenW4D7IcQvbJycdyP6vYHigqI3qz-WliD84KXhvDhpA4JXnBUfzh31xwxrPGlBpJ06hvLjygUPs5cbwuw5e8gZ/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZGYsLyO7DmMO278k9s_3HQqoAHSWtyAMcCDIQhQWsBJ5U9m-1PBb8YAV19eJwoAp-f2iln_Ji5r1SdEjwQxFqhpodv1flOO33wYvYXhyphenhyphenW4D7IcQvbJycdyP6vYHigqI3qz-WliD84KXhvDhpA4JXnBUfzh31xwxrPGlBpJ06hvLjygUPs5cbwuw5e8gZ/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMIrs7PQ-S0uKoy5r7hBdjAG1kqazVegUPkRw9vBd7thOjBwDRC8wCsSCKJYxv3W4RtuC3UpElWGztftNGqTP7rnyOQqSB1Jzz24eicCk6rP-zolqmcdwRYxl5VTMb7pMqD-Fki7ZG7U4G7gUrkWj-6IkKrTcwbiVqsI8bzxOjktWHtF3qkallHJb1l_u/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMIrs7PQ-S0uKoy5r7hBdjAG1kqazVegUPkRw9vBd7thOjBwDRC8wCsSCKJYxv3W4RtuC3UpElWGztftNGqTP7rnyOQqSB1Jzz24eicCk6rP-zolqmcdwRYxl5VTMb7pMqD-Fki7ZG7U4G7gUrkWj-6IkKrTcwbiVqsI8bzxOjktWHtF3qkallHJb1l_u/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt83jrAxeOLz40g4DojvGIgaglolbDsXpo4VMMAGinW9Dt1y8moDxnuaK-IrDjJsmFtmhKOoPsp4lwu8Y-zYy7GjliDpyQx44oX9wv8bUiS1B8j5Bg1-fb-q46XRsgPaV24cxrG1K0FRV8Z4kK-UlUgnTttoHX3yqDubDK7OZAdFI4_NhyphenhyphenB1RlXaD4UeeP/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt83jrAxeOLz40g4DojvGIgaglolbDsXpo4VMMAGinW9Dt1y8moDxnuaK-IrDjJsmFtmhKOoPsp4lwu8Y-zYy7GjliDpyQx44oX9wv8bUiS1B8j5Bg1-fb-q46XRsgPaV24cxrG1K0FRV8Z4kK-UlUgnTttoHX3yqDubDK7OZAdFI4_NhyphenhyphenB1RlXaD4UeeP/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSXtcTP4ZofnVsnm5b48-UXnmkduBiRnM9SykWhON5rzhjqWaK2mTxso7SclI5HmHojyVV4uuKXuUtH8Z6d7oA8gTWxdhfGmNAkn2AiJHT9FTkhmasIig03NN44RFP4INbyRgX8-_0B_A0czHw5GoVNd5WahLQS_hEVSfNjxPWF6mWpOcYPr7LdXXDrgc/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSXtcTP4ZofnVsnm5b48-UXnmkduBiRnM9SykWhON5rzhjqWaK2mTxso7SclI5HmHojyVV4uuKXuUtH8Z6d7oA8gTWxdhfGmNAkn2AiJHT9FTkhmasIig03NN44RFP4INbyRgX8-_0B_A0czHw5GoVNd5WahLQS_hEVSfNjxPWF6mWpOcYPr7LdXXDrgc/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_CrFksKMlqIAjdZAQ67MtuHs7wg-cOOG6ElfYvtCEWVBjB3BANp5fBWDsIpNd788sr7dR-mtLqxNYrFqfIBU3Y_jrR6SWNHkzxUBDtinC2X4Q0mIRaV5c6z_xdKRrix65g4zJXXbJ5yzJ8WQfkiVxl-JiyKd4mEJ471XyhaWPJhgXhr_xMIwvmlQMSXn/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_CrFksKMlqIAjdZAQ67MtuHs7wg-cOOG6ElfYvtCEWVBjB3BANp5fBWDsIpNd788sr7dR-mtLqxNYrFqfIBU3Y_jrR6SWNHkzxUBDtinC2X4Q0mIRaV5c6z_xdKRrix65g4zJXXbJ5yzJ8WQfkiVxl-JiyKd4mEJ471XyhaWPJhgXhr_xMIwvmlQMSXn/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Warriston I went along to the 1859 stone at the far end of the riverside section. The light was pretty decent there. There wasn't much about initially, but the squirrels were very pleased to see me. Right at the bottom of this page I have put a video of a few clips I shot. It opens with a barking squirrel. It always seems amusing when squirrels talk. They only do it when raising an alarm or chastising other squirrels. The one in the video looks like it was chastising me. I think it felt frustrated as I had just put out loads of food on top of gravestones, it had come down to feast, then someone came along with a dog and it had to retreat up the tree again. I think it was saying <i>"now you may think that is funny but let me tell you..." </i>or stuff along those lines. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQuJfJ64rxGTvx8F-Kv2SvlW4FmW7pxovWEjwkm8U3PbcJiL9NdYBkyiABExwFdkwYqVg95UG9ahBjf7l3vqFIudRGl0C4RMAInD0H0cOAbUqWty2UuylmUTjna9OSzo-utX78-aIJFOxEPwwTXAtDoieBCNvIXAAKi0CUCwtforj8zzo-Clduhz05_RD/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQuJfJ64rxGTvx8F-Kv2SvlW4FmW7pxovWEjwkm8U3PbcJiL9NdYBkyiABExwFdkwYqVg95UG9ahBjf7l3vqFIudRGl0C4RMAInD0H0cOAbUqWty2UuylmUTjna9OSzo-utX78-aIJFOxEPwwTXAtDoieBCNvIXAAKi0CUCwtforj8zzo-Clduhz05_RD/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3RzriWoN3vI9xt9jl4zbjnIW68UeeGXHakDcM6tVrVXySpCaWuxEzW1TQiOrWg8ZqWl8GRGZr507Wgchj-9aaMtMPif4VYutIUvCxkzA9Pex5x25JNFwPyvq0jkVaW5endRfRAyrOjjpaYcbdPI7r1_BUi2wdwWqrjxBgInFY8fmWNUd8Y8LznSf7Xd/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3RzriWoN3vI9xt9jl4zbjnIW68UeeGXHakDcM6tVrVXySpCaWuxEzW1TQiOrWg8ZqWl8GRGZr507Wgchj-9aaMtMPif4VYutIUvCxkzA9Pex5x25JNFwPyvq0jkVaW5endRfRAyrOjjpaYcbdPI7r1_BUi2wdwWqrjxBgInFY8fmWNUd8Y8LznSf7Xd/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9HKUZ6LahUkt7Cn_Ug3mJ4G3LBPZ63D-3ktJb8bD_WNycenskI924vsxyx_PQXVjhbFDstsM3hdXWeinlH2yuy-QqsDACgBBLD5j-rYb8kiipT5uMUDfwuzq2seDIa0_R4v6R3kwirlP6ZY6o1KTi87J1Zgvz2iP8b11c8eobuUxxTU03O8CO_vX4gVz/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9HKUZ6LahUkt7Cn_Ug3mJ4G3LBPZ63D-3ktJb8bD_WNycenskI924vsxyx_PQXVjhbFDstsM3hdXWeinlH2yuy-QqsDACgBBLD5j-rYb8kiipT5uMUDfwuzq2seDIa0_R4v6R3kwirlP6ZY6o1KTi87J1Zgvz2iP8b11c8eobuUxxTU03O8CO_vX4gVz/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dZWwh2GAZPkmUbBPUBFZzpVEWmPfH5hU1D-MpfhSkpJ73N4_qQMXlNidG8Eff_XepzP4qGac8khF5DiCJ3IahTNf3qU9D5sdW57qZt6gLhrhe23rePDAmQNBlBK64pJjhwUcCzzs8CHhUOzuRdnNzt4tFJLHhrjzXf7Ts3N5NPWwbeMuXhbIw6nr4ndj/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dZWwh2GAZPkmUbBPUBFZzpVEWmPfH5hU1D-MpfhSkpJ73N4_qQMXlNidG8Eff_XepzP4qGac8khF5DiCJ3IahTNf3qU9D5sdW57qZt6gLhrhe23rePDAmQNBlBK64pJjhwUcCzzs8CHhUOzuRdnNzt4tFJLHhrjzXf7Ts3N5NPWwbeMuXhbIw6nr4ndj/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GQosW1a-sFa1aFOZurqfnh-YYihEIXKfl5n6pY797Wy5H680kPRqYUtTckUqW_G2h0fqNRzyLXSDwOai6iLNIEcCYJJ15Ox4IO03oaD-Jm_vwNkQk2BVzy2ZKjBobz8aqXt1c6NghukZQo-mzOpWBRY43-brnKJ5IgdoCo52UApkEdiOZyDiAcJmtO2g/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GQosW1a-sFa1aFOZurqfnh-YYihEIXKfl5n6pY797Wy5H680kPRqYUtTckUqW_G2h0fqNRzyLXSDwOai6iLNIEcCYJJ15Ox4IO03oaD-Jm_vwNkQk2BVzy2ZKjBobz8aqXt1c6NghukZQo-mzOpWBRY43-brnKJ5IgdoCo52UApkEdiOZyDiAcJmtO2g/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjX2oehAyOQyfq1IYVEl4xwuwEpQmpxwG6GF-SGi8pOHUhU7MNdkG3EcxCE2DguYvSasKHG5AK7dY5lOkI3TkFnhug2SZYxcU-7t0WxfHV0UkatgrSStQTzpzvIhO8yDsSRs86ibzxZHBd0TE_pU9RvoSJOSi-_GeTeThljIn2TQ7Y8coYmYptaWpzS-O/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjX2oehAyOQyfq1IYVEl4xwuwEpQmpxwG6GF-SGi8pOHUhU7MNdkG3EcxCE2DguYvSasKHG5AK7dY5lOkI3TkFnhug2SZYxcU-7t0WxfHV0UkatgrSStQTzpzvIhO8yDsSRs86ibzxZHBd0TE_pU9RvoSJOSi-_GeTeThljIn2TQ7Y8coYmYptaWpzS-O/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Now flies are not my <i>absolute favourite</i> wildlife but I took a photo of this one because it was one of the first I have seen this year and after flies come hoverflies and bees, then bee-flies, then butterflies. Roll on all of that! Also, and this is somewhat between a confession and a trailer: I bought a macro lens. The thing about interchangeable lens cameras is the spending never stops. There is always something else to buy. I am not at all sure there is a huge difference between the 12~60mm kit lens I already have and the Olympus 60mm macro lens I bought recently. I had to buy it before January 21st as there was a £100 cashback offer expiring then.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mairi has this lens and recommended it. She gets great results photographing all manner of small insects, flies, bugs and small creeping things. I look forward to warmer weather when such things appear, although apparently the failure rate and trial and error means you have to have the patience of a saint. And be prepared to bin a lot of photos. I also bought a <strike>flash-gun</strike> (I think you only call them flash guns if you still call road bikes <i>racers, </i>and freestyle<i> front crawl,</i>) I mean speedlight and clip on diffuser. TBH I haven't even tried the lens on my camera. I have watched a LOT of youTube videos and know the settings a Swedish bloke uses for his Olympus 60mm and speedlight with diffuser. I should set up a dead wasp on a pin to practise taking bad macro shots indoors where nobody can see. First potential usage will be in March when the sun (fingers crossed) will be shining. (Holiday spoiler alert.) I am very excited!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8azmyf2XaKJIAC8vBsRkIbzfc875ypFOn75Q1Qk9sreA-r4w0I45yZYpNAba7H2gEcu_dJ0SesR5FZhAwdO2_p0WjniKMGxRtgZaQgwHA3_Js4Q9JzTLqXBQGFr7wfCZ1nIr9kkglBacR7p62iXWPsnCmG6ae8swx_VT1l9d3oPO7B8EvoDzeiACC6Bet/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8azmyf2XaKJIAC8vBsRkIbzfc875ypFOn75Q1Qk9sreA-r4w0I45yZYpNAba7H2gEcu_dJ0SesR5FZhAwdO2_p0WjniKMGxRtgZaQgwHA3_Js4Q9JzTLqXBQGFr7wfCZ1nIr9kkglBacR7p62iXWPsnCmG6ae8swx_VT1l9d3oPO7B8EvoDzeiACC6Bet/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifJmHJP3cnRgp1W_6UF9OaHcLJxrjU1dacNYb522kxPpNttsS6flRbEyxJKHCVKNDXOON2NmThiPKFvvtkctiENcfzyY1xdyydOYj_wh3bcYdd4MUuzhr4-kluMtp-VG0WPxFtGRAd06mEQscYLD497ihov5RKT_cKvFmfVLxQk5iFI8Ineq1e7RWgxyF/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifJmHJP3cnRgp1W_6UF9OaHcLJxrjU1dacNYb522kxPpNttsS6flRbEyxJKHCVKNDXOON2NmThiPKFvvtkctiENcfzyY1xdyydOYj_wh3bcYdd4MUuzhr4-kluMtp-VG0WPxFtGRAd06mEQscYLD497ihov5RKT_cKvFmfVLxQk5iFI8Ineq1e7RWgxyF/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsItM1Opjx6QRICfO2vZIA-CVuWK3F8Ib2QECNHGKRsBaduf3_dO7099p_kknHKksJdzSLZoVbA1f8Bb4AqVvNreeV6q4RPL1CRnoiNjAoSjqR2gPsAA2BpGNtqfkDP3d1aU7LW5PYReoMRwZ9LOGmIQ4vwvqmDGSrMShiDDm3ydKShjudInrfXUpllVPw/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsItM1Opjx6QRICfO2vZIA-CVuWK3F8Ib2QECNHGKRsBaduf3_dO7099p_kknHKksJdzSLZoVbA1f8Bb4AqVvNreeV6q4RPL1CRnoiNjAoSjqR2gPsAA2BpGNtqfkDP3d1aU7LW5PYReoMRwZ9LOGmIQ4vwvqmDGSrMShiDDm3ydKShjudInrfXUpllVPw/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnPidUECMD69H7PwVLte_DnHAsF04YBOKJBE0znz5WXnw-steZt7LQoF398vIbPmwL77SnV52XWzhILIqKxwVvf1gYIvCzwNuxqBEUi6HANhy62ekgPfam643fXFZkAhyphenhyphendXg62oepvMw6mcJV5kvFlMlKLEf1TjFf5vC63Ig45oqVGNIzF-0q77cDQiMs/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnPidUECMD69H7PwVLte_DnHAsF04YBOKJBE0znz5WXnw-steZt7LQoF398vIbPmwL77SnV52XWzhILIqKxwVvf1gYIvCzwNuxqBEUi6HANhy62ekgPfam643fXFZkAhyphenhyphendXg62oepvMw6mcJV5kvFlMlKLEf1TjFf5vC63Ig45oqVGNIzF-0q77cDQiMs/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIj7gWiVRLjutyQztum0RaDXCW2LbAIfbs3PqjJeZg-XVC_ORZw3HTQwJBCrRfWue8Ch7jVHxbmgBNP21UjfwYLW_NFK1qdfMuTxWnjPJKTydYbinq-WhTyo4omk5PYIfXxQY0UxMWSkkoCMQzhy2o7W2AZnSC4GZE1zdQHAatSxSfiFN5fpgSFpKWxRS/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIj7gWiVRLjutyQztum0RaDXCW2LbAIfbs3PqjJeZg-XVC_ORZw3HTQwJBCrRfWue8Ch7jVHxbmgBNP21UjfwYLW_NFK1qdfMuTxWnjPJKTydYbinq-WhTyo4omk5PYIfXxQY0UxMWSkkoCMQzhy2o7W2AZnSC4GZE1zdQHAatSxSfiFN5fpgSFpKWxRS/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQx24SEEU0-yu8DT-rFxdWi-qZFA7WneW0xzDVWburAFaAnb_8ZPzqNIQ37NCWURNvvWNroxGsjd-5MHHshFgdodWZvoNmQqnwUFbuRSrRPEiUcP9Oy1Vl7etgyVM9VWbdthCbLecc0ZWPIlhMcpRwCeu-PfYWfBJsrJPBsBzOF_E7WdCS2Ip-4lFJN3/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQx24SEEU0-yu8DT-rFxdWi-qZFA7WneW0xzDVWburAFaAnb_8ZPzqNIQ37NCWURNvvWNroxGsjd-5MHHshFgdodWZvoNmQqnwUFbuRSrRPEiUcP9Oy1Vl7etgyVM9VWbdthCbLecc0ZWPIlhMcpRwCeu-PfYWfBJsrJPBsBzOF_E7WdCS2Ip-4lFJN3/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2vvRlaiQwnQU1uVVcnAQhheizaG6PUWD-UOszs3OnFwCcNhw_zN18ZHJn9Q5FQVdakHijcelUNzfO_4IJVn1GqlGEwBKVHEh85KPJD3BctW3YFbVQEWgWlTCRswZ4xCAu5oEav-87INYmbwmEmZRBKeEb6P10UkEvW32A39FCstUJkRGtE4lA5cTEhl/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2vvRlaiQwnQU1uVVcnAQhheizaG6PUWD-UOszs3OnFwCcNhw_zN18ZHJn9Q5FQVdakHijcelUNzfO_4IJVn1GqlGEwBKVHEh85KPJD3BctW3YFbVQEWgWlTCRswZ4xCAu5oEav-87INYmbwmEmZRBKeEb6P10UkEvW32A39FCstUJkRGtE4lA5cTEhl/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coal tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYAyJV5mvkeGhCubPavj_WKarDod0h253oLZkUQEJTs1S-Mzeg65TOjChYpgGZPnnxjak5Owm3BQKBoFeL2lm119KTC2FWkGEwzKwZAaf4TyCZsoDB5lGPgvw-3UYCSgrqU3F-y7AIjRpP3TjKCvTMx2Bc-PwIhaYpRYesgFRA9sY8SFNpP8HS1ZLVJVV/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYAyJV5mvkeGhCubPavj_WKarDod0h253oLZkUQEJTs1S-Mzeg65TOjChYpgGZPnnxjak5Owm3BQKBoFeL2lm119KTC2FWkGEwzKwZAaf4TyCZsoDB5lGPgvw-3UYCSgrqU3F-y7AIjRpP3TjKCvTMx2Bc-PwIhaYpRYesgFRA9sY8SFNpP8HS1ZLVJVV/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aLktlE9RzZ2P1NCu7BLnD0RtO7KJ1-ARR6Ehv68N_oN1xSS4UsxbX5C80s3echlqDZbxBIRW_PRS635Bdog2l1KDxQ2Ax9CuK3Ipz3BdSKQCaSZQvSBTskH2wswJJgfC6dnDRQu47SuvhzuhAYisB8gEydSjd4otbNEwKB_tVTbGSaCtaZgUfJpggk0d/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aLktlE9RzZ2P1NCu7BLnD0RtO7KJ1-ARR6Ehv68N_oN1xSS4UsxbX5C80s3echlqDZbxBIRW_PRS635Bdog2l1KDxQ2Ax9CuK3Ipz3BdSKQCaSZQvSBTskH2wswJJgfC6dnDRQu47SuvhzuhAYisB8gEydSjd4otbNEwKB_tVTbGSaCtaZgUfJpggk0d/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVObkuavq4HUPuHzxB87v-vsBYkH2sxnL_ui1VBOPjD5S2G-cFS7CuCBTnWJeZFiGHYTABB4o80R2dCzFjV6uanwh3Ttfalozw90HPJ-fIKkPdYjOy4yL836ERJ6Fs8N_b41ffGsX_BP2Tt5s0oguiiTPrTHqUL9M1lfnbN_CXcIuJq7t3uFXEINcJtt9l/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVObkuavq4HUPuHzxB87v-vsBYkH2sxnL_ui1VBOPjD5S2G-cFS7CuCBTnWJeZFiGHYTABB4o80R2dCzFjV6uanwh3Ttfalozw90HPJ-fIKkPdYjOy4yL836ERJ6Fs8N_b41ffGsX_BP2Tt5s0oguiiTPrTHqUL9M1lfnbN_CXcIuJq7t3uFXEINcJtt9l/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG4gtysiurmChsxuqc2XcDZHuDgDUbiKjIeFRBLHZ3csvHvyQ6ierQKZURL45oDWiMax2aaTkgdkzv-9R2HlvJXt0Rupih5un6CsW_gwrtreZMxsx4rjPalrwgW7ArkvwFJajAmsxebCiG6Rz_U92WYLegkHiqgP5SHhOfWhlFxK-ljpI5ZvHWKrnDC-8/s2048/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG4gtysiurmChsxuqc2XcDZHuDgDUbiKjIeFRBLHZ3csvHvyQ6ierQKZURL45oDWiMax2aaTkgdkzv-9R2HlvJXt0Rupih5un6CsW_gwrtreZMxsx4rjPalrwgW7ArkvwFJajAmsxebCiG6Rz_U92WYLegkHiqgP5SHhOfWhlFxK-ljpI5ZvHWKrnDC-8/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituqxKmpx-r-fxxBaNX0lpiFLUP6bzfRdcDRdF_z8XJ3hg0tQuRbxCrPiYIGJ_CUp7OxjNebkD5HYh8_usq3F_fEpFJLq6f6mhriolpbN-bStJGGj8iG-LZYIXHsldlvktkOO_uE7lkTw9VgBssc2l0O7AyVta7fMYcT_IkNNI90bH7jOjbVYkSaGxQZP1/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituqxKmpx-r-fxxBaNX0lpiFLUP6bzfRdcDRdF_z8XJ3hg0tQuRbxCrPiYIGJ_CUp7OxjNebkD5HYh8_usq3F_fEpFJLq6f6mhriolpbN-bStJGGj8iG-LZYIXHsldlvktkOO_uE7lkTw9VgBssc2l0O7AyVta7fMYcT_IkNNI90bH7jOjbVYkSaGxQZP1/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bullfinch (m)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could hear various bullfinches calling around the cemetery. I tried to lure them closer by whistling their simple 1.5 note tune and sometimes they respond. However today they came no closer than the above photo, which was disappointing as they are a favourite cemetery bird.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvUMfKk-l7ldLCrQX7y68o3I_s9SJKQWWNrei4gxE5-HXUFTQ_eccvcuAy6zKdUGZkUV_1qWNjw1zOJxwiH1seHeAG26EvJgKUsbRmi04g4hxHM0vLVuHgQ1NFffrC-_59Drx1lZKcDDMR13LBiBOYy3gHPreM_3Zqvd5m3IfJishNYp1bSBzdynO1HOy/s2048/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvUMfKk-l7ldLCrQX7y68o3I_s9SJKQWWNrei4gxE5-HXUFTQ_eccvcuAy6zKdUGZkUV_1qWNjw1zOJxwiH1seHeAG26EvJgKUsbRmi04g4hxHM0vLVuHgQ1NFffrC-_59Drx1lZKcDDMR13LBiBOYy3gHPreM_3Zqvd5m3IfJishNYp1bSBzdynO1HOy/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">grey wagtail in the tunnel swamp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dktCtLBX-F59-e4Et0V0iBvs2nEpXfK6Rcqsf5YeZHJQIXrCA0cUADkPNXp88EHcLiguLVVudJagAgCBbyhrHsNSNilrLOYRWI_YOTG69z1w5NqatTFapXnw3nd-OEexIaW6VRclonRYBGo4U45g5-eGCxX2RyW2t8yh0PXXWN7hPDMa3wRg9sXJAeHf/s2048/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dktCtLBX-F59-e4Et0V0iBvs2nEpXfK6Rcqsf5YeZHJQIXrCA0cUADkPNXp88EHcLiguLVVudJagAgCBbyhrHsNSNilrLOYRWI_YOTG69z1w5NqatTFapXnw3nd-OEexIaW6VRclonRYBGo4U45g5-eGCxX2RyW2t8yh0PXXWN7hPDMa3wRg9sXJAeHf/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">female blackbird in same swamp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIOoI9B-tFX0fusAMh7ZbeZPlfyqZMUrznKhpAOgzhhkFWVBMZkJRi0Kiq2jCSrngXPWsD5r7IOGdCr29En10HytMTneMXb_sIs7MsuNYprhudcBgN43YIXAwWtyBWgKGeL87wsCRMksOQY2Unpclg-XQS9xEA-sFnDB8EkNHtNYZwpCZEFH1WZWyzhv0/s2048/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIOoI9B-tFX0fusAMh7ZbeZPlfyqZMUrznKhpAOgzhhkFWVBMZkJRi0Kiq2jCSrngXPWsD5r7IOGdCr29En10HytMTneMXb_sIs7MsuNYprhudcBgN43YIXAwWtyBWgKGeL87wsCRMksOQY2Unpclg-XQS9xEA-sFnDB8EkNHtNYZwpCZEFH1WZWyzhv0/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With all the rain we've had lately the tunnel is very swampy and getting worse. There is almost a path round the side but you have to dance along a fallen branch and you're going to get muddy shoes. This does not bother the wagtail, who hops around the swamp looking for tasty treats. It makes for very poor backgrounds in his photos. At one point he perched on a stone but even then doesn't keep still, doing that titular wagging. I had to stop and retune the camera slightly. The light was poor and when I tried to crank up the shutter-speed, the ISO stopped at 1600. That's weird. Who changed that setting? It comes at a default factory setting of something like (max) 3200. Some people don't like a grainy (noisy) photo and that limits the damage. But if you want to freeze a wagtail's tail in low light you have to compromise somewhere, and in this case change the ISO up to maybe 6400.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wk-BiHIevJ8Yb7wdpuod8GscRfxk6-3kYmP60i78cxP2NVBlpjiwilSoj3V3jatcU1UrPxS50emKo4WC4dp_c-V13kSNbrlnlKC5KW6ttRkWTg_or5rJBeOl0rgQdZO1UM_UI0Swfac5a47jdPOAdCLIHKz25tbkjODScHEXWMnXM8sawQOfVfb0X1k-/s2048/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wk-BiHIevJ8Yb7wdpuod8GscRfxk6-3kYmP60i78cxP2NVBlpjiwilSoj3V3jatcU1UrPxS50emKo4WC4dp_c-V13kSNbrlnlKC5KW6ttRkWTg_or5rJBeOl0rgQdZO1UM_UI0Swfac5a47jdPOAdCLIHKz25tbkjODScHEXWMnXM8sawQOfVfb0X1k-/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">iso 4000</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineibTd0_XaDb3O63c_4uLrqC5ck0EgmlFUJ6H8Fx0uHEA62eCw1tYb5ynNQuDlw0uXmLKJkXH7f-_8OtiRm6IHC45fu1c-pYsoNjY-VirxC7sSjBXlN45bvY-v7GA42LIpnKHQWmfyefJb7vvFTOWfmLJ93dtz4StKhfpVd1TMexeV2NPTHp3fLwu0XuJ/s2048/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineibTd0_XaDb3O63c_4uLrqC5ck0EgmlFUJ6H8Fx0uHEA62eCw1tYb5ynNQuDlw0uXmLKJkXH7f-_8OtiRm6IHC45fu1c-pYsoNjY-VirxC7sSjBXlN45bvY-v7GA42LIpnKHQWmfyefJb7vvFTOWfmLJ93dtz4StKhfpVd1TMexeV2NPTHp3fLwu0XuJ/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">iso 5000</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44kuNdQcSPgVgvXKsJk5NxNwtM91As_yezD-UrDYpOj6PJpxxFQI2wrt7DKlYSLljNlofS4RkIvxONQXEx7Qz2iO0i5vMXS3qvUglOPV099XNQo-ihiy9KJll1p7rtqFzOk6fziTVY_9rQZlgvPrbws3q-Owb1sckd4aWqxX4PVJyeQkmqDXATN58KKUV/s2048/040a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44kuNdQcSPgVgvXKsJk5NxNwtM91As_yezD-UrDYpOj6PJpxxFQI2wrt7DKlYSLljNlofS4RkIvxONQXEx7Qz2iO0i5vMXS3qvUglOPV099XNQo-ihiy9KJll1p7rtqFzOk6fziTVY_9rQZlgvPrbws3q-Owb1sckd4aWqxX4PVJyeQkmqDXATN58KKUV/s320/040a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">iso 12,800!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I had to hunt through the menus then set the max ISO to 12,800 (it can go to twice that) and when I turned the shutter-speed to 1/320th near the tunnel it made the ISO 12,800. It is not a great photo (above) but it is not a BAD photo. I have always found Panasonic deal with noise really well. Although I do wonder how some of the settings change from time to time in the camera.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For instance: there is a horizontal "level gauge" I find to be an annoying distraction on the viewfinder. I set it to "off" and it disappears. Then about once a fortnight it comes back on. I have to go through the menu settings (dozens of those) to find it and set it to off again. I am not sure if I am doing something elsewhere that triggers it, which seems unlikely. The manual is far too long and dry to ever bother reading. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwMLdtnz_d-P8TPH2t4dtSaPwPbWQtHBrhTNEs3miGGlbbWVb9nuZis3QR_xhjXgG9b5O0L1xsJCwwBtJy-IIyieZGrKXeeQKhk0FoO3VbqroQj0NEK8dm-kkq5WlVmqLQddbsclZPpZVqPblm4dPmgDp9A2gZaspF_kyj43GXonOYcXhgdXpEhWBPtRD/s2048/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwMLdtnz_d-P8TPH2t4dtSaPwPbWQtHBrhTNEs3miGGlbbWVb9nuZis3QR_xhjXgG9b5O0L1xsJCwwBtJy-IIyieZGrKXeeQKhk0FoO3VbqroQj0NEK8dm-kkq5WlVmqLQddbsclZPpZVqPblm4dPmgDp9A2gZaspF_kyj43GXonOYcXhgdXpEhWBPtRD/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb7rL4iCLZKy7OAXcv35ax5KPfvFhSbZKiT3B7VGeSc0fqrm_ZRByenQ7np6CPjKQMCjoT5aSg9iZnpAVQnhjvYCNnPfZgVz1uJr91wng9ZlHKkVC90Xbkkyvukv8buxAWwbPnjn3z7oUtIMz65RlaUVAucoJ_t2DqfmLwSvb5J1pdvTdkJCTyoNJo_ev/s2048/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb7rL4iCLZKy7OAXcv35ax5KPfvFhSbZKiT3B7VGeSc0fqrm_ZRByenQ7np6CPjKQMCjoT5aSg9iZnpAVQnhjvYCNnPfZgVz1uJr91wng9ZlHKkVC90Xbkkyvukv8buxAWwbPnjn3z7oUtIMz65RlaUVAucoJ_t2DqfmLwSvb5J1pdvTdkJCTyoNJo_ev/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can tell there is not much about when I start encouraging the magpies and crows. They are always waiting in the wings for a free handout and will pose for photos on the tops of gravestones. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARKVOdeEjGkGix8dHUl8bj0GXuH0bmIHAncfrtYAT4GzG1SBReA3JH0XceRAmSNNzEQrE7b4IQgL1MSZiv38bi-1-YCwgKwk4k9L3zhcXcgqBJ5ObmnHYoE10QD3rxz1wG_3d8u4owH1rP1ZhRpBXKv9AwTt1NXTmQKskkxi12X5dJYTuYBLRx8jy_P_o/s2048/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARKVOdeEjGkGix8dHUl8bj0GXuH0bmIHAncfrtYAT4GzG1SBReA3JH0XceRAmSNNzEQrE7b4IQgL1MSZiv38bi-1-YCwgKwk4k9L3zhcXcgqBJ5ObmnHYoE10QD3rxz1wG_3d8u4owH1rP1ZhRpBXKv9AwTt1NXTmQKskkxi12X5dJYTuYBLRx8jy_P_o/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGXtmiTAW4nCeQ63j75tW9OnYD4pu9vTcAwZueMlB2VA2SqHaqJU4P8_W30LsaWbFSXA2dUC0i_YEAG7zDt71m9JF6wJMMZl8KGvyr84LC3-FWQtCr_P4QGl77lrRJuMNEnUlXU2ersWx67ysFg_8I75I95mfEWV-kBZsPL7vxQV0168WLUwZYNNYtSU-/s2048/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGXtmiTAW4nCeQ63j75tW9OnYD4pu9vTcAwZueMlB2VA2SqHaqJU4P8_W30LsaWbFSXA2dUC0i_YEAG7zDt71m9JF6wJMMZl8KGvyr84LC3-FWQtCr_P4QGl77lrRJuMNEnUlXU2ersWx67ysFg_8I75I95mfEWV-kBZsPL7vxQV0168WLUwZYNNYtSU-/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAZN7UhP9W567x40W3oWXwivpyilMm7k2d9rwqq4WhhXniF266tFESOceo3N8pPBSVT4YZ86i6eck_RzMC72ynl0OscDWBc4Y32jDR0BZ64_hGwq807Ap1S0a5b4mVn-coJSR6Yjh92sdTbOHXT70zIRyUnGk6HxWgGkdpjjfzfp3b0oXfC3swVjDxrPo/s2048/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAZN7UhP9W567x40W3oWXwivpyilMm7k2d9rwqq4WhhXniF266tFESOceo3N8pPBSVT4YZ86i6eck_RzMC72ynl0OscDWBc4Y32jDR0BZ64_hGwq807Ap1S0a5b4mVn-coJSR6Yjh92sdTbOHXT70zIRyUnGk6HxWgGkdpjjfzfp3b0oXfC3swVjDxrPo/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o85IBq4zcfGz28U0bZ3-kFToq8MyCcUPZ-mf6uwRfmDRZaeTDFqMlO9fK5rl5dewddqANVBqTSZuLRI9FOp8OZ4tfesQuPTP7afATXn8WHMkgbXjCoD7diS-j4xLBVZyLlzR3J8C5ZpzwUl6m9Yqd_xa3Wy5kFkZOzJeUT3McGBbfFBG01FVUi9BdJnr/s2048/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o85IBq4zcfGz28U0bZ3-kFToq8MyCcUPZ-mf6uwRfmDRZaeTDFqMlO9fK5rl5dewddqANVBqTSZuLRI9FOp8OZ4tfesQuPTP7afATXn8WHMkgbXjCoD7diS-j4xLBVZyLlzR3J8C5ZpzwUl6m9Yqd_xa3Wy5kFkZOzJeUT3McGBbfFBG01FVUi9BdJnr/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">beak reflecting a blue sky</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFypq3LPMlT7mOFC9cj9UVJrie1PFlMAMgcJfIGRuTBwZb2O4nlflwXczxB3jP9_rbIXFCQTCEn-iL6HkUrK0mRZokwowGJ2h41_UZpHojPExuka0vbJ1cJBrJSwRxeDEaFkGna8DlyRZT2RsDdEIfaqE7VgqaI2ubrNbTrSu9io-XFwu2Q-pN94vSGpCT/s2048/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFypq3LPMlT7mOFC9cj9UVJrie1PFlMAMgcJfIGRuTBwZb2O4nlflwXczxB3jP9_rbIXFCQTCEn-iL6HkUrK0mRZokwowGJ2h41_UZpHojPExuka0vbJ1cJBrJSwRxeDEaFkGna8DlyRZT2RsDdEIfaqE7VgqaI2ubrNbTrSu9io-XFwu2Q-pN94vSGpCT/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">drops of water caught mid-air while crow was sipping</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU9LeiAdD3FXd_8EfbvMXbizvONXrHoFr9IapBEld3A8_TU4IWmrb18KVkRHTp0ytPHKIpGJubV0LJNZMaOt3-bL_WYDoYZn7kuCRX6rvc3FVx-OD60ZYS3Yh_jIQ1PB10owxgs7Slu-no1TncQ9uG4PfqxkWpsllGZo3oB8x0CFkCivO3rMTJWWUiBWO/s2048/048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU9LeiAdD3FXd_8EfbvMXbizvONXrHoFr9IapBEld3A8_TU4IWmrb18KVkRHTp0ytPHKIpGJubV0LJNZMaOt3-bL_WYDoYZn7kuCRX6rvc3FVx-OD60ZYS3Yh_jIQ1PB10owxgs7Slu-no1TncQ9uG4PfqxkWpsllGZo3oB8x0CFkCivO3rMTJWWUiBWO/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsea0AZ7fwoHvCN2ekevdY5RG0WDPIaaZjWOnX5Ld39kAVRoteLfdmHeqrQLMD5SKL-dLFiFswwppfl2ec_RBEBmgsfOgDmrRZCbV__zYx80OW0yfxMblkGcJRc0K0_nMi514fRoKrOcq4WtvtGCo6ggtJUjV6AsUJbN10jI8Dvst964IMJWi4yMweTQA/s2048/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsea0AZ7fwoHvCN2ekevdY5RG0WDPIaaZjWOnX5Ld39kAVRoteLfdmHeqrQLMD5SKL-dLFiFswwppfl2ec_RBEBmgsfOgDmrRZCbV__zYx80OW0yfxMblkGcJRc0K0_nMi514fRoKrOcq4WtvtGCo6ggtJUjV6AsUJbN10jI8Dvst964IMJWi4yMweTQA/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are lots of snowdrops in the cemetery at the moment. The best way to photo them is to get down to their height with the camera. I try not to lie on the damp ground but open the back screen, tilt it upwards so I can see it and lower the camera to nearly resting on the ground. It often makes for a muddy knee but nobody comes over to see if you have had a heart attack.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGu5-ND2XObHQlPc4MlP30rggmsVlbVGFB4wa5hRLXbKwmA_cHpOTAAycNwCDOHBXYnoUvnjS35aE9EdigZ-PuELcdcbKqVHDswIIwKeHtuiqVPQphqvEU3P1Dsqjwo3kaUJcYFH13d26CpZDqnFS9MJjE1IWSTgrLYzAJe6EzXHhd2P0P03rUlytjVX2/s2048/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGu5-ND2XObHQlPc4MlP30rggmsVlbVGFB4wa5hRLXbKwmA_cHpOTAAycNwCDOHBXYnoUvnjS35aE9EdigZ-PuELcdcbKqVHDswIIwKeHtuiqVPQphqvEU3P1Dsqjwo3kaUJcYFH13d26CpZDqnFS9MJjE1IWSTgrLYzAJe6EzXHhd2P0P03rUlytjVX2/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qAhPw9tzdsFVi14mxtAWrs7CyDrg7DlnVsVhqz4tz51veZ5dv6tVqb4Ydyt3g1nfdssNrsUcJy5HmFFXih6h_84dSs5xcvzrB1IEfm5DiLHZMvhbxRTlU2KJQ-2hqIFAk81V-CIskgBW7WRFLElZ1Lp2UiYlwY_p5qTNu4w6CO2vyya6uuaFfUvY2-GY/s2048/056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qAhPw9tzdsFVi14mxtAWrs7CyDrg7DlnVsVhqz4tz51veZ5dv6tVqb4Ydyt3g1nfdssNrsUcJy5HmFFXih6h_84dSs5xcvzrB1IEfm5DiLHZMvhbxRTlU2KJQ-2hqIFAk81V-CIskgBW7WRFLElZ1Lp2UiYlwY_p5qTNu4w6CO2vyya6uuaFfUvY2-GY/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was pretty much done and about to leave when I noticed a dipper on the Water of Leith. I sat on a fallen tree stump on the Warriston side and watched as it slowly made its way upstream, diving into the fast flowing water and swimming along the stream bed looking for caddisfly larvae and other edibles. It seemed impervious to the cold and didn't mind my company too much although spent more time on the opposite bank than the side I was on. It wasn't great light - the sun was fast disappearing into a cloud bank - so I wasn't able to take sharp pics of it in motion without the wings having motion blur. What I did enjoy was setting the camera to 'pre-burst' where it buffers the images until the bird moves and then I push the shutter the whole way down and it records images from a second before you started. This is what allowed me to take the following sequence of the dipper taking off. I ran the 31 tweaked photos together in video editing software to give a jumpy gif. Sort of re-inventing video with individual images. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzB0Rso4WKW481hFX1UEMSepg5rxf2BdD_3BkWLc1MQT-_VtdOPBTlJuj0eVITRRG4Lq6hDqieERIndi9LH_g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9WQ-3cXDhYVTEcan7_K6OlMsUlwxm5xlvhMDWMQjvzjJWBgCAad8DMiRX2R4ukz7RReer1Q37S7RFg_4ih0IPSfXxVNDVBQXHpeSt_wHy_vB-8FoeK7HpVGDY6huIvzs_qoQmokP85uU6WnhItXQ9g8YnHbPQm-465OLPU-13GK9uFG9dCBwrK373Ky9/s2048/057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9WQ-3cXDhYVTEcan7_K6OlMsUlwxm5xlvhMDWMQjvzjJWBgCAad8DMiRX2R4ukz7RReer1Q37S7RFg_4ih0IPSfXxVNDVBQXHpeSt_wHy_vB-8FoeK7HpVGDY6huIvzs_qoQmokP85uU6WnhItXQ9g8YnHbPQm-465OLPU-13GK9uFG9dCBwrK373Ky9/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dipper spent a long time swimming mostly submerged (below) then somehow taking off from the water (above) and flying upstream to repeat the process. It was an impressive performance which it made look easy. Those wings seem to beat as fast as a hummingbird's - just a blur to both the eye and the camera. I found it nearly impossible to follow the bird with the camera - instead doing quite a lot of hit and hope, spray and pray.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDXn-xAq9nnlTlmR-lOcI77A0UAZTWRogymCw8VjuxAyvmdiHoICEUMwbMjCbjrwK4FAl6gccueeZET7g8MgdaUM8s396N0hn-ymx5EB7z3odtjJWapkhh7eFefBgZAKZbDlU4XAkncdMPVwtl1b8TNGLOhR3Z9bFERpcz77V144-Z3NIHVzxTopX_mxy/s2048/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDXn-xAq9nnlTlmR-lOcI77A0UAZTWRogymCw8VjuxAyvmdiHoICEUMwbMjCbjrwK4FAl6gccueeZET7g8MgdaUM8s396N0hn-ymx5EB7z3odtjJWapkhh7eFefBgZAKZbDlU4XAkncdMPVwtl1b8TNGLOhR3Z9bFERpcz77V144-Z3NIHVzxTopX_mxy/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMGYNy2o1_ux7LU8rseBz9f5DIM8iP1WJrCv7gwlX0WXy0NyFGtOqdLqhlfjgRSOaWOrX4tXUmHyp8AjZurKlf6LQLQaWR593Sj0XQ4DyrY61wRjiLouvCHYwsgYiaXI-7wMSbjS_2saD0Rd59h54dk21a6XDs_N3inAUcdyEvFju-jWgdJ4bYtojbI_L/s2048/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMGYNy2o1_ux7LU8rseBz9f5DIM8iP1WJrCv7gwlX0WXy0NyFGtOqdLqhlfjgRSOaWOrX4tXUmHyp8AjZurKlf6LQLQaWR593Sj0XQ4DyrY61wRjiLouvCHYwsgYiaXI-7wMSbjS_2saD0Rd59h54dk21a6XDs_N3inAUcdyEvFju-jWgdJ4bYtojbI_L/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaqIyd9JnHLovjpRnso9tOEBpdhxf7LuruJ3CVnIt8Ucjm49TyeaLjSGB8pZAf62_Ji5kVejq8xrc4efu19I_K9T6F3oTq4qefyTBHU1OmBwZc91OP_eNrWLoetaT-RyMsnH2kv3B98QwqJPKdfxfIyJW9YUD5e9Vwei1gtt3puwIyXTnDtSm6j1xf5vX/s2048/060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaqIyd9JnHLovjpRnso9tOEBpdhxf7LuruJ3CVnIt8Ucjm49TyeaLjSGB8pZAf62_Ji5kVejq8xrc4efu19I_K9T6F3oTq4qefyTBHU1OmBwZc91OP_eNrWLoetaT-RyMsnH2kv3B98QwqJPKdfxfIyJW9YUD5e9Vwei1gtt3puwIyXTnDtSm6j1xf5vX/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually it stopped on a branch on my side of the riverbank and I wondered if it was planning on roosting on this spot. It did an elaborate preen and looked like it might be settling down at this point which was well away from predators. After filming it preening (on video at bottom) I took a few photos and then left it to it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yN_gnQak3sycEKucZNfM2mC1ePU073T3CGKO4NDLfUfndz60YprSzy5sNvVHg8aMZKww7-w8uRxmdUUiBxz-wHyGACvXts6lXDs3SiYI7AHvOV1ltAl58QdLwBRNOyE1MjmHnJ3d0X-DFN_dqLjtWsnftbITpotowq27qqc5Ks3lC7GiLDw038Pt6IJf/s2048/061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yN_gnQak3sycEKucZNfM2mC1ePU073T3CGKO4NDLfUfndz60YprSzy5sNvVHg8aMZKww7-w8uRxmdUUiBxz-wHyGACvXts6lXDs3SiYI7AHvOV1ltAl58QdLwBRNOyE1MjmHnJ3d0X-DFN_dqLjtWsnftbITpotowq27qqc5Ks3lC7GiLDw038Pt6IJf/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ18z1YRc-bN3cvOz0t99NckoXiJsflrQJAfdF8EtKD4uIZ_BzIDY2JPH4L8YuTY6S0nP6NJTKTT5B-0X3ci0_XIWu4DgZ0nKpS5mA5G8z4tbc7wjpX9pnnimIDnyRqBHHyQn_sICyM1FnEFqQ1zFprynRYGnvDA4zZzlaa-jpc5t-Pal0ipXL8LTq7Mla/s2048/062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ18z1YRc-bN3cvOz0t99NckoXiJsflrQJAfdF8EtKD4uIZ_BzIDY2JPH4L8YuTY6S0nP6NJTKTT5B-0X3ci0_XIWu4DgZ0nKpS5mA5G8z4tbc7wjpX9pnnimIDnyRqBHHyQn_sICyM1FnEFqQ1zFprynRYGnvDA4zZzlaa-jpc5t-Pal0ipXL8LTq7Mla/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">iso 6400<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On the way back out the cememtery this female blackbird was having a late bath. I stopped to check the max ISO was still set at higher than 1600 and then bumped into a late afternoon wren. I put some seeds out for a robin and a couple of blackbirds still hopping about. When they all hopped up onto the log seat near the Tescos entrance I emptied the last of the bread out too. No point in taking home old bread. The bossy female blackbird appeared and reminded us she prefers to take centre stage.</div></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFotKZORY31473q5sNqLKuOZC4KCVEv18phXR0YreVwcsK0OS6ZKTJfix3MXNvvL9MlzDpOJmqAbLD7ep36e3UlIVrJrpp2wApsbXVxViXCkqj0NTAGirLzxz5ideT1gDh9Z0SOYJuRoJPyyYDNCTEuLO863R2tZ9NDv198yvbPZf2au2XcTD0tlsCxDR/s2048/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFotKZORY31473q5sNqLKuOZC4KCVEv18phXR0YreVwcsK0OS6ZKTJfix3MXNvvL9MlzDpOJmqAbLD7ep36e3UlIVrJrpp2wApsbXVxViXCkqj0NTAGirLzxz5ideT1gDh9Z0SOYJuRoJPyyYDNCTEuLO863R2tZ9NDv198yvbPZf2au2XcTD0tlsCxDR/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6cmjW9MYWjH4pDl9r_3E3YGlbxhMrUfG3f3HMFggBMGqy8riJGSQcV319IMeOJoCAMR1s0pc7-po6AlZT45hPDjlkQXy9DiLGhyphenhyphenUYu_VY_6w243cUZ5e2QXy5ablxxf6aUucURoa0tDLi-CvkUlfx4QjjBnQrBBspHlFd8YbAbnh_DmSruK-Bhz5lVRA/s2048/064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6cmjW9MYWjH4pDl9r_3E3YGlbxhMrUfG3f3HMFggBMGqy8riJGSQcV319IMeOJoCAMR1s0pc7-po6AlZT45hPDjlkQXy9DiLGhyphenhyphenUYu_VY_6w243cUZ5e2QXy5ablxxf6aUucURoa0tDLi-CvkUlfx4QjjBnQrBBspHlFd8YbAbnh_DmSruK-Bhz5lVRA/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizri5AQQexdux0MlmwErIV3vBr8kO8JcOE1PuGnNR0B0gjGHverdMuQ9kP1INZWHoICo-BZ0x_24ygC6hQlMwO4XrT2sLZozYsOq5RzaU1Hfb9J7O-XQnpaTgR4vmcD5PWmEIkHWctYmdTqvv5a6gFHnLgWa3_HPfWQLJOq3lMh5Ll9zmHUt6rOEPjtZ8d/s2048/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizri5AQQexdux0MlmwErIV3vBr8kO8JcOE1PuGnNR0B0gjGHverdMuQ9kP1INZWHoICo-BZ0x_24ygC6hQlMwO4XrT2sLZozYsOq5RzaU1Hfb9J7O-XQnpaTgR4vmcD5PWmEIkHWctYmdTqvv5a6gFHnLgWa3_HPfWQLJOq3lMh5Ll9zmHUt6rOEPjtZ8d/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRBvHxgBYRyH65SjXedEzqPlU-V5QPYZJZTyrEdz4T7Vh9U9KxjsfdTNNVFeIoRR_tDCTiLxRbZWjOJNUAECaBfMw4fZmzBbylHaGQE_Atn_YcypwK5nTtpaSBaYqFiGpICW1ynQpGCUa4ZMJ9IXfx0GaDxlMFjxAv3VlxbA4qB7cm9D4k032DQbCOGoy/s2048/066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRBvHxgBYRyH65SjXedEzqPlU-V5QPYZJZTyrEdz4T7Vh9U9KxjsfdTNNVFeIoRR_tDCTiLxRbZWjOJNUAECaBfMw4fZmzBbylHaGQE_Atn_YcypwK5nTtpaSBaYqFiGpICW1ynQpGCUa4ZMJ9IXfx0GaDxlMFjxAv3VlxbA4qB7cm9D4k032DQbCOGoy/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a terrible quality photo but I liked the message conveyed:<br /><i>I'm the boss clear off!</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWtJjk1NCYMXm5WWj6VS0qfYCE8er0trzDGRrgAzOjrKI-_0GE0h46MnbTEo3hAIvgXb05n7azwgIHokEVCLty78BhVIlldBXYIpNiJV3LCvZhnQGuOHH_AJiUEs6OuQQqd8AD2b4WNdMDCN5uD_B8dy3o3E0i6MC-LTwRo1dbVg6OHO0yn6MRTJswKq8/s2048/067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWtJjk1NCYMXm5WWj6VS0qfYCE8er0trzDGRrgAzOjrKI-_0GE0h46MnbTEo3hAIvgXb05n7azwgIHokEVCLty78BhVIlldBXYIpNiJV3LCvZhnQGuOHH_AJiUEs6OuQQqd8AD2b4WNdMDCN5uD_B8dy3o3E0i6MC-LTwRo1dbVg6OHO0yn6MRTJswKq8/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ta-daaaa!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggl5WSdLe4OJ-uUvVSJ0RGTQJdevFl6n-1t02OYut6Kg7W4Vb9fLuMXiVB3C9WFMjb-RDYO0a8arTebk3-94w8p7uEcdXe6XjYWqcV0JAkMsK2CVBcYxXW9YTqvAvg8bsdP5XqRfjRMoN5ddpl3KSvRZJnY13CnZsRdrf83Bidys9kGoegQ53qY_BtWLB/s2048/068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggl5WSdLe4OJ-uUvVSJ0RGTQJdevFl6n-1t02OYut6Kg7W4Vb9fLuMXiVB3C9WFMjb-RDYO0a8arTebk3-94w8p7uEcdXe6XjYWqcV0JAkMsK2CVBcYxXW9YTqvAvg8bsdP5XqRfjRMoN5ddpl3KSvRZJnY13CnZsRdrf83Bidys9kGoegQ53qY_BtWLB/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">queue for breadcrumbs</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEgIZY_SrVMQEFq68jmbM4wZe2Wg1fciSWpbUiq9Yl5uLS66jkc3n8hpBNNpOaU2wN4cuARlFAyaMmAdfgdtbRyh6i2x3eu1TT0lQ5RLwRSILThu0lxUOw9DikdqUKqgnjuio4S-tCdwdJcvzsaJayKDv3Jx_vYQf-Z8m65tDLqb_Ap6Yo1qzOwgbTVqh/s2048/069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEgIZY_SrVMQEFq68jmbM4wZe2Wg1fciSWpbUiq9Yl5uLS66jkc3n8hpBNNpOaU2wN4cuARlFAyaMmAdfgdtbRyh6i2x3eu1TT0lQ5RLwRSILThu0lxUOw9DikdqUKqgnjuio4S-tCdwdJcvzsaJayKDv3Jx_vYQf-Z8m65tDLqb_Ap6Yo1qzOwgbTVqh/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">baby crow?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwCN5JAc49rF0VkbbNsep1sE9hqQ9_B4FSbhKRJF5xsDaxDlPVUg78DsFKNefgsjMsPOebdlWGHLX0QocJFQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">barking squirrel, dipping dipper, peeping robin</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-51938507588161772042024-02-08T16:11:00.000-08:002024-02-09T03:52:40.409-08:00the North Berwick circuit<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGFWr21hyb-nwwDp0q8LFkc4XQDEyT7ok8IU45W4ZQ4e9mxzPJyhlwyLoo8RCtddvoo9aZD864Z0C2tVylrRHN6kpvFzcwhSjrHel996F6dA6Ai-CqN1h_0kpsQi515VAnesVO06NCgGbiq6M-vl2qNGqDC5kwz5js_9gRKtVQMwgXPjNoByXbbtcgzTB/s2048/079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGFWr21hyb-nwwDp0q8LFkc4XQDEyT7ok8IU45W4ZQ4e9mxzPJyhlwyLoo8RCtddvoo9aZD864Z0C2tVylrRHN6kpvFzcwhSjrHel996F6dA6Ai-CqN1h_0kpsQi515VAnesVO06NCgGbiq6M-vl2qNGqDC5kwz5js_9gRKtVQMwgXPjNoByXbbtcgzTB/s320/079.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">7th Feb.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A good forecast for Wednesday 7th. Mary was available but had some bad juju in her knee so let me find my own entertainment. I set off with great enthusiasm to catch the 08.40 train to North Berwick. I hadn't been getting much in the way of <i>photo weather</i> of late and today's forecast filled me with hope and optimism, as did the station coffee. I ran out of NB station around 09.15 which gave me a full day to jog and walk around the 18 mile route should I need it. The quickest I've done this circuit was in 3 hrs with Fergus, but that was a long time ago and I planned to go at a more leisurely pace today. I reckoned about half that pace was possible which meant I'd be aiming for the 16.20 train back, allowing for stoppage. I had made the stoppage sandwich the night before. (No shops en route.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0aVlUD5UXhFbLFzDDN5BaqWdCBckMASP92RxSqCq7lXyP82RSGxl0TpoJVcQ5qXPKuTnVrqofx3A00WVH0DWw0DKaKj_yTCwCWgTC0RbdqUSqRDQnlVV7dbWTBgAW7CFZQgfiyEOJ_2AvRcOThtgQQn5mALX2ZF-ne1oQmxl_Bkqh03Bf8b68QzV_-ao/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0aVlUD5UXhFbLFzDDN5BaqWdCBckMASP92RxSqCq7lXyP82RSGxl0TpoJVcQ5qXPKuTnVrqofx3A00WVH0DWw0DKaKj_yTCwCWgTC0RbdqUSqRDQnlVV7dbWTBgAW7CFZQgfiyEOJ_2AvRcOThtgQQn5mALX2ZF-ne1oQmxl_Bkqh03Bf8b68QzV_-ao/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tit in NB station</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb66fwcR6NYIJcH7Xj-Tez5V3Rt5OBmE73Jsfysd1WnNNw3uDwpLhZb79wyW8lQqdrn-qwLP7i3tw50IBjrEMf85CzuC1nOsvM0lXctymUEZwugJ0SJggSiJ2WkBbaR_lLYDakGODJHMgVBfJRkPZvkW7bYsAQXFg0Z5oVBmyVVxGV3axoAKEJJ5J8Gsr/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb66fwcR6NYIJcH7Xj-Tez5V3Rt5OBmE73Jsfysd1WnNNw3uDwpLhZb79wyW8lQqdrn-qwLP7i3tw50IBjrEMf85CzuC1nOsvM0lXctymUEZwugJ0SJggSiJ2WkBbaR_lLYDakGODJHMgVBfJRkPZvkW7bYsAQXFg0Z5oVBmyVVxGV3axoAKEJJ5J8Gsr/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blossom in station as well</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPIHCuOKjCV-dLtsUs58U-WpY4A66MW-VI3CcXkpu331Om1zANypyqZOF1bI-JcyvCI-_0XCV4-uqbv-HB7tLGIUyLy28uFS1ApJjmRham9nGsKwmTNzK5kQFlU1BGuKrg1GZ9NcGE_adz11RoUvUQwyhbRPWGvxqeLvrTwRIi4RXuVSwlLfk0-zzY4aw/s1926/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1926" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPIHCuOKjCV-dLtsUs58U-WpY4A66MW-VI3CcXkpu331Om1zANypyqZOF1bI-JcyvCI-_0XCV4-uqbv-HB7tLGIUyLy28uFS1ApJjmRham9nGsKwmTNzK5kQFlU1BGuKrg1GZ9NcGE_adz11RoUvUQwyhbRPWGvxqeLvrTwRIi4RXuVSwlLfk0-zzY4aw/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The route goes out the JM Way underneath the Law. I swithered about climbing it. It was glorious weather and there'd be cracking views from the top; up the Forth and down to Dunbar. More tempting was the probability of seeing a kestrel hovering and hunting voles. I noted it was 09.30 at the start of the climb and about 10 by the time I rejoined the path after popping up to the summit. Was it worth it? I thought yes at the time (not entirely convinced later looking at the photos!) as I did see the kestrel, but it stayed quite some distance away. The views were great but a really Baltic wind was blowing the whole time. Also I was aware of the potential for a slip and fall carrying the new camera. I was wearing off-road grippy shoes but they were already kinda slick with mud. I proceeded with much caution and managed to stay on my feet. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0HbeOeUdNgMol9nAjkqhOLYFOHDuvG55sAXJJJKVYoj8Am1mdjGFpT-3ECmt26lqrtBgYjQQJezyhV6KgROxKP0ogdnijJO0OqUV0jNVjNJMVvEt17SaIOiB8Aqi_k62wvV2orqTCuodag6CqfphyphenhyphenZ0yCVjFazfDorvdhSkd_zQD6O1DJK_VxffngqZv/s1926/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1926" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0HbeOeUdNgMol9nAjkqhOLYFOHDuvG55sAXJJJKVYoj8Am1mdjGFpT-3ECmt26lqrtBgYjQQJezyhV6KgROxKP0ogdnijJO0OqUV0jNVjNJMVvEt17SaIOiB8Aqi_k62wvV2orqTCuodag6CqfphyphenhyphenZ0yCVjFazfDorvdhSkd_zQD6O1DJK_VxffngqZv/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">female kestrel hunting halfway up the Law</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had been considering lens choice. I knew there would be much scenery and it made sense to at least start with the 12~60. If I came across wildlife I could swap it for the long lens. However I knew that scenery would wait happily till I changed the lens whereas anything unexpected and marvelous - like turning a corner to disturb a deer at close quarters or a pelican atop a church roof etc, just won't hang about while I get the long lens out. So I ran the whole way with the 400mm on. When I say 'ran' I mean I walked and jogged. I tried to keep the pace going - it was very easy to get into the habit of stopping to take a photo and forgetting to start running again, especially in the last 5 miles.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeR90Rdc-y_Rm_Cs4TwolSp4cI9zSRldVdfxaEIN_X2jLPEEKVEAl07pDOta580UC812crK5PyaqJ4OIgWvu3q-mhksaj2ilb9SEtdhQC_lfeYC8ipnQrj3i8s64Td2s_uELoR93wlTg3NZSlQ0kKuFPDyPSSZ0hqyVcA83DcGefOks_NGnqE9UHEf1T7/s1926/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1926" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeR90Rdc-y_Rm_Cs4TwolSp4cI9zSRldVdfxaEIN_X2jLPEEKVEAl07pDOta580UC812crK5PyaqJ4OIgWvu3q-mhksaj2ilb9SEtdhQC_lfeYC8ipnQrj3i8s64Td2s_uELoR93wlTg3NZSlQ0kKuFPDyPSSZ0hqyVcA83DcGefOks_NGnqE9UHEf1T7/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw1ZvDU1gKOOJ7wC_q_8W3nyeAlPcIc5IXJrwBBBw-fcNIQ4Bs1LTjfqEVZ1y2n-Y5mtB8Xb1K1pb9f9LGAMUlXhvjATQD693ou28NfxDJkWnq7hkw2-locKC_1wH7-CqF3i8FU3XU-lIODSokUClo5pUCEZjCoF-uUoy7KHPdbscszbN_EbfVYhwwb4Z/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw1ZvDU1gKOOJ7wC_q_8W3nyeAlPcIc5IXJrwBBBw-fcNIQ4Bs1LTjfqEVZ1y2n-Y5mtB8Xb1K1pb9f9LGAMUlXhvjATQD693ou28NfxDJkWnq7hkw2-locKC_1wH7-CqF3i8FU3XU-lIODSokUClo5pUCEZjCoF-uUoy7KHPdbscszbN_EbfVYhwwb4Z/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking East to Dunbar cement works</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-peOXJ7SjC_6xbYSBgmIzwf2SmYlP52W1PdXf33wo_lR1rLhaQjhbQpi2UYPPRZy3emWQNiRNsSf4MhI9xtXKdzFHs_DYN9O2ttcu8hkulxLfq29mpuI5U0v_56TnYUMjsNDdIiRSebT3q1Xknj4UA7SyWPqvAi618m1k4Dsg1zLd8FAEuoO9xnrxvbiH/s2048/008a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="2048" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-peOXJ7SjC_6xbYSBgmIzwf2SmYlP52W1PdXf33wo_lR1rLhaQjhbQpi2UYPPRZy3emWQNiRNsSf4MhI9xtXKdzFHs_DYN9O2ttcu8hkulxLfq29mpuI5U0v_56TnYUMjsNDdIiRSebT3q1Xknj4UA7SyWPqvAi618m1k4Dsg1zLd8FAEuoO9xnrxvbiH/s320/008a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I took the photo above of the farm directly below (South) of the summit. It was only when I got it up on the computer monitor I noticed the large mudpit bottom right. I'm sure many places have a similar patch that takes till early Summer to dry out.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzRCwcfPjMPQAgZEN3eZrkw81O3h4sElPWDr7Clj78IYTHvmJlhJFObPfb1exFlykb11ECgv5JbYi-HdK4P-x92gYhNdP5kUxpTLMhH1-W4OoQtwyzOSjsUT_I_c6rIEYOEwJWv662lNgzBfyE8LBwrq2qPYRXHFdAg49Llnz0GV60-EySqF798YkayzR/s2048/008b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzRCwcfPjMPQAgZEN3eZrkw81O3h4sElPWDr7Clj78IYTHvmJlhJFObPfb1exFlykb11ECgv5JbYi-HdK4P-x92gYhNdP5kUxpTLMhH1-W4OoQtwyzOSjsUT_I_c6rIEYOEwJWv662lNgzBfyE8LBwrq2qPYRXHFdAg49Llnz0GV60-EySqF798YkayzR/s320/008b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">towards Hopetoun monument</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DPAxq7G8PIiXaDtw1qTnEszeFZk_DCxMKrWKuPKhT41htNpMQ55L8dwTfd9dpz_ExlSuMfod7wXhbcNfTTVyF7uW_OwJj6tvYro3bQFaMjB6oNUy1-9v_mnx8ZWoiPPkJxL9XInIvnfru_wJscUdfa12lSQk-fKP2fGOdGzspCg715rmNdTHuDY26R4b/s2048/008d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DPAxq7G8PIiXaDtw1qTnEszeFZk_DCxMKrWKuPKhT41htNpMQ55L8dwTfd9dpz_ExlSuMfod7wXhbcNfTTVyF7uW_OwJj6tvYro3bQFaMjB6oNUy1-9v_mnx8ZWoiPPkJxL9XInIvnfru_wJscUdfa12lSQk-fKP2fGOdGzspCg715rmNdTHuDY26R4b/s320/008d.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Fidra and Yellowcraig beach</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBSUT9z5whycz-xs_LqO7m6DLTkoyDBifnRyNhPMD9916_38UpLF0m7JiQ5UxtWabK9mlbqUob_1uzE1nilgBUe2IV-72dGc8JkrT-fvVvy5SqaV9ljoJELheA1ioreQDTchR6lwL-cFqmBUVifESd4WKJeUwhZFlXoCIibkb4GaF_PTQ2_tYyCF7IYwV/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBSUT9z5whycz-xs_LqO7m6DLTkoyDBifnRyNhPMD9916_38UpLF0m7JiQ5UxtWabK9mlbqUob_1uzE1nilgBUe2IV-72dGc8JkrT-fvVvy5SqaV9ljoJELheA1ioreQDTchR6lwL-cFqmBUVifESd4WKJeUwhZFlXoCIibkb4GaF_PTQ2_tYyCF7IYwV/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isle of May</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE2myndDXhs6fT_e8JG_IPZMBJKmcPVzCi46qMVQHCs_VIpE2q6zgTXuKY3oYeW8W1FT4Ilqb63PQDfzg6p2L1rp7uP0mpSzDXZERAmZswh3IwpYfYSkxZXQYKOB5PCCuMmPBapRLR6bG4vuUUabqdCyjM3C0rW1PDDWzrHI0Ct60tBDMubkaTIsce4Jw/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE2myndDXhs6fT_e8JG_IPZMBJKmcPVzCi46qMVQHCs_VIpE2q6zgTXuKY3oYeW8W1FT4Ilqb63PQDfzg6p2L1rp7uP0mpSzDXZERAmZswh3IwpYfYSkxZXQYKOB5PCCuMmPBapRLR6bG4vuUUabqdCyjM3C0rW1PDDWzrHI0Ct60tBDMubkaTIsce4Jw/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bass Rock and distant wind farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuH8FwEiphUpTZQuEJw3Hm6l3E06sIs00G0BX7t4Sz2wowR0LF0mh5ZR2SeMSCbLFYjOSFh8LjzjDnl0WQ_ovzM0J0Nnf-90ul4xBC2TR_gw0oR0gnWorvnCepd_I1uPFX29Eqiju67n9Z-wBYoYZcbKi-yCE0SNMd7xlHRbziNG3JM9Ewb6TxIz0N668/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuH8FwEiphUpTZQuEJw3Hm6l3E06sIs00G0BX7t4Sz2wowR0LF0mh5ZR2SeMSCbLFYjOSFh8LjzjDnl0WQ_ovzM0J0Nnf-90ul4xBC2TR_gw0oR0gnWorvnCepd_I1uPFX29Eqiju67n9Z-wBYoYZcbKi-yCE0SNMd7xlHRbziNG3JM9Ewb6TxIz0N668/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZVbC6tZDmV0Mu2dw8g_7XeuXQaErso25zA-QkfgXDna2WUUcTT5voX0BoSxNYKnCiXm36C_hq9NN8losmJS4A8bvvAcpSppLRk55lVaNZzI8YpBs_jvylb2mLisldtGsW6zVJGewYUV-KohhxCNMe5LohzvnJIlGkcJFxW6g-ypIofyRvFwHDWvZpYjh/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZVbC6tZDmV0Mu2dw8g_7XeuXQaErso25zA-QkfgXDna2WUUcTT5voX0BoSxNYKnCiXm36C_hq9NN8losmJS4A8bvvAcpSppLRk55lVaNZzI8YpBs_jvylb2mLisldtGsW6zVJGewYUV-KohhxCNMe5LohzvnJIlGkcJFxW6g-ypIofyRvFwHDWvZpYjh/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this place (as photo-ed from above, above) has changed door colour <br />back to white since last time I took this photo (see last <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2015/12/before-storm.html" target="_blank">blog</a>)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkcGN_7bGSY9GJu-qd4BowyMJLsYz2S4PGiselVmqoGqhj8XNA8J1W7mqc-gNK0ltizn-_RlczUkPBhPKjNYtQUtXHDrVLnrihve1zpx1oYdi6WrXGr7erhExUBDqa5zhBZ9NikYcJPd0KmCLDmtgL-XDR1B-4j55Jl9TsI43_Ocqo3JYXzsR5dCqYw9q/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkcGN_7bGSY9GJu-qd4BowyMJLsYz2S4PGiselVmqoGqhj8XNA8J1W7mqc-gNK0ltizn-_RlczUkPBhPKjNYtQUtXHDrVLnrihve1zpx1oYdi6WrXGr7erhExUBDqa5zhBZ9NikYcJPd0KmCLDmtgL-XDR1B-4j55Jl9TsI43_Ocqo3JYXzsR5dCqYw9q/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyM8tpY5zYhg8otGiqZqVb5DtQejEpyuJtN-mi8L1Nh9BtpVi99BX-1wNTh8Tifvj9eaGksjf7ybU-O6zCJvBlHtxvBYDMwbLgCkfN4s3wQ67gI9JpJGR1POxqQ4d1le1A-JD4sKGv-cGMsYFM2X_7kvhI4NT5mvGWlgd9jlBFP2U6UCFlTQ7MddaK9Em/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyM8tpY5zYhg8otGiqZqVb5DtQejEpyuJtN-mi8L1Nh9BtpVi99BX-1wNTh8Tifvj9eaGksjf7ybU-O6zCJvBlHtxvBYDMwbLgCkfN4s3wQ67gI9JpJGR1POxqQ4d1le1A-JD4sKGv-cGMsYFM2X_7kvhI4NT5mvGWlgd9jlBFP2U6UCFlTQ7MddaK9Em/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DhtrccpUS5JtLy6ZyBzC8ZvASecH_SqlIjq2BT0BDSiLrmqZkq_DC2FA_rWSWkpoahxCcROStEXWzXSg9KGoDkxtR-FFYkTIH-vpJ48GW1meZOBnJA_SClPVoxpwr571Dkp59tS8B4tX6P18nvIOqsOYQZKN_Hrj1fnb3BkzZrVgT8Oiq2AgxVkiqUbS/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DhtrccpUS5JtLy6ZyBzC8ZvASecH_SqlIjq2BT0BDSiLrmqZkq_DC2FA_rWSWkpoahxCcROStEXWzXSg9KGoDkxtR-FFYkTIH-vpJ48GW1meZOBnJA_SClPVoxpwr571Dkp59tS8B4tX6P18nvIOqsOYQZKN_Hrj1fnb3BkzZrVgT8Oiq2AgxVkiqUbS/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took the long way round Balgone curling pond, at least the first one. I didn't bother with the second pond. I half thought if it was warm enough this was the most likely spot for an outrageously early butterfly. 2 or 3 have been reported flying already this year on warmer days, and not just ones disturbed from garden shed hibernaculums. However the biting breeze perhaps discouraged any early fliers. Nevertheless I checked the glossy leaved shrubs along the pond side for a sunbathing flash of red admiral, peacock or comma. Alas none. And first wet foot of the day trying to navigate the large puddles on the muddy path. I was happy to leave all of that and climb up the path on the other side of the pond taking the long diversion back to join the JMW at the far side of the estate. Just around the <i>big hoose</i> I'm sure I saw one maybe 2 jays but no photo worth posting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52QjTgLf96G3GGepZQKxRWsFhmqx1CSZrLXShTuWIcZiDc66nTOvajZWLa-AN3ywF2UoBzuXZ7GfjRp_TjDAoGO3yZ33EXzSTnIeQSybFXiLubuJaB9oEvJlmQ2M4mf717j9jmafLQq__pFfvt3qsy-kxjnf-VjGPpV30WY9IOIs1Qey1yPTZ6t2TqVMH/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52QjTgLf96G3GGepZQKxRWsFhmqx1CSZrLXShTuWIcZiDc66nTOvajZWLa-AN3ywF2UoBzuXZ7GfjRp_TjDAoGO3yZ33EXzSTnIeQSybFXiLubuJaB9oEvJlmQ2M4mf717j9jmafLQq__pFfvt3qsy-kxjnf-VjGPpV30WY9IOIs1Qey1yPTZ6t2TqVMH/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cold weather for a BBQ bonfire</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEXIO1IfeEPvlAWpmqdte7qKX9mkUHiKqv6ix7ig0yCEIWSmYIzyWFHlWKDupKJf7duekb2RXrTrOdEgw11xy8zA5jc9MuI7lmrAcwlmuL2F2SPOw2I0KQ_cOTNH81cZ9K7M_kyQPygtXPSGG1BQrXazQklDPeDIl6tWNZRMujHUyEnAsdW8ECaffv0ft/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEXIO1IfeEPvlAWpmqdte7qKX9mkUHiKqv6ix7ig0yCEIWSmYIzyWFHlWKDupKJf7duekb2RXrTrOdEgw11xy8zA5jc9MuI7lmrAcwlmuL2F2SPOw2I0KQ_cOTNH81cZ9K7M_kyQPygtXPSGG1BQrXazQklDPeDIl6tWNZRMujHUyEnAsdW8ECaffv0ft/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWFooMcmHk808u0T4E5W3JvxXJAhxKMd-yI3aO0MAqFvuZ5bHrDCgeMI4-v7u4mRUj9eK3nn_wdcfAt86kWn27lDbXzaoVGVHMPqo4k_m7f9i2ztFovcyvdhPnegyrFjc2O5kMK0VfvNS_67tK-coDRZUxfQlkYu51EqwRfiyWK7XGcG-80Gp1SiQ119Q/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWFooMcmHk808u0T4E5W3JvxXJAhxKMd-yI3aO0MAqFvuZ5bHrDCgeMI4-v7u4mRUj9eK3nn_wdcfAt86kWn27lDbXzaoVGVHMPqo4k_m7f9i2ztFovcyvdhPnegyrFjc2O5kMK0VfvNS_67tK-coDRZUxfQlkYu51EqwRfiyWK7XGcG-80Gp1SiQ119Q/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I expect that's where they get the name Fieldfare,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the least bad photo I took of them</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDDeWJHv3MiWhWtB4NzV4ZlslUW_AQCd0MLK6hXTvg1VDVhxDEpERFAsNz8PNAdHcm0BCPAACrqufzHZR3QVG9gTD1EFcwMLpYCaGC1W7NTZR_EGrPygxfI8W7XkTcffp-OSMRI2HQAVJMjBDuWoQhNUCms7XFn2zaAYzLisfrLjPfv4hm1L1aHR05-Hj/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDDeWJHv3MiWhWtB4NzV4ZlslUW_AQCd0MLK6hXTvg1VDVhxDEpERFAsNz8PNAdHcm0BCPAACrqufzHZR3QVG9gTD1EFcwMLpYCaGC1W7NTZR_EGrPygxfI8W7XkTcffp-OSMRI2HQAVJMjBDuWoQhNUCms7XFn2zaAYzLisfrLjPfv4hm1L1aHR05-Hj/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A green finch flew up to the hedge beside me and I got this photo before it disappeared. There were a few about today. Haven't been seeing them in urban areas lately so this was a treat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBL9VSmFddVbP-zvRJK1SUd6lArodTdxU7y3PDJr7VjnEw6QG-sb49OMOk1tHQMNR7ohE12fZPr1zVu6i5FufqddxiyDOMjAgVmc8LOXHW79i2eHg6tCdpgNb00PC9wJGU1_BTDGxWRpixk-Tj5xQbJUxOjXYR2d8noY2YiYWu6rkcfudEJrD90Bk8oQ7/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBL9VSmFddVbP-zvRJK1SUd6lArodTdxU7y3PDJr7VjnEw6QG-sb49OMOk1tHQMNR7ohE12fZPr1zVu6i5FufqddxiyDOMjAgVmc8LOXHW79i2eHg6tCdpgNb00PC9wJGU1_BTDGxWRpixk-Tj5xQbJUxOjXYR2d8noY2YiYWu6rkcfudEJrD90Bk8oQ7/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wasn't sure what this was until much later<br />what do you think?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkZoO6pofuwGzGk52dhMVc7MwoQVKd0uV-oyNK0A5MZQHFoD3BVfbixRptVvu5RbLJhob1Lj-65YRWa3xLz-1ppe2zVO-9q-ehWntFjqYpOUVgQJQKT8bIGDICdkZKkN_scR1C93G6y7qkNhyphenhyphenX0roAjTD_druDmMpCPEYoKnDMsKI7PN6tlbEmOhUtVD/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkZoO6pofuwGzGk52dhMVc7MwoQVKd0uV-oyNK0A5MZQHFoD3BVfbixRptVvu5RbLJhob1Lj-65YRWa3xLz-1ppe2zVO-9q-ehWntFjqYpOUVgQJQKT8bIGDICdkZKkN_scR1C93G6y7qkNhyphenhyphenX0roAjTD_druDmMpCPEYoKnDMsKI7PN6tlbEmOhUtVD/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stepped off the path to let this cyclist come through. He was grateful and possibly as full of coffee as myself as we exchanged a few sentences about how tremendous the weather was and how much better than usual. I got lucky with this momentary shot between the trees as he disappeared off.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LPxM2KUvsErl-SOjemHjq7yaQhn4Up8dwEpeY-d_j_uijKAeuYLIIug2ItsNaY1jXNmuvVAx418B4N1h3medJJk0ZzLR7aUd8gYf26U5rcbJw6BuE10pVntzdSTzbEZVz2wYEzUBrLf4Avu_iOtV0kVUKaEGgCCtei7jg3REtNYKLoKjiBZjm-P_yR8r/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LPxM2KUvsErl-SOjemHjq7yaQhn4Up8dwEpeY-d_j_uijKAeuYLIIug2ItsNaY1jXNmuvVAx418B4N1h3medJJk0ZzLR7aUd8gYf26U5rcbJw6BuE10pVntzdSTzbEZVz2wYEzUBrLf4Avu_iOtV0kVUKaEGgCCtei7jg3REtNYKLoKjiBZjm-P_yR8r/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">several wrens about,<br />not many posing for photos!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxCi6LlKXdkgtRbHZMnM7QOO6kcLFJwpBIgS17Zeyk9XrQvgtew5zNin4ePOMjxG_f3HVTURkcuNWDrPPMbhrRvE4Qzxwlxn0vtpl_zuUwBtZi2QOBAMsshnvjd-8a8mDfhDtUo6bpKRuu0YxcKHzb48Qo6NZGhfXkxKh9HscikM63CF6unrpRU7TEBFp/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxCi6LlKXdkgtRbHZMnM7QOO6kcLFJwpBIgS17Zeyk9XrQvgtew5zNin4ePOMjxG_f3HVTURkcuNWDrPPMbhrRvE4Qzxwlxn0vtpl_zuUwBtZi2QOBAMsshnvjd-8a8mDfhDtUo6bpKRuu0YxcKHzb48Qo6NZGhfXkxKh9HscikM63CF6unrpRU7TEBFp/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goldfinch pair</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVQd14OJrtkWGhfg7uK_T72HpiUHjq2s4l6H6jPTPyq_Ar98qtAqBjhJgCK5ZUiDp_22rqAST58eCfkgvRou78wKimahNIRY7vlA14_JLZ-OHVBj3RVcBlu5pA-TUa5vGDKskO2PFz5hyphenhyphenux8i3nDF3-DSMVSxd3lNTXr16uz8gXS4iIRNSbcdWDO8y5Rc/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVQd14OJrtkWGhfg7uK_T72HpiUHjq2s4l6H6jPTPyq_Ar98qtAqBjhJgCK5ZUiDp_22rqAST58eCfkgvRou78wKimahNIRY7vlA14_JLZ-OHVBj3RVcBlu5pA-TUa5vGDKskO2PFz5hyphenhyphenux8i3nDF3-DSMVSxd3lNTXr16uz8gXS4iIRNSbcdWDO8y5Rc/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc2OK8BtPbMRcpnBYRVQNOmIXCv_VgqSTKIWCacC3DBPpyPxiq0Xlq-vxCU2JvPQpb8kropHF_tDaBZCVK8NmhVcxU4PRgaTWxl1h92Gd6AfelEB80VqUHzyEYf-PG636SifWm2YW40MXsZsaCCWZQs5Ho5QHJeIs5V3SRiODrqQnC6W0TdBlON4tKbPM/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc2OK8BtPbMRcpnBYRVQNOmIXCv_VgqSTKIWCacC3DBPpyPxiq0Xlq-vxCU2JvPQpb8kropHF_tDaBZCVK8NmhVcxU4PRgaTWxl1h92Gd6AfelEB80VqUHzyEYf-PG636SifWm2YW40MXsZsaCCWZQs5Ho5QHJeIs5V3SRiODrqQnC6W0TdBlON4tKbPM/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another greenfinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPXkA520xIflldf2HfTJ368mdxoWqOLx7XpgwIAMa88uBjWPwQ3kq75JfDuTXvUaeK4iXXMBdRUbs8e459m_vhmLOYtZBsMYAJvCcPDoYro7xlKmhWJXmlJIvHHLkUHOA3UsUwloOYDy5Wan7buueNcYrmhgL_Hf75EArFTaAdgp3wETb_ATwx9Ogsk1s/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPXkA520xIflldf2HfTJ368mdxoWqOLx7XpgwIAMa88uBjWPwQ3kq75JfDuTXvUaeK4iXXMBdRUbs8e459m_vhmLOYtZBsMYAJvCcPDoYro7xlKmhWJXmlJIvHHLkUHOA3UsUwloOYDy5Wan7buueNcYrmhgL_Hf75EArFTaAdgp3wETb_ATwx9Ogsk1s/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were a few gangs of mixed finches about, or like here, sparrows and goldfinches. Maybe looking for salt/minerals along the roadside. It didn't make for easy or good photos and they would fly off before I got close enough. But fun and cheering to see them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa694qx9qzYAhjlO4oCLL3lSgnqegeH0I3rqaPgDZNSpwJFlYRlOySxavcwotTNooJ8ubwfjxfY7PAQqKDVhI1ulOTvuc6ajafnVa2HuV2sRs_asGSyK_fAP9pDSuikMzvrrvDyLc5oMd2CxGrQQv9Omvi8FCyzfbQuHo4KI9FrY_iFCLaPdXVHX-SkJL/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa694qx9qzYAhjlO4oCLL3lSgnqegeH0I3rqaPgDZNSpwJFlYRlOySxavcwotTNooJ8ubwfjxfY7PAQqKDVhI1ulOTvuc6ajafnVa2HuV2sRs_asGSyK_fAP9pDSuikMzvrrvDyLc5oMd2CxGrQQv9Omvi8FCyzfbQuHo4KI9FrY_iFCLaPdXVHX-SkJL/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A robin is a more reliable chap for photos. Their natural curiosity and boldness means they will often come out for a chat if you give them a chance. This one gave me 3 excellent poses in 20 seconds, all lit in bright sunshine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUm6kcp7teB3kANgf5eY5pf_ath2jKUTcd_i6zkX3B6Gg2mXqXWUYp24z3xq-jwmOit2_izky1voH3DWruCr1iqWqVTjpiSrqMeYf6ucZ_PvX71O0qbhDtnOmMuYaE0mJolNAKo5qjj3zNCMlSrre0frR7MhIPXgNZWhRGBGYDhEXWVVAcX-BAtz5gNz3/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUm6kcp7teB3kANgf5eY5pf_ath2jKUTcd_i6zkX3B6Gg2mXqXWUYp24z3xq-jwmOit2_izky1voH3DWruCr1iqWqVTjpiSrqMeYf6ucZ_PvX71O0qbhDtnOmMuYaE0mJolNAKo5qjj3zNCMlSrre0frR7MhIPXgNZWhRGBGYDhEXWVVAcX-BAtz5gNz3/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaOhhDsNMrk8Zk9XAKnalYwCu2t1sT8DujLaXnwnpIclY4ImMKJYka2L2cfRrE8ujFzzNd-fpqTdIf8xWKKRSO-07tvxSYyAl8xI5hsjLznP89TslwpnpXyRfFVyB5OXKgE2Z2ITMOHriiT2mpo1DwPXsZVl2hlriLsxx0s_GzD74dn8XrhkBCsSLR0su/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaOhhDsNMrk8Zk9XAKnalYwCu2t1sT8DujLaXnwnpIclY4ImMKJYka2L2cfRrE8ujFzzNd-fpqTdIf8xWKKRSO-07tvxSYyAl8xI5hsjLznP89TslwpnpXyRfFVyB5OXKgE2Z2ITMOHriiT2mpo1DwPXsZVl2hlriLsxx0s_GzD74dn8XrhkBCsSLR0su/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhrsN3VZbRd0ACTn8q7gbb3KhYXGxPgd1bHQ9_tT5SpOKy7CgVAtdz_WHDAwMbP5ZqYW_5nBeOU2Li-LCg2Ua7HOzQopWY7Q2yb8nfdIzL4og43l8lxim301mGB547y5s8_olU098D95R9SuCtoXxatN-YhToOeaDff9Wxi78fZLAoOUDqvpE8vyb5NW6/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhrsN3VZbRd0ACTn8q7gbb3KhYXGxPgd1bHQ9_tT5SpOKy7CgVAtdz_WHDAwMbP5ZqYW_5nBeOU2Li-LCg2Ua7HOzQopWY7Q2yb8nfdIzL4og43l8lxim301mGB547y5s8_olU098D95R9SuCtoXxatN-YhToOeaDff9Wxi78fZLAoOUDqvpE8vyb5NW6/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter Aconite<br /><br />three fictional uses of the word <i>aconite<br /></i><br />1/And lo! the Aconites swept across the land and smote the Hittites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2/ Whatever you do, do not buy a Fiat Aconite.<br />3/ The ruby coloured zirconia pendant is surrounded with a halo of Aconite</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpCmIE7daAguw2VulYewR9VXHYkjYR_ih_XZRb3W8S1gmrmhviN_9v_1ziLR80NCfXAXoiq6Oj_dY8OiNRvLnzFimgxBCfFFFqCiF9x0BcGSPjF4U6-3bAAwcSdQNNNeGcOSSDrxzHp0JCtjExzbRyeUXnp6Drs6XFdz6B7E9Jj8RYRlwlUmITkn5GmV_/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpCmIE7daAguw2VulYewR9VXHYkjYR_ih_XZRb3W8S1gmrmhviN_9v_1ziLR80NCfXAXoiq6Oj_dY8OiNRvLnzFimgxBCfFFFqCiF9x0BcGSPjF4U6-3bAAwcSdQNNNeGcOSSDrxzHp0JCtjExzbRyeUXnp6Drs6XFdz6B7E9Jj8RYRlwlUmITkn5GmV_/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, the thing about the long lens is if you want to photograph a horse, you have to do it while you are still 60 yards away. (The plume of hot breath in cold air, the flies in sunlight, I seem to have missed all that!) If you get closer than that you won't get it all in. Sometimes this makes you look more closely at aspects of horsiness and that isn't a bad thing. This horse walked up the field with me for a bit until I saw an interesting looking specimen in the next field and I dropped it like a bad habit.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafWx6scLoMmCKmnNpAJuVJOE3StQRuoQ58jTfKTZBVFk2aPMI-80tWsKuwS24qoHcUSwDoqYroVcXyjLPooSlB2tLbvgEAW8LQhsZcZWnPwaBxVszql9vtIyxI3buU5obVfgPbN8D7YrY_zfrj4U-cbMGGmG1F4_1dCy8fO51sk8MebU39Aq9nfQrevJt/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafWx6scLoMmCKmnNpAJuVJOE3StQRuoQ58jTfKTZBVFk2aPMI-80tWsKuwS24qoHcUSwDoqYroVcXyjLPooSlB2tLbvgEAW8LQhsZcZWnPwaBxVszql9vtIyxI3buU5obVfgPbN8D7YrY_zfrj4U-cbMGGmG1F4_1dCy8fO51sk8MebU39Aq9nfQrevJt/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8sn6e61OE-5NFuL37CAhkP1f_rWRCCQMhnrG0ZzPfxLa3Ubt4E9wLZ4TW-z9_jY3DNdJCq982BmILtXlX2JVLQmRuchPnmbpSPIthuR8hqNKSMlbIbfL0eSjDkaunLADj-NofVWzVu6v86mNdC4vWJaq4kZ8_EPr1cjN9iM9nTVysuv5zbMsbV4IjcBw/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8sn6e61OE-5NFuL37CAhkP1f_rWRCCQMhnrG0ZzPfxLa3Ubt4E9wLZ4TW-z9_jY3DNdJCq982BmILtXlX2JVLQmRuchPnmbpSPIthuR8hqNKSMlbIbfL0eSjDkaunLADj-NofVWzVu6v86mNdC4vWJaq4kZ8_EPr1cjN9iM9nTVysuv5zbMsbV4IjcBw/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhFPxrgPULkh6t2RblzkAJtR9FIlzQ8-P7bvb73V6FmlB8ccZRVBKaF3TC2dTHulqMYTu5LKV0CYdtyepsbP2HExMXibm5MBNfAOK1kzQP_vCgegdGQkN4soi_RAzzM5aBNjh7mTSs86FQ3rtvddcckeagVPQzQiQwIt9xTJt5bYtaDR3Q2pzuADFKdsT/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhFPxrgPULkh6t2RblzkAJtR9FIlzQ8-P7bvb73V6FmlB8ccZRVBKaF3TC2dTHulqMYTu5LKV0CYdtyepsbP2HExMXibm5MBNfAOK1kzQP_vCgegdGQkN4soi_RAzzM5aBNjh7mTSs86FQ3rtvddcckeagVPQzQiQwIt9xTJt5bYtaDR3Q2pzuADFKdsT/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The specimen was a black or melanistic pheasant. I have only come across these a handful of times and they almost always escape before I get a decent photo. So without even a handshake to Mr Horse I legged it out the field and up the road. The bird was walking parallel to the road and I reckoned if I stayed partially hidden behind the hawthorn hedge I might get lucky. I went a bit up the road (where the JMW turns right down a dirt trail towards Stink Farm) trying to get closer to this striking pheasant. Its plumage was just fantastic in the sunlight. They are amazing looking creatures and despite them being not much brighter than their orange cousins, I have been easily outsmarted by one in jaggy undergrowth. This one had no shrubs nearby into which to duck so I got a few photos. I was shooting through the hawthorn hedge and also another wire fence, so was pleased about the detail still remaining in these cropped photos. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzzC7qP0OOiWXUZm-6CaaOv_nW3vsBRfi0C9G5q_a3zD7PqMkPw-grwkbBIiBVLkwClDkRVXtnYUXscyac0qrwfzQYfSPdALOLYMIaa14m-U2rWYQDW1szi5HZJ_OLfZDIv2a3QGX7DhzMTL5Iz_0ho8_nhrhyLQNA8LeQJUeq3zjj4VEPM-9cabdLw4F/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzzC7qP0OOiWXUZm-6CaaOv_nW3vsBRfi0C9G5q_a3zD7PqMkPw-grwkbBIiBVLkwClDkRVXtnYUXscyac0qrwfzQYfSPdALOLYMIaa14m-U2rWYQDW1szi5HZJ_OLfZDIv2a3QGX7DhzMTL5Iz_0ho8_nhrhyLQNA8LeQJUeq3zjj4VEPM-9cabdLw4F/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpDSTp6P5e8u531kdI98qzFFBpUMnh_GG23IfWx9qiV5xp1gFg_9pZUiHQSRAvh12zvrLYlwERY3-qgxRBH_Dp4CN0osYam9k2B0i_OVtSF1zeol-4X_yhLAs29rjG2VuTRdUycEowJ6L00TEVkAE9wtaNn2qCjWUSITmgM4CxTU6-UAHC1rb9z9wMlP8/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpDSTp6P5e8u531kdI98qzFFBpUMnh_GG23IfWx9qiV5xp1gFg_9pZUiHQSRAvh12zvrLYlwERY3-qgxRBH_Dp4CN0osYam9k2B0i_OVtSF1zeol-4X_yhLAs29rjG2VuTRdUycEowJ6L00TEVkAE9wtaNn2qCjWUSITmgM4CxTU6-UAHC1rb9z9wMlP8/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfsB_UFBEW1ADCB9quOHMShmrlAlBTCfG_n-bZNirZCwSV5N6mOp5A2SY5gjTDNU6uLvtl8fkPra0VKUErVt2BlOyjlC41j_MdFOscvIO1iv6Oyw01uioZKYxs49Y3qfbqMWNb3bcAlCrZHk_JKIqureiCLS4hGV6K4ZZNQrVcyvP8f6LZ4DM8kx0Nr-7/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfsB_UFBEW1ADCB9quOHMShmrlAlBTCfG_n-bZNirZCwSV5N6mOp5A2SY5gjTDNU6uLvtl8fkPra0VKUErVt2BlOyjlC41j_MdFOscvIO1iv6Oyw01uioZKYxs49Y3qfbqMWNb3bcAlCrZHk_JKIqureiCLS4hGV6K4ZZNQrVcyvP8f6LZ4DM8kx0Nr-7/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19pBOxMLVM4Sp_R3P6k1R2Tj0fVV37Xe8hqA1v8g_3bog5f3wRAsWzWkPvNi726cY8wVTd8a8qHlUhWpudsuXvA7IWWhfvxCBS-0X3aAiuk6PH9381LWw6yOgec55n6Za_k-fSziyCCrdeRPy2XKWYwc5y7jLycuWmuF3pUQmZew1EG-fY-8Xsj1vmVRR/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19pBOxMLVM4Sp_R3P6k1R2Tj0fVV37Xe8hqA1v8g_3bog5f3wRAsWzWkPvNi726cY8wVTd8a8qHlUhWpudsuXvA7IWWhfvxCBS-0X3aAiuk6PH9381LWw6yOgec55n6Za_k-fSziyCCrdeRPy2XKWYwc5y7jLycuWmuF3pUQmZew1EG-fY-8Xsj1vmVRR/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_R4oNq4J0TV0pq0bOZjjTI1C6YkC4ML7ViBMnhZquRD2RHtCBmMjRy2d36H8sWyRHYTJ51mEIBTupYCpyPWpVp6QugSn9Aawt35nqwUqHqjC8kgMzdOqzN7JeAO1lTdKhZfVdfmH-lj1ZRTIyb0SwoUVIooQd_kN6y9SsUXIvwSZANDP1vRvXDF7iAQj/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_R4oNq4J0TV0pq0bOZjjTI1C6YkC4ML7ViBMnhZquRD2RHtCBmMjRy2d36H8sWyRHYTJ51mEIBTupYCpyPWpVp6QugSn9Aawt35nqwUqHqjC8kgMzdOqzN7JeAO1lTdKhZfVdfmH-lj1ZRTIyb0SwoUVIooQd_kN6y9SsUXIvwSZANDP1vRvXDF7iAQj/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Every time I skirted a large open field with grass or low crops I'd scan for hares. I'd see something half a mile away and check through the long lens but it would inevitably be a stone. I suspect these were rabbits from the way they were lolloping. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb8ZJxAikVQ-kvMR4UmvNLbUw8kmGscGzxJ9baeOVyYYbbejmtrCzBUwqazbP0IqkzzyfHGeZFS4c97858tI9MSu2hxjT1lQH54JqJUX2CO0CtmrZI3dJuuvEST6uFB2yhXc03oyymZxIcn0FiA3Jn1JE8pxPyb2QvkmEez9wJPQeM487-FAwKl8DC54w/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb8ZJxAikVQ-kvMR4UmvNLbUw8kmGscGzxJ9baeOVyYYbbejmtrCzBUwqazbP0IqkzzyfHGeZFS4c97858tI9MSu2hxjT1lQH54JqJUX2CO0CtmrZI3dJuuvEST6uFB2yhXc03oyymZxIcn0FiA3Jn1JE8pxPyb2QvkmEez9wJPQeM487-FAwKl8DC54w/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyyxSc-TzAFr-TRk-JCp6ctzBQdbufsXVhfkyOq6ScxAD12XqaHWv75lpbWTOD8oe-BpIECAlh3Dh1W5pmYOfQiIcSXETcpVfwaq74LfsW_wQO5x9pcP4yDq1or4B9BVA-IRjk9XOrWL2LcY3F5U94pUvgVqXzlq3hMHlsrLYQKG4PZSSaL-a1ANX0FxQ/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyyxSc-TzAFr-TRk-JCp6ctzBQdbufsXVhfkyOq6ScxAD12XqaHWv75lpbWTOD8oe-BpIECAlh3Dh1W5pmYOfQiIcSXETcpVfwaq74LfsW_wQO5x9pcP4yDq1or4B9BVA-IRjk9XOrWL2LcY3F5U94pUvgVqXzlq3hMHlsrLYQKG4PZSSaL-a1ANX0FxQ/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB6h8Cs9h8isnSx7XfaYt81pTJFLH7hQ7Y18hncS_vXOATB5tBJXbBLkIqH7ksw0wJBh3PslY5we0XMqULo1gBWwe143EwV8nsUpeYQHgsVvFuE2MxIhKCwQ5CWp9rSYMozfikJsOYNSq7_4tDUd3q_pvILcOMK4v4y5tNtP0_IIl4LNVyM6MZqUbqLgw/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB6h8Cs9h8isnSx7XfaYt81pTJFLH7hQ7Y18hncS_vXOATB5tBJXbBLkIqH7ksw0wJBh3PslY5we0XMqULo1gBWwe143EwV8nsUpeYQHgsVvFuE2MxIhKCwQ5CWp9rSYMozfikJsOYNSq7_4tDUd3q_pvILcOMK4v4y5tNtP0_IIl4LNVyM6MZqUbqLgw/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have previously seen a flock of linnets in the trees round this part (just before Newbyth Mansionhouse) and assumed this was more of the same. I saw various similar looking birds today and was never certain what they were. At the time it didn't unduly bother me what they might be. I just wondered how close I could get without them flying off. They had flown up from the long grasses nearby (big clue to identity) and were now watching me as I walked slowly through said long grasses. They began to stir so I halted progress and took photos from that distance. I looked up twite and linnets and pipits but they looked more like reed buntings. I have only seen reed buntings in solitary pairs and never enough to fill a shrub. There were loads. However the one below with the black cap looked like a male reed bunting and presumably the others are females, which look a lot like a lot of other small brown speckled or streaky birds. I managed to leave them undisturbed and they no doubt returned to the long grasses. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_PHO8UV5HJpyV0Soucbi_6JS6RbJtmbHo5tTa57ETIAGVSHo5xa7NTnxR2ti17ObCaDIOCUzxRj6OG8pIkRdIwm82nA0RA1-y1OBzl4i-6Q7j2s5JY-n8hErkBBhf2gTs7qgEkH_WOcNHP7rUxtMmiPiAEIqXaPcQ-_brpZy1V0pAlupAVKNx7hDXnyQ/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_PHO8UV5HJpyV0Soucbi_6JS6RbJtmbHo5tTa57ETIAGVSHo5xa7NTnxR2ti17ObCaDIOCUzxRj6OG8pIkRdIwm82nA0RA1-y1OBzl4i-6Q7j2s5JY-n8hErkBBhf2gTs7qgEkH_WOcNHP7rUxtMmiPiAEIqXaPcQ-_brpZy1V0pAlupAVKNx7hDXnyQ/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">reed bunting (m)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dWW3UNK5if3hvoItMaF65lI7GIIItZeFEzHo9xpSesnS0M1LWmmFOBoa7DTad7IBDHwI-tZGCiH-62IrOMckb5KAntIQ0R3CKZEKDLbx9aJydkQswNDrmkSAi5hTrHeTGsSXBU7rldWKPZiwwHgnnomUMI6kbj906APhltdBXisvpvy2FcEV9PSJqwyN/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dWW3UNK5if3hvoItMaF65lI7GIIItZeFEzHo9xpSesnS0M1LWmmFOBoa7DTad7IBDHwI-tZGCiH-62IrOMckb5KAntIQ0R3CKZEKDLbx9aJydkQswNDrmkSAi5hTrHeTGsSXBU7rldWKPZiwwHgnnomUMI6kbj906APhltdBXisvpvy2FcEV9PSJqwyN/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">reed bunting (f)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSItyopJV03evUFb-4gj6glwhNLw_WySr90ctZ1uD1x2843Mbn82dzjGX0k7AHpbxbtB_Ie36NGZZ5GqdU8d94eKN8EHzO-NDadPsfN2OhyvR0v_8c0W-0SFIhBLpKDhYQaA__BrmSr2WboIPTPe4Za7AaADvhpq4G-_jKAqjjf8uUOlSsSK9BAvALk3nm/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSItyopJV03evUFb-4gj6glwhNLw_WySr90ctZ1uD1x2843Mbn82dzjGX0k7AHpbxbtB_Ie36NGZZ5GqdU8d94eKN8EHzO-NDadPsfN2OhyvR0v_8c0W-0SFIhBLpKDhYQaA__BrmSr2WboIPTPe4Za7AaADvhpq4G-_jKAqjjf8uUOlSsSK9BAvALk3nm/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNd_a-0rn8Ux7Sjt-omv4y18EUHhBma0NCP3PFoH1_8WkoKqlOnGIk9RMUR_qrUD_-S_UMCE1XLe3xkXvr_ZhSXErW3N5sRwMEMdF1ZIVK2lGmKc2-hDCnwJR3njNJz6LmULf6ZwRmn7B9FN0i6H4ZSKquLg1190HgxP551XS86quxSG19-Ybn01N9iIW/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNd_a-0rn8Ux7Sjt-omv4y18EUHhBma0NCP3PFoH1_8WkoKqlOnGIk9RMUR_qrUD_-S_UMCE1XLe3xkXvr_ZhSXErW3N5sRwMEMdF1ZIVK2lGmKc2-hDCnwJR3njNJz6LmULf6ZwRmn7B9FN0i6H4ZSKquLg1190HgxP551XS86quxSG19-Ybn01N9iIW/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goldy looking finch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K-8at3MXn104jIXHPHC4Y50CFC-VTSu4IxNc0btUwi40peT1VJTar-_OUjwJTR1x_4I178M96H_KC7hi61fQWOG0wZTGE-OSCYBlHc3IQTIAfeQXXnga5SxcdRH72Vdbt5mjPKq5cjKxmKdeIVizNJ6w6soW2XPM4yUh5289rGVA1JU-lGmm2pGkDxhg/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K-8at3MXn104jIXHPHC4Y50CFC-VTSu4IxNc0btUwi40peT1VJTar-_OUjwJTR1x_4I178M96H_KC7hi61fQWOG0wZTGE-OSCYBlHc3IQTIAfeQXXnga5SxcdRH72Vdbt5mjPKq5cjKxmKdeIVizNJ6w6soW2XPM4yUh5289rGVA1JU-lGmm2pGkDxhg/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were some greylags on the short grass growing beside the mansionhouse. Unfortunately as I approached they moved further away. There are often lots near the pond but I didn't see any more.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0NVAyTsGAdqLrwpmNOClRrDgWNiyr2IKy-wAVPg7FyC8Nf5rnt0sMBd1Q7_1-RHhx0_Bu3oMD7o1EYCl9siJVV7m7D26H3qrZYBE597JK-BjSLj1GetrKg4bLLlZog7UhPSKxID69lc1XjlqluVengDAD6zS_-hoeVWXIJBMS6g88Qfkkqnx0rU8klvQ/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0NVAyTsGAdqLrwpmNOClRrDgWNiyr2IKy-wAVPg7FyC8Nf5rnt0sMBd1Q7_1-RHhx0_Bu3oMD7o1EYCl9siJVV7m7D26H3qrZYBE597JK-BjSLj1GetrKg4bLLlZog7UhPSKxID69lc1XjlqluVengDAD6zS_-hoeVWXIJBMS6g88Qfkkqnx0rU8klvQ/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbxigN2ZrJBc2faEYt5bX7IFTTNizaIh8pQlVTKI6L97vs9qSIqGlZ5g77SD4YyK5wSmuoVD1DzNvyPcySKSJvtl9datiutAaJ2VYqhH70JRcGSbWNuB9hSKILPf-EAaUhDd-xm8RTrV-6ujhX_tyS_kZ7QwwpIMp7HuD_DpqIcr2KYZckMFjDum194PN/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbxigN2ZrJBc2faEYt5bX7IFTTNizaIh8pQlVTKI6L97vs9qSIqGlZ5g77SD4YyK5wSmuoVD1DzNvyPcySKSJvtl9datiutAaJ2VYqhH70JRcGSbWNuB9hSKILPf-EAaUhDd-xm8RTrV-6ujhX_tyS_kZ7QwwpIMp7HuD_DpqIcr2KYZckMFjDum194PN/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">willow catkins</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC0mrrCmINqM4qGeBypvHSQciSoefpeu1EfDxSdOS5QKvUKzdhoS32YOXdxVsBSOJo9h9n5J_Gi1FjMu0J_YVRgtZhWYdE3kwuBGXf7aWjz3IeqFqa76d_OQKlZqsnvsGqaZFBTn8xGhQZTrE963uhtD94i6SnXwB4IUgbSEbVZGAF2gizUGI7S6u-oQ0/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC0mrrCmINqM4qGeBypvHSQciSoefpeu1EfDxSdOS5QKvUKzdhoS32YOXdxVsBSOJo9h9n5J_Gi1FjMu0J_YVRgtZhWYdE3kwuBGXf7aWjz3IeqFqa76d_OQKlZqsnvsGqaZFBTn8xGhQZTrE963uhtD94i6SnXwB4IUgbSEbVZGAF2gizUGI7S6u-oQ0/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Agtq8bZ1thCnM1MAOug5IHPkWh2h2BGTFg9citi-ARwrdSTS5Z5zqA2tF1g5eIMRzWlUamjv53gtc3FiRlcYj5Wp5e3M1ZVygrwQYGATEiUtc4WSYzEknmvR3Ij21qQsR2rV1gog2NIZa6CzXyzDb0VfnWBnyNfVs59oYxndRXZOvnaIA1Gx5D7mrEmI/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Agtq8bZ1thCnM1MAOug5IHPkWh2h2BGTFg9citi-ARwrdSTS5Z5zqA2tF1g5eIMRzWlUamjv53gtc3FiRlcYj5Wp5e3M1ZVygrwQYGATEiUtc4WSYzEknmvR3Ij21qQsR2rV1gog2NIZa6CzXyzDb0VfnWBnyNfVs59oYxndRXZOvnaIA1Gx5D7mrEmI/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">guard chicken</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you join the road again before Newbyth Wood there are a couple of houses with gardens and stables. I noticed a busy birdfeeder in one garden and couldn't resist going a bit closer for photos. I remained outside the garden but I was pointing my camera towards the house (which was maybe 50 yards away). So the thing about this is, I wasn't breaking any laws or doing any harm whatsoever, but it is one of those things, like having a pee outdoors, that is perfectly fine until someone sees you. Especially if you are pointing a long lens at their tits.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbQ6RcEpHjuuSFmWCI1SQ_k3KOVgB73j4HMl5BLJsjmN7X53UC7WQAuCY-kcmEMe6a9-0x9O23kuoRy3Nw7NVZVr6wngz7VVjhdfSDOp5Q0Z0J2mCSrUmbQ9yoLXQ8Ac-_W7vT9Fl83ajhP4diqzlW1s17y0D0AGcXqHPT9V7nf6ZsS-QQIAIV9prr0A-/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbQ6RcEpHjuuSFmWCI1SQ_k3KOVgB73j4HMl5BLJsjmN7X53UC7WQAuCY-kcmEMe6a9-0x9O23kuoRy3Nw7NVZVr6wngz7VVjhdfSDOp5Q0Z0J2mCSrUmbQ9yoLXQ8Ac-_W7vT9Fl83ajhP4diqzlW1s17y0D0AGcXqHPT9V7nf6ZsS-QQIAIV9prr0A-/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">great tits</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDyXy6-2cL9_kACQpIxHcKaGxrzUuQDT-N2khzkQLKxm8pRBxtlxnE6bvswK-j5KzW4U13osAQLV7P9WM2awq_Hsr9BsOhioUa3yu_as9F-8cs5XNQmo4rjev4JCbrgGLI_8daO-dcAwohkbwNuXAc3k5MRx6QUHSEoLCzjMRng4pp4SZwGiafrBulA1n/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDyXy6-2cL9_kACQpIxHcKaGxrzUuQDT-N2khzkQLKxm8pRBxtlxnE6bvswK-j5KzW4U13osAQLV7P9WM2awq_Hsr9BsOhioUa3yu_as9F-8cs5XNQmo4rjev4JCbrgGLI_8daO-dcAwohkbwNuXAc3k5MRx6QUHSEoLCzjMRng4pp4SZwGiafrBulA1n/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coal tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPjiVNY8ZW9d-Lio8yyo4OWWtECYx_N3ckhqroy2iqKeMy3N13jyn2p6FOzh8uxj6iTJSG5urpqrr31LsPYvtRDR_-6sJrXVRIUVDKNpN1aV2Z7F3GxRKUjYnAHcVv4AUyrnDEFj2ZMu2AIvXBKGImcRJJglM0OfHMzicqse0ayODrhcwU3CVWxgskcWo/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPjiVNY8ZW9d-Lio8yyo4OWWtECYx_N3ckhqroy2iqKeMy3N13jyn2p6FOzh8uxj6iTJSG5urpqrr31LsPYvtRDR_-6sJrXVRIUVDKNpN1aV2Z7F3GxRKUjYnAHcVv4AUyrnDEFj2ZMu2AIvXBKGImcRJJglM0OfHMzicqse0ayODrhcwU3CVWxgskcWo/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyoAT84mKZsOKA1lw9QXiIy2gCsWtQ8ng7v9MAXWTIQZPuOrDfnmHdyF7fYglSKnKLBjYxXGbr6nzyI75PtNN1_8r_mOK4b7vLGivguhi-4lnnw-w7gLP13g5Hm9FDSvkZzZLHGesq_A3tsWhcgXcGpgNa1PtwBj07-C5WMivoMGATj0F52q_jU2aaPNm/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyoAT84mKZsOKA1lw9QXiIy2gCsWtQ8ng7v9MAXWTIQZPuOrDfnmHdyF7fYglSKnKLBjYxXGbr6nzyI75PtNN1_8r_mOK4b7vLGivguhi-4lnnw-w7gLP13g5Hm9FDSvkZzZLHGesq_A3tsWhcgXcGpgNa1PtwBj07-C5WMivoMGATj0F52q_jU2aaPNm/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBBNQRdrVvGy319VG5TOljHLwDBVDTP6JZA_cc7lpIyxcX4-s_4m4LWJRvHlGdLEyZCAjZxicagP-N1YJlTxMfX3GaZ__Ol9qJYYm6XaOpx9NUWGBsDj1AuZq3ISgwvTly9FnE0f97k4bZF5L7dF8hBFJ_74UBlF7pg79mLrWKsU55dcSuvjcT919_8RD/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBBNQRdrVvGy319VG5TOljHLwDBVDTP6JZA_cc7lpIyxcX4-s_4m4LWJRvHlGdLEyZCAjZxicagP-N1YJlTxMfX3GaZ__Ol9qJYYm6XaOpx9NUWGBsDj1AuZq3ISgwvTly9FnE0f97k4bZF5L7dF8hBFJ_74UBlF7pg79mLrWKsU55dcSuvjcT919_8RD/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tree sparrow, blue tit, great tit<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So I did not linger as long as I would have liked. I thought it better to head along to the picnic table at Newbyth pond where I'd eat my sandwich. There was a nasty breeze off the water slapping me in the chops and I only ate one half before putting my pack back on and eating the second half on the move. It was just too cold for sitting still. And the wooden bench was green with damp mossy fuzz. The sandwich, which would have been excellent at room temperature (extra olives for punch although they were only cooking olives, not the good ones) was more like cardboard out the fridge and I forced it down quickly, along with a nutrition bar, happy to get back moving and hunting for birds.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxqc2tqFc8P4LDBM9FkBydYpVyCpvnqqMys9bjMgDp0ORT0k8M0bHY8E1b0YDlxcu35WKuHOpMcIgZ-rmbARI0LTp_SILzsYhbHXpgTuEDwm0DCb4cVUev-tUKFGmYTKY69F7G16oZKyxxPNe1iSUxz-yt6LyZSkIOCkEqtUDHSbguEh_AkFvnYIAmlTi/s2048/062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxqc2tqFc8P4LDBM9FkBydYpVyCpvnqqMys9bjMgDp0ORT0k8M0bHY8E1b0YDlxcu35WKuHOpMcIgZ-rmbARI0LTp_SILzsYhbHXpgTuEDwm0DCb4cVUev-tUKFGmYTKY69F7G16oZKyxxPNe1iSUxz-yt6LyZSkIOCkEqtUDHSbguEh_AkFvnYIAmlTi/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A small troupe of LTTs teased me while I sat at the sandwich bench. They kept flying close by and then before I got them in the frame they would hop or fly to another branch. It was very frustrating and in the end I gave up and focussed on eating. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd5DAlaG1897tB1iv0T3OFz7L6vyRqiN_8X3JytERZV1pRMVVlYNgXgdgIVShywgAopEvSd9XV457_5sWa8nRGEIVjBqeVYAK1_SxbneWpa-ugTJp0RJ66TlGiS4SBrL4xQBFVST_BDlGnKW39w0W29nPDWJCIW365lxRmr9TDPD_jDxFz7nKYQG1nFNG/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd5DAlaG1897tB1iv0T3OFz7L6vyRqiN_8X3JytERZV1pRMVVlYNgXgdgIVShywgAopEvSd9XV457_5sWa8nRGEIVjBqeVYAK1_SxbneWpa-ugTJp0RJ66TlGiS4SBrL4xQBFVST_BDlGnKW39w0W29nPDWJCIW365lxRmr9TDPD_jDxFz7nKYQG1nFNG/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really enjoyed going through Binning Wood. I forgot to mentally say<i> hi </i>to my dad who is buried there but I'm sure he understands and forgives. That was pretty much his <i>modus operandi</i> for a lot of the time while alive. It is a great place although I seem to have made it from one side to the other without taking any photo good enough to make the cut. The long lens doesn't do scenery, of which there was nearly enough to get the iPhone out. However I was still cold from lunch and needed to keep moving. I saw a jay but failed to follow where it went when it saw me. I heard a woodpecker at some point, maybe not here. I took a diagonal across to the Lochhouses road and was pleased there wasn't much in way of waterlogged ground underfoot. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3Qur-tN6Am_CuxOEQmTazKTeu1fHlFrXBy2OCZSva4Zzrx7quu12q2_bCt7aFefnqG8UuzKi3gPdXunwraMfJTf4_lAk8Zf7pUcTS02Lp_0A5j1RFwWE_Q60eEEwNUvV0XDJUa5Qhq7Q9_ADNcAfd-Kr5waI7hRILDxidsxM6Rdej-MhdrsTXFBsdKSF/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3Qur-tN6Am_CuxOEQmTazKTeu1fHlFrXBy2OCZSva4Zzrx7quu12q2_bCt7aFefnqG8UuzKi3gPdXunwraMfJTf4_lAk8Zf7pUcTS02Lp_0A5j1RFwWE_Q60eEEwNUvV0XDJUa5Qhq7Q9_ADNcAfd-Kr5waI7hRILDxidsxM6Rdej-MhdrsTXFBsdKSF/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />gang of chaffinches and goldfinches</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRVDvIXP2Dxqk7awPAicr7JzN7JrC8QhxbtRhlOesmzDvNrvqqx13nld6R4kEZKLk_2yi9azMKGlITeXCAo4-JqM7VQ9G2sJ2AREB5neMEjXrc-sIRn6N-fBClVQ8Em_jbrRfv2cTqI1mP97r0BbuwwITOBP3F7Fa_3PsuUfgjvk-EAhWBlW4siUfzWFr/s2048/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRVDvIXP2Dxqk7awPAicr7JzN7JrC8QhxbtRhlOesmzDvNrvqqx13nld6R4kEZKLk_2yi9azMKGlITeXCAo4-JqM7VQ9G2sJ2AREB5neMEjXrc-sIRn6N-fBClVQ8Em_jbrRfv2cTqI1mP97r0BbuwwITOBP3F7Fa_3PsuUfgjvk-EAhWBlW4siUfzWFr/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first of several birds-in-the-middle-of-the-road photos.<br />only bullfinch photo-ed today - saw and heard a few more</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCn1aRVwzsIKoasmMGAhMkhNKxr-tJv6TKffqSaOxpYtPuSmSNT-VtnX3JGdDGz0NZEftOCwmgj0J6BokxVZnSjziInJdQKaxkBOsIPvysqPF56aPSm13IWtbm0aP-0KqfzOfWAvRUTdshavBMcrHFha-v_YCPTFJGIFpo1IUoU_Fl63oDPsaHn-F6tgs/s2048/067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCn1aRVwzsIKoasmMGAhMkhNKxr-tJv6TKffqSaOxpYtPuSmSNT-VtnX3JGdDGz0NZEftOCwmgj0J6BokxVZnSjziInJdQKaxkBOsIPvysqPF56aPSm13IWtbm0aP-0KqfzOfWAvRUTdshavBMcrHFha-v_YCPTFJGIFpo1IUoU_Fl63oDPsaHn-F6tgs/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">don't look now <br />(film ref)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnDfngqG9ZPAq-pLfsB0-5n1RmSLJdPsWEB9-ki69-k3Ey0Ylp5oUGFgFWkRMBIbRTpO1rg7OlcOQzw13jC-OwecIKm9N3oqAWHq1XpbriS8XwPCl7mkUa2Ewl_nm8jjXKxH7552D_iij1uc2HuazuUknuVL-T_ZLADxeHdEmzYpTwzcRPxv7BU3qK_CN/s2048/068a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnDfngqG9ZPAq-pLfsB0-5n1RmSLJdPsWEB9-ki69-k3Ey0Ylp5oUGFgFWkRMBIbRTpO1rg7OlcOQzw13jC-OwecIKm9N3oqAWHq1XpbriS8XwPCl7mkUa2Ewl_nm8jjXKxH7552D_iij1uc2HuazuUknuVL-T_ZLADxeHdEmzYpTwzcRPxv7BU3qK_CN/s320/068a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another friendly robin</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKwAO74-2UGqPNLSex2gUgq5Snt-wJspem8usG3DU-6ITI57zdbIkTRw6457WvV2jQXyAYrC8fqtwBUZO7FcMFXy5t-TTTEG6qfNtoMHxJw3cmiEW6Ovn-gl9OR9kIBaFru-6gdeoMSmytKuQHCDZIUeoqM-pIIRmTTVtBQHO9ZoJT1AKIIdxmWCMnZ6/s2048/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKwAO74-2UGqPNLSex2gUgq5Snt-wJspem8usG3DU-6ITI57zdbIkTRw6457WvV2jQXyAYrC8fqtwBUZO7FcMFXy5t-TTTEG6qfNtoMHxJw3cmiEW6Ovn-gl9OR9kIBaFru-6gdeoMSmytKuQHCDZIUeoqM-pIIRmTTVtBQHO9ZoJT1AKIIdxmWCMnZ6/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another timid wren</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKfiArJ_SSXtYjNYdoNCoIKPVFuwiSJCWbrGJzetlV1trcsZO5YJ5LIxe-7qTLmnfjhDxE0Yxw1FNt4LHYENgwnTNCUT7RR3zJjFuJciVS6ZZmfLra-Q0gjPtJd-es2CRvt44OZFz90eKHj_GsGJivw4WUjMx1C0fPIg06lLZqS-DjLxNgiwI74eJoRL2/s2048/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKfiArJ_SSXtYjNYdoNCoIKPVFuwiSJCWbrGJzetlV1trcsZO5YJ5LIxe-7qTLmnfjhDxE0Yxw1FNt4LHYENgwnTNCUT7RR3zJjFuJciVS6ZZmfLra-Q0gjPtJd-es2CRvt44OZFz90eKHj_GsGJivw4WUjMx1C0fPIg06lLZqS-DjLxNgiwI74eJoRL2/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">treecreeper</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0EOpTe_bdfDA3oo0hwOcXW-7MZQPjlmd5c6z-1VfFt2sr05qAAiJEgLwr_savvPW1QsQjS7mAutpL2oylovRiu_5LlPdH403BEwCse13OxfbENmB32AsZhJ1GSmRXe24Uw74hngyrPF0yNPYRiVdoTR2-Sz-T_vlLLZh4h7YUiaiNq-XOyk29S_UtCB4/s2048/071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0EOpTe_bdfDA3oo0hwOcXW-7MZQPjlmd5c6z-1VfFt2sr05qAAiJEgLwr_savvPW1QsQjS7mAutpL2oylovRiu_5LlPdH403BEwCse13OxfbENmB32AsZhJ1GSmRXe24Uw74hngyrPF0yNPYRiVdoTR2-Sz-T_vlLLZh4h7YUiaiNq-XOyk29S_UtCB4/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0jLVrvmZeM3vZieExw_ydDWRsLqx29EM0cjx34KszLuy_mPMpniZIkRVxxcE9gR1xVM2vnb4AJqhNwf9XXiEo1nHYmf5u_w1ukCfzfVg-qsnq-56SeJYb1ihs39Q0sRIbO5w_c9dBygYfNJSeo-Zv9Bv34E1PRUTUiysmqM4TNbj-9n_jnPn9NCPM5Cd/s2048/072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0jLVrvmZeM3vZieExw_ydDWRsLqx29EM0cjx34KszLuy_mPMpniZIkRVxxcE9gR1xVM2vnb4AJqhNwf9XXiEo1nHYmf5u_w1ukCfzfVg-qsnq-56SeJYb1ihs39Q0sRIbO5w_c9dBygYfNJSeo-Zv9Bv34E1PRUTUiysmqM4TNbj-9n_jnPn9NCPM5Cd/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH9fLby59k1i_TTbonTYrd7lG6fkZ4Qn_AnFPiWHI4R-G6yTrg30vdm3f-SwTEYqYdXZg6ymc3DWd0w_41yQv042xwou60eDd-VFXkNDnSF7sVcXHHTxVAPzlESWDwNjj7V080xWtF1G6N7GGm0p-e22AL3NJ_mbHvpEaVXng3ahK6qvSUtvu44VRiBIR/s2048/073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH9fLby59k1i_TTbonTYrd7lG6fkZ4Qn_AnFPiWHI4R-G6yTrg30vdm3f-SwTEYqYdXZg6ymc3DWd0w_41yQv042xwou60eDd-VFXkNDnSF7sVcXHHTxVAPzlESWDwNjj7V080xWtF1G6N7GGm0p-e22AL3NJ_mbHvpEaVXng3ahK6qvSUtvu44VRiBIR/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">From a distance this vessel looked like it carried the name Pure Skagen which sounds like a phrase Irvine Welsh might use: <i>ah'd spent all the poppy ken, and I woke up Pure Skagen</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In fact it says Fure Skagen and is a tanker under the flag of the Faroe Isles. And it doesn't look like it is carrying anything from the way the bow is rising out the water more than the stern. C'mon guys you're doing my OCD nut in. Level the ballast.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFtLWE3w-euR5KFxEAhHdLKJnQ3opHbWPMRMhIEllfJIw8naIbUH798q1dSqaFIcflAhOAMeKadunkL-AVrY3BIrLIjiJcgIUNBPIAU4luNk7AxM0wUbuejcCq4RPHtqi5EiKE-wv2n8TD3OCDzN6KiAkR_DsR_JhlAIUGx56e8NGew-qZ6OdTgsDZRHn/s2048/074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFtLWE3w-euR5KFxEAhHdLKJnQ3opHbWPMRMhIEllfJIw8naIbUH798q1dSqaFIcflAhOAMeKadunkL-AVrY3BIrLIjiJcgIUNBPIAU4luNk7AxM0wUbuejcCq4RPHtqi5EiKE-wv2n8TD3OCDzN6KiAkR_DsR_JhlAIUGx56e8NGew-qZ6OdTgsDZRHn/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Again another place where I might have shot some scenery, but was too lazy to change lens or camera. The 100~400 can only do scenery at the other end of the beach, even at 100mm. So that's yer lot! Despite the wind in my teeth I quite enjoyed the run along the beach. However lack of any rocks and seaweed means the place was devoid of birds and living things to photograph. Blew the cobwebs away though. Had the place entirely to myself. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzMusKLftkpK0kaXJwZGzr91CODj5Jxfbm3Kjd7ZoJGZwq4nfEPTj6Iik4XC3zNx6uHD3MWYuTDGCC0Iti0x4zZm04ZcgmsWAs85VWmWsyl0ggpIlBp1KYFfnwsl_qL4Tvg0-oDeKtoiTGg2igXA-sF-JSRChjEl124USH3-awr_svh9s2n89JSldsfET/s2048/075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzMusKLftkpK0kaXJwZGzr91CODj5Jxfbm3Kjd7ZoJGZwq4nfEPTj6Iik4XC3zNx6uHD3MWYuTDGCC0Iti0x4zZm04ZcgmsWAs85VWmWsyl0ggpIlBp1KYFfnwsl_qL4Tvg0-oDeKtoiTGg2igXA-sF-JSRChjEl124USH3-awr_svh9s2n89JSldsfET/s320/075.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNjcssdGEhIac1e5wHFlQcr3lyODwqV2B-sUsZRPlz7Edrw58oedl1R2IwLwaHfzez-cFjs5vntVDqHZgxOB9d_ukKTP5uZVbTxcWTXxUYU2-k6K1mKd0pz_1Blm1wNru0v2jVLe3EcnHHTL-ngnwKIFzFb86VGLBvwf64ykXOtD-NTjOYj4LyX9bLBaP/s2048/076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNjcssdGEhIac1e5wHFlQcr3lyODwqV2B-sUsZRPlz7Edrw58oedl1R2IwLwaHfzez-cFjs5vntVDqHZgxOB9d_ukKTP5uZVbTxcWTXxUYU2-k6K1mKd0pz_1Blm1wNru0v2jVLe3EcnHHTL-ngnwKIFzFb86VGLBvwf64ykXOtD-NTjOYj4LyX9bLBaP/s320/076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwGF7aRWwOfBaJhwtBKJejLFrbxF1ALExLpdYq0GfmCE-85VFkaK7aXuFzTAUBVyO6YvL_Aq2aME9U9eXX9d5PcjjELNq7OpnbuWzejQQgPJLX5ROpCCIZxFtH6swM_iRb0Q2fa9U2gUmEMPgrwUm_daLta4_-lNgQH9dyBlCSL3Hl1Hfm_SywhVSQckF/s2048/077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwGF7aRWwOfBaJhwtBKJejLFrbxF1ALExLpdYq0GfmCE-85VFkaK7aXuFzTAUBVyO6YvL_Aq2aME9U9eXX9d5PcjjELNq7OpnbuWzejQQgPJLX5ROpCCIZxFtH6swM_iRb0Q2fa9U2gUmEMPgrwUm_daLta4_-lNgQH9dyBlCSL3Hl1Hfm_SywhVSQckF/s320/077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN5L_YZ6VRL1VCzmSGFqd1IiAFIDk15Z0RPyCIn8iSEUAFgExu0RaR3iw6Pw_yX2tprh48PeBI46TTxgIzTortSnBSybeGZHttonFJmhx_vw180pj1_YIRmrX839mF45rh7offAGps2Ai5-Bf9SSdU1xF08j3xKxZE2RPz9jjpCqR6fDcRK-ly3fM2qmf/s2048/079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN5L_YZ6VRL1VCzmSGFqd1IiAFIDk15Z0RPyCIn8iSEUAFgExu0RaR3iw6Pw_yX2tprh48PeBI46TTxgIzTortSnBSybeGZHttonFJmhx_vw180pj1_YIRmrX839mF45rh7offAGps2Ai5-Bf9SSdU1xF08j3xKxZE2RPz9jjpCqR6fDcRK-ly3fM2qmf/s320/079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaUtBx4LPREmPqI1iOhlvQoZwT3eAN9acv-69HCi8icFABjZllAP3kPV6p99nVbuqoJpWphTZVIlk5wC14hDJPlUoxCZht9_PFOCKS8q1jfcPxu7ZC6SBwcZd8jpKYJY-EoMrRdIYsVWwwXqbsrpYywpr6wBWwyYYBgWwjO9hIkhT4ojtUMVfUPKsssXx/s2048/080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaUtBx4LPREmPqI1iOhlvQoZwT3eAN9acv-69HCi8icFABjZllAP3kPV6p99nVbuqoJpWphTZVIlk5wC14hDJPlUoxCZht9_PFOCKS8q1jfcPxu7ZC6SBwcZd8jpKYJY-EoMrRdIYsVWwwXqbsrpYywpr6wBWwyYYBgWwjO9hIkhT4ojtUMVfUPKsssXx/s320/080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">perfectly acceptable turbine placement<br />better than in the hills (IMO)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There were some small birds keeping frustratingly far ahead of me at Peffer Burn. I took some bad photos. From the one below I'd hazard they were rock pipits. Couldn't be sure and care even less, the wee bastards. There was also a curlew who buggered off without leaving any decent photos. Often it is much easier to get pics of these birds where they come into more contact with humans (Musselburgh, Aberlady, Gullane, Yellowcraigs) because they largely ignore humans who pose no threat. So although I love remote and empty places the birds there often require a bit more careful wooing.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H-cRyiUPzG6H-l-FPpWvqUWPFV74Vz4J2Wve3qbJMFsrCq9rLX-R_IgknpQs9WoPv2IWInzmsKvgaDeuvCsvGeRcV16wT1kNuubkvNiGi9t69-_4Ah700Df2fbWz8v26GvV5_jDRt1sTqs2WVjCcFk2xuzW4NYWci7gQBIthqk5hEw6imFE0s1mwiWOm/s2048/081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H-cRyiUPzG6H-l-FPpWvqUWPFV74Vz4J2Wve3qbJMFsrCq9rLX-R_IgknpQs9WoPv2IWInzmsKvgaDeuvCsvGeRcV16wT1kNuubkvNiGi9t69-_4Ah700Df2fbWz8v26GvV5_jDRt1sTqs2WVjCcFk2xuzW4NYWci7gQBIthqk5hEw6imFE0s1mwiWOm/s320/081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rock pipit?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXQaccv202q5SWk3wSSWnpXtjO3U9w43R5814qKAICNRFEkowhC9_c-bDjCBNL-TDRrgczDhtGEJkCk83vSMz-vUpGQIbZb_L579Z7AIKQd3WgqMGW4cOLwMeGMk5AciW5-oqMbDQ5H5KKdsWitDORKb4TkL2v7asOaNvBUV2BAPug5OWJKLPbNk4cGin/s2048/083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXQaccv202q5SWk3wSSWnpXtjO3U9w43R5814qKAICNRFEkowhC9_c-bDjCBNL-TDRrgczDhtGEJkCk83vSMz-vUpGQIbZb_L579Z7AIKQd3WgqMGW4cOLwMeGMk5AciW5-oqMbDQ5H5KKdsWitDORKb4TkL2v7asOaNvBUV2BAPug5OWJKLPbNk4cGin/s320/083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the concrete road Tam built <br />and an oystercatcher holding up the traffic</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-RijApCJyHSq5jWxDgupFqPBXUbdYPM7jghp3Bh3rT5ZfJC8plrAkKBPHVsQDWq5ITvX61X041Vz6KmCQeSh6-Lr8_AAqbx_6PbQdKiuQsyus0QLIAHgNP8XdyJN_znqODNQ5RBIH8W8OtzYnVrB4g4vUaHwnTR1-5Os17o9CkamdyqMiBCik3ls6EJG/s2048/084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-RijApCJyHSq5jWxDgupFqPBXUbdYPM7jghp3Bh3rT5ZfJC8plrAkKBPHVsQDWq5ITvX61X041Vz6KmCQeSh6-Lr8_AAqbx_6PbQdKiuQsyus0QLIAHgNP8XdyJN_znqODNQ5RBIH8W8OtzYnVrB4g4vUaHwnTR1-5Os17o9CkamdyqMiBCik3ls6EJG/s320/084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pigeons on what I'm guessing is a grain dryer</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-q0nnhzX6zBuo6REFszk5xDYXu2iSFPIUfq2hlgbzmp0zejADxgbqgE-JEyDIEL9v-Z7vAnN5catAb3D7L33vPY2OiVfsKPr2MIkyvoowCqQuXqkG-K9OcNt7h5y7AtfbsgTUTNjeCC2WSMcLTVUwp-ZVLtvZ9ATCy3TBBelpIz5ZjShCZnYg3J9Uncz/s2048/085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-q0nnhzX6zBuo6REFszk5xDYXu2iSFPIUfq2hlgbzmp0zejADxgbqgE-JEyDIEL9v-Z7vAnN5catAb3D7L33vPY2OiVfsKPr2MIkyvoowCqQuXqkG-K9OcNt7h5y7AtfbsgTUTNjeCC2WSMcLTVUwp-ZVLtvZ9ATCy3TBBelpIz5ZjShCZnYg3J9Uncz/s320/085.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At first I was a bit hacked off Mr Farmer was spoiling this famous view of the Bass Rock with his tractor and load. It was only much later I realised that isn't a trailer of topsoil but full of dirty carrots. The John Deere green in sunlight is quite vivid though, so I'll let him off. He seemed to be working hard up on top of the carrots pulling a tarp over the load. I mentally challenged him to see who could get up the road to Auldhame first. (He might not have even been going that way but that was the way he was pointed and it would have been no easy feat to have turned around on that narrow road.) I won. Yeees! Although I was breaking no speed records by this point.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12GSD1pImSM73g0ou7VunV1njSlk-Y93ckrLV6tMxDJhM9RC_cD1sCNAc-T2U1fiF03n_NhWQGLlygaKu6qFSv8NXbKph0wSyZSH3ECZrBZtHbjKQ3at3i-qtelF_bN3C1pC6RdtbkA3h4q_F5QsEssN9cHsxxOVfkkuxRTKMhqLYASOBrXJvgnSnUDXF/s2048/086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12GSD1pImSM73g0ou7VunV1njSlk-Y93ckrLV6tMxDJhM9RC_cD1sCNAc-T2U1fiF03n_NhWQGLlygaKu6qFSv8NXbKph0wSyZSH3ECZrBZtHbjKQ3at3i-qtelF_bN3C1pC6RdtbkA3h4q_F5QsEssN9cHsxxOVfkkuxRTKMhqLYASOBrXJvgnSnUDXF/s320/086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPqYPcOFRfMhuieqcNgaaL81dZCaZk7fJmNe-DQKtF-PmHFemHeSXjv4_GFcRclW8FZLljWm75PPXmU_8KfPVXdIsAsazWx5CAzVc9e2Em07Jh1duy7EwkK5OyxLUcG84GXjdu42qoUr-YUgKdxj-Ux0e2Z53dKta_LK_GIB4LpzCx78sfJe-qnYUt8k9/s2048/087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPqYPcOFRfMhuieqcNgaaL81dZCaZk7fJmNe-DQKtF-PmHFemHeSXjv4_GFcRclW8FZLljWm75PPXmU_8KfPVXdIsAsazWx5CAzVc9e2Em07Jh1duy7EwkK5OyxLUcG84GXjdu42qoUr-YUgKdxj-Ux0e2Z53dKta_LK_GIB4LpzCx78sfJe-qnYUt8k9/s320/087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">well, why did it?<br />(third in a series of three)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAsSTpQiJeN4e8dzBN3_lCqLnNkVWk2ZMLIi2Vs9dSMqclJa6Z1nwhrmQ8Rf4Bf3ZSq0_XvZn0anceV3H5i4aQcD8Pei3vqh37wRgSq_zlacIxOpNyNuwGVHlONouQmxellU244l-BWE35VKNv4YMrku29lxgrpn3LLoCb1-kJlc3ZRCL44mmfrV0aGF1/s2048/088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAsSTpQiJeN4e8dzBN3_lCqLnNkVWk2ZMLIi2Vs9dSMqclJa6Z1nwhrmQ8Rf4Bf3ZSq0_XvZn0anceV3H5i4aQcD8Pei3vqh37wRgSq_zlacIxOpNyNuwGVHlONouQmxellU244l-BWE35VKNv4YMrku29lxgrpn3LLoCb1-kJlc3ZRCL44mmfrV0aGF1/s320/088.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The chicken was unwilling to engage in philosophical banter about its reasons for traversing the thoroughfare, but I was pleased it stood on the fence on the other side, for a couple more photos. It was quite the handsome model although I should have left it at that and not gone in for a close-up. Their heads do not benefit from scrutiny, as it seems they are mostly made from <i>scrotum</i>.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1Xk26VjtJs3xV9wau2GpyL4rJRJbUmN-UinWroyaFNppaJ3CfUwSh59aTApDNwgQ-0AI6aWBSrmVEkhPKPLTLBpvVjFDW6kqvIQ_5cmYlyHGY1Dj5apTLKDP4fMTFoQK_VLzeIT1u94CDVnCoLu07M9buNcytSSFYIzyEPKU5amC4GdM6QrZzU_vlyTp/s2048/089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1Xk26VjtJs3xV9wau2GpyL4rJRJbUmN-UinWroyaFNppaJ3CfUwSh59aTApDNwgQ-0AI6aWBSrmVEkhPKPLTLBpvVjFDW6kqvIQ_5cmYlyHGY1Dj5apTLKDP4fMTFoQK_VLzeIT1u94CDVnCoLu07M9buNcytSSFYIzyEPKU5amC4GdM6QrZzU_vlyTp/s320/089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTYrBccJFu635_ZD9nOrAP1c0Z50QJhsnALI3wecs7VQ7e4mxaZX4RSO5loX6TYnVrECx9XYr6pq7TBZ0EHFABZViy4cvZx6lG-dxGX4bgpJiT2B8J9Ntkrbg9x0z3JlwUNTUWSslnsnpmIrhuvWWi8FyTClDsU_l01hVJ6rDe4kYQxH_6g4x0ggxPGLJ/s2048/090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTYrBccJFu635_ZD9nOrAP1c0Z50QJhsnALI3wecs7VQ7e4mxaZX4RSO5loX6TYnVrECx9XYr6pq7TBZ0EHFABZViy4cvZx6lG-dxGX4bgpJiT2B8J9Ntkrbg9x0z3JlwUNTUWSslnsnpmIrhuvWWi8FyTClDsU_l01hVJ6rDe4kYQxH_6g4x0ggxPGLJ/s320/090.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">too much information</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsnWoXh4OyLx92w-DR7-8400QcK4jk8vuAkr9Jw5G6FBANb4TIfuhBK_2QJF5Ks_FM7DwogWcW9Ux4ZYvAWEhCtlU9GVKTTJuNjbr3q8PUK4yyt86FpTKfIdKhyZP2hIaC1uCSwBlbe2rFh8GbHgbt926usJe_TbUsIPqMuIx0VdVPyAbtYVRyn5uU64m/s2048/091.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsnWoXh4OyLx92w-DR7-8400QcK4jk8vuAkr9Jw5G6FBANb4TIfuhBK_2QJF5Ks_FM7DwogWcW9Ux4ZYvAWEhCtlU9GVKTTJuNjbr3q8PUK4yyt86FpTKfIdKhyZP2hIaC1uCSwBlbe2rFh8GbHgbt926usJe_TbUsIPqMuIx0VdVPyAbtYVRyn5uU64m/s320/091.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bass rock lightbulb</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wsoHLkGGxMEeLjhZSKqOYw8LMmVmHiTN9Y85DC53UhgZcb092NzKqbGi2oD6tEvZgsVPYJnKA5sxWwuQ9rD3gyhBzcSeujwmsI0RrGw2JEgNCMEcTSsEpcMtNia01KSdtYoN3LrszayQxpm_rhnbT1aIGA3MQhlAnWujfB-3Z9nlZ7NTJrpVDz6lOKO9/s2048/092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wsoHLkGGxMEeLjhZSKqOYw8LMmVmHiTN9Y85DC53UhgZcb092NzKqbGi2oD6tEvZgsVPYJnKA5sxWwuQ9rD3gyhBzcSeujwmsI0RrGw2JEgNCMEcTSsEpcMtNia01KSdtYoN3LrszayQxpm_rhnbT1aIGA3MQhlAnWujfB-3Z9nlZ7NTJrpVDz6lOKO9/s320/092.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If Tam still bides here he will be around 88years old. I was pondering about this as I ran up the concrete road from Scoughall, and was pleased to see the sign still here. Stones from that beach were used to reinforce the concrete which was poured in 20 yard shuttered sections by Tam. I bumped into Tam (age 81) in 2015 towards the end of running this circuit. Blog linked <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2015/12/before-storm.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I took a number of very similar photos in that blog (as in this one) from the top of NB Law! Tam was straight backed and in good health back in 2015 after a life of hard work, but a lot can happen in 7 years in your eighties.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrpeU4THII5wsVdOz2Io92caAVO9DUULPfzF9PqnYyoPxou9BnWo83XXRrmueOWOaSRB7XZ7J9U1I5haUNvm6yO3DNQxotRbXezZugM8nbRAKUjXLNbho2wsJyeRtdWl7TxLQcMZjw2zSUwk3F-3pRANawVJPw5ftMiPFkaFF4Au4lOHfdzLq0T5ICfxH/s2048/093.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrpeU4THII5wsVdOz2Io92caAVO9DUULPfzF9PqnYyoPxou9BnWo83XXRrmueOWOaSRB7XZ7J9U1I5haUNvm6yO3DNQxotRbXezZugM8nbRAKUjXLNbho2wsJyeRtdWl7TxLQcMZjw2zSUwk3F-3pRANawVJPw5ftMiPFkaFF4Au4lOHfdzLq0T5ICfxH/s320/093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking across the countryside to Traprain Law</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiAz4rTnroe-Nbf6Eft2H3XaVZ9RoJujErcZ6ZueJnVsYvmpYnFp19Gl7lnwD43whsAKBOZHaorgHKJH52fvl5P8eO5GDrMstwDFZs2c9jta6pNXSu1OJc7Bu-sEekElHSvJq2-MVOGTZ4qXUBA2PYfufhXttjvEstKwb4oLJ2tCDZNBcgnBTBjRWp4Xx/s2048/094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="2048" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiAz4rTnroe-Nbf6Eft2H3XaVZ9RoJujErcZ6ZueJnVsYvmpYnFp19Gl7lnwD43whsAKBOZHaorgHKJH52fvl5P8eO5GDrMstwDFZs2c9jta6pNXSu1OJc7Bu-sEekElHSvJq2-MVOGTZ4qXUBA2PYfufhXttjvEstKwb4oLJ2tCDZNBcgnBTBjRWp4Xx/s320/094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihvTLvllJCdwtMSlShFnfMq9kqLbLRrHmRLtpH-hIAauWwY5Uskdzy2_g6UYTi7nQKcO-0NHEtko2AJDRF0ty9SPNiS1GMZFDTedRoi_iYFLC1Ycva51vHL6fBI0RZFv0ZAC6bCdkef0aFUJJ1yaB370xAH1CSEiA8ox8PMi8PeT437IY1Tbcs74nVm7f/s2048/095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihvTLvllJCdwtMSlShFnfMq9kqLbLRrHmRLtpH-hIAauWwY5Uskdzy2_g6UYTi7nQKcO-0NHEtko2AJDRF0ty9SPNiS1GMZFDTedRoi_iYFLC1Ycva51vHL6fBI0RZFv0ZAC6bCdkef0aFUJJ1yaB370xAH1CSEiA8ox8PMi8PeT437IY1Tbcs74nVm7f/s320/095.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a favourite sign (there are 2 of them, double sided)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV_Z97nfu3OTkAOAO9PkqHX9MkS84kPEzC1vtND2eVpgcungRFzr6VquCn_J5zrzeCwCqM5hYGn0jyJr42X300S9r9G7iacoPnXSF5wERhtU9iiyJLo79XkDfmJKItcmrAsP5yf1_IbKsHs00MVY-4mQ-2XT6q4YqDw9EGi6yq_9VQjyvCpfOkfOOSKaL/s2048/096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV_Z97nfu3OTkAOAO9PkqHX9MkS84kPEzC1vtND2eVpgcungRFzr6VquCn_J5zrzeCwCqM5hYGn0jyJr42X300S9r9G7iacoPnXSF5wERhtU9iiyJLo79XkDfmJKItcmrAsP5yf1_IbKsHs00MVY-4mQ-2XT6q4YqDw9EGi6yq_9VQjyvCpfOkfOOSKaL/s320/096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFW2iYO2_WCKlD3Fehj4GYMYc_y0DAu1lDXNXx28eq5O_7l2JxdFEnDv2quOcKifHz6NYwcBai22LWmGNtbZtHksTBjIKZVXmhiyD8WwHGxhyMqdA8BS1lIynC_92iuACSroqavqGVEmt-TyFmpHw4yUfkPjSWMKN70d6shadlCsGFBa8orv_pi3uyiKl/s2048/097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFW2iYO2_WCKlD3Fehj4GYMYc_y0DAu1lDXNXx28eq5O_7l2JxdFEnDv2quOcKifHz6NYwcBai22LWmGNtbZtHksTBjIKZVXmhiyD8WwHGxhyMqdA8BS1lIynC_92iuACSroqavqGVEmt-TyFmpHw4yUfkPjSWMKN70d6shadlCsGFBa8orv_pi3uyiKl/s320/097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUShehEBlF73l-rIxULZ85ULA69eizxAveEgn9HHuiH1AKtr7f8HcZqvOvluuF88q7bzVLKQASCwozdKigSj-nljGPN0DJPcLnwUEdEd1Qrh6z1givHNB64SGh3NyFIy7vkRexI_rBBcuVOXWGQ6rqv-mJ7CPtEwrnj2dTP7dwXu9LyBvAPBzXP2sgw7RZ/s2048/098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUShehEBlF73l-rIxULZ85ULA69eizxAveEgn9HHuiH1AKtr7f8HcZqvOvluuF88q7bzVLKQASCwozdKigSj-nljGPN0DJPcLnwUEdEd1Qrh6z1givHNB64SGh3NyFIy7vkRexI_rBBcuVOXWGQ6rqv-mJ7CPtEwrnj2dTP7dwXu9LyBvAPBzXP2sgw7RZ/s320/098.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's usually something exotic and worth a photo in the farm just before you hit the main road (A198). Today it was some black woolly sheep and a splendid ram. However the light was mostly gone by then. The all-day sunshine didn't quite pan out and the sun was behind clouds for much of the late afternoon. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0qqrVxW4_FkGNqS8ulZyuQh-SrDgWa7VFmr8B6wuRNqC2PdR_gZOd6buEI0YFoSilQvsTIiJFBfNkpBVlL78_vd-fiMM3JlwxD8mGqy-IMBQfPImXLmce0n6G4d7teuLq5ccYd_xQNYHusS-K8P0w08rkRjEscPBMIz5qLIB8mLEqRlKE4IXZSvk0z4/s2048/099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0qqrVxW4_FkGNqS8ulZyuQh-SrDgWa7VFmr8B6wuRNqC2PdR_gZOd6buEI0YFoSilQvsTIiJFBfNkpBVlL78_vd-fiMM3JlwxD8mGqy-IMBQfPImXLmce0n6G4d7teuLq5ccYd_xQNYHusS-K8P0w08rkRjEscPBMIz5qLIB8mLEqRlKE4IXZSvk0z4/s320/099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQgtQpHUgeld_Di0m1XBvpWT3FTKJ_NidbYuo08CqVjWVPXDtKBp-Voevhb8cIiIGyp6aP577qnL33hI6AnAYvmHl6ePz97BMQ-OPX9EcMTRz4XiWXQFcfPtg9iOrnRI_oFHgkMv_JiHHL6ZUxRdru3wZ74m9zAEVCdwlqVEcy7tf-4Z1vMV1O87-D0Tl/s2048/100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQgtQpHUgeld_Di0m1XBvpWT3FTKJ_NidbYuo08CqVjWVPXDtKBp-Voevhb8cIiIGyp6aP577qnL33hI6AnAYvmHl6ePz97BMQ-OPX9EcMTRz4XiWXQFcfPtg9iOrnRI_oFHgkMv_JiHHL6ZUxRdru3wZ74m9zAEVCdwlqVEcy7tf-4Z1vMV1O87-D0Tl/s320/100.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Craigleith<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was jogging and walking back into NB when, around Tesco's roundabout I saw an Edinburgh bus loitering. I quickly weighed up the options: the (16.20) train was not for another 45 minutes and although quicker (approx 30mins), the slower bus surely won't take more than an hour and get me home sooner. Although I had a return train ticket already paid for, the bus would be free with my Saltire Card. I jumped on. Due to a few road works the bus took more than 90minutes to Abbeyhill and if the train had been on time would likely have got me home sooner. As Oor Wullie says, ye cannae win 'em aw. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Great day out though for the most part and although nothing outstanding in the wildlife department, enough to keep me focussed and pushing on with what was not much short of a 20mile day. I could certainly feel it the next day. Although everything was working fine (sciatica was not aggravated) I felt wiped out, the way I used to if I'd done a 30+miler. And although I got up early for the next day sunny forecast, it never materialised and instead I spent the day at home tweaking these hundred photos and writing up this blog. Feeling my age, haha!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiwcZWogdw28HsmfbrFk_rtUKd-5AL2OLa0NngnmR1FU9LsDDuCMR5OVJ7QuN-BPJRcAVHN8mSULVWKoEo5ZLuLNHKFOqE-skx7dghAgl3uoUKsPCGvIc3kajQkYQyHVIlvSpNbyIKcWoPWAFoAsAaKmDaDySy_fEsZ_zFySy0r5yA3Zm0jksD3ii6OMp/s1394/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1394" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiwcZWogdw28HsmfbrFk_rtUKd-5AL2OLa0NngnmR1FU9LsDDuCMR5OVJ7QuN-BPJRcAVHN8mSULVWKoEo5ZLuLNHKFOqE-skx7dghAgl3uoUKsPCGvIc3kajQkYQyHVIlvSpNbyIKcWoPWAFoAsAaKmDaDySy_fEsZ_zFySy0r5yA3Zm0jksD3ii6OMp/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">17.4miles before I caught the bus, <br />plus 1mile to Waverley and 2/3rds back from Abbeyhill</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-40500542418318724272024-02-04T08:10:00.000-08:002024-02-04T09:42:27.937-08:00age and grace<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOMBfYFSF7ush270EETJ7NtKd6Jjk8yl5LuF-ZikQO91EHPFMu70X9xR503pbSHBVM-TCUgtDlUEAlpNPcsGfJjYbY4e_Cj_ryIfhyphenhyphenas-RK38q4ymJdPKL4ki56m9cAjYsyxs4ny-Es9W3OrgE6BcxORg0AxrlLaNK2zhajLzJE1XG6CRKkPWfUPP1ud2/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOMBfYFSF7ush270EETJ7NtKd6Jjk8yl5LuF-ZikQO91EHPFMu70X9xR503pbSHBVM-TCUgtDlUEAlpNPcsGfJjYbY4e_Cj_ryIfhyphenhyphenas-RK38q4ymJdPKL4ki56m9cAjYsyxs4ny-Es9W3OrgE6BcxORg0AxrlLaNK2zhajLzJE1XG6CRKkPWfUPP1ud2/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">3rd Feb</div><div style="text-align: left;">Parkrun was cancelled this week due to the Winter Warmer half / 10k / 5k being held in Holyrood. Probably just as well as I am not fit yet but might have been tempted to run parkrun and the effort required to avoid deep shame could easily have made things worse. Whereas recovery is going okay-ish. Not great but I tentatively did a speed workout and didn't make anything tangibly worse.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02zXcnMOVFrnPtxr5qEH7cHSz5OHpBf9c0nGPQ7bw2aTuFpIwQObBWZ0169-XD7JgRqvw_BT2PrXlcGnKG-5PGLXx9OZ4BZDpxCu155ipzaGdxr6Ekr6LJZ4mHjVc04pxvESj87bgtT-r8gr-xIGMEbfFS1kB-zPWP2yjQSIq4CglZsFlqQbhhgggSwZZ/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="2048" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02zXcnMOVFrnPtxr5qEH7cHSz5OHpBf9c0nGPQ7bw2aTuFpIwQObBWZ0169-XD7JgRqvw_BT2PrXlcGnKG-5PGLXx9OZ4BZDpxCu155ipzaGdxr6Ekr6LJZ4mHjVc04pxvESj87bgtT-r8gr-xIGMEbfFS1kB-zPWP2yjQSIq4CglZsFlqQbhhgggSwZZ/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The weather was unexpectedly bright. Cold as anything but a bit of cheerful sunshine which helped. If I'd known it was going to be like this I'd probably have gone on a photo safari and missed the workout. I find working up the enthusiasm for running tough these days although almost always enjoy it once I'm out and going. We did a slow warm up today, Mary's rules, and I nearly froze to death before we got underway. It probably helped though and we didn't push the pace for the first couple of miles through the park to the Meadows.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EIyGrvXKNOCTHF5ci6ldV2bPRzX8WPuHzW-vT9czE6cAeeVnJBFOQEoejabQaEJ5GvGSfSBMXZWFgQ8VIdf_aZe11digXBYX5nrIDyx1NQG9Vm1HwnKKp7AYsJv5yGSsvNCdWDfmENWyDooXveLYgu6j3H29bR-tZ_L2PHiXZ6vInkOgIrMo2LO1ncE_/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EIyGrvXKNOCTHF5ci6ldV2bPRzX8WPuHzW-vT9czE6cAeeVnJBFOQEoejabQaEJ5GvGSfSBMXZWFgQ8VIdf_aZe11digXBYX5nrIDyx1NQG9Vm1HwnKKp7AYsJv5yGSsvNCdWDfmENWyDooXveLYgu6j3H29bR-tZ_L2PHiXZ6vInkOgIrMo2LO1ncE_/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmppJki2Q-1ZnRli4OuiWRMutJYKuLDCDtgn418MWB1oYiuqzBgIBAOTk6NojshWVVRv2SaVqTRK1FoeTCFITcmQjHYPqpGRgz9evppB0ORCz6AM4LHcIeFq0d7jz-Ldhoo0cD8yoerF6yIGez9UViNiUByp1BmNAqdeEYtQ2LG7KtSm00csPrTakn0iYL/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmppJki2Q-1ZnRli4OuiWRMutJYKuLDCDtgn418MWB1oYiuqzBgIBAOTk6NojshWVVRv2SaVqTRK1FoeTCFITcmQjHYPqpGRgz9evppB0ORCz6AM4LHcIeFq0d7jz-Ldhoo0cD8yoerF6yIGez9UViNiUByp1BmNAqdeEYtQ2LG7KtSm00csPrTakn0iYL/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJjB5ONes6oxVuGEAcu_QTnbuTTjhexq0Z8hLhB_32dj35HIaWa35MC-P9ajv5Wcser07GmDeCZ1j3sA-ZRAZ7o_qBCG1LIHfrg5XsPaSjTi2BHuRkM43nwFG17lxwT5ygKkZpuEA2XtbR7iMx9Ddbb_rYTCtqwGcOz7d9Lo2-Wr7uU4wT2UhpTLnCXWl/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJjB5ONes6oxVuGEAcu_QTnbuTTjhexq0Z8hLhB_32dj35HIaWa35MC-P9ajv5Wcser07GmDeCZ1j3sA-ZRAZ7o_qBCG1LIHfrg5XsPaSjTi2BHuRkM43nwFG17lxwT5ygKkZpuEA2XtbR7iMx9Ddbb_rYTCtqwGcOz7d9Lo2-Wr7uU4wT2UhpTLnCXWl/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdrO-GX7P5zcXHDB7Pnby00JnY9d-rEKks4Sh5GaWMQxoQE6VOeSD_tjk_nyKBbCv16Zr918AE0IZ6w7BY-SUuBRjyY7AgLyy1sgERrqpYvf_VuomgfxlaSjDNX_2BYE5CCV1fyv0ExEZI5cMMHeWYlbs0pWLK99Cvo4geLOmXi-ttCurDWq-3osGpHGO/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdrO-GX7P5zcXHDB7Pnby00JnY9d-rEKks4Sh5GaWMQxoQE6VOeSD_tjk_nyKBbCv16Zr918AE0IZ6w7BY-SUuBRjyY7AgLyy1sgERrqpYvf_VuomgfxlaSjDNX_2BYE5CCV1fyv0ExEZI5cMMHeWYlbs0pWLK99Cvo4geLOmXi-ttCurDWq-3osGpHGO/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_t4213rJkGkvbKQ5yV8fHHh6WzPy8KsWLe92GhIKxcaMbPcLGUUnqAr7UbFvU1lWhkbWnFh2pVjJJHt7L8nZSEm9NhLcSYQi6IedBDkGSHTv5Q3xoF-5XjOJwrqJ3J5tU8crXLM97JlhQWYFBn0s0kIRrAys9uEJ5yfQoOianev36OmCgKuwJoxTiAH_/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_t4213rJkGkvbKQ5yV8fHHh6WzPy8KsWLe92GhIKxcaMbPcLGUUnqAr7UbFvU1lWhkbWnFh2pVjJJHt7L8nZSEm9NhLcSYQi6IedBDkGSHTv5Q3xoF-5XjOJwrqJ3J5tU8crXLM97JlhQWYFBn0s0kIRrAys9uEJ5yfQoOianev36OmCgKuwJoxTiAH_/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeQSrW0BgSvkXO2yav7bLkFanAOl1HQM0MRlH3YBu8_vnUG0w0md41CbMRY0WE6esvP9JWFGnBz9-AfYxpYwYykq7hJOw9LC7aJ3HnB8jxwup59-z-WAbpqHI5QvRcpXMKBD8JTsFbQg7YoaWpDV0DgbmKrHg0Nqk50tUt8Kg5Mhefi016HYSGpw1A9os/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeQSrW0BgSvkXO2yav7bLkFanAOl1HQM0MRlH3YBu8_vnUG0w0md41CbMRY0WE6esvP9JWFGnBz9-AfYxpYwYykq7hJOw9LC7aJ3HnB8jxwup59-z-WAbpqHI5QvRcpXMKBD8JTsFbQg7YoaWpDV0DgbmKrHg0Nqk50tUt8Kg5Mhefi016HYSGpw1A9os/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a blue tit peeping awaywhile we waited <br />at the lights at the Meadows</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoTDnxHo4z9TqYLOPXjGBIZJneX3wVITQFktNIM5Gg79CqWi6h7PPiSWKbiOIU8vABHT7gag0iShnanuoLFBfg2Gq2nB985lYVHpG_llK8Ckp-k2CByNADKATDNAljxc8h4da-T-EqVJhmanX-qiWS7UuYo_LsOC5Gz0VuSj9ebeo3nNKJ9KBKjTQqP_E/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoTDnxHo4z9TqYLOPXjGBIZJneX3wVITQFktNIM5Gg79CqWi6h7PPiSWKbiOIU8vABHT7gag0iShnanuoLFBfg2Gq2nB985lYVHpG_llK8Ckp-k2CByNADKATDNAljxc8h4da-T-EqVJhmanX-qiWS7UuYo_LsOC5Gz0VuSj9ebeo3nNKJ9KBKjTQqP_E/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today's workout was the same as last time here: 2 minutes hard, 2 mins recovery. But 8 of each rather than the 6 we did last time. On that occasion I ran near to Mary and near to her pace to avoid aggravating my sciatica injury. (I had the exact same problem last year, nearly to the day, and point the finger at the cold shit weather. (Time I emigrated.)) This time Mary "suggested" I don't try and regroup during the 2.5 laps. Last time we completed a loop of the Meadows after the third fast 2mins so I knew it would be around 2.6 laps. I wasn't going significantly faster than Mary but somewhere between 6.15 and 7.15m/m was a decent workout without hurting my leg/glute. I could feel it, but it didn't feel like it was doing harm. We passed David M (opposite direction) on the first lap, a wave and a smile!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijA143nFJnvG14adug6ZMyqBpiAxwpguvGqJmHUqa9fLTFb4jJI6-mdlUWpnXa3-eCvLineIv3uJ3DK0as-8gE_zAV4Tx17v6GyPf5vV6Wu8lPcFfzcWxoMm2PfHaIT3f14HyfXC3F6rENKgCaauEO5pwEZvLqjydsDXB0xPgQXSUn1Et3ZcYC-OFbU3JM/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijA143nFJnvG14adug6ZMyqBpiAxwpguvGqJmHUqa9fLTFb4jJI6-mdlUWpnXa3-eCvLineIv3uJ3DK0as-8gE_zAV4Tx17v6GyPf5vV6Wu8lPcFfzcWxoMm2PfHaIT3f14HyfXC3F6rENKgCaauEO5pwEZvLqjydsDXB0xPgQXSUn1Et3ZcYC-OFbU3JM/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">did you spot the dog?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I saw the above image on the first lap (during recovery interval) and photographed it on the second. Juxtaposition of old and new. I felt a (contrived) kinship with the old building surrounded by the newer flashier faster buildings. Okay they aren't faster. And most of the folk jogging round the Meadows were not going at any kind of swift pace. I overtook a couple of the moderate ones who were asking for it! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made a point of not running to exhaustion or at a pace that I couldn't sustain, and really quite enjoyed the session. I felt a bit tired at the end but happy to jog home. But didn't have any extra to go out with the camera afterwards. The hardest part of the process is being able to accept the limitations of getting older and slower. And to enjoy the same business at a reduced capacity. If I were (even more) bone headed I'd walk away from the activity knowing my best performances were all in the past, however running is not just good for events, it is very good for your health. It is almost obligatory to go forward into one's latter years doing as active a life as possible. It is hard enough being reasonably fit and eating a healthy diet, never mind letting that slip, putting on weight and becoming a couch potato. It is good having Mary's influence as she is far keener than I am. She is the proper runner in our household - although I may have won more prizes - and encourages me out the door when I am feeling indifferent about it. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Nb66C3w4KBSz3-sI88Oj0oeCu5lwY_jLSxQSz9X-jHicsd9pRf46iB06OhFYucmnqMY3iWuRuf61SA2Aip96RoRYc_Ju2_QaBG3beGyGa8M7JBTlAfL5ElTGMS3yEsfk4nLx-Ml3s3HZM6Q-Moe5E8DCI-ED0tdPRBMNj0Wj_QFPjWOYwhScRPUEr3Y/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Nb66C3w4KBSz3-sI88Oj0oeCu5lwY_jLSxQSz9X-jHicsd9pRf46iB06OhFYucmnqMY3iWuRuf61SA2Aip96RoRYc_Ju2_QaBG3beGyGa8M7JBTlAfL5ElTGMS3yEsfk4nLx-Ml3s3HZM6Q-Moe5E8DCI-ED0tdPRBMNj0Wj_QFPjWOYwhScRPUEr3Y/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Talking of aging gracefully (or not), there was some gossip doing the rounds in the running world about <a href="https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2024/01/runners-world-editorr-scrutiny.html" target="_blank">Kate Carter</a> who it seems hasn't been strictly honest in her running and recording her races. A half marathon with missing portions of the race, a race number folded, and a <i>much</i> speedier second half than first. London Marathon with faked strava post. Clearly she is a decent runner. Not National standard but an experienced and capable runner, so why "cheat"? It happens so rarely in the running world (outside of drugs cheats at elite level) that it is quite a novelty when it happens.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ironically Kate's husband, also a journalist, wrote up an article (a year ago) the last time someone got caught doing something daft along the same lines: when Joasia Zakrzewski got in a friend's car during an ultra event. After driving 2.5 miles she felt she could continue the race and exited the car, but failed to mention this when picking up the third place medal. Probably more a case of brain fog than deliberate strategy, it is easy to lose your marbles when running long distances. She was banned from competition for a year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The most noticeable thing about the current incident is Kate Carter is Commissioning Editor at Runner's World UK. I use the present tense "is" but suspect that might change. I assume it was the pressure of having to remain at a certain level of running to seem valid in her position as an influencer in the running world that led her to start manipulating the facts. Although it might have been more honest to accurately report the decline of a woman aging, something that may strike more of a chord with RW readers than of a superwoman able to continue at a high level. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My advice (and my own tactics) would be to avoid entering events rather than looking for short cuts once you start bombing, because yes, it is an unforgiving sport. I wonder if Runner's World will do an article on it? Best shortcuts during marathons? Ten Top Tips for a Super-Quick Half. Fold your number and say your garmin ran out of charge. Have a bike parked on the course. Maybe they could get Rob Sloan (the Kielder Marathon cheat who caught the bus at 20 miles) to write an article about how to lay low and recover from a royal humiliation?</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC17RixqDJVq3pEBQ58OZeRftSQOKg4fvrFV3WZnak0SjPFEpQxvWuaEIxWe6vFehCpAjexkWni7eAancVzQAPILf6l5mXIIB9k0zHHbshLZn4DIHYgGu3-FchmHfXhm-CxTCY5AldR3udmuzVlGW-sAZpBgQqPsM0ezTdBJu05OlUFu4xYPMs-27WmjL/s1540/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC17RixqDJVq3pEBQ58OZeRftSQOKg4fvrFV3WZnak0SjPFEpQxvWuaEIxWe6vFehCpAjexkWni7eAancVzQAPILf6l5mXIIB9k0zHHbshLZn4DIHYgGu3-FchmHfXhm-CxTCY5AldR3udmuzVlGW-sAZpBgQqPsM0ezTdBJu05OlUFu4xYPMs-27WmjL/s320/011.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nearly having fun!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Wv1r17VkkdPmacnl4-yck3qlaitq4NOiC-oV7ztrhHEoEnIs_zqkGPyo9rPX_5SeqlfxACz-_DzUl6ixBhApBeVJ7mkAor9anFnd5qtLtaW4tsWTOo9JUqWd248nAEAsecFmRBx-2UHPj4yp2mxBrOsSuGRY55pk_k1DVp8bTBFfZz-eZM4AmDao9OW/s1365/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1365" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Wv1r17VkkdPmacnl4-yck3qlaitq4NOiC-oV7ztrhHEoEnIs_zqkGPyo9rPX_5SeqlfxACz-_DzUl6ixBhApBeVJ7mkAor9anFnd5qtLtaW4tsWTOo9JUqWd248nAEAsecFmRBx-2UHPj4yp2mxBrOsSuGRY55pk_k1DVp8bTBFfZz-eZM4AmDao9OW/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2.6 laps of the Meadows<br />over 9 miles covered in total</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-51069369332363648682024-02-02T16:10:00.000-08:002024-02-02T16:10:26.241-08:00back to the future<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElO-bcgggHX6m4BCw3cYPBpMJFtynaPM2hZO3qqPo9-iCaau8ch0pD-wmueAjT9sFfsmuCJMorPlb8p3PCHWUL6LLSXjxC2m_uHtCB7-YM1HvfChplVnSD7sfH4j4IDjPDGAJMPXATx75EN-4aHau76hGCr-RR0QYiwR8xyFY4pFwOturd4fa7qO5EdW2/s2048/o91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElO-bcgggHX6m4BCw3cYPBpMJFtynaPM2hZO3qqPo9-iCaau8ch0pD-wmueAjT9sFfsmuCJMorPlb8p3PCHWUL6LLSXjxC2m_uHtCB7-YM1HvfChplVnSD7sfH4j4IDjPDGAJMPXATx75EN-4aHau76hGCr-RR0QYiwR8xyFY4pFwOturd4fa7qO5EdW2/s320/o91.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">30-01-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">A Tuesday with sunshine! Mary suggested we take the Berlingo out for a run. It hadn't been started in 5 weeks but turned over first time. Phew! Although we had to wait 15minutes after I scraped the outside windscreen free of ice, until the inside windscreen de-misted. We had decided on a double date to Gullane. Or rather, first we'd run the 6 mile route we used to do most weekends, then change into warm, dry clothes and have a walk with cameras, looking for birds and wildlife. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncScc1-oVSktKo1QeFf_t_FJo1mPQDdTjNqIUCsgvl5wSR8Qg7L88_OLT-7UaTNXG2CsebefyK2nzLnBhayoyt4i1oMiOGkIo77N1AHscuYsIH5VxU_Y-yj0yBPJ3B08qx_Q7bEO2xi1DUhkP-WKxKp0Hd61kMzFQV0hBrR2NzMajxeYqE3mmxat7S3-j/s2048/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncScc1-oVSktKo1QeFf_t_FJo1mPQDdTjNqIUCsgvl5wSR8Qg7L88_OLT-7UaTNXG2CsebefyK2nzLnBhayoyt4i1oMiOGkIo77N1AHscuYsIH5VxU_Y-yj0yBPJ3B08qx_Q7bEO2xi1DUhkP-WKxKp0Hd61kMzFQV0hBrR2NzMajxeYqE3mmxat7S3-j/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">parked at the public toilets</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzsoeDCQgV2asCel2g7GZD0Pz_twfAGkGR9WZzvfeELLXKSLC_tFYl0v9ZyCUJR-EFSCyX2tIaAfg0ZRK-DvzxcRGhAGLzsz8FGau95EHV8Yp91tItxrH3A_qyx5CSqV9-zua6Ix0hKxQFxn1Lb_C1crhEntvlPM2-a4kS8uyphaeBnGZ8xk2C78Dvc0a/s2048/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzsoeDCQgV2asCel2g7GZD0Pz_twfAGkGR9WZzvfeELLXKSLC_tFYl0v9ZyCUJR-EFSCyX2tIaAfg0ZRK-DvzxcRGhAGLzsz8FGau95EHV8Yp91tItxrH3A_qyx5CSqV9-zua6Ix0hKxQFxn1Lb_C1crhEntvlPM2-a4kS8uyphaeBnGZ8xk2C78Dvc0a/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ran down the John Muir Way</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlH47Eodyj5MrJuHiXXiG5DIMQngyZjGDoyKc9XeV_8Xko3yh7Fdxl3l6VwoghM0jplA-I07unstxbGERK8pAgA4JRVXrJMr8jq9PCcxf2IdgKnlpKp5eu1vErq9kxZGOLLBP1KZSHQw9Zs_EHj37aqxDl-TzpqtvqSaocbhq10wWH9lE4czBthRYff01/s2048/c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlH47Eodyj5MrJuHiXXiG5DIMQngyZjGDoyKc9XeV_8Xko3yh7Fdxl3l6VwoghM0jplA-I07unstxbGERK8pAgA4JRVXrJMr8jq9PCcxf2IdgKnlpKp5eu1vErq9kxZGOLLBP1KZSHQw9Zs_EHj37aqxDl-TzpqtvqSaocbhq10wWH9lE4czBthRYff01/s320/c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wigeon at Aberlady reserve</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zLUG7DFLDY7nCRLosOs5bl3_lLyD_Top0jUNcGZLnTm1RGlG1vNWBHd7lbaza-SJemED0U06iRxzFtGhGQGMZouBAhYVIC6YpIu5hQWium-6Vchbjn3aag0QafLAx6z_WyD5liDDKXPIo8p1qJk44gh_8V7MztN1D5qZWehgabPJ_eLxtf4b8LgXriZ3/s2048/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zLUG7DFLDY7nCRLosOs5bl3_lLyD_Top0jUNcGZLnTm1RGlG1vNWBHd7lbaza-SJemED0U06iRxzFtGhGQGMZouBAhYVIC6YpIu5hQWium-6Vchbjn3aag0QafLAx6z_WyD5liDDKXPIo8p1qJk44gh_8V7MztN1D5qZWehgabPJ_eLxtf4b8LgXriZ3/s320/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5duT7Blggii6BW4BqJZ0IkrG7kQGrP9OBSQu1q2bDShse39C9McpFEE0lLvtkmdjUhh_HShBZ9dn3DGRz7eNus6O9vJenr_rL18s2RTG1-4ypAXj8AjSSVrPgH0VfmZC9Rr0T3iAGncPPo-TKzj_fLutIZ9OY_q6CRqr1NZpryhID3xqumjvbjN7dIztx/s2048/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5duT7Blggii6BW4BqJZ0IkrG7kQGrP9OBSQu1q2bDShse39C9McpFEE0lLvtkmdjUhh_HShBZ9dn3DGRz7eNus6O9vJenr_rL18s2RTG1-4ypAXj8AjSSVrPgH0VfmZC9Rr0T3iAGncPPo-TKzj_fLutIZ9OY_q6CRqr1NZpryhID3xqumjvbjN7dIztx/s320/e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">out along by the golf course</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE_ndfPEDcVATjxkjqWW6yuJgSV_vhVMay-FedaEtB3gNZsKafL8Ic-mGDnPs2egtcWRw-LfoGN3FkV9N_cOfquNdeWduhhixYBHDDdQEUL5Y4lZdcCFWfN3H3HZvvAwCCfOrHSr3cWmcL1cGoxmPacp_WWHfucJ5LMijYrwpQ7_59sC3T-sDpu4doqD9/s2048/f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE_ndfPEDcVATjxkjqWW6yuJgSV_vhVMay-FedaEtB3gNZsKafL8Ic-mGDnPs2egtcWRw-LfoGN3FkV9N_cOfquNdeWduhhixYBHDDdQEUL5Y4lZdcCFWfN3H3HZvvAwCCfOrHSr3cWmcL1cGoxmPacp_WWHfucJ5LMijYrwpQ7_59sC3T-sDpu4doqD9/s320/f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya6EXYpUUc5lG3xBaN9ueXxkQLrtxrEJekH85D3LWNzn0aGYLHRvc-Z2_5ZzqEc4-rdDHZvOxO6X142xxQwocqjkaeW0RRVtRuF6VHNg0ap7SobtVvvQ9upGaBSLoK_KcFz4rUa3neDWbL-yYfNwDBb51BOZlQqX-1mHsAWYHqLqMLXNNtqC0tqDjW5TG/s2048/g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya6EXYpUUc5lG3xBaN9ueXxkQLrtxrEJekH85D3LWNzn0aGYLHRvc-Z2_5ZzqEc4-rdDHZvOxO6X142xxQwocqjkaeW0RRVtRuF6VHNg0ap7SobtVvvQ9upGaBSLoK_KcFz4rUa3neDWbL-yYfNwDBb51BOZlQqX-1mHsAWYHqLqMLXNNtqC0tqDjW5TG/s320/g.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />skylark<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was carrying the TZ100 compact camera for the run bit. It was capable of recording the scenery and really there wasn't much more than that. The light was good, it was great to get a bit of sunshine, although it was fairly cold. I was a little concerned we might see all the interesting wildlife while I had the compact and then when I swapped it for the walking bit later, see nothing. However on the run through the reserve there was a complete lack of anything interesting. The kestrel was absent. No sign of short eared owls. Not even much in the way of shoreline waders. I wasn't sure if that was something to be glad about or not. <br /><br />In fact the only thing we saw in abundance was photographers. We passed about 5 or more between the wooden bridge and Marl Loch - dudes (and a dudess) with long lens cameras no doubt in search of owls etc. I suspect they may have gone home without much joy. That said just because there wasn't any evidence of material when we ran through doesn't mean there wouldn't be 10 minutes later. However no owly pics have since appeared on Lothian Birdwatch fb group. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another point to mention: I found the photo of that skylark above, really poor quality. The skylark was unusually obliging and sat very close by, on the top of a hummock in great light. I took several shots before it flew off, the best of which is posted above. However the focus is, at best, on the tail, and there is movement blur and generally it is just shit. A few years ago this might have been an acceptable standard. It goes to show how getting a couple of far better cameras has changed my perception of what is acceptable. Which is not to say ALL my photos are much better. But generally I am keener to produce better results. <br /><br />Lovely to see and hear skylarks setting out their stalls this early.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsgzDvGVldJxOriCqLLUv7UE7cb61KfaK3tIfbFVd_agcoHYkAbFVH6zVd5yoJA5O-kcb0XY_T27L2s-hQKV5hFK-ZzHuJyM5LnR3R2DhLa60ny8kNqajrSjeJynMuNzfjfdQLa-sWROS6WEmlaffZsPtpXWl_2NLRvuBCTYJhT-vKx04duqdBoo5BYWJ/s2048/h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsgzDvGVldJxOriCqLLUv7UE7cb61KfaK3tIfbFVd_agcoHYkAbFVH6zVd5yoJA5O-kcb0XY_T27L2s-hQKV5hFK-ZzHuJyM5LnR3R2DhLa60ny8kNqajrSjeJynMuNzfjfdQLa-sWROS6WEmlaffZsPtpXWl_2NLRvuBCTYJhT-vKx04duqdBoo5BYWJ/s320/h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5XkXNBAfQa6AIAqDUAjgV27hXsczHiUClfOTAIZdbpJhNYC5cM0r6c1TMXXpF3c-QbJrJN7PnqwGVQkNX6qOetocR1sX3f_5Zub6m6HnDSGAJoD9LzbXTMx7ZiA-UOri7DSz7iPibSj5Q1h-VBY3UjlhEQxrLsflElcJd4CQmk1I4VJeSIQJgM1xRgps/s2048/i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5XkXNBAfQa6AIAqDUAjgV27hXsczHiUClfOTAIZdbpJhNYC5cM0r6c1TMXXpF3c-QbJrJN7PnqwGVQkNX6qOetocR1sX3f_5Zub6m6HnDSGAJoD9LzbXTMx7ZiA-UOri7DSz7iPibSj5Q1h-VBY3UjlhEQxrLsflElcJd4CQmk1I4VJeSIQJgM1xRgps/s320/i.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the TZ100 is fine for scenery<br />(as long as you limit the zoom)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4TA_p3KOtOd64dWJb9ko8SUPQIEfZ5Uhcaon6Tt1mmx5btDF1kJtGzWEzDUHGBN6XPremkCUOxsFtX9kkb8tLnCGJREq9PjNRTdSi405dObGBtU-mlBQyLCV4zRcsyEKa-4oy2_rXNuegHbubpGTmzvF3GACw2oh8pENkug0UrU5zQWPiooSl-RnCFsA/s2048/j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4TA_p3KOtOd64dWJb9ko8SUPQIEfZ5Uhcaon6Tt1mmx5btDF1kJtGzWEzDUHGBN6XPremkCUOxsFtX9kkb8tLnCGJREq9PjNRTdSi405dObGBtU-mlBQyLCV4zRcsyEKa-4oy2_rXNuegHbubpGTmzvF3GACw2oh8pENkug0UrU5zQWPiooSl-RnCFsA/s320/j.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4dUqP79xJ9SeoHJWmOETblCNorAdyrVD0648Wru7t8GZbtJWtbbyjXJDIJdT9VOO8OJarSkgUucVovc71vZWfch48RvkdDICFkjxQ4FzDZdO6jd1cNfzi2KOs5Qo8hzJIBv9-JZdKgMXaSQ1G6pzCIkyFrtn2gMw9bxOb4We2eg3bHqzRzBjAh05CXwB/s2048/k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4dUqP79xJ9SeoHJWmOETblCNorAdyrVD0648Wru7t8GZbtJWtbbyjXJDIJdT9VOO8OJarSkgUucVovc71vZWfch48RvkdDICFkjxQ4FzDZdO6jd1cNfzi2KOs5Qo8hzJIBv9-JZdKgMXaSQ1G6pzCIkyFrtn2gMw9bxOb4We2eg3bHqzRzBjAh05CXwB/s320/k.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOzeZcqO3cK6yEzvmkFlXnGE0NWYen87w4xV2fQOX69Rc3BGVqdF-36Rn5QSr3G0UmI4Z1s4ihw9zwBvK0OaDKZeq7ygjgfly20qrpGqg2ynpl6Jk8Qenc2tWoP4_FM4izFwHWC-6XB9r2pnzLUJVyvBTkWk_OnIFOKStuVVE54rNO7Z7rK_VWj8wV_uU/s2048/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOzeZcqO3cK6yEzvmkFlXnGE0NWYen87w4xV2fQOX69Rc3BGVqdF-36Rn5QSr3G0UmI4Z1s4ihw9zwBvK0OaDKZeq7ygjgfly20qrpGqg2ynpl6Jk8Qenc2tWoP4_FM4izFwHWC-6XB9r2pnzLUJVyvBTkWk_OnIFOKStuVVE54rNO7Z7rK_VWj8wV_uU/s320/l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiainSfkbsmmdIJAH4dJDeYWJ1-fevbTz1DG7_90Jnr38KWrEDtvIVywMU633dgPc6AILsakxSbOn0GMqwDMicODqWtmO3gHQ1Z7x4OvVIfxF_vPEFCGZ4Mcrt80IymtBRoBbqvX80GnHCjUyYlEuL0iI9psuvZZaT9LrgeWl4HuTL7XjGUDJYJNvINenJq/s2048/m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="2048" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiainSfkbsmmdIJAH4dJDeYWJ1-fevbTz1DG7_90Jnr38KWrEDtvIVywMU633dgPc6AILsakxSbOn0GMqwDMicODqWtmO3gHQ1Z7x4OvVIfxF_vPEFCGZ4Mcrt80IymtBRoBbqvX80GnHCjUyYlEuL0iI9psuvZZaT9LrgeWl4HuTL7XjGUDJYJNvINenJq/s320/m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Mary reached the beach, (a bit ahead of myself) she let out a whoop and set off at a gallop. There was no plan to our run or that we would do some tempo pace along the beach. However as there was nothing to photograph (I think all the shoreline birds were further up the estuary) I tried lifting the pace as well. The tailwind certainly encouraged it. I found anything faster than 7.30pace required a bit of discomfort down my right glute/hamstring. It is a sciatica problem I had exactly this time last year and I think is a response to the colder weather, and age. I have been avoiding hard workouts to try to not turn it into something worse. I looked up some exercises and hope I can be arsed to do them sometime but they are kinda yoga mat boring and it's not my favourite game. I do a bit of a massage with the magic stick now and again which I'm hoping is enough. I took the pace up to about 6.10 minute miles at times, remembering I used to do bursts of sub5m/m down this beach. It is best not to dwell on what one used to be able to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbzt4F77TIEd5PMpt18P1Vvw9U6czwINkiEJ92wNIA1kJkKM9dK1Ad4HgzoZx0dRlRzGG7F7ljS4j2xdwVAV1z7jgc6CwTxKJ9NObeDPpOj0btXP-GaxznB8vYqxz6UVPtGrjfHpdZfjtFBLZ0AjowKabDOVtPdWi6R8ox7q2c3ewTwjV3Arkhu-f4xUU/s2048/n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="2048" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbzt4F77TIEd5PMpt18P1Vvw9U6czwINkiEJ92wNIA1kJkKM9dK1Ad4HgzoZx0dRlRzGG7F7ljS4j2xdwVAV1z7jgc6CwTxKJ9NObeDPpOj0btXP-GaxznB8vYqxz6UVPtGrjfHpdZfjtFBLZ0AjowKabDOVtPdWi6R8ox7q2c3ewTwjV3Arkhu-f4xUU/s320/n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiwR-8_KXlIFOkFI6BkrPviaTpBgBJaug6RI3T-9IhlnbUyWiJRCU-OX0bf0SJaXx5WkMp7aSt_GulQmgPl2XmR8IPoi0vfI4AmQDWDB408AKLT83G3qcJsprpdC1X6RwN2cRu3HxS764rtOs0PMnFaukYVSVV-_DT6ip5SQNU_M76WNgmUBylol9OfeR/s2048/o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiwR-8_KXlIFOkFI6BkrPviaTpBgBJaug6RI3T-9IhlnbUyWiJRCU-OX0bf0SJaXx5WkMp7aSt_GulQmgPl2XmR8IPoi0vfI4AmQDWDB408AKLT83G3qcJsprpdC1X6RwN2cRu3HxS764rtOs0PMnFaukYVSVV-_DT6ip5SQNU_M76WNgmUBylol9OfeR/s320/o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I failed to catch up with Mary who is able to stretch out and run fast(er) for the first time in nearly a year, albeit she has to monitor what she does with a lot of caution. It was last Feb she succumbed to injury that kept her from running. This year, so far, is looking considerably more positive.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3PmucA8cILf-pNNqvreD0aHUR2irza63Jr2JxjNQNsJkXzA3Io2ygvCDoBxi6D0zU9IW4XnWpu1fDTYVgPF-R1Vhajx8sgPdXQvSz9X7dXr13UUjpSECb8D9oQZzqsVorzFdoSnQoM3RcpKBf3lA4sXrMpoqivD9133AlHD_uUrL4dFc_bR873SeC3Q9/s2048/o1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3PmucA8cILf-pNNqvreD0aHUR2irza63Jr2JxjNQNsJkXzA3Io2ygvCDoBxi6D0zU9IW4XnWpu1fDTYVgPF-R1Vhajx8sgPdXQvSz9X7dXr13UUjpSECb8D9oQZzqsVorzFdoSnQoM3RcpKBf3lA4sXrMpoqivD9133AlHD_uUrL4dFc_bR873SeC3Q9/s320/o1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX5yqttiq-SEGVvWwrYVTEr71xKCIX8dLR4QWy2hwwB9clDbG3AbAPX_d3i54LKBOA7ya-4yd7AM6-c_aPUKfiorxUE0yCl0KHjwfqBjAPACtRdyy1BoinSDjUcOFD6PuR76Ry6i8yTonWrPtZxUoevifdNQs5gPlZr4KBHjxg3Ra7VjuS5DQljYsQPEW/s2048/o2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX5yqttiq-SEGVvWwrYVTEr71xKCIX8dLR4QWy2hwwB9clDbG3AbAPX_d3i54LKBOA7ya-4yd7AM6-c_aPUKfiorxUE0yCl0KHjwfqBjAPACtRdyy1BoinSDjUcOFD6PuR76Ry6i8yTonWrPtZxUoevifdNQs5gPlZr4KBHjxg3Ra7VjuS5DQljYsQPEW/s320/o2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlOspjUFdL47sfcPzWGg0GeWwulADPeEObtW3gRnx1-M9wC5uCOISmXaXfFTxj3qGDH7MGnAOZHUK19KDaTF7mTV-AXxzXcG2iGnUlPZbmX24PwFsTD04kNg5xqVUznr-fvlclNzHYmwstdrmuH_v1CrUBN9iI-c3rIDpUn8pr88tQm1jBa8YNv6r7jz-/s2048/o3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlOspjUFdL47sfcPzWGg0GeWwulADPeEObtW3gRnx1-M9wC5uCOISmXaXfFTxj3qGDH7MGnAOZHUK19KDaTF7mTV-AXxzXcG2iGnUlPZbmX24PwFsTD04kNg5xqVUznr-fvlclNzHYmwstdrmuH_v1CrUBN9iI-c3rIDpUn8pr88tQm1jBa8YNv6r7jz-/s320/o3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aberlady Beach at low tide</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK3NIlSAUAc4QWC8_m5QVz0-LeCk2gPr2MbSuEvxGeC4iFDoC24Xm-pb2xpi4W-LKGlQH_8KK9m8ripZwB3sfX7y_lGH04cnYz9-AG385_VlTJCQt25Hw-NMscLTy4696VsUrcBm3yStqdfzS9FHQtDsJ-9vEZrcdcesLNrt0DnMnhE6ZEq5DOwYbLOvS/s2048/o4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK3NIlSAUAc4QWC8_m5QVz0-LeCk2gPr2MbSuEvxGeC4iFDoC24Xm-pb2xpi4W-LKGlQH_8KK9m8ripZwB3sfX7y_lGH04cnYz9-AG385_VlTJCQt25Hw-NMscLTy4696VsUrcBm3yStqdfzS9FHQtDsJ-9vEZrcdcesLNrt0DnMnhE6ZEq5DOwYbLOvS/s320/o4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghradBcWw-eTIb-GPPs5D0e4xXUTte79-GuaSU5tcOWd9TQr7n9MGcpUftyJ7Kvg-JBHfoJPkBzMFcOks24er0KHkix3tg7lzSyhDch3CIIxTHG_89Z1dtZeQr0_RlxENuMDw9HlDkQwZVUXuOEgtIEt-CtgAWHl6aWt7_zga9Ry-vXQR3J52UTD9gjZ-m/s2048/o5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghradBcWw-eTIb-GPPs5D0e4xXUTte79-GuaSU5tcOWd9TQr7n9MGcpUftyJ7Kvg-JBHfoJPkBzMFcOks24er0KHkix3tg7lzSyhDch3CIIxTHG_89Z1dtZeQr0_RlxENuMDw9HlDkQwZVUXuOEgtIEt-CtgAWHl6aWt7_zga9Ry-vXQR3J52UTD9gjZ-m/s320/o5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3U9vjiFOwySdKDNpEBT6eWcu24lDEjTWdgKBSbOHiIv0dwQTpI5MpvDvh-UqEjrYIatdTmPJSsVTcLtD2jQWw_dRGHMg8lHRpeDgNaI1YYyxMWG-gbhcxzJlAsm26sNs7Bohe-i00A9Qfehflc0PhmfI4AK17sDVJFWLeIVq5kagUTB9HkoF1BC7xLpZ/s2048/o6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3U9vjiFOwySdKDNpEBT6eWcu24lDEjTWdgKBSbOHiIv0dwQTpI5MpvDvh-UqEjrYIatdTmPJSsVTcLtD2jQWw_dRGHMg8lHRpeDgNaI1YYyxMWG-gbhcxzJlAsm26sNs7Bohe-i00A9Qfehflc0PhmfI4AK17sDVJFWLeIVq5kagUTB9HkoF1BC7xLpZ/s320/o6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwKVXVjYRIDrjStlan-TK_mmFwS8a6O_kUpw05eLzxfrNjsmlWCaOFqz1VRyqVDwCJ4kPtwIThOsU6vXzNSkvqHRyUJcPC23tZAarZlbW_b1vDcry981x2yYJuKljiRLvFSH0fEqpp_-5jGZmfq6VxLJYoqUP3VSfMUJsDRe6__3d7NEH8LMdBTGfa4qe/s2048/o7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwKVXVjYRIDrjStlan-TK_mmFwS8a6O_kUpw05eLzxfrNjsmlWCaOFqz1VRyqVDwCJ4kPtwIThOsU6vXzNSkvqHRyUJcPC23tZAarZlbW_b1vDcry981x2yYJuKljiRLvFSH0fEqpp_-5jGZmfq6VxLJYoqUP3VSfMUJsDRe6__3d7NEH8LMdBTGfa4qe/s320/o7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">viburnum blossom,(?) Gullane<br />at the holly blue ivy wall opposite St Adrian's</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKMFWjCVbzxlmYXsS0V7New9uGkzQBQ3e-okwaYGoiSaGPbEhiiXzGy7bAjqmHbuO5CCQxvtrtO5-fXaSuMjCfVEcNF4pwsaIXsvOlQvwLcxNVKZGDhnb17Kie-2hNJQsEZSl3qAw48Y6FNS5D4l78_YmCD8No5R-lfA_83nePyiEGVgYN01wvTdb4jU-/s2048/o8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKMFWjCVbzxlmYXsS0V7New9uGkzQBQ3e-okwaYGoiSaGPbEhiiXzGy7bAjqmHbuO5CCQxvtrtO5-fXaSuMjCfVEcNF4pwsaIXsvOlQvwLcxNVKZGDhnb17Kie-2hNJQsEZSl3qAw48Y6FNS5D4l78_YmCD8No5R-lfA_83nePyiEGVgYN01wvTdb4jU-/s320/o8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbOC7MHgS4ePJIz5XhoSCNAN4ud54IbeJXW08aTppwlj0K_T-y6K3U0bRtgEpJyjt4_QcD71x1IB2dSrtQqYcLXY9PDkcwNJaihgL6o_DrDs2MIDJXdtPJOhE28_EREdupBhIjqKzqZcUxZMH-A23hvwqkA6SeuVjtPhUAVGtZ43p_qKpj2F-EEdINcVB/s2048/o9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbOC7MHgS4ePJIz5XhoSCNAN4ud54IbeJXW08aTppwlj0K_T-y6K3U0bRtgEpJyjt4_QcD71x1IB2dSrtQqYcLXY9PDkcwNJaihgL6o_DrDs2MIDJXdtPJOhE28_EREdupBhIjqKzqZcUxZMH-A23hvwqkA6SeuVjtPhUAVGtZ43p_qKpj2F-EEdINcVB/s320/o9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mary did an extra lap and a half, round the green to bring it up to 6 miles. We then had some food out the coop and re-parked the Berlingo at the beach car park before changing into hiking clothes and walking a few miles with cameras. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7NDjklj_ZXG4OuliuRx7NDA6i-caLNXBM6hjXkEMjrko0oD4iVmJ7KXwmltrRhOENfnbFiSqvx39jwG5tZU9Ib6saVSWV2pMnC0dVIKK3zHPn03j7i3561vJfebePQ8iam8fYvMxW9hVg45-MiFo0X3EkQfgc-zWmahQaGEHCWv8A9gZ99bVi8xLqdIx/s2048/o91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7NDjklj_ZXG4OuliuRx7NDA6i-caLNXBM6hjXkEMjrko0oD4iVmJ7KXwmltrRhOENfnbFiSqvx39jwG5tZU9Ib6saVSWV2pMnC0dVIKK3zHPn03j7i3561vJfebePQ8iam8fYvMxW9hVg45-MiFo0X3EkQfgc-zWmahQaGEHCWv8A9gZ99bVi8xLqdIx/s320/o91.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqmBCjBu6nt-aSxMZVz_FCgheR0A2-AUcqER1iMTo05InIM_M1cDDEhiTgoltymmJBv_kqFNj1quVgMIMV3ZFMbknLLPfd-zVqBnqeSeguHSi4o4Ym2cHSMJ6tRWGdNmnbxha14FuSbBo48aTGxmtOatHamS_FD1se7ZlPqeg3KdUD7A-qQlroa_TqlZa/s1399/Map%20run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1399" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqmBCjBu6nt-aSxMZVz_FCgheR0A2-AUcqER1iMTo05InIM_M1cDDEhiTgoltymmJBv_kqFNj1quVgMIMV3ZFMbknLLPfd-zVqBnqeSeguHSi4o4Ym2cHSMJ6tRWGdNmnbxha14FuSbBo48aTGxmtOatHamS_FD1se7ZlPqeg3KdUD7A-qQlroa_TqlZa/s320/Map%20run.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6 miles, run clockwise in about 90mins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTfg1uI24IGaFClqpv0IDftMQZhjbv0B642ldPgjXOHMRSSwpJsIffrrAfKqTiSDm9LCgh5PZthR_XWZSpyqvUs9_EKh7jEv7jfOwGOGMm7N9zVRirBH0dgzIdaJ1Cc0p7HPm4uyrGE0dXRwMPg_kBbQ3fQAUZDrbyJ-RCRFKNWed_6iP-IRBEnfohrf2/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTfg1uI24IGaFClqpv0IDftMQZhjbv0B642ldPgjXOHMRSSwpJsIffrrAfKqTiSDm9LCgh5PZthR_XWZSpyqvUs9_EKh7jEv7jfOwGOGMm7N9zVRirBH0dgzIdaJ1Cc0p7HPm4uyrGE0dXRwMPg_kBbQ3fQAUZDrbyJ-RCRFKNWed_6iP-IRBEnfohrf2/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">steaming along on an ironing board</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a guy in Gullane Bay doing what I believe is called <i>Wing Foiling</i>. Using a hand held inflated wing to power a board which rises out the water on a submerged hydrofoil. Looks a bit like riding an ironing-board. The coldness of the day made me grateful my hobbies of running and taking wildlife photos do not (often) require going in the Scottish sea. I spoke to the Wing Foiler: he was going to his car about the same time as we were and he said it "wasn't that bad". That hands do get cold as it is difficult to operate the equipment with thick gloves on. But it wasn't too cold. (Ha!) He was out there for at least an hour! He was quite a bit younger than myself, but I think having good equipment (neoprene balaclava etc.) might be part of it. My feelings were that wild horses wouldn't get me out there. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcTbqukwNWEX5x4xnWcUMw2X4DF6ZMafc_T1EfV4fij9sWBKnnby0dCYQT5ck2ImuEHGt_-FLIN4qCvWH2l7fWVlx3I5QRO02tojycmc8RCX32s5n0RzRSIsS2MKscWTYDBVUfFA0rrgsOgrZw5GZdI_c1UCpLmFSSOpjRXz70xYQ6zksotPLJffzrhYm/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcTbqukwNWEX5x4xnWcUMw2X4DF6ZMafc_T1EfV4fij9sWBKnnby0dCYQT5ck2ImuEHGt_-FLIN4qCvWH2l7fWVlx3I5QRO02tojycmc8RCX32s5n0RzRSIsS2MKscWTYDBVUfFA0rrgsOgrZw5GZdI_c1UCpLmFSSOpjRXz70xYQ6zksotPLJffzrhYm/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">reluctant bullfinchers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It felt like there was a massive lack of any birds about the place. I had got that feeling while running and it continued for the couple of hours we walked about hunting them. Since Aberlady had seemed empty of wildlife when we ran through, (nothing on the shoreline, nothing on the savannah,), we headed East along the coast and back on the shore. Apart from the crows and an occasional robin, oh and some reluctant bullfinches, there was a dearth of anything to point the camera at. Hence the pics of the Wing Foilers. Number one guy was joined latterly by number 2 guy. <br /><br />It was very jolly being out in decent weather but the lack of wildlife was really quite disappointing and coloured my day. I know I should be grateful to be out on a weekday cutting loose and taking photos, and I was, but it could have been a good deal better as well. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYaVLMDihSfwg0_zH4bEsn0sdLkMiV3j0RExwSRVHvnXAujAwOXSZ4hAPZKmGT_vxdV9ghfeVFJOOfAOlf8li6AdpxYpdDNAIpNV8WsihHhASpaD87iRFxHksKnAn5ILk44nsYFIGOGlsodUi0c51R420ss4pZfbE0IXVW8I3Ojx0DFDKx5eq6bd85aKI/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYaVLMDihSfwg0_zH4bEsn0sdLkMiV3j0RExwSRVHvnXAujAwOXSZ4hAPZKmGT_vxdV9ghfeVFJOOfAOlf8li6AdpxYpdDNAIpNV8WsihHhASpaD87iRFxHksKnAn5ILk44nsYFIGOGlsodUi0c51R420ss4pZfbE0IXVW8I3Ojx0DFDKx5eq6bd85aKI/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary in the woods</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFYmId1ff1L5JWSYlCzVkNEsZLSq5TctFTFFVnRujuWnwQ3ZUKN2PEvvbY0Wk0VJ2zv4FzFIjgsZh47FhvfFVmMOTkXxeCOQxJqsiwu3Mx8MdLuinazNHw_FyRXDh3_lfU3cK0j-XniSEul1Yg4zigSvqJWKbcmczpoHdHhB6rxzu2jt7GWjzdTmVQV8o/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFYmId1ff1L5JWSYlCzVkNEsZLSq5TctFTFFVnRujuWnwQ3ZUKN2PEvvbY0Wk0VJ2zv4FzFIjgsZh47FhvfFVmMOTkXxeCOQxJqsiwu3Mx8MdLuinazNHw_FyRXDh3_lfU3cK0j-XniSEul1Yg4zigSvqJWKbcmczpoHdHhB6rxzu2jt7GWjzdTmVQV8o/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSkgJXvJadip2gD5ENMHAlt35H1uZeXBnW9jqtuRBmJ_lq_kbdFyYbr9EbEyLB4GJzDSB_q6X8p3OnDEPXlrYacDkAvSYB73Kbd4tzE1CdtNpi_cKI8tKbxm6IGls4xRz1i6_QnnXUQHR2NRHdT4oJ_XmZzjKfmM1RWh91CqOJJ7ggXRqH7JAGIgzDOuT/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSkgJXvJadip2gD5ENMHAlt35H1uZeXBnW9jqtuRBmJ_lq_kbdFyYbr9EbEyLB4GJzDSB_q6X8p3OnDEPXlrYacDkAvSYB73Kbd4tzE1CdtNpi_cKI8tKbxm6IGls4xRz1i6_QnnXUQHR2NRHdT4oJ_XmZzjKfmM1RWh91CqOJJ7ggXRqH7JAGIgzDOuT/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtD2FaVn_x9-UsGSLjPb4QvP2AIYDFKmKUDWKNTift4oBMksmD7fGn-T7qTMLyXu6o8T8zSNSZR-aLskpE2aqcoLEahua866fdcdAdel3jkZdbpOmdtMYFKalGBUI2WXlEkWoeZ5nGd2KZFHW6c4nkPhmc7gQqHuw_ulKtzfkY_jGuTEsfaMzYFOtKI60/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtD2FaVn_x9-UsGSLjPb4QvP2AIYDFKmKUDWKNTift4oBMksmD7fGn-T7qTMLyXu6o8T8zSNSZR-aLskpE2aqcoLEahua866fdcdAdel3jkZdbpOmdtMYFKalGBUI2WXlEkWoeZ5nGd2KZFHW6c4nkPhmc7gQqHuw_ulKtzfkY_jGuTEsfaMzYFOtKI60/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShaYwpMbHNQ1wjC89Cfc33fCggdF-doIAjPDsO_ec4sIHsl7Ry2nOmojjiod3hLh1mWStlUh23YENzrgE8dY3RQt-o77CRyEmg_X634bX-lVI1rH7ybU8Cl9CY1J8WRXFyRrPmj5W9snzVuzWe-EKOZcxapBh7Kd9y6PapdkT3-tg8_T3pLFCmK4a6dw2/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShaYwpMbHNQ1wjC89Cfc33fCggdF-doIAjPDsO_ec4sIHsl7Ry2nOmojjiod3hLh1mWStlUh23YENzrgE8dY3RQt-o77CRyEmg_X634bX-lVI1rH7ybU8Cl9CY1J8WRXFyRrPmj5W9snzVuzWe-EKOZcxapBh7Kd9y6PapdkT3-tg8_T3pLFCmK4a6dw2/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2HjOC_bGYawDSPZ_nXkKf0I9R28gPDXnDldFs0pABCPtY6PC6h4PGqVihl70KkNCwVTJ42-G-L5-YGY5qiPfhVR8cQgTMEf-y0T11x7Tt8Uho5bYTHZdJNLHkng9u4CO_JHkIg99MMGOGgoCG8S0gEMMUEfrYqXV11MQIFcduMX9MFbj_yeHgNY42MtO/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2HjOC_bGYawDSPZ_nXkKf0I9R28gPDXnDldFs0pABCPtY6PC6h4PGqVihl70KkNCwVTJ42-G-L5-YGY5qiPfhVR8cQgTMEf-y0T11x7Tt8Uho5bYTHZdJNLHkng9u4CO_JHkIg99MMGOGgoCG8S0gEMMUEfrYqXV11MQIFcduMX9MFbj_yeHgNY42MtO/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have seen this pair with their individually wrapped spaniels<br />a couple of times out recently around Gullane. About 8~10 dogs!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh249cqEIHCRV-WTeM-o4txYupLB3c0lA052KAC6vjxW4bB_87YzM_qauUsyztbBIP7EZTpPEcz7QlhH-Z5uE7C3WqgFTwbCx5olDKy6egSiowljcB0EUUZ9gEwQModpwWvI1-gUOgozt4IhjRYvbw_YOd8kqXCXE6msSaWsLwBJqiPHKmbmYSG5Bljz2yJ/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh249cqEIHCRV-WTeM-o4txYupLB3c0lA052KAC6vjxW4bB_87YzM_qauUsyztbBIP7EZTpPEcz7QlhH-Z5uE7C3WqgFTwbCx5olDKy6egSiowljcB0EUUZ9gEwQModpwWvI1-gUOgozt4IhjRYvbw_YOd8kqXCXE6msSaWsLwBJqiPHKmbmYSG5Bljz2yJ/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl5ij6jTdscxmdxRRRQEGV26O38WRM1S3h1dO9sYKm4yd9co4MR-4mmm1staXZDKGZGoq9BB-RX6iP_A3Q4y3BrYfsPh51lhmJCj41GMKNfK2LAcfVZp74ypXMGshBIa6hpfaZ8D4S6Dhwy_LkXwt5PUgtYT2KoD27ibcNsQeDXLlLMIguyXdvp9FyXTk/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl5ij6jTdscxmdxRRRQEGV26O38WRM1S3h1dO9sYKm4yd9co4MR-4mmm1staXZDKGZGoq9BB-RX6iP_A3Q4y3BrYfsPh51lhmJCj41GMKNfK2LAcfVZp74ypXMGshBIa6hpfaZ8D4S6Dhwy_LkXwt5PUgtYT2KoD27ibcNsQeDXLlLMIguyXdvp9FyXTk/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonKDBmg8z6PhOy0NSrkb8S8BMejzECVEPfXzuebzcSdxPYqPphB64Ep36OIg-vAbiqfo5potFpj1tQvWfsOirVs5o-ZBhyphenhyphenmcu5sWUYi-JdA3B1ickaDfJhMWKZ4OJV3UUlPwF0X4IQs54LcDJfqoAxVaFbZ5r2gApHZgKnwNmecoxazuYTwPSUv-MJgda/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonKDBmg8z6PhOy0NSrkb8S8BMejzECVEPfXzuebzcSdxPYqPphB64Ep36OIg-vAbiqfo5potFpj1tQvWfsOirVs5o-ZBhyphenhyphenmcu5sWUYi-JdA3B1ickaDfJhMWKZ4OJV3UUlPwF0X4IQs54LcDJfqoAxVaFbZ5r2gApHZgKnwNmecoxazuYTwPSUv-MJgda/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtiZXvp644A0wYcCIklgo5EUE4oDeYZ1M4HwaQT4x73cqVkLB0SrR8QI2txzrgdLHLvTlo1eLMW-soayqyuf-TNhUKdqMpD4xNX-8vZNCzQ0sfIWLpvhxKoH-kAp4zvQxV_3Hu9TuP2UrwDuTuVGRNBpmk5OliUloVQw4OuDEsfx6Fby0UMh4mIen5gq8/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtiZXvp644A0wYcCIklgo5EUE4oDeYZ1M4HwaQT4x73cqVkLB0SrR8QI2txzrgdLHLvTlo1eLMW-soayqyuf-TNhUKdqMpD4xNX-8vZNCzQ0sfIWLpvhxKoH-kAp4zvQxV_3Hu9TuP2UrwDuTuVGRNBpmk5OliUloVQw4OuDEsfx6Fby0UMh4mIen5gq8/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97nSKje0jbkGaUNBhBQYOpRyiqPYrzSQflETB2WiOfL2U1Rebvru0pe9k_cFbA-HMq94erZ0xhD4U8fB6QwBoyCrpYE5Mp3wvblQQWNP1vUyTvBveWzWSJGBWh5yB_omCevhSoifprlc2LQlTva1jqTxaD2v-_99SuiOnaqiM1t0YO6G6vgm1yu3RKXZb/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97nSKje0jbkGaUNBhBQYOpRyiqPYrzSQflETB2WiOfL2U1Rebvru0pe9k_cFbA-HMq94erZ0xhD4U8fB6QwBoyCrpYE5Mp3wvblQQWNP1vUyTvBveWzWSJGBWh5yB_omCevhSoifprlc2LQlTva1jqTxaD2v-_99SuiOnaqiM1t0YO6G6vgm1yu3RKXZb/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDz0Lbg_ZGDbD18VzE3rjrZvT7M9umkJHdyzlh6YEWrFJRvWtAEykgWbahEZsKtcZFaUuGp8tLDQsk61pzBoW1D0PRBgnSdBbfRvBgXsYsIzmyLIqm0xqUEGoBNznEDn_b43tQjxVgHWmSI89DHqVhj7jZEJ_N6dV8OzMU7kNx3X5YeJi8FFaOd36fv-M/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDz0Lbg_ZGDbD18VzE3rjrZvT7M9umkJHdyzlh6YEWrFJRvWtAEykgWbahEZsKtcZFaUuGp8tLDQsk61pzBoW1D0PRBgnSdBbfRvBgXsYsIzmyLIqm0xqUEGoBNznEDn_b43tQjxVgHWmSI89DHqVhj7jZEJ_N6dV8OzMU7kNx3X5YeJi8FFaOd36fv-M/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhG_WCIWOFmoRFQHZO-JNEgwMDi_k44V3ZaKyEGUrU45KyB2LbaYeYYMgaVG7bJHtNnXYRnLx8ZINEn3DjB9-ef6H76mjMLOGP5r9NapBIRU1FV9bAE7-KsEnEGj4g2Nu9WzTOsvjOnFRtmnwFuAJYQltKqi1MvNFIDVjbcvRuq2uOt7uzYDUYr3mZUrg/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhG_WCIWOFmoRFQHZO-JNEgwMDi_k44V3ZaKyEGUrU45KyB2LbaYeYYMgaVG7bJHtNnXYRnLx8ZINEn3DjB9-ef6H76mjMLOGP5r9NapBIRU1FV9bAE7-KsEnEGj4g2Nu9WzTOsvjOnFRtmnwFuAJYQltKqi1MvNFIDVjbcvRuq2uOt7uzYDUYr3mZUrg/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EjgdWPY2iILy-P14l0-SI0aHGTnlKrD1IzHCpHvmr7e6JXnZL4MEF0lrOHo9p7t6a3HOfZZNT4VVLB4GzMCDLKyuN5fwkmOZM4Rv1OZTUTXLnf7cjimLjRjVuqc44EixJdYAuGwiOnawRw8FLoSen3N1DqRmlFAN1u2wUVFH2t5d5ku9c3zU_-wDNIdZ/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EjgdWPY2iILy-P14l0-SI0aHGTnlKrD1IzHCpHvmr7e6JXnZL4MEF0lrOHo9p7t6a3HOfZZNT4VVLB4GzMCDLKyuN5fwkmOZM4Rv1OZTUTXLnf7cjimLjRjVuqc44EixJdYAuGwiOnawRw8FLoSen3N1DqRmlFAN1u2wUVFH2t5d5ku9c3zU_-wDNIdZ/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJZNeBE5QekFXmDZ0aYrYXKxLjT0y1JMRtDs8GYNEh6GS0lGnk83haEkS_1x-wFQQMCNO1-ItsiEyLLHOylyztP9H3YKUwTKbAs_GkwBllRyBUaQduEUuth7xZqPYzMhSE9UilF44fT42LLVQ2BrZb10El-GaCgV9YAjoVhgYkU_pqP4YNSPGe30VhBwZ/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJZNeBE5QekFXmDZ0aYrYXKxLjT0y1JMRtDs8GYNEh6GS0lGnk83haEkS_1x-wFQQMCNO1-ItsiEyLLHOylyztP9H3YKUwTKbAs_GkwBllRyBUaQduEUuth7xZqPYzMhSE9UilF44fT42LLVQ2BrZb10El-GaCgV9YAjoVhgYkU_pqP4YNSPGe30VhBwZ/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXUC6XGSLf08pJWQaTQ28l8sYCDlzCHeKS58kS6eEPP7NyNGpqVvi99pGt7_U8S6YFid_K_VWhVZTT0Yh5iY2tsYP6WPZm7iiLDFH9IOFslRB4QhB2plvzGHzrTdPswZZZabdCB_AqGlRRgnks3pJ1Yg-cAca4Wj1dBhzBvSA4ePAB-GvHAkqqhslHKHI/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXUC6XGSLf08pJWQaTQ28l8sYCDlzCHeKS58kS6eEPP7NyNGpqVvi99pGt7_U8S6YFid_K_VWhVZTT0Yh5iY2tsYP6WPZm7iiLDFH9IOFslRB4QhB2plvzGHzrTdPswZZZabdCB_AqGlRRgnks3pJ1Yg-cAca4Wj1dBhzBvSA4ePAB-GvHAkqqhslHKHI/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIYT5p8pqEtByngNAR9gf4hfO4NU7c4aJ7UpCiD9zANOFzEgLAAJ7aGTPuQRF5irQ9AGXi8qdybi5xsUDfWEhGG2rAQMLSL8oxWY1a7MhyphenhyphensfY0jTCoQboLOca_hLXi0HjUR23I_BKtqSzpF0bL-ADS0j8bEVmLWvN6DZMiSjTLhpD-DsfUBFcF3EfxF6b/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIYT5p8pqEtByngNAR9gf4hfO4NU7c4aJ7UpCiD9zANOFzEgLAAJ7aGTPuQRF5irQ9AGXi8qdybi5xsUDfWEhGG2rAQMLSL8oxWY1a7MhyphenhyphensfY0jTCoQboLOca_hLXi0HjUR23I_BKtqSzpF0bL-ADS0j8bEVmLWvN6DZMiSjTLhpD-DsfUBFcF3EfxF6b/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and that was that;<br />a good day out but not a great day out<br />at least the car got a decent run and performed well!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dg6tafXA3cRstk0jZSavqWBB-filcgGlKDISbPcRd5WQA-pNEVU0Ve6r5mF9W9riPTSWKelk3KO65kDdh5RaCsztVOZZFOxD_r-9axHgNs_ssI9W1DQ2DNjb2WxPAk6_iSyy32Vm_uY6SEksscsy8zL4z_-CIOGa6gKCQLEQQTZgz-UfmVsVpGiQlJ7l/s1527/map%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1527" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dg6tafXA3cRstk0jZSavqWBB-filcgGlKDISbPcRd5WQA-pNEVU0Ve6r5mF9W9riPTSWKelk3KO65kDdh5RaCsztVOZZFOxD_r-9axHgNs_ssI9W1DQ2DNjb2WxPAk6_iSyy32Vm_uY6SEksscsy8zL4z_-CIOGa6gKCQLEQQTZgz-UfmVsVpGiQlJ7l/s320/map%20walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2.86 miles walked in 1hr 40m</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-574367659693511732024-01-29T05:46:00.000-08:002024-01-29T06:59:34.701-08:00seal of approval<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1pv4JDnyA-MLqHOg2l_M-EgrF3ybvWcD7QWXAzF_VdtIJqEcrehf-UOGwNDg4MvbnE-kEKtV5ahMwUoij_vEHppMQMZbRZgdQ4qWTlWTRbu_S6yRHRfUi4e9LaJyN3IHwRlZPgpuGeOQLZKM2mmRV6e2BqBPjSxkpfhduKm5n95uP9tF0JlHIcwAXncQ/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1pv4JDnyA-MLqHOg2l_M-EgrF3ybvWcD7QWXAzF_VdtIJqEcrehf-UOGwNDg4MvbnE-kEKtV5ahMwUoij_vEHppMQMZbRZgdQ4qWTlWTRbu_S6yRHRfUi4e9LaJyN3IHwRlZPgpuGeOQLZKM2mmRV6e2BqBPjSxkpfhduKm5n95uP9tF0JlHIcwAXncQ/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Friday 26th Jan</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was going to title today's outing <i>Good Friday</i>, but that wouldn't be high enough praise for such a spectacular day out: it was FANTASTIC. Let's go!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0AfHvrJPmXHPhKRg3XqAi5LC9mRTBMEUY9DAPKOPxFL4QhWf5GlH2cwSGIUcZWkZngYSLsg4_jdE0bU1PL-MCVLTcRdeCk4gxiX1dSYn_6gj6_pp2CPxpO77M6Nb8aJe6Qx9F4hLdztGFKpRq6AfjgKuNQS7jd_TlKfDgpn_807N-DGTih_EMzouqlxr/s1873/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1873" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0AfHvrJPmXHPhKRg3XqAi5LC9mRTBMEUY9DAPKOPxFL4QhWf5GlH2cwSGIUcZWkZngYSLsg4_jdE0bU1PL-MCVLTcRdeCk4gxiX1dSYn_6gj6_pp2CPxpO77M6Nb8aJe6Qx9F4hLdztGFKpRq6AfjgKuNQS7jd_TlKfDgpn_807N-DGTih_EMzouqlxr/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Mary took this photo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We had seen a decent forecast for Friday; a bit on the cold side, but potentially sunshine or mixed sun-and-cloud all day. Not too much wind (hah!) and it was all heading Eastward. How about we catch the train to Longniddry and walk to NB again? Okay but this time we'll catch the earlier train as the best of the sunshine is allegedly first thing. <br /><br />As you know I have a mild allergy to early mornings but if there is a good reason to get out the scratcher early, it can be done. However as we struggled up Leith Walk into a headwind laced with lashing rain we did wonder had we been sold a turkey. It wasn't the first cold shower that morning. I have been backing off run-training lately with a sciatica problem that is mild currently. However I'm pretty sure I could turn it into a major issue if I continue to run hard and do parkruns as per usual on Saturdays. So I have been backing off. Especially on rainy days!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As a result it had been <i>"a day or two"</i> since I had enjoyed a shower. In an mild effort not to turn into a stinky old person with a shambolic life in disarray, I got up especially early so I could shower. The only way I could do this was to tell myself I didn't need to finish the process with the traditional obligatory 30 seconds of brutally cold hose down. However just at the end of the shower I reneged on the deal and turned the dial to BALTIC! I hopped about while breathing hard, wondering what part of the brain is in control and can you really fool yourself by acting in a way different from the way you thought you would? As a concession I didn't time the torture and probably let myself off with about 20 something seconds rather than the full 30. I was both good cop and bad cop, although it felt like I might also be the guy being tortured in the cells.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfgv8-d6Q-0B6DX8iGiRcKhreUfFJ59gON3IU_QwI-APGGRO6EIKK1OFd_bmEi2YLNBelVmW25EQPS6od1Qj4-r0d_M5jJJ-01BhUPqlwhhVcS5MtzHUPDlnpEi-a6vJj908ExmA7u1r55MbZ-MaTRF6GhMP7O88RnAJrRSc34qgcboOxGlL30ExQdh0d/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfgv8-d6Q-0B6DX8iGiRcKhreUfFJ59gON3IU_QwI-APGGRO6EIKK1OFd_bmEi2YLNBelVmW25EQPS6od1Qj4-r0d_M5jJJ-01BhUPqlwhhVcS5MtzHUPDlnpEi-a6vJj908ExmA7u1r55MbZ-MaTRF6GhMP7O88RnAJrRSc34qgcboOxGlL30ExQdh0d/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we went into Waverley, the last we saw of the world had a thick layer of grey brown cloud cover. When we exited the Abbeyhill tunnel on the 08.40 (they have cancelled peak rate fares recently!) things had already improved, and by Longniddry (08.58!) the miracle of a sunny day was underway. Maybe we hadn't been stiffed after all. Also the station coffees were kicking in. Also, although the sun was out and warm-ish there was a stiff BALTIC breeze letting nobody off the hook. It was the sort of day if you had taken any extra layers you would put them on straight away before leaving the station car park. I had a merino buff and got it out and put it round my neck. Mary held my camera while I did this and had the cheek to take a couple of photos. I liked that the crow she photo-ed had its beak open. (see photo 2 above) Probably saying <i>fuckety fuck nae warm the day!</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc1qGJ9dpYxsn3owjxUSMZTlPBSxBzy2Qu4kBhssdqDcWsgx84cOs4uqkLiLHSwdBGMRDHUpswNG2YRe_LneSOUGr7BaLOZufPGfjOxUAwaBLXjhIUDm5y1Uss5qGa7xmie5T1-PZU-co6VbL2PxUN-ma-q9qP3NuRSF0uUansPIovGxCQuf2H1tTNrg5/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="2048" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc1qGJ9dpYxsn3owjxUSMZTlPBSxBzy2Qu4kBhssdqDcWsgx84cOs4uqkLiLHSwdBGMRDHUpswNG2YRe_LneSOUGr7BaLOZufPGfjOxUAwaBLXjhIUDm5y1Uss5qGa7xmie5T1-PZU-co6VbL2PxUN-ma-q9qP3NuRSF0uUansPIovGxCQuf2H1tTNrg5/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bridges below the horizon</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZFutVg-XWZ5BsQKHZUxm08Ci6-gMWLRcY0RSpTKsUF4iU866PQemYmK_hqYUcbsE481eoukbElsX8TVH2N05axnYTqXY8CLRsefxYXkQbcvfTZnDbBFXhKXWg8POao_NZ2b8K0_XWbnj9Y6SM3TuEP2J_8lD7p4JGSeZu6pHOaMuSs4ZdkX2VDE5lQ15/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZFutVg-XWZ5BsQKHZUxm08Ci6-gMWLRcY0RSpTKsUF4iU866PQemYmK_hqYUcbsE481eoukbElsX8TVH2N05axnYTqXY8CLRsefxYXkQbcvfTZnDbBFXhKXWg8POao_NZ2b8K0_XWbnj9Y6SM3TuEP2J_8lD7p4JGSeZu6pHOaMuSs4ZdkX2VDE5lQ15/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">crazy keen! (Just the one though!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP38Z4YsfDBVm4nuz8avXx6N8jR-kL6cNqNWYN5mL8itYlIWTDqJIxOXU_C_eqmBNBK773PASPDgXoL-qI_cgWBVIo40GgSdLuit42WUWaISogMQxo_6g2n8hBEphYg9wyUH-m9VGwEYxHywljdAeDzMBlBh0vf8_W9izyXFezRC-j5HrsKxm-c_aFUrIM/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP38Z4YsfDBVm4nuz8avXx6N8jR-kL6cNqNWYN5mL8itYlIWTDqJIxOXU_C_eqmBNBK773PASPDgXoL-qI_cgWBVIo40GgSdLuit42WUWaISogMQxo_6g2n8hBEphYg9wyUH-m9VGwEYxHywljdAeDzMBlBh0vf8_W9izyXFezRC-j5HrsKxm-c_aFUrIM/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There were quite a few starlings around Aberlady. These 2 above checking the wind direction on Aberlady Parish Church. (Pretty much on our backs most of the way to North Berwick.)(The wind, not the starlings.) More still on the green as you go round the corner. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJO6iQ-OqmIVkzfRqaTwVnHqUr9lhO-njdAMKCR6Ijdesf_gjMWdqk2RhWu4oZG5h3R9NUvpRLYQMGgnX_mZok4DrKo_1aCCnUAJp6EA-ahEJBgX7-LjO4CZCJUnfrM9futOSqhv7sxN0wuvke3dM02RSV3ZbGqKaNYNvpr-qkLTwK33RMaQL8S3Qul48Z/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJO6iQ-OqmIVkzfRqaTwVnHqUr9lhO-njdAMKCR6Ijdesf_gjMWdqk2RhWu4oZG5h3R9NUvpRLYQMGgnX_mZok4DrKo_1aCCnUAJp6EA-ahEJBgX7-LjO4CZCJUnfrM9futOSqhv7sxN0wuvke3dM02RSV3ZbGqKaNYNvpr-qkLTwK33RMaQL8S3Qul48Z/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrsIEQttlcsVORGCGl_JlQGca3Hq3mLNrlBR9Gkn___UaEeow9ysW-bGQ8rqOEgaIL1OHcc8QKc6cWBz2P5gEGAP2sr9seZuCebfbnn1RP7msvIp13oEipDrS9HF4ZEadvO918UA_Vw3UOW_VBSrx8gByQO_sqVlRZEllWKB8hRwhmQtoe4QcwcAYACX1/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrsIEQttlcsVORGCGl_JlQGca3Hq3mLNrlBR9Gkn___UaEeow9ysW-bGQ8rqOEgaIL1OHcc8QKc6cWBz2P5gEGAP2sr9seZuCebfbnn1RP7msvIp13oEipDrS9HF4ZEadvO918UA_Vw3UOW_VBSrx8gByQO_sqVlRZEllWKB8hRwhmQtoe4QcwcAYACX1/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">curlew<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were both grateful for the facilities at Aberlady. Not just Margiotta's where we bought lunch for later, but the toilets at the bridge. A quick visit there then over the bridge to enchantment. We did not hang about to take the best possible photos of a curlew and a couple of shelducks. I only post them here because I didn't photo any further examples. There were only 2 cars at the bridge car park. On other sunny days (esp at the weekend) it will be fully rammed with around 20 cars.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wqU7vDJ30B9ktJS2P9QS0czKpMU7AQNrND-YdAB0zCPo8qHIUUy9HEYgQUFUIqTchFoEoO5pxnzzycKLvmUb800OiMX9UQIW4Wlsn3xRLO3poospHliXz4oORvE-waZ3iM8bMv4GEjaYdrS4JI0tSRvKz17nIHBB-0Sr-mqZcq75kbMzCoys0Hso7m_c/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wqU7vDJ30B9ktJS2P9QS0czKpMU7AQNrND-YdAB0zCPo8qHIUUy9HEYgQUFUIqTchFoEoO5pxnzzycKLvmUb800OiMX9UQIW4Wlsn3xRLO3poospHliXz4oORvE-waZ3iM8bMv4GEjaYdrS4JI0tSRvKz17nIHBB-0Sr-mqZcq75kbMzCoys0Hso7m_c/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">shelduck</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAYglI04XEanmoGBlo3ZB55cpsLLHFx5Q0JnnetVg37zrV8rc5XtgTyEa9a-SMjILQVf4BBreBx8c4M1xR6AbQp-VG0sHMpBMmYb1wVyjXy3UQ8y4wYvyWEfjnLRBSHOkOoQUHNDZx3rpaalOfZVh8TX0r-UJFDlofBQY_pf5HY1AcVZfCJBQBtLBxEEo/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAYglI04XEanmoGBlo3ZB55cpsLLHFx5Q0JnnetVg37zrV8rc5XtgTyEa9a-SMjILQVf4BBreBx8c4M1xR6AbQp-VG0sHMpBMmYb1wVyjXy3UQ8y4wYvyWEfjnLRBSHOkOoQUHNDZx3rpaalOfZVh8TX0r-UJFDlofBQY_pf5HY1AcVZfCJBQBtLBxEEo/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkXGRRDgA0h58tUPECM8CI02VugID26rm9GvrdbxY7OEowGXqq25aRB8LRmMC7mS_WY_C92HsiGTgU9dFJ7dfGKjjesnGFtt8qLHevaQpCn3NUJoNhw_i-OglBtUZtockRjoa7SG8DlzEf73OHnc39j2QPuWHxHih-6CDOk45ReiBA_m07yvYIxGfHncz/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkXGRRDgA0h58tUPECM8CI02VugID26rm9GvrdbxY7OEowGXqq25aRB8LRmMC7mS_WY_C92HsiGTgU9dFJ7dfGKjjesnGFtt8qLHevaQpCn3NUJoNhw_i-OglBtUZtockRjoa7SG8DlzEf73OHnc39j2QPuWHxHih-6CDOk45ReiBA_m07yvYIxGfHncz/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />the buffalo on the savannah looked cosy and warm</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisupwfVkoJthVCu9ouTnszEPTzKs5smgKsb_XzaZNkaGdQ8WywJEQKBjAuJDuPOPfW6oeAhQBFiGnxOh7Q-q5rDtzE-Dbp68hCdX_H4SM4zVY_UFE6f-CY38NMd6G8gGI0nEfFiU1JC14ax0AneBkVJzuTJv8R8uwdq92bTC6MpaIKnOQ4oldEq1LWWJ_L/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisupwfVkoJthVCu9ouTnszEPTzKs5smgKsb_XzaZNkaGdQ8WywJEQKBjAuJDuPOPfW6oeAhQBFiGnxOh7Q-q5rDtzE-Dbp68hCdX_H4SM4zVY_UFE6f-CY38NMd6G8gGI0nEfFiU1JC14ax0AneBkVJzuTJv8R8uwdq92bTC6MpaIKnOQ4oldEq1LWWJ_L/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEU7OC538MSY_ExZF77wraR45l1yCZAJfbFQugSCyGyBEU8rmX064rf0_do9HxdAmg2qFPumAwiLIM9914Jf-HQnhu4ePfqpRyzCxKbBzduelV0d25NwYM1w43C3ByRkF0Q0guWSGGarkaE7X4RZn13rnbhUJZIc7FTmimAnwOCQK6eRf9Z18LU_SI3Fs/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="2048" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEU7OC538MSY_ExZF77wraR45l1yCZAJfbFQugSCyGyBEU8rmX064rf0_do9HxdAmg2qFPumAwiLIM9914Jf-HQnhu4ePfqpRyzCxKbBzduelV0d25NwYM1w43C3ByRkF0Q0guWSGGarkaE7X4RZn13rnbhUJZIc7FTmimAnwOCQK6eRf9Z18LU_SI3Fs/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The tide was out about the same as last time with possibly only 1 mini-sub showing. Maybe the other one has decayed and flattened. There was a large conference of waders (knot, dunlin, sanderling types) along the waters edge but quite a broad stream between them and us. We approached but stopped at the point we'd get wet socks. The photos were too distant. We turned East and I hoped there'd be a few stragglers down the beach. Despite seeing sanderlings nearly every visit and getting decent photos, they are sufficiently challenging and beautiful to always be worth another approach. We were not disappointed. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0Tq3V7R2mibh0-Q3nF-2chyphenhyphen72cCGs8L4ADq5FW787r4do-_enOdCJa2ny2_tk0fgKFCpijjFtwUcBo0Csn383b_1YN_faOxMAINIjhTOzhowj4bvqZN5B73jk8_Y26jvQWixNVUj5hGRQmBBDdInG0xDnYeBYDIZHQXCKJAseh3vRhRcjk3VvDt2PeuP/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0Tq3V7R2mibh0-Q3nF-2chyphenhyphen72cCGs8L4ADq5FW787r4do-_enOdCJa2ny2_tk0fgKFCpijjFtwUcBo0Csn383b_1YN_faOxMAINIjhTOzhowj4bvqZN5B73jk8_Y26jvQWixNVUj5hGRQmBBDdInG0xDnYeBYDIZHQXCKJAseh3vRhRcjk3VvDt2PeuP/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mary clove to the main direction down the centre of the beach while I headed seaward, where I could see a handful of sanderlings and a couple of oystercatchers. They will work the waters edge from one end to the other so if you get close ahead of their direction, then kneel down, you can let them approach you rather than chase them down the beach. They might speed up a little as they go past but aren't the sort to loiter or bumble anyway and always seem to be going at a gallop. Worth setting the shutterspeed to superfast. There was enough light to set it at 1/2000 of a second which froze them as they sprinted past.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgK2foalwWi1DzgY3ElPbPdkDqQ1owKLKLs-LsBa9SHWcP1peotIuuEX3GVT3oj2SzAeGfL1xatI8tny_5kGPD2vi1VNU0Q_3vz1C92iYfoSB0nCIc-lpdUFhVMg1_Jv_4Rltd-q8ALcy69HMO5Y9CyAkGYo7SfjOgGtlHFEYF_32Z5zGuxbh0OyqmcJQ/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgK2foalwWi1DzgY3ElPbPdkDqQ1owKLKLs-LsBa9SHWcP1peotIuuEX3GVT3oj2SzAeGfL1xatI8tny_5kGPD2vi1VNU0Q_3vz1C92iYfoSB0nCIc-lpdUFhVMg1_Jv_4Rltd-q8ALcy69HMO5Y9CyAkGYo7SfjOgGtlHFEYF_32Z5zGuxbh0OyqmcJQ/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnGO52PUKQyJvoVBEFqzzPWjtYux0NIWj8Rji8Y8lumczwjynbmTKV4nWcttXFD-tib7SNAGKCanh_f4C_Ypgmow6N0jRYFlkC0652dCKVlHMifE1MlYkiBMPNBmhXdPs2MsK26uomcCDCj6efzglf2NwmcRLhBiLWD74ir9VFp69qentlx3Q5plZQHn5/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnGO52PUKQyJvoVBEFqzzPWjtYux0NIWj8Rji8Y8lumczwjynbmTKV4nWcttXFD-tib7SNAGKCanh_f4C_Ypgmow6N0jRYFlkC0652dCKVlHMifE1MlYkiBMPNBmhXdPs2MsK26uomcCDCj6efzglf2NwmcRLhBiLWD74ir9VFp69qentlx3Q5plZQHn5/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw1Eq5DBqzRYd8YKRRVLvjFRckw3vfpsM5J2Dryc0URF79P3JYJbf8bKns2SXMhEIqoUcU8WqxX7s5J79EzWUe2eQzp-UhsE_MtBuWQ8SMK_OHjimzkQ0Lm_FSJs9-reTlX1GsglYN1p51LSQSWBdspH0zC4_GURRd2Shyphenhyphen9x5LoXPjquzTDAQAwj1DkGm/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw1Eq5DBqzRYd8YKRRVLvjFRckw3vfpsM5J2Dryc0URF79P3JYJbf8bKns2SXMhEIqoUcU8WqxX7s5J79EzWUe2eQzp-UhsE_MtBuWQ8SMK_OHjimzkQ0Lm_FSJs9-reTlX1GsglYN1p51LSQSWBdspH0zC4_GURRd2Shyphenhyphen9x5LoXPjquzTDAQAwj1DkGm/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogS9oajyd7U2qnQhAXVbU7yb832gg4bRBu_-cDgEkgNxD3vNqE4FPd8sPJCjIpRD7vypliXkRHaKGjsWIIvvEVJSW_hqmPokpzEaDbM5GMEH9EqoWJThBB4ui7dnTuylgqFERj1gWLVaPNsepQ69abFF1t7gvnQjH0bBGMV-aGdf2bOIyvP9g3n1T6l6S/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogS9oajyd7U2qnQhAXVbU7yb832gg4bRBu_-cDgEkgNxD3vNqE4FPd8sPJCjIpRD7vypliXkRHaKGjsWIIvvEVJSW_hqmPokpzEaDbM5GMEH9EqoWJThBB4ui7dnTuylgqFERj1gWLVaPNsepQ69abFF1t7gvnQjH0bBGMV-aGdf2bOIyvP9g3n1T6l6S/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglurq_UAAyMkxwpy95svoWKmHLgXJpyeGsuMl4higeX4JpQq-fFqky_TxlcQRi69ATe9NQsXWq-1NEAAFlR9iGN7Krk2CZ6pEpzU6FMkmp2t-K0QdE5XHzirB9f9bOZP9ds6tMGGXmWSIvtwWiCPQ0fIIabRi2gpvTBQrFrXs6wuMgsLkA34Dgd9V4WL47/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglurq_UAAyMkxwpy95svoWKmHLgXJpyeGsuMl4higeX4JpQq-fFqky_TxlcQRi69ATe9NQsXWq-1NEAAFlR9iGN7Krk2CZ6pEpzU6FMkmp2t-K0QdE5XHzirB9f9bOZP9ds6tMGGXmWSIvtwWiCPQ0fIIabRi2gpvTBQrFrXs6wuMgsLkA34Dgd9V4WL47/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvYz0K1LqsOgow4ldyAT32II7crVgRqr3TxnfSg4DAvitpLEm4Z-Oz3UvDB3Gz4rOGlM6gbyMCzUzfK3aSfs9NKPARKBFGbVtp7Br31EgpMucX7fmakzJrXxyfT0d_2xF8oNgo7bYw8XvqDajkaAgq5lTrgWzG-2GY58xwdsoOrL7iG-LQsAa_2F8QHdK/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvYz0K1LqsOgow4ldyAT32II7crVgRqr3TxnfSg4DAvitpLEm4Z-Oz3UvDB3Gz4rOGlM6gbyMCzUzfK3aSfs9NKPARKBFGbVtp7Br31EgpMucX7fmakzJrXxyfT0d_2xF8oNgo7bYw8XvqDajkaAgq5lTrgWzG-2GY58xwdsoOrL7iG-LQsAa_2F8QHdK/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">good! Mary also finding distractions further down the beach</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGI1vI4VK9-GfMbOtibmbYFwQWqqVoxPACrDFPMt_n6FZ681rjwARJgr6HpjfHMztqpzNHNTjvK-Dv42hipPIDC45SGmSVhc8mwabge18IrsFe2Z2MLtMBqA1MKpZt1mKB0p_MSoiTgBh202CvvEl-wb-pOxK1bxQMG2UfFuOl5nqv6_d9cFEeNr0_xSN/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGI1vI4VK9-GfMbOtibmbYFwQWqqVoxPACrDFPMt_n6FZ681rjwARJgr6HpjfHMztqpzNHNTjvK-Dv42hipPIDC45SGmSVhc8mwabge18IrsFe2Z2MLtMBqA1MKpZt1mKB0p_MSoiTgBh202CvvEl-wb-pOxK1bxQMG2UfFuOl5nqv6_d9cFEeNr0_xSN/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3VUd0hvKxO2U9ANu-bV1OgRrgplXtA2P5CCcEWR4ioql_PLC8PQWylLAKBiHRPwj2d74bDcbmSq_HsuwbaFQ0GUTm9TCqVTNzmKYA2QXaFCZsWwv1Rx394bJP_0hWQvWx_0komTEyEU1JBiYlCScyIGz-StUaSGbt0sARRRtUGoUjT0iblbZDCetIBlD/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3VUd0hvKxO2U9ANu-bV1OgRrgplXtA2P5CCcEWR4ioql_PLC8PQWylLAKBiHRPwj2d74bDcbmSq_HsuwbaFQ0GUTm9TCqVTNzmKYA2QXaFCZsWwv1Rx394bJP_0hWQvWx_0komTEyEU1JBiYlCScyIGz-StUaSGbt0sARRRtUGoUjT0iblbZDCetIBlD/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSOsjhMN4N41xPLVFtU5o3mVal_t6aTgXTOLZ_GlJCtMAuN1BmLO31Tz3N6GTn8WEa-262KsG8Pv5C7yKOQhcD-6ac31lRlYnOhU3i61cj2k6eSYKIqIrIadt7bucBSLZgnTOEeto5DOm_ugW5doXUjvuzMfGCdEFalIK6OXUSW5SrgOC9oeBHc3Ijf_f/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSOsjhMN4N41xPLVFtU5o3mVal_t6aTgXTOLZ_GlJCtMAuN1BmLO31Tz3N6GTn8WEa-262KsG8Pv5C7yKOQhcD-6ac31lRlYnOhU3i61cj2k6eSYKIqIrIadt7bucBSLZgnTOEeto5DOm_ugW5doXUjvuzMfGCdEFalIK6OXUSW5SrgOC9oeBHc3Ijf_f/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8KEvB26a5VmBnyO2vliuvF_ZackEMKxzK8khUl5KXFCCA5iK8u7oSZvpKTL2Figrkm3dsrye6_BAuipmwBIoiFkifMEA7b1BcxdGN9L_ZI-Dg1GpKhjmk32pLS0-aOS7PlT495G3P0H-7cKpzBXYZgUVfXfDPbbsjkX2gfcHWzoutB866jSfFnxD9fcf/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8KEvB26a5VmBnyO2vliuvF_ZackEMKxzK8khUl5KXFCCA5iK8u7oSZvpKTL2Figrkm3dsrye6_BAuipmwBIoiFkifMEA7b1BcxdGN9L_ZI-Dg1GpKhjmk32pLS0-aOS7PlT495G3P0H-7cKpzBXYZgUVfXfDPbbsjkX2gfcHWzoutB866jSfFnxD9fcf/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3xY3_k3mPhBV9HPKdGWnekhdlIAICKwBr0JR0LqGAHXr157cabO0c6nZWQf6hOxYyyciSRW46ZtiGMP1w83jahU1FXtzDmGngDBPqhmwVXeyO7QbRx5s8QPX08n1ike_zyeG_KXtGRN8VkYW17nICbn2xDpB9HdezDSQY8WHUDCdzoUUggUaOmhPRIpR/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3xY3_k3mPhBV9HPKdGWnekhdlIAICKwBr0JR0LqGAHXr157cabO0c6nZWQf6hOxYyyciSRW46ZtiGMP1w83jahU1FXtzDmGngDBPqhmwVXeyO7QbRx5s8QPX08n1ike_zyeG_KXtGRN8VkYW17nICbn2xDpB9HdezDSQY8WHUDCdzoUUggUaOmhPRIpR/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaIJlXxjU2M6or2E9pYjiGpMHLaDZAK2_n9Zure3c5RdnjQtcCVzJMniM_aMllfCalEwkKmaHhdaGOrLFLDKV2-w88328-WdLGIrvIzBI7WlS_bM8ttJa7kgePQ4WvvZ2ugWYLubyTRzojWuJKDbo63UsGgxoXTSHbRPifrkjUuDz0TaebEd-Ssq6srpY/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaIJlXxjU2M6or2E9pYjiGpMHLaDZAK2_n9Zure3c5RdnjQtcCVzJMniM_aMllfCalEwkKmaHhdaGOrLFLDKV2-w88328-WdLGIrvIzBI7WlS_bM8ttJa7kgePQ4WvvZ2ugWYLubyTRzojWuJKDbo63UsGgxoXTSHbRPifrkjUuDz0TaebEd-Ssq6srpY/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they would run at a lean to compensate for the wind</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hmk3VaJ_TEs3VY4bRuKrdvwhyJsOImMA28WYQZ7_X6v3YGPPLu8wfK_imoTQMUzl-9r48Rzu2HJdWaIhzjh6Q1_o6mpJig-4W8r2fclNnbNzYm41R39537FX8tYpdnZ1NM1ODinOaA12FZJsr-sFjE8__BOEENZvZzTCi3FdJz1fvsTr9raWMkqUyHt4/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hmk3VaJ_TEs3VY4bRuKrdvwhyJsOImMA28WYQZ7_X6v3YGPPLu8wfK_imoTQMUzl-9r48Rzu2HJdWaIhzjh6Q1_o6mpJig-4W8r2fclNnbNzYm41R39537FX8tYpdnZ1NM1ODinOaA12FZJsr-sFjE8__BOEENZvZzTCi3FdJz1fvsTr9raWMkqUyHt4/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmkRll53Aj2GY71G4-YsOIcUoAAdPjrNV-vFSQSLynHAs8KF193if5XGPZeM5sGFl4vcURsDRuWut4svlI0asv4XdOI1AYSPL2rougTwdBa5zA69jXijQtRZmM-zvwSWxOtxW525O9ZoMkENyWfkZRofnmYOwrDswjci7D2_DWcBYaEmJ9i5SgHv-Bg-e/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmkRll53Aj2GY71G4-YsOIcUoAAdPjrNV-vFSQSLynHAs8KF193if5XGPZeM5sGFl4vcURsDRuWut4svlI0asv4XdOI1AYSPL2rougTwdBa5zA69jXijQtRZmM-zvwSWxOtxW525O9ZoMkENyWfkZRofnmYOwrDswjci7D2_DWcBYaEmJ9i5SgHv-Bg-e/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWiycz99RQuZzRc_8m708Qmio1cqqZvnIioT-Z4mEF50xnw5-msyIqDITArnJJOOeUg1JVbyOjLxjKFTZEWoHOtExB0Bqhhz6xFDIUXImvz9xVUAkZcjvh6nSVBEg31LYgIcFJ_B2GGTJYUEe9SdjNQd23uvSN6P3yf9_esKpaMCUZRAtgmN7sCwJkBgX/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWiycz99RQuZzRc_8m708Qmio1cqqZvnIioT-Z4mEF50xnw5-msyIqDITArnJJOOeUg1JVbyOjLxjKFTZEWoHOtExB0Bqhhz6xFDIUXImvz9xVUAkZcjvh6nSVBEg31LYgIcFJ_B2GGTJYUEe9SdjNQd23uvSN6P3yf9_esKpaMCUZRAtgmN7sCwJkBgX/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRhjbDHK4zJ8wVhaZ1QoRXcqceH0BuuzXvJ-ebrIEsONqk1AaVaJnFPCiGiFcIRlCMQZ7CYLxNQZOiJYxXUAy_heg2Oon6RgKW1-_766_zSqDhWLElAHSGP4NgUzfe1fjmaWUFqEEMXmKCMEddjqutQNrmRuaNwateZMD_anJC-njHZCd8nlyKNkh-YDv/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRhjbDHK4zJ8wVhaZ1QoRXcqceH0BuuzXvJ-ebrIEsONqk1AaVaJnFPCiGiFcIRlCMQZ7CYLxNQZOiJYxXUAy_heg2Oon6RgKW1-_766_zSqDhWLElAHSGP4NgUzfe1fjmaWUFqEEMXmKCMEddjqutQNrmRuaNwateZMD_anJC-njHZCd8nlyKNkh-YDv/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEBYfyb9WnhdDqkd4smgxNCmMiQ2nykhuBYSd4Y2x2Hl-85KROnZBwmxeUx8Z2C7ZuMG9pY7Meq7rWiWr7f5ghv8pZCSN1ilf_VOTsb25s2-Y-48ugwEE3sTYuuwx_30LjnFuJ0r4jqfyEmwnsRMGSqbsmxzPBgBhoP6Bct03y6sQjBn-euGiEgIArCm4/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEBYfyb9WnhdDqkd4smgxNCmMiQ2nykhuBYSd4Y2x2Hl-85KROnZBwmxeUx8Z2C7ZuMG9pY7Meq7rWiWr7f5ghv8pZCSN1ilf_VOTsb25s2-Y-48ugwEE3sTYuuwx_30LjnFuJ0r4jqfyEmwnsRMGSqbsmxzPBgBhoP6Bct03y6sQjBn-euGiEgIArCm4/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHV594BILoC330-rSYZqsxfCljUhgnMPGuGio44xElUDfhCoNEJCsxRwTjDr9uODe5rltgG0Tn21KolDG88Xj45Sk1SwiB9TXjRG-Y1CF8kHTe0DXn2KdknVEf4MYWVVoGRYd71vMpShyphenhyphennXzajr-z-tsObSv9mLI52mucQrapBwTK6L1w0qbPmspY2gaV/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHV594BILoC330-rSYZqsxfCljUhgnMPGuGio44xElUDfhCoNEJCsxRwTjDr9uODe5rltgG0Tn21KolDG88Xj45Sk1SwiB9TXjRG-Y1CF8kHTe0DXn2KdknVEf4MYWVVoGRYd71vMpShyphenhyphennXzajr-z-tsObSv9mLI52mucQrapBwTK6L1w0qbPmspY2gaV/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKeDr-I3dUyOCHPhPpbiHx8QAcxeDv3nES95QvRCt9QBUfOlNfaf_18AKlsBlu_hicy7mfMAp1R8ALYzSQWzGqJUpa2DKUHpRx5kwLF4rDky1xdZ_IUP7CRLVXsI_QagcEqdS_x38QYQLBCNMIS92xhhAiHNLIl4UkE_ND6ahd-ahjoU8CPsNYyp-odwC/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKeDr-I3dUyOCHPhPpbiHx8QAcxeDv3nES95QvRCt9QBUfOlNfaf_18AKlsBlu_hicy7mfMAp1R8ALYzSQWzGqJUpa2DKUHpRx5kwLF4rDky1xdZ_IUP7CRLVXsI_QagcEqdS_x38QYQLBCNMIS92xhhAiHNLIl4UkE_ND6ahd-ahjoU8CPsNYyp-odwC/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzR-g4zbHeIYxHtttFaBBEiIfr4DD9dvMeILPD6h1eMrAa2uMD6idhF9zLpz-jlNPO1mDZzfA9j-w_AvVNGUQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sanderlings: full speed ahead!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAnioWJIpPW2dM76TsxA1hA5FXwfw4t4fmNvGlCcby0MZHYyHCk_q3EMPdoV4WEPKXmW8YWiaV9fQTpq4hOwWp1_0HSr5_LhbULoeFGvilZeI-pxZRAHO0CJ0TNYtYwnuT4Ccovxx2WQv4JoSqLDj-KfsifGgID8XnecvxWP8dkv8MsoGBi6Q6wTVIssp/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAnioWJIpPW2dM76TsxA1hA5FXwfw4t4fmNvGlCcby0MZHYyHCk_q3EMPdoV4WEPKXmW8YWiaV9fQTpq4hOwWp1_0HSr5_LhbULoeFGvilZeI-pxZRAHO0CJ0TNYtYwnuT4Ccovxx2WQv4JoSqLDj-KfsifGgID8XnecvxWP8dkv8MsoGBi6Q6wTVIssp/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a very enjoyable walk along a deserted beach</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnPfbmn11vOAwCZut1wX5U9ACssAEwAoP9msQbbf510fKHvqVh3cCvdsXV3kgePvcx9ncU5-W-ovjgvr9ouNFhtZroKIS7-fAiT520p_M4H1UKvi7_33vYo-_lIUgD2PiV0z686bxbKabMRaH2qPDW3gDKzd2Oyq8wsm5AVbW6Jq-1yXqPQyTuYE81tyz/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnPfbmn11vOAwCZut1wX5U9ACssAEwAoP9msQbbf510fKHvqVh3cCvdsXV3kgePvcx9ncU5-W-ovjgvr9ouNFhtZroKIS7-fAiT520p_M4H1UKvi7_33vYo-_lIUgD2PiV0z686bxbKabMRaH2qPDW3gDKzd2Oyq8wsm5AVbW6Jq-1yXqPQyTuYE81tyz/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mystery duck below the cormorants<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At Gullane Point I saw something I didn't recognise, out on the rocks. It looked average duck/mallard sized but was black. It might have been a coot with a wonky beak but I wondered if it was something more exotic. It was quite a distance away and I failed to get close enough for an informative photo. Mary had been saying she was cold and wanted to get out of the wind and have something to eat at the picnic table at Gullane. Instead of investigating I felt it best we should get warmed up moving a bit faster.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUBRLwFo6tGU7ZX7hUofcmbcdGPBLWbk_tnAiVOO43ajBasFCasegImumNXqIOWNzk6UfbuorelU7G0r5H4NSLnr2n67oDMhyux2_Yq3YQqSMUqfh_I57fBgzXWTfpYKlzUEBOLHZm2vSI5uPUChoiengmbAahRGLlCD-Ta2Dez15YbF0qy8K1AnyBTY0/s1906/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1906" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUBRLwFo6tGU7ZX7hUofcmbcdGPBLWbk_tnAiVOO43ajBasFCasegImumNXqIOWNzk6UfbuorelU7G0r5H4NSLnr2n67oDMhyux2_Yq3YQqSMUqfh_I57fBgzXWTfpYKlzUEBOLHZm2vSI5uPUChoiengmbAahRGLlCD-Ta2Dez15YbF0qy8K1AnyBTY0/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I got home I zoomed in a bit more and could see what looked (after googling) like a common scoter. They seem to be fairly rare around the UK (but not OMG rare!) so I was kicking myself for not creeping closer for better photos. However it wasn't worth making Mary stand around getting colder. We were both feeling a bit chilled after stopping on the beach trying to photograph sanderlings in the stiff cold wind, and weren't far off teeth-chattering as we sat at the inhospitable picnic tables near the toilets in Gullane "enjoying" our sandwiches. Had there been a warm cafe nearby with bowls of hot soup we'd have gone in a flash, but it would have taken an hour out the walk to go into Gullane for a break. To Mary's credit she never even suggested it. Although we had an extra hour today (earlier train) we didn't want to throw it away just to do lunch.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7hz1lpOoqrWm-7e6cUavWsum74zEcxCuW5MrcofzXPZIckrVzW85YzbncoYffoZ4Cr0iQHI3EL7g4Rb0LWFJuq1z3nbZ4ubzxHHsc2ooqAXjilHJVlKqvv3CZAqWUiL0338i2YFj3BxnUPL0m5wwAvCUEbuv_VYuP-3lja5yWdRxGOzHMWwmD4pWbf7v/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7hz1lpOoqrWm-7e6cUavWsum74zEcxCuW5MrcofzXPZIckrVzW85YzbncoYffoZ4Cr0iQHI3EL7g4Rb0LWFJuq1z3nbZ4ubzxHHsc2ooqAXjilHJVlKqvv3CZAqWUiL0338i2YFj3BxnUPL0m5wwAvCUEbuv_VYuP-3lja5yWdRxGOzHMWwmD4pWbf7v/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fieldfares</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30_S5sVrMv1p7jlxctKJsApvYLzYpK1N7XSDyTEzMbNTFutuk7JMEK6WF3SWCutwZSXUrC518OaQJ42qDjwrwTmeBZ3k3CkzCMyXCwv47-QIHsq9toTv8ya6bpnk3Lng6mcfbJ1JtyJWpuhsdDHAcLWcTaO1yT-hzxWfzujFKnlrnJ1eTEMl-eB8Y_7rY/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30_S5sVrMv1p7jlxctKJsApvYLzYpK1N7XSDyTEzMbNTFutuk7JMEK6WF3SWCutwZSXUrC518OaQJ42qDjwrwTmeBZ3k3CkzCMyXCwv47-QIHsq9toTv8ya6bpnk3Lng6mcfbJ1JtyJWpuhsdDHAcLWcTaO1yT-hzxWfzujFKnlrnJ1eTEMl-eB8Y_7rY/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfURcitHmtGqCCKAA4R29A1OLiiGTppqUcvBUj36i3vkgS954eUkTLi2Ql89QubjCNJTyGHw3AbLIrfzg45Y_PPCo4Yehd0tttjdwQwZiBcudMl4fFDNcqrCft3cpcrEh0lPQ2_WOdyn9kdgN319P31-CnihOMuCZYA4daiwkMiqPxEpovr04FVV2SCCo/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfURcitHmtGqCCKAA4R29A1OLiiGTppqUcvBUj36i3vkgS954eUkTLi2Ql89QubjCNJTyGHw3AbLIrfzg45Y_PPCo4Yehd0tttjdwQwZiBcudMl4fFDNcqrCft3cpcrEh0lPQ2_WOdyn9kdgN319P31-CnihOMuCZYA4daiwkMiqPxEpovr04FVV2SCCo/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7tnVdExMIqWCyY8AZOHczxf-3HlunoPh2Aoo7gzJ4Hs3WHgOZ7CrJlioPOXk9ZL2Rksn51cVc89hNJO8AsQAfKDERqv9-Y8S9zNMUtFefa6q4ruV43Vf9zuoWJY19X4JSxdHbvnNMX1kyCqQwcDz0ib1_nUwfPRyBz1kFntSQno-DHnOYwXtnAGZcPZz/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7tnVdExMIqWCyY8AZOHczxf-3HlunoPh2Aoo7gzJ4Hs3WHgOZ7CrJlioPOXk9ZL2Rksn51cVc89hNJO8AsQAfKDERqv9-Y8S9zNMUtFefa6q4ruV43Vf9zuoWJY19X4JSxdHbvnNMX1kyCqQwcDz0ib1_nUwfPRyBz1kFntSQno-DHnOYwXtnAGZcPZz/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0JCri0gFUcQZe9OP1dynye9AUI7ZoDeOtsPqiZMWxkKtmcXd9k6g8tKzswFjHp81SaHZnS_eW6Yfx-9Ihlydm72BDi7LVKuJVm-stSnvh_3mBg0UuYUjRk0ULR5zEGZn70N8wNHFwbsUza-6W-L4mgJUjtAMo3F8ITMVT8BeIWHBLuoWYePm0h5zmssf/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0JCri0gFUcQZe9OP1dynye9AUI7ZoDeOtsPqiZMWxkKtmcXd9k6g8tKzswFjHp81SaHZnS_eW6Yfx-9Ihlydm72BDi7LVKuJVm-stSnvh_3mBg0UuYUjRk0ULR5zEGZn70N8wNHFwbsUza-6W-L4mgJUjtAMo3F8ITMVT8BeIWHBLuoWYePm0h5zmssf/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4OHm7i7lETaHxAaMPUyKNUuf6Dyj_sxAt8N_SzSgBhCLc-r_YHSeA5OhXJC-XkoZGf0K1eHjkSS29sXXM_hpOmTNliIwPrmoZR54xtlq0r1JVbVM4xL2B8erEA_nyIb-htzKnHgQqnQy1Zm3XnYAz3lvcPuLhsdcjC4OhReOz3Qsr483qBkaqxsIheLr/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4OHm7i7lETaHxAaMPUyKNUuf6Dyj_sxAt8N_SzSgBhCLc-r_YHSeA5OhXJC-XkoZGf0K1eHjkSS29sXXM_hpOmTNliIwPrmoZR54xtlq0r1JVbVM4xL2B8erEA_nyIb-htzKnHgQqnQy1Zm3XnYAz3lvcPuLhsdcjC4OhReOz3Qsr483qBkaqxsIheLr/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">glam lunch stop!<br />All the luxuries!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-RElLGnq_-Ee9WqAPwfpcjmBtlEakTJyOy3SflV1hgqCuMDszPFMswdW9O7iJT16mig24c1RSIrKyBhysfyOmrfT7l1ysZEK8KzAX0GoRiHkAj1yTxqeKFtBsS122uDK4-MYgn08aHRrV15BKsGOOBps4swCnDi17vqueOfbPzmFKm_p240nabiITDYC/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-RElLGnq_-Ee9WqAPwfpcjmBtlEakTJyOy3SflV1hgqCuMDszPFMswdW9O7iJT16mig24c1RSIrKyBhysfyOmrfT7l1ysZEK8KzAX0GoRiHkAj1yTxqeKFtBsS122uDK4-MYgn08aHRrV15BKsGOOBps4swCnDi17vqueOfbPzmFKm_p240nabiITDYC/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While it was great to see large squadrons of fieldfares around the trees and buckthorn bushes of Gullane, it was also frustrating that they would fly off at a predetermined distance. We didn't get any closer than last time and no great photos were taken. Good to see large numbers flying between trees. A couple nearly landed next to our picnic table but made sure they put some branches between us, negating any photo opportunities.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzw17uSZoqTPkHkM4leAIgKI_M7tq6JXsMr9m6lkW_1f1_a3CNhyFet3VMZj0RuI1nB2hnUds0FaxyzVYOCn3YhrQDAgGXSiCM-6uvkThCV2BGfJcDlup0IAVtYOb87nnEuWw14bk4IIAAR4sEwVK0zloLXCrGMtZ-rlo2VZtow5-L3Vv-3IDMULXSaMx/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzw17uSZoqTPkHkM4leAIgKI_M7tq6JXsMr9m6lkW_1f1_a3CNhyFet3VMZj0RuI1nB2hnUds0FaxyzVYOCn3YhrQDAgGXSiCM-6uvkThCV2BGfJcDlup0IAVtYOb87nnEuWw14bk4IIAAR4sEwVK0zloLXCrGMtZ-rlo2VZtow5-L3Vv-3IDMULXSaMx/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary relaxing at <i>Driftwood</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0g9lDCtRMZvXhMexVP2nzXddhHCO-Tl-P68KktAaqP73td7iCUvOqL-xSjeuPJlkcwxd800kA4VEdryl8AECjz36cdun1I9yYXJa5Qh26gzQmdEZudUBSWjIi8b30UDx1jeY8EmXjp580CucKklHTDB_mZEZOKVW-ZJ9bFk6jAxmQNYSMWh6u41fdzmX/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0g9lDCtRMZvXhMexVP2nzXddhHCO-Tl-P68KktAaqP73td7iCUvOqL-xSjeuPJlkcwxd800kA4VEdryl8AECjz36cdun1I9yYXJa5Qh26gzQmdEZudUBSWjIi8b30UDx1jeY8EmXjp580CucKklHTDB_mZEZOKVW-ZJ9bFk6jAxmQNYSMWh6u41fdzmX/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPqvWgS2eSCRiN984UKWMfzZavmg9iBZGPVPEx6CO8VcuUCAwuCOXUDeCjWO2svzcMhpS9xFXdrST2IXLm6n9EMho3FKglqO6XzLFIHkeZwQtGUCnsRbxLb6lOYETD-DSxH3GusMAbcwxqBatt_c0rw9yjkAuqd-GT7wyua0IflZgc30jKPMbk6XSzqE1/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPqvWgS2eSCRiN984UKWMfzZavmg9iBZGPVPEx6CO8VcuUCAwuCOXUDeCjWO2svzcMhpS9xFXdrST2IXLm6n9EMho3FKglqO6XzLFIHkeZwQtGUCnsRbxLb6lOYETD-DSxH3GusMAbcwxqBatt_c0rw9yjkAuqd-GT7wyua0IflZgc30jKPMbk6XSzqE1/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Having enjoyed taking a more inland trail last time along here we did the same this time. The large area of grasses waving in the breeze was like being on a straw coloured sea. No deer this time although it felt like something exotic or unexpected could be round the next corner or hummock. Eventually we descended to the beach at Archerfields. The tide was quite high against the rocks and another half hour might have meant wet feet.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlbuwW73laZMzMWJxzVOT9F7SuheiRxx-kn1Qn-fpamXO-sCaa8KIHwv1uRTTQvlBhFd_WcAmvoQBUligw2Iwmmmuf7001T2wGmWz2-vQvbszjp1pXgRkIdtg84cWfEqF5NA1PdDIbn3z8psZ3C9fd6tSu7oipw5zfhRPJoKj8A7-kBroi2k0tKbNsxX7/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlbuwW73laZMzMWJxzVOT9F7SuheiRxx-kn1Qn-fpamXO-sCaa8KIHwv1uRTTQvlBhFd_WcAmvoQBUligw2Iwmmmuf7001T2wGmWz2-vQvbszjp1pXgRkIdtg84cWfEqF5NA1PdDIbn3z8psZ3C9fd6tSu7oipw5zfhRPJoKj8A7-kBroi2k0tKbNsxX7/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pMolX-b1jppjdh4eCAfgOnQJBmWP5iT1j5UZwwSz116VVTciXeKyisnkjI7Hpi7K3pNxImhnfZag5rocug5XFuR-ojlkPkWfynP5roDUMfrriwQGfs10v0GK30mjZSwOz_sVNZuqEkLfxx611_ljEKVodPxwkiulzA1ctIjFBIjTOSRL-yj2qQkXdnIP/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pMolX-b1jppjdh4eCAfgOnQJBmWP5iT1j5UZwwSz116VVTciXeKyisnkjI7Hpi7K3pNxImhnfZag5rocug5XFuR-ojlkPkWfynP5roDUMfrriwQGfs10v0GK30mjZSwOz_sVNZuqEkLfxx611_ljEKVodPxwkiulzA1ctIjFBIjTOSRL-yj2qQkXdnIP/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a singular fox moth caterpillar out for a walk</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlZsmG8u38YyfD8fdEQehyfOEB0e30JOEVrGIQN64p3m8oyDEKZ4nRJGhwzLoS2ZfNJ1TBORlcpV6x0aj-65QLA6f0PIJQfdsF1l61P1uGUcmWV-tbVoQ2VDB4fKkYOBZ_hi-sftLY8VJl49fyTncLlmy9ms2VJFTGdzhOELpNdYEob795of34yo7aDB4/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlZsmG8u38YyfD8fdEQehyfOEB0e30JOEVrGIQN64p3m8oyDEKZ4nRJGhwzLoS2ZfNJ1TBORlcpV6x0aj-65QLA6f0PIJQfdsF1l61P1uGUcmWV-tbVoQ2VDB4fKkYOBZ_hi-sftLY8VJl49fyTncLlmy9ms2VJFTGdzhOELpNdYEob795of34yo7aDB4/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took the time to look along the beach for those stones with (sort of) writing on them. The one above perhaps says Mary or Milky or something just a strong coffee away from a definite translation. Another said <i>Mission Impossible</i> or perhaps <i>Mother's Imperative</i>. By this time <strike>Milky</strike> Mary was halfway to Yellowcraigs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv6yv0s74E7oP8maeWDqqcWEhIkVRzWypx8wMfhtVQIH_lWuwp0HRLCvvG08Dak4ATsWHfDB7y56ZYggh3YDel4_XHWHoAwn8p4YeotPGBB6Hf60cBZJrYLwIC5bR9st2Qf_ka9pjOT2o7-KSdmJkbh1WtRcs9pNphuTZ2N8oyOn49EpurvXXv0Qh1jba/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="2048" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv6yv0s74E7oP8maeWDqqcWEhIkVRzWypx8wMfhtVQIH_lWuwp0HRLCvvG08Dak4ATsWHfDB7y56ZYggh3YDel4_XHWHoAwn8p4YeotPGBB6Hf60cBZJrYLwIC5bR9st2Qf_ka9pjOT2o7-KSdmJkbh1WtRcs9pNphuTZ2N8oyOn49EpurvXXv0Qh1jba/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Bass Rock</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXQriGlfg8sgukRMiyckoLNpHfZEioGX09nvT5EW2Z2oLSwczx-EvpJP3vi6nbUECSJ2IEoViQ7A1r6H49vSuhLpzd5PdNKyJWaOtwvBxq93Aute47vcZcm6Tb-0XhtqJs5GSjUMOJyTP0WCwvSkvhgpDQb2QKvILyF0Lq4m9eRtU9dtxkdpMZqCgUZsl/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXQriGlfg8sgukRMiyckoLNpHfZEioGX09nvT5EW2Z2oLSwczx-EvpJP3vi6nbUECSJ2IEoViQ7A1r6H49vSuhLpzd5PdNKyJWaOtwvBxq93Aute47vcZcm6Tb-0XhtqJs5GSjUMOJyTP0WCwvSkvhgpDQb2QKvILyF0Lq4m9eRtU9dtxkdpMZqCgUZsl/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">turnstone</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPhVj473NaXrZjZRMxf9J5lPSLP46QaaZBaMdvvs83n3KGS10IYAMuRZebyyk9LDpYr-3cpV20rbHOu1xy0d52pqOMoVnkrC8JA9doDT_EuukiG3nEwbA8MfrxKScxvSu70HI3Y_0RRNRAnXRdu_Wm_AbK6szGnbQgH0rEJjtAOxZG09MnkUKtSpQNKNd/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPhVj473NaXrZjZRMxf9J5lPSLP46QaaZBaMdvvs83n3KGS10IYAMuRZebyyk9LDpYr-3cpV20rbHOu1xy0d52pqOMoVnkrC8JA9doDT_EuukiG3nEwbA8MfrxKScxvSu70HI3Y_0RRNRAnXRdu_Wm_AbK6szGnbQgH0rEJjtAOxZG09MnkUKtSpQNKNd/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The turnstones seem to be aware of how well they merge into almost every beach. They are indistinguishable from a pile of kelp and stones, which is helpful (for them) as that is where they spend their time, turning over stones, badder wrack and thongweed to look for luckies underneath. This beach of grey stones is not great for their otherwise extremely successful disappearing act. I took hundreds of photos of them today but very few were worth posting as they mostly merge into their background. Also as you approach them or stand nearby they assume you can't see them and go about their business. If they see you coming closer yet, they sometimes resort to standing motionless and watching to see if you can still see them. Which is good for taking photos, although mostly you can't see them, so not ideal. They have very lovely plumage despite it looking like every pile of seaweed and gunk on the beach. Top bird!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOkeUneQf7jsyY676EAU_nUiFUuhBbs-Trmhtd9435JAA7MBycb_zicgrI-q81qfMSzra84gFHNNeKF9q8PLTwyrsmGN-a6RR0isYxwFL0IkBOGDCaWVd1YzwZPRit7oF0QdBolz5Ph1RqFzkaHC0NP_ydjREDK5HXLRp9LaKNd1GrUmDW2CJvY1DxnqW/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOkeUneQf7jsyY676EAU_nUiFUuhBbs-Trmhtd9435JAA7MBycb_zicgrI-q81qfMSzra84gFHNNeKF9q8PLTwyrsmGN-a6RR0isYxwFL0IkBOGDCaWVd1YzwZPRit7oF0QdBolz5Ph1RqFzkaHC0NP_ydjREDK5HXLRp9LaKNd1GrUmDW2CJvY1DxnqW/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxe6gVjse9JjHJ1JcA-irqkUq-GBCVl2GT03_8PszQIbs0sDUiFnbH1lVCDgCWCRTeTp-rDbypxaGVFDv9CoSR6Pkyn426Bb2Z2Rz7PHPrZ3jtFmB4sX8aE2xsLohmE6TJJNTkhi4BRESyYG5uQfo37xCh95swnayfVFHaCDA-IWkS8Iyzl80WutnV-0z/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxe6gVjse9JjHJ1JcA-irqkUq-GBCVl2GT03_8PszQIbs0sDUiFnbH1lVCDgCWCRTeTp-rDbypxaGVFDv9CoSR6Pkyn426Bb2Z2Rz7PHPrZ3jtFmB4sX8aE2xsLohmE6TJJNTkhi4BRESyYG5uQfo37xCh95swnayfVFHaCDA-IWkS8Iyzl80WutnV-0z/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a section along the fenced-off big-footballers-houses where about 200 birds flew out. Mostly fieldfares and finches and not one did I get for a photo. Okay, just one. Above. The rest flew out like a murmuration in reverse, the bastards. I have a notion to buy a cammo poncho and come back to this spot before the buckthorn berries are all gone and set up a hide to photo them all sitting in there chatting about the latest ugly mansion to go up behind the green fence.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJArIk_5eF6QRULwo8Y43kgifia_E6cqm4JX7XQR4iDGpqsQZMwFDa8JPpA9A243EYn4UBWMm0rUomonoPQZnq8l6kIdljmFSvuE5BjJoTQkMZFJPFUIh-E3Bpzquj7DFZwOYAe22WANS7mXW7iH0YKGItrRoI_hEPXv-XMWo2z6T8wul-Zf__yFE2c1wS/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJArIk_5eF6QRULwo8Y43kgifia_E6cqm4JX7XQR4iDGpqsQZMwFDa8JPpA9A243EYn4UBWMm0rUomonoPQZnq8l6kIdljmFSvuE5BjJoTQkMZFJPFUIh-E3Bpzquj7DFZwOYAe22WANS7mXW7iH0YKGItrRoI_hEPXv-XMWo2z6T8wul-Zf__yFE2c1wS/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yup, that lighthouse on Fidra again</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMjXnMAEEwFjjy-Vr7N48ByFu134zwGxsgWdAf9WMdCSj7GciDDkj44yFgw7WJ6UCxw3ojT3ayVZY0Lk5nqMCkAjpeYl3Y5MNX0EDou5MweYdPg-Sew4hbhcwIq2JdK1dDvT9nUg77ChqfBzd6OU4icRP2KIe2xMvXB_Y8I9sxyVOUGCOvE9V4stIJu0c/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMjXnMAEEwFjjy-Vr7N48ByFu134zwGxsgWdAf9WMdCSj7GciDDkj44yFgw7WJ6UCxw3ojT3ayVZY0Lk5nqMCkAjpeYl3Y5MNX0EDou5MweYdPg-Sew4hbhcwIq2JdK1dDvT9nUg77ChqfBzd6OU4icRP2KIe2xMvXB_Y8I9sxyVOUGCOvE9V4stIJu0c/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the other one on the bassington rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51x4Keoy2AJY6_5kfEkSeFAR1JooHxcJaIwmGCaeHy1DxWYq3RE5eJrt3QECViPQCzL5krCGo5scpVdlnGB3Ce0PhNaUhg2JTZvWFP71mIvs-i11vPCt8hJif7mxFXyLP7iF0DfbEzONs4IJjhyXVNMOG0S59y_2ZsjOqR9TPUDuokUfZxyS0lL12sGTo/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51x4Keoy2AJY6_5kfEkSeFAR1JooHxcJaIwmGCaeHy1DxWYq3RE5eJrt3QECViPQCzL5krCGo5scpVdlnGB3Ce0PhNaUhg2JTZvWFP71mIvs-i11vPCt8hJif7mxFXyLP7iF0DfbEzONs4IJjhyXVNMOG0S59y_2ZsjOqR9TPUDuokUfZxyS0lL12sGTo/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiekL4DJxFGAcy2t9A1j2iKA7MzGR8ZpB0CTJR-_kx3LfMfJxhJDgQVk4tZKOtZ8tDKKLwt8DUWfEUSU33vXeWmx8VYMIZR5sbiIob4l0cBK7bWWYMIefwAH2tfUv4UUWNtYffjQ07j3CAMqXw89A-7gu1n9pCQtWpOyMZEaXgpa4TUmRLvSDxWTj-UoK/s2048/062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiekL4DJxFGAcy2t9A1j2iKA7MzGR8ZpB0CTJR-_kx3LfMfJxhJDgQVk4tZKOtZ8tDKKLwt8DUWfEUSU33vXeWmx8VYMIZR5sbiIob4l0cBK7bWWYMIefwAH2tfUv4UUWNtYffjQ07j3CAMqXw89A-7gu1n9pCQtWpOyMZEaXgpa4TUmRLvSDxWTj-UoK/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZnGQQXHVfLjqDhpRBuRiEnHz2Ut3q9T7MLtIg3hDdia2sIUZP-N60FR3bu_D2rYswuHH6c8G22Y3UXi-3zPxvDdVUDUTATiB_CnA5SCRup8ub90OTz-dbglePwz2QOfUlGXzU7rnFtBE6ggeWTpgubrSxqsy4HaeDohtOrL4twvBVI2jJsnFpdCuZxTm/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZnGQQXHVfLjqDhpRBuRiEnHz2Ut3q9T7MLtIg3hDdia2sIUZP-N60FR3bu_D2rYswuHH6c8G22Y3UXi-3zPxvDdVUDUTATiB_CnA5SCRup8ub90OTz-dbglePwz2QOfUlGXzU7rnFtBE6ggeWTpgubrSxqsy4HaeDohtOrL4twvBVI2jJsnFpdCuZxTm/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">today's best turnstone photo - hurray</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ophkj3BNNoAIFefFwmPrKuH9ulXp1JT_t06u0_OSZrY3X1vfNxq0FsWLj7E6dGxNrb-Aik4liaYnkY4c5f2SM_xB3hiCjlQmqSsjLmZBZ0rhT5tr43mm3Y1uaud2JfidXz0VPG3bx1AgDsAcjbeD0Wzs4ZCJdjN4AYTqKqKcBmkXEfwN39cbleeAVZ7i/s2048/064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ophkj3BNNoAIFefFwmPrKuH9ulXp1JT_t06u0_OSZrY3X1vfNxq0FsWLj7E6dGxNrb-Aik4liaYnkY4c5f2SM_xB3hiCjlQmqSsjLmZBZ0rhT5tr43mm3Y1uaud2JfidXz0VPG3bx1AgDsAcjbeD0Wzs4ZCJdjN4AYTqKqKcBmkXEfwN39cbleeAVZ7i/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now this looked like a hooded crow to me. Apparently they only live up North so is more likely to be a hoodie / carrion hybrid. It looked much more hoodie than the ones I've seen in Warriston or around Edinburgh. Maybe it was on holiday? It did not hang about for any other photos or to confirm its identity.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zvarhoZXj0yEKF6LAWxCyemeBGOzkpefd0gQ93Z7A9JXvgHAy6Y79KC9ItP6zTuWp_iUuoYfPCToYZ2mEo2FUgbzBTMgWRx3SYTHWaNTciJ-oYE-twAlVqMVLF8oYie-sgntiZi8dIHp06aXXU5v716qLRYhLnAcNm6NFw22D_FfdqgNxOLkZJJXTZbl/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="2048" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zvarhoZXj0yEKF6LAWxCyemeBGOzkpefd0gQ93Z7A9JXvgHAy6Y79KC9ItP6zTuWp_iUuoYfPCToYZ2mEo2FUgbzBTMgWRx3SYTHWaNTciJ-oYE-twAlVqMVLF8oYie-sgntiZi8dIHp06aXXU5v716qLRYhLnAcNm6NFw22D_FfdqgNxOLkZJJXTZbl/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking back to Yellowcraigs</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRigj0Ak62NFsesvRFyS1LeaFAs0bcPRN4ggygSqvVicP8BonOksAmiiVO4t5vJpduObeGuXwVvTF3hUIWiwW2rRp-mXQpJIUyznIHcG0fStvpRr3hyphenhyphenG2ubdbh_-Lq1Qps691ImRJN2O22lSD3Ek1hZ3c9W0RXoPJO3apMXVfk39Cd5zXM5nuXZke7kPl/s2048/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRigj0Ak62NFsesvRFyS1LeaFAs0bcPRN4ggygSqvVicP8BonOksAmiiVO4t5vJpduObeGuXwVvTF3hUIWiwW2rRp-mXQpJIUyznIHcG0fStvpRr3hyphenhyphenG2ubdbh_-Lq1Qps691ImRJN2O22lSD3Ek1hZ3c9W0RXoPJO3apMXVfk39Cd5zXM5nuXZke7kPl/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last few times we have ended the walk by going inland (from Yellowcraigs) on the JMW and walking the last mile on tarmac. This time we were up the beach a bit before we actually thought about it, which was good for a couple of reasons. I'm sure that field the JMW cuts across is still an absolute quagmire, and also we bumped into a couple of seals we wouldn't have seen. They were both taking time out of the water. We were alerted to the first one by a woman who had a large slobbery rottweiler that looked disappointed not to be eating seal-pup for dinner. It was on a lead but keen to be off a lead. The woman said (seeing our cameras) there was a seal just round the corner and it would make a good photo. It was and it did!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMDajG-7mTMGwm7WfAl8W6mkslgkwBHYSBdUE_Ys8Dd5PHb5Epe3barxl1wsboC3mjBr7pDWCkcRBJ7MumVT3Hi8pWF3c5MqwqxCsLomtNFgUI96UO7vTxf8jV-7NzMbHhIljLMDmjPrGFLp4St1NrarV7tKZ-depPlOHginZN66nRI6FHdbgC6XMW_1s/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMDajG-7mTMGwm7WfAl8W6mkslgkwBHYSBdUE_Ys8Dd5PHb5Epe3barxl1wsboC3mjBr7pDWCkcRBJ7MumVT3Hi8pWF3c5MqwqxCsLomtNFgUI96UO7vTxf8jV-7NzMbHhIljLMDmjPrGFLp4St1NrarV7tKZ-depPlOHginZN66nRI6FHdbgC6XMW_1s/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A couple of men were stood beside it sorting out its requirements. Phoning up people to inform them. I believe young seals find continual immersion too much and need to be out the water for a while. The mothers will drop them off and come back later. Or if they are a bit older they make their own way back into the water. Unfortunately the beach was being visited by several dog walkers, so not a bad idea to inform the authorities. I know little about them, seals, or what should be done. I was glad someone else was phoning the authorities although I doubted there was much to be done other than leave it alone and it'll either be fine or die. When the seal-pup heard my voice as I chatted to the guys, it perked up and looked in decent health, and alert. Possibly it just needed an hour or 2 to snooze while mum fished for dinner. No idea. No sign of injury. We left them all to it. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHriHZd3uLBTlPrnI6ECBt2R9RwwB3byxijAdP2XaR8hvWKRY0gKBTFXvqy-t7U9xVdCzbduml04qGHDGm6-HhbkJ7Tq8VfHNk8BSCJLqKzrNHqbKX_fu51c__HrCSR8RtKov-Z-tv7z3fu_moI_HGAJGzP7jro3AEPm2QQSJ_em8fbTWLm7434DxxBRw/s2048/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHriHZd3uLBTlPrnI6ECBt2R9RwwB3byxijAdP2XaR8hvWKRY0gKBTFXvqy-t7U9xVdCzbduml04qGHDGm6-HhbkJ7Tq8VfHNk8BSCJLqKzrNHqbKX_fu51c__HrCSR8RtKov-Z-tv7z3fu_moI_HGAJGzP7jro3AEPm2QQSJ_em8fbTWLm7434DxxBRw/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWYgiqhYYcX-24-OOuoqwisRDQl30CCtFs9xbPHFT1VPSAy6IUtSFBIbZvf71tRxygZ2TKhT7DcI4dc14hRfV37q-_-T-IzRKJXUZQi6-F8EZjim17j5tMvUwpSdBvzJZLUoOtzyV6hdTaz_pf7y5WLcAyUWbfVQlhcQDbKbDdiUUZkjM_rX8J00bVoba/s2048/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWYgiqhYYcX-24-OOuoqwisRDQl30CCtFs9xbPHFT1VPSAy6IUtSFBIbZvf71tRxygZ2TKhT7DcI4dc14hRfV37q-_-T-IzRKJXUZQi6-F8EZjim17j5tMvUwpSdBvzJZLUoOtzyV6hdTaz_pf7y5WLcAyUWbfVQlhcQDbKbDdiUUZkjM_rX8J00bVoba/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we walked up the beach the last mile or 2 into NB there were a couple of birds nearby. A pied wagtail on the beach pretending it was trying to get away from us but just moving up the beach 15 yards ahead, always just frustratingly too far away to bother taking a photo. And a red-breasted merganser that would dive under the water for 10 seconds then reappear for 4 seconds before diving again. It was swimming about 10 yards offshore and parallel to the beach, covering the ground at a rate just slightly faster than we were. I'd run up the beach while it was under the water hoping it would pop out just at the point I anticipated and I'd get a photo before it re-submerged. Sometimes it worked, mostly it didn't. We covered about a mile of beach without really noticing. Also I had to co-ordinate the sun being out and bouncing off its mad hairdo, and for it to be facing in the right direction and not out to sea. It seemed to enjoy the game as much as I did and neither of us got bored. Mary had been walking ahead and when I caught up with her nearer the bend in the golf course the mad merganser was still alongside, fishing the shallows.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOubolojzON3l5U9nvhHZm2swSHDzaP0g0GFAfWVia1FymsfqyjVWtf91Ym0lR1YUSF73TwAxuWzCL8jAqCGDiqN-g6sh06-VoWdK8d1wi-ztbGqvGBxz-v_7MzCukP3q-K0deKfuS7sxkm_8b3-wLOAjOB6EX1V0oytnpKk92vR90h9CuqQ6bZY3KgWV/s2048/071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOubolojzON3l5U9nvhHZm2swSHDzaP0g0GFAfWVia1FymsfqyjVWtf91Ym0lR1YUSF73TwAxuWzCL8jAqCGDiqN-g6sh06-VoWdK8d1wi-ztbGqvGBxz-v_7MzCukP3q-K0deKfuS7sxkm_8b3-wLOAjOB6EX1V0oytnpKk92vR90h9CuqQ6bZY3KgWV/s320/071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHE78Nl8bgMmAdSsVyF1fIu8EFXv2T_IgLZ3-8M_NQf0UvLCF_bD1O8qtoVuPTMmH_mVLxfJQYXHbVeNPulwfkC0am5fu_qaqJ7-vT2Ecd732XwykqE-Q1QOnKgoQGyU1bx-5HV53_Wd7_FqQRLdZK2SrmJ3dIb3KW8ahLiWpswRYqai3bLNuA2zCOMMj/s2048/072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHE78Nl8bgMmAdSsVyF1fIu8EFXv2T_IgLZ3-8M_NQf0UvLCF_bD1O8qtoVuPTMmH_mVLxfJQYXHbVeNPulwfkC0am5fu_qaqJ7-vT2Ecd732XwykqE-Q1QOnKgoQGyU1bx-5HV53_Wd7_FqQRLdZK2SrmJ3dIb3KW8ahLiWpswRYqai3bLNuA2zCOMMj/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxQZU3Bnyo1FGU6T1sFoi40PHPSzRLA8-dqLdPnHFndpeAFF28d4H2yAjMALXv6_cBmB98qxJZIjndpn8BIaJ5sHGJby_ojBk8YFHE8HS4bTGgXW0KLUmTZ8TsBk0h-G_BKRns25iQE1FY1tVAleBm4sXdpT82llohRhR13IZZk1NxVuWWqaIq-zztnmq/s2048/073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxQZU3Bnyo1FGU6T1sFoi40PHPSzRLA8-dqLdPnHFndpeAFF28d4H2yAjMALXv6_cBmB98qxJZIjndpn8BIaJ5sHGJby_ojBk8YFHE8HS4bTGgXW0KLUmTZ8TsBk0h-G_BKRns25iQE1FY1tVAleBm4sXdpT82llohRhR13IZZk1NxVuWWqaIq-zztnmq/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6dZ_zaaKuoQk-A0952aymbW3M7yzKMus2qmzlUwtgOUnzoQaYpSB609XN_Vl3MpI8Q-VWaQkz_X79zBGCLGPfRWdT5sOdxW8ZRCw-0XMysqJVl54X1SuvOfzxuK9c4YDfmWLDajsjnOZe3orteabCI-tmkECdqX6F1EeAQPHvHSNMv4Jjsv90o81RMra/s2048/074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6dZ_zaaKuoQk-A0952aymbW3M7yzKMus2qmzlUwtgOUnzoQaYpSB609XN_Vl3MpI8Q-VWaQkz_X79zBGCLGPfRWdT5sOdxW8ZRCw-0XMysqJVl54X1SuvOfzxuK9c4YDfmWLDajsjnOZe3orteabCI-tmkECdqX6F1EeAQPHvHSNMv4Jjsv90o81RMra/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-Rrm7M4GEu8IVdl8CMOSrmx56_f4zBzFm-16LnMznGXgGDEF4EjUSXf5eyTpSRlhZ2i3U5BwxY4V5sUrE882KIAO6ZCOctpaAGNj3bw1lMX8i2nZMYnYf7PhiClgYPmNWWVhHIs4vzq97GVH_H16l3GBD9rdKCeOX3CFVSIEu2VOPeezDylIUHEb9zDj/s2048/076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-Rrm7M4GEu8IVdl8CMOSrmx56_f4zBzFm-16LnMznGXgGDEF4EjUSXf5eyTpSRlhZ2i3U5BwxY4V5sUrE882KIAO6ZCOctpaAGNj3bw1lMX8i2nZMYnYf7PhiClgYPmNWWVhHIs4vzq97GVH_H16l3GBD9rdKCeOX3CFVSIEu2VOPeezDylIUHEb9zDj/s320/076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This redshank had legs so dazzlingly bright I had to lower the saturation in post because they were too fluro orange. It obligingly stood still so that we could properly admire its orange breeks, so thank you!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0yVzQ90D3US23EcAQQZQS_WoPq0srJBvSrU2WBN2sqyBHD2Ad6EIPqv5H6-og2i5KYMIalBEXLUcFJZxfVm3nAjNWfN62l2PdQhe2RQi8aVkKclUdqNb7jgP2YtVCOhouFYTojDfeSagZiQJwwmncwDIABYJCsSeEbpvq5_UO6xUUrZD8oYhrVMHJ0Ie/s2048/077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0yVzQ90D3US23EcAQQZQS_WoPq0srJBvSrU2WBN2sqyBHD2Ad6EIPqv5H6-og2i5KYMIalBEXLUcFJZxfVm3nAjNWfN62l2PdQhe2RQi8aVkKclUdqNb7jgP2YtVCOhouFYTojDfeSagZiQJwwmncwDIABYJCsSeEbpvq5_UO6xUUrZD8oYhrVMHJ0Ie/s320/077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more traditional turnstone photo<br />on a pile of festering shoreline mank</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfoc_Txcaf2LT68wxz-FH2XcWWZV_SJsBsZzfOYL4BYBa9X5eVkmTBtdYWbh-DLENfrzWVkrWKiNUKSQc2dtSq60gkI-sg53aUYOMlhe7TDSR6U0VPv8ajVTKsLpg-ijyxqYwEZSlzjOFLCgMS09uDODQPSH4ozZepZCBI5GTPNLm2ymFiiGDT66gTNS6/s2048/078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfoc_Txcaf2LT68wxz-FH2XcWWZV_SJsBsZzfOYL4BYBa9X5eVkmTBtdYWbh-DLENfrzWVkrWKiNUKSQc2dtSq60gkI-sg53aUYOMlhe7TDSR6U0VPv8ajVTKsLpg-ijyxqYwEZSlzjOFLCgMS09uDODQPSH4ozZepZCBI5GTPNLm2ymFiiGDT66gTNS6/s320/078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bosh! take that<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now you kind of assume that the shoreline birds are so <i>at one</i> with nature that they don't get bothered like we might - a wave comes in a bit sharpish, goes over your new running shoe and you've got a wet sock and a tainted new shoe for the rest of the day. Those birds, they're too clever to get caught out like that? And yet as the above photo shows, occasionally they are not paying proper attention and get smacked right in the chops by a slightly bigger wave than they were expecting. Doesn't happen often mind. Probably paying too much attention to those people with cameras getting a little close for comfort.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAwCRGTn8xVylpKdZRuLRdJyjCaz-odAn2di3Wp13H8-GUpzm5npWkP50EFpZF1JYxbrNksZazrGRHxCA5p9bDHFp3ZGp-g2iQA4cBIUMxGGFOaw_8RMKvzyBoTdDilVSAltrCgyugyZywFm7tCmdyej8_07eC3y2mMfzvsyuS5-XbHcw_IYy9g1KKLZl/s2048/079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAwCRGTn8xVylpKdZRuLRdJyjCaz-odAn2di3Wp13H8-GUpzm5npWkP50EFpZF1JYxbrNksZazrGRHxCA5p9bDHFp3ZGp-g2iQA4cBIUMxGGFOaw_8RMKvzyBoTdDilVSAltrCgyugyZywFm7tCmdyej8_07eC3y2mMfzvsyuS5-XbHcw_IYy9g1KKLZl/s320/079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">freshly washed - no harm done</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Vybcz5jmE7LR7vSgJD92KJAJpRGTkSjbVhHgzPXbCG0V_z-b22uawllIDhhFGBrmvKv2rLYnih7peLW7y3AGdqDfNknlMD6JtA1sdIH0-uPrql1ckVV9jQsO3h7AcJ_oH3967gb1skPQU5vviuhWyivc2gArwNzIcsbQ4IsskN_no_BhryPNydepaRzE/s2048/080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Vybcz5jmE7LR7vSgJD92KJAJpRGTkSjbVhHgzPXbCG0V_z-b22uawllIDhhFGBrmvKv2rLYnih7peLW7y3AGdqDfNknlMD6JtA1sdIH0-uPrql1ckVV9jQsO3h7AcJ_oH3967gb1skPQU5vviuhWyivc2gArwNzIcsbQ4IsskN_no_BhryPNydepaRzE/s320/080.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A whole gang of oystercatchers landed like football fans arriving off a coach at the pub closest to the match. But better looking and less aggressive. The shoreline where they mooched about was in shade so not great for photos. When they flew off (despite our best efforts to walk at maximum distance away on the other side of beach) they looked great in the air catching the sunlight. It's only when you get close you can see their striking red eyes, and that their beaks look plastic and comical.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUalU9N67MG-ANP6KzuGa_FsdL1MUGRwkiUdgxDFP2upEDyI8Tf-Jm7kUdD3DDY0mfZmGtsvHryrHxCUERO8PfUvNKnPqmHGZ-51oio62obapGsPG4hrgmmvCEr9XjU8iF5jYc9iLpDBeJ3pkO_2Qk9lgwDnHs-S5r4w5A3-ON9LN436aT44r68K1hnSD/s2048/081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUalU9N67MG-ANP6KzuGa_FsdL1MUGRwkiUdgxDFP2upEDyI8Tf-Jm7kUdD3DDY0mfZmGtsvHryrHxCUERO8PfUvNKnPqmHGZ-51oio62obapGsPG4hrgmmvCEr9XjU8iF5jYc9iLpDBeJ3pkO_2Qk9lgwDnHs-S5r4w5A3-ON9LN436aT44r68K1hnSD/s320/081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Lque23RoElY0gPoehdI6B4ZBsmCKuYg6GP5q6NX_IBAshGymemLdaVXlm7YMscG1ytxJf_So0gU_o6RzNG7mMkUSUtC3cjq_nRZnPfY4eCycQ8z3sRwJkjZD082JwPidqIVJk78wgsAeVk_XRuI-FjrxSQxs4-1DvsnjTLR0Fj8H4jMkaqXhdvKxTyt/s2048/082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Lque23RoElY0gPoehdI6B4ZBsmCKuYg6GP5q6NX_IBAshGymemLdaVXlm7YMscG1ytxJf_So0gU_o6RzNG7mMkUSUtC3cjq_nRZnPfY4eCycQ8z3sRwJkjZD082JwPidqIVJk78wgsAeVk_XRuI-FjrxSQxs4-1DvsnjTLR0Fj8H4jMkaqXhdvKxTyt/s320/082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFXGUtQpX9i-YfUTmy3iZorgZZQ9hY7QEY_BA-_snDjErY3AiXFP0hS3WB7de2LBbJyPv-wYkwjafwkY9Jjj-7kHEeq7OUO29QpGFODM7AMIQK1wiMI11hwjL9UXx4jRMEORdWSqKxc_4iuLHiY8O3TH6SKTQQTWw5iBxpiCRmcDNq0M4Rpbg29wDA7AG/s2048/083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFXGUtQpX9i-YfUTmy3iZorgZZQ9hY7QEY_BA-_snDjErY3AiXFP0hS3WB7de2LBbJyPv-wYkwjafwkY9Jjj-7kHEeq7OUO29QpGFODM7AMIQK1wiMI11hwjL9UXx4jRMEORdWSqKxc_4iuLHiY8O3TH6SKTQQTWw5iBxpiCRmcDNq0M4Rpbg29wDA7AG/s320/083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3tedUN84kWIF4zkkU-LVqtmW22iAGVxknQj6uLHEefFm1Osuctul_0fzcdUu8zRM9pIrGVjOEBuQMa0fj8w6uZ5dntdHidW2XDuQ3fKyL3QMaL0uySJ062hzV3CW_hI-bL9ajz66Kd6ezKOu7KBAsIaALRn8x90yryd4A3-jC_aFrRe57W9hB6qcUr0M/s2048/084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3tedUN84kWIF4zkkU-LVqtmW22iAGVxknQj6uLHEefFm1Osuctul_0fzcdUu8zRM9pIrGVjOEBuQMa0fj8w6uZ5dntdHidW2XDuQ3fKyL3QMaL0uySJ062hzV3CW_hI-bL9ajz66Kd6ezKOu7KBAsIaALRn8x90yryd4A3-jC_aFrRe57W9hB6qcUr0M/s320/084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrf3fDNP5yb-lx3W6HH3DjMGZ4hdDlDvRjnyQBMskUO3aBKmZaj8x_et768DrT6SESqR8-mWqVPZ37OHxJIspnu4YKDI-3WhVvlJAphL9BHlSpkh7MCxlvjpWFWKzzR0bP3bzbG0k3eHsh3ktR7cRUmJcoHJmpJrfMeuF9T3KWvDe8_4L36PswE_Xbi10/s2048/085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrf3fDNP5yb-lx3W6HH3DjMGZ4hdDlDvRjnyQBMskUO3aBKmZaj8x_et768DrT6SESqR8-mWqVPZ37OHxJIspnu4YKDI-3WhVvlJAphL9BHlSpkh7MCxlvjpWFWKzzR0bP3bzbG0k3eHsh3ktR7cRUmJcoHJmpJrfMeuF9T3KWvDe8_4L36PswE_Xbi10/s320/085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheizoqTCVDuGABhdWDvAcbxt5OlpI0T0TkLtB8dB9SxTJHHmEo0YXO3TjCFlZUd96wc7tXi8OZQTQrxYO7eeo_fUboeVKb2y-_OR__IFClnzoV_UeeSKG0Hd7Hg27SKUYPAJjrxtUw40MnVmrGordqXXc0QgvFlBlIiS3vrrsS36CQYp2wsMPYhq2P5XyP/s2048/086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheizoqTCVDuGABhdWDvAcbxt5OlpI0T0TkLtB8dB9SxTJHHmEo0YXO3TjCFlZUd96wc7tXi8OZQTQrxYO7eeo_fUboeVKb2y-_OR__IFClnzoV_UeeSKG0Hd7Hg27SKUYPAJjrxtUw40MnVmrGordqXXc0QgvFlBlIiS3vrrsS36CQYp2wsMPYhq2P5XyP/s320/086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgj8PNhIvCp2DyUrucZggSWk_oKfgdfeBtUjqKnHZFjHeAopAr-U-ZE0VP4CoJ7cppbUfIr86UcXi-vB77OCToB1cyvBlWZ0Et2AC8Pkeiv8Y2LaY97vBCX32grFDCF3ctAX96NoxwLdg_BKma7DVGz4Z5sAWUXKboZggcPl_9tTJXMy5zxa6k9ep4bu4/s2048/087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgj8PNhIvCp2DyUrucZggSWk_oKfgdfeBtUjqKnHZFjHeAopAr-U-ZE0VP4CoJ7cppbUfIr86UcXi-vB77OCToB1cyvBlWZ0Et2AC8Pkeiv8Y2LaY97vBCX32grFDCF3ctAX96NoxwLdg_BKma7DVGz4Z5sAWUXKboZggcPl_9tTJXMy5zxa6k9ep4bu4/s320/087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jlj9IfZQ8zU7XFVi03PEVyr-MPhQLSL-saWWFJaJ5py-_DJf0yfNtzA5X0wjMB8xgfM998js_ps3qvkpiTSvWqubDQQ4_ZRxCXVXtDlKEW9ltJm6xt4VQV9maIkJBJA7zFCKQJfUQVV2g_LuA6TKSY_JTc4qqeb54WTKxS4lnUhOW4dwiJMpqP5OXJV3/s2048/088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jlj9IfZQ8zU7XFVi03PEVyr-MPhQLSL-saWWFJaJ5py-_DJf0yfNtzA5X0wjMB8xgfM998js_ps3qvkpiTSvWqubDQQ4_ZRxCXVXtDlKEW9ltJm6xt4VQV9maIkJBJA7zFCKQJfUQVV2g_LuA6TKSY_JTc4qqeb54WTKxS4lnUhOW4dwiJMpqP5OXJV3/s320/088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFFG6rLy_Aj4gaeI6fwrpCh0vVm7soGLrkHzY8rzrtt_3ygbTngD6-AXWaqLh3yrZC4WxfRwYdGZ5ix23iaDIb7m9YQ0XuHxOMOboSHcQiJZbq5pRdLDQ7zcYUL5IjczB2HlGNn9f4LIzRQcrgWLsH6wDvf6-R6lNeiNtsiKqh2QlDvm7mTb5qmrcic_n/s2048/089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFFG6rLy_Aj4gaeI6fwrpCh0vVm7soGLrkHzY8rzrtt_3ygbTngD6-AXWaqLh3yrZC4WxfRwYdGZ5ix23iaDIb7m9YQ0XuHxOMOboSHcQiJZbq5pRdLDQ7zcYUL5IjczB2HlGNn9f4LIzRQcrgWLsH6wDvf6-R6lNeiNtsiKqh2QlDvm7mTb5qmrcic_n/s320/089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BIgO2qfhatvANPJrMKzMkR_tXdeFpyOPXEhCbxRmUeXmQBtPAkYDOgplXu2307KDDSRG_I1owY3rVGRbjxQ_VF6cYPWWEBkZi_L_fveADzLMN4d_unELE66ST3S-1UepdiX49aMT9p5NwJZkEe0EuE1xDG3Fss6LU7GWeOSRxKw3A9cBfmQtYfdGycqi/s2048/089A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BIgO2qfhatvANPJrMKzMkR_tXdeFpyOPXEhCbxRmUeXmQBtPAkYDOgplXu2307KDDSRG_I1owY3rVGRbjxQ_VF6cYPWWEBkZi_L_fveADzLMN4d_unELE66ST3S-1UepdiX49aMT9p5NwJZkEe0EuE1xDG3Fss6LU7GWeOSRxKw3A9cBfmQtYfdGycqi/s320/089A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiFoO8Lj4z_-2Us1wLmGkQhdPfKlqWNbxeJGSWQ1m7iY-rzcwBst9XEs8gfu2Zr-7B7fZgyS_y0gaBxy6FMgh9S1RsnWSJVT32LtkuAP1Sh1AHmDFbqJZ7vH9RdlnrOnMTvDsLsMI7XQON1dC5D9D5Or6oTzogXw7c47xIx65_N_7zeC5FPGCUTEHb3nR/s2048/089B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiFoO8Lj4z_-2Us1wLmGkQhdPfKlqWNbxeJGSWQ1m7iY-rzcwBst9XEs8gfu2Zr-7B7fZgyS_y0gaBxy6FMgh9S1RsnWSJVT32LtkuAP1Sh1AHmDFbqJZ7vH9RdlnrOnMTvDsLsMI7XQON1dC5D9D5Or6oTzogXw7c47xIx65_N_7zeC5FPGCUTEHb3nR/s320/089B.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />They flew in a huge circle above us before landing on the golf course.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1r27KBo0VTzvHpHDgu8HoHGdsdyjsbO5DPpa6pxA71MBxQOs6RsAl8-fo0CrKAjnv2_Iau473mZb7JycAT-ogMNCP5d_kTnH-9F1_Ux2tHNePv94cLUH9p8_MC9ujtrXAQheDfIsk5QKX30arjgl2XuOT1VnFRp2UPRZPrNYSMgx1pEEuFPaNA5cNA5N/s2048/089C.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1r27KBo0VTzvHpHDgu8HoHGdsdyjsbO5DPpa6pxA71MBxQOs6RsAl8-fo0CrKAjnv2_Iau473mZb7JycAT-ogMNCP5d_kTnH-9F1_Ux2tHNePv94cLUH9p8_MC9ujtrXAQheDfIsk5QKX30arjgl2XuOT1VnFRp2UPRZPrNYSMgx1pEEuFPaNA5cNA5N/s320/089C.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile we had caught up with the merganser which was keen to show off its diving skills. I like the photo below where you can see its feet through the top of the wave it is riding. The sea has a deeply unwelcoming colour of cold-and-misery the bird ignored. I mean who apart from the birds and one wind boarder at Longniddry wants to go swimming today? Shudder!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOZwpSSulo9ps7TqzY867FJpGxnJRQ3QHtBLslZkULQjFknkBtmoJUCUlgOYSYtoWgICWp9NJYFKRNhITPnmoZLABZrDrPt8ocXeF2aX90hRFcYtWGPlS-fljklyyZHq3ozQ0w2gFn4WOFpMR7qImcDT2e6hp23eNaPIBb9-BrvZ53qSf7Y81T6yYTYZz/s2048/089D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOZwpSSulo9ps7TqzY867FJpGxnJRQ3QHtBLslZkULQjFknkBtmoJUCUlgOYSYtoWgICWp9NJYFKRNhITPnmoZLABZrDrPt8ocXeF2aX90hRFcYtWGPlS-fljklyyZHq3ozQ0w2gFn4WOFpMR7qImcDT2e6hp23eNaPIBb9-BrvZ53qSf7Y81T6yYTYZz/s320/089D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy6DoXBcx2I_gQVKL5zZPdkZ3a4hKq37vAUteGx4-m5q1bX66ZaMXtBHxuRJqgG_KH83WBLKgZJmZGFUDTc9ctQdZ_X7pKrD5VSarHZdaV0o1K0iZ9VtQiYTQgdmgCmwCgOeg_bLKWVdVFmV7L2XyvFg471I11XFqilCxZyTpatZR9VjNZRTt-t4zI9Hb/s2048/089E.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy6DoXBcx2I_gQVKL5zZPdkZ3a4hKq37vAUteGx4-m5q1bX66ZaMXtBHxuRJqgG_KH83WBLKgZJmZGFUDTc9ctQdZ_X7pKrD5VSarHZdaV0o1K0iZ9VtQiYTQgdmgCmwCgOeg_bLKWVdVFmV7L2XyvFg471I11XFqilCxZyTpatZR9VjNZRTt-t4zI9Hb/s320/089E.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopKWkmxmpXAmNpFSQhA2jkQt-cRowuuY6C_iE3zf_VrReqqcURFj5srxcISWf3HcrWW4S-ofGTGhER-Xol80PLyKs6AnlHpw1GhcV3VvluDLwmmpO1RWjAdvdRrzu9pibzKPhrpYqVJPjxziRu5cTH7L-lQEpJnO3FvtcLU0rezg0omDIpijtBjEdrZe1/s2048/089F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopKWkmxmpXAmNpFSQhA2jkQt-cRowuuY6C_iE3zf_VrReqqcURFj5srxcISWf3HcrWW4S-ofGTGhER-Xol80PLyKs6AnlHpw1GhcV3VvluDLwmmpO1RWjAdvdRrzu9pibzKPhrpYqVJPjxziRu5cTH7L-lQEpJnO3FvtcLU0rezg0omDIpijtBjEdrZe1/s320/089F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao4HC4Sq0dFOrTIQcX9ccDqmLOoNxv3P6M3jk6fMQVRxin1Tyuv2kgWVilylgamr271AxG26xG-YSSKbffqEwF-xR9P6hu_9AW5EjPXQc364Z7a36ipB1Q9L1BIuaKsCl3X8hWcJdgZoz5qjHTF9T_VJKtFDdLMwOTOWfbhmOrsx2Xjn5BjXXdWZKHTiQ/s2048/089G.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao4HC4Sq0dFOrTIQcX9ccDqmLOoNxv3P6M3jk6fMQVRxin1Tyuv2kgWVilylgamr271AxG26xG-YSSKbffqEwF-xR9P6hu_9AW5EjPXQc364Z7a36ipB1Q9L1BIuaKsCl3X8hWcJdgZoz5qjHTF9T_VJKtFDdLMwOTOWfbhmOrsx2Xjn5BjXXdWZKHTiQ/s320/089G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKBqCQbvBLuxXm9DQ2tW4ZbqdL41Kf5aOWhTKFgYyJMZh2pZ0geDk2Eu27dj9be7Mmqz0P2kXeUiDMD5QeYtrhSoRB8CPMRm5OPHgMAUYrk7I-VYIPPeT06dcvjap8KmQwrqlqIOFM7im8TZp4FcAIir086Bl8ORcd82vPojFxlMsEoe1L5u-SAi0-_sT/s2048/089H.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKBqCQbvBLuxXm9DQ2tW4ZbqdL41Kf5aOWhTKFgYyJMZh2pZ0geDk2Eu27dj9be7Mmqz0P2kXeUiDMD5QeYtrhSoRB8CPMRm5OPHgMAUYrk7I-VYIPPeT06dcvjap8KmQwrqlqIOFM7im8TZp4FcAIir086Bl8ORcd82vPojFxlMsEoe1L5u-SAi0-_sT/s320/089H.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1Dfzp08IR5zOJEesvPeqfpVK9mhclq-2PizvfKTlU1AUeUskHVLThyphenhyphenuOdxoqHAsCGUsdzzAB5LNlohw8l9uBVjWIp8q4ZLad1Uk8qEp-nfH9ykdSXA4R73gamrTR1xHyMPe7cBYn1UgiVnrn48dX-FkFM_1sbyLq2q9IkhNlqJi0VAFhULRdvXCXWoNR/s2048/089i.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1Dfzp08IR5zOJEesvPeqfpVK9mhclq-2PizvfKTlU1AUeUskHVLThyphenhyphenuOdxoqHAsCGUsdzzAB5LNlohw8l9uBVjWIp8q4ZLad1Uk8qEp-nfH9ykdSXA4R73gamrTR1xHyMPe7cBYn1UgiVnrn48dX-FkFM_1sbyLq2q9IkhNlqJi0VAFhULRdvXCXWoNR/s320/089i.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then just before North Berwick proper we see this guy in a fluro gilet has run down and tackled Mother Teresa to the ground. Oh hang on, it's another seal pup. This one a bit older (darker grey colour, less silvery white, quite a bit bigger.) I was going to take a few pics then quietly make off but Mary shouts out - <i>do you need a hand?</i> Because he is struggling to contain his quarry. Despite being a decent-sized powerful young guy, the seal is bucking him off and does not placidly allow the towel to be tied round its eyes. No sir. Not happening!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4EYZ0tMsaaeKOdosNakUYva-Obwi5ux7NnjDHbwH0VPSMgnTM1cNib7yUC-A1x7pEexnDMswfGd8DAaBqgMoS0L6RODsZ22RTraMZSbgjptlNYOA91WCjznkz-vUeqq_VNCPwREsNBuxA5MSoEs1vuS0qbx2icocPpCx1Lw211vDQ_XQoiBlqW88Kf99/s2048/090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4EYZ0tMsaaeKOdosNakUYva-Obwi5ux7NnjDHbwH0VPSMgnTM1cNib7yUC-A1x7pEexnDMswfGd8DAaBqgMoS0L6RODsZ22RTraMZSbgjptlNYOA91WCjznkz-vUeqq_VNCPwREsNBuxA5MSoEs1vuS0qbx2icocPpCx1Lw211vDQ_XQoiBlqW88Kf99/s320/090.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He asks that Mary passes the (hard plastic) tube from his bag - while he tries to hold onto his captive. The idea is to open the pup's mouth and place this inside to allow a decent view to make sure there are no obstructions or anything untoward. We get the slightest of views of lots of teeth and no oddities. No further checking was possible. By this time Mother Teresa has decided the interview is over and is leaving the scene of the crime. The pup had been a bit sleepy and showing signs of fatigue at the start apparently, but when it got pretty lively, pretty quickly, it was allowed to slip back into the sea without requiring further examination. It seemed to me to be as healthy and strong as a horse and quite indignant about being interviewed which is probably a good sign. I got some video as it regained the sea. Even though less cute than the previous younger version it was still more cute than I'd have anticipated. Wouldn't want one in the flat as a pet though. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Mw4b0h3QtN8O5g5qW-askDtJjXbMKPgUqxznFcFVY37fOol7zZEqeye0GWC9krZFBUFDYLzTN375TtnMfrRdwqUa6YI2bjUSFPIPrQnGcFxoBD3WWdg4EM2BX5Q_SSuR9-KMPNXymy0KkCEgE7mFWGARsbWQ295lBxexXzjJ78YHPk6cLD0Eh8jJrhCd/s2048/091.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Mw4b0h3QtN8O5g5qW-askDtJjXbMKPgUqxznFcFVY37fOol7zZEqeye0GWC9krZFBUFDYLzTN375TtnMfrRdwqUa6YI2bjUSFPIPrQnGcFxoBD3WWdg4EM2BX5Q_SSuR9-KMPNXymy0KkCEgE7mFWGARsbWQ295lBxexXzjJ78YHPk6cLD0Eh8jJrhCd/s320/091.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1WU5Uj78pReMlFlPWXsaPgDzR7oKMASOcy_B2zjpUUKoJVYUAIYuGWPVEzL_xF8ouyvOdJykLH7j58SmuHuH2ca_L7tmArzno4NkLmN8cFwZVGbgJY4qe4hcPaNOjF6M0FOmfu5bFA1E7wU6eOuQrzVXcWBWz2t8pt6ud5k11AzTrX0WTa4kcVkVhxLc/s2048/093.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1WU5Uj78pReMlFlPWXsaPgDzR7oKMASOcy_B2zjpUUKoJVYUAIYuGWPVEzL_xF8ouyvOdJykLH7j58SmuHuH2ca_L7tmArzno4NkLmN8cFwZVGbgJY4qe4hcPaNOjF6M0FOmfu5bFA1E7wU6eOuQrzVXcWBWz2t8pt6ud5k11AzTrX0WTa4kcVkVhxLc/s320/093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPOkFcD7aNI2KNK1Pm5pGq_dOY3fC6Zv98vxFvA8jZ9QtCFA6zqdvC0vtvAfEpwEO5uQ1oiBrmJnYWvYPvZ9iTzflZGzaF4VJkqKbWw0mGKLvJGOmk8VUvx2OedkMlSLPeQ8KA5MeLPUyutEJup0dcUhf3qnc41_3dI31B5TCi-0wQsMXbaJToKYx93KI/s2048/094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPOkFcD7aNI2KNK1Pm5pGq_dOY3fC6Zv98vxFvA8jZ9QtCFA6zqdvC0vtvAfEpwEO5uQ1oiBrmJnYWvYPvZ9iTzflZGzaF4VJkqKbWw0mGKLvJGOmk8VUvx2OedkMlSLPeQ8KA5MeLPUyutEJup0dcUhf3qnc41_3dI31B5TCi-0wQsMXbaJToKYx93KI/s320/094.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkXlJ9Ojsd0z8HtHrYeCE3BZfiGcnu9ZamlZdGV3RWK4oGmUAWgeIcxYhQZnsj3X46NkgvzjYMooSTEsz-Hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother Teresa makes a break for it!</div><br />We told the rescuer where the other seal was and he asked if it was accessible by car. Nope. He set off bravely along the dunes. Good man! It was interesting to see him work. Clearly the myth about touching them and inadvertently marking them with human scent which encourages the parent seal to disown them is just an old wives' tale. I have always thought this was horseshit, despite people warning about approaching baby deer and baby birds and was always interested to know if there was any evidence to back this up. I suspect it is just something that human parents and other busy-bodies make up to dissuade people from interfering with things they find outdoors. (Generally not a bad appraisal.) Given that the strength of bonds between most (animal) parents and children is one of the strongest in nature, it always seemed unlikely that a parent would abandon its offspring on such insubstantial grounds. A quick google <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-birds-abandon-young-at-human-touch/" target="_blank">suggests this to be the case</a> although there are a range of responses. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW47xS1fH4fjuRKx-b-h-KRsUYRcugMUgxyy9PfWz8njsm9I9HFmXbNmrj009mi7f3W4BOTp4Ue05J0gxn_JwIza-f5U-N1dFVJvhYxlo4xmczi9m7BuELt9ZMDeRT3gbIYmJ3v7FWiGTJlTUPnmt4DiG0z1BLPbyWC_xrKlM_biczxYYaQN-kzqmXPiWD/s2048/095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW47xS1fH4fjuRKx-b-h-KRsUYRcugMUgxyy9PfWz8njsm9I9HFmXbNmrj009mi7f3W4BOTp4Ue05J0gxn_JwIza-f5U-N1dFVJvhYxlo4xmczi9m7BuELt9ZMDeRT3gbIYmJ3v7FWiGTJlTUPnmt4DiG0z1BLPbyWC_xrKlM_biczxYYaQN-kzqmXPiWD/s320/095.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />the guy from British Divers Marine Animal Rescue<br /><a href="https://bdmlr.org.uk/what-to-do-if" target="_blank">their advice if you come across a seal, linked here</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WJWz3P_8Rlc46gof7Me1hivsGBx1xRuhT6XGB1d2eBnn_vToL1lAcmPCQ68sf8oGo87MYLpi0G_6rOK3nOj4weOczZTRedRO3C8g6DiVyYPK5eWDkOWlEARf9LevsnM7OZqu7-EGgAGNkHE8v3syH0OWsuNpMnGwHYUGCqi7U2GpPLC9FXMaqAR4Rka0/s2048/096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WJWz3P_8Rlc46gof7Me1hivsGBx1xRuhT6XGB1d2eBnn_vToL1lAcmPCQ68sf8oGo87MYLpi0G_6rOK3nOj4weOczZTRedRO3C8g6DiVyYPK5eWDkOWlEARf9LevsnM7OZqu7-EGgAGNkHE8v3syH0OWsuNpMnGwHYUGCqi7U2GpPLC9FXMaqAR4Rka0/s320/096.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />I'm getting the Thompson Twins<br />(from Tin Tin not the pop band)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jW_Zuz2hCqk4nhVr1vfT7SHmsx2bVbv8UlQLxWIKH0nliGtVUin1RpVhVwN_S_1FiZMblYKXp8PTYsINQPhvQetnsyUpswVCYfnq0D2pFlqsT3BK-R0p7ItuevYV7-6DZnjh5Askjo3yNhSJbescg2gPhTyZqYOLg2DL9VCCGbQCsM3Ax88g883BOBdX/s2048/097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jW_Zuz2hCqk4nhVr1vfT7SHmsx2bVbv8UlQLxWIKH0nliGtVUin1RpVhVwN_S_1FiZMblYKXp8PTYsINQPhvQetnsyUpswVCYfnq0D2pFlqsT3BK-R0p7ItuevYV7-6DZnjh5Askjo3yNhSJbescg2gPhTyZqYOLg2DL9VCCGbQCsM3Ax88g883BOBdX/s320/097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWqjgad0C5PTtF4uCe5HutgiJJExeh1D0r9IvvbyXl1ZwFnHVer7pmi2eA8ECvi0dDH1slOk8U7SG38NBVzy6norp-EUklZwgAaiAqvEal3jeBPLjoAbvyTA_Ue579YF-n9pMnnrVXlOqv86BZziz8bCBUDBMclKKUNOhf_Zv_0ObJ81Eb7LJ_0YoDDsb/s2048/098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWqjgad0C5PTtF4uCe5HutgiJJExeh1D0r9IvvbyXl1ZwFnHVer7pmi2eA8ECvi0dDH1slOk8U7SG38NBVzy6norp-EUklZwgAaiAqvEal3jeBPLjoAbvyTA_Ue579YF-n9pMnnrVXlOqv86BZziz8bCBUDBMclKKUNOhf_Zv_0ObJ81Eb7LJ_0YoDDsb/s320/098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The golf course (at North Berwick) turned out to be a rich ground for birdlife. Must be the neatly trimmed fairway providing excellent worm and invertebrate holiday homes. Firstly the oystercatchers (perhaps the same gang as earlier) were seen crossing it. Then a small army of wagtails - maybe 15~20 - were spread equally across the grass like they were searching for evidence after a shooting. I tried to line up angles to get as many in the same photo as possible however they were too widespread to get more than 3 at any time. To one side there was a lone pipit. After a bit of googling I reckon it was a rock pipit, although they are very similar to the slightly smaller meadow pipits.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3qC2MyH3U_K-czT4hpHr59093-LliadsHWka4AwkFW2ePW10gFZaxegbap9XtPjlo0hETEWyOAvBZng311WHJmNkVFCSRXH7scyUK8kmF1cwgz3Tpwpsaa5DO0SNAzxiFpsf7Nuv8hWpIlCGMXDJf9Osj97Rz05NZPdbtNa7h4DWVyJ9kCuE8_FcDIuT/s2048/099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3qC2MyH3U_K-czT4hpHr59093-LliadsHWka4AwkFW2ePW10gFZaxegbap9XtPjlo0hETEWyOAvBZng311WHJmNkVFCSRXH7scyUK8kmF1cwgz3Tpwpsaa5DO0SNAzxiFpsf7Nuv8hWpIlCGMXDJf9Osj97Rz05NZPdbtNa7h4DWVyJ9kCuE8_FcDIuT/s320/099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMOYQhc6u-huaJ7zYmkW7tK0Rc0oDnx3MMDPKhyANOPGT8vCTzn8sMobMLHFgA2ByyfJx8hw3g-otqCx_ONRk5ekE8BCrlKOgOUd4yg51h_umYXm4WQPZdW5bEif782iU-v5FUamJR99UltOUTftprfzbKtCJa2DT7UgkJGkNbkYFh_0ES4x5ZfMRUcOH/s2048/100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMOYQhc6u-huaJ7zYmkW7tK0Rc0oDnx3MMDPKhyANOPGT8vCTzn8sMobMLHFgA2ByyfJx8hw3g-otqCx_ONRk5ekE8BCrlKOgOUd4yg51h_umYXm4WQPZdW5bEif782iU-v5FUamJR99UltOUTftprfzbKtCJa2DT7UgkJGkNbkYFh_0ES4x5ZfMRUcOH/s320/100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwFQ4sTnaW1ppPvp1NglYi87yQwoQbHNFIEQuXMznq7PbqEKsCqy1KGZxWgnGx6SiNL6d5Kb3bcUfNWFUDijFdVBIcAR7T3WMDpWqseJ-JlMLNvyzW1yOlSljCFk29mE3fS5c8Flt1X3r9ON5zWMGqDtuwS1fm0Yr1fCyOsy5fTlsVqwrJgZWe7raIi7Q/s2048/101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwFQ4sTnaW1ppPvp1NglYi87yQwoQbHNFIEQuXMznq7PbqEKsCqy1KGZxWgnGx6SiNL6d5Kb3bcUfNWFUDijFdVBIcAR7T3WMDpWqseJ-JlMLNvyzW1yOlSljCFk29mE3fS5c8Flt1X3r9ON5zWMGqDtuwS1fm0Yr1fCyOsy5fTlsVqwrJgZWe7raIi7Q/s320/101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHxMu_nWgO-L91IxgSbWLcNldgSVWcOOESdBnZQ-Y4_EaQ_OqvEmIYuwRnhf2GjjCzK6_Nq8zX3WTtCLJxIWyNyGFY7Pyj4YDKQL0uHUVDih43vK1402CFsKQn1Qn5KuJLv9_lyZB41TAFaa2HCE2qXuLG0WXOn77dl3M7vYwMr6Mnd6ApgC8nBuhiwu4/s2048/102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHxMu_nWgO-L91IxgSbWLcNldgSVWcOOESdBnZQ-Y4_EaQ_OqvEmIYuwRnhf2GjjCzK6_Nq8zX3WTtCLJxIWyNyGFY7Pyj4YDKQL0uHUVDih43vK1402CFsKQn1Qn5KuJLv9_lyZB41TAFaa2HCE2qXuLG0WXOn77dl3M7vYwMr6Mnd6ApgC8nBuhiwu4/s320/102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETtZsXfVth517usHSFXBuMwrXRe_z1c7ruYW7ZQkuFEn_jH9lgDIwY2TTYMPHDHVDzDE3qi-ZheBAYhPrRt87T2mbbX6J20_69Sf0190CPqDLOsf2EM0SJast72yFMor0aZ1dpOVpkIpY7zuSsVkgzhZn_sBDWs728UJj74Ts-tBsACzrEWk2y2EdJ2gL/s2048/103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETtZsXfVth517usHSFXBuMwrXRe_z1c7ruYW7ZQkuFEn_jH9lgDIwY2TTYMPHDHVDzDE3qi-ZheBAYhPrRt87T2mbbX6J20_69Sf0190CPqDLOsf2EM0SJast72yFMor0aZ1dpOVpkIpY7zuSsVkgzhZn_sBDWs728UJj74Ts-tBsACzrEWk2y2EdJ2gL/s320/103.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />almost certainly a rock pipit<br />(or meadow pipit otherwise!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK7QcsHoued5Q9uvMDFTFi-QbUYeMUjVNtAQDHuVpt_KRfzNkdfO_mfAdW4g81iaQA6anvew-bxfIuq4SNYZVmrmRWDrjw2N12-MUPLo09XaHEw6KYWL5h5Qto79yEqIQST2nEZ6RhZahXlrOR0b7PoJQ46qDIfhHPZeqFyW_HLWmP7q1ylojZDi2eHqa/s2048/104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK7QcsHoued5Q9uvMDFTFi-QbUYeMUjVNtAQDHuVpt_KRfzNkdfO_mfAdW4g81iaQA6anvew-bxfIuq4SNYZVmrmRWDrjw2N12-MUPLo09XaHEw6KYWL5h5Qto79yEqIQST2nEZ6RhZahXlrOR0b7PoJQ46qDIfhHPZeqFyW_HLWmP7q1ylojZDi2eHqa/s320/104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OYs1_7ElFmqfHUNI9IT4fssvcCdZ19b0Rxii65FKLo9I2E7z5qk9Ef4dErY-ECnWF8kEo3eRLUjb9lKKcCccUoHk_ZHsOzc6AFuBPYFqYpiWzp-UOaGJ5DQS3JUVFICTznSGEjdCflUKB2X9bR0D4x_sDs2oT-rVvLkJljjk84VvuvQayXEUfgfnus9F/s2048/105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OYs1_7ElFmqfHUNI9IT4fssvcCdZ19b0Rxii65FKLo9I2E7z5qk9Ef4dErY-ECnWF8kEo3eRLUjb9lKKcCccUoHk_ZHsOzc6AFuBPYFqYpiWzp-UOaGJ5DQS3JUVFICTznSGEjdCflUKB2X9bR0D4x_sDs2oT-rVvLkJljjk84VvuvQayXEUfgfnus9F/s320/105.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLskUx6kicF9EqK7FtUJGcC_7g2zznMkkH8vPBDPlrXXhG4bK96zK8WPzffc9JchesG4JU-VfDnVueYeHVJCyajXYp-sQAfAVw_z-BcYETa5sAtwz40NG6ePOutVhcnaopqoAkiRC7-r_FmfEQauLktzsV0Cpdf8mJ2qjdZX8qCdqZ1mnb0fhOQAyZWRhL/s2048/106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLskUx6kicF9EqK7FtUJGcC_7g2zznMkkH8vPBDPlrXXhG4bK96zK8WPzffc9JchesG4JU-VfDnVueYeHVJCyajXYp-sQAfAVw_z-BcYETa5sAtwz40NG6ePOutVhcnaopqoAkiRC7-r_FmfEQauLktzsV0Cpdf8mJ2qjdZX8qCdqZ1mnb0fhOQAyZWRhL/s320/106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">putting the Bass Rock in the gap on the harbour</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnRqMGxY_dQJmFuiUrNy7Tzvq0u9cvvegDX3jHmxNo9jBWLR5wuUfMtFyd4UQ1C2EZfpnSZvnNs78mRzPEzLkb2Oh-MkpjnnnnZaESveWiGKLUW1YlU-DpJSKo0xTklNAHu3Kglg0D1pV0X6rFgQfdeAZgrnCLfkw5xsufHIE7LVh10xnpm8xVq599sVL/s2048/107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnRqMGxY_dQJmFuiUrNy7Tzvq0u9cvvegDX3jHmxNo9jBWLR5wuUfMtFyd4UQ1C2EZfpnSZvnNs78mRzPEzLkb2Oh-MkpjnnnnZaESveWiGKLUW1YlU-DpJSKo0xTklNAHu3Kglg0D1pV0X6rFgQfdeAZgrnCLfkw5xsufHIE7LVh10xnpm8xVq599sVL/s320/107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">caught the 15.25 after 6hrs of very fresh air</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q82o3M9awBUk0qspNkjPTMh64iEM0OhVrK1GM6xqiOs1R2Kbm8Kt8R70aQPSxI4EkwLt4-NIakBsmOris3QIqu4VvXD-XgHvBe4jSWspYqVVFDaYbyCipybWKmpeAWnl9N3upQcOTbKcJv6IEZltSia1_cKAZt1pcPkZA_Sfo2ufnei2thUMI3VJVTZP/s1379/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1379" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q82o3M9awBUk0qspNkjPTMh64iEM0OhVrK1GM6xqiOs1R2Kbm8Kt8R70aQPSxI4EkwLt4-NIakBsmOris3QIqu4VvXD-XgHvBe4jSWspYqVVFDaYbyCipybWKmpeAWnl9N3upQcOTbKcJv6IEZltSia1_cKAZt1pcPkZA_Sfo2ufnei2thUMI3VJVTZP/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">14.7miles in 6hrs16mins,<br />top day out! Slept well!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-25241253702568261342024-01-28T05:16:00.000-08:002024-01-28T05:20:06.283-08:00signs of spring?<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xdPDI2uIHz7zMQ2sTESn1cxl3D9IRspxnaUVDyS9isXLllEXO3tzq8EW3wjUFTwLe_nSS05k4eVsfLptV9JFmbojN1xRhKgJnI1TZDDRuhcuigGIVcyR08eGds4u5ozdifRrKho4MXWqLsjLfBO_yvwTaWMtAdz8fyrKAv075mdKRO4y1dZCGnSdKDxC/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xdPDI2uIHz7zMQ2sTESn1cxl3D9IRspxnaUVDyS9isXLllEXO3tzq8EW3wjUFTwLe_nSS05k4eVsfLptV9JFmbojN1xRhKgJnI1TZDDRuhcuigGIVcyR08eGds4u5ozdifRrKho4MXWqLsjLfBO_yvwTaWMtAdz8fyrKAv075mdKRO4y1dZCGnSdKDxC/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">24th Jan</div><div style="text-align: left;">Possibly a little premature to be ushering in Springtime just yet, but it is tempting, when seeing the snow drops and burgeoning daffodils pushing through the soil, to hope that an early Spring is just around the corner. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VRF0vqgWQzv-Etuu9r6uxLchdWYSlyuKNonx-Rsn7g7aXQ_64iHtPLDgKAxRWCcnTlhp_Fwc636lnRUIk7EPio6sAl-i6-eMj958boLO6yuHUKwttJjg1N_po-X8xKerhyphenhyphenQJHxZLgN2oE4c3ikNIuzXhFFe9zFGJnRNiMfE01Cqm2QIGT_2pClHjWZIl/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VRF0vqgWQzv-Etuu9r6uxLchdWYSlyuKNonx-Rsn7g7aXQ_64iHtPLDgKAxRWCcnTlhp_Fwc636lnRUIk7EPio6sAl-i6-eMj958boLO6yuHUKwttJjg1N_po-X8xKerhyphenhyphenQJHxZLgN2oE4c3ikNIuzXhFFe9zFGJnRNiMfE01Cqm2QIGT_2pClHjWZIl/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There have been a couple of sunny-ish days lately and they have been a reminder that all is not lost, that there is hope and stuff worth the wait just around the corner. January is nearly done, Feb is always nice and short as a month (with sometimes unseasonably warm bits) and then we are defo into the good times. I shouldn't complain about Winter dragging its feet; I feel as I get older that life is whizzing by far too fast. Once in your 60s you can just about count the remaining good years on fingers and toes and I am in no hurry to get to the last few squares on the snakes and ladders board. As Richard L said recently<i> "maybe your life is too good?"</i> in reply to me suggesting it was all going through my fingers too quickly like sand and that I hated to waste so much of it waiting out crappy Winters. He might be right. Many of the less welcome things like poor health and hard work are not typically a part of my daily grind and mostly I do as I please. To those obliged to work hard or who have heath issues or folk to look after or a job they hate, it must seem as though I am blessed. Or just selfish and lazy. Ahh the grass is always greener. Although I have to admit my grass is pretty green. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKbIl-TJ_KaKxB_KYGLbb9X1X7cMES9wZR-e_CiR60qIBlLWdJdoL02spPUUjUWPfyiy6ZaRshGP_rGDJEXyobyamBH3_xqwEKM7A_NyzfH38hX1prneOrB8ASKg6bq1hnFyiYqPfjDLdo0KV4LV9hAUTSFVqvWHB1qQJrigqjvPykY3ukUkC75rUI8v0/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKbIl-TJ_KaKxB_KYGLbb9X1X7cMES9wZR-e_CiR60qIBlLWdJdoL02spPUUjUWPfyiy6ZaRshGP_rGDJEXyobyamBH3_xqwEKM7A_NyzfH38hX1prneOrB8ASKg6bq1hnFyiYqPfjDLdo0KV4LV9hAUTSFVqvWHB1qQJrigqjvPykY3ukUkC75rUI8v0/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwB5VDOj-cN4kfsIb01Kp7lb_Zosi_d6Lva18-iPyskblowWtle8AErvo9uqVI9t4Y9TVWmw3VnXje8GWwWds7HHMGwGhnlbFAYfoJcEjyFp917a4kejqyeicpxQyZNvRhLO3IkDdzzgHD64fRZsBW8K9gnuKCkbZheqD34ArTfeq3oRP1Kw31vhyphenhyphenrwsTD/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwB5VDOj-cN4kfsIb01Kp7lb_Zosi_d6Lva18-iPyskblowWtle8AErvo9uqVI9t4Y9TVWmw3VnXje8GWwWds7HHMGwGhnlbFAYfoJcEjyFp917a4kejqyeicpxQyZNvRhLO3IkDdzzgHD64fRZsBW8K9gnuKCkbZheqD34ArTfeq3oRP1Kw31vhyphenhyphenrwsTD/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />okay this one is here twice<br />but only because he is delightful and cheerful!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtpbPAa953p2-SwOgWWoVqPKOFcWyaOX9PrMPSb4CVF7SzMuc0qtZolXrL8OO2ADvTeByrl6YG6BC3tpmDEmeLveE4kM2l_FfFUwid_pVsM0EoOUmrRGctx1cfWcHCSd6s9sA_kfyHeJY8cz4KXVZmWXJCvhwdIitk_YVH7Ze37QWMbWlE8jLlzTRJjt3/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtpbPAa953p2-SwOgWWoVqPKOFcWyaOX9PrMPSb4CVF7SzMuc0qtZolXrL8OO2ADvTeByrl6YG6BC3tpmDEmeLveE4kM2l_FfFUwid_pVsM0EoOUmrRGctx1cfWcHCSd6s9sA_kfyHeJY8cz4KXVZmWXJCvhwdIitk_YVH7Ze37QWMbWlE8jLlzTRJjt3/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TwhTOT70CMtQckIixFyvOtBpd07BfQKqXmtOmgzvU4OPVmrwzNT8kGgo4s7l2zDyGCiVeEfHI2Fe6B3a3BcY5pFC0vCTTZ4rDi9Ihk2eKswWDtdkX7O8GHXOJFbGDz2zgwTPGqDtiAAUruSOC_VgpOEALLHH6n_gRxdaAQp78o-MMtlHR9ltiwwgVrHL/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TwhTOT70CMtQckIixFyvOtBpd07BfQKqXmtOmgzvU4OPVmrwzNT8kGgo4s7l2zDyGCiVeEfHI2Fe6B3a3BcY5pFC0vCTTZ4rDi9Ihk2eKswWDtdkX7O8GHXOJFbGDz2zgwTPGqDtiAAUruSOC_VgpOEALLHH6n_gRxdaAQp78o-MMtlHR9ltiwwgVrHL/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've been along to Warriston a couple of times lately. The time before this was on the 22nd. The day after some pretty strong winds. A couple of large branches were blown down near the War Memorial and the place was officially closed. I'd gone in by the bridge at Powderhall so hadn't seen any signs saying closed. Given how closed it was there were still a few dog walkers, though not as many as usual. It was only when I left the riverside area for a look around North of the tunnel I bumped into a council official assessing the damage (very prompt given it only happened the night before) who let me know the place was closed, while still being friendly and not just chucking me out. I went nowhere near the fallen branches. You could see the from where they had fallen and knocked into other branches and gravestones the forces and weights involved and it was not something that required close inspection. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdOeEIS5BLnbsr3tcxIA3g_UGYYCRokhmSu7AecImpbkaMfGjn5qpm_mljdJTAnlOevpGqH_-jzHot6XxM0MUi0s5PG8gM7C7alggrQ7BQ2btEw1dtbLT8XEjNIoiZa1ilouYgVWoxOGXu6-YptGxDiw7JwIqxuNsBCXIp5OIbtnUkA57Oqtjt0VtfRQK/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdOeEIS5BLnbsr3tcxIA3g_UGYYCRokhmSu7AecImpbkaMfGjn5qpm_mljdJTAnlOevpGqH_-jzHot6XxM0MUi0s5PG8gM7C7alggrQ7BQ2btEw1dtbLT8XEjNIoiZa1ilouYgVWoxOGXu6-YptGxDiw7JwIqxuNsBCXIp5OIbtnUkA57Oqtjt0VtfRQK/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJXClAeTKCBoSOuspb340Uhm0j-CSN_3F4K877l8UV3HLMqQEd8khyb4k3KH5cgSAnmwQFMXhPQg_AEYgjyMr8-be_X_S_E8S7Im2W4ZgjSsOp6x01-PDorYYRKcV7-CCsXKAaiXHvmLilI4njKnP9BNGWvWTBtsei0fbHeeqvgSOoqDkr3c118NqksQC/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJXClAeTKCBoSOuspb340Uhm0j-CSN_3F4K877l8UV3HLMqQEd8khyb4k3KH5cgSAnmwQFMXhPQg_AEYgjyMr8-be_X_S_E8S7Im2W4ZgjSsOp6x01-PDorYYRKcV7-CCsXKAaiXHvmLilI4njKnP9BNGWvWTBtsei0fbHeeqvgSOoqDkr3c118NqksQC/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGXGKCw1EsLDglzM0ym1OIFOWIK5H7mMJPNpLuEI_dBeEFkHwUJfKddSppZLfeQTcIpEQVRVlSo5vudiwuAq6uiIhzxhE70NkDd09NsuaSt8NkKTuVs2fM9FJeRbXVzP-8HIPYz4A2ANX36_QthjrPJ4zu7zbzMxx5TbxE9RUV1AlIC3SEojx50l83piy/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGXGKCw1EsLDglzM0ym1OIFOWIK5H7mMJPNpLuEI_dBeEFkHwUJfKddSppZLfeQTcIpEQVRVlSo5vudiwuAq6uiIhzxhE70NkDd09NsuaSt8NkKTuVs2fM9FJeRbXVzP-8HIPYz4A2ANX36_QthjrPJ4zu7zbzMxx5TbxE9RUV1AlIC3SEojx50l83piy/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVBJklKxnty3mnwf2tgpTFxbUExOX69ePVbCYDRTumg5-evXNtD3zF4CQrC0kRqrPLdLhI_99kj05uGsi1KQlCQDc-Nl-hFy8EP7CgGHGSpxUFnsJacuK6WvRMrSxfGm0Se2sEtdDDzYq97PIfutu5LhZ9YlFNgDMXGPfnFaQalWV2nSo-y1Er6o8Bh4w/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVBJklKxnty3mnwf2tgpTFxbUExOX69ePVbCYDRTumg5-evXNtD3zF4CQrC0kRqrPLdLhI_99kj05uGsi1KQlCQDc-Nl-hFy8EP7CgGHGSpxUFnsJacuK6WvRMrSxfGm0Se2sEtdDDzYq97PIfutu5LhZ9YlFNgDMXGPfnFaQalWV2nSo-y1Er6o8Bh4w/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xlrInvmXMwv6XoPwGxaZemnEoFXszelrEgisnwvccwm7NZueQLV7UZ7Hk4BVlBMs9slRV4bxpUvHQJnsKzFN1GWySipV0MS02ehxdFjG9arLv1RA4_01ebNExiBMiYfmBEFrhGCHbqGZbaDF7J34WofaDmHd_vFPdXu6HIuxbc6vQcWTy9lZ5eZY9siL/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xlrInvmXMwv6XoPwGxaZemnEoFXszelrEgisnwvccwm7NZueQLV7UZ7Hk4BVlBMs9slRV4bxpUvHQJnsKzFN1GWySipV0MS02ehxdFjG9arLv1RA4_01ebNExiBMiYfmBEFrhGCHbqGZbaDF7J34WofaDmHd_vFPdXu6HIuxbc6vQcWTy9lZ5eZY9siL/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBScIoUsrgYk2jBSqIlkHAduuErkRW15TxgYZkI6mmaTcr9YjuAO5XtFuFnsHuwIT4cuk9AwTMOEczRpjjpFHG6COv5-nQXE2KFxxGwaU6NUKhCDPq0sE27iqlBJv02vOnx4NVUG-RErKwdbFIscavXjMTz0R45ymKzmLspDv0s3LDStdncoDd24nxb4D/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBScIoUsrgYk2jBSqIlkHAduuErkRW15TxgYZkI6mmaTcr9YjuAO5XtFuFnsHuwIT4cuk9AwTMOEczRpjjpFHG6COv5-nQXE2KFxxGwaU6NUKhCDPq0sE27iqlBJv02vOnx4NVUG-RErKwdbFIscavXjMTz0R45ymKzmLspDv0s3LDStdncoDd24nxb4D/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This female blackbird turned up and decided the food was hers and hers alone. She took exception to anyone else having the cheek to visit the gravestone on which I'd put some seeds and bread. She would sit in the nearby tree and if anyone landed on her feeding platform she chased them off. Even a male blackbird who scarpered when she chased him. I think he must have been a juvenile or recent adult as he showed no resistance to her bullying. She would chase him from perch to perch and he flew off each time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwnwWZEF-NaT679vTDMncXLROgJ0KqsrDEA0x4VxO7VJGJw6yJdQH4B5a9xnf83eS8jfQNTguYQ6bVRNyVmxrlQTIYKKkl0hdEirjlgwI77z0pAxk7QQGlSlDl6P01dZgaj8IGtDUVmwZlfGDd8qPhfFxS6-kYAfiBfvy31NWb4_ZCx0K7fpaK3W4ohYK/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwnwWZEF-NaT679vTDMncXLROgJ0KqsrDEA0x4VxO7VJGJw6yJdQH4B5a9xnf83eS8jfQNTguYQ6bVRNyVmxrlQTIYKKkl0hdEirjlgwI77z0pAxk7QQGlSlDl6P01dZgaj8IGtDUVmwZlfGDd8qPhfFxS6-kYAfiBfvy31NWb4_ZCx0K7fpaK3W4ohYK/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">coward (or youngster)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVOQ4nFgnQHsAY6Xo_Fh8KzGM86lW5jqI8lNuHAp7pwDZloyRimBi1SbHXcucxGRRtJZKYY9cdgm869qO6EZq7LGFBrjEGRGGttftDgyXjPw7rnO6eBXjwm8AqCPexv_Pz53RYDnDT8H-GkWMdTgp-ygYtLo1SAacM-WUNUufw9lQHsalCgRL75Ki_vHT/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVOQ4nFgnQHsAY6Xo_Fh8KzGM86lW5jqI8lNuHAp7pwDZloyRimBi1SbHXcucxGRRtJZKYY9cdgm869qO6EZq7LGFBrjEGRGGttftDgyXjPw7rnO6eBXjwm8AqCPexv_Pz53RYDnDT8H-GkWMdTgp-ygYtLo1SAacM-WUNUufw9lQHsalCgRL75Ki_vHT/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Usually it is the robins who behave like dicks. However they were also being chased by this determined female. It all went on for some time, long after the blackie had had her fill of food. She would take an occasional seed as she chased the other garden birds, but was doing it just for fun or misguided instinct as she stopped eating after the first couple of visits. Everyone else had to time their raids with precision - when she chased off other unfortunates or when she wasn't looking. It all ended when a crow descended and dropped in to feed. She sat in the tree next door saying nothing.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjum1siQj2KRWryIwT6rY3Ije2ACc4Z5ruJNX3Cde6YdsyXzTlX-iju4BUPXxCTyxCqBnvS6YUQ9nmJAeoo2yQNK_TLaZjmEhgEs6d7ok1kQ0ld0zGheeuhwfnI_D5Tt0c7ALEa93tprJ7JsHV44BzpGkjeze_ttp3IqID9JrkhZ8QJKEmvvd3vY9SVdE9F/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjum1siQj2KRWryIwT6rY3Ije2ACc4Z5ruJNX3Cde6YdsyXzTlX-iju4BUPXxCTyxCqBnvS6YUQ9nmJAeoo2yQNK_TLaZjmEhgEs6d7ok1kQ0ld0zGheeuhwfnI_D5Tt0c7ALEa93tprJ7JsHV44BzpGkjeze_ttp3IqID9JrkhZ8QJKEmvvd3vY9SVdE9F/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc9OiiNSCxpQtv9G8fR4_D_U0USn5Fuso7ra99-zW2qv36A4oL4uTZUWgH5xntEEjjqJSw-L26PbYAoAhFFUECUuDpQUTo8DNwW65ejRyHB7rDQwxxOISrRlO_RxLWJpp7NzFCbcpjKeGvGip8pM6YVmom_XQhVRp4rFYaEvhQsxAy7iKvNjZRoj3LQCb/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc9OiiNSCxpQtv9G8fR4_D_U0USn5Fuso7ra99-zW2qv36A4oL4uTZUWgH5xntEEjjqJSw-L26PbYAoAhFFUECUuDpQUTo8DNwW65ejRyHB7rDQwxxOISrRlO_RxLWJpp7NzFCbcpjKeGvGip8pM6YVmom_XQhVRp4rFYaEvhQsxAy7iKvNjZRoj3LQCb/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a full load</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcWhVSYLdOQY4nszlOfMfYWPQTkGMLC_kuJ-gJUHm9QvEGkdr_fcXf0coGBx_NkLCMgS6Wx8va-EMLOFb5qiKs3n2kWAnIUbfGNGRKKDo5b4SVDCKH-UVEn4mGFAgONlhUBhEkIfOXuHsh6wvmYiLV9CEljLOUPle18iTDPOmeWQCjEasEY93AlI30ZRV/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcWhVSYLdOQY4nszlOfMfYWPQTkGMLC_kuJ-gJUHm9QvEGkdr_fcXf0coGBx_NkLCMgS6Wx8va-EMLOFb5qiKs3n2kWAnIUbfGNGRKKDo5b4SVDCKH-UVEn4mGFAgONlhUBhEkIfOXuHsh6wvmYiLV9CEljLOUPle18iTDPOmeWQCjEasEY93AlI30ZRV/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">quick! Mrs B isn't looking!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV6-9QI7N2obCBp6Wb48CelxAGoqhWdWLLgzZauI8wlw3DNN4XXgBSbMtEJbf5O0PTJdBhUL4CBexQxik5REOqQ6WW0r0mZOyRdpJjgbWFujPbkIqrGmjm1YnUlzIXGpnpCbnRllaWG8UxqwVtC3WEw555d-cWnxq7ABnOqqhCZ_GNDANRwcAv_6zUzJs/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV6-9QI7N2obCBp6Wb48CelxAGoqhWdWLLgzZauI8wlw3DNN4XXgBSbMtEJbf5O0PTJdBhUL4CBexQxik5REOqQ6WW0r0mZOyRdpJjgbWFujPbkIqrGmjm1YnUlzIXGpnpCbnRllaWG8UxqwVtC3WEw555d-cWnxq7ABnOqqhCZ_GNDANRwcAv_6zUzJs/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wuOtjBL2_xx2VYfGnOSZuOinueQmlJ_sJ6KlEWX7M_ZvBFTU7lKbL_eG3-oNbh8xaZ9ArFUEPlK8MZMUuNzPS_VIyV93Cxz0HHnDjxqcrlo0RZ3rWoOtWgjnjStUER8CDA5BUtS40qDVWdNpvOvCDh6cB6VCjeKPcFr0xuDsb-nGy2jb5kjrbLZUEwHS/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wuOtjBL2_xx2VYfGnOSZuOinueQmlJ_sJ6KlEWX7M_ZvBFTU7lKbL_eG3-oNbh8xaZ9ArFUEPlK8MZMUuNzPS_VIyV93Cxz0HHnDjxqcrlo0RZ3rWoOtWgjnjStUER8CDA5BUtS40qDVWdNpvOvCDh6cB6VCjeKPcFr0xuDsb-nGy2jb5kjrbLZUEwHS/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzi7Iq0OFjpPDuCLIWz6yK6folWmNta0_fOfQBGpA9fXyuF5T_UrRIMoSooJZkyt_o2Cfk2jpgXVQMxz8UsZxG1eb6C60DF3hgYLsb80nl8vSzx5DOstJ8FbPtCE9htVXqBtRzqEepn6vJGRN1ucKXoFqVWI-yu2f8jKE49HBfUlQHblvWe_WnbCI1FPUX/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzi7Iq0OFjpPDuCLIWz6yK6folWmNta0_fOfQBGpA9fXyuF5T_UrRIMoSooJZkyt_o2Cfk2jpgXVQMxz8UsZxG1eb6C60DF3hgYLsb80nl8vSzx5DOstJ8FbPtCE9htVXqBtRzqEepn6vJGRN1ucKXoFqVWI-yu2f8jKE49HBfUlQHblvWe_WnbCI1FPUX/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbEtIJfSbS-Wr53ZRiml9k0Hs4634L2FuNIovzdNgbxh62RUcbKnjPG37H3rBdbgS8R4vomM-mTn_RqXGzZ3PMu3uCtO51Qe6cacEtg4nYBElHgUnzf2bHUkf_gEagEKp36vnuBtjAJ7B3MItlrZSpnmCJKz8UcgbU-LjHWCfkaR-CksKdXuxU1VK-zFB/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbEtIJfSbS-Wr53ZRiml9k0Hs4634L2FuNIovzdNgbxh62RUcbKnjPG37H3rBdbgS8R4vomM-mTn_RqXGzZ3PMu3uCtO51Qe6cacEtg4nYBElHgUnzf2bHUkf_gEagEKp36vnuBtjAJ7B3MItlrZSpnmCJKz8UcgbU-LjHWCfkaR-CksKdXuxU1VK-zFB/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hQQX7rOrd-NnV-J_ULvZLry8YxQ-IMLnzrFevcttioPpJW6xc9Q2w_WpznuSHO-ewANR62k70z2rpj54DATtIAa0sQ0dFvFFe6lGEPnTx7o3Np8g07wUeADSrk9GyB9ifv5jXQzG3q6IsoMlJAyUZWNDasIfGgb4Zkby42A0pJNwewRHRBzm58gUqLUO/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hQQX7rOrd-NnV-J_ULvZLry8YxQ-IMLnzrFevcttioPpJW6xc9Q2w_WpznuSHO-ewANR62k70z2rpj54DATtIAa0sQ0dFvFFe6lGEPnTx7o3Np8g07wUeADSrk9GyB9ifv5jXQzG3q6IsoMlJAyUZWNDasIfGgb4Zkby42A0pJNwewRHRBzm58gUqLUO/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">game over!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This crow isn't one of my usual familiars. It was very nervous and you can see is ready to fly off if I come any closer. I tend to stick around (at feeding stations) and discourage the crows and magpies so the garden birds can get a share before I leave, and then the crows, magpies and squirrels tidy up.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6e0n3_FgXXhx01B9e9eejdmEUKdEG6me6jYGFkFTt7tfJ20qQtEATTBLJC5ulgnROqPNN311QYlgxN6fspGN1zdMEsWZvu5rirayyi4rAI9Afp4EPgNdqrlL2LZ2tBE0EpKI-5b4G2mYtLT23TbCHnWGgSrXFVbSDq0FGY1nBiwVH5KgxVNf2obsiUB2/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6e0n3_FgXXhx01B9e9eejdmEUKdEG6me6jYGFkFTt7tfJ20qQtEATTBLJC5ulgnROqPNN311QYlgxN6fspGN1zdMEsWZvu5rirayyi4rAI9Afp4EPgNdqrlL2LZ2tBE0EpKI-5b4G2mYtLT23TbCHnWGgSrXFVbSDq0FGY1nBiwVH5KgxVNf2obsiUB2/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXSxfQZzSYhIqn5m-MWe5m9ucw7RZObzAd6-pUfveG0MdqzJHtH3dKdVPotUTcnsg0SkiVIJChfXsK9U-99XbTcNk380TdbxIn0omYWQLX9omJ1r-lfEt8qEXOzGPb3puYlMDmEmfnf4dCLGPfwe4BAUNY_kc0kGn7YFo8-VtZQAUAzbNErTqsj7YHKmb/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXSxfQZzSYhIqn5m-MWe5m9ucw7RZObzAd6-pUfveG0MdqzJHtH3dKdVPotUTcnsg0SkiVIJChfXsK9U-99XbTcNk380TdbxIn0omYWQLX9omJ1r-lfEt8qEXOzGPb3puYlMDmEmfnf4dCLGPfwe4BAUNY_kc0kGn7YFo8-VtZQAUAzbNErTqsj7YHKmb/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc7GUHawKaGM6h_xaUKrEHOdVoYQL1mZl0xSubT9To0dPheM3tHX6E_RdiKIJJopro6wxu0iZcLBxwcITons5AyFX-GHhNt3ZU44zzK0cn4aUyDfnO4afw3y2DapLOQfB2fBzbyIK3MPtAyziX7h3h5zPgFnb_ALQOcbDjD0Gg50Rgsz3kj2K6pbLmniQ/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc7GUHawKaGM6h_xaUKrEHOdVoYQL1mZl0xSubT9To0dPheM3tHX6E_RdiKIJJopro6wxu0iZcLBxwcITons5AyFX-GHhNt3ZU44zzK0cn4aUyDfnO4afw3y2DapLOQfB2fBzbyIK3MPtAyziX7h3h5zPgFnb_ALQOcbDjD0Gg50Rgsz3kj2K6pbLmniQ/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKkdGaB6HNTGB5FEwCOY6wrBXL-tUbc0PmeQztEBDFFxTnt204Pg1PXJ2pjwcR0Eu_N7d2-Gz69OU2IzshrbZ0PYElYewfC2lXemzZB2bCRLs9u2xi4FhAd4aRCgrGYY5f8ABsRjekst2ZsKyzlGnwCtXNAEYTHZVj1snssmfWYtRVpra9HOz8WqFg-_E/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKkdGaB6HNTGB5FEwCOY6wrBXL-tUbc0PmeQztEBDFFxTnt204Pg1PXJ2pjwcR0Eu_N7d2-Gz69OU2IzshrbZ0PYElYewfC2lXemzZB2bCRLs9u2xi4FhAd4aRCgrGYY5f8ABsRjekst2ZsKyzlGnwCtXNAEYTHZVj1snssmfWYtRVpra9HOz8WqFg-_E/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZA8kF5Oy8bS766GRJ42PdH2IKsTbnicyW773xyn9GfjoDVZg5ePIGPHqXcwU3yOjnCyhucPTPMi0Yy5GyIv8jmByNOsLQS9zhdCAmEswaXafVO282Uek5WlXGysy3aondMyvAJn2NCeIBAP_FYuN_NJjDPaV3gIjdHWbRq-iFgjgU1yuyOppNIPgxyz0/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZA8kF5Oy8bS766GRJ42PdH2IKsTbnicyW773xyn9GfjoDVZg5ePIGPHqXcwU3yOjnCyhucPTPMi0Yy5GyIv8jmByNOsLQS9zhdCAmEswaXafVO282Uek5WlXGysy3aondMyvAJn2NCeIBAP_FYuN_NJjDPaV3gIjdHWbRq-iFgjgU1yuyOppNIPgxyz0/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />nice to see the grey wagtail at the stream</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLgGehBjlx8DE_lFoHjQiHYa8G3j6m13mRuJ6kXYCnzsxkaEEQlcCzoq25YNaB-MC2JMtcKmDu34vXopcw7aA6DARXzawoeMfVJmMIT2rdRjmJuKx3Fi2nXv49hVCjGD3QMnW7tJc6OyIlX6yuw_5VGF1hXE_7NfFjThFfpQi_FJXgoBLLpxlI9W8-AW9/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLgGehBjlx8DE_lFoHjQiHYa8G3j6m13mRuJ6kXYCnzsxkaEEQlcCzoq25YNaB-MC2JMtcKmDu34vXopcw7aA6DARXzawoeMfVJmMIT2rdRjmJuKx3Fi2nXv49hVCjGD3QMnW7tJc6OyIlX6yuw_5VGF1hXE_7NfFjThFfpQi_FJXgoBLLpxlI9W8-AW9/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are 4 shots of the fallen limbs on the 22nd Jan - not great as I had the long lens on and a phone or the short lens would have taken better <i>scenery</i> shots...<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzZE3SXmKEHnpdy2JA74RPpPI-5mikdetxCrdCPoozvy066uHtAaa6ZqSWWOspbTdA6dkG0-mpjf8trkgmF2zauW5-0GTaY7rOzN_MCmnACR3ZQNhxXZ5eNRvRJ30-IvwfmM1ZKWcrcV2Jmm5WpCMZa2XYR22wWtNQ8RXsKd22JlSAUY8bPsDcxMav-jQ/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzZE3SXmKEHnpdy2JA74RPpPI-5mikdetxCrdCPoozvy066uHtAaa6ZqSWWOspbTdA6dkG0-mpjf8trkgmF2zauW5-0GTaY7rOzN_MCmnACR3ZQNhxXZ5eNRvRJ30-IvwfmM1ZKWcrcV2Jmm5WpCMZa2XYR22wWtNQ8RXsKd22JlSAUY8bPsDcxMav-jQ/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCYAmhaCdWAIyqV6iveyADZliR7fdXQ3fiBE4FRXt_WHefqY_3gY-uPlsrWD58iN9EGiog8V679onnnHdnKuUvY9Yoy5i3TxMiAi8CCZhCYlJp1JFfMQA-cAsbjhPUqxaor_sWcgXopEFtK5IdeBJZW-GUvGdp2bups0-AXTyx26HKt5ocdnlXzZp3p7b/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCYAmhaCdWAIyqV6iveyADZliR7fdXQ3fiBE4FRXt_WHefqY_3gY-uPlsrWD58iN9EGiog8V679onnnHdnKuUvY9Yoy5i3TxMiAi8CCZhCYlJp1JFfMQA-cAsbjhPUqxaor_sWcgXopEFtK5IdeBJZW-GUvGdp2bups0-AXTyx26HKt5ocdnlXzZp3p7b/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Council official quick off the mark.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-QWmPZjiJmIolcEs1mXx2ewEK0AWt3-_Tmb0gG2vRGaI0tFBzcYdAJaPWwRv_vGs42n9AuIkBR-cV0RtrK4m46F6FXkmAJsoyUSfuYpVzUQbPeQqwJF8BuwQKJKmxWpdWWWMzB7fFGueOme8wE4lzvP0GIacugG_vbnL93q65uFRckvczuHxxKEbv6JB/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-QWmPZjiJmIolcEs1mXx2ewEK0AWt3-_Tmb0gG2vRGaI0tFBzcYdAJaPWwRv_vGs42n9AuIkBR-cV0RtrK4m46F6FXkmAJsoyUSfuYpVzUQbPeQqwJF8BuwQKJKmxWpdWWWMzB7fFGueOme8wE4lzvP0GIacugG_vbnL93q65uFRckvczuHxxKEbv6JB/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh595x7IVwQfI7YTV8ba_u9DBs2AWGV6dM6xVeLB8AVwV8PbyKr9szDGdlwBsmMuNZxm__dnQg8Q-Yr-myxG5cdKKdUIzDqRO4claTiIpn3L7xbktFqGyqKs7bvchayggc0nbSUZL8FF13omzjCVrSyqOkRU9T78O2zhEzoe51LvJSmaH2qSShChfN6190G/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh595x7IVwQfI7YTV8ba_u9DBs2AWGV6dM6xVeLB8AVwV8PbyKr9szDGdlwBsmMuNZxm__dnQg8Q-Yr-myxG5cdKKdUIzDqRO4claTiIpn3L7xbktFqGyqKs7bvchayggc0nbSUZL8FF13omzjCVrSyqOkRU9T78O2zhEzoe51LvJSmaH2qSShChfN6190G/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8wIaHHnr86sv7dA2sxP4ZLeptaab6tN3tMGSWMpT13AELX-mKY7htm8ZRxcLpuAigBMkdVU0uxruBQeLQehx9OfiH3lECCJdFp6vQaHAFh9MetPjH-5xVfyvOU8LvE-hYFNB3OFYkZxlzwUqEvWvXuP6wdasdnP_YUPEIED224pPYy3XAcKj9pUVQtNv/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8wIaHHnr86sv7dA2sxP4ZLeptaab6tN3tMGSWMpT13AELX-mKY7htm8ZRxcLpuAigBMkdVU0uxruBQeLQehx9OfiH3lECCJdFp6vQaHAFh9MetPjH-5xVfyvOU8LvE-hYFNB3OFYkZxlzwUqEvWvXuP6wdasdnP_YUPEIED224pPYy3XAcKj9pUVQtNv/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />storm damage taped off by the 24th</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlbiKd8FIqW5M3SDIcj-RDMVU9Spe3i_PtVb5LFD_2ADHyURZpnqwSn0pqFChSh5X7IgALT7Ur-UcM_A9_t6IbTsmFDPI6w71gz3tGavrne1fyrPZCDNYbMvKjNCRxMt2Alc4v9zV_UsdNLJjnJereO_epXRg9c-4X0RKV3zU64qbZGKP4PhU_fhljKtX/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlbiKd8FIqW5M3SDIcj-RDMVU9Spe3i_PtVb5LFD_2ADHyURZpnqwSn0pqFChSh5X7IgALT7Ur-UcM_A9_t6IbTsmFDPI6w71gz3tGavrne1fyrPZCDNYbMvKjNCRxMt2Alc4v9zV_UsdNLJjnJereO_epXRg9c-4X0RKV3zU64qbZGKP4PhU_fhljKtX/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">daffs coming through!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlsujMdcvHZyvTKIacFWj_eBGbcLLXmmp5b3Kt99s77XDIx4GqqkACxKL5sH5Hviyj-GbUPfE-yRZaVDBcAPxyLTSjVF5UC-TKi3tfveXFL_FZtOmnsJsNBcFU9HfF8qgPELxe51-XJ1oB2xwsXgDsDeTlbW_zCvRpxUZnyFpeRqdrwHosuA2A07e1PmE/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlsujMdcvHZyvTKIacFWj_eBGbcLLXmmp5b3Kt99s77XDIx4GqqkACxKL5sH5Hviyj-GbUPfE-yRZaVDBcAPxyLTSjVF5UC-TKi3tfveXFL_FZtOmnsJsNBcFU9HfF8qgPELxe51-XJ1oB2xwsXgDsDeTlbW_zCvRpxUZnyFpeRqdrwHosuA2A07e1PmE/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">early daffodils</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7QBxBlPKiwy1HizVOCiZYVscoC6atbgFxmAlpD4cTJ5gQRAcCCR3btGo1JCzbSxfeEr9ER46Wpn8Cobii7XMILY833cNxeWje7Bc0G-IGKwVirey6uY51MN7SCckvkQND9jn6ZKNhuFb9M_jOth6wjIXQEaUGoQC4D3eqv2pUpicKerYsBTbuk4SaJR2/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7QBxBlPKiwy1HizVOCiZYVscoC6atbgFxmAlpD4cTJ5gQRAcCCR3btGo1JCzbSxfeEr9ER46Wpn8Cobii7XMILY833cNxeWje7Bc0G-IGKwVirey6uY51MN7SCckvkQND9jn6ZKNhuFb9M_jOth6wjIXQEaUGoQC4D3eqv2pUpicKerYsBTbuk4SaJR2/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tree creeper</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ71Mm8TSCCEoJZXUexw_PgHes460IBxloG1GBzcdFtlpTsFk3U_urrpEGCuut3Pa1xw0lAUkVhZaPUbPP4aECDvys9jOQ4FKy2fsXvCqkp9zb5DVKhhpSTaLuo4s8Fpbh6wbxNxG9qs_EXU3c9_sftWkMcr-9FHbLpuPL23E8aZ7NB5eJyeH0h4Dy7Psf/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ71Mm8TSCCEoJZXUexw_PgHes460IBxloG1GBzcdFtlpTsFk3U_urrpEGCuut3Pa1xw0lAUkVhZaPUbPP4aECDvys9jOQ4FKy2fsXvCqkp9zb5DVKhhpSTaLuo4s8Fpbh6wbxNxG9qs_EXU3c9_sftWkMcr-9FHbLpuPL23E8aZ7NB5eJyeH0h4Dy7Psf/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwRcRuXe6HNgsHiYkQNaUmWytpMKUZt27Iz5mZfR5ijCxT9jtfzDM1RfAOoAoOiPmi6zgqT2SnyGBNNAuGyGDCvFHLa7W1csp8TGT25WD0FXy_LzJKd_sfbb2fHw120ahUx0lv5MndrDveAISCHyiFSZhWehbtPy1cRFr-G-vgyzrC-25QkvV8JdhlP8e/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwRcRuXe6HNgsHiYkQNaUmWytpMKUZt27Iz5mZfR5ijCxT9jtfzDM1RfAOoAoOiPmi6zgqT2SnyGBNNAuGyGDCvFHLa7W1csp8TGT25WD0FXy_LzJKd_sfbb2fHw120ahUx0lv5MndrDveAISCHyiFSZhWehbtPy1cRFr-G-vgyzrC-25QkvV8JdhlP8e/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YDKvuSUMX0IO1fuisVwE5mCaFHMU_IfmE5UugQeyzVy6oMonnMUOGnyO8SYA9haoF33wgeed7k0XTvIOZXbQtVmxC_PkwXdqIRtyIlkCt8-5aFs2nK1pALqntcP_KcWkSG99eAD-Zh-eGNw0ZeoGI-C862QN8iENXOPWXLh5NN6TcnSLoK3crdgjg6m2/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YDKvuSUMX0IO1fuisVwE5mCaFHMU_IfmE5UugQeyzVy6oMonnMUOGnyO8SYA9haoF33wgeed7k0XTvIOZXbQtVmxC_PkwXdqIRtyIlkCt8-5aFs2nK1pALqntcP_KcWkSG99eAD-Zh-eGNw0ZeoGI-C862QN8iENXOPWXLh5NN6TcnSLoK3crdgjg6m2/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue tit shouting</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2-ka08TcceSN9MWXKqaIm9L1Tk-TNVUBcBI_bU_aPpbY5gTva2oUzP-lcZs5258JiiM8d3tuOMt6EFTTr3Jl2N08T5L6bwoq-i8XzmU7ReWLgyVRH7fQuDM6OKhgdczsnsRmJnKxt95KWx-OrPgwaVgcU_HRL8PViy-bKXTcwMipYWjFcn0y9toLTLfN/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2-ka08TcceSN9MWXKqaIm9L1Tk-TNVUBcBI_bU_aPpbY5gTva2oUzP-lcZs5258JiiM8d3tuOMt6EFTTr3Jl2N08T5L6bwoq-i8XzmU7ReWLgyVRH7fQuDM6OKhgdczsnsRmJnKxt95KWx-OrPgwaVgcU_HRL8PViy-bKXTcwMipYWjFcn0y9toLTLfN/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6ffG3dE2PTPWTDzUuffxT2YwhvymZQOTPO5noyG7tkPVTbLhPZchbayVZz-p0o39FU7EpgSBFMwGxGlZKiK54_bSFL3kRdPuBM-ZhsTwopEfPrcM5khivBtrQsWaaIpjIStwChc03MNz0bXI3mO_zaQqdmNrNdt3F9hfpbYKJuMQN5cpvY9tMKBVpyb4/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6ffG3dE2PTPWTDzUuffxT2YwhvymZQOTPO5noyG7tkPVTbLhPZchbayVZz-p0o39FU7EpgSBFMwGxGlZKiK54_bSFL3kRdPuBM-ZhsTwopEfPrcM5khivBtrQsWaaIpjIStwChc03MNz0bXI3mO_zaQqdmNrNdt3F9hfpbYKJuMQN5cpvY9tMKBVpyb4/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ4A11eDbSC1TutokJevxTq_2guq452Pg1QgLzw_IiLA1qhCgMKT5ssh4aQvx-LTw_rjJ8sWoNZjOJlnFoSKHGJ_pJJsbSOV8CdYqN_8UVflKR-CoWPlesRr7C_PuyrExIdLQLbm44JkRnr9dm_nDkfEv12M9ZUnAuU8BYjP8wsAjP7pqomg_lDh4b4rD/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ4A11eDbSC1TutokJevxTq_2guq452Pg1QgLzw_IiLA1qhCgMKT5ssh4aQvx-LTw_rjJ8sWoNZjOJlnFoSKHGJ_pJJsbSOV8CdYqN_8UVflKR-CoWPlesRr7C_PuyrExIdLQLbm44JkRnr9dm_nDkfEv12M9ZUnAuU8BYjP8wsAjP7pqomg_lDh4b4rD/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">snow drops throughout the cemetery<br />always a welcome flower </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iAAA06dhd-xpDNKCllXj4FnzMmBnCkxBSKWtzpGsF2oghTU6gkM4JmWiv6HzIoF7hFFAVr3FCgXXQOFwqKpdh9NyB8MHrZznIDQNgM1C4jCdgI6gAmEIjs5Lo-axtu2er8zlnvEQePwo0Aa7XQReHWnf6b0UaY_c64uXYpe3jLJryxJ0d2ZSFDo9SPFj/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iAAA06dhd-xpDNKCllXj4FnzMmBnCkxBSKWtzpGsF2oghTU6gkM4JmWiv6HzIoF7hFFAVr3FCgXXQOFwqKpdh9NyB8MHrZznIDQNgM1C4jCdgI6gAmEIjs5Lo-axtu2er8zlnvEQePwo0Aa7XQReHWnf6b0UaY_c64uXYpe3jLJryxJ0d2ZSFDo9SPFj/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q512GeK5beoCRwIDMqqrVb8fys44wC9ccjOFrhO28ICAknW2MwRhnqOYnZnBce3nwMrcUcCGby5ehI6dsG5ozx0K6I9lhUStvtttGEy7LRzuWlN2FZ0vWDJcDhxJeTAbAEqOkErd3ce_Y9WnbP2I_OVzH_IcveD5E9Qo0tK0Gl0Ei3v3FfO2G4A5dobP/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q512GeK5beoCRwIDMqqrVb8fys44wC9ccjOFrhO28ICAknW2MwRhnqOYnZnBce3nwMrcUcCGby5ehI6dsG5ozx0K6I9lhUStvtttGEy7LRzuWlN2FZ0vWDJcDhxJeTAbAEqOkErd3ce_Y9WnbP2I_OVzH_IcveD5E9Qo0tK0Gl0Ei3v3FfO2G4A5dobP/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmoYhUS0hkFsKOCeWRmH4XoJdxfeVWuwZK3KgUYV8fWJCiYLYWSDjNFi2v42LACkrzz-1STO_7AyrRW9kjMea7gixvEGS7_GnBwHn8Bv3a-lr427T3Uv_nRSOblA-_OviCQOkH06N0fvt1n1bG8SuutxClME4d-1584kflYq5sQB8KKx7LQNQ-dY7dvMw/s1200/gif%201.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmoYhUS0hkFsKOCeWRmH4XoJdxfeVWuwZK3KgUYV8fWJCiYLYWSDjNFi2v42LACkrzz-1STO_7AyrRW9kjMea7gixvEGS7_GnBwHn8Bv3a-lr427T3Uv_nRSOblA-_OviCQOkH06N0fvt1n1bG8SuutxClME4d-1584kflYq5sQB8KKx7LQNQ-dY7dvMw/s320/gif%201.gif" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I put these gifs together on ezgif maker online. They are not the best possible quality but give an idea of the blackbird being bossy. I took them using the pre-burst mode. You keep your finger on the shutter release halfway down until something happens, then push it all the way down to record in burst mode a full second prior to the action which generally catches the incident, like a bird flying off from a perch, without having to anticipate the action. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvDQTxo-IrQZzOR9Ny2tbETnrt37tccBJjnKtyL6XmdSq0ugPmYnnjvao6-woosHKafl49IN-E0vxbWCW1jGnV0IBhz_0ne01YNVnb_wQ5xx5fWvp8usmCVNc6Hr3S2l_2MmKJikPC4jAOiIFF6D4UfiigbfLc8TNMK9VnkmGS1BS3mh70ww88ruZ83S7/s1200/gif%202.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvDQTxo-IrQZzOR9Ny2tbETnrt37tccBJjnKtyL6XmdSq0ugPmYnnjvao6-woosHKafl49IN-E0vxbWCW1jGnV0IBhz_0ne01YNVnb_wQ5xx5fWvp8usmCVNc6Hr3S2l_2MmKJikPC4jAOiIFF6D4UfiigbfLc8TNMK9VnkmGS1BS3mh70ww88ruZ83S7/s320/gif%202.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-78591252026691989362024-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:002024-01-23T11:07:09.503-08:00we all like a figgy park<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTB89xMKGsJzj1xFz5xrH4KFM25l4cmc3yTfItAIHrzVmzrvQ-5dWvJFpbb_VCT7TFiN_QegSkptbncorMjZr-2aW4hzPR-RD_1oNmUYy1vx4cug2RBB7y9yQBOabVH4PfgrE0tv_P8wBSSiyk8ZUOdBSYosZEacIrl5320mm-8eOvTn3aFGc_GCvUoBh/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTB89xMKGsJzj1xFz5xrH4KFM25l4cmc3yTfItAIHrzVmzrvQ-5dWvJFpbb_VCT7TFiN_QegSkptbncorMjZr-2aW4hzPR-RD_1oNmUYy1vx4cug2RBB7y9yQBOabVH4PfgrE0tv_P8wBSSiyk8ZUOdBSYosZEacIrl5320mm-8eOvTn3aFGc_GCvUoBh/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">18th January <b><i>Subtitle</i></b>: Birds with iridescence beginning with P.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Something of a repetitive story. I'd seen quite a few pictures from Figgy (Figgate) Park. Otters and kingfishers. Seems the place is bursting with them. I best go down and scare them away then. Mission accomplished! Here are the details...</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8kKBmxv4NPnRH0n7CSfoSv3dKDr1EmWjcjxhDEX4vEcvJA1mBqv4IgbjdCEb-aP-2n1mD5R4KR90tQRMQpx0y07_r-x9Xtm9C-WvDY_Zj4OTtyn0SsCW1F0m3XwBafJImoNxA_FPAG3KB_PEmTKPXSpjW11T7P1z2zBtzM2rXoY4MvlL-TLGxy5gkmim/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8kKBmxv4NPnRH0n7CSfoSv3dKDr1EmWjcjxhDEX4vEcvJA1mBqv4IgbjdCEb-aP-2n1mD5R4KR90tQRMQpx0y07_r-x9Xtm9C-WvDY_Zj4OTtyn0SsCW1F0m3XwBafJImoNxA_FPAG3KB_PEmTKPXSpjW11T7P1z2zBtzM2rXoY4MvlL-TLGxy5gkmim/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Until I looked at the gps output I'd forgotten about the trip there. Maybe another time I'd run down there via Lochend Park, it is less than a handful of miles heading EastNorEast. However I've had something of a mystery running injury that appeared out of nowhere earlier in the week and although it is just a weakness where my hamstring meets my glute (possibly a sciatic thing exactly the same as something I had last year about January as well, most likely a winter weather thing...) I thought I'd go easy on the running for a few days and catch a bus. I forgot to put the gps off for the first bus mile so there is an odd line across town. It might have been a 19 from top of Easter Road towards Portobello. A bit of a walk at the far end done hastily as all those otters and kingfishers were calling to me. Can't wait!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX3QLkNFvGrjM2fV8M4gMs_WXfz1MKyFj0cvb6PMdLP5XA8g7LG-eI64pyMtyLdzzk1MMuZ7y-M2RqjQh7uX-MlHKKQr_Jxu_jrc4S714-HQaFBUqBKOuRlgei_FJIRQ77IDepLM91j16JbOWLosDdarFbXRTJG5rLCuvtEVaB7mwHqhogpWf0U3D2bC0/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX3QLkNFvGrjM2fV8M4gMs_WXfz1MKyFj0cvb6PMdLP5XA8g7LG-eI64pyMtyLdzzk1MMuZ7y-M2RqjQh7uX-MlHKKQr_Jxu_jrc4S714-HQaFBUqBKOuRlgei_FJIRQ77IDepLM91j16JbOWLosDdarFbXRTJG5rLCuvtEVaB7mwHqhogpWf0U3D2bC0/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay the first major disappointment (other than not being met at the the gate by a friendly otter) was the pond was frozen. Echoes of Valleyfield Pond again. Never mind, the sun is out and there are some garden birds in the trees. It was all very pleasant. Certainly better than working, so I'm not complaining.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaA9lNFJDrd54waItRZKmTYoxmFEVhKPzzTLt7GqbnULyj8eXKqjwADzrvVSeWkKvlKGg95M5j773z_jWHRaZxsJCpiE-c69pIZa6utUhfI2MXNEH2lC2dB6Db80kykonmmvDJew_7ePn0DZmEt8-VP1rVXoMSM5k0WNQLroqvLdNEQatRmG3pr3IKK30/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaA9lNFJDrd54waItRZKmTYoxmFEVhKPzzTLt7GqbnULyj8eXKqjwADzrvVSeWkKvlKGg95M5j773z_jWHRaZxsJCpiE-c69pIZa6utUhfI2MXNEH2lC2dB6Db80kykonmmvDJew_7ePn0DZmEt8-VP1rVXoMSM5k0WNQLroqvLdNEQatRmG3pr3IKK30/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJF08rXt_JrkOiFlKTHrUifFSLbeekdCKvmNY29gOxoUN3yez00VFLLIq41l1udcRfQgTwnYnzobAxhd1s7efVsp8dxN6Tm6v661-aB3z9RY5L9pEloW16EKnpI8FbFzGJltoAnyiJCKYgQ_h_Zw2lAqr2dg_wLliFokzvK9sfKiNxA0FUh-XxQEQiCxp/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJF08rXt_JrkOiFlKTHrUifFSLbeekdCKvmNY29gOxoUN3yez00VFLLIq41l1udcRfQgTwnYnzobAxhd1s7efVsp8dxN6Tm6v661-aB3z9RY5L9pEloW16EKnpI8FbFzGJltoAnyiJCKYgQ_h_Zw2lAqr2dg_wLliFokzvK9sfKiNxA0FUh-XxQEQiCxp/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXSHKZN0Asiw3vGw9tOpe1CyMVSOX0hugQIBY8fb8Re4L1SW7oUdHU1geTZ7mxZ4pYv2ONms2RMGUbjQK288JXewofff1QV1f46ihp3s9hcqsJ8-4UrYOCKaEbvxp6udpwQnFLpA7ih9dyUCDWvkflpWnXV8oUvEmZydjdf56fbhC8ouxytbCiXN8ou2f/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXSHKZN0Asiw3vGw9tOpe1CyMVSOX0hugQIBY8fb8Re4L1SW7oUdHU1geTZ7mxZ4pYv2ONms2RMGUbjQK288JXewofff1QV1f46ihp3s9hcqsJ8-4UrYOCKaEbvxp6udpwQnFLpA7ih9dyUCDWvkflpWnXV8oUvEmZydjdf56fbhC8ouxytbCiXN8ou2f/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMGoCsYOroZNI_BGIlXBiHtU9tb4WTx-S0K4KeszjXF_z7oQD3zH_D63A-BZjO9GmUVoj16XfJDgLBZbxHF3xW8gTQ1OCr4jkgF-foYESlPeTK-iKxOjM7nUyyoEQKC2T6c8DMwk7jsEz-az-dkNS97NGY43cotS81ZDMiqZBlLeIgqATihVPK4xsI7ix/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMGoCsYOroZNI_BGIlXBiHtU9tb4WTx-S0K4KeszjXF_z7oQD3zH_D63A-BZjO9GmUVoj16XfJDgLBZbxHF3xW8gTQ1OCr4jkgF-foYESlPeTK-iKxOjM7nUyyoEQKC2T6c8DMwk7jsEz-az-dkNS97NGY43cotS81ZDMiqZBlLeIgqATihVPK4xsI7ix/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I took a slow walk around the pond although when I got to the far side there was a bit of excitement among a couple of long lens dudes, one of whom I know from Waxwing chasing earlier in the season. He hurriedly told me the otter had come up the Figgate Burn and entered the pond through the tunnel that links them. It surfaced in the remaining wet bit that wasn't frozen over and annoyed the swans standing nearby. They are apt to hiss at it when it goes near them. I saw it climb out the pond but it was among the sticks and branches of a pond side tree and impossible to photograph with any success. It got back into the water and disappeared for 15 minutes.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpYxTKFiZ4UirC5pP6RENHm4nSalxD8fPGXWmGxYkmNH06y4cq53niA_vg7dBDGcP7_qt1pz9MQWVaQJNBO2AeREXANRZIVEbap15XNCouEx1PnqKyipt3RrOPQY0ONhVuxCxeOIjjWrwPqIAHMwL2HJcNOJWB0FHSWNKhov3irptsJF1GQ5zBK2B7Med/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpYxTKFiZ4UirC5pP6RENHm4nSalxD8fPGXWmGxYkmNH06y4cq53niA_vg7dBDGcP7_qt1pz9MQWVaQJNBO2AeREXANRZIVEbap15XNCouEx1PnqKyipt3RrOPQY0ONhVuxCxeOIjjWrwPqIAHMwL2HJcNOJWB0FHSWNKhov3irptsJF1GQ5zBK2B7Med/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was not transfixed by this and so went for a wander. I was pretty sure my leaving would induce the otter to get up on the ice and dance gangnam style with a swan, but I am not great at standing doing nothing on a sunny day when there are other things to be photographed. I walked up towards Duddingston as far as the other end of the park in search of dippers. Didn't see any. On my return there was more excitement round the pond and possibly another one or 2 long lens dudes. They act like magnets, attracting and repelling each other. The otter was making appearances but usually only popping a head above water then reversing that move. Rivetting it was not. I shot 2 seconds of video but can't be bothered to process it and post it here. If you want to know what it looked like study the photo below then look at another photo of just water with no otter. It was like that.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHbudnwjjPkfo4aiHzzKAMIzWvL0SzvxhFsPhLibRUdE0px2s35T8UwJB0YNnQ6l_CQG5a7mQJZxoBNh4zYhiYkVIkHKC3-cWDLu1RidEDkUIuw6SLT3a-wNkAgnw8lJREB3KzgrzU6rngjkN_PYfVGNul6VNt8bGHqAOWPC1IW5_Uzf9j1_EsvH_tuIt/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHbudnwjjPkfo4aiHzzKAMIzWvL0SzvxhFsPhLibRUdE0px2s35T8UwJB0YNnQ6l_CQG5a7mQJZxoBNh4zYhiYkVIkHKC3-cWDLu1RidEDkUIuw6SLT3a-wNkAgnw8lJREB3KzgrzU6rngjkN_PYfVGNul6VNt8bGHqAOWPC1IW5_Uzf9j1_EsvH_tuIt/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">someone's dog in the pond<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I think maybe because otters have all the visual excitement of someone's dog in the pond I find them not really worth the wait. I have been to this pond several times and not had much joy. I know Richard get lots of great photos and video from here but he maybe has more stomach for putting in the necessary hours of stand-and-wait. I get too itchy standing still, either at bus stops or pond sides. I'd rather keep moving and at least cover some ground.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While there was heehaw happening I turned the camera towards a dunnock in the nearby branches and as I took a photo I thought "That is actually a better photo than any I've taken of the otter this morning." And with that, I left. I didn't have much of a game plan but I'd had it with standing watching nothing happening. I'm out!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIHVBDvHXkDb2NkGybGj0T1xU_dZSvLcDTFffGXEMggIACZLq6GWaLjbjeS7gys5Cu7N1VJMjLogc6stsmwxGlWFfPOLpQdPvYzx6jTc4hM9b_zxa-ZnQ7pRFw8LY9kvhJ3gmZPo_s2yfCHkVyKWDUOp1uGx-7bm535YgDCGXOzUfEWby-cP7gsTFBKNm/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIHVBDvHXkDb2NkGybGj0T1xU_dZSvLcDTFffGXEMggIACZLq6GWaLjbjeS7gys5Cu7N1VJMjLogc6stsmwxGlWFfPOLpQdPvYzx6jTc4hM9b_zxa-ZnQ7pRFw8LY9kvhJ3gmZPo_s2yfCHkVyKWDUOp1uGx-7bm535YgDCGXOzUfEWby-cP7gsTFBKNm/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I could see Arthur's Seat from Figgy Park and it was calling to me. I knew if I headed towards Duddingston I could get into Holyrood from that side and check out Duddingston Loch and maybe up Crow Hill or Hunter's Bog for stonechats and buntings. I'm wasn't entirely sure but it would burn a few calories before lunch and warm me up. Hup two!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1t7kDNLJszxhrmQ3C7UmQ7GoE6OnPmpF3jmfFFXPEDsIscKlWeM3gY5cXI508y2VVDb1eGZXebg2a9bCW5e0rHo4VxYq_w3fwoLC9xcKhUriO7RkpTSa5eGfs_BWjev0Hai75mCk6mQpjIrX5sBLPnCVvqZK7BhQ0Ka8fsW3EYREPyc5A_D-v4sMcoI9/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1t7kDNLJszxhrmQ3C7UmQ7GoE6OnPmpF3jmfFFXPEDsIscKlWeM3gY5cXI508y2VVDb1eGZXebg2a9bCW5e0rHo4VxYq_w3fwoLC9xcKhUriO7RkpTSa5eGfs_BWjev0Hai75mCk6mQpjIrX5sBLPnCVvqZK7BhQ0Ka8fsW3EYREPyc5A_D-v4sMcoI9/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In Duddingston village a crow was lunching on a road kill squirrel in the gutter which I hurried past. I think the journalist in me felt obliged to record it but I'm not sure why, and I won't post the close ups.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGbMi1VksSAFsQxkQF0lzP7gFtWQ5lsaSnhVYCGPGB43Y25BsTgoAEXxF984_DVHtg_VuDVM5pZ8a8bfgJyf6u1CMvmGZ9R8rsuIOcPUoqPNj1LvOpgvoFRrAyUOuEENYfJ4o04CAR_1Q9bINJVZM-pigRwBbIwxb0k2n_gM9TBBfOq6BLRjUcPFZ23oz/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGbMi1VksSAFsQxkQF0lzP7gFtWQ5lsaSnhVYCGPGB43Y25BsTgoAEXxF984_DVHtg_VuDVM5pZ8a8bfgJyf6u1CMvmGZ9R8rsuIOcPUoqPNj1LvOpgvoFRrAyUOuEENYfJ4o04CAR_1Q9bINJVZM-pigRwBbIwxb0k2n_gM9TBBfOq6BLRjUcPFZ23oz/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Duddingstone was frozen at the edges with a fishing hole out in the middle. A few swans stood about but they don't make the best subjects, being white, boring and ubiquitous. The one above made the grade with an impression of a frilly toilet roll holder but there was little else worth it. I climbed the dreaded Duddingston steps. Instead of rushing them as I am likely to do when wearing running kit I walked up them and found there is much to be recommended doing it this way and you don't arrive at the top gasping and damp.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb26IJwoSgjtyNtjEsh6w4Xx4cCVYkshZJ9FrULBWq30u9jxHJD0H_DAQzqc4PX_pRzxFnRdhB84jOgRkGnzSlxx0ozmRdGpUwR5vpoa8qBnxa0ux4_2emKmKeGJrl61e4IiMItNwkDMNIDafw5gA1YDzrPwpIzyYfL5J7dFjq_qkGpfifyEbXS3loX9ET/s2048/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb26IJwoSgjtyNtjEsh6w4Xx4cCVYkshZJ9FrULBWq30u9jxHJD0H_DAQzqc4PX_pRzxFnRdhB84jOgRkGnzSlxx0ozmRdGpUwR5vpoa8qBnxa0ux4_2emKmKeGJrl61e4IiMItNwkDMNIDafw5gA1YDzrPwpIzyYfL5J7dFjq_qkGpfifyEbXS3loX9ET/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Duddingston Loch from above.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14TnaKLGUhVFBRxojE9d69dt0j1ilbrveZ-4FnbI9i8Q5KPFk7UoB2jOxfiJdpd2yncWmUgrQGhqMuCdDAvkoMjp3LPlxahaIyNqeTRvFmn3SXfy-7WTVI7od5T3jzFF8CK6wSkuAUA_W4_235gnt2FZDLIgwVs9nBMcf4EbK98WZj7GuFReqo5jXsRno/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14TnaKLGUhVFBRxojE9d69dt0j1ilbrveZ-4FnbI9i8Q5KPFk7UoB2jOxfiJdpd2yncWmUgrQGhqMuCdDAvkoMjp3LPlxahaIyNqeTRvFmn3SXfy-7WTVI7od5T3jzFF8CK6wSkuAUA_W4_235gnt2FZDLIgwVs9nBMcf4EbK98WZj7GuFReqo5jXsRno/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Going round the road towards Dunsapie Loch I saw a pheasant. Now, while they are pretty low on anyone's wish list (outside the kitchen), not much higher than swans really, they are also exquisitely coloured. I think this confirms I fall more into the artist rather than twitcher camp. I suspect any serious birder would walk past these large stupid game birds scorning their introduction from somewhere in the East no doubt. They eat seeds and berries as well as insects and spiders. There is also the rumour they eat (endangered) adders and lizards although I do wonder if that is some bad marketing so we have a reason to properly dislike them. Wikipedia suggests they do but also puts the note <i>"dubious - discuss" </i>in the way it usually says<i> "needs citation".</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wikipedia also says their call can be recognised "due to the fact it sounds like a rusty sink or valve being turned". Poor English but yes, a rusty faucet or gate screeching. And they have that terrible habit of lying low until you are nearly upon them, then exploding out the long grass beside you and making that rusty gate noise in your face as you shit your pants.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZrCbw4ljH1rytmQb5ezo__1QVzrbd0SSaZPTvWf6ywchYOfFtqXxa5PzS3NJ9eP0C5O2X3X7B99uNZkbUPdh7DPWINZtAL90tcsgrpxCwjYsKP4Oqp7pmu26uwnCeR8EiIms_yn7SmrJihMDxne6rr-HkwWKg6cOYesV2OqLZuehHZfs-cx-PdLMT9OG/s2048/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZrCbw4ljH1rytmQb5ezo__1QVzrbd0SSaZPTvWf6ywchYOfFtqXxa5PzS3NJ9eP0C5O2X3X7B99uNZkbUPdh7DPWINZtAL90tcsgrpxCwjYsKP4Oqp7pmu26uwnCeR8EiIms_yn7SmrJihMDxne6rr-HkwWKg6cOYesV2OqLZuehHZfs-cx-PdLMT9OG/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">However they have an amazing plumage. The colour range is almost better than a kingfisher dare I say. I'm not saying I'd rather see a pheasant at close quarters but I think the way the colours hang together in proportion and harmony is outstanding. When James MacNeill Whistler got to take over the redecoration of the dining room of shipping magnate Frederick Leyland, he got somewhat carried away. He chose not kingfishers but ...ahem... peacocks. Okay not pheasants but arguably nearer pheasants than kingfishers. I mention it because it is a great tale and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peacock_Room" target="_blank">well worth looking into</a>. And what can happen if you don't keep a firm grip on your interior decorator - we've all been there!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiN6VwhLLgCNoDrkf0C-8lG40VdC-ExtFAMOEMbUXYznPJof5vtRwWm5Hw5AuGaKRhKdFqOoPjuoUvZNlB0JGF1ZKmmmH8O76BtTcbZqiX-UWFEaRA2svBGklCYcstvDO0BrBWy3VdayCPYO6glRmku2IiVwCvrgmpMPUsaMTGOkAhQ7j335E2_PxVr-i/s1632/015%20peacock%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1632" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiN6VwhLLgCNoDrkf0C-8lG40VdC-ExtFAMOEMbUXYznPJof5vtRwWm5Hw5AuGaKRhKdFqOoPjuoUvZNlB0JGF1ZKmmmH8O76BtTcbZqiX-UWFEaRA2svBGklCYcstvDO0BrBWy3VdayCPYO6glRmku2IiVwCvrgmpMPUsaMTGOkAhQ7j335E2_PxVr-i/s320/015%20peacock%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And a splendid if somewhat over-the-top result. Whistler, the artist, took the reins when the original designer fell ill. He was doing some other painty work in the same place and said <i>hold my beer</i>, running up a huge tab at the gold leaf shop. And going totally off-piste with his own lavish design, painting over the original idea. The owner viewed it as if Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen had done a changing rooms special, and refused to settle up. The room has twice been dismantled and moved, from London to Detroit and from Detroit to Washington where it now lives in an art collection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo7eLKXLFGNeIpXQ8zNVlgq1xw5GgwQl4oars7Bp2uJhDEP8nSz17lCvCRS7J8rs-tA8Av5ZSLK4En-WUmFK0kbCluAyvM60UkWZHC_C0vzk8wLpl-ZJUmoJmvzQI-pCmeFy7YNBPVifoxka0ZjA9KA-MuLzn4zQdO3jfnd212JVcpUBiGEkyaztqdc07/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo7eLKXLFGNeIpXQ8zNVlgq1xw5GgwQl4oars7Bp2uJhDEP8nSz17lCvCRS7J8rs-tA8Av5ZSLK4En-WUmFK0kbCluAyvM60UkWZHC_C0vzk8wLpl-ZJUmoJmvzQI-pCmeFy7YNBPVifoxka0ZjA9KA-MuLzn4zQdO3jfnd212JVcpUBiGEkyaztqdc07/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, so I see a pheasant some distance away and reckon it will be the only iridescence I photograph today (sadly). But can I get closer? I stalked the unsuspecting beast until I got within 20 yards. It was now looking at me suspiciously and I got out my secret weapon. At the first rustle of polythene food bag its ears pricked up. As I casually tossed a handful it practically raced across 20 yards. Initially I was concerned I wouldn't get close enough, but as it rushed over I was concerned it would be so close I'd have trouble standing back enough for a decent shot. I had to fling the bread and seeds in one direction and walk backwards to get it all in frame.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSjaT0CyXLmNlXK8r9O0hCMz3ODGpVA_ZdaROI0epHaa1fzyNxTq_vVvMyrMt3JVV77MJV1OkswxJl90PV4sUMYB7DRVa2uoE-OCMkGxw5cp1nSbeYOw4Kf9Cp0bGtp1oHqAQq1A3I5KCWEw-3AQg3ojfnpdsQu6EKfDKo9CQRVvrKnXt3b9pSOpAF449/s2048/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSjaT0CyXLmNlXK8r9O0hCMz3ODGpVA_ZdaROI0epHaa1fzyNxTq_vVvMyrMt3JVV77MJV1OkswxJl90PV4sUMYB7DRVa2uoE-OCMkGxw5cp1nSbeYOw4Kf9Cp0bGtp1oHqAQq1A3I5KCWEw-3AQg3ojfnpdsQu6EKfDKo9CQRVvrKnXt3b9pSOpAF449/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While this is going on I heard the creaking gate of another pheasant up on the small hill behind Dunsapie Loch. I took a load of photos of pheasant number 1 and then seeing pheasant number 2 a bit up the hill and struggling with what looked like a limp, I went over to have a look. Again I approached slowly and with the food thrown in front. It was also familiar with the idea of human hand-outs and soon had plopped down in front of me in a nest-like clump of long grass. I couldn't see what was wrong with its leg and why it was limping but my heart went out to anything having to survive outdoors with an injury. I gave it loads to eat. And in return we sat and chatted and I got better photos than the ones of pheasant number 1. I said thanks, wished it well and a speedy recovery, and quietly went back down the hill.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUFJ_3fDSvOATwY92QaDiAXDnRPVh5_fCFP7Zb-bB-Ohg5dV_NaNsslr88vXWtnmosqyhzAzZn9PzLNO793vKvq6UFz7Ce50ms41M8vmZqJ3TTbS1eqthIbxc4btbJsbGk6bxUPkw7TLXr-cjll1fVy3VmudJ-_l9sY6yfv5pc90W8MxHwfxmLjoJKLgU/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUFJ_3fDSvOATwY92QaDiAXDnRPVh5_fCFP7Zb-bB-Ohg5dV_NaNsslr88vXWtnmosqyhzAzZn9PzLNO793vKvq6UFz7Ce50ms41M8vmZqJ3TTbS1eqthIbxc4btbJsbGk6bxUPkw7TLXr-cjll1fVy3VmudJ-_l9sY6yfv5pc90W8MxHwfxmLjoJKLgU/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC5ViDc2h28L9Sj5z8_Xf2MSaHVlL0FzABdS3PTx218XIfytr8ciTG3fPgzf2CQuoGXxVPGk5vUsIDZlOROVo5qjk4cOdDMuC3uXdje7XMSHqC4bJoKwYRfWLipduEydM1LGGJYwWiWptyKuuRUornJb1nLKNETvNqqJ1pqBC8wF-MFpuu3fSwqFuNiVO/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC5ViDc2h28L9Sj5z8_Xf2MSaHVlL0FzABdS3PTx218XIfytr8ciTG3fPgzf2CQuoGXxVPGk5vUsIDZlOROVo5qjk4cOdDMuC3uXdje7XMSHqC4bJoKwYRfWLipduEydM1LGGJYwWiWptyKuuRUornJb1nLKNETvNqqJ1pqBC8wF-MFpuu3fSwqFuNiVO/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qF-2FMjNMvxeI2DCyWEWrFgcw-oljSZWztDEUfdZCHoYyXAq8ANcGOwtMX7zWUnWzj7nns1ostMddvTlwWxdBKr6O7uDPYVEyfDUmxKW22gvLzqyDZXdxiyBbVYjSlKAJ6Jw1ebga_b-dgzXSsMI8VskPG9AKVbf9E8V5r85hlVlegweDJldocFdsYnZ/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qF-2FMjNMvxeI2DCyWEWrFgcw-oljSZWztDEUfdZCHoYyXAq8ANcGOwtMX7zWUnWzj7nns1ostMddvTlwWxdBKr6O7uDPYVEyfDUmxKW22gvLzqyDZXdxiyBbVYjSlKAJ6Jw1ebga_b-dgzXSsMI8VskPG9AKVbf9E8V5r85hlVlegweDJldocFdsYnZ/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg763RLkjJBy-4GFfwEXGq-amughoad2dzI_d876d9q4TMJCWPzny5u4CGNyg853sJfFwmMG8J0y9y1go1WxGFGdUowCkyISp3eW3Url-S97XRqCm1R3yZq8XJJnWS-wM7YFEzpF7NsZT_IrJ4fGb_sFHNvE0YXM-iN_st2NR9u9eMMk2IE_Rzy9z2Cxcy8/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg763RLkjJBy-4GFfwEXGq-amughoad2dzI_d876d9q4TMJCWPzny5u4CGNyg853sJfFwmMG8J0y9y1go1WxGFGdUowCkyISp3eW3Url-S97XRqCm1R3yZq8XJJnWS-wM7YFEzpF7NsZT_IrJ4fGb_sFHNvE0YXM-iN_st2NR9u9eMMk2IE_Rzy9z2Cxcy8/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjwPG1xU8irqd7PZzT01e2Wq8ZOXZhesBeK8Cbn38w_JEk35nUCn6RDdqj4XdjvcTGOyYZo4aaWclt2keB8hdLj1PGVkVF3hxv_mZKRWR2tnA2cJygkLKXvbsTe7SU8fO8PcusZYaedNh-47aWs3Dnvm1fXf5EagchzVA65YHIZNvOH6EWWSxhZlN83LK/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjwPG1xU8irqd7PZzT01e2Wq8ZOXZhesBeK8Cbn38w_JEk35nUCn6RDdqj4XdjvcTGOyYZo4aaWclt2keB8hdLj1PGVkVF3hxv_mZKRWR2tnA2cJygkLKXvbsTe7SU8fO8PcusZYaedNh-47aWs3Dnvm1fXf5EagchzVA65YHIZNvOH6EWWSxhZlN83LK/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd31OXYrSRUa6hIq0n0hjPfrCG-Oc3aAJFVQUeaL7e46wJ5j0KEAY5Wu5fKVFVIRSR-JlJs0p5gnpz60S_vQ5fUfeTHemAOKrpuv20bjzXC8BH_nBUPtxkHpEWOLgdSUOT0M5T6hdR6JKFQPr3nrUxxJv8e09GHVrPfv8HZah5i3be_SkOYqgr3oE_jHeL/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd31OXYrSRUa6hIq0n0hjPfrCG-Oc3aAJFVQUeaL7e46wJ5j0KEAY5Wu5fKVFVIRSR-JlJs0p5gnpz60S_vQ5fUfeTHemAOKrpuv20bjzXC8BH_nBUPtxkHpEWOLgdSUOT0M5T6hdR6JKFQPr3nrUxxJv8e09GHVrPfv8HZah5i3be_SkOYqgr3oE_jHeL/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And that was pretty much that. Except for the pigeons. Going past St Margaret's Loch there were about 20 pigeons in a line right at the water's edge next to the road. They were all sat in a row snoozing, and the light was so great that I had to take a photo or 2. Having done that I couldn't walk away without giving them the mandatory reward of a handful of seeds. Union rules. It was a pain because the waist-strap pockets on the Alpkit backpack (that otherwise gets a four-point-five star review) are not the biggest or easiest to open and close, to remove the bulging bag of sunflower hearts. Before I even get the bag open there is crowd of pigeons at my feet, keenly asking who is getting fed; who, who, who?</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuQABRoNlWWc5EwHkS4GKFTs8jNmUKp_TT2hlLPLPQSlRAYWCJpNBiEj7UBHm3m7eb_BRcm51fA4dV0tsTDLIfBtC8q_06QhUczFyp9jF11uvozjxZr_MjVS8Bxipyn32wURXEijCnObgbO4C5MvmysQuIJj4hy2UWI2IiaP85JnoFskMLcJz8XS0zSZm/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuQABRoNlWWc5EwHkS4GKFTs8jNmUKp_TT2hlLPLPQSlRAYWCJpNBiEj7UBHm3m7eb_BRcm51fA4dV0tsTDLIfBtC8q_06QhUczFyp9jF11uvozjxZr_MjVS8Bxipyn32wURXEijCnObgbO4C5MvmysQuIJj4hy2UWI2IiaP85JnoFskMLcJz8XS0zSZm/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">taken with the G9</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Realising I had opened the door to a mugging by pigeons I threw down some seeds and they quickly went from sleepy sunbathers to frenzied mobsters barging and pecking each other, and me. I quite like them and their colourings despite being right at the bottom of the exotic wish-list birding ladder, the streetsweepers of birdworld. <br /><br />Every now and again for no specific reason they would all take off, clatter round the loch and return. Recognising me as the foodsource they were very quick to hop up onto an outstretched arm and hand. It reminded me of a trip to the Botanics as a kid - the first time I ever met squirrels and pigeons that were prepared to be your friend for the price of a few nuts. I was very young at the time possibly about 5 or 6 and it stuck in my head as one of my earliest memories. I can also remember my dad (a rare occasion if he was there) laughing at how much I enjoyed it while he was keeping a distance from these creatures he regarded as slightly dirty or like they might be infested or poop on him. So I probably don't get it from his side of the family. Makes sense, my mum's dad used to feed the local birds in Leith by flinging food scraps or old bread out the flat windows to (presumably) gulls.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1YG88yNTnu8Mlncs-qbVNatFuYCpL_xBBqiMBGwaafsOHfKlUpyg1U_vfx3vMe2yyg58QrN4xdYr-80kSpAiVjIUNdqym7_-4xxSL7LF4nFYlLLioe1lfy5spCH_XOLE-uT3_YP9ZtvDhL-_bKkZVFu4h5_p84Q-ALKl3thpDZpT7eZKgeInBcqXEjyE/s2048/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1YG88yNTnu8Mlncs-qbVNatFuYCpL_xBBqiMBGwaafsOHfKlUpyg1U_vfx3vMe2yyg58QrN4xdYr-80kSpAiVjIUNdqym7_-4xxSL7LF4nFYlLLioe1lfy5spCH_XOLE-uT3_YP9ZtvDhL-_bKkZVFu4h5_p84Q-ALKl3thpDZpT7eZKgeInBcqXEjyE/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">iPhone photos</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQlYRB1b0YKG7dx8JAGahbctbYe6jzcvWwZSLy0ZcjuYD9dEKxMepjXQTucvbIu5Vg_HJV-umT0r0u4Jzwh8SWz0wkYE1UIWpDzZ6KK39NVKUchtVbfDsKKtZiRIrGxRzl6yoYwRJeWXmUQ-ZwblNVGDroj7tQYMdsQwrBldCEmF8KbdOEnTolNsxYEqN/s2048/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQlYRB1b0YKG7dx8JAGahbctbYe6jzcvWwZSLy0ZcjuYD9dEKxMepjXQTucvbIu5Vg_HJV-umT0r0u4Jzwh8SWz0wkYE1UIWpDzZ6KK39NVKUchtVbfDsKKtZiRIrGxRzl6yoYwRJeWXmUQ-ZwblNVGDroj7tQYMdsQwrBldCEmF8KbdOEnTolNsxYEqN/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaCxUmeA_TGGSDryXz0dqPlAavSFupMiQRfeWIJc4MMDIvmq1QcxvBGBjCtrCC3kah8CSteKM933hmy5gbRaJv5sMAZ9q3R6WdA3hjBahlgimQoOrBylewQPGmfeIakzWZpSwj5W-X6tCVV3d1g9ys_xLxxAjNb0j51GPiN6fMeUMQhBazo95TBpvnNKD/s2048/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaCxUmeA_TGGSDryXz0dqPlAavSFupMiQRfeWIJc4MMDIvmq1QcxvBGBjCtrCC3kah8CSteKM933hmy5gbRaJv5sMAZ9q3R6WdA3hjBahlgimQoOrBylewQPGmfeIakzWZpSwj5W-X6tCVV3d1g9ys_xLxxAjNb0j51GPiN6fMeUMQhBazo95TBpvnNKD/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Mary makes me wash my hands when I get home these days. 😏🤗</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzl9MGRaDKF9vrmylt8zaGiCdf9i6z2iy43RX1Kxf1bpHAEphW0KHRIjkiilXsAHyzrkndSfpjuRpUZ-TND_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><p></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-59006420070378698972024-01-23T04:16:00.000-08:002024-01-23T04:16:09.021-08:00everything but the kingfisher<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6n7__Gx4K97Gw6aFw_DIJLK4c_rHejMtdUaHFqbuhfnbR5u11ahLuEftyRWaH7YsHtemGR_s-Sdi8TrqtWPb2TpWTGXC73xLouyyolZNGa8RkoyAfF_ZyAe2dPswg9TN7vX3zMW8BS4kZabbW9LCFU7fIFZ3tu6Wo_N9j9gzb8iuERN_OhaHFwkR6qVL/s2048/096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6n7__Gx4K97Gw6aFw_DIJLK4c_rHejMtdUaHFqbuhfnbR5u11ahLuEftyRWaH7YsHtemGR_s-Sdi8TrqtWPb2TpWTGXC73xLouyyolZNGa8RkoyAfF_ZyAe2dPswg9TN7vX3zMW8BS4kZabbW9LCFU7fIFZ3tu6Wo_N9j9gzb8iuERN_OhaHFwkR6qVL/s320/096.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;">17-01-24</div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Another failed kingfisher hunt but a great day out nevertheless, mainly because the sky was cloudless and although REALLY cold outside there was lots to point the camera at.</div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSNxCkkUOOuv19moGUHTTdNz6spqzMSRVCyTj_MB86nVE0BA_bY1PI_uiQ80EHQ1uSEs80QYkgkFQGqbq2IUeAnQjLKwBZeyy09hEtSvgDWTxjNoNXrC9lR5fexYOdM9i5FVFRQ0sXHMe3V4cuxxMv-Swyex7qRgLali1PJMhPbDBIXfAWaXk3EpJiBxh/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSNxCkkUOOuv19moGUHTTdNz6spqzMSRVCyTj_MB86nVE0BA_bY1PI_uiQ80EHQ1uSEs80QYkgkFQGqbq2IUeAnQjLKwBZeyy09hEtSvgDWTxjNoNXrC9lR5fexYOdM9i5FVFRQ0sXHMe3V4cuxxMv-Swyex7qRgLali1PJMhPbDBIXfAWaXk3EpJiBxh/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had seen online photos of the absent Mr KF at Roseburn. I presumed Roseburn although the photo only said Water of Leith. There seems to be an increase in WoL kingfisher photos of late so I packed the bag and jumped on a bus and tram combination to take me to Roseburn (tram stop Murrayfield) and walk downstream from there. Initial results were frustratingly short of kingfisher. The light was fantastic around the Dean Gallery bridge where we've photoed a male kingfisher several times and the colours of reflections and everything was perfect. Just no bird. I walked back and forth the stretch several times. A goosander flew over and splashed down a bit along the river. I went upstream and threw some bread which brought it over as quickly as if it was a dog waiting for a stick to be thrown.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6_YKM18xC1VgnL-FI2y0Yk1-LEwXHyFM_qzHDnG5dt0ia33J0-Hn31Ep8qSUr-a2G8x1yqEr9ZLbNdboZinCHwHzkuPvLaQFw3BY3GL_bWxdaL4mEB3AbXr2Ain6X_IEfgTCZjRl1lufbgCqPcF95BpkkR0RL3fDJN3v4V5LbgoY_16YZjeKFgW-RFuD/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6_YKM18xC1VgnL-FI2y0Yk1-LEwXHyFM_qzHDnG5dt0ia33J0-Hn31Ep8qSUr-a2G8x1yqEr9ZLbNdboZinCHwHzkuPvLaQFw3BY3GL_bWxdaL4mEB3AbXr2Ain6X_IEfgTCZjRl1lufbgCqPcF95BpkkR0RL3fDJN3v4V5LbgoY_16YZjeKFgW-RFuD/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM82F4XXGuR4B4kJEOL76Zf-waC7aqB3wqVUNbUNOpvfhZImVT_IVpvMND9YTCOnIxa5GHg9j8e0QjDjKQ0RwFotD_5HvTKGZIHy553KJqQGpAfyiWEUV39tolnsfDFzsVfDHVi9ZOCGcZUMs50wODX9UkmBp1AF7xJLMiwMHQfsQ5ZyX2HKOoLxQ0H063/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM82F4XXGuR4B4kJEOL76Zf-waC7aqB3wqVUNbUNOpvfhZImVT_IVpvMND9YTCOnIxa5GHg9j8e0QjDjKQ0RwFotD_5HvTKGZIHy553KJqQGpAfyiWEUV39tolnsfDFzsVfDHVi9ZOCGcZUMs50wODX9UkmBp1AF7xJLMiwMHQfsQ5ZyX2HKOoLxQ0H063/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3qiH0k6sc1DBJyYodzR6R2oroMZi1vBKk9FIZI5mj_uoZFjXLPsiaH7AXaWbRbx9t6P6lrAIejlPFkH3ct8FaYMuI_h89O-PiCecXzoCwKIwA43nK0Y7PRBesKpV5p6D5RxGB0BJcCTrXRvg-Etxv9fls9wtTaSgY5ZIEoc-qgkuvkVoagEpuHDWaiuA/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3qiH0k6sc1DBJyYodzR6R2oroMZi1vBKk9FIZI5mj_uoZFjXLPsiaH7AXaWbRbx9t6P6lrAIejlPFkH3ct8FaYMuI_h89O-PiCecXzoCwKIwA43nK0Y7PRBesKpV5p6D5RxGB0BJcCTrXRvg-Etxv9fls9wtTaSgY5ZIEoc-qgkuvkVoagEpuHDWaiuA/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />waiting for a (bread) stick to be thrown</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tdxc8rYphBAUL9nmLI8pprEUCoXmIxoPjpVqS7RwR7MP9MoknPeOn64EddJ63sQEcN5IsO__aAaRUnvh5moF0KJHxfv449gFrDRkETEmPlHQLlamiqhoDeZUDWSO-_IOezeU7sxFV2uMpGlFG1EDlJJmitaBZX0VBsT-D9tLfBegWE1RbkUdP__IO5uA/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tdxc8rYphBAUL9nmLI8pprEUCoXmIxoPjpVqS7RwR7MP9MoknPeOn64EddJ63sQEcN5IsO__aAaRUnvh5moF0KJHxfv449gFrDRkETEmPlHQLlamiqhoDeZUDWSO-_IOezeU7sxFV2uMpGlFG1EDlJJmitaBZX0VBsT-D9tLfBegWE1RbkUdP__IO5uA/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I reflected on this and how goosanders in the Borders have learned to hate humans and fly away from them as quickly as possible because of the persecution: goosanders take fish from the rivers and the fishing industry has decided to eliminate this natural predator. Up here where folk throw bread for the duckies, the goosanders now associate (some) humans as a food source and if you throw stuff near them they will scoot over for a look.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB9Ijf7d41t4Im8i3Jje7ijLRa2pliOji6kpZma8YwOtVBqZKivsfjKty3ndspdBMEmBhUHyUuHU0pSfHOZyY7zqZx53eu-oGKk5bESN6gAnRw8IxLhaTnfWZpyDO8jZee94NTjLWmTYGo2HsItJpfN2WFDncOngIpqE1ZgqPBT7TDr7MfS-w9DvVSU9h/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB9Ijf7d41t4Im8i3Jje7ijLRa2pliOji6kpZma8YwOtVBqZKivsfjKty3ndspdBMEmBhUHyUuHU0pSfHOZyY7zqZx53eu-oGKk5bESN6gAnRw8IxLhaTnfWZpyDO8jZee94NTjLWmTYGo2HsItJpfN2WFDncOngIpqE1ZgqPBT7TDr7MfS-w9DvVSU9h/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are some great reflections on the water on that stretch and I deliberately tossed bread out into the stream at that point in order to take advantage of the colours on the water. Although I do like a goosander - they are very elegant birds and superb swimmers both above and below the waterline.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSTQs1Lf53kxEcezIzbad-NPEFO3QUBWEA15RPbM8rd9nRKUtC8Iw13zctumTCmYdh5oTeyECRW8fnIjizsHk7sIeTb3KXhD6aWotu3pU1ZKMNQfEG4RHptzAcB1yeV-RsvxWyuDxGVdexMWMuqFw1sDmAHzB313IjnimJER_DcDSSRi2HoE5I943nEoh/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSTQs1Lf53kxEcezIzbad-NPEFO3QUBWEA15RPbM8rd9nRKUtC8Iw13zctumTCmYdh5oTeyECRW8fnIjizsHk7sIeTb3KXhD6aWotu3pU1ZKMNQfEG4RHptzAcB1yeV-RsvxWyuDxGVdexMWMuqFw1sDmAHzB313IjnimJER_DcDSSRi2HoE5I943nEoh/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKSypQXfBlFCE_3-90u0vxAvt8LRMUg9HJBUR69iBS3SeCRxbsoDIgTQSG4ltH_pw9PE-y34MijeNNXrp0BzGbwWSO61edIiI2mF9Jg-ZOpTQLMQcReAMoCWVEdWnt3vOJDagHF-917dvjPjGhkklrKUctIuET1rR5cL_LCEDjrYUT0izRwYKr-VGjOG8/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKSypQXfBlFCE_3-90u0vxAvt8LRMUg9HJBUR69iBS3SeCRxbsoDIgTQSG4ltH_pw9PE-y34MijeNNXrp0BzGbwWSO61edIiI2mF9Jg-ZOpTQLMQcReAMoCWVEdWnt3vOJDagHF-917dvjPjGhkklrKUctIuET1rR5cL_LCEDjrYUT0izRwYKr-VGjOG8/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUd_s7NOwycqvp1q0UjQmtqtz9GqSflJTd2m5oK-MumqaD9Me3t-ke8QNPw4Nx8MRtJgnhJSHvzCP6fpJfa6lEf6ZrX264_UiYlEjkdnxvufIpLPS87RDebcC2ll94qJQYA-XTkOhaT2bkzAhOv90USyLi4heXisDrWj0mrHoY_iowbMX4c8mZrMqE2aC/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUd_s7NOwycqvp1q0UjQmtqtz9GqSflJTd2m5oK-MumqaD9Me3t-ke8QNPw4Nx8MRtJgnhJSHvzCP6fpJfa6lEf6ZrX264_UiYlEjkdnxvufIpLPS87RDebcC2ll94qJQYA-XTkOhaT2bkzAhOv90USyLi4heXisDrWj0mrHoY_iowbMX4c8mZrMqE2aC/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirDNSl1p0yoddhlGFzKC4gYVO7UqkAlHDKh-vHgEttYfFo1m5nUgmkoI_WaGlF3UzM7YXpVqr6VNl2Oazxy4jT_rrKC5d2hbiRx71DR0QTTlXEYCeBYG6a3B_LXrj2JPLbubDDRnjjVCu4WiMS0PpMpCJxzbl-PELZPHh-Yd-vDeTN2RNVh9Al4D-8iK5/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirDNSl1p0yoddhlGFzKC4gYVO7UqkAlHDKh-vHgEttYfFo1m5nUgmkoI_WaGlF3UzM7YXpVqr6VNl2Oazxy4jT_rrKC5d2hbiRx71DR0QTTlXEYCeBYG6a3B_LXrj2JPLbubDDRnjjVCu4WiMS0PpMpCJxzbl-PELZPHh-Yd-vDeTN2RNVh9Al4D-8iK5/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I think I gave the kingfisher about 30 minutes to appear. It was very cold for hanging about. I had dressed very warmly with a LOT of layers, 2 pairs of gloves, a buff AND hat and warm socks and shoes. But it was still too cold to just stand and wait for a bird that might not appear all day. And the light would be marvelous elsewhere. Where there would be birds. I began to imagine the Botanics a flutter with all sorts of birds and thought I'd rather be there than here in the absence of any kingfishers, let's go!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyKzkZjBfnSgBJy5NYZhBUV1xiMVs73XDP0Ne-I4UGusvWU_bzhGJrCkzq0JEK6ijf4SvToyUxh6b4BRLHTgji_5PWQFTlUH_HouLJHGORmOK9isJXsceqQM_ZsvHlM9ZArqxPGak6T1If4ESsDF3Jz3T_5XT0xX-5ZW1obmVVjurRyv70FaagaGJ7Ar1/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyKzkZjBfnSgBJy5NYZhBUV1xiMVs73XDP0Ne-I4UGusvWU_bzhGJrCkzq0JEK6ijf4SvToyUxh6b4BRLHTgji_5PWQFTlUH_HouLJHGORmOK9isJXsceqQM_ZsvHlM9ZArqxPGak6T1If4ESsDF3Jz3T_5XT0xX-5ZW1obmVVjurRyv70FaagaGJ7Ar1/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">time to leave Gormley and head downstream</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCsl2bpl22bBy9SfCIa3lMkhOZUjpQiPBtjDqP792nvdQX6q5P0UB9xYYcUNJt4KICHu9MdJO8Um-_LVKO56dDu5Ryda11X0J5Ip3nPnUoyQFY9BJCO3hPp0TFgcONi63bE0I0BggExhOXYCSsMAwx_cxEQAg3uz7o_zKeIpo49kRz8V9oe-oclwtp1IU/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCsl2bpl22bBy9SfCIa3lMkhOZUjpQiPBtjDqP792nvdQX6q5P0UB9xYYcUNJt4KICHu9MdJO8Um-_LVKO56dDu5Ryda11X0J5Ip3nPnUoyQFY9BJCO3hPp0TFgcONi63bE0I0BggExhOXYCSsMAwx_cxEQAg3uz7o_zKeIpo49kRz8V9oe-oclwtp1IU/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hygeia looking great at St Bernard's Well<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Going along the Pizza Express riverside path I thought I'd divert by Inverleith Pond. I suspected the water would be frozen over and it might make for interesting photos. I was glad I did as again the light was amazing and the gulls were looking great standing around dreamily on the ice. I got some bread out quietly as I didn't want to be mobbed by the greedy & noisy black-headed gulls but there was a pied wagtail I hoped to lure near enough for a close up. It was just a singular specimen hopping about the edges of the pond.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV2t6lmF_ZSOzlRQ9W6vxFNrIb0l3nPDbo94kC9NR6e8v_4jUGkXIpjnIEWMMFKwICiQ52GyoawmCKbJAKsXG9Rsb11lFXmMsGmmGZJlAQIy1l_dUYx-8iMGgoHFZ7ssmeYJkXi4ni_fT5r21Kov8j-Igsev041Q86DmUk9uVVOxaDME2CQ91Yn8AHnKM/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV2t6lmF_ZSOzlRQ9W6vxFNrIb0l3nPDbo94kC9NR6e8v_4jUGkXIpjnIEWMMFKwICiQ52GyoawmCKbJAKsXG9Rsb11lFXmMsGmmGZJlAQIy1l_dUYx-8iMGgoHFZ7ssmeYJkXi4ni_fT5r21Kov8j-Igsev041Q86DmUk9uVVOxaDME2CQ91Yn8AHnKM/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7xO6-Hf9RGFbsbryjKkZVTIPhDALsSDW1ASNtJ3CVoJdAmjGJfKA3FOqHIxxd2PpSVEeuNJQfzJBTsmQAcfnZgSqG5k0mAbRnMaS2mHauCm4UFMED9blI-k-ZdvLe_nOlhHGFlW6FZZxFhaQ_c-tuGYt6TRG1aVuCbvgqOEaWG0FgU2s08p-mIv_3Tjr/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7xO6-Hf9RGFbsbryjKkZVTIPhDALsSDW1ASNtJ3CVoJdAmjGJfKA3FOqHIxxd2PpSVEeuNJQfzJBTsmQAcfnZgSqG5k0mAbRnMaS2mHauCm4UFMED9blI-k-ZdvLe_nOlhHGFlW6FZZxFhaQ_c-tuGYt6TRG1aVuCbvgqOEaWG0FgU2s08p-mIv_3Tjr/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBDjNfuT30QnH0JCvjdn62dol0Srnm5wbzjcRXXc0IcRYEtTjJd1GD1YidDfIA1JRMdCoVMkMuhSRzr8KBPe7NpH7nokFeKB3VdGt9IUSIib71F5TyAROfALmwDJd9FOo0MSD_OHQdZIV3_vyLs7RSrmBkhbZdj7AkqxXE-Ghrvwr2xTTnMrSLJ_9mYmq/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBDjNfuT30QnH0JCvjdn62dol0Srnm5wbzjcRXXc0IcRYEtTjJd1GD1YidDfIA1JRMdCoVMkMuhSRzr8KBPe7NpH7nokFeKB3VdGt9IUSIib71F5TyAROfALmwDJd9FOo0MSD_OHQdZIV3_vyLs7RSrmBkhbZdj7AkqxXE-Ghrvwr2xTTnMrSLJ_9mYmq/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">immature gull</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-kVw8ZCFGMx2qsNCYIoTt73Qq9zHb7oFtzlUXH12vGepUAgMY2-pIDaCYAu3z8IFNuxca0zIeJuiBxk56yX4ytRPIepIL-an2EN6UZn91kOju7kWKQPkO_Fut2Uklxczsl0DWltQEVxHmzN1wFs6USfAZ8n25eX38bfyCROd2quBhfQgRgkdQGife9i/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-kVw8ZCFGMx2qsNCYIoTt73Qq9zHb7oFtzlUXH12vGepUAgMY2-pIDaCYAu3z8IFNuxca0zIeJuiBxk56yX4ytRPIepIL-an2EN6UZn91kOju7kWKQPkO_Fut2Uklxczsl0DWltQEVxHmzN1wFs6USfAZ8n25eX38bfyCROd2quBhfQgRgkdQGife9i/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">most of the b-h gulls have lost their darker head markings for Winter</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgIDdHj3hPFvppUzG8cT865DN_NC5bN9vIwEJWvUpLZbZJcoIeLA40oJrXwZZKiGQy67otuGgLUS58lBv26j53MXdVrxPq06YzCbBogXiXxnya3tfKf7mZy9Cp9aI0S_VT5ZK9Nq1pS-3-8A6yxGwj4WSf7mCk1BDA7P8P9ZCaIBnPlAASJQEkyJBb1Co/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgIDdHj3hPFvppUzG8cT865DN_NC5bN9vIwEJWvUpLZbZJcoIeLA40oJrXwZZKiGQy67otuGgLUS58lBv26j53MXdVrxPq06YzCbBogXiXxnya3tfKf7mZy9Cp9aI0S_VT5ZK9Nq1pS-3-8A6yxGwj4WSf7mCk1BDA7P8P9ZCaIBnPlAASJQEkyJBb1Co/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDFklExdoN7tRNWWsbbWe_v5lcvmLRroGw4wT0Etjps81NXWxOExYuJk0_uXfJzfId7frO6C0j7uSIuF5vyq1_kPWbH13GX50L0_Y8oBiBlosJHpSZYU4slDHu_yKiG7-eyi2ezjFibJlgSu17PW4DDl8WBjITWkgyZdntPxn8GWCWmNmaKxQQYsvYFd0/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDFklExdoN7tRNWWsbbWe_v5lcvmLRroGw4wT0Etjps81NXWxOExYuJk0_uXfJzfId7frO6C0j7uSIuF5vyq1_kPWbH13GX50L0_Y8oBiBlosJHpSZYU4slDHu_yKiG7-eyi2ezjFibJlgSu17PW4DDl8WBjITWkgyZdntPxn8GWCWmNmaKxQQYsvYFd0/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one coot was out near the centre of the pond and <br />made a great subject with its striking red eye</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1AcuY6J_gMR1Hf9B13KWe4Vv9l6kBceJ99hdobnRMv_VW-2CYCDtnoh4aTnVm7DNocUPaR5QBIkPIPVAAtv7Z30b-OJ4IZGFn6wpBT8MN6JyU_zR2WUbku9NKrqP3dXZu9NEnuF68RW8jZQH88tacQFx-vPg65miiV-YC8-LBVoQBwDtqA0CNacr9d7c/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1AcuY6J_gMR1Hf9B13KWe4Vv9l6kBceJ99hdobnRMv_VW-2CYCDtnoh4aTnVm7DNocUPaR5QBIkPIPVAAtv7Z30b-OJ4IZGFn6wpBT8MN6JyU_zR2WUbku9NKrqP3dXZu9NEnuF68RW8jZQH88tacQFx-vPg65miiV-YC8-LBVoQBwDtqA0CNacr9d7c/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41ER91C4mjPRCstPqIkL20dVRsOPSxOccyv0pkZZ31isAP708hWHvdyJlhoaBIqy_7WPZEzYOLXW3V-renSRjGgBu6wP8ZZJ1qe_KD7vh_ppASyU24qUM3jZfz_B0K85_27DzHI-D8NxTRE52qr2onSChqJliiVicJNszYtxC6mpU7UrNvHcEve8wAXf3/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41ER91C4mjPRCstPqIkL20dVRsOPSxOccyv0pkZZ31isAP708hWHvdyJlhoaBIqy_7WPZEzYOLXW3V-renSRjGgBu6wP8ZZJ1qe_KD7vh_ppASyU24qUM3jZfz_B0K85_27DzHI-D8NxTRE52qr2onSChqJliiVicJNszYtxC6mpU7UrNvHcEve8wAXf3/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfpso_2I4cMDr69cWZtX-mTeQIBg2A2bfz3lSLrK_alWqjp-Nx_vrNlJk31lIfgTyxBc-KF9lBBg7bOpdAHrYGPE9JIudUogOv7x7SSCib_tvSt2i_YrSdovnqAXeZKNqnXAtuSNCJBod5AGh8_cw5EcW2nt4r5kFN1QWK0bHjUwYrXj8X5_IcmaW7Wd4/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfpso_2I4cMDr69cWZtX-mTeQIBg2A2bfz3lSLrK_alWqjp-Nx_vrNlJk31lIfgTyxBc-KF9lBBg7bOpdAHrYGPE9JIudUogOv7x7SSCib_tvSt2i_YrSdovnqAXeZKNqnXAtuSNCJBod5AGh8_cw5EcW2nt4r5kFN1QWK0bHjUwYrXj8X5_IcmaW7Wd4/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">moorhen</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vUsn3UOFb93wE6QPPgtqFu9tSsVgsf8nHp8cSM11-RUmzEJ1WMdkUM6yEAAk5N9AkXz6uJPFO6iJ_KN8iXX95STnAk06IH1QsCo65J251a5ET1x0-F3R07EHLLi7q19xQ_vH_J29Jtr9Cn2yfCzPfCiPvmjG0f2VH2Bnuxysgk_PFbH8Imm-4LmPrpGG/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vUsn3UOFb93wE6QPPgtqFu9tSsVgsf8nHp8cSM11-RUmzEJ1WMdkUM6yEAAk5N9AkXz6uJPFO6iJ_KN8iXX95STnAk06IH1QsCo65J251a5ET1x0-F3R07EHLLi7q19xQ_vH_J29Jtr9Cn2yfCzPfCiPvmjG0f2VH2Bnuxysgk_PFbH8Imm-4LmPrpGG/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdV4G1Zzpt1y4JQdd2Flig-R7UP5T2VijK36QVjd8clCL_Ptcg4Rdbzf5-AU7T9039yT12ZaJfxlm0BZeq6vKUuhEY9pLrjmXk1s3TMsbBHsb6dcIzJTxt4GJ7ld-O49owP0sEcxihbB7GzL-aogMbUrOEcTjSH9zSkCl3Z7dlLWgE5UNEmiCzT0SlOL9/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdV4G1Zzpt1y4JQdd2Flig-R7UP5T2VijK36QVjd8clCL_Ptcg4Rdbzf5-AU7T9039yT12ZaJfxlm0BZeq6vKUuhEY9pLrjmXk1s3TMsbBHsb6dcIzJTxt4GJ7ld-O49owP0sEcxihbB7GzL-aogMbUrOEcTjSH9zSkCl3Z7dlLWgE5UNEmiCzT0SlOL9/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEi_F-Csn8npBiz2_vInXO2arMjOd15qa1PeBlk_PZayrYOcMB3STlmzSIc2AlxLoGWu2Zm3CbzmTH9orOwn_HkHvXcpCQhH72qWJfbQsdmW0BfEnjYdG4WCO_-W-hxTZDr-AJTvOHO8JpfnpmN7OIT9dgokrKJdr21ILNb1BhzUtTNnKxpqur1ZsGAl4/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEi_F-Csn8npBiz2_vInXO2arMjOd15qa1PeBlk_PZayrYOcMB3STlmzSIc2AlxLoGWu2Zm3CbzmTH9orOwn_HkHvXcpCQhH72qWJfbQsdmW0BfEnjYdG4WCO_-W-hxTZDr-AJTvOHO8JpfnpmN7OIT9dgokrKJdr21ILNb1BhzUtTNnKxpqur1ZsGAl4/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pied wagtail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oBOGrNW2dTrr9yehnc1IPMnWiwsjQ5tX6rl1WJfpPjFMnRG2qdUz9GCcFIq_uBQYp4OaDQJza2wDp9D20oyswRbcP6rT8__6C6gXqY7iqrdIsIpwLCscd1Jlv5XjIgGlHbIxMoP-o11nENrEwI0Nwo2IJxIa5UmOPtDtGDxBKfh3PSMOzOFZi3jKOrOu/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oBOGrNW2dTrr9yehnc1IPMnWiwsjQ5tX6rl1WJfpPjFMnRG2qdUz9GCcFIq_uBQYp4OaDQJza2wDp9D20oyswRbcP6rT8__6C6gXqY7iqrdIsIpwLCscd1Jlv5XjIgGlHbIxMoP-o11nENrEwI0Nwo2IJxIa5UmOPtDtGDxBKfh3PSMOzOFZi3jKOrOu/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQYl85fnwHwn0pk6-1ckdsshT1sB4-TK5ZZMFDK8FFgZqMbampFfe3ds-Cqb2k5KzLwH4crhw5ISoWfea9ODYkzsZ04qn3qqGE5ZdxOEZ-_foVVX_Rwp-wVnR5gshYheTFy1VT392yNHeygnxrCiL7wKImhRFPdGspXXpEQ246N1ZujiSSBVB96X-lAfj/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQYl85fnwHwn0pk6-1ckdsshT1sB4-TK5ZZMFDK8FFgZqMbampFfe3ds-Cqb2k5KzLwH4crhw5ISoWfea9ODYkzsZ04qn3qqGE5ZdxOEZ-_foVVX_Rwp-wVnR5gshYheTFy1VT392yNHeygnxrCiL7wKImhRFPdGspXXpEQ246N1ZujiSSBVB96X-lAfj/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">impression of the Rev Walker on Duddingston loch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5RdhL_8mYgR_8QCHs5ZALCKFt_UV5FkP3ltbmmqxuGz-my6UHqt57mqRMUiPSsjCpf8ovQkn6Y1BNCwHcq6wJoH-BxXmgCxupq4VduoJJ-YPbATufTLu7l7oWG_zuJA631EbqTejVdcYiCevl9nUmE5WxtpByZW1pNOL-M9ZbhE3YkJfVWzOGJc4fTsN/s712/rev.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5RdhL_8mYgR_8QCHs5ZALCKFt_UV5FkP3ltbmmqxuGz-my6UHqt57mqRMUiPSsjCpf8ovQkn6Y1BNCwHcq6wJoH-BxXmgCxupq4VduoJJ-YPbATufTLu7l7oWG_zuJA631EbqTejVdcYiCevl9nUmE5WxtpByZW1pNOL-M9ZbhE3YkJfVWzOGJc4fTsN/s320/rev.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZnukQvf7xnhidblWbL7kv_pfMTz35X1r4LkfqYRj3Y3mII4X4BOp8SConmiFsf-BRgBxDdZXIrAQhmH8XjoLCF-C-ETBDPdSfbHyxcBzKmOOVA6Sw4KPCEtEEyWlL71I33DjavFXsxFsNza8apHS9ZXFm8qdEp1Ojo7cqfBLDV9AtDiT8lR5HiOB6bI2/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZnukQvf7xnhidblWbL7kv_pfMTz35X1r4LkfqYRj3Y3mII4X4BOp8SConmiFsf-BRgBxDdZXIrAQhmH8XjoLCF-C-ETBDPdSfbHyxcBzKmOOVA6Sw4KPCEtEEyWlL71I33DjavFXsxFsNza8apHS9ZXFm8qdEp1Ojo7cqfBLDV9AtDiT8lR5HiOB6bI2/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg7mmRqhrpAT813XjQyFDEKHImp0V0ykt0JGA3mfxvTlrYvzr-jJXWS2zxQskRUKdZfyCoIbvXwu7o-hy96Az_WfCg27L1hU_MmrS7O-DbfwXEjPzERnNykpcT-BJxOTR1dC1gRYgiI_jvoUCHerbHjViNfn7vldmgVea_4WT1SdyWoBwrH2LZPYsBKPK/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg7mmRqhrpAT813XjQyFDEKHImp0V0ykt0JGA3mfxvTlrYvzr-jJXWS2zxQskRUKdZfyCoIbvXwu7o-hy96Az_WfCg27L1hU_MmrS7O-DbfwXEjPzERnNykpcT-BJxOTR1dC1gRYgiI_jvoUCHerbHjViNfn7vldmgVea_4WT1SdyWoBwrH2LZPYsBKPK/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4xctKP3d8_eD8L7WVWuKCf1-nvQnncpACkjwRVdAIH_SyuhfpXpZRO2RAJVYhG7owk1g6aL1gjkmPLpP-CoWghKboEKSS83SYh1_krv85jbCY3YOmEF7B31IZBzlwvE-02FvVGg-kMEo-XMTIA8Af0MjUS6tdirI0CmyVgH_DEZxPIH9ijN_qpee2wxl/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4xctKP3d8_eD8L7WVWuKCf1-nvQnncpACkjwRVdAIH_SyuhfpXpZRO2RAJVYhG7owk1g6aL1gjkmPLpP-CoWghKboEKSS83SYh1_krv85jbCY3YOmEF7B31IZBzlwvE-02FvVGg-kMEo-XMTIA8Af0MjUS6tdirI0CmyVgH_DEZxPIH9ijN_qpee2wxl/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ETKTlDyCPzEeT24RZS7W81kuOm5oQYRO31KIAXN-2bsXj-X_RwDGs-UsD29_z__Mu1OzoagrfJ6xvLNj45PnYA8KLm_otOHcYhtF1f2UBVyw3AmOI1R3ylGjpzaE4XCdi-n29F2AZNU3r4Z9uqnDUinOJ3WnsZVnE5IwI8ComaehbtuWIt6pUU3kK8BT/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ETKTlDyCPzEeT24RZS7W81kuOm5oQYRO31KIAXN-2bsXj-X_RwDGs-UsD29_z__Mu1OzoagrfJ6xvLNj45PnYA8KLm_otOHcYhtF1f2UBVyw3AmOI1R3ylGjpzaE4XCdi-n29F2AZNU3r4Z9uqnDUinOJ3WnsZVnE5IwI8ComaehbtuWIt6pUU3kK8BT/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pk0EquqcaGgL7eUczyJmZr48JA_r4935rJRu_iHqSUUe12RHJVpAHXlAtsw-vDxzu_GToGJRvQ-PBK6cdQGbqBERK3lYcdBvzaQJkxUMyqtcoeN6SmT4st0gb3R3GlXg0S5yX56bkT1m2uciXwaUMKulfgVirL7zV73A_PXu7T-0QPg-U6xGtt5AhcsA/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pk0EquqcaGgL7eUczyJmZr48JA_r4935rJRu_iHqSUUe12RHJVpAHXlAtsw-vDxzu_GToGJRvQ-PBK6cdQGbqBERK3lYcdBvzaQJkxUMyqtcoeN6SmT4st0gb3R3GlXg0S5yX56bkT1m2uciXwaUMKulfgVirL7zV73A_PXu7T-0QPg-U6xGtt5AhcsA/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was most of the way across the park, heading for the Botanics when I remembered to check the holly bushes (still with lots of berries) at the centre statue of the park where there had been a group of redwings feeding. None today. No idea why. They were maybe off at the same conference as the kingfishers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYkTMGkUiqr2BXQ-zCUM-Ym0WsgVuSp-ze9W5Unl8YQW2gxnUVNrgHRAP2FKQ0K6Cc5_CpbdnIT0_80s9mGaSSJGbAhd_4Oju76qGIJii4Im7YGezYwHhgkpDRlxvezbFcpcgEy4ij8CpgpDYwa5WR1ECDpbmZlr8GqMvfr4XNVpdDqQ4JTGGxjUwtsNC/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYkTMGkUiqr2BXQ-zCUM-Ym0WsgVuSp-ze9W5Unl8YQW2gxnUVNrgHRAP2FKQ0K6Cc5_CpbdnIT0_80s9mGaSSJGbAhd_4Oju76qGIJii4Im7YGezYwHhgkpDRlxvezbFcpcgEy4ij8CpgpDYwa5WR1ECDpbmZlr8GqMvfr4XNVpdDqQ4JTGGxjUwtsNC/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had seen photos on Lothian Birdwatch of folk with botanic's robins on their hands and I have to admit to this being one of the main draws. They had been taken at the distinctive red railed bridge beside the Chinese Pond. Sure enough when I got there, there were 2 robins. The first one was not very happy about another moving in on his patch and would chase it about every now and then, the 2 of them flying in tight formation round the pondside bushes. In the past there has been 2 robins occupying this same area, the <i>normal</i> one and <i>the scruffy one</i>. No sign of the <i>catweazle</i> one recently I'm sad to say. Anyway, between battles for territory the 2 robins were very happy to come really close for pieces of bread and seemed very happy to pose for photos as well. The trouble with my new camera is, without changing lenses I can't photograph my own hand (with perched robin.) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXwflBJpqZCzpQO0cnyyJap46vu21O8nreWPGmspqGdtH9B7LQjVdnZRbcceZWecFYhqunesAP5Bj3YvEAEmnHk5k2hwws_I-uQQib3DnwOHZGpIbiO4VwD2I9zspd01zkmMkzMevdfJZKTEc3REW-ygJ9LCt_5XXzfaAac9U64wWSkRpP87haWXXukTI/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXwflBJpqZCzpQO0cnyyJap46vu21O8nreWPGmspqGdtH9B7LQjVdnZRbcceZWecFYhqunesAP5Bj3YvEAEmnHk5k2hwws_I-uQQib3DnwOHZGpIbiO4VwD2I9zspd01zkmMkzMevdfJZKTEc3REW-ygJ9LCt_5XXzfaAac9U64wWSkRpP87haWXXukTI/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgq8dL0WB-GnGIO6S_u-ST6g6n9hdhtR-QrYGcv005ZyDcVLYr6onemYIhh6awmcX1n_-xLNFXEJ0TIueoqmrifieIodybyrpc9Dis6cyk9uym-OFm0DgF6owOS_rOiafFKG9-Jdn5lKcWIXc3tGmNG88OU3OzTXRAkLOytoTwGjjDYTHYYxZCou4_Vdj/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgq8dL0WB-GnGIO6S_u-ST6g6n9hdhtR-QrYGcv005ZyDcVLYr6onemYIhh6awmcX1n_-xLNFXEJ0TIueoqmrifieIodybyrpc9Dis6cyk9uym-OFm0DgF6owOS_rOiafFKG9-Jdn5lKcWIXc3tGmNG88OU3OzTXRAkLOytoTwGjjDYTHYYxZCou4_Vdj/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqRO-HMiI7XfOJ-6VoaQJyO7RctlhlENMsDh8b1OR_yZX6k964xdV8uXYTcCrTFft-RkJlWQVwXiu-DD6WcvT-nxbI3bPRwUBffzGbhnf4pVyjvUoVXoSS0MQDP2oohUgI6ybdHroJstEtW-uZ-afpBIFVg5p4W82AjhT_HTN9-BvPn9RcA9rAi-k0M9H/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqRO-HMiI7XfOJ-6VoaQJyO7RctlhlENMsDh8b1OR_yZX6k964xdV8uXYTcCrTFft-RkJlWQVwXiu-DD6WcvT-nxbI3bPRwUBffzGbhnf4pVyjvUoVXoSS0MQDP2oohUgI6ybdHroJstEtW-uZ-afpBIFVg5p4W82AjhT_HTN9-BvPn9RcA9rAi-k0M9H/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6kMGw4HQ_5lTj5iPJdvOOw-iNequO4qcLEXCxejm_ZSTW5PNGgNJHsnF-jwpnQm4HBhrzhqsEPFa29b6br0ARmZWAWuNa9D-dNRyV4qwA7k2giu_cPuYRdSl-QMBdY2siLzGZhAbMro9l4KDk0Z_4b9bxYBSUX45qZWKG5bscZ9c8Sw-24z-RBXfecSF/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6kMGw4HQ_5lTj5iPJdvOOw-iNequO4qcLEXCxejm_ZSTW5PNGgNJHsnF-jwpnQm4HBhrzhqsEPFa29b6br0ARmZWAWuNa9D-dNRyV4qwA7k2giu_cPuYRdSl-QMBdY2siLzGZhAbMro9l4KDk0Z_4b9bxYBSUX45qZWKG5bscZ9c8Sw-24z-RBXfecSF/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2VMebJyZyvq7WHK1Iv7yV1U_50LujLAzGJ7Y0T18_5Qk1NPL3RjgdgiD6s3B6JNXfELP1Xdwx69dIM7o2_5qayStcLtyjXT1oGzet5pWc33OpmynKNfkpNBoFqxb5Pdi64qwRTH2mTyi-2Q4Kggo64139xf_SOCPqpbEjRA4ys33bQ4oT1-5R_uGbg3K/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2VMebJyZyvq7WHK1Iv7yV1U_50LujLAzGJ7Y0T18_5Qk1NPL3RjgdgiD6s3B6JNXfELP1Xdwx69dIM7o2_5qayStcLtyjXT1oGzet5pWc33OpmynKNfkpNBoFqxb5Pdi64qwRTH2mTyi-2Q4Kggo64139xf_SOCPqpbEjRA4ys33bQ4oT1-5R_uGbg3K/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With most water sources being frozen various animals and birds turned up to the Chinese Pond hoping it would provide a drink. There was a wet bit around the edge where the sun had returned the ice to its original condition, and various birds and a squirrel turned up to have a drink. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt39egdUBkG52_TEdKAEYthtwWniWjq4wBbFK5hhyphenhyphenxYuTJkNNkWDI2xC4P64byMVtwyV416EXy6JkXBujBhDLGosk7o0863x_03HCpie9BkQtgyCTC8aLiUSofpf_iYugsTaaJO8D0J5fNCQHD0DujmA_p-ea_Q1B8f_QbrHQE1Xc2mQ934G4LLo67Sit/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt39egdUBkG52_TEdKAEYthtwWniWjq4wBbFK5hhyphenhyphenxYuTJkNNkWDI2xC4P64byMVtwyV416EXy6JkXBujBhDLGosk7o0863x_03HCpie9BkQtgyCTC8aLiUSofpf_iYugsTaaJO8D0J5fNCQHD0DujmA_p-ea_Q1B8f_QbrHQE1Xc2mQ934G4LLo67Sit/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QxyNCqdeE-06exqzKvccyWG3nDao847g-hYAb-q-i7Kq53zWX0HLc3foZ5DgO1XtDbb5bQDLnD6PcDmoQLj2L7yNaeSSWKWwRmJZ29x-SrZHyOBJjzwxO8cSJE0cQ_0gVExDCJx03t92kPAS34n02ttkASBwq-yrJO2TKOl9wyZueOzf9R_rkBe1S2i0/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QxyNCqdeE-06exqzKvccyWG3nDao847g-hYAb-q-i7Kq53zWX0HLc3foZ5DgO1XtDbb5bQDLnD6PcDmoQLj2L7yNaeSSWKWwRmJZ29x-SrZHyOBJjzwxO8cSJE0cQ_0gVExDCJx03t92kPAS34n02ttkASBwq-yrJO2TKOl9wyZueOzf9R_rkBe1S2i0/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe4XlaC0Q-quyDlKeOO63AqO_LNRE1p6aGItfbNTXbCR-BQeTU3d23vLbVKnWjez9I_OLWv63c80R1NQdVdCTo8fXoqgXadcCRFdjBrQ2fW15DzeNkfSV04-YAYYH8O35xZZhjojLJ5Mv04eYphE57jEzGHjASHsxU_ErzAoj4FIuG5_YVM0Iplei2_t3/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe4XlaC0Q-quyDlKeOO63AqO_LNRE1p6aGItfbNTXbCR-BQeTU3d23vLbVKnWjez9I_OLWv63c80R1NQdVdCTo8fXoqgXadcCRFdjBrQ2fW15DzeNkfSV04-YAYYH8O35xZZhjojLJ5Mv04eYphE57jEzGHjASHsxU_ErzAoj4FIuG5_YVM0Iplei2_t3/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Zr88p9JeZ8CqScbV0rMGseIKonaS9X2ZLCbvztoABfZIxtxbFz537wqWfMZIGLSyO4DYhcGENmSzkvMG3x-uZs4kl33DeZ3KjMWFxzSn3iJ9GB6TBRhaZTuTHYh5VOlWcUIerPXzdBmbQ-k8D9t2LOB93LKJxmERb7iTDaoAPHK3tMoT2szswfXoW5g/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Zr88p9JeZ8CqScbV0rMGseIKonaS9X2ZLCbvztoABfZIxtxbFz537wqWfMZIGLSyO4DYhcGENmSzkvMG3x-uZs4kl33DeZ3KjMWFxzSn3iJ9GB6TBRhaZTuTHYh5VOlWcUIerPXzdBmbQ-k8D9t2LOB93LKJxmERb7iTDaoAPHK3tMoT2szswfXoW5g/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm1hmxxpZ9N4EadjfSLB3OKcFGM172YWjHyugbeKlnDmD_HT0w8my0Xza1CkfPNZ-2_zJM80Uj5yoT1vlW-o6vvWJ-LOh1f_u2OIX8RHxzqbAIzLf9rDN21XYQoZYRYLvXOSMeJpID_tCR8P1i16DWXArB8qRVHkHFxtF9164sxiCf-yJb8Y0MJHKKeez/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm1hmxxpZ9N4EadjfSLB3OKcFGM172YWjHyugbeKlnDmD_HT0w8my0Xza1CkfPNZ-2_zJM80Uj5yoT1vlW-o6vvWJ-LOh1f_u2OIX8RHxzqbAIzLf9rDN21XYQoZYRYLvXOSMeJpID_tCR8P1i16DWXArB8qRVHkHFxtF9164sxiCf-yJb8Y0MJHKKeez/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCDy6cheCx8RcWBJBNebtfeiUv_3WiWG9yQ3swe0lmmweHGt0eDRmqmyUf3JBknqSu2H0OynA9-BSkX3Zumfsr33FzheWqwO3lk-J6m5x6nl5McNQ7oUCA7VmqYPZA9z70ntCevF-4SY7KD3b5b_1sqqDaHoUnXozjpN8ELw9caaCkUEhUGmDK2U4iY31/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCDy6cheCx8RcWBJBNebtfeiUv_3WiWG9yQ3swe0lmmweHGt0eDRmqmyUf3JBknqSu2H0OynA9-BSkX3Zumfsr33FzheWqwO3lk-J6m5x6nl5McNQ7oUCA7VmqYPZA9z70ntCevF-4SY7KD3b5b_1sqqDaHoUnXozjpN8ELw9caaCkUEhUGmDK2U4iY31/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTJUPut6vicicNRk_FBY-XxcdBhl8_NOV8ctWGsf2KKYCOMMPmbSnacIoL_-wG2R9bvbU-JarOcdOLJPsM5IfEK1LbKqXzGfpXUrzfXJG1bLLjUuk2XFejV90Ba74OLydiQ5BAhXCER34R0BgIvhSWNibuXeumpdaUJYYD2fJ8rY4I4sDnU2V13RGQ9V0/s2048/052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTJUPut6vicicNRk_FBY-XxcdBhl8_NOV8ctWGsf2KKYCOMMPmbSnacIoL_-wG2R9bvbU-JarOcdOLJPsM5IfEK1LbKqXzGfpXUrzfXJG1bLLjUuk2XFejV90Ba74OLydiQ5BAhXCER34R0BgIvhSWNibuXeumpdaUJYYD2fJ8rY4I4sDnU2V13RGQ9V0/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile I was busy taking photos of the robin on the railing. I had left little piles of seeds and bread out for it although it seemed to enjoy the attention almost as much as the food. A couple of <i>"birdwatchers but not ornithologists"</i> noticed this going on and were chatting to me when a squirrel came over on the lookout for some food. Without even asking it ran up my leg and helped me get some seeds out the pocket of my backpack. The couple can't have been regulars as they had never seen anything so cheeky. Right enough it is a while since I've seen such a brazen squirrel. As long as it had its nose in the foodbag it was happy to let me stroke it and play with its tail. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDXkiGvaY3ifoJ8ZezqLAA8M7ddWnAa8vBlwfPpQ8Ajvbe0bl5sWAWz_M-ZWktSchC9Irgqe9a35wl4GKPjlG5W-zf6tpok6d1nczR6AjD263mggj4q8-WhF228dPm0LAtt0caIkgmxnfyrAPGbk2v_xCHWUySKcq1fWItHBS1Ofj9kMyRmb5-wRR14tV/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDXkiGvaY3ifoJ8ZezqLAA8M7ddWnAa8vBlwfPpQ8Ajvbe0bl5sWAWz_M-ZWktSchC9Irgqe9a35wl4GKPjlG5W-zf6tpok6d1nczR6AjD263mggj4q8-WhF228dPm0LAtt0caIkgmxnfyrAPGbk2v_xCHWUySKcq1fWItHBS1Ofj9kMyRmb5-wRR14tV/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx-ACr0HmXvEQjfj-TsZyKUFwoSo75-kN3xnePUHqfKqfLKImvfcVEmEc_S5DaXjV10t0L1Qiduwfe_CTVXAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">brazen squirrel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upWAIfO3bMlrLOG0qNjxMr2FEBmpH9RPns1i86o5Jz1fUTNBxMA4Tyna3yb18n7Doc8vY45n_hhcfgRIKsDWM6PFzBA_OqHiUzR_DQPvR0477urQZVdmwO-2gzhmnKfodD1Aaed4riD-aZqG7jBbkTSpSCj5FJWtk2ch10WGJaWdqnPbDJza7CtCzY9N/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upWAIfO3bMlrLOG0qNjxMr2FEBmpH9RPns1i86o5Jz1fUTNBxMA4Tyna3yb18n7Doc8vY45n_hhcfgRIKsDWM6PFzBA_OqHiUzR_DQPvR0477urQZVdmwO-2gzhmnKfodD1Aaed4riD-aZqG7jBbkTSpSCj5FJWtk2ch10WGJaWdqnPbDJza7CtCzY9N/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I noticed this wren coming down to the edge of the pond for water</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh626AZ5LtcUF_niiWLvMHUD4X_uW5QuonHARqVmfDeIvmfZ9EAUI00Pr78MgS8LZEEV_HCMaPcnod9AR47r52AXoZvNV3McNZOTgO6q3ptfigFW5lnE2acLG2flBLls-BwFt49HfoBhBtbZKXF0YEZw1uUCoC7NQo7vMWzj6q-IaiQbVyo8LH878ygVFHA/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh626AZ5LtcUF_niiWLvMHUD4X_uW5QuonHARqVmfDeIvmfZ9EAUI00Pr78MgS8LZEEV_HCMaPcnod9AR47r52AXoZvNV3McNZOTgO6q3ptfigFW5lnE2acLG2flBLls-BwFt49HfoBhBtbZKXF0YEZw1uUCoC7NQo7vMWzj6q-IaiQbVyo8LH878ygVFHA/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmh6reBnKyulk0udh-2mDKLNyhHOLPfsJnYgciHV6PzxgQ5AjyHzbSv8-p-huBjjQiAUu1d4alfGdw3riG7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren sipping iced water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SNOL8aPTVmaiAsh4qKKdW-2oFlNw55dExXt1iNlb0fslc-dNilpqLS5J_0LsnVzynyBmL1NyqCd_8L1fgEEsFF5o7P545tvyHv9hsaHhqiyvL8x9-dLaK0AxArd2lnGV0Jyh8inoXtMb5TOi-8V8seVQC4trf8tOYyfFvMHZkzE58LQaxZuOlUmLisCQ/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SNOL8aPTVmaiAsh4qKKdW-2oFlNw55dExXt1iNlb0fslc-dNilpqLS5J_0LsnVzynyBmL1NyqCd_8L1fgEEsFF5o7P545tvyHv9hsaHhqiyvL8x9-dLaK0AxArd2lnGV0Jyh8inoXtMb5TOi-8V8seVQC4trf8tOYyfFvMHZkzE58LQaxZuOlUmLisCQ/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGawpeJS5SQbO9RWcfXvpFfQlDzJvJECe2TLvLP04v6kHD9YyiPUpIublaPVJ2i9ZIL-tHbhfBPETUvV38QION6mVqVHhDnCvfw-D34ocWQxMoYNkliC3FL3smCD1R5Ha67juprYmvAB6q8Jj26ysFnF0TJgujuyNlcOdo9FGDZ_fF19s_DBcu1W-enP7/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="2048" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGawpeJS5SQbO9RWcfXvpFfQlDzJvJECe2TLvLP04v6kHD9YyiPUpIublaPVJ2i9ZIL-tHbhfBPETUvV38QION6mVqVHhDnCvfw-D34ocWQxMoYNkliC3FL3smCD1R5Ha67juprYmvAB6q8Jj26ysFnF0TJgujuyNlcOdo9FGDZ_fF19s_DBcu1W-enP7/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBVWJeoncmbM8irIaP7cpvQK6GzjuRH0hzqrWxXAtpkcSPtGfG7eSvrLHOBvGjimwHnbQCRz2TZttgsWMtk0hyphenhyphenFbiF8UUwKxeXGmR7QLuRLJOf3xJ0Ql56-MjfVKGKP6MIB-AaGPASt6o0fSRfmwpUkzUM1-VcNkMdf-ipTWKBY_OjsRKtMAWlABPf0Fi/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBVWJeoncmbM8irIaP7cpvQK6GzjuRH0hzqrWxXAtpkcSPtGfG7eSvrLHOBvGjimwHnbQCRz2TZttgsWMtk0hyphenhyphenFbiF8UUwKxeXGmR7QLuRLJOf3xJ0Ql56-MjfVKGKP6MIB-AaGPASt6o0fSRfmwpUkzUM1-VcNkMdf-ipTWKBY_OjsRKtMAWlABPf0Fi/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvtGEKLq-8uBPQv-G6Urn5oGRhWR2gxpqicDM8uvh825CLc5DTleb-V_6QG2PiwTmaNyrBoUNoxC8sgNo6b5ZBG-Df0uw-uUD7NXl7-mIbUwILMPWlNI_utuv8wfDgwysr7FAruYz9B2K4sIM6jRMXA7hZdvWUa1-9lEbUiFBYvhfn91rtSWSUUmCw__Z/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvtGEKLq-8uBPQv-G6Urn5oGRhWR2gxpqicDM8uvh825CLc5DTleb-V_6QG2PiwTmaNyrBoUNoxC8sgNo6b5ZBG-Df0uw-uUD7NXl7-mIbUwILMPWlNI_utuv8wfDgwysr7FAruYz9B2K4sIM6jRMXA7hZdvWUa1-9lEbUiFBYvhfn91rtSWSUUmCw__Z/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LTT</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeS2qVi6H9cG66IyMkcHuvU_fNPoH1QYAaeX2DeE6_aoskEYGTnrqxT39ZpySBfp3B9DUYYPeuIouE7ESyFZ53QZWVCmt94WGttkCivtn3mxcGgiRPhoOCDVAv3OTwvojuglX2TfnyVdMLUVihthTM9nUjbs3qBp_VLS-MLymdcT0pHZtUaI7m3aBY7TH/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeS2qVi6H9cG66IyMkcHuvU_fNPoH1QYAaeX2DeE6_aoskEYGTnrqxT39ZpySBfp3B9DUYYPeuIouE7ESyFZ53QZWVCmt94WGttkCivtn3mxcGgiRPhoOCDVAv3OTwvojuglX2TfnyVdMLUVihthTM9nUjbs3qBp_VLS-MLymdcT0pHZtUaI7m3aBY7TH/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGUoq9M0Ps7a3ve7EacSHHpCE1wvsY6c4rikI3uvStrmhebxjlwGp7QPbJHMHpZc4QV7pv0OAkXujtwEffhrcisorcKR7r4_RKLBzPEzN3hf3XM4VJS1PmGqsowts_j_H3qKbE0ioC17eUcwKiGUsMctHzIYBwCNUyhE-lTHncw47_3FImdo45WHETwHO/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGUoq9M0Ps7a3ve7EacSHHpCE1wvsY6c4rikI3uvStrmhebxjlwGp7QPbJHMHpZc4QV7pv0OAkXujtwEffhrcisorcKR7r4_RKLBzPEzN3hf3XM4VJS1PmGqsowts_j_H3qKbE0ioC17eUcwKiGUsMctHzIYBwCNUyhE-lTHncw47_3FImdo45WHETwHO/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> bullfinch (f)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX4sZmSBRqIhhwkCXJjiJylMz-EBBr8YGzhPpjG6q_rnz5OdmtyrFrNG8tHJfiaR9ts-1DaS1WHiiNcI7pvsE7qRXq5OplcLxnSnnw6MzWs5_mI_COSXP4kkR5iDQqY-bdP0yu8B8irHLGgQqekpHWBd6-g25hDHTbVVRA_lQ9FJP79AU5sO2Gx_lEmgk/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX4sZmSBRqIhhwkCXJjiJylMz-EBBr8YGzhPpjG6q_rnz5OdmtyrFrNG8tHJfiaR9ts-1DaS1WHiiNcI7pvsE7qRXq5OplcLxnSnnw6MzWs5_mI_COSXP4kkR5iDQqY-bdP0yu8B8irHLGgQqekpHWBd6-g25hDHTbVVRA_lQ9FJP79AU5sO2Gx_lEmgk/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzsCu8M6xao09zXlvpKy10h8w3KPx2SxurXLTrhzb0w23RcYd1Qs3fwQrSsgbh_cbXXQTojPcomrucGbH5Rs1wt2crBNfAgDEsyssXIdYm5ShHky7zWfM7kwJ53Bb-xAB-svmK1gLx0-U4s30g-lB82vZicV6Hg2LIx9tLa6V2i4VcYiksNJIYFaLLbzJ/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzsCu8M6xao09zXlvpKy10h8w3KPx2SxurXLTrhzb0w23RcYd1Qs3fwQrSsgbh_cbXXQTojPcomrucGbH5Rs1wt2crBNfAgDEsyssXIdYm5ShHky7zWfM7kwJ53Bb-xAB-svmK1gLx0-U4s30g-lB82vZicV6Hg2LIx9tLa6V2i4VcYiksNJIYFaLLbzJ/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><i>Ken who I saw at the Botanics</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ken and Lucinda<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Really nice to bump into Ken and Lucinda. We stood chatting while a variety of birds came to check out the pond - most looking for drinking water. A lovely way to pass the time. The robins and squirrels are pretty much always there but it was great to see siskins which I haven't seen in ages. And later a redwing crept in hoping to go unnoticed. And bullfinches were in the vicinity too. I think Ken was saying redpolls are spotted regularly, or were, this time last year.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTAGdblHitHMqkoi9ZWT_I3b31U8JJWkoEdTDj0zbUW3ZTeuUy31YG3pzK4zYtZFnK5JWbSGBtAxgwn2dJA8gnaJODXlS1asSrPJY6I7jaa1LiwFi5ocDiA7vYeo_9tBpcjHi4Xs6n7gHyhJNsGDf3aPpqsz9lElyohzdjGE2vRxUhs5CPeSrJ8x6Z1oX/s2048/067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTAGdblHitHMqkoi9ZWT_I3b31U8JJWkoEdTDj0zbUW3ZTeuUy31YG3pzK4zYtZFnK5JWbSGBtAxgwn2dJA8gnaJODXlS1asSrPJY6I7jaa1LiwFi5ocDiA7vYeo_9tBpcjHi4Xs6n7gHyhJNsGDf3aPpqsz9lElyohzdjGE2vRxUhs5CPeSrJ8x6Z1oX/s320/067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR8DCeQcPHId0AJ7VVqYXX27bhpvXpaffPL5-EsQVFcXdrvPzbsObUXjfH0o0Hrka2YzvZ5Le5cYErQRwywJw9-E5-xyLyqEPdrTG_ofzedpd0Rvxajn0PF55zOE9RZ7s8c116sc1F7wPMj1FK3ZxbxbzV5i7wQhwJrDvJbuGUV_6OUQ19UUfYvBPoZtl/s2048/068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR8DCeQcPHId0AJ7VVqYXX27bhpvXpaffPL5-EsQVFcXdrvPzbsObUXjfH0o0Hrka2YzvZ5Le5cYErQRwywJw9-E5-xyLyqEPdrTG_ofzedpd0Rvxajn0PF55zOE9RZ7s8c116sc1F7wPMj1FK3ZxbxbzV5i7wQhwJrDvJbuGUV_6OUQ19UUfYvBPoZtl/s320/068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9Rt02AixbdxBeGzWRkmBOe8gQ01u7ilfK0q-2vdyeMI9BHK_yu0PA43Ba9Vx4U2BdpzYLX5BSxQkFcyN8SyUovdFazngL9RmSTOO1A13R5hLrxQK6vlihdUILylFp2UxTM9sHUKgwR_bjG52ky-33JVOYvEOG6_0LrjhcOjPyLVnvzSBVcaRqtaVPlUs/s2048/069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9Rt02AixbdxBeGzWRkmBOe8gQ01u7ilfK0q-2vdyeMI9BHK_yu0PA43Ba9Vx4U2BdpzYLX5BSxQkFcyN8SyUovdFazngL9RmSTOO1A13R5hLrxQK6vlihdUILylFp2UxTM9sHUKgwR_bjG52ky-33JVOYvEOG6_0LrjhcOjPyLVnvzSBVcaRqtaVPlUs/s320/069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">siskins</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVElujRxFUux8csqhbDzm2uXi0uMlfvT6rMk515bi-cIXXCPBsvYd7NP9Lr_Dz90guHVK2gRiMI2YHkHJUzhGclCZyCOrdTfyfBSG5xatIyH9LoKqh2pEPYkeOdDb441x4yNQVI6gcgO8k7YU_2ha8f8NF8btlY-SFbspfKrtaSalvWOoe67-IQPE0NmaS/s2048/070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVElujRxFUux8csqhbDzm2uXi0uMlfvT6rMk515bi-cIXXCPBsvYd7NP9Lr_Dz90guHVK2gRiMI2YHkHJUzhGclCZyCOrdTfyfBSG5xatIyH9LoKqh2pEPYkeOdDb441x4yNQVI6gcgO8k7YU_2ha8f8NF8btlY-SFbspfKrtaSalvWOoe67-IQPE0NmaS/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxe2g0zuX1qWDLElEOIZqK3NYyJY5xe88SOclchDGOXQ2NObpr2Q5M6HvSYkYOXRQWbUno8T1i3qVcfrEaj0CxdxYWLNJt5UBOhoIwas3E5s20saYTlNlnl7DSjRsxPI__onmqII2XCJAj74Kij3_Prx6WMrqojh4jjZcB-jAqy5HZBgo73YuXSQ2DkuR/s2048/072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxe2g0zuX1qWDLElEOIZqK3NYyJY5xe88SOclchDGOXQ2NObpr2Q5M6HvSYkYOXRQWbUno8T1i3qVcfrEaj0CxdxYWLNJt5UBOhoIwas3E5s20saYTlNlnl7DSjRsxPI__onmqII2XCJAj74Kij3_Prx6WMrqojh4jjZcB-jAqy5HZBgo73YuXSQ2DkuR/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevnlHLCx49EJjO_WTkspkQtjJhF929u-bo-TKCiGQcB0pwld-RXIQZCyUa7dVcWpSShEG2xOZjOhrq-Qv16ieoYXocDwlmIF-6V-PgeQc_vnU8k0GAnx9HrmVFiYng8onF_avsnh-vUPyNDUsOaqjxaGdVQsNu2vmIYXOHAI7BASGTEJBSL0ZoOcFF90I/s2048/073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevnlHLCx49EJjO_WTkspkQtjJhF929u-bo-TKCiGQcB0pwld-RXIQZCyUa7dVcWpSShEG2xOZjOhrq-Qv16ieoYXocDwlmIF-6V-PgeQc_vnU8k0GAnx9HrmVFiYng8onF_avsnh-vUPyNDUsOaqjxaGdVQsNu2vmIYXOHAI7BASGTEJBSL0ZoOcFF90I/s320/073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">redwing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJro3VuOCd-2HExnnwnLL9L4hHf3Qv_pGVLvXGNa7Doakk57CWZPeeII8y2Vau9bhhL4gqVuoEa-cVaZCBMPEUl0r9LhbW0SjTEExMHbq3dt9gGs4vr0bTwwPAzXKJvSKaSgPJJXx5Zr11xBl-U-GNHG1eywmSPIiNJ9EgXqMmc452PLTjlBmp9BGCqgm/s2048/074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJro3VuOCd-2HExnnwnLL9L4hHf3Qv_pGVLvXGNa7Doakk57CWZPeeII8y2Vau9bhhL4gqVuoEa-cVaZCBMPEUl0r9LhbW0SjTEExMHbq3dt9gGs4vr0bTwwPAzXKJvSKaSgPJJXx5Zr11xBl-U-GNHG1eywmSPIiNJ9EgXqMmc452PLTjlBmp9BGCqgm/s320/074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbqa_wrMgfY6aFnoMC9zGvFlGaSlrvhyphenhyphen3Vaw6dYQD7NOivgnEubXRWkOiT101b2jWd0VBZikf8QwKs1xOKpGHzwE6KgFMVk7-HLEs2Ew7CA6I2pcO0hNg8vkcMqGpUv5FNojB5d2vivVXqz2JdPcPOfQ48fhyphenhyphenZJhfIh1RAnvI13WHer5RkAdYClw87kjO/s2048/075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbqa_wrMgfY6aFnoMC9zGvFlGaSlrvhyphenhyphen3Vaw6dYQD7NOivgnEubXRWkOiT101b2jWd0VBZikf8QwKs1xOKpGHzwE6KgFMVk7-HLEs2Ew7CA6I2pcO0hNg8vkcMqGpUv5FNojB5d2vivVXqz2JdPcPOfQ48fhyphenhyphenZJhfIh1RAnvI13WHer5RkAdYClw87kjO/s320/075.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The proximity of this robin - clearly soliciting for a handout - encouraged Ken to get some birdseed out. This answered my conundrum of how to take a photo of the robin on my hand when the long lens won't focus as close as that: use someone else's hand! (I didn't want to change the lens over, for just one or 2 pics of friendly robins and squirrels, although the photo opportunities were so good maybe I should have. Instead I got my phone out and shot some footage and stills of the brazen squirrel.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRDe0Il5w2ZQ31RGlgOKtcGsMKXtC_e7D_YnErFBQrHtxDE1utlySYaKJAx09CeADlTnQ3q3U_2NXNAt6fOL6mYzgI1yVdeXNh9mGUXPvzK0a9MpIXsrEpm-GIfqh-yOBRQ2963O5EaiSbpFCDWfwJK7p3Q41zrpwSrYBZLZ37gnRypPC_CS3JjTk2ryR/s2048/078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRDe0Il5w2ZQ31RGlgOKtcGsMKXtC_e7D_YnErFBQrHtxDE1utlySYaKJAx09CeADlTnQ3q3U_2NXNAt6fOL6mYzgI1yVdeXNh9mGUXPvzK0a9MpIXsrEpm-GIfqh-yOBRQ2963O5EaiSbpFCDWfwJK7p3Q41zrpwSrYBZLZ37gnRypPC_CS3JjTk2ryR/s320/078.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Ken and robin both wearing the same colour of jacket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLtLCQ5oUfESXgK3NBKVJMhIwoe1SBFm91C1cu_GzaeMZBq-J7NP9qDXL4n7_nVqtfRyyb2vekkyRubAWmScKe-kFWbA-tp3v-jMPe4u7XjoiTbr0GOZ4xTf8kPmKwhj1uDUnejT85KH94AGA34vbp6VXsLho1m-hL1Q18rj5Xxd878zavaRRprXkgLDp/s2048/079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLtLCQ5oUfESXgK3NBKVJMhIwoe1SBFm91C1cu_GzaeMZBq-J7NP9qDXL4n7_nVqtfRyyb2vekkyRubAWmScKe-kFWbA-tp3v-jMPe4u7XjoiTbr0GOZ4xTf8kPmKwhj1uDUnejT85KH94AGA34vbp6VXsLho1m-hL1Q18rj5Xxd878zavaRRprXkgLDp/s320/079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ZwZzAh3tcOvA3hAv2v_RqhbBJ7zBXILvjyGZt-1EiXW7pAdV-pP8qyAx_uG_0_SD5Ew_JGystDxaBvye16rilJL1NrGmRLWcTZtX8Ef_k2wkUa9O5GQtEDVxxhNlijpnkqpu_vuANQfguXZ-ZdJFAlg6B_gHBKgA9pAaPpy2RilqSEBo-T6NwMUWhw8/s2048/081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ZwZzAh3tcOvA3hAv2v_RqhbBJ7zBXILvjyGZt-1EiXW7pAdV-pP8qyAx_uG_0_SD5Ew_JGystDxaBvye16rilJL1NrGmRLWcTZtX8Ef_k2wkUa9O5GQtEDVxxhNlijpnkqpu_vuANQfguXZ-ZdJFAlg6B_gHBKgA9pAaPpy2RilqSEBo-T6NwMUWhw8/s320/081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bullfinch (m)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWos1KDzPFBoN6u8FMtHJNt2vZLxS8IKforB6QGuday7U7oG5JrEagVhkSY4XH8PVTKbpPeXk6EzpW4DY4zCHSyYadaBAE3HnQJhezEqZHhuvvkBqk9vCrzfKePoYi2lCOHn-WS7NlpQ21IF9ynO2HWFHKwbeGYfJdtUDlPlmIvUxeaYRM0uh7Huy4taBB/s2048/082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWos1KDzPFBoN6u8FMtHJNt2vZLxS8IKforB6QGuday7U7oG5JrEagVhkSY4XH8PVTKbpPeXk6EzpW4DY4zCHSyYadaBAE3HnQJhezEqZHhuvvkBqk9vCrzfKePoYi2lCOHn-WS7NlpQ21IF9ynO2HWFHKwbeGYfJdtUDlPlmIvUxeaYRM0uh7Huy4taBB/s320/082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuc8whOtJyVhHicnfaes8SDjSpv_moPTS5azak-EMBuKPKLp-_nFxXpMi31M37PjetMOQYbdA4lyPiuMdy8tC5aZVNrOBzoWVSSmWtRtO9jB6-40EmVwRwIZpx-QUdXm6Xb_o2utXLuXhgHjj9g_4hQLJftfwd67lOMIrns0V65w4jnOxUp3AuTJ86vwZ/s2048/083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuc8whOtJyVhHicnfaes8SDjSpv_moPTS5azak-EMBuKPKLp-_nFxXpMi31M37PjetMOQYbdA4lyPiuMdy8tC5aZVNrOBzoWVSSmWtRtO9jB6-40EmVwRwIZpx-QUdXm6Xb_o2utXLuXhgHjj9g_4hQLJftfwd67lOMIrns0V65w4jnOxUp3AuTJ86vwZ/s320/083.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I said au revoir to K&L and headed off. I wanted to go home via Warriston and check how things were there, before the light went. There wasn't that much going on at the cemetery although the crows were very pleased to see me. I dropped off the last of my bird snacks above the crypts where there was some <i>golden hour</i> sunshine. The crow with the healed cut above his right eye (Scarface) sat on a gravestone looking regal. The wonderful light and him being relaxed made for some images I am really pleased with. I hadn't really been excited by the photoshoot at the time and it was only when I got home that I realised they were among the most striking photos of a long day of loads of well-lit images. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmmJ0qW9d2IHM4dIuEN5AuIp57Jy-hDUcO9DKq_1gVsUYFO5HYxdipVrPjEmz-NHmfO2hlNZYNEzwmUwcM0L24cDBEx0yMUN0ajdO3L8d2547y1u4I4HNFamYDvhFrO3XeomHh-fxVsfunnKVpC3XeC3k2e1OuP-YQNGJwBud-qR8UpDz791oxg76CypI/s2048/084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmmJ0qW9d2IHM4dIuEN5AuIp57Jy-hDUcO9DKq_1gVsUYFO5HYxdipVrPjEmz-NHmfO2hlNZYNEzwmUwcM0L24cDBEx0yMUN0ajdO3L8d2547y1u4I4HNFamYDvhFrO3XeomHh-fxVsfunnKVpC3XeC3k2e1OuP-YQNGJwBud-qR8UpDz791oxg76CypI/s320/084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chaffinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1WQSRH1vrE0aLBadZEbLNOQG0eDlvshbrAFPfzCTS0Mea4MsAInqzWV3LcRpQ0VYPOj3V0MkeXB-LC21obpWwzUVHV_EmSSl0N7MUcEBN0XkfvGR8z3hqMn2yERPb5CXoqCPG4BW7px0RpS8yULXbuOTtqkp8Zjcr5kb87dBfSQ_hoq_PfxWUoMN1EeM/s2048/085.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1WQSRH1vrE0aLBadZEbLNOQG0eDlvshbrAFPfzCTS0Mea4MsAInqzWV3LcRpQ0VYPOj3V0MkeXB-LC21obpWwzUVHV_EmSSl0N7MUcEBN0XkfvGR8z3hqMn2yERPb5CXoqCPG4BW7px0RpS8yULXbuOTtqkp8Zjcr5kb87dBfSQ_hoq_PfxWUoMN1EeM/s320/085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMe9Sw0Sj-q67t4fdi0PzDkBVU8h7eqmkUlDjLsykY0UUuILdYkQFZRl6BZ0d1WS4n-NgxxYNQJwP5o1InXxBtI69TNK2aN-fM-5JFfVmZ0HqUQLG0xOk9cZqCjOGGgzjhTOEXmbeWbzIzCrx0VJ6jd0Jjvn79RdZoLHvz6ZkPEiJCTnH-QZFodWwvIGr/s2048/086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMe9Sw0Sj-q67t4fdi0PzDkBVU8h7eqmkUlDjLsykY0UUuILdYkQFZRl6BZ0d1WS4n-NgxxYNQJwP5o1InXxBtI69TNK2aN-fM-5JFfVmZ0HqUQLG0xOk9cZqCjOGGgzjhTOEXmbeWbzIzCrx0VJ6jd0Jjvn79RdZoLHvz6ZkPEiJCTnH-QZFodWwvIGr/s320/086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05gkjdEn25FtdDlz4eKxH-DH50ixxFUM3nFk7LFenGk3moCGwZIlFKE3wAl-cpmNLA7lE6dIgMgRkf3dHEQokn0_VlNJemUcg5VTU5rElhLXqdBYjP3iHplLrShuFAADQJg_RDnPOV2NGE3mvTHNJoHUby-oIL_6CjK0EhwDZgNSq5Jwz08DJ4pF9HjBD/s2048/086a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05gkjdEn25FtdDlz4eKxH-DH50ixxFUM3nFk7LFenGk3moCGwZIlFKE3wAl-cpmNLA7lE6dIgMgRkf3dHEQokn0_VlNJemUcg5VTU5rElhLXqdBYjP3iHplLrShuFAADQJg_RDnPOV2NGE3mvTHNJoHUby-oIL_6CjK0EhwDZgNSq5Jwz08DJ4pF9HjBD/s320/086a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nLGeDc7k7wuEhiQGw3KAVJEzgK1Xx2Xx1wDZp6a1cGa9GazIwtX6vJHe8y4op5czbG0ZxWakW0wogWr_blZ1t8ch9LIbraqJ_EoxXKP2whEfxuUu0QTjV4o-70zc0BmCOw5g0baZyXdgOIZgnsS7vFezIfUymjd0Mdp6b4gsk0OOqC7lDZhX_Y5oTrnf/s2048/086b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nLGeDc7k7wuEhiQGw3KAVJEzgK1Xx2Xx1wDZp6a1cGa9GazIwtX6vJHe8y4op5czbG0ZxWakW0wogWr_blZ1t8ch9LIbraqJ_EoxXKP2whEfxuUu0QTjV4o-70zc0BmCOw5g0baZyXdgOIZgnsS7vFezIfUymjd0Mdp6b4gsk0OOqC7lDZhX_Y5oTrnf/s320/086b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KOod3ZCgDK9MXecZrZowYQuTXvOl-5TbqGdkT7XVb_aTm5z3zc-Vn1twmnaGb-zM9AUofVy9CqWeJHi3_fvJB5CSPNIfot3z-pnravzdXa0TkYMitSg_IGJa22OOu6zuESIE76gi7amYgS5UTwU44eaBrnvFl_J08aoh_K3Iwu_5sw2SDTwWXtVvWM3N/s2048/087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KOod3ZCgDK9MXecZrZowYQuTXvOl-5TbqGdkT7XVb_aTm5z3zc-Vn1twmnaGb-zM9AUofVy9CqWeJHi3_fvJB5CSPNIfot3z-pnravzdXa0TkYMitSg_IGJa22OOu6zuESIE76gi7amYgS5UTwU44eaBrnvFl_J08aoh_K3Iwu_5sw2SDTwWXtVvWM3N/s320/087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">below the crypts crow</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-5vxRjMTzz9kJadUYvLwi-JST8CocCTvzSMO69GORLvGfy-YfWv1MKhnZR1JJEianxQ7MJnn8GtW9tQQ_Lv-vtxd2lMy1RtVUET7h9HNMnla0bkMzIa0WkhfqWKD0kBTmQeyQ_XsQFqS6tO3bAlqZ0Ij6WuWjJlzfhyphenhyphentvXpBUF_u5g1-_aGSuuGt6YoJ/s2048/087a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-5vxRjMTzz9kJadUYvLwi-JST8CocCTvzSMO69GORLvGfy-YfWv1MKhnZR1JJEianxQ7MJnn8GtW9tQQ_Lv-vtxd2lMy1RtVUET7h9HNMnla0bkMzIa0WkhfqWKD0kBTmQeyQ_XsQFqS6tO3bAlqZ0Ij6WuWjJlzfhyphenhyphentvXpBUF_u5g1-_aGSuuGt6YoJ/s320/087a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">above the crypts crow</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfmI9FmLwuNbWy3nRLTRhQEX8gg0-JLZRogkmlg-cRCM4JHv_F6ZQlMxVeXJzXDu6bFm17GtZZxRU9xEg6fkrocHHJR2S_gp6BepIMPlXnbvTvxAVd7j5UzvtBK7t9z7ytVlyg-CYs-20G1D_6M018k1QoQv8dI_qMHN1qAdC-_6j0G_xVqHgjCAPuoU9/s2048/091.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfmI9FmLwuNbWy3nRLTRhQEX8gg0-JLZRogkmlg-cRCM4JHv_F6ZQlMxVeXJzXDu6bFm17GtZZxRU9xEg6fkrocHHJR2S_gp6BepIMPlXnbvTvxAVd7j5UzvtBK7t9z7ytVlyg-CYs-20G1D_6M018k1QoQv8dI_qMHN1qAdC-_6j0G_xVqHgjCAPuoU9/s320/091.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">healed wound above eye<br />(I suspect another crow did this.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYLxz7fTHJq5um_HY2Yqth5vpIOcJI8NswqnIDLrdZ1J4e9jJGjfF1-tp8TIfDICH0KvTEVUuuWUvJVIH4YpCyNPDcbI04PRCTIuIBKjM4J94wlW9XCssGYaVYwjWqzzYSDCkBpHSWgWlxUB2z3Bq6DEsaTpb_MAqLJTqdgwdZ26kRwkui5qwSU-ZajOk/s2048/092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYLxz7fTHJq5um_HY2Yqth5vpIOcJI8NswqnIDLrdZ1J4e9jJGjfF1-tp8TIfDICH0KvTEVUuuWUvJVIH4YpCyNPDcbI04PRCTIuIBKjM4J94wlW9XCssGYaVYwjWqzzYSDCkBpHSWgWlxUB2z3Bq6DEsaTpb_MAqLJTqdgwdZ26kRwkui5qwSU-ZajOk/s320/092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigf6sREIvoi7gHibvT8ZQLTzRbyaBlh3gm43DzOcnbmY0BPFatN3vT_LqQujI7OFQZRJxIe2OS5we1774K41_8lmIVacNp_jin6GdhLGqpeZn5mUENQ4NroGIi4DkX5kDFE0h6sn-SB4WRPR1RZcS67qRrMzNMVdZtvq9vpY8Fe-b4OEplMUYVp3s_YCUz/s2048/093.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigf6sREIvoi7gHibvT8ZQLTzRbyaBlh3gm43DzOcnbmY0BPFatN3vT_LqQujI7OFQZRJxIe2OS5we1774K41_8lmIVacNp_jin6GdhLGqpeZn5mUENQ4NroGIi4DkX5kDFE0h6sn-SB4WRPR1RZcS67qRrMzNMVdZtvq9vpY8Fe-b4OEplMUYVp3s_YCUz/s320/093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw5j1nvHa1mhrwWZtwW48of0qTys8d5l5riX8Z4VIN8IAW4Un7A_hyphenhyphenfvsASFGqTpQh4fDjm0mm4KDTX3su91ZYjbuP-_ETsI5JtHXjKcMpbuY781YOk23CPTknY08FifuzezUH04W2V6q5_SAgbSQVusFGGVvo9Bdmf4w-0Y5H9xex6T3TXonbKLq4vWF/s2048/094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw5j1nvHa1mhrwWZtwW48of0qTys8d5l5riX8Z4VIN8IAW4Un7A_hyphenhyphenfvsASFGqTpQh4fDjm0mm4KDTX3su91ZYjbuP-_ETsI5JtHXjKcMpbuY781YOk23CPTknY08FifuzezUH04W2V6q5_SAgbSQVusFGGVvo9Bdmf4w-0Y5H9xex6T3TXonbKLq4vWF/s320/094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">perfect light on glossy plumage - what could be better?!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDK2NXJHPx6Umz-X9uWX8LONAmNM9E9VKwl8oNJ97FSflNAhCA-LDobdNFVdByfHjabUFSsoxGxbgkp8zUmVhdAkg4_k6NbAZNReBUq2sjLL1jikUbaUnSE7-txZtP8r0ojY41ToYEa865iSQBfVhsRLVTtgoARNDHAZ3RokjRV8LSJm2prBvpSuv8sd7/s2048/096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDK2NXJHPx6Umz-X9uWX8LONAmNM9E9VKwl8oNJ97FSflNAhCA-LDobdNFVdByfHjabUFSsoxGxbgkp8zUmVhdAkg4_k6NbAZNReBUq2sjLL1jikUbaUnSE7-txZtP8r0ojY41ToYEa865iSQBfVhsRLVTtgoARNDHAZ3RokjRV8LSJm2prBvpSuv8sd7/s320/096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The photo above is my favourite close-up of the day. You can tell from the horizontal reflection of the sky on the eye it was taken in this orientation and not artfully rotated in post. I should claim it was all deliberate, but it wasn't. Mr Crow must have suddenly leant forwards making an unusual crop (first rule of crow club, never cut off the beak!) and unusual angle, but the animal auto-focus kept the focus sharply on the eye. However with such a short depth of field it gives a feeling of tension and movement to the rest of the bird's head.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is only when they are lit really well you can tell their eyes are rich red brown not black. It was a great finale to a great day and just shows the benefit of the sun being out. Firstly, lots of birds show themselves, and with a bit of good fortune the photos are much better than usual. (PLUS all that cheering vitamin D.) I really enjoyed a few miles walk around the city and seeing all the wildlife as well as looking at all the images when I got home and choosing the top hundred to tweak and post here. It gives me a sense of purpose and a good way to spend the dull days (writing up the day and editing video etc.) when the sun isn't out, which is more often in January than not. There isn't much going on currently that thrills me, but today was an exception, and a day definitely worth getting out of bed for.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw16xb97ep6Lqq-GgIWPuwlWzwQbmBfgtGd7YeG7mpN0OECQq90GQPMC7zsmD4o7NkyVPPVo4prMZd0VGUpRw5S5O6NKsWbCkbi2fyJam8AlUQ2tZTrXaMv1nf4KSjWqrVwUo3xuF1UQHSs_FBHikMwzfRpkKyhjxjagOvkMa04WaUTJDILwKExdfhLj2/s2048/097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw16xb97ep6Lqq-GgIWPuwlWzwQbmBfgtGd7YeG7mpN0OECQq90GQPMC7zsmD4o7NkyVPPVo4prMZd0VGUpRw5S5O6NKsWbCkbi2fyJam8AlUQ2tZTrXaMv1nf4KSjWqrVwUo3xuF1UQHSs_FBHikMwzfRpkKyhjxjagOvkMa04WaUTJDILwKExdfhLj2/s320/097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHToJ7PMPAfoZlIq8Ml1rS-29-xVwKN25hIz1o6wnCozib9WmdAv2EcsN0X8-5jDw7yS23WrkDIsjD5yu7E5vWshX9JOwQEgnt9ngqfBr0e_p7e4B0SXkPGwgkJAksEV3K6sseU_AnmjRTIQk-OZtyYR2aS9HTlMr2qdcdgBBS__X1x55IH4twgqkBr-W/s2048/098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHToJ7PMPAfoZlIq8Ml1rS-29-xVwKN25hIz1o6wnCozib9WmdAv2EcsN0X8-5jDw7yS23WrkDIsjD5yu7E5vWshX9JOwQEgnt9ngqfBr0e_p7e4B0SXkPGwgkJAksEV3K6sseU_AnmjRTIQk-OZtyYR2aS9HTlMr2qdcdgBBS__X1x55IH4twgqkBr-W/s320/098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjcSWCvHKamIC0Oxi5KnprZS-THfpe5zW_2UV9kCRH45Gqgvwc-MHu11qW0XMkjmh8B86hZhqWApKLC7MR-MKH4MeDbnd3X4psl3cBXo7r1l9Kb_flJieBzMuaucULVZIJiy3BXIWTMIn3DTSn3fbuEiwGbG8lqCt3CfARW1i7QhyphenhyphenmM97ycq1FCyRPVu7/s2048/101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjcSWCvHKamIC0Oxi5KnprZS-THfpe5zW_2UV9kCRH45Gqgvwc-MHu11qW0XMkjmh8B86hZhqWApKLC7MR-MKH4MeDbnd3X4psl3cBXo7r1l9Kb_flJieBzMuaucULVZIJiy3BXIWTMIn3DTSn3fbuEiwGbG8lqCt3CfARW1i7QhyphenhyphenmM97ycq1FCyRPVu7/s320/101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ri4zoUkfKrp4T0JHSL8Rz9mFXFtoT7vt281FsXgKGK7pJu2HsR5ju_gqdFLIQN1LyySbNaBjdxfEnC0GYVZ4-bZh6e16oL17Xr-sVop_q3wv279s98_KZh9OlvCHX8ZOeJ4qORCotZX32xHRwdCh3IkzHurm2f-b5nxVxxZu5XHctCikWmmZJKrHIxMG/s1317/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1317" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ri4zoUkfKrp4T0JHSL8Rz9mFXFtoT7vt281FsXgKGK7pJu2HsR5ju_gqdFLIQN1LyySbNaBjdxfEnC0GYVZ4-bZh6e16oL17Xr-sVop_q3wv279s98_KZh9OlvCHX8ZOeJ4qORCotZX32xHRwdCh3IkzHurm2f-b5nxVxxZu5XHctCikWmmZJKrHIxMG/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">7.5 miles in 4hrs and home for 3.15pm<br />782 photos taken, edited to around 100</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixI5eAt48ywo7OsexHvCd4J93RgbKSj7k8Zc0WGABSNZLr-rtqZi5tWnJFsh4H3FVuYmB_hHdRaiMzRtYA4MpqrrKMsaSHmEkZq4z6yyvLjVmtFwdWIp0BUTfP58Q0SVjRnqWX3HIUqnnIdjNytETF4ucM9d4Q56glzkc1WrKm0l2HSzuf7mxS6ZEHCQDe/s2048/102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixI5eAt48ywo7OsexHvCd4J93RgbKSj7k8Zc0WGABSNZLr-rtqZi5tWnJFsh4H3FVuYmB_hHdRaiMzRtYA4MpqrrKMsaSHmEkZq4z6yyvLjVmtFwdWIp0BUTfP58Q0SVjRnqWX3HIUqnnIdjNytETF4ucM9d4Q56glzkc1WrKm0l2HSzuf7mxS6ZEHCQDe/s320/102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-64320522754424427142024-01-21T09:46:00.000-08:002024-01-21T10:05:20.879-08:00mixed fortunes down the Esk<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE1Sg474RVzZrZvJmihC88X8ksI8ly54J6iulwHN7DdMXO4vOy9JWAa8c4lqLqoqaKMsrvsFyyQ_xHFDDYG7KuxfHW6ge4jLvbuOvpzmHauUapMFI0xxOssubFUNSeErOuPOR9gMtBakCP-vEil546I895pqFSXUMBxhWzaeHGhr_IxoOky26mP0rhDut/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE1Sg474RVzZrZvJmihC88X8ksI8ly54J6iulwHN7DdMXO4vOy9JWAa8c4lqLqoqaKMsrvsFyyQ_xHFDDYG7KuxfHW6ge4jLvbuOvpzmHauUapMFI0xxOssubFUNSeErOuPOR9gMtBakCP-vEil546I895pqFSXUMBxhWzaeHGhr_IxoOky26mP0rhDut/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">15th Jan</div><div style="text-align: left;">The forecast was promising and I had a plan. I had seen a few folk posting photos of a kingfisher from Valleyfield Pond. Where? Just the other side of Penicuik there is a smallish man-made pond about the size of a 25m swimming pool, possibly narrower than that. From google maps and images it looked like if there was one fishing there pond-side it would be well in range of my camera. I got up early, couldn't be bothered doing sandwiches, and caught an early bus (X62) heading out of town. Leith Walk was empty of public transport so I ran the first mile to Chamber St before the X62 appeared. (G9 in protective case in backpack.)</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR4r76YLGCJFrOKmk1Vz_A_E_qktbPu9BFmdguPeOkjfyJazY73e9H7xKkXyoPyL9It2PnKxfTM85N7-jwazfAIVj4KlElx4jiCNHB42aAsxBMNwhPxyQJVstKX32NxiJ2JSt6F3siRFStlR8g_vRRoOT5c6ZEhgr-m-f99bBRd7DWPDKmiVmNTk7Snr-/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR4r76YLGCJFrOKmk1Vz_A_E_qktbPu9BFmdguPeOkjfyJazY73e9H7xKkXyoPyL9It2PnKxfTM85N7-jwazfAIVj4KlElx4jiCNHB42aAsxBMNwhPxyQJVstKX32NxiJ2JSt6F3siRFStlR8g_vRRoOT5c6ZEhgr-m-f99bBRd7DWPDKmiVmNTk7Snr-/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Less than quarter of a mile from the bus stop in Penicuik my great idea bit the dust. The pond was frozen! This was the first day of colder weather and I hadn't considered the pond would be solid ice. I think there might have been a frost free wet hole in the centre but the chances of a kingfisher hanging about were zero. I briefly chatted with Vicky, another foiled photographer carrying a huge lens full frame job, who had been there for an hour waiting in vain. Then set off down the Esk. My plan had been to get some kingfisher pics then head down the Esk as far as I could be bothered, looking for other birds (dippers, wagtails, more kingfishers) then bus home. I was annoyed but optimistic there would be more to see along the way. It is a favourite path for running and one I didn't get to do much because it is on the wrong side of town for easy access. Best make the most of a bad deal.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8NT6P4Ugp-1jd3h3K6qZSFmrJIuZ-e7_8SS_L0ueQbW-KNvb-8AeaU0InD-jk_f9zDVqynCF3vHQOlJI2P-JfQXqvQWctfNujH4mMI52k4lNcdIcpX8vct5kJKNIEd2e6WHG4gTu-LAZWAIwuyhQhKuIlyQzBm4F4jpEO0hy5Z2kL2IJnQIm03bF0Dtz/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8NT6P4Ugp-1jd3h3K6qZSFmrJIuZ-e7_8SS_L0ueQbW-KNvb-8AeaU0InD-jk_f9zDVqynCF3vHQOlJI2P-JfQXqvQWctfNujH4mMI52k4lNcdIcpX8vct5kJKNIEd2e6WHG4gTu-LAZWAIwuyhQhKuIlyQzBm4F4jpEO0hy5Z2kL2IJnQIm03bF0Dtz/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a day for dippers. I saw several at regular intervals; more than I got decent photos. It was bright, sunny weather but the river carves a valley into which the light doesn't always reach. There was reasonable ambient light and I was optimistic that round every corner there MIGHT be an amazing photo. Mostly there wasn't but I was managing a low-footed jog, despite carrying the awfy expensive camera and the scenery was passing quickly. <br /><br />I also carried my iPhone. Not just to text Mary when bored but to get wide shots and scenery without having to swap lenses from the zoom to the 12~60. The next photo below was taken with the 100~400 although I was a long way away from that bridge when I took the photo. Unless the scenery was particularly photogenic I couldn't be arsed getting out the iPhone to snap a pic. Also not being terribly au fait with the workings of the iPhone camera (because I hate mobile phones) I have a habit of taking either 30 photos when meaning to take one plus a backup, or shooting a video clip or series of shots without meaning to. And later in the day I get an email saying your iCloud is nearly full, would you like to rent some storage and pay for it for the rest of your life because you are too lazy to archive and delete your photos? </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OLoS4Oe0OTuu4uV-Wzia4Uruaf-TgfLOBTDZefzvdZgxDA0doFZgON0YgfCx2omq1ap4FS35479YTNXwUMCGMs0WnszVHwkYp-qiUOh1uc9j9zMh9Zaqsy2mJxnrhtFWgMQqnY8OHFjjRRJifjoi8GJCCaumhpxtEEMcam9zMZnBnIHWw1iJ-Rg1A5pA/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OLoS4Oe0OTuu4uV-Wzia4Uruaf-TgfLOBTDZefzvdZgxDA0doFZgON0YgfCx2omq1ap4FS35479YTNXwUMCGMs0WnszVHwkYp-qiUOh1uc9j9zMh9Zaqsy2mJxnrhtFWgMQqnY8OHFjjRRJifjoi8GJCCaumhpxtEEMcam9zMZnBnIHWw1iJ-Rg1A5pA/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long lens scenery</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYRNOZvPoLqmpNxdBMiuQTMP2_wZOTuvt-6NQ1PyguLkbIujLsWzN2UUZVpALgpq1i7kxylSRDxe-hYKVIfbxzJuozKGHl2Pf0KXFtWLKoOqpmP9jRq50X9iz_bhyEldXx0334UJHgWNK7zKxmvRiR7MSZrLxkp_bStXueq9oISZ8sDJ1Z7xbAnfwLs_G/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYRNOZvPoLqmpNxdBMiuQTMP2_wZOTuvt-6NQ1PyguLkbIujLsWzN2UUZVpALgpq1i7kxylSRDxe-hYKVIfbxzJuozKGHl2Pf0KXFtWLKoOqpmP9jRq50X9iz_bhyEldXx0334UJHgWNK7zKxmvRiR7MSZrLxkp_bStXueq9oISZ8sDJ1Z7xbAnfwLs_G/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">All along the riverside trails I would allow myself to get distracted. I have run here enough to know there are a few corners and places off the beaten track worth a wander and poke around before rejoining the main path. Being a Monday there were only a few dogwalkers and East European girls pushing prams with a dog in tow, and talking in East European. Otherwise I had a lot of the place to myself. One diversion led me to a corner of river away from the main trails which was beautifully lit and would have been the ideal spot for a kingfisher to sit on a low branch over the water checking for fish. But nothing. Not even a dipper. Curses. It was a perfect spot. Where is the nature for fucks sake?! Round the next corner a huge heron stood on a branch exactly as I imagined the kingfishers might. We eyed each other suspiciously.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHet777-LVC1YRGr4xNZ8RfTRU14WZ4u2lZaVoQPwE0NZgwlvmxRSyXyOSxRtK4u4Ta7kXgnNvBW-WE3EYvAhiZuRrrbtxQik8LR-qqW8iGTePcUo8iVtIkuekdY0dF3w1sulAJqP7YFET8Yj5cRLuqiLufwkAo-_Q0B1cbl5UGjneT-QnCA7fWu33Dc9w/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHet777-LVC1YRGr4xNZ8RfTRU14WZ4u2lZaVoQPwE0NZgwlvmxRSyXyOSxRtK4u4Ta7kXgnNvBW-WE3EYvAhiZuRrrbtxQik8LR-qqW8iGTePcUo8iVtIkuekdY0dF3w1sulAJqP7YFET8Yj5cRLuqiLufwkAo-_Q0B1cbl5UGjneT-QnCA7fWu33Dc9w/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonScpg_biBMSnsnbc0fnFT2ZNha8B2bkMdMC4mmUqZQ3d1fedeggrFfRw_y6oINQjE61coXeZEWWsttn-S_6-nOq63aF3cSaWtvbbUwJ3Y50HPah9HWAqmdQA7lCg-luSwhA_XwBNGtqKMYObLfh8ucZvyoOQhi2wb8giPMrkNfzqQFMopBDWEGuEN3Ix/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonScpg_biBMSnsnbc0fnFT2ZNha8B2bkMdMC4mmUqZQ3d1fedeggrFfRw_y6oINQjE61coXeZEWWsttn-S_6-nOq63aF3cSaWtvbbUwJ3Y50HPah9HWAqmdQA7lCg-luSwhA_XwBNGtqKMYObLfh8ucZvyoOQhi2wb8giPMrkNfzqQFMopBDWEGuEN3Ix/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more dipper action<br />proud to say I kept dry feet all day!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAr6BE9blvWiIvPCYxuXr4-4PF2AiXnv8b1GPWUFrv7280essMhhMdYvmc8lTAmBjU4ltLeKr6vQt4Kzmi32TuneUpSvTvh_rKF6MNW7Mq_r4cPdVr7teeKOdd-T4LaJv5dOc19aIHTSXLxf9Llonh_Nddyhc_gicUbFtIVxKafBpyrh9JKQMqBU3Bo6R/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAr6BE9blvWiIvPCYxuXr4-4PF2AiXnv8b1GPWUFrv7280essMhhMdYvmc8lTAmBjU4ltLeKr6vQt4Kzmi32TuneUpSvTvh_rKF6MNW7Mq_r4cPdVr7teeKOdd-T4LaJv5dOc19aIHTSXLxf9Llonh_Nddyhc_gicUbFtIVxKafBpyrh9JKQMqBU3Bo6R/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMd1rL19I9ke8OU2Xz6sNYXbo_slAqdO-fHRWmEc12XXW1JU7Tst1LSL3Ino6-n5a-ea4J-K91RxuUnX4wp6wyaRSUTe98ur05tgumdBmNS_1wwBn4_7qki5_LV9RIZUCuJzd5rVUrbbANfKtBCIoCB4AA1fmpVYdGzNszdsu30DixQ_ID0-vxczkbNd2/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMd1rL19I9ke8OU2Xz6sNYXbo_slAqdO-fHRWmEc12XXW1JU7Tst1LSL3Ino6-n5a-ea4J-K91RxuUnX4wp6wyaRSUTe98ur05tgumdBmNS_1wwBn4_7qki5_LV9RIZUCuJzd5rVUrbbANfKtBCIoCB4AA1fmpVYdGzNszdsu30DixQ_ID0-vxczkbNd2/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EC_hobXDVcK6XGZHXRXl7dcGmZ-cs4NZiINQR4I33NF9nxzCwqw312Dlyp2klX3f_rtHrSwXtXesguh0kIcbWABhnjuivJ0We5pb_VHBPCfRviUmgfsyCZx3oawQyRx00t7EdUFuzfYJsxdYVJXYpZ1RSBCds2ZInwocSsDK78fFjvqNInEWkCiiQieP/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EC_hobXDVcK6XGZHXRXl7dcGmZ-cs4NZiINQR4I33NF9nxzCwqw312Dlyp2klX3f_rtHrSwXtXesguh0kIcbWABhnjuivJ0We5pb_VHBPCfRviUmgfsyCZx3oawQyRx00t7EdUFuzfYJsxdYVJXYpZ1RSBCds2ZInwocSsDK78fFjvqNInEWkCiiQieP/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on long straight stretches <br />I could photo the scenery with the long lens at 100mm</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7SwV2e0Iv4NQAOfvx2ZVTrAncKrkUeVl4YgM_5AW0oUN9MGkiIVDiOcdritJmA9JkQhCAf4PEQeL9Z9EqiLh7cWLoVrhPWD2gE3wGdbqenQ6JHLNCrYSuJGF9eGIvBzwA84_2s8EQVnLdMIBn4N3bE6zwYoMhBrYPLQoFGwfaLTmbOCv33ZB-1Jcqoxn/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7SwV2e0Iv4NQAOfvx2ZVTrAncKrkUeVl4YgM_5AW0oUN9MGkiIVDiOcdritJmA9JkQhCAf4PEQeL9Z9EqiLh7cWLoVrhPWD2gE3wGdbqenQ6JHLNCrYSuJGF9eGIvBzwA84_2s8EQVnLdMIBn4N3bE6zwYoMhBrYPLQoFGwfaLTmbOCv33ZB-1Jcqoxn/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was a couple of miles of pleasant enough going on lonely cyclepaths but with zero wildlife from there, to where the Dalkeith path turns off to Roslyn Glen. I had spent a mile walking behind a woman. She was doing a decent pace but I wanted to go just a little faster. It might seem creepy to slowly catch up and overtake so I held back; taking photos of f-all. Eventually I got too bored and marched onwards, being overtly cheerful as I caught up. "Lovely day!" etc. She agreed and said that was all to change tomorrow. Right enough the forecast was snowstorms for Tuesday and doom and gloom. (Edinburgh seemed to miss the worst of it.) Better make the most of this decent spell of crisp clear weather. High pressure indeed. <br /><br />I also overhauled a bloke walking a dog (I was jogging again) and then took the turn off to Roslyn Glen. After the descent to the river there is a slightly magical feeling in the valley. The high sided cliffs on one side and walls of ancient ruins on the other. Sure enough I caught sight of a distant kingfisher flashing turquoise, low along the river before flying to a perch. It kept an eye on me although was trying to move upstream past me. It changed perch to right across the river from me but hid deep in riverside branch and foliage. Another shimmering flash of colour announced it was travelling upstream and I retraced steps fighting through branches and sticks to get close to a vantage point. No further photos were taken despite haunting the area for 10 minutes.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GC3043PqsvgwrwPi2lJNZI1Z0sgjXudwQCeOSijc1DnEJXcpP-LacgecrJIJ5EtBc_eEbE8yaIgLfh7mnLCcvswIr8u4ZhmDgRwUfTGMYPhUtbTE-d_d7SwmEPyuVdxqUMQURwfRpNxmRn36Ckcgu-NywxazLt5CSgC8uMiSFx2td9Kt1lOzY_MDuaJf/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GC3043PqsvgwrwPi2lJNZI1Z0sgjXudwQCeOSijc1DnEJXcpP-LacgecrJIJ5EtBc_eEbE8yaIgLfh7mnLCcvswIr8u4ZhmDgRwUfTGMYPhUtbTE-d_d7SwmEPyuVdxqUMQURwfRpNxmRn36Ckcgu-NywxazLt5CSgC8uMiSFx2td9Kt1lOzY_MDuaJf/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mrVimRzw3aBISnkqFGXkR39PRBdsNKPKNhy6fw9DI8t27NmWS26pwHaIkUFsADICdbqvnLlHVqBAZF7Cr3TWjwFpo427K_C10cy9ps-7ylfsssN6rdd2B7yQ8-mklUjfraqQYRp8KVW-KVPbT_ramqL12vyK9cjdaCm5Sq6YUPFeG1PzZRVT-urK2E4A/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mrVimRzw3aBISnkqFGXkR39PRBdsNKPKNhy6fw9DI8t27NmWS26pwHaIkUFsADICdbqvnLlHVqBAZF7Cr3TWjwFpo427K_C10cy9ps-7ylfsssN6rdd2B7yQ8-mklUjfraqQYRp8KVW-KVPbT_ramqL12vyK9cjdaCm5Sq6YUPFeG1PzZRVT-urK2E4A/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN4TMt6NIdIOF9s8ywQVHKbcFOjJ3QSVcOv0nbL93Evr8CpkIxqWtHBGfjBapSIOrUZFbwdc_O4pLoA3u-RrxHFB4p39z3_0DCh0Fnx3PhH3BqnGFjzxTM0S9QmuMrjLxiFoxd7UaOPKAA9DnZp-cjBdWaTR3RRujxzZJWMT__HiOLWuMhlwQh0yuYw4M/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN4TMt6NIdIOF9s8ywQVHKbcFOjJ3QSVcOv0nbL93Evr8CpkIxqWtHBGfjBapSIOrUZFbwdc_O4pLoA3u-RrxHFB4p39z3_0DCh0Fnx3PhH3BqnGFjzxTM0S9QmuMrjLxiFoxd7UaOPKAA9DnZp-cjBdWaTR3RRujxzZJWMT__HiOLWuMhlwQh0yuYw4M/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A bit further on and there is a narrow dirt path, almost invisible, that climbs steeply up the wooded valley between the trees. The sunlight and bird calls lured me up. I wondered if this was advisable as there were plenty mud and leaf litter slides available and I was carrying a few months wages of camera. Fortune favours the bold. I was hoping for jays and sparrowhawks. I got not one usable photo of the bullfinches that flitted through and the same amount of shots of a couple of bluetits that also took the michael. Ten minutes later I clambered back down to the main path. At least I hadn't fallen and broken anything. A little further on I looked for a grey wagtail I had followed last time here and to my surprise found it, or one like it, before crossing the bridge. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RDBaQq7aLUFJSWRzDGp3PnU8gTgo3nDO6UWwMqkNxQx1QG5kc_3HjwFsDRlQBoPW2BZao0DVtUmsFFy9PSw7S0RApvZuU8oGSqszxPxxDTOHQaiFiZwAc-4yfmi2-WUmHBdGiLQ7a5EOn1cSuxRYEyzSKcQKRlu1uLIb8eCfKNknP4Ye_zn9nbh3p5IS/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RDBaQq7aLUFJSWRzDGp3PnU8gTgo3nDO6UWwMqkNxQx1QG5kc_3HjwFsDRlQBoPW2BZao0DVtUmsFFy9PSw7S0RApvZuU8oGSqszxPxxDTOHQaiFiZwAc-4yfmi2-WUmHBdGiLQ7a5EOn1cSuxRYEyzSKcQKRlu1uLIb8eCfKNknP4Ye_zn9nbh3p5IS/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrCD8dG8r-kn2MrBAaL6V81GNKLIP6ORBCSsREITw-ZJUJxqz1VCHik6bvHjmGeULeZ8y-upsiaRO6td-eNLQPrngeUlDxR0hTmSftlpwUN4dJ-MUYEQUiNKTjeD4d9M1DkKKYRqyOP3NOQemgelnuBxGJXKfTGlBOeu_I0jTGJWf-Q2xzis-m4TIn-Qv/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrCD8dG8r-kn2MrBAaL6V81GNKLIP6ORBCSsREITw-ZJUJxqz1VCHik6bvHjmGeULeZ8y-upsiaRO6td-eNLQPrngeUlDxR0hTmSftlpwUN4dJ-MUYEQUiNKTjeD4d9M1DkKKYRqyOP3NOQemgelnuBxGJXKfTGlBOeu_I0jTGJWf-Q2xzis-m4TIn-Qv/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">icy frostickles</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizqpw2TYaVCYVKFnsmNkKcZqW3I4Hl_rGphOnvgzPb5tZYEMPPe7XOWThJ13n77jPW_h1mCquYkC3rgCTYww6CS-1iJnKCPiDBtWF_LNS5J08SDpvSxBeZ-OSREOgIJiVgEblX8RWBf6NQ0ZhpALYsibFNnPJstmzZSNSzjV84UzNc1n07vVsU151YMmR/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizqpw2TYaVCYVKFnsmNkKcZqW3I4Hl_rGphOnvgzPb5tZYEMPPe7XOWThJ13n77jPW_h1mCquYkC3rgCTYww6CS-1iJnKCPiDBtWF_LNS5J08SDpvSxBeZ-OSREOgIJiVgEblX8RWBf6NQ0ZhpALYsibFNnPJstmzZSNSzjV84UzNc1n07vVsU151YMmR/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next section was prone to mud and sploshy trails so I was glad to find them mostly frozen solid. There are some planks laid across the worst parts but they were almost unnecessary today. A robin, curious to see who was coming through his domain sat very close to path. While I was taking his photo a something shot past; a very small something. I suspected goldcrest as it was up in the trees rather than down in the leaf litter (wren-like.) I immediately ghosted the robin in favour of the tree-something which moved every time the camera lens got to within 10 degrees of it. Out of 25 shots taken one is passable. It wasn't trying to be difficult, it could have easily flown off instead of checking out one tree after another right beside me. It is just when they are busy they are double busy and move in fast-forward from perch to branch more quickly than the eye can follow.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_I6AnPkiq300elE1EIfr88XMYbQOpE1VxdZPvQ8tLFw_NUhiaiDqMxgRwTpmk5GUZQaKjIqZOybdqv73WgXGQnRJRVOxfBKU9qu6HrXo_Tpj8Q27jVfESwuHMpQFieF4zavwnzohiXot82DxV4umvTqprANnpMemHGAB2iG_cVY0c0uESgeqJAIYJ_hf/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_I6AnPkiq300elE1EIfr88XMYbQOpE1VxdZPvQ8tLFw_NUhiaiDqMxgRwTpmk5GUZQaKjIqZOybdqv73WgXGQnRJRVOxfBKU9qu6HrXo_Tpj8Q27jVfESwuHMpQFieF4zavwnzohiXot82DxV4umvTqprANnpMemHGAB2iG_cVY0c0uESgeqJAIYJ_hf/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEumaU3KHvGshjPwbY1xgxk8nS6OHYkzpyOMT_k8GCKgEKa0Kv0fJJUF1FAMbMP6RYntQjxzcBPWrf2okRTXfOFfT_QKaSVoJwlzrtPuACWaX4ZiZo-xffIG45Xd6hezpL6zHWDCyMFPGpNCJr64Gzi6o0Nqo3YLc8YqNd9ACKFnZApRp10JliqJGMjE8M/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEumaU3KHvGshjPwbY1xgxk8nS6OHYkzpyOMT_k8GCKgEKa0Kv0fJJUF1FAMbMP6RYntQjxzcBPWrf2okRTXfOFfT_QKaSVoJwlzrtPuACWaX4ZiZo-xffIG45Xd6hezpL6zHWDCyMFPGpNCJr64Gzi6o0Nqo3YLc8YqNd9ACKFnZApRp10JliqJGMjE8M/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fleeting glimpse of a goldcrest</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Se_Zxui2uSpavyyD_bIzJRPQb8CJxlBfH6GgPZ40mHpLQNs5jXj8q298CAChHslDdet-2R95VCUmW4CPrQCGUHfUTLAMNu_0Ox6LH-RnglgohVVNNCtr8JQuTKuIO82HAUqYwYhIxPDE7nJo6R9uZFR-CFIp9zrFjwAD1Dz9DRX7mFG4Ik84bH5tJ77/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Se_Zxui2uSpavyyD_bIzJRPQb8CJxlBfH6GgPZ40mHpLQNs5jXj8q298CAChHslDdet-2R95VCUmW4CPrQCGUHfUTLAMNu_0Ox6LH-RnglgohVVNNCtr8JQuTKuIO82HAUqYwYhIxPDE7nJo6R9uZFR-CFIp9zrFjwAD1Dz9DRX7mFG4Ik84bH5tJ77/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next section has a special place in my heart and brain as there were a couple of early season commas recorded here. (Blog <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2023/04/duck.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) In fact they may have been the first butterflies of 2023 back on the 27th March, as I can't find any earlier butterflies blogged last year. So I was keeping my eyes open, not for lepidoptera but for birds. I saw something brown and weird looking and when I lifted the camera and zoomed in it turned out to be the wrong end of a roe deer. I tried to move into a better position by climbing up the slope a bit but it quickly saw me and moved on.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2Fxvo3vKM4CHzWBfzP7A4FAD7YDzE5Mfhn-6MiKcxSqu0Bc2kTwoAW3G6RYXFljUNJpT7x6GYr6RMbbtVCS_u5eeyqlxo0EzSV6H3-WrylFq9R9khFMyCM_V8m0dbrBxo3kn7GZ7b8D-U6SIRAsVyYK-sJl3TeXMIyPkJtqBr6Ibwo1T1k_izc7Bamj1/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2Fxvo3vKM4CHzWBfzP7A4FAD7YDzE5Mfhn-6MiKcxSqu0Bc2kTwoAW3G6RYXFljUNJpT7x6GYr6RMbbtVCS_u5eeyqlxo0EzSV6H3-WrylFq9R9khFMyCM_V8m0dbrBxo3kn7GZ7b8D-U6SIRAsVyYK-sJl3TeXMIyPkJtqBr6Ibwo1T1k_izc7Bamj1/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A short while later, going up an incline there was a small path off to the left. I have no idea what encouraged me to follow it, just an instinct it might be a good area worth a bit of a look around. About 20 yards later I saw a deer up ahead. Like REALLY close. And stranger yet, it hadn't seen me. I crept forward in super stealth mode expecting it to hoof it at maximum velocity any second. However it took a look about, then lowered its head and continued grazing. I got slightly closer then stopped as I was only about 8 yards away, maybe closer. This was way closer than deer allow and I expected to be rumbled any second. I hurriedly shot loads of photos and video. I became aware there were 2 adults a few yards further away which might account for this youngster not being more cautious. If mum and dad aren't spooked then there is nothing to fear?</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTZ-_5keHahLxD7umY7tQ1CBH3twK2QnlJNcCexTvEjtuHLI5JpO-O4MgUnQaROo7pDhnLfNqlsUIUFSJlUGl5MwNENL0PQaDOsxPRFW6uqzJrQkt7kf_8ivd9C-85NuUIRsJzm5BKeEdK9kuPzf8xN2rXZSKjFby0r3Ekhd5AIceXNNl3qUX5vqLbZ80/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTZ-_5keHahLxD7umY7tQ1CBH3twK2QnlJNcCexTvEjtuHLI5JpO-O4MgUnQaROo7pDhnLfNqlsUIUFSJlUGl5MwNENL0PQaDOsxPRFW6uqzJrQkt7kf_8ivd9C-85NuUIRsJzm5BKeEdK9kuPzf8xN2rXZSKjFby0r3Ekhd5AIceXNNl3qUX5vqLbZ80/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxdkXgPtKZzRya12UdtGUgMF-RKMN07qlNZW2ly4NyAtiTesQqtuvuRuT0pfR0P0wY3qaBhWsY3GZy8_f7-fBa5dJZz2u4aVfy6cPc-hnG0nkBGx6j1O24H02-1-ZASe6B_eZctUL5PI6JxBET_SpeUB_zmdPT8BOpVZT_zU1GLlApHL9lF4azbLvPazI/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxdkXgPtKZzRya12UdtGUgMF-RKMN07qlNZW2ly4NyAtiTesQqtuvuRuT0pfR0P0wY3qaBhWsY3GZy8_f7-fBa5dJZz2u4aVfy6cPc-hnG0nkBGx6j1O24H02-1-ZASe6B_eZctUL5PI6JxBET_SpeUB_zmdPT8BOpVZT_zU1GLlApHL9lF4azbLvPazI/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSDNfp_1aRI-LW99LFEf9Z7FRskWMiRcyqAiHRteEc0WzOoLADIDxvhyphenhyphenjMS_Ao7EaJaMNWIbxGE5ef8JsLt1uf8XYxCsE1kQSNcXneDnSbKe5glBFuflihj5DfPdgtVNllO2Z1yW5QrRyRprIrKL-LhquNwZrk-4ZmoVR1ja8DPPnP-g1CWvshIBSoOhP/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSDNfp_1aRI-LW99LFEf9Z7FRskWMiRcyqAiHRteEc0WzOoLADIDxvhyphenhyphenjMS_Ao7EaJaMNWIbxGE5ef8JsLt1uf8XYxCsE1kQSNcXneDnSbKe5glBFuflihj5DfPdgtVNllO2Z1yW5QrRyRprIrKL-LhquNwZrk-4ZmoVR1ja8DPPnP-g1CWvshIBSoOhP/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I could not believe my luck. I have never been so close to wild deer. I kept taking pics. The youngster looked about and looked right at me. I was among trees and maybe that broke up my outline and it didn't realise I was a human. Having taken more photos than I could possibly need I said hello. And gave a 2 note whistle, expecting to prompt a stampede. Nothing! An ear twitched in my direction but all three animals were unmoved. After a while they casually walked off into the woods and I felt as if I was coming round from a dream. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljTRn0fA78v0SbBSrgGxop1UGcA5SB26c4SQA1RqLHTv_B_emB4SKYv3A6ahPBzYDGjypuqWUhWQnON8RDsXncAsZytYbmcq_ElcHK818KVP1LsCp74FG5GNJuebmy4XarGgipJMgeS_fCamsUDEIVpxErHRiWUpKS08nvb2K-y03x71p32jeE2G9ynXu/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljTRn0fA78v0SbBSrgGxop1UGcA5SB26c4SQA1RqLHTv_B_emB4SKYv3A6ahPBzYDGjypuqWUhWQnON8RDsXncAsZytYbmcq_ElcHK818KVP1LsCp74FG5GNJuebmy4XarGgipJMgeS_fCamsUDEIVpxErHRiWUpKS08nvb2K-y03x71p32jeE2G9ynXu/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnUMy3czMsV_MDF8GMbdztEEqcrI0mY918A1ZARGveG7SeJonVOOwS8xYIK73qm2QhLiGaNAlHKfKQYZrBHx9LAd-m3D5wJcRu00ZZn8ep6RrmrkiMza7tn0bRVx2dqedfs-RPmNTDKNCeBW_oRrIYywMyWUq9V7DwXcYniCxnmnfMI4ThCjh9L97YPsd/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnUMy3czMsV_MDF8GMbdztEEqcrI0mY918A1ZARGveG7SeJonVOOwS8xYIK73qm2QhLiGaNAlHKfKQYZrBHx9LAd-m3D5wJcRu00ZZn8ep6RrmrkiMza7tn0bRVx2dqedfs-RPmNTDKNCeBW_oRrIYywMyWUq9V7DwXcYniCxnmnfMI4ThCjh9L97YPsd/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bye then!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjtiAznn_5wkZX2ukH300AV-u_hCLXs2CrQ4AgLMPPdkPfAkNq2Hz9Sp7Nmonj8DagKGEG66DWJpDT1cheGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />stand still, deer<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I spent the next 30 minutes with that frisson of excitement and buzz when you've been close to something really special. I was even more pleased when a small party of bullfinchers, a couple of females and at least one male, landed in trees close by. I had heard a few whistling earlier in Roslyn Glen but failed to get close enough for photos. These very obligingly came and sat in a tree next door. I failed to get any photo but when they moved it was to another nearby tree and I humped over the tussocky grass giving chase at a jog. A couple of trees later and they let me catch up and I got the photos that had eluded me earlier. Not particularly close up but the new camera lets me crop down a bright image without much loss of quality.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgB2T8Kw-e4daDJ1ssHEzwMbWMm8GPM3oD_HkxZv3lw0VS_CKBjzIDcSdF9Msm8hJol2sKcfuwOyD_5bPw_Nh8tUF0ewIJRrUXLeAWQO6rOJj9qpG47-rjUBSJw8MTXS34pgZKbQ7LJ7Xej8g_bVLNps1LqCETF3011TSFoC2tBckdqzJjmwu5g5I6MEM/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgB2T8Kw-e4daDJ1ssHEzwMbWMm8GPM3oD_HkxZv3lw0VS_CKBjzIDcSdF9Msm8hJol2sKcfuwOyD_5bPw_Nh8tUF0ewIJRrUXLeAWQO6rOJj9qpG47-rjUBSJw8MTXS34pgZKbQ7LJ7Xej8g_bVLNps1LqCETF3011TSFoC2tBckdqzJjmwu5g5I6MEM/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mrs bullfinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xtanLab0KwXliPfk4MGZwzIpG7GUvGqHD8rO9UYesVst1pvmTEwtOFS_OYG5yirTg4wBJaGJ_ELWFQhHKs4Np0wmkVDzoHIpmVQinZH2hmXIAIqQkP7GcKqptj13AupBajJU40fdeanLmz6xOt2P0WEnZaT7-_Yiodmbkc5ejfV4pzC10RNs2Vr2SQIm/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xtanLab0KwXliPfk4MGZwzIpG7GUvGqHD8rO9UYesVst1pvmTEwtOFS_OYG5yirTg4wBJaGJ_ELWFQhHKs4Np0wmkVDzoHIpmVQinZH2hmXIAIqQkP7GcKqptj13AupBajJU40fdeanLmz6xOt2P0WEnZaT7-_Yiodmbkc5ejfV4pzC10RNs2Vr2SQIm/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mr bullfinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHSnby0bSQ4i03LpgAqGDTFjPm5OE6yFlnJ85u2pTfdPf0fAN7HMv6kDnLZH5s-7KMLI-iGDi18n1ToXT6AqB7NLRTqf1zrCwkl3IwsHiR2_DaYusSYw-1XoPR1E2i8OVUA7hdcXLWr1Tnko4-g2JafkSoWnTznlzsCdGv55DPty2f-trhai5m6zZV0qb/s1358/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1358" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHSnby0bSQ4i03LpgAqGDTFjPm5OE6yFlnJ85u2pTfdPf0fAN7HMv6kDnLZH5s-7KMLI-iGDi18n1ToXT6AqB7NLRTqf1zrCwkl3IwsHiR2_DaYusSYw-1XoPR1E2i8OVUA7hdcXLWr1Tnko4-g2JafkSoWnTznlzsCdGv55DPty2f-trhai5m6zZV0qb/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unintentional ICM<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I am getting used to the new camera and learning to appreciate its abilities which are considerable. One problem, or rather, a thing I keep doing by mistake when wearing gloves. I wear 2 pairs of gloves on a cold day like today; Ronhill thin running gloves, under Alpkit duvet-jacket-like gloves. It makes my fingers (comparatively) clumsy and because it is near near the power-off button I often push the start-video-recording button when I go to turn the camera off. Since the camera is turned off a moment after I start video recording I get (on the computer at the end of the day) several 2 second bursts of video usually pointed at the ground speeding past in an abstract blur.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These are easily deleted although I rather liked the swoop of green grass and undergrowth (above) that one clip caught. I extracted the still from the video and post it here for your enjoyment. Very much in the manner of the Intentional Camera Movement movement I have been on about before, where the photographer sets the shutter speed to slow while moving the camera deliberately to induce motion blur. Hopefully I won't make a habit of it.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd1MGK_U0y1LGzAYr31NKNgSvEHMMeFgjhtF-7c5MBDXQjzyxQRnq6zIB9G4zlhb_g7-Sf9elSpucbnSaC8dPLh5TZRMNGPGQ5m4tAVke8SYtt0n2dlbLyuZVDBofnVbu_k0xrso8v7ZcxWhr8cXR1tBfqOVV0BN0TqRJTWQl6AFH1Hcx0FbN0GQLk4fp/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd1MGK_U0y1LGzAYr31NKNgSvEHMMeFgjhtF-7c5MBDXQjzyxQRnq6zIB9G4zlhb_g7-Sf9elSpucbnSaC8dPLh5TZRMNGPGQ5m4tAVke8SYtt0n2dlbLyuZVDBofnVbu_k0xrso8v7ZcxWhr8cXR1tBfqOVV0BN0TqRJTWQl6AFH1Hcx0FbN0GQLk4fp/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">redwing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OVFpGc4hq9vmZmcL8mDIhjUnPHld6z4tnPb4sZ-H1kVX_CEacabFOkv8Zune70rpjCbLVjASBGM18fHDEYYOzLndaxjIaK6Ou5ACspaL389Fpzz0P0rThKW2fPnbyWUY6z8b3nyFC2pdZyFeiQvG3coiAga50msfcR76-YB1jDIMz22mnnTlK9Ixuce2/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OVFpGc4hq9vmZmcL8mDIhjUnPHld6z4tnPb4sZ-H1kVX_CEacabFOkv8Zune70rpjCbLVjASBGM18fHDEYYOzLndaxjIaK6Ou5ACspaL389Fpzz0P0rThKW2fPnbyWUY6z8b3nyFC2pdZyFeiQvG3coiAga50msfcR76-YB1jDIMz22mnnTlK9Ixuce2/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeJxnMLM1tWo_JOvc1fBoLzXsX-E1s1tGQ_gJ42HJh1c2JrJ8CbGvoSsE7u5FdLxcccwPEUJiHFluavMHTI1dyS5HkPBIhwHAqnI5zkZaPuxgaV7Xlyn1QtktMsLXzMla6-FYCb5ntwjJ_m0hIXB351OalNzP83nj186q8idzV8qQxOE2hKx0oYPrndWC/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeJxnMLM1tWo_JOvc1fBoLzXsX-E1s1tGQ_gJ42HJh1c2JrJ8CbGvoSsE7u5FdLxcccwPEUJiHFluavMHTI1dyS5HkPBIhwHAqnI5zkZaPuxgaV7Xlyn1QtktMsLXzMla6-FYCb5ntwjJ_m0hIXB351OalNzP83nj186q8idzV8qQxOE2hKx0oYPrndWC/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt_uRqs0mP6hl7MqOtiVK18lASXD1-8oqKh0OscLej7ZU09e0DQ5RXLPnBScucQlDqtAaGWdrkI5s9xqSVELBgLHGGBxI1J-ElWFFeapB6dzBJlqjpvPa3GMT1gAIOHbe6z1L1Iojot2HPS9-KNknBWZit_3eSEVbjugmErq2iWBkskj0j2bSCqDupOD4/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt_uRqs0mP6hl7MqOtiVK18lASXD1-8oqKh0OscLej7ZU09e0DQ5RXLPnBScucQlDqtAaGWdrkI5s9xqSVELBgLHGGBxI1J-ElWFFeapB6dzBJlqjpvPa3GMT1gAIOHbe6z1L1Iojot2HPS9-KNknBWZit_3eSEVbjugmErq2iWBkskj0j2bSCqDupOD4/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These 2 photos (above and below) were taken with the iPhone along a section of ridge between Roslyn and Polton. I only ever pass along this ridge about twice a year when doing long runs on the Esk and couldn't really tell you exactly where it is on the map. But is has something very pleasing about it - possibly a little unnerving as either side drops off steeply leaving a thin dirt trail along a ridge. I couldn't get a photo of it with the long lens so stopped and got the iPhone out which did not too bad a job, although I tweaked the pics later to improve them. I should really have changed over to the kit lens as it is a unique place and worth trying to capture the atmosphere.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVSCzZaBN9qfofyj5TrITAMdp2D0zgJrV-QuVYxOyV1_uekwkd3gF9LUtjl1hi_xPYU6qkavH8m2MYcl7ekSpgGLgPCrhlMleDN43XrjJayC_OUqnfJ_-7yTJLSe3LpbTU2INyMXXk_IN6vCsb0N6SShn8uzDhxR7OmyMDaNAyRHOObtQqa59TRshQKnT/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVSCzZaBN9qfofyj5TrITAMdp2D0zgJrV-QuVYxOyV1_uekwkd3gF9LUtjl1hi_xPYU6qkavH8m2MYcl7ekSpgGLgPCrhlMleDN43XrjJayC_OUqnfJ_-7yTJLSe3LpbTU2INyMXXk_IN6vCsb0N6SShn8uzDhxR7OmyMDaNAyRHOObtQqa59TRshQKnT/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2N5huAtc-ft_ucrguSoBcjtLZuKWFGOEBFFIP3SPvylA6E3R0fQ8Cci_GliS90D5sTvbBDIBKff5PbeU4Z2qhoZpJNI19ukrOBM2eGMMOaq9M2ff0rcBgCXzVx-BWuQ3y0xFUCNxR9A2AdsH-fiTMrqZSxq3-k8sFc5mKkZDb1Ex_UuH2DPxpynDAdJe/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2N5huAtc-ft_ucrguSoBcjtLZuKWFGOEBFFIP3SPvylA6E3R0fQ8Cci_GliS90D5sTvbBDIBKff5PbeU4Z2qhoZpJNI19ukrOBM2eGMMOaq9M2ff0rcBgCXzVx-BWuQ3y0xFUCNxR9A2AdsH-fiTMrqZSxq3-k8sFc5mKkZDb1Ex_UuH2DPxpynDAdJe/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdgM575Q1X8MDIH942WCt3i5G5bZXjmJyPKBfGgT_LHWDtWUb6mVkXvapgChOgkem7xQxchTFTvBAPgMhLIkYxJEu-6orQB49B32lc3uJctjvD9UbpHHp9fi2uOS8ge4vehMf7wjti-L1DsihWP-ZB0Ti48WlcMEru1EKsuFYhAMvMxJ1jT4XM21wvh8s/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdgM575Q1X8MDIH942WCt3i5G5bZXjmJyPKBfGgT_LHWDtWUb6mVkXvapgChOgkem7xQxchTFTvBAPgMhLIkYxJEu-6orQB49B32lc3uJctjvD9UbpHHp9fi2uOS8ge4vehMf7wjti-L1DsihWP-ZB0Ti48WlcMEru1EKsuFYhAMvMxJ1jT4XM21wvh8s/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If only the long tailed tit had turned to look at that point!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_2aw7uM3LFQF6_aMJNbaYr-570qxwDOOpiAUb7YiD1geTrYZfCWeVOhMozIDBtPj6WIb-Lcr3b15AhnAqpBOl0BFQtIKw7Ty4rLDH9NGGMOoEE7ZmjR9l7cc18HQypUxcSxC9act8hEfcHl5Q0j1Z-4BUDyG_3Js8sLfXUkV5z7Djf19dm6hqvP-Zi76/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_2aw7uM3LFQF6_aMJNbaYr-570qxwDOOpiAUb7YiD1geTrYZfCWeVOhMozIDBtPj6WIb-Lcr3b15AhnAqpBOl0BFQtIKw7Ty4rLDH9NGGMOoEE7ZmjR9l7cc18HQypUxcSxC9act8hEfcHl5Q0j1Z-4BUDyG_3Js8sLfXUkV5z7Djf19dm6hqvP-Zi76/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long-tailed tit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso-ZVKoCdvKwQLGNfxAMQAsXxwGoEiCRk8MqJurR748CoEsKkPEfmuYqQ9zTZHqWzm_1sbsJd31aQdR0t8I84k9nPg_ucU54cHU2nnx2LMEMDhazA0aFhwb52V5w-cs4McNpAmWNzo8SRAwgw3vZ8JylchHTRzdQDs6EayGSw77Z93kZteKXE9f37FKEL/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso-ZVKoCdvKwQLGNfxAMQAsXxwGoEiCRk8MqJurR748CoEsKkPEfmuYqQ9zTZHqWzm_1sbsJd31aQdR0t8I84k9nPg_ucU54cHU2nnx2LMEMDhazA0aFhwb52V5w-cs4McNpAmWNzo8SRAwgw3vZ8JylchHTRzdQDs6EayGSw77Z93kZteKXE9f37FKEL/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">last dipper</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSd5cO_9KMsDjH-RqKtmRp12O7nl99D4IGDYBWtWNu4ajpyZKZ8mTh-O3mjXrziiD_t0eHF-ktxD0nEbtzUDOt9a44Gqst5tc28b978IAEg9_1N1jjsYgnir7qH-PdPYWauRJ1B14EcmfNtd51HsScqC909CiCpnjlD0S6KbxrNT57iPG2xVZb7ppxfNYj/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSd5cO_9KMsDjH-RqKtmRp12O7nl99D4IGDYBWtWNu4ajpyZKZ8mTh-O3mjXrziiD_t0eHF-ktxD0nEbtzUDOt9a44Gqst5tc28b978IAEg9_1N1jjsYgnir7qH-PdPYWauRJ1B14EcmfNtd51HsScqC909CiCpnjlD0S6KbxrNT57iPG2xVZb7ppxfNYj/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBQV5LXkwMINEWVPGvxnMUpojF-XQ0Uwc4cu6hZ36CaT4RRPqJ2RBrUN3HTkZUHGjONQADdCqeFgryIikAaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dipper singing over the noise of the river</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcbrl_5mqgzWmt5rvJVGNWXjhCDigdAST7NSPo9cetY4EEMNNb9uWOnrEFFixV-HwPggwxjV-9k3_bx1S7h1B4OPSX1BDqLYyB_Go-ZLmkT0KbL7Y0bMFowI9nHNYdPKrmdOoX0i0b5I_lKM7JBaT62UuGW6eys35yUlpYQMQ0ooPuPfW_o-EpF-6ZXOm/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcbrl_5mqgzWmt5rvJVGNWXjhCDigdAST7NSPo9cetY4EEMNNb9uWOnrEFFixV-HwPggwxjV-9k3_bx1S7h1B4OPSX1BDqLYyB_Go-ZLmkT0KbL7Y0bMFowI9nHNYdPKrmdOoX0i0b5I_lKM7JBaT62UuGW6eys35yUlpYQMQ0ooPuPfW_o-EpF-6ZXOm/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I left the trail at Lasswade and caught a bus at the Laird and Dog Inn back into town. The light was going and I had covered as many miles as I wanted. I had only eaten one Deliciously Ella bar (highly recommended) and was ready to get home for a late lunch!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo6axDrp00epAm2SYLkAU7JddIlKlmVunO-RkA1KD466UeTwabkIyiPRY-yq2vzd-ncIv_wRUtsLdcXoO4KJGpvH5OiiLKQEUHkITUfWydfGxG5uGhKCufn0fQNyYiFOqWj-3Z31WkUl3KO4zMpmb1vUqWh32wcIKEtJrMo042_rIcavTixNEI8qDmog8/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo6axDrp00epAm2SYLkAU7JddIlKlmVunO-RkA1KD466UeTwabkIyiPRY-yq2vzd-ncIv_wRUtsLdcXoO4KJGpvH5OiiLKQEUHkITUfWydfGxG5uGhKCufn0fQNyYiFOqWj-3Z31WkUl3KO4zMpmb1vUqWh32wcIKEtJrMo042_rIcavTixNEI8qDmog8/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the queue for the bus</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JGmrOQ1CcnVOe3d21FrNI7N-jG-PFMw20CPgvWTd4uoV9flTiqqAMfkMEQV3Jl-6x5OIDI0XhHmYk6dpkHb3XJqozWj7KOH8xkuSvo_RyP3vJ0YfhBqSkflZNMT0KoXQb07k4A9X3p6u-KcKq_NsfnJrFxD31oRUf-ihG_rJezN-StH9m3aCfVZ3WCkN/s1405/047%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1405" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JGmrOQ1CcnVOe3d21FrNI7N-jG-PFMw20CPgvWTd4uoV9flTiqqAMfkMEQV3Jl-6x5OIDI0XhHmYk6dpkHb3XJqozWj7KOH8xkuSvo_RyP3vJ0YfhBqSkflZNMT0KoXQb07k4A9X3p6u-KcKq_NsfnJrFxD31oRUf-ihG_rJezN-StH9m3aCfVZ3WCkN/s320/047%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9 miles in 4hrs25<br />extra 2 miles at start and finish</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-81322677719058967842024-01-20T10:05:00.000-08:002024-01-20T10:19:44.048-08:00pentland pleasure<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKvFORK7OsZv6CY0bPdArawGycluHEu76cyduU7lv6scxHRc2OqQl2jy834Fm_DYSTj4w7K3r_Lz8J1B-LXWJ3TaxSJibB66wkXTLhlJ86YV7qSpnOuP3JciLcV5qchIqtECLP3tqc12g3BLLlmKvAPjWiTCbSix18_ZW2hKdPPyzG8eOCS9DK7QCzBg8/s2048/000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKvFORK7OsZv6CY0bPdArawGycluHEu76cyduU7lv6scxHRc2OqQl2jy834Fm_DYSTj4w7K3r_Lz8J1B-LXWJ3TaxSJibB66wkXTLhlJ86YV7qSpnOuP3JciLcV5qchIqtECLP3tqc12g3BLLlmKvAPjWiTCbSix18_ZW2hKdPPyzG8eOCS9DK7QCzBg8/s320/000.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">14th Jan.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mary sometimes gets a notion. In this case it was a walk in the Pentlands. I had been proposing it was far too long since we were there. And suggested we start at Bonaly since I find it so much nicer surroundings right from the get go, than the protracted climb up the ugly side of the hill to the uglier centre and ski-slope at Hillend. However because Mary was calling the shots it was Hillend. Or rather a really early bus to Fairmilehead (the forecast was for early sun and later gloom) from where we walked to the bus terminus at Hillend and up past the even uglier work being started on the leisure centre or zip-wire playground being bulldozed into the ground next to the ugly ski-slope and centre. You can put money on us going to Bonaly to start the next Pentos trip. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfGo_0oD1feqQjS-4SgAxJlqnCO2Bo4jWhrX8oOO5IW4wGY78d4ILO2QhG0ENEuOLA1cZQhynbJnhV-jN9h7t3Iad1M0aQ1_6h57lE5j8Qm9lc7hyUFOEEjSi9JI74ko5Xcdq8J2Wckl330sdwGYyBIWEK2x7XOTtQbwwNNb9DXGeh9uIFffVTOE4dyH-/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfGo_0oD1feqQjS-4SgAxJlqnCO2Bo4jWhrX8oOO5IW4wGY78d4ILO2QhG0ENEuOLA1cZQhynbJnhV-jN9h7t3Iad1M0aQ1_6h57lE5j8Qm9lc7hyUFOEEjSi9JI74ko5Xcdq8J2Wckl330sdwGYyBIWEK2x7XOTtQbwwNNb9DXGeh9uIFffVTOE4dyH-/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bus, although in some ways less convenient, has its benefits. (Esp if you're over 60, hurray!) You get to see stuff like this ^ and you can get off at Point A and finish at Point B and get a different bus home. I was interested in the urban camper (below) with festival pop-up tent and pigeon. Is that yellow tin a can of Tennents lager? Quite early to get started on the Sunday morning session, but it would be nicely chilled after a night on Princes Street.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J4O6I1G6Pymi-E0aEaod8vq1QE89LUKti7JwL5561fvNJD4sjy60JxesyiwugosOckfccO3XVkDGZm4qqkLwCLl7G4oFqXtso9dckxMhOk2F3dQKr5gHYutiqKfllAfRERYJx4VRsCAcYqQxRfO8_hyphenhyphenTKUl_hHnh6Zp_T_QsOmu3NLCbhqRzFlYU2M3F/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J4O6I1G6Pymi-E0aEaod8vq1QE89LUKti7JwL5561fvNJD4sjy60JxesyiwugosOckfccO3XVkDGZm4qqkLwCLl7G4oFqXtso9dckxMhOk2F3dQKr5gHYutiqKfllAfRERYJx4VRsCAcYqQxRfO8_hyphenhyphenTKUl_hHnh6Zp_T_QsOmu3NLCbhqRzFlYU2M3F/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7czAe_MouPcmGaa7946PEHabUnCWb7iBMHTH9xn1dz0rCQLgsCz1ozWc3mom3KEa6ygGaKk-GG6EMU9BbofWkjRwI3YH_EN4JXcxmoeVT4T09WKHgUQQnP6ksqtGiLdk6ZN8YWesrGwDX5yocgKQ4WQs1Q7sU4ZifOYVVwscyzAcZAEu5GZejVOW8JJBL/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7czAe_MouPcmGaa7946PEHabUnCWb7iBMHTH9xn1dz0rCQLgsCz1ozWc3mom3KEa6ygGaKk-GG6EMU9BbofWkjRwI3YH_EN4JXcxmoeVT4T09WKHgUQQnP6ksqtGiLdk6ZN8YWesrGwDX5yocgKQ4WQs1Q7sU4ZifOYVVwscyzAcZAEu5GZejVOW8JJBL/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a bit on the early Morningside </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LP2qcpfXIixCA6aqy7yhbqeOHiZzUqn9-d24IGita8xtFpHg7NSsRcyd9fWI7vawCOhhR9c1_qoyWh_iQqT0keLrHr3ot0Ro_QmzxGk08dvJCdE-RQOhPrlL8KiRX2YlHC-39a3ntljzOFsBn7hSH8Dub2TnfALjdCu4GUvu95A93vNr-w7wefeVgbBE/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LP2qcpfXIixCA6aqy7yhbqeOHiZzUqn9-d24IGita8xtFpHg7NSsRcyd9fWI7vawCOhhR9c1_qoyWh_iQqT0keLrHr3ot0Ro_QmzxGk08dvJCdE-RQOhPrlL8KiRX2YlHC-39a3ntljzOFsBn7hSH8Dub2TnfALjdCu4GUvu95A93vNr-w7wefeVgbBE/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was pleased we managed to get going first thing: we defo caught the best part of the day. We got off the bus at 8.58am (sandwiches made the night before) and walked to Hillend. There are no photos before we got halfway up Caerketton because as mentioned earlier it was fugly as anything. We took the skyline route as it seemed more gradual than the straight ahead option which was horribly vertical looking. Both end up at the same point soon enough. The sunshine and light frosting made the hills look tremendous. The climb warmed things up considerably and any worries one might not be wearing quite enough in the warm clothing department, were assuaged by the steam piping out every orifice.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMrUy_3B7XILGlltZiVbTS9dyrRk_2FkzqtgKx40xI3qxAbxrq8G063GGkdi6tKu97NCjoQbYPyRvDSZ5GD2J-az4ioYRA4YQZer8ATNIfqwZnoLaSwEu3aljnECjUqNnqLICMljfMkFI19ENUspp_4LjOMGZYM6ZqCjcHN3qaW_gncgJZvBSSesHgO6A/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMrUy_3B7XILGlltZiVbTS9dyrRk_2FkzqtgKx40xI3qxAbxrq8G063GGkdi6tKu97NCjoQbYPyRvDSZ5GD2J-az4ioYRA4YQZer8ATNIfqwZnoLaSwEu3aljnECjUqNnqLICMljfMkFI19ENUspp_4LjOMGZYM6ZqCjcHN3qaW_gncgJZvBSSesHgO6A/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looking North to A Seat and Fife</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlPaUF8w4U76jaJq2wFWrgiKrUXA3YtdqLPvCDCOZJ3qA7nhVNhP9cTLGAJ4fR1EA7vraMXUWX1MaOg0c7X73xZm7821SHdOqPcaS10Nkq-97bdxJfSV7eXBciKQn_xKmtRnlAINr_1nYVCM6axzWcaJPF9IwLfKTU2Gq43qARY8BQmCPmoNctUTc5FoF/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlPaUF8w4U76jaJq2wFWrgiKrUXA3YtdqLPvCDCOZJ3qA7nhVNhP9cTLGAJ4fR1EA7vraMXUWX1MaOg0c7X73xZm7821SHdOqPcaS10Nkq-97bdxJfSV7eXBciKQn_xKmtRnlAINr_1nYVCM6axzWcaJPF9IwLfKTU2Gq43qARY8BQmCPmoNctUTc5FoF/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">okay the fun starts here</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBTeeAwdNvEVs7j1Z8tcJLW8o5RxvdUSZ52MrzC0vdi2BSRKm1_xagLeRaZJHcOAon2KWllXiSHa1VadsA6nnISUvMIG8tHjXW5L27O48Z4ulR4yOZSEgcm7WfCP8zKjvZyWa7sV8Qsvz0l0SG0lYCB8h3QlVdhPdW09lTvm39U2LEscmGfPTmBHzQ47E/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBTeeAwdNvEVs7j1Z8tcJLW8o5RxvdUSZ52MrzC0vdi2BSRKm1_xagLeRaZJHcOAon2KWllXiSHa1VadsA6nnISUvMIG8tHjXW5L27O48Z4ulR4yOZSEgcm7WfCP8zKjvZyWa7sV8Qsvz0l0SG0lYCB8h3QlVdhPdW09lTvm39U2LEscmGfPTmBHzQ47E/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLtDakHwCzvUdQcxBEcttWCLU7F2T8hgeqNQJaAkq2TlvICqzIO-ZqNyN-rw-UweD1vz33ay9aZtGMjdhrrP4m__GSl1tQSFTTdbwpiBy4bDOHT5I8p1ETwVw49cSKCgPQa7RulKpTC8q4LRCF3epzSwrZTKAZ2r49jDD-pWQIJAy76dVTzQpKFpVm_Qf/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLtDakHwCzvUdQcxBEcttWCLU7F2T8hgeqNQJaAkq2TlvICqzIO-ZqNyN-rw-UweD1vz33ay9aZtGMjdhrrP4m__GSl1tQSFTTdbwpiBy4bDOHT5I8p1ETwVw49cSKCgPQa7RulKpTC8q4LRCF3epzSwrZTKAZ2r49jDD-pWQIJAy76dVTzQpKFpVm_Qf/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaa1498ISh1veHSjJrsJZNEA868B_iCJbG2a46UZBYB5lIcDPJrxmPZdGeqSWIY6zgTKvnx-cMXRwN38C9RhrVCDQqWsUsxZgqt2xcHXyG8_LDZWjV16Lh4uAd0OxjpHAIKRx5p3RUmmfDsxwy261nWMmVJeLLP2saK0BSdH9gQf-ffhAfKbrnQAt9liZ/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaa1498ISh1veHSjJrsJZNEA868B_iCJbG2a46UZBYB5lIcDPJrxmPZdGeqSWIY6zgTKvnx-cMXRwN38C9RhrVCDQqWsUsxZgqt2xcHXyG8_LDZWjV16Lh4uAd0OxjpHAIKRx5p3RUmmfDsxwy261nWMmVJeLLP2saK0BSdH9gQf-ffhAfKbrnQAt9liZ/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bridges far below</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64iz6uqtxQElB3X3olDrxCtVMHa1e-jlkdVPCsa1EoUNf4PlLm6g30_WioAYy8YUcj8-2_2LEHxWXIkxqVzfFrWeNkMxMH6QkEpDkdbCkzKkE7kM4RUDkP4kdibz7ywJjBdHqrMOomQPjAMpZWQsLMEiLjFG9LJ1_ERYeac5seL1jGlza9cJGJEtqVksL/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64iz6uqtxQElB3X3olDrxCtVMHa1e-jlkdVPCsa1EoUNf4PlLm6g30_WioAYy8YUcj8-2_2LEHxWXIkxqVzfFrWeNkMxMH6QkEpDkdbCkzKkE7kM4RUDkP4kdibz7ywJjBdHqrMOomQPjAMpZWQsLMEiLjFG9LJ1_ERYeac5seL1jGlza9cJGJEtqVksL/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uRv7AD5nEe6YYwrzAW4DnEM2A1EhC3B-9OpajMkwiAwXHLUI4QyrBIxelVQ_kVRDQZH4K4lR4clB4DL7fqU_aUxBPrEs6YOy9zG3AbD4gqV_jy06gW4wR4FG9b4CPIycUbk89YjuP4LNQiyMb3vWSPlrj87yr1Kvfp3rHBx7d58n6v0SBiEiYmxn5kac/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uRv7AD5nEe6YYwrzAW4DnEM2A1EhC3B-9OpajMkwiAwXHLUI4QyrBIxelVQ_kVRDQZH4K4lR4clB4DL7fqU_aUxBPrEs6YOy9zG3AbD4gqV_jy06gW4wR4FG9b4CPIycUbk89YjuP4LNQiyMb3vWSPlrj87yr1Kvfp3rHBx7d58n6v0SBiEiYmxn5kac/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">past Allermuir summit<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was quite a lot of squelch but it had mostly cooled to a hard frozen rutted trail with only semi unfrozen moist bits in the deepest swamps. Which could be circumnavigated with dry feet. We both wore Hoka Speedgoats which are comfy trail shoes. But not waterproof.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were large gangs of roaming hikers with trekking poles aplenty. They were mostly stationary, waiting for tail-end-charlies to catch up with the main group and it was hard not to feel grateful we were travelling lighter and quicker. Or to make quiet comments to that effect outwith their hearing. <i><b>Good Morning! Yes lovely day!</b></i></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtejoKR5j8tImNbd93mETV9mMtp635ua6a9sNkkUQ4Rtzxqju4ljlBSZMPqxCkUIKMzWZC6EoPBPHKDBl3zhKYHkIOUI1S3W7iQKgpgOY2vzm1_4PlIDApEpMDvPd_CGz9QGq2ENxV8JMLA1ZbEHEAU3E9nUr_uCk8RikPpe1M20vOi0_LABd4e6GoZXM/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtejoKR5j8tImNbd93mETV9mMtp635ua6a9sNkkUQ4Rtzxqju4ljlBSZMPqxCkUIKMzWZC6EoPBPHKDBl3zhKYHkIOUI1S3W7iQKgpgOY2vzm1_4PlIDApEpMDvPd_CGz9QGq2ENxV8JMLA1ZbEHEAU3E9nUr_uCk8RikPpe1M20vOi0_LABd4e6GoZXM/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz_V2OFxFWqppmOVFfouilGFJhIHmrmYK5zwAEO84YpypUWgtxyEq0jKpJcxI7yVxe1V06bxXzYx6xyiOxA5kvjsbUn-xK46hgK2pekeOtGDiGqgONCAikDEpwLkakNQaCpVUWegC7e8cj7qCDEo6J2V9cns5qqMfkwprWdX1OOGSZw2U0LxJA-4uch1n/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz_V2OFxFWqppmOVFfouilGFJhIHmrmYK5zwAEO84YpypUWgtxyEq0jKpJcxI7yVxe1V06bxXzYx6xyiOxA5kvjsbUn-xK46hgK2pekeOtGDiGqgONCAikDEpwLkakNQaCpVUWegC7e8cj7qCDEo6J2V9cns5qqMfkwprWdX1OOGSZw2U0LxJA-4uch1n/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-m3wIa4UraV6syidGcMIgCOD1je2ig_lXSe4MIZ5k8oTPtnhEu7McdjN8I78NGVX4q9BuvcXRXJJQSOHW5j982d6RKaaGxmoCjTYxQGosw0qiw6Im8Oe8UE0fEe5dMqWOz8Ia3h4ALHzzpJHDIHMfLGe_qPOWqp9dIaRG94tNSwtxo9vHfuq3Y-z-UH7/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-m3wIa4UraV6syidGcMIgCOD1je2ig_lXSe4MIZ5k8oTPtnhEu7McdjN8I78NGVX4q9BuvcXRXJJQSOHW5j982d6RKaaGxmoCjTYxQGosw0qiw6Im8Oe8UE0fEe5dMqWOz8Ia3h4ALHzzpJHDIHMfLGe_qPOWqp9dIaRG94tNSwtxo9vHfuq3Y-z-UH7/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_nmXErCbLa3SaoZAZEdlYIQEkBpT0MZSfq_EN7h-ZuEoyqDGLycU5qwtmmpPWszPNrSCwsdKUafCqO4CptmEZJlA5jw0n_zSLiTqtLq7XC8M2mI9qzqncYS3j3TtLKCWky-dJk35lrHecoxz5Y2gb8OusGcOx9fMt_OfDg2Lqfrn9lOzumsyp2US5wZU/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_nmXErCbLa3SaoZAZEdlYIQEkBpT0MZSfq_EN7h-ZuEoyqDGLycU5qwtmmpPWszPNrSCwsdKUafCqO4CptmEZJlA5jw0n_zSLiTqtLq7XC8M2mI9qzqncYS3j3TtLKCWky-dJk35lrHecoxz5Y2gb8OusGcOx9fMt_OfDg2Lqfrn9lOzumsyp2US5wZU/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzS-cEcO9yskBHysGdv9hdSSwF2Xbp2I7y-BTnJPcL9bqZbX5KSGm69I3NTnwTtXRbXzAMmt_EROGcTkhtRz6jMWxU64KXLEo58BfR6ekdIKi9RPpkL0Pd_2dnMaLzUKPIuX5UIka39a9z6qdMs-IpKl6eFjuIAkcwchNzlQxKWc13YbHjCDAECB_7VeE/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzS-cEcO9yskBHysGdv9hdSSwF2Xbp2I7y-BTnJPcL9bqZbX5KSGm69I3NTnwTtXRbXzAMmt_EROGcTkhtRz6jMWxU64KXLEo58BfR6ekdIKi9RPpkL0Pd_2dnMaLzUKPIuX5UIka39a9z6qdMs-IpKl6eFjuIAkcwchNzlQxKWc13YbHjCDAECB_7VeE/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPw26MFvs4ctuPN_1OWkLLXdu14OF5D30uKpeQ8UVC4LHIfsg8xW-y1BaePUNQR1SbdeZ9lHivU6eH4pwa_IzffBurRguLB6IrqBbtg30EHeLFffqPTNX70NI421vjDa9NESa9AArC9jsGl2OIkmD7wrnEqu4FHKL4DENw6OgVDC21faxPk_mmp7m7KCo/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPw26MFvs4ctuPN_1OWkLLXdu14OF5D30uKpeQ8UVC4LHIfsg8xW-y1BaePUNQR1SbdeZ9lHivU6eH4pwa_IzffBurRguLB6IrqBbtg30EHeLFffqPTNX70NI421vjDa9NESa9AArC9jsGl2OIkmD7wrnEqu4FHKL4DENw6OgVDC21faxPk_mmp7m7KCo/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzCG086qpmlRAPf1bzAIkDho_UUBDMWxEKJTF3iYn0Bz0DfdbHYZ64P9Tu2pzy2We8lEwDMe8EGX-fqFwsIozvhjqTYipEaMnnBkuKs-f_VXTyeQlU7Hq5mHpfxSuY6Z4nmMunVka9GiayB7J877YIaF2R6q1Uoe6KghiFWAk4WWWA5WloqEdPFxkhVWp/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzCG086qpmlRAPf1bzAIkDho_UUBDMWxEKJTF3iYn0Bz0DfdbHYZ64P9Tu2pzy2We8lEwDMe8EGX-fqFwsIozvhjqTYipEaMnnBkuKs-f_VXTyeQlU7Hq5mHpfxSuY6Z4nmMunVka9GiayB7J877YIaF2R6q1Uoe6KghiFWAk4WWWA5WloqEdPFxkhVWp/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">quite a few runners out and about which reminded us <br />of days we used to spend here and hopefully will again soon</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kXLyngE7muGp0FmgHYiJ7H7nrFr9LUJ-QpuEthJaUmcfjqfzgBnYUX9pK_KMk-rYEetUi9IAK4Wd1RnH8dYbA0I7nnE4v8cyNQjuUMAZ_-MBIsV1R6j4Y8Vn2kXud341u9IRf5b4fPyXqNIh_PIocqhAmF-WgRoKzqX9xJEt3DstLrhnx7JrKZV6xBb9/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kXLyngE7muGp0FmgHYiJ7H7nrFr9LUJ-QpuEthJaUmcfjqfzgBnYUX9pK_KMk-rYEetUi9IAK4Wd1RnH8dYbA0I7nnE4v8cyNQjuUMAZ_-MBIsV1R6j4Y8Vn2kXud341u9IRf5b4fPyXqNIh_PIocqhAmF-WgRoKzqX9xJEt3DstLrhnx7JrKZV6xBb9/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Prize for least dressed went to the guy in the vest though probably suitable for keeping up with the pace of his less heavily set running partner on the left. Once you are going it is fine to be dressed in summer gear. It's only a problem when you break an ankle and have to wait for the mountain rescue team.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbC_B8fu6WUZlDAdx1Un4Y3lMvleDdW8SqHT3Hx6Z_RWclya7j-jZW4SrjwTsZuDjQtLDUDcvqto-ZCvODdCKgIlp0P3KGlvnmuyhrlcVkYVKpllialZnmfUOVFFSBtupraqkHPZ0znxNHpGk7CCm3OojGR4pZ58MzvfmmUpYg9hJQhChr2bsVRfqiSnv/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbC_B8fu6WUZlDAdx1Un4Y3lMvleDdW8SqHT3Hx6Z_RWclya7j-jZW4SrjwTsZuDjQtLDUDcvqto-ZCvODdCKgIlp0P3KGlvnmuyhrlcVkYVKpllialZnmfUOVFFSBtupraqkHPZ0znxNHpGk7CCm3OojGR4pZ58MzvfmmUpYg9hJQhChr2bsVRfqiSnv/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmofHJOL49xzPFpvQu1rwk8PD6frnksMhh9Zcq3Qi67KUxj3hXu5Ggf-xOe036cSc2MfVRJBAXC-2IlqWD7d21L21me2Bp9aEUPBHrAeIfEBkyfP4gO8n0q0cKOCdPs-C7m8vEgBsZFH8yQVglvnjd29eYaLLDBoW4jz021RRGyYfqmenfl_XPGaSicV/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmofHJOL49xzPFpvQu1rwk8PD6frnksMhh9Zcq3Qi67KUxj3hXu5Ggf-xOe036cSc2MfVRJBAXC-2IlqWD7d21L21me2Bp9aEUPBHrAeIfEBkyfP4gO8n0q0cKOCdPs-C7m8vEgBsZFH8yQVglvnjd29eYaLLDBoW4jz021RRGyYfqmenfl_XPGaSicV/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRKcko9da3lURYaOKP6mAKu2P89_OWydaz35B2_xakgXeMtKPU7whLBYE8J8VQaG8baSsrb6P0TAziduk0ZPrOapTGu3Xfyl7wfBadxx_vFIMh5rCUae4Rxuz0jjI-QKqAMK3X7sJVW4cK1-337pD9GdT3GEt75Bot27p_zCZMCBcKgZ5dnyZg0V8_i2/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRKcko9da3lURYaOKP6mAKu2P89_OWydaz35B2_xakgXeMtKPU7whLBYE8J8VQaG8baSsrb6P0TAziduk0ZPrOapTGu3Xfyl7wfBadxx_vFIMh5rCUae4Rxuz0jjI-QKqAMK3X7sJVW4cK1-337pD9GdT3GEt75Bot27p_zCZMCBcKgZ5dnyZg0V8_i2/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On seeing the 4 dudes eBiking it up Harbour Hill our second thoughts were <i>good on you all getting out in the weather, and up hills, and doing some exercise</i>. Both of us had less generous first reactions to the posse whose expensive ebikes were doing the majority of the work. But then realised they were doing the best possible thing to offset the age and fitness levels they found themselves at. So it <b>was</b> a <b>good</b> thing. Jeez, so critical you two!!! 😇</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJIDiR6Ea2YiRHALP_UmGMQOLiLJvFw1cumzrKspE03_kvKTr-L5-Ld757aBbfmnInOeSx4L23D6qPL7_VfDxeM67CxY8c4BU4-ZxiNNGyITn7dVWVJM1636ZMALgKTXooL1jTML-dM0TTQzqpTspTd2WvpuWCq4cGQc_nObeianwOfmng_xi8lW8QbMz/s2048/024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJIDiR6Ea2YiRHALP_UmGMQOLiLJvFw1cumzrKspE03_kvKTr-L5-Ld757aBbfmnInOeSx4L23D6qPL7_VfDxeM67CxY8c4BU4-ZxiNNGyITn7dVWVJM1636ZMALgKTXooL1jTML-dM0TTQzqpTspTd2WvpuWCq4cGQc_nObeianwOfmng_xi8lW8QbMz/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we didn't go this way</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6xNCK_q_BHGHZWkPUGFKO3NhPYyPXRsLjJmo1qG4m4Ooj4EOZ06IaSjkgBsrJakx8qKz0NShdSQkBCHAFWFKUmpl3gBpDOlY8dx-xoD1DXrgti7PYnwSD8ev7QzYZsnnk7auITcmmzGCHHGbUFHKgUphoidd9VcbKC7uuJUFb3YNJ23RirfYCaIZ9BhV/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6xNCK_q_BHGHZWkPUGFKO3NhPYyPXRsLjJmo1qG4m4Ooj4EOZ06IaSjkgBsrJakx8qKz0NShdSQkBCHAFWFKUmpl3gBpDOlY8dx-xoD1DXrgti7PYnwSD8ev7QzYZsnnk7auITcmmzGCHHGbUFHKgUphoidd9VcbKC7uuJUFb3YNJ23RirfYCaIZ9BhV/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At Maiden's Cleugh we turned right (WNW) and descended to Harlaw. Lovely to bump into Corrie and Blaise although we were so busy chatting I forgot to take a photo till they had set off again. The path went from frozen hard at the top to slushy and waterlogged at the bottom. I took photos of the cormorant and black headed gulls at Harlaw reservoir while Mary used the portaloos. Sadly there was no mobile cabin selling hot snacks and coffees. But probably just as well. We had sandwiches with us but there was no warm dry spot calling out for us to sit down in the chilly wind. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMnD27rJNd0KNelRhJ5c6jZ61D0Eb8TCnO6628GHCuYxx9PX9NSgqQiEA_zZTeqY8WGaUr-rV3xTsN9dwk_X1MUacUHoXc0zYiNrvqhLjk5xVbWcXqq8t_Qyg4hKJ_7vcjuOaEaZLd5f10mK0RQ_AbMm-8zdD0duKyjEmnFi_CGjBjz8gJoM9zvg2Al61/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMnD27rJNd0KNelRhJ5c6jZ61D0Eb8TCnO6628GHCuYxx9PX9NSgqQiEA_zZTeqY8WGaUr-rV3xTsN9dwk_X1MUacUHoXc0zYiNrvqhLjk5xVbWcXqq8t_Qyg4hKJ_7vcjuOaEaZLd5f10mK0RQ_AbMm-8zdD0duKyjEmnFi_CGjBjz8gJoM9zvg2Al61/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QJY3iDaNfPq0KtkMXx5Sga9WG0m1BkSlTXao6H3TCcrm8T_uehyphenhyphen2oz99Hjo3LwmLQUFoSksbyLymvrTWmO2CyOHUMTcPE00y-d_iXPeyOjFLOUOWzkRUiYGx2syB2h9WwRwMNCDD5RkC5XTQmQkeNa73V_YWh29pTnCUuslFSVCSVwrJ-5CtqHUCx55x/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QJY3iDaNfPq0KtkMXx5Sga9WG0m1BkSlTXao6H3TCcrm8T_uehyphenhyphen2oz99Hjo3LwmLQUFoSksbyLymvrTWmO2CyOHUMTcPE00y-d_iXPeyOjFLOUOWzkRUiYGx2syB2h9WwRwMNCDD5RkC5XTQmQkeNa73V_YWh29pTnCUuslFSVCSVwrJ-5CtqHUCx55x/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMnOwb8aD1RS2-hg37GG2AItGubYquuhQSvQkqd6u8nYwcSN3WlVMPRVLwMBzzcDiFlui06jD9Fy40vSdvcfqFXRNklCoOXmukq4UPFMX6fFtjkVOV__NOJDZ870BEZj_Ubl0HavEdLvTdvUJ3EPu3mrxIjyK2k7rtIoAGRt8L6vPn5Od4hho1ocDzA_X/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMnOwb8aD1RS2-hg37GG2AItGubYquuhQSvQkqd6u8nYwcSN3WlVMPRVLwMBzzcDiFlui06jD9Fy40vSdvcfqFXRNklCoOXmukq4UPFMX6fFtjkVOV__NOJDZ870BEZj_Ubl0HavEdLvTdvUJ3EPu3mrxIjyK2k7rtIoAGRt8L6vPn5Od4hho1ocDzA_X/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwp1y99ex-cY-lLJXMGi2ywwCrY84DeTltnYEzv4V2TzOwuHnoutnWRsuiLG4yhE_73mjqdoccuzbFWHrnyPpWeItTGmCv4w56nvwENv0VcOHsnmUSE7CZH9avbXZ5FaXuuapTUpISk61GK6OkoxztqT6Zj9LoN63LQchhVgjU6yWqjtFprPdK5Sdk1-8S/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwp1y99ex-cY-lLJXMGi2ywwCrY84DeTltnYEzv4V2TzOwuHnoutnWRsuiLG4yhE_73mjqdoccuzbFWHrnyPpWeItTGmCv4w56nvwENv0VcOHsnmUSE7CZH9avbXZ5FaXuuapTUpISk61GK6OkoxztqT6Zj9LoN63LQchhVgjU6yWqjtFprPdK5Sdk1-8S/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN6rbnWornX22r6rbGKHCW0PGiKPyhK0c-zhVy_DJbdhyphenhyphenq-cBUro8Xk5zAQo16HOTJ0BxoWjMBuRqDxA9YJ75LPcvQyP1jtvB2GJmfrFaESWBAvtI925etEr4bNF5ir_VNUsGbmERjDbORvKttR1U0xDA85nVpkeTIhaC8GsPbYexH4w2JFvQlUTODeUv/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN6rbnWornX22r6rbGKHCW0PGiKPyhK0c-zhVy_DJbdhyphenhyphenq-cBUro8Xk5zAQo16HOTJ0BxoWjMBuRqDxA9YJ75LPcvQyP1jtvB2GJmfrFaESWBAvtI925etEr4bNF5ir_VNUsGbmERjDbORvKttR1U0xDA85nVpkeTIhaC8GsPbYexH4w2JFvQlUTODeUv/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A1AbrKCJrHfZG0aL6wsmj_FibS0Ynh6nvBq-HIRYrvESR7w7yg_grpy9LpDJ4j6l1DfZ7DICo01hc59ZBhaSePMXWYEKMQ7JyxpLY-XxQrmnakvZI5WBCYqulwH2SHitdvePXZCIWmGvRtcrEUxDxZ1UZBxPxE5qzMZpgrlzXGMjclNjjk_GfC4UVnMD/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A1AbrKCJrHfZG0aL6wsmj_FibS0Ynh6nvBq-HIRYrvESR7w7yg_grpy9LpDJ4j6l1DfZ7DICo01hc59ZBhaSePMXWYEKMQ7JyxpLY-XxQrmnakvZI5WBCYqulwH2SHitdvePXZCIWmGvRtcrEUxDxZ1UZBxPxE5qzMZpgrlzXGMjclNjjk_GfC4UVnMD/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWD_QnrtVOC8tUbmLdX00XMXVGM_Dvy29kq8qkRD9G6NpBzmDGEPw0W34fL8ZrJQP7spp82iqxsdKfgLZJd12araWOImBBCj2y4VDD7zQQ1uaoJBE4kLDfS8trBBvqX3W0LS0H6GcMQ4-gyxLt8sBJxbFwod08qPNCeKIwVqo_MRKbOok2Vn7_Km2KyI8/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="2048" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWD_QnrtVOC8tUbmLdX00XMXVGM_Dvy29kq8qkRD9G6NpBzmDGEPw0W34fL8ZrJQP7spp82iqxsdKfgLZJd12araWOImBBCj2y4VDD7zQQ1uaoJBE4kLDfS8trBBvqX3W0LS0H6GcMQ4-gyxLt8sBJxbFwod08qPNCeKIwVqo_MRKbOok2Vn7_Km2KyI8/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmhQ5eiy8YNeLd2mcUjNyd8lT9HtUphem6E932EuQFWK7ysuNIizwLsUrjMBC-rzBFQXZcAA50FCZ1ug3tKNLjVkMFGbSATCKSGGafbdvLTUCu4525jWqjX5PfMT9pKbWtO9DU6gGwrdx1_VhmcB0CC3gZ6yvz7BkhZOHvUj_-HUjo0m4GD13VddvSS0z/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmhQ5eiy8YNeLd2mcUjNyd8lT9HtUphem6E932EuQFWK7ysuNIizwLsUrjMBC-rzBFQXZcAA50FCZ1ug3tKNLjVkMFGbSATCKSGGafbdvLTUCu4525jWqjX5PfMT9pKbWtO9DU6gGwrdx1_VhmcB0CC3gZ6yvz7BkhZOHvUj_-HUjo0m4GD13VddvSS0z/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jf2zXU_hIKO49-WDreu0UQevqfrIkeomTysiF2BObQMincMHhsGzIfHRsjJYeOG536hAOL19ewCBzmdV-yiU7UR7AKn1r6i9fBmrEjOs7vUscnHa1aRdaC0Dri8rrJetyI3lbGfT8syhh3Bl2JK_H4EWpELnrVEkpVHs4dKv767JPt_FDFyKOxir4pQA/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jf2zXU_hIKO49-WDreu0UQevqfrIkeomTysiF2BObQMincMHhsGzIfHRsjJYeOG536hAOL19ewCBzmdV-yiU7UR7AKn1r6i9fBmrEjOs7vUscnHa1aRdaC0Dri8rrJetyI3lbGfT8syhh3Bl2JK_H4EWpELnrVEkpVHs4dKv767JPt_FDFyKOxir4pQA/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">reservoir beginning to freeze</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0va8ed2oLRDUU-EPx0VL7Vd8AYSEnl7-q6t-qcd-29KqlYN88-8zK1SA3x5RR88ZJ_36vn8mrzJmt558r45GSC4FMR5Z-aPXNvwkTNRb_ouzLRcP-FXGfFaJai2dF8O5SPnvuXUl7YWPhPu-xJx6fcj1X-BkfKvHVtMoCIQQaQf10V3kRcjgRwLmp1S47/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0va8ed2oLRDUU-EPx0VL7Vd8AYSEnl7-q6t-qcd-29KqlYN88-8zK1SA3x5RR88ZJ_36vn8mrzJmt558r45GSC4FMR5Z-aPXNvwkTNRb_ouzLRcP-FXGfFaJai2dF8O5SPnvuXUl7YWPhPu-xJx6fcj1X-BkfKvHVtMoCIQQaQf10V3kRcjgRwLmp1S47/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mistle thrush</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8n8wcWX8S3O77Wfm2Il9F-HDA7Rn_-b2ZxRlHviirFOT606oY0tLqgpJxcDNDYkWguZG4gqxfitXS00OWdG3xPFQvLRr4uhyPy7mVTUIfP6OutfbAKTg9E9oL-LIM2YjceNgburv05WMup1h3FvzJic9CfL9wQMr0pVhsn5GjSGOtOIZaHOpZdYJXA52R/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8n8wcWX8S3O77Wfm2Il9F-HDA7Rn_-b2ZxRlHviirFOT606oY0tLqgpJxcDNDYkWguZG4gqxfitXS00OWdG3xPFQvLRr4uhyPy7mVTUIfP6OutfbAKTg9E9oL-LIM2YjceNgburv05WMup1h3FvzJic9CfL9wQMr0pVhsn5GjSGOtOIZaHOpZdYJXA52R/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bold but cold</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFKKiUE6HdYR5e4EFvkw_38OUXSV-sRRBI9xZOH-jMDWcnBCzoTr94ULvfpzisI2ReQ0_B-Nyzn-WB9R_Uv2G8gFn10K9sbL7fedhQl-1gnzKS45upY86FJTF4g_AYtDtjUBfRysIH3ZG9VusChNuX2POQRmx_Aetz3ScU-TNQqgRMuL_bpi0Jrh7LqJ2/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFKKiUE6HdYR5e4EFvkw_38OUXSV-sRRBI9xZOH-jMDWcnBCzoTr94ULvfpzisI2ReQ0_B-Nyzn-WB9R_Uv2G8gFn10K9sbL7fedhQl-1gnzKS45upY86FJTF4g_AYtDtjUBfRysIH3ZG9VusChNuX2POQRmx_Aetz3ScU-TNQqgRMuL_bpi0Jrh7LqJ2/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVfWPi1cG6RORzUd70YjaM9sYwH8OObJSeUOq4Zt5KsRhN4vkBPRucyh2aAmJwc3TmpCUZ103Ig5b_S0el3Qkje2PlSDtMA9TKSpo-bN6LssWB6QjAUzhQ7D8zWieWR26Unx9uXxxqe8Bw1iw1o6t5tnm9lQLvsK7_k-b1I11bhMDohLSIvdTn4qoFkQz/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVfWPi1cG6RORzUd70YjaM9sYwH8OObJSeUOq4Zt5KsRhN4vkBPRucyh2aAmJwc3TmpCUZ103Ig5b_S0el3Qkje2PlSDtMA9TKSpo-bN6LssWB6QjAUzhQ7D8zWieWR26Unx9uXxxqe8Bw1iw1o6t5tnm9lQLvsK7_k-b1I11bhMDohLSIvdTn4qoFkQz/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was the delightful sound of geese passing overhead, and we watched and took photos. The image directly above shows that overhead wasn't the only thing they were passing, if you look to the right of the photo.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86GdUG08XGOanVBzMhrRfZrFz5R1ULEqiofx9_vEo1NX6xUCp5hIVkIfQU_QCukWWMy7MKCNU3krSjscpHgvd365l3POE3VuR0zBuDgyR9KeUThirqnxNnC1CJGZLig9T0vWfrOw-v5GGbQZVdQ-xoUZwHyES35ynAhnu6Av092OixAqVB9VYKGGcdPKT/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86GdUG08XGOanVBzMhrRfZrFz5R1ULEqiofx9_vEo1NX6xUCp5hIVkIfQU_QCukWWMy7MKCNU3krSjscpHgvd365l3POE3VuR0zBuDgyR9KeUThirqnxNnC1CJGZLig9T0vWfrOw-v5GGbQZVdQ-xoUZwHyES35ynAhnu6Av092OixAqVB9VYKGGcdPKT/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBWrgof26F0BZ8znwVTskSL1V2-QN8m7R3cuQRzoRNfTNOMQmWB8xQQkVXuE_kz4BGbai2cKC7_ksx8KeZrBLN_AS05RW6vUq58F6QWHKoY3dIUw612HmBa1obNA3JAt8ALg_r4eimx_0WLsZSSZ9ssODTM4oxcXZc7UKyYWK-Bqry_2YQoGUzB1EUTwF/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBWrgof26F0BZ8znwVTskSL1V2-QN8m7R3cuQRzoRNfTNOMQmWB8xQQkVXuE_kz4BGbai2cKC7_ksx8KeZrBLN_AS05RW6vUq58F6QWHKoY3dIUw612HmBa1obNA3JAt8ALg_r4eimx_0WLsZSSZ9ssODTM4oxcXZc7UKyYWK-Bqry_2YQoGUzB1EUTwF/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYDoezAeXBWwDjosG17WQD_jJuhkD6Lss7LmjQPbDoH3K5QaFZMlTLlEEZzmeK7Gj3tPR46vbeO4WEEmPUbQfgyleuqy2G0KB5kzMx2o-dJKtkD5QE4kXU9DjnYHh19lmydimLncUJniqPWCH-Ypf-sXipccMhNF3ns8YpSgUgG0NHCMKVC4LPnfvGRgX/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYDoezAeXBWwDjosG17WQD_jJuhkD6Lss7LmjQPbDoH3K5QaFZMlTLlEEZzmeK7Gj3tPR46vbeO4WEEmPUbQfgyleuqy2G0KB5kzMx2o-dJKtkD5QE4kXU9DjnYHh19lmydimLncUJniqPWCH-Ypf-sXipccMhNF3ns8YpSgUgG0NHCMKVC4LPnfvGRgX/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we exited at the red moss car park and headed downhill to Balerno</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw_TJGfbTkvjFQ9sULxk5gyY5o-3dqnpKNibqfC5ePSmzJRllwUn3Z3r2BHfJ7mkS87oMDoDFIlDxIudJ04NBEzO4W__ajbVKemTKgOH8GZs2BJ_pdleqD_DUBbu3l1qBqGOkmyRYY6wGEtSKv9WFhyLaKkG02Py7eSUZipH_sOqauw2wAobe1_dIphuH/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw_TJGfbTkvjFQ9sULxk5gyY5o-3dqnpKNibqfC5ePSmzJRllwUn3Z3r2BHfJ7mkS87oMDoDFIlDxIudJ04NBEzO4W__ajbVKemTKgOH8GZs2BJ_pdleqD_DUBbu3l1qBqGOkmyRYY6wGEtSKv9WFhyLaKkG02Py7eSUZipH_sOqauw2wAobe1_dIphuH/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">why did the pheasant cross the road?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were tempted to do a round of the boardwalk at Red Moss but the clouds were already closing in and the best of the day was behind us. On the way downhill Mary let me know she'd looked at the bus times and there was one likely leaving in ten minutes. There was something like a mile plus but it was mostly downhill. We explored the idea of running and found it was possible. I was a little ahead but Mary wasn't far behind. Just as we ascended the small hump before the last couple of hundred to the bus terminus I saw the top of "our" bus leaving. <br /><br />We hadn't even got halfway through our sandwiches before another arrived (ten mins early and every 20minutes even on a Sunday) and so we got a warm comfy seat 'indoors' to enjoy our peekneek before a long top-deck traipse through town to Abbeyhill, where we disembarked cold and stiff-limbed. It's funny how the hour long damp bus ride left us much colder than we had been all the time out on the hills. There's a lot to be said for a good brisk march across the Pentlands! Great day out, we'll be back soon.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06jEwTraRVM-xdsr4uCF8NmTm6gxyDBLtVzEGSXXyUc8wtHw9o_88Rr2aXXVMzkwhBOUfSkO8sTrc-NHbjc9A3c_II_8ZCFqCIwaGghjoaEq4Rus-543LVCoKO2AOa1hEkqRz3rkF2S6fQ9WqTLaDTSUBJr6JM-v3vI7mH7HG5b5J1WydUcSWa2S8mRGn/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06jEwTraRVM-xdsr4uCF8NmTm6gxyDBLtVzEGSXXyUc8wtHw9o_88Rr2aXXVMzkwhBOUfSkO8sTrc-NHbjc9A3c_II_8ZCFqCIwaGghjoaEq4Rus-543LVCoKO2AOa1hEkqRz3rkF2S6fQ9WqTLaDTSUBJr6JM-v3vI7mH7HG5b5J1WydUcSWa2S8mRGn/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">top deck sandwich<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5dU8aeDJlVTEISwuxilFAlCaZNJ75tbWnZzArCu0QUan-vlmMC2JoBw38dLmjfOYs6DKBJQPPPAHIF19YlsQZd8zWT7G7_3X1M2u_fosT6s2PfXsZDVIzi5ZDxkh976HMzH_5cGf1610pSPMvHQ1qqyTYxFeWKpOR4pOxO5dsIyf8K4iHuRa_xqjtkyD/s1324/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1324" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5dU8aeDJlVTEISwuxilFAlCaZNJ75tbWnZzArCu0QUan-vlmMC2JoBw38dLmjfOYs6DKBJQPPPAHIF19YlsQZd8zWT7G7_3X1M2u_fosT6s2PfXsZDVIzi5ZDxkh976HMzH_5cGf1610pSPMvHQ1qqyTYxFeWKpOR4pOxO5dsIyf8K4iHuRa_xqjtkyD/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9 hilly miles in 3hrs20</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-69769476084741008202024-01-19T08:38:00.000-08:002024-01-19T08:38:32.092-08:00blackbird jungle<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GVhs2atBvfeL4h2yxjHC4PpGup6R5y7ke8uHXf8q1rnYBacYqMcz8V2bEhWj9XPvDezeuAMZlM30R4h0pZ-7c3F8cHMIgz-PjWBXk4F2HvqfGy91L8n-4rQbfACUrpdWgi0ljCK2P4Dhy6VKZBZr_CI0DuhFrhICCE5aRzN5PklqlDDHJrCSd6NXL5Qp/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GVhs2atBvfeL4h2yxjHC4PpGup6R5y7ke8uHXf8q1rnYBacYqMcz8V2bEhWj9XPvDezeuAMZlM30R4h0pZ-7c3F8cHMIgz-PjWBXk4F2HvqfGy91L8n-4rQbfACUrpdWgi0ljCK2P4Dhy6VKZBZr_CI0DuhFrhICCE5aRzN5PklqlDDHJrCSd6NXL5Qp/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">13-01-24</div><div style="text-align: left;">The first of three days of sunshine and each day colder. I can live with the freezing temps as long as the light is like this. The sun doesn't climb high above the horizon so it is often a bit gloomy in <i>built up</i> areas like Warriston where the trees block a lot of the brightness. But the ambient light is just about enough to work with and the difference from the grey drab day-to-day Winter grunge really cheers me up. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJdFf_ECeQ6Dx9XCvzRly9hYHRLdlUC2FPAzm2JaL4WoCohwByoAerd6jgq5dWMItKGmArv1Nol0CWewcgoSRhrWISODamtCSdaldirZlRyIJ396GRUL8kzN69R6KNleV0Pz9MGA73lpxdAm2n-YnGqWREtH3305YDsbJ_6MZjiUpl3OszXurOLkLTPuc/s2048/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJdFf_ECeQ6Dx9XCvzRly9hYHRLdlUC2FPAzm2JaL4WoCohwByoAerd6jgq5dWMItKGmArv1Nol0CWewcgoSRhrWISODamtCSdaldirZlRyIJ396GRUL8kzN69R6KNleV0Pz9MGA73lpxdAm2n-YnGqWREtH3305YDsbJ_6MZjiUpl3OszXurOLkLTPuc/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday the 13th and I'd had a pretty decent parkrun first thing. No doubt the result of putting in a bit more training than usual. Last week parkrun was cancelled due to ice. The following day Mary and I ran uphill intervals and I not only enjoyed it but felt in shape. Tuesday was a properly taxing session with Coach Alan. The dreaded 20 x 1min hard 1min recovery. My suunto said 11 miles when I got home and it was so full on I had to have a couple of paracetamols later in the evening. Although I felt fine by Thursday evening which was the inaugural meeting at Saughton of the West Edinburgh Running Club. Dom and Alan set this up for anyone in that area, all abilities welcome. I went along to support it and in case there were only a handful of folk turned up to run. There was over 50 which surprised Alan and Dom and the session was a great success. My legs had recovered from Tuesday and I enjoyed the sprints workout.<br /><br />The combination of a partially refreshed running mojo and brighter weather made me feel perhaps I can get through this Winter after all. Feeling buoyed by the parkrun result I headed along to Warriston to see how the new birdfeeder was getting on. There was squirrel sitting directly above and slightly irritated (whiplash tail, agitated look) at how tricky it was to remove the peanuts from it. However it persisted and managed by hanging on, upside down, from back feet, while attacking the inner mesh holding the nuts, with forepaws. I could see it admonishing me for what was clearly a bad design.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiUJ__7upNI1HIWOpCzJbwxGqLz6HEHekZOhDEpV00RdOsuNfo3eSb24VRdhL-GHtEgmmIulCGaVFl-dT61i1hbD_fMZm3CZXT0PMtwQfIuKDTemzdWMELomTb-T3lAi8RN38hfFLbHI36Wg28fdmxhTTmONayQnMtBptABo7dIlPvql53nUFEdX__bvS/s2048/002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiUJ__7upNI1HIWOpCzJbwxGqLz6HEHekZOhDEpV00RdOsuNfo3eSb24VRdhL-GHtEgmmIulCGaVFl-dT61i1hbD_fMZm3CZXT0PMtwQfIuKDTemzdWMELomTb-T3lAi8RN38hfFLbHI36Wg28fdmxhTTmONayQnMtBptABo7dIlPvql53nUFEdX__bvS/s320/002.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">problematic!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDQOVCfc00LQzW_23cBoIauhVQc_quGaw9IiZ6uE5dEXCcvqtwgzMS2RI3T3n8srnywMycHEvtwI7tt_Uzlv_1ppwtXQ8xf5lcjjR5p8SNEgqsHbcEABpGxA-RHEBxy9p8QaNJzLKoqrxVOZxCXtqfsZm4vBsU_AD9gFjn0P87JfOiKRwHMsEUZFXOuCR/s2048/003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDQOVCfc00LQzW_23cBoIauhVQc_quGaw9IiZ6uE5dEXCcvqtwgzMS2RI3T3n8srnywMycHEvtwI7tt_Uzlv_1ppwtXQ8xf5lcjjR5p8SNEgqsHbcEABpGxA-RHEBxy9p8QaNJzLKoqrxVOZxCXtqfsZm4vBsU_AD9gFjn0P87JfOiKRwHMsEUZFXOuCR/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISyXz4zhO-G543hIM-k19mPnzoTUTwx76Vcs_n7nrFgda8o6UcxRByTbMfuz3_y9LGMvHXg7KbELlUSHUtce_M_FrrwNlwVuW4WUIK5KPDsb8qcizpDtJ8a0ZQCQNna9r5Q2LsacSr-6V-MeRw_WKIYp4zuIvK8nxm2Ak3k_U50izWwfRokZ3nJoSKMAH/s2048/004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISyXz4zhO-G543hIM-k19mPnzoTUTwx76Vcs_n7nrFgda8o6UcxRByTbMfuz3_y9LGMvHXg7KbELlUSHUtce_M_FrrwNlwVuW4WUIK5KPDsb8qcizpDtJ8a0ZQCQNna9r5Q2LsacSr-6V-MeRw_WKIYp4zuIvK8nxm2Ak3k_U50izWwfRokZ3nJoSKMAH/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKDYsEnjIs4dBw6VnowZnuKC_dpnyJm8B1teQjNM3bIWH7ZeNMy7Usymk42xQO4ozXesaz8705Ojm-rR_wqp7cR4dHn1kbuQZmnc8D3tT8vRoB5psOnx8lmcmyYRNFjkgAB3vtaX3nWASKFY5tVy9fCB0eoujiNuAAb5rfrDUcmR9WtqFdngY9TAXiGau/s2048/005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKDYsEnjIs4dBw6VnowZnuKC_dpnyJm8B1teQjNM3bIWH7ZeNMy7Usymk42xQO4ozXesaz8705Ojm-rR_wqp7cR4dHn1kbuQZmnc8D3tT8vRoB5psOnx8lmcmyYRNFjkgAB3vtaX3nWASKFY5tVy9fCB0eoujiNuAAb5rfrDUcmR9WtqFdngY9TAXiGau/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i67uDb6kLuUPyvY1RkpWHbjr15ntm09KFhZjfFyR_JJqq99q-Vr8sfmd8uJfVnrl8IHHcA3kdZKAN1DRkZB1l04ydEWNXBCHKfRh22Y1gnh5nHOUGkiYz9fDkRL8YfF9DaucL06f1DGCD2TkFSCrRaxNi2Thd1-rMQEhMztmBerzljp3NDaWUo1E7oBR/s2048/006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i67uDb6kLuUPyvY1RkpWHbjr15ntm09KFhZjfFyR_JJqq99q-Vr8sfmd8uJfVnrl8IHHcA3kdZKAN1DRkZB1l04ydEWNXBCHKfRh22Y1gnh5nHOUGkiYz9fDkRL8YfF9DaucL06f1DGCD2TkFSCrRaxNi2Thd1-rMQEhMztmBerzljp3NDaWUo1E7oBR/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I trialled 3 foodstuffs. Homemade bread, peanuts and suet birdfood pellets. The squirrels let me know that their favourite was peanuts. Followed by bread. And they weren't much interested in the suet pellets. Which left that for the birds. The birds appreciate the high fat content which helps survival in cold weather.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9qvfIY_iAlQje4_KIgJnPQyVDH7ldxskWcA6TOLXh_ezbVC-Hie4vefjAxWfwhx_KTroN4fI_hn_6bMBTIBGmdqa3CZRol47M2owFjGPIZfNYRs69C7kTFE44pAuAtdE_8ZwPBdWoJGVr7z-T123P6dx10AGaPw2XpTz-04BKbPJ43LkMRH94eSkPXG4/s2048/007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9qvfIY_iAlQje4_KIgJnPQyVDH7ldxskWcA6TOLXh_ezbVC-Hie4vefjAxWfwhx_KTroN4fI_hn_6bMBTIBGmdqa3CZRol47M2owFjGPIZfNYRs69C7kTFE44pAuAtdE_8ZwPBdWoJGVr7z-T123P6dx10AGaPw2XpTz-04BKbPJ43LkMRH94eSkPXG4/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemjiQa_zVQMcxzWDIkWCDhrKU8MNM0DqJITZsYDTINxD8sRMbQgF37gD0QmD4PrD1lGh6hHkmwupXh_JQhH_kpvMcSjXsWng_0olOOa6dQmovmIleaUv2VEa9wqxwSEmMYMuZ9wNuy-5HP9mJBX25cH1l7u5jj3emeHxUZpkS_nSx427igcsX_P6OxCdI/s2048/008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemjiQa_zVQMcxzWDIkWCDhrKU8MNM0DqJITZsYDTINxD8sRMbQgF37gD0QmD4PrD1lGh6hHkmwupXh_JQhH_kpvMcSjXsWng_0olOOa6dQmovmIleaUv2VEa9wqxwSEmMYMuZ9wNuy-5HP9mJBX25cH1l7u5jj3emeHxUZpkS_nSx427igcsX_P6OxCdI/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6381JbUroBPmQiGOQ2ydy0r-JweH9qRuQor6ab56pCaUQ1CZO2T6f-uD1B4s8Fr2I96QUc2wo4Ws5iiRK28pgDdSHTYx9UX8C8sOmpzAVuKOKfVUabibIobeEju_cwhx9B01YKe8mGEvwGLpiVYXaZiEN2NqILJtgWQ3qoYXn4ektRrdgcE1n7Id0xZ8/s2048/009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6381JbUroBPmQiGOQ2ydy0r-JweH9qRuQor6ab56pCaUQ1CZO2T6f-uD1B4s8Fr2I96QUc2wo4Ws5iiRK28pgDdSHTYx9UX8C8sOmpzAVuKOKfVUabibIobeEju_cwhx9B01YKe8mGEvwGLpiVYXaZiEN2NqILJtgWQ3qoYXn4ektRrdgcE1n7Id0xZ8/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOoweeXE1ERPDQ1G4GUX9YRVv_54iJnDvF6tBTWbsusWW2XzXSs957G-lR98uO3DwYf0RqaJ75aYmGujnl39EDBZFUZCjQmtH_5kvHF7zu1yy5Q6ab2Us3zvZ9rD2lJCwhdfKCuxhlJdpLjJNvzA-5EB_9prKB27CYXWzMPIC9zrPD_EvHXARARcFcvZQ/s2048/010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOoweeXE1ERPDQ1G4GUX9YRVv_54iJnDvF6tBTWbsusWW2XzXSs957G-lR98uO3DwYf0RqaJ75aYmGujnl39EDBZFUZCjQmtH_5kvHF7zu1yy5Q6ab2Us3zvZ9rD2lJCwhdfKCuxhlJdpLjJNvzA-5EB_9prKB27CYXWzMPIC9zrPD_EvHXARARcFcvZQ/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9gWUou5RZSLbFzRSFw4f-8sgE73ucjPooN5y1HqbEijgkIveCONVE2txO0StrDnC2MFXjvhr4H6Pfs9HuTRmCZPnK-AMbqa-jHC4pFu92m6qQsuJqVN0pmOO_sQrmQPF4_RI9YQJuk2sTp8QYbi27Y9V20EAYF8bDBq7LBBEbtTObqyHb1C1y_eYzS2H/s2048/011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9gWUou5RZSLbFzRSFw4f-8sgE73ucjPooN5y1HqbEijgkIveCONVE2txO0StrDnC2MFXjvhr4H6Pfs9HuTRmCZPnK-AMbqa-jHC4pFu92m6qQsuJqVN0pmOO_sQrmQPF4_RI9YQJuk2sTp8QYbi27Y9V20EAYF8bDBq7LBBEbtTObqyHb1C1y_eYzS2H/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This blackbird was the same one from the other day (who ate loads then fell into a torpor) and now considered us to be such firm friends that he just sat on a branch right beside me. I didn't want to alarm or hassle him but I really was almost within arm's reach which allowed me these super close close-ups. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguh6aegiW57p8d4r5WOtuAx-LGOpHBCdROcMPutxEabEIwDIxvL1BV5MY3RnoVqXLNUlzo6NudlWpJJ3laBFmfEKGqNeDjMtfrSW70itWjBDueGW4T7VhuzdO_Jnoy0rg5Pr6MM4PXazOPm91BFMDOcp0DvQOzK9QYWieuYPSyPqlHOoubOQx1dCBIOfK/s2048/012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguh6aegiW57p8d4r5WOtuAx-LGOpHBCdROcMPutxEabEIwDIxvL1BV5MY3RnoVqXLNUlzo6NudlWpJJ3laBFmfEKGqNeDjMtfrSW70itWjBDueGW4T7VhuzdO_Jnoy0rg5Pr6MM4PXazOPm91BFMDOcp0DvQOzK9QYWieuYPSyPqlHOoubOQx1dCBIOfK/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguvfaoUSYZmqq4xCpOs9aT6XnXtb3CXvGD5EyispD0Tp5bOiLIhLS5pyqUHRbQmWjPCErCFCymal-Y8Rz9ZEpyLXRrjpIt2VIm9TI6VIqzjOtu9dZY5TlGD68Yb3z1hjzOgB3bZ1chm1Y1NHx6pI27IkzlRbrUvpY-aCM48mX23qM1a5j3GsOHa1rWBh9/s2048/013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguvfaoUSYZmqq4xCpOs9aT6XnXtb3CXvGD5EyispD0Tp5bOiLIhLS5pyqUHRbQmWjPCErCFCymal-Y8Rz9ZEpyLXRrjpIt2VIm9TI6VIqzjOtu9dZY5TlGD68Yb3z1hjzOgB3bZ1chm1Y1NHx6pI27IkzlRbrUvpY-aCM48mX23qM1a5j3GsOHa1rWBh9/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicedzd9YA1JbJ7uCrCP8eKrhSmAa81qMwy3esUI-i4PeHYBZU2dcRSJc2_c2yoVkQ9fu_tnAX9UsMEVpHuk6OuwZmTg6sKQfGbpkccaGDDU1pqNTvnKGv8lQl6RTVNkomGdKdA04dpw2VZMS0cPaqehyBNv1MiM5RWgyknxvXzf8u8Us8zdTWVDj2emyjS/s2048/014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicedzd9YA1JbJ7uCrCP8eKrhSmAa81qMwy3esUI-i4PeHYBZU2dcRSJc2_c2yoVkQ9fu_tnAX9UsMEVpHuk6OuwZmTg6sKQfGbpkccaGDDU1pqNTvnKGv8lQl6RTVNkomGdKdA04dpw2VZMS0cPaqehyBNv1MiM5RWgyknxvXzf8u8Us8zdTWVDj2emyjS/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I accidentally caught this wood pigeon with an eyelid half closed. I was considering eyelids because although most birds can blink, they use a nictitating membrane (translucent or transparent) and you rarely see them close eyelids. A quick google suggests all birds have 3 eyelids, presumably upper, lower and nictitating. Dippers spring to mind with their zombie-like white eyelids but I can't recall seeing other birds close their ...em <i>skin</i> eyelids like this. (If you go to <a href="https://bestpartday.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-hunting-of-shrike.html" target="_blank">this previous blog</a>, right to the bottom of the page and play the video; at 35secs there is a gull auto-refreshing its eye with a completely transparent nictitating membrane only just visible in strong sunlight. It impressed me greatly at the time.) (I'm not going to say it was an eye-opener.)</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb-4D4qiqTOsWNqAENqiWOdsoTO834V2Eiz_-Oy_NfQ5-Lx3n0946N3YR2ryw8mcY7RQKF6tIPS9nHfoUQVFw3Vgku5EWKX8qyQ6aAeLbTkCFycruq82EWVhcdbj6fo6LToWQEsqcoCqnes-8HbN88rt9DsMm68Ar7Jow7cMchm59yg44f1l2AsqPrPpa/s2048/015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb-4D4qiqTOsWNqAENqiWOdsoTO834V2Eiz_-Oy_NfQ5-Lx3n0946N3YR2ryw8mcY7RQKF6tIPS9nHfoUQVFw3Vgku5EWKX8qyQ6aAeLbTkCFycruq82EWVhcdbj6fo6LToWQEsqcoCqnes-8HbN88rt9DsMm68Ar7Jow7cMchm59yg44f1l2AsqPrPpa/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4GW8XYK0H4Et5Ysp8fyzHbr1-JpRS4lL9ttdZsDpmWeLPqwitZDNi9hUar986p3oggHxSpMezJjA0HQERupqRHT8_qbUADYBmHa7ZabsnrkvXtTOKnPAvw8M9V3B0SFXi-3jdKoTyWtNQyAWjOu9QPUFzqfvCCD-ntQee3xW5sClO9hxEx_Pzp9K4zXn/s2048/016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4GW8XYK0H4Et5Ysp8fyzHbr1-JpRS4lL9ttdZsDpmWeLPqwitZDNi9hUar986p3oggHxSpMezJjA0HQERupqRHT8_qbUADYBmHa7ZabsnrkvXtTOKnPAvw8M9V3B0SFXi-3jdKoTyWtNQyAWjOu9QPUFzqfvCCD-ntQee3xW5sClO9hxEx_Pzp9K4zXn/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd3roNwxLJZ8DfBYhdJCmb__L8y1mqC7BUe49hgF5cfN_oRbxlmury4K_TYH4jyrV0nN7rmNfbE5m5cYBbWPj4hxCBicsqv_dvaGchtCxRPy3pPH7KHfTLZUF6qGtdHZQP_-JE4L1ZVbzsfklceFzDxW292FiMjS2ZbVFTalCnk3BnVoPM_kzzGGt_Kh_/s2048/017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd3roNwxLJZ8DfBYhdJCmb__L8y1mqC7BUe49hgF5cfN_oRbxlmury4K_TYH4jyrV0nN7rmNfbE5m5cYBbWPj4hxCBicsqv_dvaGchtCxRPy3pPH7KHfTLZUF6qGtdHZQP_-JE4L1ZVbzsfklceFzDxW292FiMjS2ZbVFTalCnk3BnVoPM_kzzGGt_Kh_/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cMykipY9Jcu9TmfcWX1WLY0e11ffFMNZJI7Akcp1nyGwysV1kVOdWNMfA4sB7yTMVJRwUJ-CQshqMUqii9ydQNwMKD5dRtWbn2UwVzHbHl8G-ZnX_wBFezu3NtaQ_eZBLwvqIVwSOoDdpcK4kbGfpzFFNRtaam8xmdmeDcjWdFBw1AcPXvCI-ZUoboXe/s2048/018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cMykipY9Jcu9TmfcWX1WLY0e11ffFMNZJI7Akcp1nyGwysV1kVOdWNMfA4sB7yTMVJRwUJ-CQshqMUqii9ydQNwMKD5dRtWbn2UwVzHbHl8G-ZnX_wBFezu3NtaQ_eZBLwvqIVwSOoDdpcK4kbGfpzFFNRtaam8xmdmeDcjWdFBw1AcPXvCI-ZUoboXe/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lots of the birds were taking time out to look skyward. This suggests to me that the sparrowhawk might be active these days although that is pure speculation. Edinburgh is supposed to have a really high sparrowhawk count and you're more likely to see one picking off garden birds in an urban area, than out in the rural wilds.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuo5A4qU5q7MLKKLryd6_8Pv29JZXZgigqIuxW986P4E1YClaV1hcuGM_p1DyaThbVwyI4_4YIP2bCw8Z8utjoK5fpS3vgUFJhM1YR6JWKgd21yIluQTlYEuH-Jb1DsmFRrzJbI4y9hy-sQgIFxFDZMmZDewNHzId35Z_QHtPtD3BsjJPVBqZvBNl5BdN/s2048/019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuo5A4qU5q7MLKKLryd6_8Pv29JZXZgigqIuxW986P4E1YClaV1hcuGM_p1DyaThbVwyI4_4YIP2bCw8Z8utjoK5fpS3vgUFJhM1YR6JWKgd21yIluQTlYEuH-Jb1DsmFRrzJbI4y9hy-sQgIFxFDZMmZDewNHzId35Z_QHtPtD3BsjJPVBqZvBNl5BdN/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>a sparrowhawk did you say? <cough!></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14TzMmiFHMb0c3MDnnxOqCA74tcAXB7b9fVtXlPuYiN_epyI4cqfCQe5MqaJ4OZYDZq0lsB4lKn4b2yLtepLw3BLBEwAMG5KDPnRRnWfqeeLQWYOKq7pYLjRD29od4LuUTh9r__niyGrPDaATlHGEaFa3metOKYrQrTV5MsMuXHO_yo0hn2mvuMzbiPGX/s2048/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14TzMmiFHMb0c3MDnnxOqCA74tcAXB7b9fVtXlPuYiN_epyI4cqfCQe5MqaJ4OZYDZq0lsB4lKn4b2yLtepLw3BLBEwAMG5KDPnRRnWfqeeLQWYOKq7pYLjRD29od4LuUTh9r__niyGrPDaATlHGEaFa3metOKYrQrTV5MsMuXHO_yo0hn2mvuMzbiPGX/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />There seems to be a clan of orange billed blackbirds in the cemetery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The males rather than the females. I am a big fan.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsB0uG6yxjpzhnjx9KoTxGZhqDY-k8fhLIJCf2pnM42yyuuC_YHtEtFtXl57Ic2SCnEh86dxR9iKjEDyxIPOBMkYNSdhqEwi1YIJlukQrwChe9n76_aU3MJacrmqgdtxfwHlV0Fp8RJ8GijXDP76xJcBKaZnj4Sg0eq1_Gmcfay2Fq3DtJ1z5NpgMWDpd/s2048/021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsB0uG6yxjpzhnjx9KoTxGZhqDY-k8fhLIJCf2pnM42yyuuC_YHtEtFtXl57Ic2SCnEh86dxR9iKjEDyxIPOBMkYNSdhqEwi1YIJlukQrwChe9n76_aU3MJacrmqgdtxfwHlV0Fp8RJ8GijXDP76xJcBKaZnj4Sg0eq1_Gmcfay2Fq3DtJ1z5NpgMWDpd/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iAvix96zKUmG9YYzI73yIzLmhhJkKGHjhF8maFR9wODLTf1ZljmwyGDbf3lmS3CY-P1MhZ_V82Y9387bn1uFWXNxyg7yxqE7Y6FkbvIgP1Y9g75qNfzVzu9zcC36-sOkAwTP98IFGMqQdUPuQus5qWbJ6HpQ5xLfdQcIEG5mgBDJ3Fr7TqfUTQcSbK1g/s2048/022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iAvix96zKUmG9YYzI73yIzLmhhJkKGHjhF8maFR9wODLTf1ZljmwyGDbf3lmS3CY-P1MhZ_V82Y9387bn1uFWXNxyg7yxqE7Y6FkbvIgP1Y9g75qNfzVzu9zcC36-sOkAwTP98IFGMqQdUPuQus5qWbJ6HpQ5xLfdQcIEG5mgBDJ3Fr7TqfUTQcSbK1g/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYl6IwSmuw163J321hygG5nKiPPPbab2wB8-oMXh013Pd6G6jzRqCQmLWbingYUteisfCa82VXO4EjnLvPvNYioDiiV6TMcGppc7pyM_mr-ZwQWglUszjDsTYu6zEUOA8UkNmWHMEpxqQoeAfgkZ2A69ocdqaZacGdbRuv1Ma-Xl30TzUlbcyhF8o0rTq/s2048/023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYl6IwSmuw163J321hygG5nKiPPPbab2wB8-oMXh013Pd6G6jzRqCQmLWbingYUteisfCa82VXO4EjnLvPvNYioDiiV6TMcGppc7pyM_mr-ZwQWglUszjDsTYu6zEUOA8UkNmWHMEpxqQoeAfgkZ2A69ocdqaZacGdbRuv1Ma-Xl30TzUlbcyhF8o0rTq/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">going to some length for peanuts</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNqBoYFo99DEpsoYaKoSXdMSD8jf5WGlyMZkhu_65UwtvdFFp753d27OGIjqUR40wcMxWwhJWyb__HRcfuB2kCFezQ95Jmb7-vqlsHM7X8mRxzzNjAWzEbeW1XsnXiiwRtqrS5r-JiC67gSJ8-tyFQ7c2xp5RHsNrbdzm1P_y8crcADMpU49FGhAKgVgL/s2048/025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNqBoYFo99DEpsoYaKoSXdMSD8jf5WGlyMZkhu_65UwtvdFFp753d27OGIjqUR40wcMxWwhJWyb__HRcfuB2kCFezQ95Jmb7-vqlsHM7X8mRxzzNjAWzEbeW1XsnXiiwRtqrS5r-JiC67gSJ8-tyFQ7c2xp5RHsNrbdzm1P_y8crcADMpU49FGhAKgVgL/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />easier to just steal the food off the stones</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL4WT4c5c5PTpSpOjcVJXWWLR_30IcKmkggPBarxcC_TLzQbskW6ec3wSO7Ev5xHCiNUbjFRIWI1xIi8_tTVKoN44QJGg_15ieA70TvrX81qVFRv3j7aSO1WIQqA7Sx_TPV-o0gOzRyNxe5c0_P4iKxi04qgXdSvx6Tp0z2CAxqHnCkcISmRIHrxty2Fo/s2048/026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL4WT4c5c5PTpSpOjcVJXWWLR_30IcKmkggPBarxcC_TLzQbskW6ec3wSO7Ev5xHCiNUbjFRIWI1xIi8_tTVKoN44QJGg_15ieA70TvrX81qVFRv3j7aSO1WIQqA7Sx_TPV-o0gOzRyNxe5c0_P4iKxi04qgXdSvx6Tp0z2CAxqHnCkcISmRIHrxty2Fo/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyBmyH79bcFLPCwdNPNYxv9uuMXHGbHHkwvVsvDf61YP8cBf8KwajhzqJ576a7Hm37qVL6mU_HRyuxuRloMSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">squirrelproof?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHCVP23FX2JgyVQMcdiH3mB1UFsLM3PkMLtm0PBaXqX4YbqyVIGhfVIrQIhi-7TXbpBpPpsIusbatQhs2KpiM35yl1KwJ9FPbHJeBqCc7WSbOhqpP5FD5uf5nyjH2mtGv8abEvybmr0V9MaqgU6mchfKo12x5gyo6nc30_HpuRscgN6Gi1v3DbGVAd0L9/s2048/027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHCVP23FX2JgyVQMcdiH3mB1UFsLM3PkMLtm0PBaXqX4YbqyVIGhfVIrQIhi-7TXbpBpPpsIusbatQhs2KpiM35yl1KwJ9FPbHJeBqCc7WSbOhqpP5FD5uf5nyjH2mtGv8abEvybmr0V9MaqgU6mchfKo12x5gyo6nc30_HpuRscgN6Gi1v3DbGVAd0L9/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blackbirdbath</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EMlkV5FEOsmtn0gThtrq_9fgryq2h9v9A_ZpAoNPZRhHfOVB2M4gkBQ5Z1QKfnFvAyxcPv9V9dKRdy-nwmAcQ0YIU3B-ScORm2KReb3-KVdLVXk6sZ19CtRbBRSRD-A9IrhjDBCJR-bRJMuH6pB-i_tEGxBwq09hNnvwuq9Qt-amhRQ_wEgWa082HB9A/s2048/028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EMlkV5FEOsmtn0gThtrq_9fgryq2h9v9A_ZpAoNPZRhHfOVB2M4gkBQ5Z1QKfnFvAyxcPv9V9dKRdy-nwmAcQ0YIU3B-ScORm2KReb3-KVdLVXk6sZ19CtRbBRSRD-A9IrhjDBCJR-bRJMuH6pB-i_tEGxBwq09hNnvwuq9Qt-amhRQ_wEgWa082HB9A/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gaMFY4_KuBSw4DjLMcU_wQ9Pim3HCrLa_Wp6kKWnSwHFr0xi8S82byjocfGpST0iZZHXCJo5KgvBDZ4pMTcIyUBQyAchBhCZ0JpxX2p7hP5fMELHjLVbFOJ1HTp4Op4CF6pxpCZlLfTkuXRGR4iD35TrQB1N8bgCKScuxQejfhZmM8S5-vrmudM9a95J/s2048/029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gaMFY4_KuBSw4DjLMcU_wQ9Pim3HCrLa_Wp6kKWnSwHFr0xi8S82byjocfGpST0iZZHXCJo5KgvBDZ4pMTcIyUBQyAchBhCZ0JpxX2p7hP5fMELHjLVbFOJ1HTp4Op4CF6pxpCZlLfTkuXRGR4iD35TrQB1N8bgCKScuxQejfhZmM8S5-vrmudM9a95J/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was cold for just standing around. So when I put a small amount of bread out on this pedestal I was going to move on and leave them to it. However there was a lively response from several blackbirds, male and female. I was really pleased to see them and see them appreciate the food. So I put out quite a bit more and stood about taking photos for a bit longer. If there isn't a human present, the crows, magpies and pigeons will clear it up in seconds, leaving nothing for the smaller birds.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGkXXyCT1B_OUXXceWrzQlVFjBsixy9EKEXfnw47egFPoL77GcJ8CGCbfAsyPIPGA78SFq34mZrcWcpRny2eXcxaTJXlTNFUj4MG7O4qZHiCegWDulGTkA0V9-Id8jnUkC6DhY81Y-Z8Om9-lMNpq7UcRnJY2Lj3SQAGjHFYWFi3nv3crw3yPkJ74_Fqj/s2048/030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGkXXyCT1B_OUXXceWrzQlVFjBsixy9EKEXfnw47egFPoL77GcJ8CGCbfAsyPIPGA78SFq34mZrcWcpRny2eXcxaTJXlTNFUj4MG7O4qZHiCegWDulGTkA0V9-Id8jnUkC6DhY81Y-Z8Om9-lMNpq7UcRnJY2Lj3SQAGjHFYWFi3nv3crw3yPkJ74_Fqj/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdkYsOyLCVttOE_1DwT1rsSdzWw0dWQxDQ5ThN4XXLu6maqCbXMUibvbuQroGVaRfHB6SXlulD8UY1XbGuFJQqieE0zjYsDLVmQCSvsyIAYlaJ-Y8tIgpUhtCK_cLHbb0hGw9q7_DA1ARH6rmCsXiR8b-dn-AaxxJhR6jIiXz9SMiUaWqh8QvKamZqZ1H/s2048/031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="2048" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdkYsOyLCVttOE_1DwT1rsSdzWw0dWQxDQ5ThN4XXLu6maqCbXMUibvbuQroGVaRfHB6SXlulD8UY1XbGuFJQqieE0zjYsDLVmQCSvsyIAYlaJ-Y8tIgpUhtCK_cLHbb0hGw9q7_DA1ARH6rmCsXiR8b-dn-AaxxJhR6jIiXz9SMiUaWqh8QvKamZqZ1H/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkDfTec-HdkmKgNRiwdUzpIQmmhsIOe0ac8EVsor3CxivQHnESV6SnS_cVW5iYB9oznVfGAiVp9R7QJIsdWTwKi3NcqyTkKuECJaifuqqKgFC8T54JF_qpNdTxy19_tXjk_mUGfEsav19cftoXneWsfRqJi12qpGqJG9xnVCzzbV2bQURfoZTaFboX-6J/s2048/032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkDfTec-HdkmKgNRiwdUzpIQmmhsIOe0ac8EVsor3CxivQHnESV6SnS_cVW5iYB9oznVfGAiVp9R7QJIsdWTwKi3NcqyTkKuECJaifuqqKgFC8T54JF_qpNdTxy19_tXjk_mUGfEsav19cftoXneWsfRqJi12qpGqJG9xnVCzzbV2bQURfoZTaFboX-6J/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PUBcl0172307GGTlD2zB7Dmn8Zcy9d7lQWi4ITN2-UnAEs-aNxiLAOakfScalczwa_LfIertdh0sq4Pumqq07dVcKOl74vFfpBIljksMZdDrty2mFnXdZTBu8QWGtWX3_Rqvu-xw4Ne0SW4nxmPx6-N7uC6zW9MXrasGUFNHrGmve0BL9iuX43b38ZGv/s2048/033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PUBcl0172307GGTlD2zB7Dmn8Zcy9d7lQWi4ITN2-UnAEs-aNxiLAOakfScalczwa_LfIertdh0sq4Pumqq07dVcKOl74vFfpBIljksMZdDrty2mFnXdZTBu8QWGtWX3_Rqvu-xw4Ne0SW4nxmPx6-N7uC6zW9MXrasGUFNHrGmve0BL9iuX43b38ZGv/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOPG3cPMFJK2NAGBIaLpSdJEMEGxguF68-K_l7eKRiM1UPQ5JXSu9S8rH_RY8Lb8V-8jNJGievm4zJz2N0jSDdgmOTZocvNk33aCttjE6KLGmgMxHEyBc5ZKf5fNaJG6J7Kkhck0WQaCqNyPJNQXrzRREJ4binXkdKNLEvniQkGiBGPslgizLCzGHM3yq/s2048/034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOPG3cPMFJK2NAGBIaLpSdJEMEGxguF68-K_l7eKRiM1UPQ5JXSu9S8rH_RY8Lb8V-8jNJGievm4zJz2N0jSDdgmOTZocvNk33aCttjE6KLGmgMxHEyBc5ZKf5fNaJG6J7Kkhck0WQaCqNyPJNQXrzRREJ4binXkdKNLEvniQkGiBGPslgizLCzGHM3yq/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when you accidentally tuck toilet roll into your tights</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHSzL0XIOb2h3ifERsCcCwHqmLjwlCWikDrl1KIY4SNq0ByLm6f_5_YKldpt-EK9tFr9jyMlELghn0yT1-LF-b_7Qg3gm3S-1Qs6Aqv2hyphenhyphenVw7wBQ4nprPoFZ_h3FUOu0ZLVDOjzffSCJB2dcVUIK943qOiVv5elimQr305XEVp5seWSeNh8rywuS7TC6K/s2048/035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHSzL0XIOb2h3ifERsCcCwHqmLjwlCWikDrl1KIY4SNq0ByLm6f_5_YKldpt-EK9tFr9jyMlELghn0yT1-LF-b_7Qg3gm3S-1Qs6Aqv2hyphenhyphenVw7wBQ4nprPoFZ_h3FUOu0ZLVDOjzffSCJB2dcVUIK943qOiVv5elimQr305XEVp5seWSeNh8rywuS7TC6K/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">uninvited guest barges in</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX7uhbUYAQuN8muz3djbH_ioFSS0A-JFLlcjMgSd_phjoAvCTuU7VHBtRAj-Id55Zd3h-_SqTHzxyN4HfLqd4XOgPZeKjC3WuSy1GVnxtnY6J9nSfHWncuVP36waZOSm-nJH2T3z7mIAsHWjIRTuGTxt0VFQyceG42AZNU_u3L7MdSrylRmJYFp6clI3F/s2048/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX7uhbUYAQuN8muz3djbH_ioFSS0A-JFLlcjMgSd_phjoAvCTuU7VHBtRAj-Id55Zd3h-_SqTHzxyN4HfLqd4XOgPZeKjC3WuSy1GVnxtnY6J9nSfHWncuVP36waZOSm-nJH2T3z7mIAsHWjIRTuGTxt0VFQyceG42AZNU_u3L7MdSrylRmJYFp6clI3F/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The crows were very well behaved today. Probably more appreciative of food in colder weather, like everyone else. One was stood on a gravestone facing me and without really thinking I asked it to turn sideways on so I could get a profile shot which would work better. It instantly did exactly that and I said <i>thank you</i> before wondering if it had telepathically picked up on what I was requiring, assuming they don't actually understand the spoken word. It was almost unnerving (but in a good way.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySlRFdUCw7aSCu7s5R6M6UynsUjrJIMZMJsdc7qnhv1rtfaXPOP5divo6o4pQv0p8Vdn3sKs_3UqsOM863Mg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am not their biggest fan and am aware some people wouldn't feed or encourage them as they (crows) are not generous regarding young birds or any vulnerable small creatures. And I've seen them treat other crows in an extremely toxic way to use a current phrase. However they are beginning to win me over with their good looks and proximity and the way they hop and fly around the cemetery nearby, keeping me company. And they will regularly oblige with a noble pose atop a gravestone pedestal. <br /><br />If there are no more interesting species about I will share a little food with the magpies and crows as I did today and use them as <i>target practice</i> for the new camera. Specifically the pre-burst mode, which allows you to capture a scene in burst mode a second before it happens. So you can photo a bird taking off without having to anticipate it. It produced a series of magpies-with-open-wings shots that otherwise might be hit-and-hope, the old <i>spray-and-pray</i>! It (burst mode) does make for a huge number of extra shots you have to delete afterwards. It probably added about 650 shots to a day when I'd normally only take home 800 max.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCUaGUAG2HNCYVFUWP6flFk05IQvHLXoWfcAOQ1VAYpLzIsEck27s4pS_PWmpbthykeN3WEI6SUhA9nTkAGE5iAQ32h7XER5dhA0oWvZ9AbK_yJ-nZX2GSnuED25h_hhtpmtXLpPuVU57TK1pjtsZ_5awd6wgtvgGa0EgtgHd3GXOdfMD-zfca8EZdRFW/s2048/037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCUaGUAG2HNCYVFUWP6flFk05IQvHLXoWfcAOQ1VAYpLzIsEck27s4pS_PWmpbthykeN3WEI6SUhA9nTkAGE5iAQ32h7XER5dhA0oWvZ9AbK_yJ-nZX2GSnuED25h_hhtpmtXLpPuVU57TK1pjtsZ_5awd6wgtvgGa0EgtgHd3GXOdfMD-zfca8EZdRFW/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9ly29JV_IAqfqqrsjTk86E0a7Q1MjJ1VAQ4SnDcse2jQ0hFRYXAMUuIKgSHGOsLZvlMo0K7oLMgwVnAu-LK35RLBciad7i-ePxNCZE262w-rgbHQbOQZDouSsW2t9GVv51j7swix7PWYRfXsuCzEWAnsNNF7tpc1yqa9U0pwa-R5bSdpW01fluXbcgdL/s2048/038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9ly29JV_IAqfqqrsjTk86E0a7Q1MjJ1VAQ4SnDcse2jQ0hFRYXAMUuIKgSHGOsLZvlMo0K7oLMgwVnAu-LK35RLBciad7i-ePxNCZE262w-rgbHQbOQZDouSsW2t9GVv51j7swix7PWYRfXsuCzEWAnsNNF7tpc1yqa9U0pwa-R5bSdpW01fluXbcgdL/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-i5bmKVmmGh5NaKBTdl9dfoacAOOVkznsPeC-kkmVWIGrRBfMOmdUV0U6AvVOVjsaYOHfG-W9oDmYxs7qtnqlQEHK22EjRZqQAzTZrIay2eF4MKOklMKVOAIx8l_BEJSYVV5i505eUZV0KUCHJUIG9W4xCkL4PP1J1u9umsjcEuGXRekpIy_tWRfmwI6/s2048/039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-i5bmKVmmGh5NaKBTdl9dfoacAOOVkznsPeC-kkmVWIGrRBfMOmdUV0U6AvVOVjsaYOHfG-W9oDmYxs7qtnqlQEHK22EjRZqQAzTZrIay2eF4MKOklMKVOAIx8l_BEJSYVV5i505eUZV0KUCHJUIG9W4xCkL4PP1J1u9umsjcEuGXRekpIy_tWRfmwI6/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">still mid-Winter hunkerdown for the orange ladybirds<br />at <i>Peter Smellie</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVuMvtCnfHedxmlSAtzW6FRweNCOUGqFlQ1mjzzDQG9af6KRl0kvbhH5HX-TBgiZB1Zrum9E8wb7F_k4J1deaOj9JjnJjuw4UeYPJ7GegC91gWemMLHxNCZIVrC7xpkUcN9lcQY1JoIjCuRPvlqfifu77zPrnOuW0E9Y4gtHuIkuYqRURz2sEu83SQJyN/s2048/040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVuMvtCnfHedxmlSAtzW6FRweNCOUGqFlQ1mjzzDQG9af6KRl0kvbhH5HX-TBgiZB1Zrum9E8wb7F_k4J1deaOj9JjnJjuw4UeYPJ7GegC91gWemMLHxNCZIVrC7xpkUcN9lcQY1JoIjCuRPvlqfifu77zPrnOuW0E9Y4gtHuIkuYqRURz2sEu83SQJyN/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pleased to see this male bullfinch high in the trees and catching the late afternoon light on his vermillion chest. There have been a few about recently (recognisable from their distinctive call) but none very friendly or happy to pose for photos. A cheerful bird, and one of my favourite garden visitors.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC1cDPL5X37eRBLGNnH4eO8jwPpEGFQh6yR8RarB2j2yuXFjQFiipjobddbR6M6g_LJ9HSlc4NTbvnpYdd0uuiIUVkBk9DJA58Lqx_kJaFQ0TuOok4HaeZzIe-7i11pImXfKNt1aiZQql3vNKEOlIh09BA-SPtVhRCuWtaX-izqnCaec8SvOZsKsfphZc/s2048/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC1cDPL5X37eRBLGNnH4eO8jwPpEGFQh6yR8RarB2j2yuXFjQFiipjobddbR6M6g_LJ9HSlc4NTbvnpYdd0uuiIUVkBk9DJA58Lqx_kJaFQ0TuOok4HaeZzIe-7i11pImXfKNt1aiZQql3vNKEOlIh09BA-SPtVhRCuWtaX-izqnCaec8SvOZsKsfphZc/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWByUD3ZZDl8V1SXpdLumLrwz6IaD0Ckl_0wM_cz3xabCARJNPQw-SAhYKqZ-OAtd0X6KIkNq9GVQB34qTgEkzcf07iWmNyW-LvNOi0wVgn5KecF7mAJS54AS-Vh6gPJIruCk9XB7Wj9meL-btWqxhnJLSRnWVJ9OABGZIyI12pmXzbkOHQ9fBhj7-PEiw/s2048/042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWByUD3ZZDl8V1SXpdLumLrwz6IaD0Ckl_0wM_cz3xabCARJNPQw-SAhYKqZ-OAtd0X6KIkNq9GVQB34qTgEkzcf07iWmNyW-LvNOi0wVgn5KecF7mAJS54AS-Vh6gPJIruCk9XB7Wj9meL-btWqxhnJLSRnWVJ9OABGZIyI12pmXzbkOHQ9fBhj7-PEiw/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig-C5JjCin1KH25sSIoZd_BFlEeqrjN7e2GsZuZmiV9g7oPfC3dY4FyqyiXKMyj9EVsEJ_tNDSZyhyphenhyphenM2smkK5P0dVcAXiKICAw5-CG8X4zEbQuotY5i_7iukkGk9WId0YaR5ocoMJjPY1T83k9THw7iXTjC_QGItll8Jo2eUT2l3B9WUOZbAE2aAh2eXt/s2048/042a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig-C5JjCin1KH25sSIoZd_BFlEeqrjN7e2GsZuZmiV9g7oPfC3dY4FyqyiXKMyj9EVsEJ_tNDSZyhyphenhyphenM2smkK5P0dVcAXiKICAw5-CG8X4zEbQuotY5i_7iukkGk9WId0YaR5ocoMJjPY1T83k9THw7iXTjC_QGItll8Jo2eUT2l3B9WUOZbAE2aAh2eXt/s320/042a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30jS7MlYqIFA6U8DwLgZPGdEhJaXdvzpa25O3Av8TQ3ZnCZKd5Qyd5yLYujXT0CS_LnB15ospIpnsWDHxkE9NsWt-vmt1dCmbmK4Lax2t3inwhpI0yBfR3mc1oPTFDLWHV1Snfyu3DrKh906n7f9_l6ba9BCnKQzH-zMtArvVcXeKFRCJPXN-2xWt5E4g/s1200/mag%20gif%201.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30jS7MlYqIFA6U8DwLgZPGdEhJaXdvzpa25O3Av8TQ3ZnCZKd5Qyd5yLYujXT0CS_LnB15ospIpnsWDHxkE9NsWt-vmt1dCmbmK4Lax2t3inwhpI0yBfR3mc1oPTFDLWHV1Snfyu3DrKh906n7f9_l6ba9BCnKQzH-zMtArvVcXeKFRCJPXN-2xWt5E4g/s320/mag%20gif%201.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">magpie gif 1<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuT6ap9NLZCQMPkZ4E5gSVwPwx1uNVMOrRKscUcrV_x4MsUn1RPTDAKTGNi5G_5vodhvjGm2mGEpTvpCfmv6LMELq_H1z2zb57VKAeMsZszgQwDDxEOC6VSn8ORuNG5EnaH8RhoD3C0Nu-XZfzOVVegBFwAb5CEKu8dLvOil_sbvAfyovuhK1k_9JUz0C/s1200/mag%20gif%202.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuT6ap9NLZCQMPkZ4E5gSVwPwx1uNVMOrRKscUcrV_x4MsUn1RPTDAKTGNi5G_5vodhvjGm2mGEpTvpCfmv6LMELq_H1z2zb57VKAeMsZszgQwDDxEOC6VSn8ORuNG5EnaH8RhoD3C0Nu-XZfzOVVegBFwAb5CEKu8dLvOil_sbvAfyovuhK1k_9JUz0C/s320/mag%20gif%202.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">magpie gif 2</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuT1CdfmWxjHlmt7eJU2IVPy34t7k3I4Fnfvaj6CrUHlbaBdgAkGqUvUskptc6_r2HfGtcit5VZVx51-ogf66oSH1uyMIzNVqYrEeqE3kopIwOzbmsKVPOSVSVo_uJw0gfDv7zg5TOkxN2c8hATlcAY8YJDQctP8aObDnB0_4sz9_aVcbGidAee_A1ssS/s2048/043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuT1CdfmWxjHlmt7eJU2IVPy34t7k3I4Fnfvaj6CrUHlbaBdgAkGqUvUskptc6_r2HfGtcit5VZVx51-ogf66oSH1uyMIzNVqYrEeqE3kopIwOzbmsKVPOSVSVo_uJw0gfDv7zg5TOkxN2c8hATlcAY8YJDQctP8aObDnB0_4sz9_aVcbGidAee_A1ssS/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg602xapBe5GtRc-fJ-t670Z-57rpVtsYMr-VHOO-VlLNo2EWCnhMzsh_B3AptchKqxF8Xi0bMI7l5OMjvG-bPJfS-8FjkY8WmMJSD6RzMYbnZOahlubJXxE7eUGf2MmZzaAAK_C8sLfLB41h4HV2HVkcjhq5lvAQZ2l1uK00jjNHKiAUFubblI79MWs81m/s2048/044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg602xapBe5GtRc-fJ-t670Z-57rpVtsYMr-VHOO-VlLNo2EWCnhMzsh_B3AptchKqxF8Xi0bMI7l5OMjvG-bPJfS-8FjkY8WmMJSD6RzMYbnZOahlubJXxE7eUGf2MmZzaAAK_C8sLfLB41h4HV2HVkcjhq5lvAQZ2l1uK00jjNHKiAUFubblI79MWs81m/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Nice to see a couple of woodpeckers today. (Or the same one twice. Both male (red splash on back of head.)) Both North of the crypts in high trees. Not easy to photograph - to get a clear line of sight through the branches, but the animal detection of the camera really helps track the focus to the creature not the branches all around vying for attention. A larger sharper photo is easier to crop down which is an advantage over the bridge camera. I recently had the bridge camera out and noticed the real difference in focussing (or lack of!) on animals and birds. The G9 is slowly pulling into the lead for my affections!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYb2SCGJwZZjWRzVUI-JC8ULqtQogp2PQfg8BpJlZQ5g5h8cqVnYTF2VfFTJuhZElus3-N-YxrTB0d0JsdkZxDUPS5CpPh0OiITRk6hU20TUTyVUZno16rmAZfFCXdfBvd2wSBRChq2qnipxjH1z5wJ-YOQ1eB7BblTpu8ouFYcYRea7woBm7mEVckEg_/s2048/045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYb2SCGJwZZjWRzVUI-JC8ULqtQogp2PQfg8BpJlZQ5g5h8cqVnYTF2VfFTJuhZElus3-N-YxrTB0d0JsdkZxDUPS5CpPh0OiITRk6hU20TUTyVUZno16rmAZfFCXdfBvd2wSBRChq2qnipxjH1z5wJ-YOQ1eB7BblTpu8ouFYcYRea7woBm7mEVckEg_/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">However after a bit of typical woodpecker behaviour - hunting for grubs on dead (vertical) branches it settled on the horizontal section of this branch and had a snooze. There was still a bit of decent light left (it was only 2.20pm!) and I was disappointed it had nothing left to contribute. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddAe2HlFAyTeifVEoUxeYhN2A8at8ryuXQhdl1E7pVwD73FM-wmaTF8mGEDsBi7NvBCxANzH0e7HlbkiTb4Iewm0OjxLmwtGcXRX2j9nTOQiza325ufTIevJjvgtyzHzVzUAhsnfi6rb1wbUFmYdrumoUGQbmEVEiRm7JN8E6bKQjEWaLgoLxwFh_FROc/s2048/046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddAe2HlFAyTeifVEoUxeYhN2A8at8ryuXQhdl1E7pVwD73FM-wmaTF8mGEDsBi7NvBCxANzH0e7HlbkiTb4Iewm0OjxLmwtGcXRX2j9nTOQiza325ufTIevJjvgtyzHzVzUAhsnfi6rb1wbUFmYdrumoUGQbmEVEiRm7JN8E6bKQjEWaLgoLxwFh_FROc/s320/046.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />unlike this very active blue tit which seems to be saying HIYAAA</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecod9bfluaDCMyj4dykg8HndCVVd6P4T0FWMMr2vmKYRYKLKRNAfp7j3m7WwqZVC26rkqM0pdloMeZeJAflfkMuGgve9ZwVVL-sCsLYTryq86fK7wKPIAJDZQ_zGixD8mfEpy6MFYIrffMwcmbzvs8YWCrWP-XcsLuWQK77GbEBzkhTRr1KCMfjI_apbC/s2048/047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecod9bfluaDCMyj4dykg8HndCVVd6P4T0FWMMr2vmKYRYKLKRNAfp7j3m7WwqZVC26rkqM0pdloMeZeJAflfkMuGgve9ZwVVL-sCsLYTryq86fK7wKPIAJDZQ_zGixD8mfEpy6MFYIrffMwcmbzvs8YWCrWP-XcsLuWQK77GbEBzkhTRr1KCMfjI_apbC/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">snowdrops out and about</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzH6hUiWdVEsQogNEScQIzaiT7av4LSf-e8cMS1Qh1nub8pgirna96BuNgpSzvxu6AdVIjRKJY4ENKeR07WgfH72h6Qtx2FCQwEslFvVc1shJ07F1KhFhT74fzop2b08DdNtGU4kcq_OPv5PcIuQHaNij1sInMoGn2G_b1n2o4IpWgurgOg9EJWSWnnyN/s2048/048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="2048" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzH6hUiWdVEsQogNEScQIzaiT7av4LSf-e8cMS1Qh1nub8pgirna96BuNgpSzvxu6AdVIjRKJY4ENKeR07WgfH72h6Qtx2FCQwEslFvVc1shJ07F1KhFhT74fzop2b08DdNtGU4kcq_OPv5PcIuQHaNij1sInMoGn2G_b1n2o4IpWgurgOg9EJWSWnnyN/s320/048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">buds on many of the trees</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVD4tEz2sMs1sW3JonFvGso5pUyDgePA2dJBe7tmERJEbie6hBN0vO-rYbjKYvoEaauk572pA0tyIk9AfEUqvMUY5Y_fTE2wovaf-A0TG2bmHLe5qNXwt4uTjzCYIiocrTtr2MtPy88CYwzhCS3zQKCY90zKabKM8vGUH_N_AwgkbuZNCbQ9aXm3Z6lSn/s2048/049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVD4tEz2sMs1sW3JonFvGso5pUyDgePA2dJBe7tmERJEbie6hBN0vO-rYbjKYvoEaauk572pA0tyIk9AfEUqvMUY5Y_fTE2wovaf-A0TG2bmHLe5qNXwt4uTjzCYIiocrTtr2MtPy88CYwzhCS3zQKCY90zKabKM8vGUH_N_AwgkbuZNCbQ9aXm3Z6lSn/s320/049.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There were a number of finches very up high in the trees. Way easier to hear than see. Turn the volume up in the woodpecker video below and you can hear them. Occasionally I'd catch sight of one. This one (above) is a goldfinch and they tend to hang about in medium sized chatty groups. I think it was them chattering away in the trees during the woodpecker video.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn1IxhfUtUSXAOGhNxwhyphenhyphenO0mDmcSgRhUdT3uRR7inovVzpDiS-Uer8C-Q5lf1QIQWJPvW4PN5yI9L1aNmSBl4QVGNy0YMjVrjvjr_GGEUmQrVoINU8S4tAVghdDYBBqKwSkMUITYekdB77JVFOCljClhupB8i3-2UHMKPCIEa8PYOmiaSDqIYrxTIb1xR/s2048/050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn1IxhfUtUSXAOGhNxwhyphenhyphenO0mDmcSgRhUdT3uRR7inovVzpDiS-Uer8C-Q5lf1QIQWJPvW4PN5yI9L1aNmSBl4QVGNy0YMjVrjvjr_GGEUmQrVoINU8S4tAVghdDYBBqKwSkMUITYekdB77JVFOCljClhupB8i3-2UHMKPCIEa8PYOmiaSDqIYrxTIb1xR/s320/050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wren<br />I have often come across wrens near the East gate</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOaTvGiwis6msbeFRpdLcSA2yFS0fgQJtg1Nt8LdrxJvUcyipMqGux4F0fkTj3i9Ddcu8AmSH6Ha5d7xpiGzbPyC9Dyx-if6THXA2mMq7ZRaVjYMomZ2w942eeL4q-1TtorApgmKhJ5zXemAjZE9piDQ8KIBp_WYtBfvrUSz3wzjnTEiXhGECP-emA8SE/s2048/051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOaTvGiwis6msbeFRpdLcSA2yFS0fgQJtg1Nt8LdrxJvUcyipMqGux4F0fkTj3i9Ddcu8AmSH6Ha5d7xpiGzbPyC9Dyx-if6THXA2mMq7ZRaVjYMomZ2w942eeL4q-1TtorApgmKhJ5zXemAjZE9piDQ8KIBp_WYtBfvrUSz3wzjnTEiXhGECP-emA8SE/s320/051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over between the East gate and the secret garden there was quite a lot of redwing activity. A gang of maybe 20 were rummaging through the leaf litter. Impossible to see as they are the same colour as the leaf litter; you only become aware of them as they take off into the trees. If you stand very quietly they eventually descend again but no matter how stealthy you imagine you are being, they are impossible to see on the ground until they once again fly up to shelter in the trees. One of those birds that frequently has the uncanny ability to sense when you point a camera at them, and frustratingly, move to a harder-to-spot position.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKqNSIlCt1k8ERCikR9ObXEbwseCLfIp_BOfoykuHzlIJtGhP3MCs7kW1F0Z4Um3JnhmPI5nnWE5XE8J6Kq5P6fKhyKwHn-ArQ5iK5a-hr4uECQrZFzD9BeXGU5vw2cCpGv5x-dWW_lQfZw_xDfcxglTcSwvTR_YMMV_adMaDlNmXDngsCKuWJFqc8FK/s2048/053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKqNSIlCt1k8ERCikR9ObXEbwseCLfIp_BOfoykuHzlIJtGhP3MCs7kW1F0Z4Um3JnhmPI5nnWE5XE8J6Kq5P6fKhyKwHn-ArQ5iK5a-hr4uECQrZFzD9BeXGU5vw2cCpGv5x-dWW_lQfZw_xDfcxglTcSwvTR_YMMV_adMaDlNmXDngsCKuWJFqc8FK/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">redwing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo0l6MovUF2V8LNNJukjS7k5aH5osorKLKAWi5TRbVaIsF848vdpWeKuacNHKUbhNEQ-95zNHHhyphyphenhyphenkk8bHpIhJj-GEihyphenhyphenL9punzQFM6DfqV5bfMIVG6rv6eAQAEIpKrGFiGGtiMB1yEwlIhA1KnaEMAMk9ygx1d0f8gmsXOJEG1WdO8lmWomNqSIGta/s2048/054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo0l6MovUF2V8LNNJukjS7k5aH5osorKLKAWi5TRbVaIsF848vdpWeKuacNHKUbhNEQ-95zNHHhyphyphenhyphenkk8bHpIhJj-GEihyphenhyphenL9punzQFM6DfqV5bfMIVG6rv6eAQAEIpKrGFiGGtiMB1yEwlIhA1KnaEMAMk9ygx1d0f8gmsXOJEG1WdO8lmWomNqSIGta/s320/054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXqLL2gd6Kcep7Fr9q11HlQ6y_8sstbXzJiyiw-Kz56lOxQy2Uj21nmx13mFHNVJQ1Q6NfaP7-nZrSzPrhCiwkERwOhIBWzm_PJyrX80ZVfO_g7lI1FCeezDFt7SCMUs1pqJInT7xJDz7zUankIPtJefaYKMG8rv4M8YZ0LHuq2XPm_-YbzVfaVd656CK/s2048/055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXqLL2gd6Kcep7Fr9q11HlQ6y_8sstbXzJiyiw-Kz56lOxQy2Uj21nmx13mFHNVJQ1Q6NfaP7-nZrSzPrhCiwkERwOhIBWzm_PJyrX80ZVfO_g7lI1FCeezDFt7SCMUs1pqJInT7xJDz7zUankIPtJefaYKMG8rv4M8YZ0LHuq2XPm_-YbzVfaVd656CK/s320/055.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Just as I was considering heading home a woodpecker flew out and landed on one of the highest trees above the crypts. I had to crop the image considerably but am still pleased the new camera was able to get okay results with it being so far away. The tree is maybe 50 feet high and I was another 15 below that, along the front of the crypts. The woodpecker (another male or the same one greatly invigorated after its snooze!) called out several times. Was he looking for company or just proclaiming he was king of the castle? I can't say I'd recognise a woodpecker's call as readily as their more archetypal drumming, but I caught it on video so will try and post it below. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Bxy9kXTlkARhIke3AMFotDu8t3iIsrml-q5hwdrqK7wxk5UTtfBnEPgwYEoc2fJSUNz9rhx2AeSS1N5TfgTM9ezrneLQ5K4aEYOUnNU74Mg9UXF8DBXYiwGHmmaXDS5NSEIDNgomNWOgoV001tI_R7tRuM4Ic8Gjado8PSlw8kVlDJxEZl2P45bB1kBn/s2048/056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Bxy9kXTlkARhIke3AMFotDu8t3iIsrml-q5hwdrqK7wxk5UTtfBnEPgwYEoc2fJSUNz9rhx2AeSS1N5TfgTM9ezrneLQ5K4aEYOUnNU74Mg9UXF8DBXYiwGHmmaXDS5NSEIDNgomNWOgoV001tI_R7tRuM4Ic8Gjado8PSlw8kVlDJxEZl2P45bB1kBn/s320/056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went up to the higher ground above the crypts where I had to lean into some bushes to get an angle of attack. I could just get it into the frame and it did me a solid by turning around the topmost twig to show me its back-of-the-head red flash. It had stopped singing by now. Perhaps no takers. It flew off behind another tree and despite a search (in case it had come down in height and was sitting in sunlight on top of a gravestone - this never happens but you have to check) I couldn't see where it had gone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwoFmigu3I49S6pDTKlGpOGUf8CE_m5kpLUi5naQqc5KHAYnnpTPvCXA6UQHrg98r26zJY0IiZgDxX6xyPyQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">woodpecker(s)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEiWKwB01oHuUJUKb3n1_hVWy6AD9Z_rI3l5xglZpZ20NVnHK7i-GeEtzF9ubnRxtr5EWa_L5Yn4gyANlZqIhN0QMYsq-zkWJvgV8nJYd7b8Vq6jhZFHH8JIJYSAuwQxYNQMRbmPFSFzkbyHiHyCa-WzrzHMF8uVcgVjsZh7MPB5b3t9itQrS0W3840-d/s2048/057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEiWKwB01oHuUJUKb3n1_hVWy6AD9Z_rI3l5xglZpZ20NVnHK7i-GeEtzF9ubnRxtr5EWa_L5Yn4gyANlZqIhN0QMYsq-zkWJvgV8nJYd7b8Vq6jhZFHH8JIJYSAuwQxYNQMRbmPFSFzkbyHiHyCa-WzrzHMF8uVcgVjsZh7MPB5b3t9itQrS0W3840-d/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mary texted to let me know she was on her way. She wasn't that bothered about seeing stuff, as much as getting out in the remains of the sunlight and walking for a mile or 2. I hung about the tunnel taking photos of my pal the resident grey wagtail who, as long as you keep a respectful distance, doesn't mind a little company. Unfortunately he only haunts the muddy puddles and stream there, which is the least photogenic place in the whole cemetery. He also bobs most of his life requiring a three digit shutter speed which was almost impossible in the available light. Compromises were made, many pics taken, most deleted!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvN2c7LEO6BCzA3z3udx7Kbxenyn4-wX1wqwxXQ9Ykzyk0K1QAAnxm11JWL1BFqrtwq98qW_Clvt2QumLIhY6QroswsyocxD5jTiTpOGYJPvwaqOJrdc3xvXt0lrK0o02oo7Xu6iMgE0cgs1iUoEDIde2gi58u5ETMVCvyVkhum9Ab0TmprnCT5c8nBIW/s2048/058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvN2c7LEO6BCzA3z3udx7Kbxenyn4-wX1wqwxXQ9Ykzyk0K1QAAnxm11JWL1BFqrtwq98qW_Clvt2QumLIhY6QroswsyocxD5jTiTpOGYJPvwaqOJrdc3xvXt0lrK0o02oo7Xu6iMgE0cgs1iUoEDIde2gi58u5ETMVCvyVkhum9Ab0TmprnCT5c8nBIW/s320/058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW1nS1UiUwzxVnJ5IP2tPCLV4xu5kfjgqpa-7I0tL9ItKJ601f0Nq1bZyS8Z2RbgayqJc0TqzN-erZhYvmjMj9Sw-LeMUevCH_9GGBSDLIFhBaj4Jii0Xf6oCl8FmJFoLMzRqCh59X_9OAqwJhoNnhRbFJqwCgQzIiRUIe_vQzF94xAjldKYHVUu5RIs1/s2048/059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW1nS1UiUwzxVnJ5IP2tPCLV4xu5kfjgqpa-7I0tL9ItKJ601f0Nq1bZyS8Z2RbgayqJc0TqzN-erZhYvmjMj9Sw-LeMUevCH_9GGBSDLIFhBaj4Jii0Xf6oCl8FmJFoLMzRqCh59X_9OAqwJhoNnhRbFJqwCgQzIiRUIe_vQzF94xAjldKYHVUu5RIs1/s320/059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-swLd_9y_Tzp0RKYWHaV7m_HFk5F4UGS6Hlb61Qwby0mzM0oDLWi7UtX5F9z-kPuQKhegFASDk9Sth8MCsvEo2aqrBDhgChkLVSX8IdEuBqdppp6WMlC67jvXjh2yTTrAfEAI3T2DiHFsGpatKRZmINb1Sv-MD5HYgGhawW_unaXRrnYw6MV7dxngs_s/s2048/060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-swLd_9y_Tzp0RKYWHaV7m_HFk5F4UGS6Hlb61Qwby0mzM0oDLWi7UtX5F9z-kPuQKhegFASDk9Sth8MCsvEo2aqrBDhgChkLVSX8IdEuBqdppp6WMlC67jvXjh2yTTrAfEAI3T2DiHFsGpatKRZmINb1Sv-MD5HYgGhawW_unaXRrnYw6MV7dxngs_s/s320/060.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile Mary now texted a photo of the crypts to let me know she had arrived. We cannot have passed each other around the tunnel without seeing one another so I presume she arrived on a broomstick and didn't let on. It was quite puzzling. We finally met and took some photos of a bullfinch but really it was far too dark for any decent photos and we turned homewards after one last look at the remains of the bird feeder. The robin and squirrel were still there and waved goodbye. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUUCT5XPa5MDDU9hODCJAJxhhB5ApCnymcs6agN7tWjO2MM_PcQzoluVRqhI0CdMQ9mfsUNZWjGx_usqfz3NCHWP0aWSN43MrO7lP2oDt17uY9HgshhTkFYE4BNtmX6drBd4JEvSmaqt1w5WvHKVRhCjlKVkRxeVS3vQnH4w1rgXXjP5abAEv3NwXWLqG/s2048/061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUUCT5XPa5MDDU9hODCJAJxhhB5ApCnymcs6agN7tWjO2MM_PcQzoluVRqhI0CdMQ9mfsUNZWjGx_usqfz3NCHWP0aWSN43MrO7lP2oDt17uY9HgshhTkFYE4BNtmX6drBd4JEvSmaqt1w5WvHKVRhCjlKVkRxeVS3vQnH4w1rgXXjP5abAEv3NwXWLqG/s320/061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all the light gone</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMHFi5LT70ZDvdIU8mQEDq6SbeWUSKC71qQFCA2tGPIUoxFw8vkUE8Y1gjue1ofb9R0UzYC6Jrb5qTj2ClyLYH38LmAmwXq6-3ci8RTe8_zBLtOA5bR3yItE2y5F-v9PwCpE-Oez7idsBssjj7Vql1aOfv4ArnTpBvveqTorufZfE7Wmjnvz3i4VH0lX1/s2048/062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMHFi5LT70ZDvdIU8mQEDq6SbeWUSKC71qQFCA2tGPIUoxFw8vkUE8Y1gjue1ofb9R0UzYC6Jrb5qTj2ClyLYH38LmAmwXq6-3ci8RTe8_zBLtOA5bR3yItE2y5F-v9PwCpE-Oez7idsBssjj7Vql1aOfv4ArnTpBvveqTorufZfE7Wmjnvz3i4VH0lX1/s320/062.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />bullfinch (f)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62gkd_NufaCbMBPH4MV9oK_O7W46o2ANPIEA0xRZJnXyUQzMdhNKhHEhSJHkwsPyliPf_bxN74DHDfDSSyL6GaMfsNrKhcmdRvirgbtoqRcxAKsQO0WWO_cuTnZjCgsS9df_3Lbkgj7ghyphenhyphenOjR6QJ-KX4jawXRyvJ39Ye_81a9DP2p3XxskuZwFQLaYld1/s2048/063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62gkd_NufaCbMBPH4MV9oK_O7W46o2ANPIEA0xRZJnXyUQzMdhNKhHEhSJHkwsPyliPf_bxN74DHDfDSSyL6GaMfsNrKhcmdRvirgbtoqRcxAKsQO0WWO_cuTnZjCgsS9df_3Lbkgj7ghyphenhyphenOjR6QJ-KX4jawXRyvJ39Ye_81a9DP2p3XxskuZwFQLaYld1/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74H6RIElF62d_8vsbSg3l736p-DBrDnlPliVM6ybwaxSUDx6IZADVX-2KIJTO4BSf9U0ItDd1s4Fn-andyofZz9I3CRcpQhrgUWd7ysuKVaUmXTD9MyRcGi0ybUI2rBy8hNjfrrwuIUA-FNcFt1BA9ldg3qC3ywWZSY5zFkvMXdFo4LK_t3zUX9dEzQbw/s2048/064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74H6RIElF62d_8vsbSg3l736p-DBrDnlPliVM6ybwaxSUDx6IZADVX-2KIJTO4BSf9U0ItDd1s4Fn-andyofZz9I3CRcpQhrgUWd7ysuKVaUmXTD9MyRcGi0ybUI2rBy8hNjfrrwuIUA-FNcFt1BA9ldg3qC3ywWZSY5zFkvMXdFo4LK_t3zUX9dEzQbw/s320/064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />goodnight robin!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzctvRZSRwrV2HcxQzyQ9u0PG8V9QIvS_YZSD6QTtQMgjPG5CNOBRReV9CWKjibt0W69alVib-I0rCUSJSsXtDP_MwXPnB2LOfZHdxIRs9xZf_dI4gYE1txm5gczhb3YoeRQKrLSPrixQVE0GS_FmIcAjfjTH2wwNdcEfC_gsXTxysxGgLDoNoG1xe64Zx/s2048/065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzctvRZSRwrV2HcxQzyQ9u0PG8V9QIvS_YZSD6QTtQMgjPG5CNOBRReV9CWKjibt0W69alVib-I0rCUSJSsXtDP_MwXPnB2LOfZHdxIRs9xZf_dI4gYE1txm5gczhb3YoeRQKrLSPrixQVE0GS_FmIcAjfjTH2wwNdcEfC_gsXTxysxGgLDoNoG1xe64Zx/s320/065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goodnight squirrel!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1nlx5U1Hc5goDtah0aY-yvDm-3NsFGikDARu5lm0feXAcCp4JRPMcDxqJQCFYcPzIAxyNnDqqgUtQQPz7LkAdwatWeA490_UoIe6vu7fYODCrgHAr0QptxM-ucJH-gUNxu8pbdu5ExJlJpPlbBDv-0tQSxjQlr3bSZiuuh7lyYCc90VnPxh21AgrabTF/s1951/066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1951" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1nlx5U1Hc5goDtah0aY-yvDm-3NsFGikDARu5lm0feXAcCp4JRPMcDxqJQCFYcPzIAxyNnDqqgUtQQPz7LkAdwatWeA490_UoIe6vu7fYODCrgHAr0QptxM-ucJH-gUNxu8pbdu5ExJlJpPlbBDv-0tQSxjQlr3bSZiuuh7lyYCc90VnPxh21AgrabTF/s320/066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the end<br />queue <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp7_u0kcQRo" target="_blank">Waltons' harmonica</a> ending</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><p></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718942774945201459.post-26687349583748559492024-01-12T05:32:00.000-08:002024-01-12T05:32:20.026-08:00back to warr<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIkDtGu4jq9RWFiN8hiD8Gj5Ve90sDuMkNyLA6CNMWn0kMmQuPcxknzH2Fw1UvMg7Q6012-0Er_yfBOOslDPjaimqM2q8B8Idofj-QBqCKAT9yso6Zfa_B4iZgaGpIZp05nd7EDLdIQ8SQ3TPu39oslKM2bIkcS-QpJtitb3kZ6yJlTX0uSToXvEtZID0/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIkDtGu4jq9RWFiN8hiD8Gj5Ve90sDuMkNyLA6CNMWn0kMmQuPcxknzH2Fw1UvMg7Q6012-0Er_yfBOOslDPjaimqM2q8B8Idofj-QBqCKAT9yso6Zfa_B4iZgaGpIZp05nd7EDLdIQ8SQ3TPu39oslKM2bIkcS-QpJtitb3kZ6yJlTX0uSToXvEtZID0/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">11th January</div><div style="text-align: left;">Just before we went to Tenerife in the first half of December I got some birdfeeders from Lidl and birdfood from Dofos. I thought I'd wait till later to install it at Warriston and it has taken till now to get started. Well actually I put a test feeder there around November. It was a very cheap thin plastic job I picked up somewhere and initially it fell from where it was hung. I taped it up with gaffer tape and it stayed in place but the plastic was gnawed through, no doubt by one of the animals it was designed to prevent feeding - squirrel would be first suspect, but crow, rat or pigeon also in the running. The Lidl version is metal with a wire protection cage to give the smaller garden birds access without allowing squirrels, magpies, pigeons and crows access. At least that is the plan. It cost a fiver, about a fifth of what the middle classes will pay to get one out the back of an RSPB magazine. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhQXKV35mO2T9jtGhBn2jqc8lnTAxA6lu9pbe4wGkEIo5gBH58vjCLpJA8UP2oWYwE08dI3M4O8g-AxGVmMNvlU0DiQrwf9gwm5e7sWfzLTIyn4Ygdw7BjkAB1GPuQzVxmdgXGksb98qxVJA4oH0WpKdFXtvepc2y4otJlAzMm5n8clIlBxTCc8o42Tmu/s2048/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhQXKV35mO2T9jtGhBn2jqc8lnTAxA6lu9pbe4wGkEIo5gBH58vjCLpJA8UP2oWYwE08dI3M4O8g-AxGVmMNvlU0DiQrwf9gwm5e7sWfzLTIyn4Ygdw7BjkAB1GPuQzVxmdgXGksb98qxVJA4oH0WpKdFXtvepc2y4otJlAzMm5n8clIlBxTCc8o42Tmu/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A combination of poor weather and midwinter torpidity meant I haven't been past Warriston in ages. Also there is often little to see and photograph there when the light is grey and sludgy and the animals and birds are all indoors sipping cocoa and watching tv. Long overdue a visit I threw some birdfeeding kit and the new camera into a backpack and marched there in goretex shoes to keep my feet dry against the mudfest below the tunnel. (There is a liquid finger of fudge all over the path there that requires very careful tip-toeing.) Another encouragement to go along was someone posting on Friends of Warriston Cemetery fb group page that there was what appeared to be an injured fox in the secret garden. I bought some chicken in Sainsbury's on the way in caser it was still there.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGiY8SGM-Hh0od9aC3ypn_BPDyMAVq6Rwc7vWrN8zEvnCrax19cdblcTJLKojoUEJIDwgnZvQJi09t-ozXq5dHAexpML211LvysCDIzL_61Oy-ZU-Nd4oQj-WpixFwnU9BeNCmYaOq36rZ8r1Bv_jMSnhpcrAuPgLMP3MGNazWuVG8lGDWOZCyiTX4qFb/s2048/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGiY8SGM-Hh0od9aC3ypn_BPDyMAVq6Rwc7vWrN8zEvnCrax19cdblcTJLKojoUEJIDwgnZvQJi09t-ozXq5dHAexpML211LvysCDIzL_61Oy-ZU-Nd4oQj-WpixFwnU9BeNCmYaOq36rZ8r1Bv_jMSnhpcrAuPgLMP3MGNazWuVG8lGDWOZCyiTX4qFb/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was making my way there when I got distracted by a robin or 2 near where I used to put out food on a flat pedestal. Okay, you've got my attention. I took photos but the light was rubbish. Only just enough to get the speed up to 1/50th of a second at 3200iso. I heard some rustling in the ivy floor cover and thought it might be a rat so quietly had a look. The head of a female blackbird popped out!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2agZYTgZv60IKJDvBa-TTuGI1XZWMab6jaHAIvynTeziIgql4M8zLKvZbqOmydQI4K6X4RF0rczeHYFgLakcZHgJ-yEtSiix6mTL7GqbPrUkeYAXJOteD0wQX1rqN2fKkqaqjTagIg0VKMyVoAs2x40q0qsZPt8tpTTYspFfXt_srEg02YnQd9jOjqnfo/s2048/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2agZYTgZv60IKJDvBa-TTuGI1XZWMab6jaHAIvynTeziIgql4M8zLKvZbqOmydQI4K6X4RF0rczeHYFgLakcZHgJ-yEtSiix6mTL7GqbPrUkeYAXJOteD0wQX1rqN2fKkqaqjTagIg0VKMyVoAs2x40q0qsZPt8tpTTYspFfXt_srEg02YnQd9jOjqnfo/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCnwbb-diY9jBn-2__jVCn_tv-BfT4nUDQ18pdbMvJ-gyFLrTBMxPF5xnjAAhOb8eDQdt9Ejrn8HtM7O_-X9Ufgeq_h0dbk_7bn92ufdwiew1QlQY6BPelOrKZ4phvxVJcJS_TvZFW8UE9Kw82cxCF_5Ogxu8kQCWiwrQNJGPXYfGQT_myADoYr8hYVeP/s2048/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCnwbb-diY9jBn-2__jVCn_tv-BfT4nUDQ18pdbMvJ-gyFLrTBMxPF5xnjAAhOb8eDQdt9Ejrn8HtM7O_-X9Ufgeq_h0dbk_7bn92ufdwiew1QlQY6BPelOrKZ4phvxVJcJS_TvZFW8UE9Kw82cxCF_5Ogxu8kQCWiwrQNJGPXYfGQT_myADoYr8hYVeP/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">meanwhile squirrels stripped the holly berries</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBu8tzd5zNUD8unzg-4-zLGP2tMXvuLhPLgPcrDObkTUnoPuCk9rBR_maLyPkYUzeqoWYVJ3f0ON4cgupKzNNJGWjsJM8rCQ8UyOPtcUyQO_P_i5UI0mpMyCbmc8fvl2QkCzhKnhLg2Em1fzIEIXZEEyZYLngr19gvx8KT3Jo90SuIRs31HUIh3-IBph6i/s2048/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBu8tzd5zNUD8unzg-4-zLGP2tMXvuLhPLgPcrDObkTUnoPuCk9rBR_maLyPkYUzeqoWYVJ3f0ON4cgupKzNNJGWjsJM8rCQ8UyOPtcUyQO_P_i5UI0mpMyCbmc8fvl2QkCzhKnhLg2Em1fzIEIXZEEyZYLngr19gvx8KT3Jo90SuIRs31HUIh3-IBph6i/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9fwpF6wTLlJhwXAox2M-W00N49VleZqmGtaLWdgNuuGRilY-QQQ5furtEdGLgQ4sMKaMN4gAn71WeLQl3Z3qerruX5ONXoVA9fHAn_elPT-2b1I6bA0at0dFDMGXv3m3cVM5DLQXrMDtvd0oKq3MJu1VAk7jIXSBauiVzk7M9w7SVJrSz7X8P9xuIzlL/s2048/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9fwpF6wTLlJhwXAox2M-W00N49VleZqmGtaLWdgNuuGRilY-QQQ5furtEdGLgQ4sMKaMN4gAn71WeLQl3Z3qerruX5ONXoVA9fHAn_elPT-2b1I6bA0at0dFDMGXv3m3cVM5DLQXrMDtvd0oKq3MJu1VAk7jIXSBauiVzk7M9w7SVJrSz7X8P9xuIzlL/s320/006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't find any sign of a fox but the crows recognised me and mooched some peanuts. I also spent way too much time stalking noisy wrens and getting way too few photos to justify the hunt. But it did get me<i> in the zone </i>and no doubt quite a bit of quality time passed even if the results did not justify it. I was back among friends and enjoying spending time with them even if it was just another drab day in January.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNbX5fd9ODQntt4spCs9sNk4lMcJl5vsDoNE67GvFd79qx-PQAGJyKNXl-8AIhB6o33muO6eNPI493DxmbdAOGr3maysVJVigr09_l5J6aRfL3LabG20QUmgpESMgd2LujOlZItsr6PtF7JfrhZYoHRnl-i25iuNjrH_2E3F1x4a_BV2BYDhRJO5kPzV/s2048/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNbX5fd9ODQntt4spCs9sNk4lMcJl5vsDoNE67GvFd79qx-PQAGJyKNXl-8AIhB6o33muO6eNPI493DxmbdAOGr3maysVJVigr09_l5J6aRfL3LabG20QUmgpESMgd2LujOlZItsr6PtF7JfrhZYoHRnl-i25iuNjrH_2E3F1x4a_BV2BYDhRJO5kPzV/s320/007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zlPWu-vGEuCt0f8f4AeO9d5VKG4n7ulbBNmNNDVyOx1J0G5BEvO5GJQAxs_yNk8ZnlTbngGZGTVgmxhmsqUzo3HsAXPXljRqFmedVJLY3HqkCCwBuWvQy_AgxPp54pqufCIxY-pwwL2H8RbC41k3o-MlI56GRVCMnWgghwvNJ10HhVUbbDtqygL4gTEU/s2048/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zlPWu-vGEuCt0f8f4AeO9d5VKG4n7ulbBNmNNDVyOx1J0G5BEvO5GJQAxs_yNk8ZnlTbngGZGTVgmxhmsqUzo3HsAXPXljRqFmedVJLY3HqkCCwBuWvQy_AgxPp54pqufCIxY-pwwL2H8RbC41k3o-MlI56GRVCMnWgghwvNJ10HhVUbbDtqygL4gTEU/s320/008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzZgW4Oc8WyvRQfcr9OMq5w3gG3VC1d50k_tVtahuPLflzrjTjIll6HIc4rbMzjt2vEZLDtgoMiyRYRP76FNT3jhvZTEQDX7J1Pi2e_N37jNx7iKpwECH9BsHrwUQLA8ZJqCtIkhE6MjOEd_r6rZl6LuAGY5MiwMgy85zSnOkf8Yi1Z4CrHkBJ5g1DIsR/s2048/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzZgW4Oc8WyvRQfcr9OMq5w3gG3VC1d50k_tVtahuPLflzrjTjIll6HIc4rbMzjt2vEZLDtgoMiyRYRP76FNT3jhvZTEQDX7J1Pi2e_N37jNx7iKpwECH9BsHrwUQLA8ZJqCtIkhE6MjOEd_r6rZl6LuAGY5MiwMgy85zSnOkf8Yi1Z4CrHkBJ5g1DIsR/s320/009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcewYgNQKORazBfgMSLN3scOrOr6qTBC_gBnT3DNH2VvlQmDzH5a4yKLzLYn2SWFoHH2e9NJaW-Gzy4icxg14kwJb5vrc1JAvrRQz65KSOQDQDKWGtlUgm3FZho2Xc0O_lLMv0ARc7LWrOkc8Hb2pr9oIgiW6etlm4T9JDetelkcXv0HG5TYWpWhbhLmZ/s2048/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcewYgNQKORazBfgMSLN3scOrOr6qTBC_gBnT3DNH2VvlQmDzH5a4yKLzLYn2SWFoHH2e9NJaW-Gzy4icxg14kwJb5vrc1JAvrRQz65KSOQDQDKWGtlUgm3FZho2Xc0O_lLMv0ARc7LWrOkc8Hb2pr9oIgiW6etlm4T9JDetelkcXv0HG5TYWpWhbhLmZ/s320/010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2KczzvX_w0rBLL5q-nBg9kc0crXL-8DHKztSfK6XUaT86X-zQhQ01cgX-vqKtG3O9p22a81ghBtNUJzi3qkNzJrvzFJHRB1lg1kbI_-TzuX4Cwv_WNLYsPhKDJu2bveOM1hMH948DcVJ_n1jm69KDbXH9JLmcqCJiTKxbTDMyweKyhLYkEjUQwAlBGBb/s2048/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2KczzvX_w0rBLL5q-nBg9kc0crXL-8DHKztSfK6XUaT86X-zQhQ01cgX-vqKtG3O9p22a81ghBtNUJzi3qkNzJrvzFJHRB1lg1kbI_-TzuX4Cwv_WNLYsPhKDJu2bveOM1hMH948DcVJ_n1jm69KDbXH9JLmcqCJiTKxbTDMyweKyhLYkEjUQwAlBGBb/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzEAh2XFAOEIRShb-gEOnNKLZxC_xFSLVB4wU8_zPotT8CqZ9SFoRFiwMRExmjQz8-kBlKLbxblpAJJLKb4QCXxmQhoxrcPzAsOkkSW2frmA_o1gO8KL1eSIgxE7NLxhMhN8rJ-XDXFpGDX8b1cqmYE59GQ0oZ1pRsDU236VCpzT0FBYe2QhlwfTda2CH/s2048/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="2048" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzEAh2XFAOEIRShb-gEOnNKLZxC_xFSLVB4wU8_zPotT8CqZ9SFoRFiwMRExmjQz8-kBlKLbxblpAJJLKb4QCXxmQhoxrcPzAsOkkSW2frmA_o1gO8KL1eSIgxE7NLxhMhN8rJ-XDXFpGDX8b1cqmYE59GQ0oZ1pRsDU236VCpzT0FBYe2QhlwfTda2CH/s320/013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH46V8tunWW7idWmASBbcK_9I0SLrcOeKameSQPkS29bMamd2oSa2t_Eeqvmkgbwi9JZdFyV0Ee63e6k6DQMR8keQnHZ8CZJQzC4Ohpi4d4cDBB6E3OODc4ryNUAskzuRb-fhTxtDeytn6JoZwbpT3vYjktJx_UnWaSHfq4RHJMjoddnCA-qqn4LyuCnK/s2048/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH46V8tunWW7idWmASBbcK_9I0SLrcOeKameSQPkS29bMamd2oSa2t_Eeqvmkgbwi9JZdFyV0Ee63e6k6DQMR8keQnHZ8CZJQzC4Ohpi4d4cDBB6E3OODc4ryNUAskzuRb-fhTxtDeytn6JoZwbpT3vYjktJx_UnWaSHfq4RHJMjoddnCA-qqn4LyuCnK/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I went along to the St Marks bridge end of the riverside area. I used to spend quite a bit of time here esp in the Winter when there is less leaf (light) shade. I decided to place the feeder here and hung it slightly out of sight behind the 1859 stone. I expected it to take a couple of days before the birds trusted it enough to explore, however within 30 mins the local robin, which is friendly or rather, curious, popped up to have a look. I was very pleased. The squirrel also made an extended appearance to eat the large amount of seeds and nuts I put out on a low stone. Not sure if he remembered me or was just on the lookout for any kind of a handout. He was less flighty than before, although several times had to scoot up a tree at top speed partly followed by a barky dog. Unfortunately there is no shortage of dogwalkers coming through, although the vast majority are well behaved. I even saw one pair coming down the path and turn off to take a different route, after seeing myself (with camera), which was really considerate. Thanks!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIPGHmDqxBz4K5DRgK-ktqNMkNVDWIYGOO44W4d-ZVMdRYRUZCu4kb14_z3WgE-oZyiZK2gXIAOC3hqVWlPsCsrlizs3bY0I4ti9UZMhXrTE3L5z_SC6aBaxCXmKOZ2ahY0rGs0nrbFAGgbiaJXdMK1glswySLhBYeAs1TRskhr5oSmpqn2qdgfFEoYOX/s2048/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIPGHmDqxBz4K5DRgK-ktqNMkNVDWIYGOO44W4d-ZVMdRYRUZCu4kb14_z3WgE-oZyiZK2gXIAOC3hqVWlPsCsrlizs3bY0I4ti9UZMhXrTE3L5z_SC6aBaxCXmKOZ2ahY0rGs0nrbFAGgbiaJXdMK1glswySLhBYeAs1TRskhr5oSmpqn2qdgfFEoYOX/s320/015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHh5qyfGkdcM2Dv1uILI8jv1i3vMBpnnxRoyK9jj6tfcspiCN2SWeYk4zlOFJ0uSYd9-NrSNcmgKebVlY3Wl-yaU7AMljJWMRRwP5cw5CoYxRE8KpPWwn2D0j9WUmgmUiQlqCoAUd-MPd-mZ1aeSptF2OUo8tzGRCZZrrq61FD2vOLznkGSSANxKZCkFc/s2048/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHh5qyfGkdcM2Dv1uILI8jv1i3vMBpnnxRoyK9jj6tfcspiCN2SWeYk4zlOFJ0uSYd9-NrSNcmgKebVlY3Wl-yaU7AMljJWMRRwP5cw5CoYxRE8KpPWwn2D0j9WUmgmUiQlqCoAUd-MPd-mZ1aeSptF2OUo8tzGRCZZrrq61FD2vOLznkGSSANxKZCkFc/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">installed at last<br />contains fatballs, peanuts, macadamias</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaXJRIX2Kc_Hf720TPk1zoFOD137gQHjINARpJGCqVTN3ih0CjzW-RonV8rJ5PuCtWOqPfv0iomUn7buzff2d7JSmVaQl4MRcXfJFulbbVWQjCnG_jRpGCoLU9TZzv8P_N5q1oCRgzVodAro6dYom6axypNViLxoarQfUydKWUBeyZABm6nw6f5-XKCND/s2048/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaXJRIX2Kc_Hf720TPk1zoFOD137gQHjINARpJGCqVTN3ih0CjzW-RonV8rJ5PuCtWOqPfv0iomUn7buzff2d7JSmVaQl4MRcXfJFulbbVWQjCnG_jRpGCoLU9TZzv8P_N5q1oCRgzVodAro6dYom6axypNViLxoarQfUydKWUBeyZABm6nw6f5-XKCND/s320/019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewn8AKjotivCzKV5M7DBylrzmrQJGT3MSUK3x4HCOJODkjZlVC-pKy5ubaDHEyDdKUg69dMe-GUBZEJdMKfgvPMTvpM4Hvj7ZNmqexeBEqfYPwc3a9TlUdf3sy16MJIJum9j5daL8vobCig7RxdJChQhZmNyKFxLaZxP_IgSLDt58-23Zi6q33R2aZcAF/s2048/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="2048" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewn8AKjotivCzKV5M7DBylrzmrQJGT3MSUK3x4HCOJODkjZlVC-pKy5ubaDHEyDdKUg69dMe-GUBZEJdMKfgvPMTvpM4Hvj7ZNmqexeBEqfYPwc3a9TlUdf3sy16MJIJum9j5daL8vobCig7RxdJChQhZmNyKFxLaZxP_IgSLDt58-23Zi6q33R2aZcAF/s320/020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrY8d-OtDi_OxABTZ_IDUWyv0oD61EswAGjUksTULKKqHlnmoDw4FLGfyYkuivgFO2rFl5NcXhsiJ2S3QrCENIXbn9KlIEHZYLyCBgzd_Mf-EjOBQ1MrhOgLcIjdKVKF1zlB0umxU8_mNT2gkpp2y6sW0kxH5kOKUXpmoiOuhwjBH9NRu3eEzwZwhyphenhyphenFCH/s2048/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrY8d-OtDi_OxABTZ_IDUWyv0oD61EswAGjUksTULKKqHlnmoDw4FLGfyYkuivgFO2rFl5NcXhsiJ2S3QrCENIXbn9KlIEHZYLyCBgzd_Mf-EjOBQ1MrhOgLcIjdKVKF1zlB0umxU8_mNT2gkpp2y6sW0kxH5kOKUXpmoiOuhwjBH9NRu3eEzwZwhyphenhyphenFCH/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl1GTjvE5QbtGIJB2HYUlB9Obr35oKqI8k69O315DbRfvw_CJL0noqVdbLgriqWQnoW_iEFaFFxSEfwgTP1gj8jjrRIlH2a565Dwqd3cUEfpHCZnV1W5SNROM9bzPB-I8T1jqYvlhpoLvZWnjABcFvkxrv1FuYLxQumtMOYlB0E86Od-ME5MFrlwXqb5l/s2048/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl1GTjvE5QbtGIJB2HYUlB9Obr35oKqI8k69O315DbRfvw_CJL0noqVdbLgriqWQnoW_iEFaFFxSEfwgTP1gj8jjrRIlH2a565Dwqd3cUEfpHCZnV1W5SNROM9bzPB-I8T1jqYvlhpoLvZWnjABcFvkxrv1FuYLxQumtMOYlB0E86Od-ME5MFrlwXqb5l/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This backbird saw the food from a distance and flew straight over, ignoring my presence just a few feet away. He did keep an eye on me the whole time (between shovelfuls) but put away a huge amount of sunflower hearts before going into a trancelike state. Not dissimilar to post xmas lunch, I imagined. Just stood on the 1859 stone, motionless. I took a moment to realise then wondered how close I could get without triggering a response. A couple of slow steps closer and he kind of roused himself, had a last seed or 2 and then flew over to another tree where he had an afternoon nap. I was flattered it was no distance away and lower than head-height. I let him sleep off his feast.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0zTwglHMMOkfZES8B0tK2nOg-9o53nOPSaBY_T7VVPwv_EILFTXrTuo6RQpgwIAsCCOpADW8WDFJx1Gchy9TglrLJMPPxa7xr_vaejRTxiipTabf_zHQ6Ccd3pCUNqMfkuNGmwrdXptCeF0gCQyb4R4WUqs2E1xbs-5OyFpcNbvbXzgDstfftFJbNNNA/s2048/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0zTwglHMMOkfZES8B0tK2nOg-9o53nOPSaBY_T7VVPwv_EILFTXrTuo6RQpgwIAsCCOpADW8WDFJx1Gchy9TglrLJMPPxa7xr_vaejRTxiipTabf_zHQ6Ccd3pCUNqMfkuNGmwrdXptCeF0gCQyb4R4WUqs2E1xbs-5OyFpcNbvbXzgDstfftFJbNNNA/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM49egPRKS4vfmp5kEg8ogdnODwOcX2rf-mkMdMOF6STMRe20l6dYOK3t6kBnSqHCVyJ_E7WIzl_t9G7rerj0YfA5ozqik6-WT5u5_77GVYZmBfXGNKBEKx9Td6x6EBKjLWvqV_3uZHPNeX4fMndDj190FVgc3OdXqpa8uVxW3kBgmtQnyAPIJ4TB7fye/s2048/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM49egPRKS4vfmp5kEg8ogdnODwOcX2rf-mkMdMOF6STMRe20l6dYOK3t6kBnSqHCVyJ_E7WIzl_t9G7rerj0YfA5ozqik6-WT5u5_77GVYZmBfXGNKBEKx9Td6x6EBKjLWvqV_3uZHPNeX4fMndDj190FVgc3OdXqpa8uVxW3kBgmtQnyAPIJ4TB7fye/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">zombie blackie!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNfRFplnhABSMvEqxwHMVOzXFiQAeQWoLq9YJvy8K3chiG-2GNX9_o44NdVtQyPQrArUNBII8EpkYEh6UnEp84u3S6VU8vhO_OzsAIgUn_7tystw97mE4MN2ugAr24U7SnoOtotxSZQB7_KmyunBdc4rjwTGEyI8e2yu5lzpEpJfQXkAoVVaxQe75-TG8/s2048/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNfRFplnhABSMvEqxwHMVOzXFiQAeQWoLq9YJvy8K3chiG-2GNX9_o44NdVtQyPQrArUNBII8EpkYEh6UnEp84u3S6VU8vhO_OzsAIgUn_7tystw97mE4MN2ugAr24U7SnoOtotxSZQB7_KmyunBdc4rjwTGEyI8e2yu5lzpEpJfQXkAoVVaxQe75-TG8/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thinking about it</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQOcTdlew8778jjFGl5cf88U9b6BqJ0KWbZ-FAMgoojl6BUxW3WVTHEp1M9V70aCnfQ6zcKEsNeBUWpHCeqq1lHREwKHk3w32ZZO0048Xjw48gR8vw4d5Iq_qpByRnwm-yWFLTsE4iDS8A_mssGNDhKx4H6r4HIRKRm1XW7pieggLrmEqVrN-umYHarfD/s2048/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQOcTdlew8778jjFGl5cf88U9b6BqJ0KWbZ-FAMgoojl6BUxW3WVTHEp1M9V70aCnfQ6zcKEsNeBUWpHCeqq1lHREwKHk3w32ZZO0048Xjw48gR8vw4d5Iq_qpByRnwm-yWFLTsE4iDS8A_mssGNDhKx4H6r4HIRKRm1XW7pieggLrmEqVrN-umYHarfD/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first ever visit!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl0VcIHG0NwUE30W_DvBYNC2-OYBiC9rWfaHaN-v880_OEHMtDPDUXPxYe86MCyvcCqWXHZT5mC21Zae0HuRMASBu-92LM0P7ZqF86Tr_rZsMltm9V8ClJmq7Y55XXBqw3UB60JlOO0VbRFYe8R1zGQnv5jIaURM9MXTO7CiVPa-VhxZByQ-mpwj6u2QD/s2048/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl0VcIHG0NwUE30W_DvBYNC2-OYBiC9rWfaHaN-v880_OEHMtDPDUXPxYe86MCyvcCqWXHZT5mC21Zae0HuRMASBu-92LM0P7ZqF86Tr_rZsMltm9V8ClJmq7Y55XXBqw3UB60JlOO0VbRFYe8R1zGQnv5jIaURM9MXTO7CiVPa-VhxZByQ-mpwj6u2QD/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">namaste</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoULg31CwKftB7vV_dMjybJncSII-b4tB9PVgtJLzx8XT4eAH1Z7Z2329Wz2cUXDNREwPCvw8Vw7Apqwzia9ZK7kuXmQM7O7MSM9Km1KLhtPSvOXmjEL8N3Cl2KwRcjlRcCY0EXvVVpzo4aWVle9eeqD5jPoyr9KnVxLcZPA_ew9buZ0-VnDBqpw0CWkH/s2048/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoULg31CwKftB7vV_dMjybJncSII-b4tB9PVgtJLzx8XT4eAH1Z7Z2329Wz2cUXDNREwPCvw8Vw7Apqwzia9ZK7kuXmQM7O7MSM9Km1KLhtPSvOXmjEL8N3Cl2KwRcjlRcCY0EXvVVpzo4aWVle9eeqD5jPoyr9KnVxLcZPA_ew9buZ0-VnDBqpw0CWkH/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIgM1VhC0J9hX8fijdQqWTjj3T6YJKbe0ziagIa0otRkbVTEwtavtHl3IwsTFFLZi_CyZPhy6VYGHYpNPG5-BxtjYTMa_I1BC7_FEw8xilMgKGUV2HFKttuQ0SrOoy9Rbd983-9mM0bVfwfyfvs92W3yrtgtvvFcgh2J7elVqi3nGbS7rRG2PtMCOGAsF/s2048/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIgM1VhC0J9hX8fijdQqWTjj3T6YJKbe0ziagIa0otRkbVTEwtavtHl3IwsTFFLZi_CyZPhy6VYGHYpNPG5-BxtjYTMa_I1BC7_FEw8xilMgKGUV2HFKttuQ0SrOoy9Rbd983-9mM0bVfwfyfvs92W3yrtgtvvFcgh2J7elVqi3nGbS7rRG2PtMCOGAsF/s320/029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually a wood pigeon flew down and risked landing on the feeding stone. It watched me closely to see if I was going to chase it off, if it was something of a trap, but it was the end of the day and there were no other takers, so for once I let it clear up the food. Even in the rubbish light I enjoyed the shades of its multi-coloured plumage. It is very easy to overlook the beauty available just because it is commonplace. I left the pigeon to enjoy its meal and walked home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLTt810C9HuIxR3bofk3jDyi1O72_Ig9rG7CehOWz1LVzNfloyg2w-bmj6PsAoUAobo9t1ipuIEuWkusQq9QP1fyKm2THCjqubTkOawh8m9f3az5O1zTHgWqPmqqzPTWgqsHTf2c8XsQbyjWw7Jwy2u8MU1HetWrv5fC6fywFgjPJ3uZFTAqsizdwBBJB/s2048/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLTt810C9HuIxR3bofk3jDyi1O72_Ig9rG7CehOWz1LVzNfloyg2w-bmj6PsAoUAobo9t1ipuIEuWkusQq9QP1fyKm2THCjqubTkOawh8m9f3az5O1zTHgWqPmqqzPTWgqsHTf2c8XsQbyjWw7Jwy2u8MU1HetWrv5fC6fywFgjPJ3uZFTAqsizdwBBJB/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWnrAIWednstJgShium1rKbeLb0C5fu5O86S2AIZTfA7TYWgIZDtrIw4T4Eb2nLvf0F6qA0jiJjn6sJWCcLMPURme6KUiWgWTdX9SYJI7UM25h70TUbcHhZPlCNFG8CgRDCnsP1fytmzYtfFCwq4Xw-_Ycf-ejeCyAzOQCxse0uozefN3eX6Xrp2WfgLu/s2048/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWnrAIWednstJgShium1rKbeLb0C5fu5O86S2AIZTfA7TYWgIZDtrIw4T4Eb2nLvf0F6qA0jiJjn6sJWCcLMPURme6KUiWgWTdX9SYJI7UM25h70TUbcHhZPlCNFG8CgRDCnsP1fytmzYtfFCwq4Xw-_Ycf-ejeCyAzOQCxse0uozefN3eX6Xrp2WfgLu/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p>pbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.com0