Monday mid December

Tuesday and not much happened today. I spent most of the morning having an interview for a new job. Not sure when I will know, hopefully this week. It is another training job, but this should be more interesting than what I am doing now. However confusion about time meant that I arrived early and had to wait around. After the interview I went back to Shrewsbury, but what with one thing and another I did not get back until 1:30 and there was not too much to be done.

So yesterday (Monday ) I did manage to go out, I walked down to the English Bridge and after taking a deep breath decided to walk up stream along the bank. Water levels were so much lower than over the last few weeks 4 possibly 5 feet. today I was walking along sections where this time last week I would have been wading maybe even swimming. There was a dabchick bobbing around amongst the willows too quick to take a picture.

As I walked I went up passed the Greyfrairs footbridge and kept going gently up the path. I knew I could not go too far as I had to queue in the post office while I sent off Christmas presents that had been done but the time had been taken waiting in line.

On the river I noticed a group of Goosander, 2 females and a male. Starting on the far bank they were working their way upstream fishing. I assume thats what they were doing underwater.

They spent most of their time underwater or towards the opposite bank, this is probably my best picture of one of them. She has her crest up and was moving as fast as possible away from me.

I walked up the path towards shreswbury school which lies the opposite bank just beyond the bridge.

I took this picture and was quite pleased with the effect. the path and the trees lead the eye one way then the bridge cuts across bringing the eye to the left. (That is what I think anyway).

So I walked up to the where the bridge by shrewsbury school and then gently wended my way back towards the English Bridge following the River.

It was on the English Bridge that I got my best pictures of the day. On the upstream side on the base of one of the centre arches was a cormorant drying its wings. By the time I got within a reasonable distance it had decided to fold away its wings and sit. I was able to walk over the bridge and lean over and take a couple of shots.

This is my favourite shot, I do get the impression that I had seen me and knew what I was doing and was tolerating me. this is the only one where I was graced with a look in by direction. After this the bird paid attention to other things.

I was quite pleased with myself and took myself happily back to the office and an afternoon of fun