Peregrines and other pictures in shrewsbury

Much sunnier day today all day, it even felt warmer at dinner time when I went out. the drive in to Shrewsbury was bright overhead with pockets of mist and fog lingering on the motorway the fields either side. stopping is not really an option, I suppose I should get out earlier and make the effort, may be in the new year as the days lengthen. Today it did not cloud over. From what I have seen of the weather forecast it will remain settled for the next few days at least.

About 1:00 I went for my walk and it was still sunny, there was some cloud but it was bright. I took my camera and left my coat, (bright yellow, but warm ). as I got to the river by the english bridge I could see the river levels had not really gone down in the last 24 hrs. So walking downsteeam along the bank was not really an option. May be next week.

I am enjoying just doing the walking it gets me out of the office and although it is not much it is doing some "physical" activity. I do feel better for it I think and I can get quite competitive with my pedometer trying to beat yesterdays and the all time record. There seems to be a "target " of 10,000 steps this seems to be well beyond me and the time I have to walk during the day.

So I walked along the river Severn working my way upstream and saw lots of Gulls and a pair of swans and the cormorants from yesterday, I assume that were the same ones fishing in the stretch upstream from Greyfrairs bridge. To be honest I was not inspired to take any thing, though on reflection I could have looked at the small birds in the hedges and trees lining the path.

I was walking along and out the corner of my eye saw something that did not fit in one of the willows growing on the bank। I looked again and began to work out what the blob in the bush was. It was quite a large bird and once I worked out it what I thought it was I got quite excited. So in the middle of Shrewsbury sitting not 30 feet away from me was a Peregrine Falcon. I had seen them in displays and speeding past on the way to somewhere else, but never sitting there so close. I got a couple of pictures. took 10 steps forward and took some more including this one. It had by now deigned to notice me and after a few seconds more decided that I had taken enough thank you, and departed the scene.

I walked on feeling very smug, not only had I seen a peregrine, but I had managed to take a picture of it.

On the way back I went passed to the Abbey and was amused to the activity around a van from Hometyre. The "driver" was in the process of changing a tyre, so far so good. However he was being followed by a man with a serious video camera obviously recording him for some promotional video. The pair in turn were being followed by a man with a stills camera from the video production company further recording the action.

I had a brief chat with one of the Hometyre team, but his attention was diverted when a very attractive blond pulled up behind us. I decided to head back to the office

tuesday in the rain

Tuesday dawned bright and sunny, much the same as Monday really then just like Monday it clouded over as the front moved in from the west. The rain as yesterday started about 12:00 and I got wet. I decided not to take my camera out today as it had spent most of yesterdays walk out of harms way under my coat. The light was horrible even though it was early afternoon on both days so I have no pics to upload. The Severn had risen a little from last week so some of the river side paths were under water especially by the English Bridge, but coming a bit further around upstream it was possible to get down to the river bank. I walked passed two rather surprised looking Goosander in amongst the Mallard resting on the waters edge. The mallard moved away keeping a minimum distance to show that had noticed me but not going to far and returning to the water's edge as soon as I had ambled past.

Anyway I walked up toward Shrewsbury School on the opposite bank and round to the next footbridge. I saw two cormorant in the river swimming around I assume fishing. I do wonder if these are the same two I saw late late week in the same area. So it is not a very good picture, I took it on Friday and apart from the picture of the same bird flying away which I used at the time is the most recent pic of a cormorant I have and it possible is the same bird.

Anyway the rain by now had stopped and although the overcast conditions remained it was alright to walk and look around. However time was ticking on and as I reached the Porthill Bridge I decided to wander back to work.

I walked back the way I had come rather than heading up through the town. I know I should take my camera all the time just to capture what is happening, but it was wet and soggy and and the walk was more important then the camera today. It kept me moving and I went back to work feeling better for the exercise.

I have not done much with the website since I got back to work and I know I have been talking about upgrading it, well doing something with it, I have not yet had I suppose the inspiration to sit down and redo something I have already done. I like the way I have got the "galleries" of pictures, that bit definitely works for me. It is the front page and the contacts bit I am not sure of. I will keep pondering and have a reshuffle soon.

So what else is happening, not much to be honest, I think the 80 miles a day I am driving is beginning to take its toll, I am getting tired much more easily and the drive home is starting to feel quite long, I know it is the same as the journey out, but it is all in the dark and .... OK so time for bed.

Sunday Sandwell Valley

So got up this morning and as it got lighter saw the clouds and the results of last nights rain on the street out side. After a cup of coffee I could see it slowly brightening up and the weather improve from there. OK it was still breezy but on the whole, the sun was out this morning, so I went out to Sandwell Valley. I started at Forge Mill Farm side and walked clock wise around the Forge Mill lake.

The River Tame was the highest I had seen it for some time, I suppose last nights rain on top of the recent downpours has all added in. This gave me the opportunity to get watch the gulls feeding on the river and as the came past I got a couple of pictures including this one of a black headed gull.

I am quite pleased with this and the more I look at it the better I think it is.

I carried on walking, I think the pedometer in my ipod has become my main incentive for going for walks and taking my camera. Beating last weeks record is a major personal incentive. I somehow still constantly fail to achieve 10,000 steps a day but I would like to think I am getting closer.

So what else was in Sandwell valley. I think over the last few weeks it has been possible to to see Winter finally arriving, there are few if any leaves on the deciduous trees.

I saw this and tree with a few of its leaves still holding firm and wondered how long they would keep holding on. There is little if any green left in them with orange and brown being the predominant colours. It is one of those end of year pictures, I like it anyway

Further on around past the RSPB centre just as they were opening up for the day, and then down to the top of forge Mill lake. This is one place I have stood and watch the lake and the birds many times in lots of weathers. It always reminds me of the time I spent recuperating after having my appendix removed in 2004. Once I could drive I tried to go for a walk to here everyday to keep myself moving and to try and use the "free time " I had. so this was where I used to come and take pictures of the gulls and other birds that hung around then as now.

In addition to the birds today, I was able to get a picture of today's teasel. ( Click on the link to get much more about this wonderful biennial) They have all dried out and you can see why these heads were used to raise the nap of fabric. (is this the origin of the tease)

So what next, I saw Gadwall on the lake, I know they have bred here in the past though I don't know about this year. I remember Gadwall from my childhood and reading Thorburn's Birds. Gadwall shared a plate with the Garganey, and none of my siblings had seen either one. I have over the last 5 years seen both at Sandwell Valley


This was not one of my better pictures but it has at least one the subjects in it.

Onwards back towards the car. I went passed the bridge and the sheer amount of water trying to get through had raised levels considerable. I was able to take some shots of the speeding water and get a few good shots.

Anyway there are some more things to look out for tomorrow. I will have a look at more of today's pic and see if I can use any more and what I take tomorrow.

Goodnight

Saturday evening

Saturday evening and I am back again. I thought I would carry on from yesterday's post, today weather wise followed yesterday's pattern bright and sunny in the early morning with the cloud increasing through the day so that by the time I get a chance to go out the sun has long since disappeared. It is now early December and the days here are quite short, sunset is now before 4:00pm.

Much as I would have loved to go out this morning, today was the day when both my girls took their place in the performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. The were very good and I am very proud of them. OK enough of the family news.

By the time we got back and had lunch the light was going rapidly so I got to go down to Merrion's Wood just down the road from us. It was typically autumnal and the mud was gloopy. It was a short visit as I had to get back and the light in the wood was not the greatest.

I took a few pictures, but looking at them now they are not sharp and have too much "camera shake". as the light was not so good the exposure was just too long. I don't like really to take a tripod around with me but I think on reflection that this would have been one of those occasions. anyway it probably serves me right.

The only other picture that I really liked of the set was this one of a fungus. I have no idea of the species and Although I think it was growing on birch I could well be mistaken as I did not look at the time. If anyone knows what this is or where a good place to look would be... please let me know. I just like the colour and the autumnal feel they bring.

Yesterday was a less frustrating day in that I managed to take a couple of "good" pictures and got a "proper" walk in. As I said I walked along the river up to the school and saw St Chads. Along the way there were 2 cormorants in fishing in the river. I got a couple of pics of them as the bobbed around, but I think my favourite was this one. One of the many almost pictures I have,

almost in focus

almost framed properly

almost good


I will I hope come back to it and it may well grow even more on me.

Finally as I walked to wards the bridge I cam across this male Blackbird looking for his dinner on the grass by the side of the path.

This was as close as he got, I just stood in my bright yellow coat on the path and watched as he got closer.

Much as I would have liked to stay and watch to see if he found pudding, I knew I had to leave, and get back to the office.

anyway I have to go to bed now as I want to go out in the morning, the forcast suggests that there will be bright sunshine in the morning.

Fri Morning part one

I went back the Shrewsbury this morning, the sun was out and th eearly morning was blue with hints of red and pink. The River has dropped its level and is now contained within the its banks for the first time in what seems like a couple of weeks. As the morning went on the cloud came in from the west so that by lunchtime the weather was on the whole grey and overcast. I was able to go for a good walk this dinner time. Having got to the English Bridge I realised I could have a look at the river bank more closely than before as the flood water had receded. I walked upstream from the English bridge following the path on the town side of the river and walked up towards the school and St Chads.

Along the banks there are a number of willows which are looking more and more bedraggled as the river has gone past and winter draws on.

I like the junction between the rivbver and the hanging branches iteslf. I got a couple of shots and I think I l like this on the best, though I do reserve the right to change my mind.

I am really tired so I a mgoing to bed

Thursday

Its Thursday and I have started, this must be a good sign? or even !! I have spent the last 2 days in Birmingham, being trained. Both days I could have gone through the information presented in half the time and with twice the impact. with a bit more planning and a few more resources. May be I am just bitter and twisted but I could have spent the time so much more productively. So tomorrow back to Shrewsbury.

I found I missed the place, where I have been there has been nowhere to "go for a walk" with my camera. It was not "appropriate" to wander around with a camera. It just did not feel right.

So what to do next ?

Any suggestions?

I think I will see if I can enter competitions and work out how to write articles for online magazines. I wrote a short piece for Helium.com and earned the grand total of 49 cents. but given that I wrote it in 2006 and it was less than 200 words I was quite impressed by this outcome. I had a look for it recently and it has now been archived, well I found my account and a reference to it but there was no way to access it.

OK it is getting later and I have to be up in the morning so I am going to bed

From Monday and sunday in the dark and wet

First things first, this evening I have downloaded my pictures from the last couple of days and as promised I have a picture of not one but 2 little grebes well that is what I think they are. both in winter plumage, well it was the last day of november.

I thought I would get that out of the way first, so what else is there to say on this Tuesday evening.

I left my camera at home this morning, even though it was cold and clear. I just got distracted by trying to get to work and defrost the car and a hundred and one other minor things.

I feel less guilty now though as by the time lunch came around the cloud had invaded from the west and it was overcast and in general fairly grotty. The rain duly arrived late afternoon and in the dark on the way home I had the windscreen wipers going for most of the journey. In contrast the morning was beautiful with a few red clouds on a blue sky and coming over the hill to Telford the tall buildings in the centre catching the early morning sun. It did not last long but I enjoyed all the same. Taking pictures on the M54 at 70mph is frowned upon so I hope someone caught it.

I did manage to go out on Sunday afternoon, it was overcast and cloudy and had been threatening to rain for most of the afternoon. I got up to Sandwell Valley and park by the farm on the opposite side of the lake from the RSPB Centre. I walked half way to the the Centre but as it grew darker and the threatened rain finally arrived I decided the I prefered to be warm and dry so I wandered back to the car. On the way back I someone had been feeding the ducks and geese and I saw in amongst them a group of goosander. I managed to take a couple of pictures of individuals. I did have to lighten up the images to get it make both more presentable. I was quite impressed with myself.

Also have a look at this picture of a swan taken at the same time. I like the effect of the water on the feathers and that I managed to get the balance right so the white of the plumage has features and tones (if that is the right phrase) and has not been "blown out"

By this time I was quite wet so I headed on home to help sort out the children and get ready for the new week.




It is now almost Wednesday. I have some training tomorrow in running and employability course for our clients, it should last all day though with luck there will be a lunch break and I can go for a walk and take my camera.

As always I look forward to reading any comments . I will be back soon.