Birds of Prey Workshop

 I booked into a Raptor workshop mainly because I wanted to practise taking birds in flight using the AF Back button to hold focus etc.Unfortunately the original falconer was ill so all the birds were static, which was annoying to say the least as we could have been notified of this beforehand. However it was ab enjoyable day just observing and photographing these magnificent birds - Peregrine, Barn Owl, Golden Eagle and Snowy Owl.

Northumberland in Monochrome

The very mixed weather that we had for our week in Northumberland presented some wonderful opportunites for sky and water images. 

Swaledale

As I broke my journey back from Northumberland at Scotch Corner last night, I decided to make a quick visit to Swaledale - Gunnerside and Muker - before continuing back to Cambridge. The fields were full of buttercups and other meadow flowers. By the river,  I witnessed a strange battle between three Common Sandpipers. Lots of Mayflies had emerged leaving empty larval cases on the stones. I think it is a Tree Pipit that was busy collecting food and bringing back to the nest.

Farne Island Shags

I think Shags are my favourite birds from the trip to the Farne Islands. Their plumage is so colourful close to and their shapes so elegant.

Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland

I decided to have a walk around Berwick on the Saturday evening despite the rain. The first two images are from the rainy Saturday explore. I had not remembered Lowry's very close association with Berwick - he spent many holidays there and painted many images like the one shown here.
On the Sunday morning it dawned sunny and with crystal clear light after the rain. The house is the Lion House, which Lowry contempleted buying but never quite got there. Other images on a short walk around part of the wonderful twon walls. Definitely worth a longer visit.

Cheviots in the Rain

 Saturday started fine and sunny but by the time I reached the Cheviots, the storm clouds had gathered. A nostalgic visit to the Black Bull in Wooler, where I spent a honeymoon in 1967 (Jim died 5 years later) and then to Wooler Common which then was open hillside but has now been planted with woodland. It was raining fairly hard by then but managed to photograph one of my favourite flowers Mimulus guttatus and some rather wet flies. I walked up onto the open land and was rewarded with views of Curlew and Lapwing displaying.

Farne Islands Guillemots and Razorbill

The Farne Islands has around 49,000 Guillemots of which about 5 per cent are Bridled with the spectacles and stripe. There are only around 600 Razorbills but they are on the increase.