Category Archives: Flora/Fauna

Nov 08 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

In the woods

Saturday 7th November 2020, 1.50pm (day 3,362)

In the woods, 7/11/20

Who doesn’t love the colours in autumn, a last hurrah before the greyness of winter. I like the remaining green on this shot and the sinuous branch, with its two duck-heads.

Not pictured on this shot: vast numbers of people. The woods of Hardcastle Crags were heaving today. Because, if you take away other normal weekend entertainments, people will do what they must in order to stay physically and mentally healthy, which is to get out of the house to wherever is available. Thus, congregating closer together than they would otherwise have done, and defeating the object of this latest stupid, mindless, arbitrary attempt at social control.

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Nov 05 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Maris the heron

Thursday 5th November 2020, 12.50pm (day 3,360)

Maris the heron, 5/11/20

Let us ignore the rest of the world and indulge in some Hebden heron-spotting. I have no idea how long these creatures live, but I would expect a few years at least would be normal for a bird that size, and so I think this is the same bird as pictured on 8/5/17. The particularly sharp neck markings are one clue, but to be honest, the main one is those slightly comical knock-knees. Both photos show this. This is not the rather more butch-looking, and generally bigger, one that I had christened Humph (see 25/5/16, 23/1/17 for example).

So this one needs a name of its own. And I’m going to call it “Maris Crane”. You’ve seen Frasier, right?

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Oct 14 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Ladybird (possibly evil)

Wednesday 14th October 2020, 10.50am (day 3,338)

Station ladybird, 14/10/20

Clare tells me there are both good and evil ladybirds — the latter being invasive species, of which this specimen may be an example. Whatever, it seemed to develop an attachment to me: after I took this photo of it at the railway station it then hitched a ride on my mug of tea and by now will be living it up in Manchester — or whatever the ladybird equivalent is.

And no, I do not know what the problem is with removing the label. Perhaps I should find out one day.

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Oct 01 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

The pumpkin swells

Thursday 1st October 2020, 3.45pm (day 3,325)

Growing pumpkin, 1/10/20

The efforts of all those highly transient squash (or possibly pumpkin) flowers earlier in the year have resulted in precisely one pumpkin (or possibly squash) growing in house or garden.  And here it is.  Whether it will be big enough to carve faces in come the end of this fresh month — we will just have to wait and see…

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Sep 30 2020
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Art and architecture, Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Autumn comes to campus

Tuesday 29th September 2020, 2.40pm (day 3,323)

Campus tree, 29/9/20

It’s the end of September. The golden foliage is a sign autumn is here.  With it come the students — but this year, instead of being out meeting new people and enjoying themselves, largely they are walled up in high-tech prisons like the George Kenyon hall behind.  Still charged £9K (plus rent) for the privilege.  And the UoM is one of the better ones, presently.

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Sep 26 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna, Urban scene

On Richmond Street, Manchester

Friday 25th September 2020, 1.55pm (day 3,319)

Rainbow and pigeon, 25/9/20

The working week ends as it started — with a bird photo-bombing the shot.  But I like it.

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Sep 24 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Stay away from my girlfriend

Wednesday 23rd September 2020, 4.25pm (day 3,317)

Jackdaw and ducks, 23/9/20

A choice today. Do I go with the more artistic and in-focus portrait of the jackdaw alone, or this group shot? Let’s do this one. It’s funnier. The duck appears quite cheerful about the jackdaw’s attention — but the drake is definitely giving his rival a dirty look.

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Sep 21 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna, Hebden Bridge, Landscape

Hebden heron on a misty morning

Monday 21st September 2020, 7.55am (day 3,315)

Heron over Hebden, 21/9/20

The view from my house. The picture was of the mists, with the mobile phone mast on the other side of the valley just peeking through.  The heron (for that is what it is) flying over was an added bonus.

Get used to pictures from home. The whole moronic farce is kicking off again.  If you’re an easy target, expect to be put back under house arrest soon enough.

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Sep 17 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Going to waste

Wednesday 16th September 2020, 10.50am (day 3,310)

Fallen apples, 16/9/20

This little stand of apple trees outside the Ellen Wilkinson Building on campus sees its crop go mostly to waste even in a normal year. And as it is right now, the whole campus is neglected and starting to rot away. Such a waste.

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Sep 15 2020
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

The robin goes incognito

Monday 14th September 2020, 10.15am (day 3,308)

Incognito robin, 14/9/20

“You can’t see me. You only think you see me. Look, I’m camouflaged, and then there’s this strategically placed twig.”

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