Tag Archives: nature

Chaffinch

Friday 23rd December 2016, 10.55am (day 1,947)

Chaffinch, 23/12/16

While trying not to repeat myself on this blog, sometimes the locations and subject matter will be the same… thus this is much the same as this shot on Boxing Day 2013, poked through the window of my in-laws’ front room. But it doesn’t matter, this shot has a movement to it that I like, despite the black pole separating it into two parts.

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Deer, near Humphrey Head

Saturday 17th December 2016, 12.50pm (day 1,941)

Deer, 17/12/16

Celebrated the first day of my Christmas break by doing what I often do, go for a walk in Cumbria. But this was not ‘fellwalking’ by any stretch of the imagination: not in the National Park today, even. This picture is taken in the flat hinterlands by Morecambe Bay. Though a bit fuzzy, it’ll do I think — I like its painting-like quality. And anyway, you try taking a picture of deer, particularly when they know you’re there (as these three clearly do) — and through the mist, too.

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Two swans

Monday 12th December 2016, 12.20pm (day 1,936)

Two swans, 3/8/16

Time for my annual trip down to Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent, where I sit on an exam board for reasons lost in the mists of history. But I don’t mind going down, and it’s always good for a photo opportunity thanks to being located in the middle of the very pretty Lamorbey Park, the natural life of which has graced this blog before (like the parakeets, and the fly agaric). So here’s some more.

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Winter sky, on campus

Wednesday 7th December 2016, 10.50am (day 1,931)

Winter sky, 7/12/16

Taken on campus; there is almost no green space there, but if you point your camera up at a high enough angle, you can occasionally get shots of trees with no buildings behind…

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Ducks on patrol

Monday 5th December 2016, 3.30pm (day 1,929)

Ducks on patrol, 5/12/16

There seemed to be a lot of ducks around this afternoon, including this line of at least 15 in a row here (this is only part of the posse). Then again there were a lot of pigeons around too. Perhaps there has been an escalation in the ongoing Hebden Bridge pigeon-duck conflict. These guys certainly look extra-attentive.

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The snails get intimate

Friday 28th October 2016, 3.55pm (day 1,891)

Intimate snails, 28/10/16

“Hey baby. You’re cute. Wanna come see inside my shell?”

“Actually I’m more interested in how we both ended up six feet up a stone wall…”

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Snug bug

Wednesday 19th October 2016, 12.50pm (day 1,882)

Snug bug, 19/10/16

I think this ladybird looks quite snug and comfortable on its apple tree leaf. Winter is coming, though… better get inside somewhere, beetle.

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This year’s habaneros

Sunday 16th October 2016, 1.50pm (day 1,879)

Habaneros, 16/10/16

Look what’s been ripening away beautifully on my bedroom window sill while I was away in Prague. This house is now self-sufficient in habaneros. You want some wicked fresh chili peppers, this is the place to come.

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Duck on the canal

Sunday 25th September 2016, 2.30pm (day 1,858)

Duck on canal, 25/9/16

I can’t believe there’s anyone who would wish ill will on ducks as a species. They aren’t aggressive, they don’t crap on your head, they’re good-looking and they pose very readily for the camera. What’s not to like?

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On campus

Friday 23rd September 2016, 10.05am (day 1,856)

On campus, 22/9/16

Most of the university campuses featured on this blog — and there have been a good many over the last five and a bit years, at least 20 I make it — have plenty of nice, green space. But the one on which I spend the most time, Manchester, has hardly any, it is the most urbanised, built-up campus I can think of. So it’s nice to picture some of its very rare green space on another very pleasant day. Even if this shot isn’t ‘green’ in the slightest. (It looked better in monochrome.)

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