Herb-Robert Bokeh

Looking through some photos taken last summer on a walk by a local canal, when I came across this photo of a single Herb-Robert flower, with creeping Buttercups in a very out of focus background.

Bokeh in a photograph "is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" (as defined in Wikipedia and considered a photography art form by the Japanese).  Whilst I am not so sure the aesthetic quality is to everybody's taste, I quite liked the effect.  I will keep my eye open to try and take better examples this summer (avoiding blurred plants in the foreground as well!)

Bedfordshire - Early Spring Birds

A surprisingly warm afternoon out of the wind last Friday.  I found a quiet spot and slowly walked along a hedgerow.

 

Two photos of an obligingly restful Long Tailed Tit that appeared almost curious of what I was doing.

 

A goldfinch sitting in a bush that had been chattering with others in the area until I arrived.



 

One of at least 3 Chiffchaffs that had been flying around a small area, with their distinctive calls.  It took quite a little luck to get one to stay long enough to focus.



One of a pair of Dunnocks that had been moving from bush to bush.  I got this shot almost immediately, but never had a clear view afterwards as they were hiding in amongst the bushes



Marsworth Reservoir Tring - Chaffinch with a Tic and a Ring

Whilst waiting to see whether the Great Crested Grebe were going to perform any more, I watched a pair of Chaffinches feeding on the path.  This male in resplendent full spring plumage came fairly close.

 

The downloaded photo showed that the poor bird had a fat Tic on it's neck that I hadn't noticed before.  I did a bit of research, and apparently the tic will fall off once it has had it's fill of blood, without harming the bird.  Tics are much more common around  the head on birds where they can't be dealt with by the bird's bill.  Not 100% sure about this information, especially about not causing harm to the bird, as I suspect there is a risk of infection.  Lets hope it doesn't drop off in the nest and attach itself to one of the pair or a chick once it is ready for another parasitic meal.

 

Finally I also noticed a bird ring on it's foot.  Is there any way one can report the ring even though the whole number may not be visible?  Tring Ringers do not appear to have a website if it is indeed a local bird.

Marsworh Reservoir Tring - Great Crested Grebe in Early Courtship

Arriving at Marsworth Reservoir at Tring on a not too bright morning last week, I immediately saw a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying to each other out on the water, mirroring each others moves.....

 

 

....This went on for three or four minutes, before they went off separately to fish.  About half an hour later, one came to the edge of the reed bed diving and fishing (the light had temporarily improved a bit by then).

 The grebe then started swimming quickly across the water with its head & neck close to the water.....

.....until it met up with it's mate who had arrived back from fishing.  They then started to display again.... 

 ....Swimming slowly back to the red bed.

 

Not the full bloodied courtship display yet, with the weed waving and running on the surface of the water.  I hope I can find time to get back next week and be lucky enough to witness the full display.

How many Scaffolders to lift a scaffold pole 6 Floors?

Well, I can see 9 (including a glimpse of a man at the very bottom)!

 

Scaffolders working last month.

I had forgotten how time consuming working in layers in Photoshop was

Dogs and a Stick on the Move

Photos of dogs enjoying a stick taken this week.

Bedfordshire - Last Signs of Winter

Following the Spring-like day in the last post, the weekend was grey and colder.

 

These Fieldfare, winter visitors, were spotted in the tops of a tree, before flying off.   Not many weeks before they will be making their way to Scandinavia for the summer. 

Bedfordshire - First Signs of Spring

Photographs of a bee visiting some crocuses in my small garden on a warm and sunny morning a few days ago.  The first insect of the year.  It can't be too long now until we will be getting more of these warmer days after the cold start to the year.  How it gladdens the heart.

 

Pitstone Hill Chilterns - Winter Silhouettes and Landscapes

An enjoyable walk in the cold with a cloudless sky at the weekend over Pitstone Hill near Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns.

 

Silhouette of a friend with their dog....

 

...and with luckily placed aeroplane vapour trails.

 

Silhouette of a walker with some miles to go with dusk coming.

 

Misty view lit by the watery sun as it goes down.

 

Later after the sun had dropped below the horizon.

London - Old BBC TV Centre at dusk

This beautiful sky caught my eye last week. Not the best quality photo from my pocket camera.

 

NW Scotland - Evening Sunrays

Back to June 2016 again, and a couple of photos of the sun breaking through a gap in the clouds over the sea

 

Chanory Point Moray Firth - Bottle Nosed Dolphins

A wet day in the west of Scotland in June 2016 meant a drive to Chanory Point

on the Black Isle for drier weather and a possible sighting of the Bottle Nosed Dolphins that live in the Moray Firth (the most northerly dolphins in the UK).

 

Timing our arrival an hour after low tide, apparently a good time to see the dolphins, we immediately saw a dolphin breaching out of the water from the car. Grabbing the camera and trying to set it up as a dolphin passed close to the shore. I managed to get this shot.

 

The dolphins moved away, with what I took to be a youngster breaking out of the water...

 ....with an adult in close attendance.

 

Over an hour a number of dolphins passed the point, but not in a playful mood, I only being able to take photos of fins and tails.

 

Many of the passes were in the middle of the firth with Fort George in the background.

Tring Reservoirs Marsworth - Swans in Flight

A recent trip to Tring reservoirs one very bright morning.

 

My luck was in as these two Mute Swans swung into view.

 

One swung round appearing to head pretty much at me standing on the bank of the reservoir.

 

Looking directly at me....

 

....it flew past.



 

Earlier three swans bathed in bright sunlight flew against the dark background of an ivy covered tree, causing a distinct contrast (not the easiest to photograph without either burning out the swans or over-darkening the tree) 

Scotland - Landscape Light Contrasts

On a grey June day the sun broke through at Newton of Ferintosh, north of Inverness at the edge of the Black Isle.  Stopping the car in a side road, I took these landscapes towards the NW and the hills and valleys surrounding Garve in the far distance.

 

A view more to the West



Lively Sheep

Photos of a small flock of sheep in November 2016 that were in quite a playful mood.