I was at Welney yesterday with both Jacqueline and Tom, our son and our videographer.
I did not take a camera. He did. These are his shots. This is a female kestrel, eying the scene:
It was not long before she was in action, like this:
And then this:
More sedately, there is this Whooper swan cygnet, coming in to land:
I was out in Ely in the afternoon. These are iPhone shots. First, the later afternoon sun over the site of Ely Castle (long gone, but near the Cathedral):
And then, my swan of the day, a mute swan on the Great Ouse. The reflection is of the railings of the bridge above it. I concentrated on them. My regret is that I cut off the reflection of the swan's head. You live and learn when taking photos. There is always next time to try to get it right:
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‘You live and learn when taking photos. There is always next time to try to get it right’.
Agreed.
If only elections were like that these days.
Nice work. Yesterday, I was in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield – an inner city park with a water courses running through it, ponds and an early water driven mill museum where knives were sharpened (Sheperd Wheel). On our walk through, we happened upon some birders looking at a tree above a pond. We were nonplussed at first but guess what was there? A Kingfisher whose bright orange belly and blue rear literally shone out in the gloom. It sat there preening itself, and then like a streak of blue lightening, shot off into the undergrowth. I did not have my camera. I’ve not seen one since a trip to Ireland in early 2024. We also saw herons, pied wagtails and loads of cocky robins who just have to alight next to you just to check you out as you walk into their territory. A remarkable place and well worth a visit.
A kingfisher can always help make a day. Nice in a park, as well.
They say you learn something new every day! I lived near Ely for years and went to school there. And today, after reading your post, I learned that what I and my friends always knew as Cherry Hill was actually the site of a castle! We thought it was where the spoil from the construction of the cathedral went! The other daft story was that the cannon ball stuck in the gargoyle was fired from Cherry Hill by the cannon now on the green in front of the Bishops Palace! It’s amazing what tosh passes for truth sometimes isn’t it?
Yes!
And you are right: that was on Cherry Hill, and the mind at the top was for the castle, not Cathedral waste.
And that cannon is, I believe, Russian from the Crimean war, but is thought to have never been fired in anger, although I am not sure how anyone knows.
@PSR – when I lived in Sheffield, there was so much to offer and I am sure that there still is -there is a round walk of about 15 miles starting in Endcliffe Park. Enjoy the Mayfield Valley, Ringinglow, the Botanical Gardens, Forge Dam, the Sheaf Valley, Graves Park – I don’t know if it can still be done, but one used to be able to walk from one end of Sheffield to the other in parks. Then there is the wonderful surrounding countryside – the Dark Peak and the White Peak – Stanage Edge, Burbidge Edge, Frogatt etc – not forgetting Mam Tor or Kinder. I learned so much from walking and scrambling in those areas as a youngster, although I never enjoyed rock climbing! A memory of my first walk up Kinder was in 1953 when I accompanied my Father and John Hunt – Hunt was just back from Everest and rather tired so he slipped and our sheepdog stood over him in triumph! Another memory of Everest, and I was so envious, my Mother went jetboating with Ed Hillary in New Zealand. Two of the Everest Sherpas stayed with my parents in Sheffield but I did not meet them. Last evening I went to a production in the Pavilion Arts Centre “The Buxton Faun”, written, presented and acted by local Buxton people – it celebrated what I love about Buxton – (a lot was said about the weather!), our glorious countryside and a few other anecdotes!
Thanks, Susan.
Saw an amazing sight yesterday in Mudeford near Bournemouth. A juvenile white tailed eagle. Never seen one before and it seemed unlikely to me but you can’t mistake them. Huge, not serene but magnificent, uplifting too, and goodness knows we need something to raise our spirits in the face of the work ahead to change hearts and minds.
They have been introduced into the Isle of Wight and are common over Poole Harbour. No doubt one of them. Amazing. They even get up to Norfolk now.
Thanks Richard. I knew there were white tailed eagles in Scotland but assumed this was an escapee from a zoo, once I was sure it wasn’t a female buzzard but the size but especially the deep eagle wings made me pretty sure it wasn’t a misidentification. Brilliant there are some on the IoW.
Agreed. And massive birds.
Beautiful, mesmerising shots. Especially of the female kestrel. Our raptors are to be treasured and loved.
Your blog is inspiring Richard and so informative.
Thank you.
Thank you