#note that this photo was taken in the winchester cathedral gardens

[agentamethystelf]

Who the FUCK carved destiel into this tree??

[dansnaturepictures]

21/08/2023-Evening walk at Lakeside, Winchester and home

Photos taken in this set: 1-4, 6-8 and 10. Views on an evening walk at Lakeside. It was so refreshing and powerful to be out in the enriching evening sunlight, feeling strong outdoors summer evening vibes. There were breathtaking scenes as the sun kissed the lakes creating lovely reflections and permeated through trees. On recent later evening walks I have reflected on how the lowering sun at that time of day recreates the scenery somewhat, I see views I observe often in a new way which is lovely. The wavy clouds in the sky was notable at home and Lakeside this evening too. 5. Great Crested Grebe, it was lovely to see these this evening. 9. Steeplebush looking glorious in the evening light with one bright pink flower.

Also of note at Lakeside was one Coot, the first I've seen here for months. Moorhen, Black-headed Gull and Woodpigeon were good to see too, with a stunning Speckled Wood view when cutting across Lakeside on my commute tonight. I possibly saw a Hornet Mimic hoverfly or Lesser Hornet hoverfly at Lakeside. Blackberries, acorns and sloes as well as red bartsia and bird's-foot trefoil kissed by the evening light, pineappleweed, water mint, great willowherb, purple loosestrife, dock, seas of ragwort, white clover and prominent broad-leaved clover were lovely plants seen at Lakeside this evening with hedgerow crane's-bill and another crane's-bill seen well as well as the masses of ragwort this morning. On an office working day in Winchester today I enjoyed glorious views of Winnie the Peregrine at the cathedral, a stunning bird I always find it mesmerising and surreal to see. It was also good to see gypsywort in Abbey Gardens one I've seen a lot of recently, hydrangea, cinquefoil and ivy-leaved toadflax at the Peninsula Barracks walking through on a lovely evening.

[dansnaturepictures]

14/11/19-More during working day photos 

I took my camera to work for a second time this week due to the fact I saw a Peregrine at Winchester Cathedral yesterday and since I have photographed them here once a month (but I didn’t manage it in March) since February I was keen to make November a month I had done this too. What helped this was that this week I am at my Mum’s house all week. For a number of reasons I don’t take any of my camera equipment to my Dad’s house in working weeks when I go there Tuesday and Wednesday nights so that limits me to just Monday and Friday to take my spare bridge camera to work with me. I did however arrange for it to be brought to my Dad’s the Wednesday after the Tuesday I first saw the chicks at the cathedral in June as I had not photographed them before and was really desperate to and knew they’d be visible but perhaps not for long so had a sense of urgency. 

This has all made me make the most of this by taking the camera on Tuesday and Thursday this week. The Peregrines or a Peregrine were not around today. But to really make it a special week and as I am unlikely to take my camera again until next Friday if I need to by seeing Peregrines they are obviously at the cathedral less and less with breeding season a distant memory now as I never have Peregrine appearance form to follow on a Monday as such I do intend to take my spare camera tomorrow. With it potentially wet and my other subject bases exhausted on the way to work both in Eastleigh and Winchester, at lunch time in the latter and even on the way home in the former this week it could be hit and miss as to if I do produce or even take a single picture though. 

Today I certainly did take some dominated by beautiful autumn leaves shots of Winchester again, the ten in this photoset. They are; a misty morning over the University of Southampton sports fields in Eastleigh, autumn leaves nearby, the Great Hall by the time I got to Winchester, yellow autumn leaves by Winchester Cathedral this lunch time, three pictures of different versions of pictures I have taken this week and year of autumn leaves in Abbey Gardens and nearby, two views along the River Itchen where I ended up on lunch and a more sunny looking Christmas tree than the picture I took of it on Tuesday with the Cross in the High Street. They switched the lights on tonight here.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Lots of Blackbirds throughout the day some nice close views, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon and a mayfly or similar not my strongest point for recognition. 

On a topical note to those Blackbirds I’d like to end by sharing some news with you. Over the summer I submitted a Blackbird photo I took in July into the Blissful Birder calendars selection as well as a few of my others. I am pleased to say the Blackbird photo and my two of a Waxwing at Totton in January and Lesser Redpoll at Blashford Lakes in March have been selected to go on Blissful Birder’s ‘Birds of England’ calendar 2020. I am so delighted for my work to be featured among some really exceptional stuff. This is the second big thing I have achieved with my photos this year after last year’s Redshank made the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve open day photography competition exhibition in September. For anyone interested; here is the link to the calendar details my Redpoll and Waxwing appear on the cover collage: https://theblissfulbirder.com/products/the-birds-of-england-2020-calendar?_pos=11&_sid=34917ff59&_ss=r 

Thanks for your continued support!