The new camera appears to be working a treat however and with a few thousand shots taken I think I have a handle on it too!…….

Chrissy wanted to take a trip out to Haughmond hill over the weekend and It really is a good spot for bluebells, we did find some good scenes but with Flicker slowing down again I just haven’t had time to waste waiting for the larger files to load!….:(  Here then we have the first of my butterfly pics this year (also from Haughmond)

Green Veined White

Orange Tip

……..after leaving Haughmond we popped into Attingham Park to catch up due to not visiting for quite a while now….. saw this scene on the River and couldn’t resist a shot or two!……

……….an old frame this from Cannock Chase, a Yellow Hammer…. wow has it been that long since I posted in here?….:(

………….and Goodnight from me!………………:-)

Have a great weekend, if you’re in the UK have a great Bank Holiday!………….

However as the following will hopefully show, spring is most certainly with us even if we haven’t seen the last of the snow!……..

Snow Drops are often the first subjects of a new year (assuming I haven’t been able to get out and take snow-covered fields and frost covered trees!…..)

However It’s not all about Snow Drops!…….;)

All of our local birds are showing fantastic colours now, just about at their best and showing off!…..;)

Long Tailed Tit……….

Nuthatch……….

Siskin……….

Blue Tit……….

……………and as it’s now time to pack that camera and take off out again, I’ll wish you a good week and thank you for taking the time to get this far!…..;)

The Blue Tits are always posers, lovely colours and in good condition too!…..

The Nuthatches were busy too and for some reason I always struggled to capture a decent shot, either my technique is improving or they’re slowing down!……;)

Something different for us this visit too, Fieldfares flew into a couple of trees near us and the cameras were swung around!……;)

…..and aerobics too?……:)

Closely following the Fieldfare was a flock of Waxwings!…… Neither of us had seen Waxwings before and the sight was a real bonus!…….

We don’t often venture too far from home at this time of year and a round trip of 90 something miles when there’s every chance of snow has to be considered, this day was well worth the effort!…………

Thanks for looking in, have a good week!……………….;)

How right we were!…………..

This is a frame looking from the hide out across the lake,

………..But we were really here because we’d heard about a “Starling Murmuration”!…….

Actually, should that be a Startling murmuration, most who witness this event are in awe at the sight and sound!……….:)

….and as a bonus, on leaving the hide the moon popped up for us too!……..:)

Have a good week!……………….

A new band this year….. Midset Buka!…… playing cool covers for a few hours, can’t be easy playing strings in those temperatures!…….LOL

There were hundreds of people early this year, maybe they remembered the parking fiasco from previous years?……..;)

………and a team stoking the fires!………

Then the main event…. it didn’t disappoint, in fact it was that good it was harder this year to seperate and photograph them!………

That just leaves time for me to say thank you to Chrissy for her company yet again this weekend and wish everybody a good week ahead!……..;)

I have to admit now that this is somewhat a test!…… all these images have been linked to my new account at Flicker in an effort to be able to maintain this blog without paying a fortune to upload decent image files, if it works out then I’ll be around a while longer!…….:)

Have yourselves a good weekend, and I guess “HAPPY HALOWEEN”……..:0

P.S. I’ve taken a peek at the preview and I reckon the only difference is that you can’t click to see the full size image, with this page getting about 4 clicks a week I don’t think that’ll be too much of a problem!…….LOL

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks and have seen little at home or in the surrounding area other than during driving to work, there have been some spectacular sunrises but I’ve had no time to spend walking around our little town to take snaps………

When Chrissy suggested we get up at half past six on the only day off for over a week I didn’t think it was the best idea she’d ever had!……..;))

However, as the following shows it really was worth the effort even though it was damp, and it was cold too!…….

In no particular order these pics were taken from “The Castle Walk”…. some looking south, some looking east towards the early sun, and some looking north (up river and heavy mist!…) or from on and around the Old Bridge………….

Have a good weekend!……… (I’ll be at work again!……:( … )

Have yourself a good week!…………;)

The Shropshire Hills is an area of outstanding natural beauty and I hope the following pics will reflect and justify that title!…………:)

From the top of the “Burway” looking back east towards the west midlands, that far horizon must be 30 miles away!…..

Then looking West towards Wales

A day out with Chrissy will often involve visiting a pub somewhere, and this day was no different, although the pub, the “Horsehshoes” at Ratlinghope (pronounced “Ratchup” if you’re local) has been there for a while now as it’s a genuine 16th Century ale procurement establishment!…. and if the garden looks like this on a September day that can’t be bad!…….:)

Chrissy resting those weary feet as we did have to walk all the way from the car park!………..;)

Mmmmmm!….. refreshing indeed!…… might be able to make it back to the car park after that!……LOL

Further over the hill is the Midland Gliding Club and it’s always worth stopping to watch the antics of the local pilots…..

The passenger here seems intent on taking his own snaps, or maybe a video of the landing!…………:)

All in all a very pleasant day out in Shropshire, another memory to maintain during these dismal rainy days that we are experiencing once more!…..

Have a great week!………………;)

This time around I was looking for something a little different and found a spot up on a hill that overlooked the town and the flight path of incoming aircraft!……..;)

I was using quite a “tight” lens so it really isn’t as close as it looks but I’m not sure I’d want to live in the town during summer?…….;)

Of course we found the usual wildlife suspects too!…………

Eleonora’s Falcon

The Warbler Family!….;)

The Grey heron

…….and the little Egret (‘aint she cute!….)

We are constantly amazed at the colour of Skiathos, hardly surprising when we live in the UK, but wherever you point a camera there is a different wonder to behold!………..

Vromolimnoss in the morning light……

Xanemos mid day…….

….. and Kechria in the evening………

No doubt we will be back again, but this will keep us going for the next few months!……

Have a good week!………….;)