Golden Retrievers - monochrome

I popped into the Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club Show, Milton and would have enjoyed spending longer as some of these dogs and their owners made for wonderful exposes.   The age range made for interest as well.

More Squirrels in the Garden

I guess we could also get Black Squirrel babies if this fellow finds a mate.

Squirrels in our Garden

Of all the activity between Squirrels seen in the garden, this pair of Grey Squirrels was the first I'd seen which weren't chasing one another aggressively.    This looks like affectionate behaviour, if that isn't anthropomorphising too much!   I guess we could expect babies in the fulness of time.

Wild Prunus - MCP

I love the delicacy of flowering Wild Prunus particularly as it is transfering from bud to flower.   The blue sky enhanced the attractiveness of the images and reminded me of the way in which Japanese art captures blossoms so beautifully.

Great Crested Grebes - MCP

The light was better than I had anticipated this morning and with an increasing number of birds heralding Spring with bird song, Milton Country Park came to the top of the list.   There were Kingfishers to be heard but only rarely seen, and for the first time I heard Great Crested Grebes calling - not sonorous but who am I to say?   Although the full courtship display of the Grebes wasn't seen, it looks promising that these two will pair up this year.   The light on the water when there was just one Grebe showed off its plummage well.

A Jay in the Garden

Although taken through a dirty window, this Jay stayed still for long enough.   I must go and check whether a small blue and black distinguishing feather has been dropped....

North Wales - 9 February - Bodnant formal garden

The Thursday was a quieter, and not so sunny a day, and I paid my first visit to the National Trust garden of Bodnant.   What a garden to enjoy throughout the year!   This posting covers the colour in the formal gardens.   The first photograph is of the iconic Laburnum archway without any sign of yellow as yet, just rows of very neat reef knots anticipating growth and restraint.

Birds on Menai Straits

A quick look from a hide at Pintail Ducks and a Little Egret before Bodnant Gardens.

North Wales 8 February

A few days staying on Anglesey and enjoying North Wales was a welcomed break.   On the Wednesday we left a car at the bottom of the Ogwen Valley and took our bikes up to Ogwen Cottage in the Joneses' van and cycled down using the 'old' road on the opposite side of the valley from the now main road.   I bought a new bike last year and it hadn't experienced any hills until this trip - something of a baptism!   The first three photographs were taken on the bike ride and the last two were taken from Anglesey, looking across the Menai Straits.   We cycled past plenty of discarded slate for which there doesn't appear to be a use.

Bottisham Lock

After the winds brought in on Storm Doris it was enjoyable to have a short, if breezy, walk this morning seeing some of the effects of spring emerging.   As always it is lovely to see a Kingfisher, spring flowers and summer plummages.   I am a bit of a sucker for dogs too!