Hawkshead Hounds

Greetings - here is a post to prove I am still alive.  Busy, busy, busy - but I think I have some time on Monday to catch up on comments.

In the mean time, here are two of the many good value hounds we met in our recent UK trip!

More pictures to follow - I hope!

Wild Bird Wednesday 266 - Oystercatcher

I like when things turn up in odd looking places.

I was out with a friend in a rowing boat on Esthwaite Water in the Lake District in the north-west of the UK looking for ospreys when I found these Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) sat on the roof of a boat shed.

I had been able to hear them for a while, but never thought of looking on a roof for a wader!  Finding these birds here in summer may suggest that they bred somewhere near as, over the last 50 years, more and more of these birds have moved inland, away from the coast, to breed. Given these pictures were taken in early June they may have had a nest somewhere near by.

I rather like the contrast between the birds and the architecture of the building.

To join in with WBW just click on the Blue Button below the thumbnails.  Cheers SM.

An InLinkz Link-up

Cellarium - Fountains Abbey

Although I enjoyed seeing the Pheasants and Squirrels, the real reason to go to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire was to see the remains of the Cistercian Abbey.  Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 407 years, until 1539, when it was closed on the orders of Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

I had seen lots of pictures of the remains of main building, so rather than show more of them, I will share some images from one of the areas that I liked the most.  The cellarium was the part of the Abbey where food and drink was stored.  I would love to know what it looked like when it was full of life and food.

The green cast in the pictures is not a mistake, it really did look like that!  Centuries of moss must have stained the stone - and it could also be green light from the lawns outside!

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Squirrel!

Just to show that I have returned to the land of the living, here are some pictures of a squirrel from the UK.  This is the introduced Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) rather than the native Red, but I missed out on Nutkin on my travels.

The Grey Squirrel is not really very popular in the UK, as it has largely replaced the Red Squirrel over most of the country.  But, given I don't see any sort of squirrel on a regular basis I was still pleased to see this one - and so were my kids!

These pictures were taken at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.

Wild Bird Wednesday 265 - Pheasant

During a visit to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire I found this pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) relaxing in the sunshine.  Although not native to the UK, this bird is now common and is found over most of the country.

Of course the real issue for pheasants is not their immigration status, but the fact they they are shot for 'sport'.

I just loved the combination of colours in these pictures - and while there is no sign of the birds magnificent tail, this is a new species for me on WBW so I went with these pictures.

As ever to join in with WBW click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  SM

PS: still struggling with a very heavy cold - so replies may be late.  (sorry)

An InLinkz Link-up

Inside the Minster

These are a few shots from inside York Minster.  I really like the ones looking up at the ceilings.  I take them by putting the camera flat on its back on the floor and then using the self timer to release the shutter.  You get a few odds looks, but it's a decent method.

Sorry about the lack of details here and comments elsewhere, I have been lain low by a head cold of epic proportions.  And on that note, I'm going to slump by the fire.  Normal service will be resumed asap.  SM

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.