Birds in the garden
by A Roberts in MY GARDEN Tags: Grey squirrel, robin Erithacus rubecula., BLUE TIT( CAYNISTES CAERULEUS), Geophilus flavus (Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae), Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata, White throat .Sylvia communis
Can not wait for me to put the fork in the ground before its looking to see what the gardener has churned up it tends to go for the bugs and the smaller worms,
peek a boo. I put several big worms on the ground after digging them up , but it did not take one just prefered to scratch about looking for small worms and it ate a few centipedes. I suppose its like us having chicken but this has a hundred legs.
now the squirrels have got rid of all the hazel nuts it comes in the garden looking for the ripe fallen acorns.
Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata the partner seems to have some kind of grwth around the eyes
White throat .Sylvia communis
Making the best of a bad day
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: BIRDS IN WALES, mamog cymraeg., mushrooms,NEWTOWN POWYS, Wild about Wales
Got up at 7.00 felt like shite and went back to bed, got up at 10.30 with the intention of having a day blogging. the sun was in and out for a while then the whole sky became sky blue with just a few clouds . thats it I thought and packed my camera and off I went in search of fungi.
that load of mushrooms outside the gate had beed vandalized just leaving a few standing
ah well at least they will grow again
lets go find some more I thought as I headed out of town towards the Mochdre end of town. Mochdre !strange name that people would not translate into English. Sloping Town or Pigs Town, ie” mochyn is one pig, moch is pigs, bae is boar , hwch is sow, then there is the offspring moch/ mochyn bach, little pig/s. any way I ended up on a walk to Mochdre hoping to find something as excotic as a Fly Agaric , thats the red and whie spoted mushroom that everyone else has seen, photographed and blogged . but i did get some nice shots of other things including mushrooms .
always around is the Robin singing its song not sure if it thinks my long lens is some kind of earth mover to look for worms,
here we are mid October and flowers are still coming out this cranesbill flowers they say, May to September
another species of field mallow that blooms May till September.
as you can see I really did look for the elusive Fly agaric.
Balwen welsh ewe. mamog cymraeg.
white ewe
black and white cows
white charolais calves
a field full of ewes
I even stopped to take a photo of a red ladybird on the way.
flies do not like flying in the rain
the shire stallion belongs to the powys agricultural college
- fence post rotted from the inside.
just after i gave the horse a few strokes and told him he needed a haircut it started to rain again so took shelter for a few minutes then decided to head back.
Dolfor stream is a bit more than a trickle after the showers we have had recently,
looking up to the 3 houses and the bridge and that in the pre 19 50s was Mochdre beyond the houses is the hamlet of Stepaside,
looking over the small bridge one of the 3 old houses as a nice collection of old colectables a hand rolling mangle a single furrow horse plough.
i took shelter from the rain under the trees thinking there may be some fungi amongst these old logs. no such luck so i decided to head back home then saw a walk sign along the mochdre brook. .
The grey wagtail flycatching on the mochdre stream.
and a closer shot.
the scenic shots will be onthis link http://newtownpowys.wordpress.com/.
Whitethroat,Sylvia communis
by A Roberts in BIRDS, Wild about Wales Tags: blue tit, Great tit, mummy squirrel,Whitethroat.Sylvia communis
Whitethroat,Sylvia communis another one that comes to the comunial feeder
Whitethroat,a bit windswept
blue tit on the peanut feeder
Great tit on the peanut feeder
another one with young somewhere
Coming to terms with diabetus.
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: Wild about Wales, BIRDS IN WALES, NEWTOWN POWYS, DADDY LONG LEGS, robin Erithacus rubecula., BLUE TIT( CAYNISTES CAERULEUS), Great Tit Parus major, country life
Robin in song
Now what did I make all that noise for? cos all them blue birds are pinching the nuts.
the pair of Great Tits are on the monkey nuts. the other seven are Blue Tits
and if the word great tit is offensive you can say Parus major. then no one will have a clue what we are talking about
all nine birds are in this picture one is doing its acrobatic routine they love this new feeding station one of the b&b guests left six jam doughnuts. I made them into pieces the sparrows seem to like them.
As I said I had the flue and influensa jabs last Friday. my right arm where I had the influensa Jab feels like I have been in the boxing ring and had a right hook to the muscle. left arm is not so bad . I decided to go for a walk as I only went 300yards Friday to the surgery and back. and my legs stiffen up if I do not go for walks everyday I must go as my doctor says so. I also enjoy my walks as I always take my camera incase I see something I want to photograph. a few times I have been out on walks not feeling up to carrying the canon. total weight with lenses is about 20kilo. and as I have 3 slipped discs I should not carry any more than 10kilo Docs advice, but as long as I take it easy a stop in town for a tea or snack I am usually O,K. but today I got as far as the Dolfor park and started to go giddy. will explain as I go through todays photos,and even though I felt awfull I am pleased I carried on along the river. as I saw another bird I had not seen before and more fungi.,
as I was leaving the house I noticed this clematis out usually this is a spring/summer flower
Bugloss has been in flower since I came back from Egypt almost four months ago as ,some folks ask why did I come back from such a warm climate with all the health problems I had . first if I stayed in Egypt I would be six foot under or as it goes in arab countries 2 ft under, and put in the ground within 24 hours with no post mortem just a note FROM THE CORRUPT DOCTOR “the poor unfortunate man died from histoplasmosis” thats what the docter in Luxor diagnosed me with and for several months I was keeping his brother the pharmacist in money by byuing expensive pills.I WAS IN A TERRIBLE STATE LOST ALMOST 3 STONE AND HAD A PROBLEM WALKING. ONCE I ARRIVED BACK HOME IN WALES I WENT TO SEE THE DOCTOR, FIRST I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HERNIA BUT HAD TO WAIT 9 MONTHS TO SEE A SPECIALIST,AS I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN WITH THIS HUGE LUMP POPPING OUT I HAD TO WALK ABOUT HOLDING MY GROIN STOP IT COMING OUT. SO I WENT PRIVATE , TO THE NUFFIELD HOSPITAL IN SHREWSBURRY TO SEE A SPECIALIST,, THAT WAS ON A MONDAY AND HE BOOKED ME IN FOR THE FRIDAY FOR THE OPP BUT HAD TO GO FOR BLOOD TEST ON THE THURSDAY, WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SUGAR DIABETUS, THE COUNT WAS 15 NORMAL ITS BETWEEN 4 AND 7.
GOT TO GET YOUR BLOOD NORMAL BEFORE WE CAN OPPERATE THEY SAID. SO IT WAS BACK TO MY DOCS FOR ADVICE AND PILS FOR SUGAR DIABETUS. GOT MY LEVELS LOW ENOUGH WITHIN THREE WEEKS. RABBIT FOOD NO FAT AND NO CHOLESTAROL, AS THAT WAS ALSO WAY HIGH,
IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS TO GET TO SOME KIND OF NORMALITY AFTER THE OPP IE BIRDING AND GETTING OUT FOR WALKS.
grey wagtail(motacilla cinerea) female , my eyesight is playing up again (sugar diabetus) out of 12 shots these are the best.
just love the bark in autumn colours
strange fungi growing on this willow by the river Ii think its a very old tinder fungi, i hope some prat does not get to use his lighter on it. lots of things being set on fire by the vandals of Newtown like the next photo
not one bouy along the newtown section of the river severn has been left intact, this is the remains after a fire.set by the yobs of the town.
mausoleum has become another target of the mindless yobs
the problem with todays yobs they have no morals or respect of anything
In the body of the church stands a mausoleum erected over the tomb of the Pryce family in 1900.
read on St Mary’s church here
Maybe they were after the old garden roller but just can not see the point of setting fire to the place.
the old oak door’s hinges are damaged as is the lock that was forced open.
the bark of the popular tree by St Mary's church
acorn collection service
a large daddy long legs
sunset casting its light on the false Acasia tree in the front garden, this is the tree the birds use before venturing to the feeder.
blue tit on the feeder
female chaffinch fringilla coelebs, in the acasia tree
This years cutting of the Datura trumpet flower tree. not had one flower the same year as cutting before
reflections
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: autumn in wales, autumn leaves, Camouflage, Cat burglar, country life, Maine coon, mice, natural wales, NEWTOWN POWYS, newtown pump house, pears, RIVER SEVERN, sheep
All todays reflections have been taken along the Severn river at Newtown Powys
another Welsh valley full of leaves.
” Hint” look on the house roof. all settled down for the night poor sheep have to sleep outside tonight some bugger has stolen the barn roof slates.
the montgomery canal pump house.
looking down the wall that housed the water wheel
looking down the overflow pipe under the pump house
standing on the low water line of the river severn looking down the over flow pipeOur 12 month old Siamese kitten has become a cat burglar, totally deranged anything with a tail on it is hers like this pear. thats what happens when one buys them toy mice to play with to keep them amuzed as little kittens,pears are also a good play toy as they also have a tail.
most of her mice are now tailess and today she came home with a new one it even has a squeek.
fully relaxed in her bed on the radiator in the sun,( with her ill gotten gains)I wonder if its a hint to get her some more mice .
another paw stroke! Sylvester the Maine coon as always laid back, taking no notice because maine coon do not talk siamese.
Sylvester in laid back modeSylvester our Maine Coon is almost Eleven, that makes him as old as me so he also is retired, now the winter is coming he has claimed his place on the radiator as near to me as possible while I am on the computer. since my return from Egypt 3 months ago he has become a constant companion .
- Female Sparrow in the Acasia tree.
- male Sparrow in the Acasia tree
- Leaves in the valley” on this slate roof on the Cafe in the Dolerw Park, Newtown Powys
Autumn is upon us as one can see walking through the park
Crab apple windfalls among the autumn leaves
yellow plums all going to waste
Autumn over the River severn inevitably leaves will end up in the river,
The roof made from natural slate and in the shade of trees will get moss , as the valley will also catch the falling autumn leaves off the trees.
Squirrels in the oak treeMoon 7/10/11
first shot its a bit cloudy
I went for my flu and pnumonia jabs this morning and been in bed the rest of the day feeling quite unwell not had the jabs before so did not know what to expect, so all the photos for today is the moon that was out as I had my tea this evening and now I am off back to bed feeling quite sweaty and shivery.Mallard and muskovi ducks on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: Brecon, Brecon Canal, bridge 162 brecon canal,Brynich aqueduct, Brynich lock, Harlequin ducks, mallards, muskovi ducks, river Usk
muskovi drake shot taken before the barge trip
muskovi hen with her brood hatch of six
another muskovi hen preening itself
the third hen is broody and seems to be sitting. never seen such light coloured muskovy ducks as these on the brecon canal
a very dark coloured duck could be another mallard or a mallard throw off
A Harlequin hen.
Mallards, drakes and hens and the Harlequin.
in this photo, I noticed another harlequin hen cant miss the muskovi drake I was around the canal for almost 3 hours and the muskovi never moved from that spot
| River Usk and Brecon | |||||
| Feeder | |||||
| Weir and Theatre Basin | |||||
| A40(T) Road bridges | |||||
| 69 | Brynich lock | ||||
| Brynich aqueduct | |||||
the begining or the end of brecon canal. our trip started from outside the theatre and an hours trip took us as far as the brynich aqueduct we crossed the aqueduct that spans the river Usk to the nearest place to turn the barge.
the barge stopped on the Aqueduct to let those of us who wanted to walk across while the barge cantinued up the canal to its turning point, the canal celebrates its 200th year in 2012 that means this aqueduct is older than 200 years .
strange sign near 162 bridge and yet it takes the tractors and trailers to and from the fields as there is no road
nearest turning point after the aqueduct was beyond bridge 162 some 3oo yards
reflection here the barge is heading off to its turning point'
cutting the corner onto the aqueduct quite a task with these long barges
View east towards brecon along the river Usk from the aqueduct
from the aqueduct looking west towards Llanhamlach
the first lock gate as the barge is being lowered the 10 ft to the next water level
leaving the brynich lock, its the only one on this stretch of the canal
the dragonfly is one of the larger and heaviest barges on this canal roughly 20ton loaded. (passengers) in parts has a job navigating the canal due to silt that needs dredging out of the canal, here one can see the silt being churned up by the propeller.
Dead frog
the frog looks petrified
Our cats love playing with frogs as soon as the rain comes they are out in the garden frog hunting. as soon as they catch one they bring it in to play with. usually the frog gets rescued much to the cats dissaprovment, the frog will get put back in the garden but occasionally one gets under furniture ,ie, the bed or wardrobe where the cats cannot get under, and the result is a dead petrified frog as long as the frog has not been injured it will not decompose thus leaving a bad smell in the house,
RRW, barracks Brecon
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: BRECON CANAL CRUISE BOATS, dragonfly-cruises.co.uk/, ROYAL REGIMENT OF WALES, TANAT VALLEY COACHES
Royal Regiment of Wales
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE BRECON CANAL BARGE GO TO THE WEBSITE FOR HISTORY ON THE RRW,
AND THATS ALL YOU ARE GETTING TODAY,,, IVE HAD A LONG DAY AFTER THE AUTUMN TINTS COACH TRIP WITH TANAT VALLEY COACHES,
had a very pleasant trip up the canal as far as the aquaduct photos will be on here soon
LAST MONTHS PICS FROM FLIKR
deadwood
the tree has been dead a few years
pebbles
pebbles on the beach Aberystwyth
A ladies bull fighting bicycle
autumn leaves
Autumn leaves on Dolerw suspension bridge at sunrise
sun up over Newtown Powys
lights on
Welsh and Scots border collie’s taking some people over the Dolerw park suspension bridge at 7.30 this morning
reflections of sunset
shot taken from my open bedroom window at sunset 29/9/11
conkers
grey squirrel eating a horse chestnut. this one is a female that has a few young ones ,
red kite
fish ring
traveling above the Rheidol valley on the steam train to Devils bridge.
A rocking Zebra
Inn Shrewsbury
Frankwell bridge
not often is the river severn as calm this is Frankwell bridge or the Welsh bridge in Shrewsbury
dawn after the rain
A real friendly Shire stallion
GARDEN SPIDER
BEE-EATER
sundown siwa
this is a shot from one year ago when i lived in Egypt
White crested duck
blue tit
feeding on the hogweed seeds this photo was one of four i sent to the country file calender…
Laid back
Sylvester our Maine Coon is almost Eleven, that makes him as old as me so he also is retired,
dipper
Dipper cinclus cinclus my second sighting of the bird
moon at 6.30
stomoxys calcitrans. in short . house fly
adult Robin
Watching me in the garden it waits for me to turn a few sods after I leave it comes down from the tree…
take your feathers off then,
Juvenile male blackbird. being watched bathing by a male House sparrow
All rights reservedUploaded on Sep 19, 2011
Oak on the hill near LLANMEREWIG
strange name one may think but we have two LLANMEREWIG in Wales one near St Asaph and the other is near…
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on the severn river near St Mary’s church in Newtown Powys
harvest moon over Newtown Powys 10.9.11
conway castle
conway suspension bridge
IMG_6389
robin
photos of the rally are on my blog, http://wildaboutwales.wordpress.com/category/shrew sbury-steam-rally/
wildaboutwales.wordpress.com/
woodwasp siricidae
trapped in the greenhouse i got as good photo of this bug that does not keep still
Fordson only made this model from 1917 until 1920
raindrop
All rights reserved
now you see me
All rights reserved
wren
another one of my pics sent to Country file
All rights reserved
damselfly
dragons and damsels photos on wildaboutwales.wordpress.com/cat egory/montgomery-canal-2/ my photos on…
All rights reserved
squirrel
best place in the garden the family has increased to six this year
bush cricket, Meconema Thalassinum
t-bell having a smell of the halucination plant Brugmansia suaveolens or Datura aborea
small copper, lycaena phlaeas
blue tit on the ivy post
blackbird and sparrow having a bathe after the rain shower
speckled wood, pararge aegeria, butterfly
FLESH FLY
GARDEN CROSS SPIDER,
JUVENILE BLACKBIRD FEMALE
BACK OF THE GARDEN CROSS SPIDER
APPLES AND RAIND DROPS
HOVER FLY ON THE DAHLIA
penstrowed hall horses
the horses use Doughty’s rail bridge as a shelter(stable)
2 Male and a female Scathophaga stercoraria (L.), the Common Yellow Dung-fly.
COMMON FROG,RANA TEMPORARIA
sparrow feeding on the ladies mantle seeds
All rights reserved
THE LONE SWAN
All rights reserved
BUTEO BUTEO. BETTER KNOWN AS THE BUZZARD.
IMG_2361
Along the severn river
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: autumn, fungi, hoverfly, hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, lady birds, NEWTOWN POWYS, RED ADMIRAL, trametes hirsuta
lady bird
- lady bird and an aphid
large white butterfly
- red admiral on the ivy thats taken over an old building
red admiral and drone fly on the ivy flower
the ivy flower is attracting all the pollen loving insects butterfly wasp drone and hrove fly are in this one shot
fungi is sprouting up everywhere.hygrophoropsis aurantiaca,
fungi on the trunk of the oak tree
last of this seasons wild flowers
the speckled wood looking a bit worse for wear
a hoverfly on the brook thistle thats been eaten by aphids
they say that once the certain kind of fungi grow on trees the tree is dying
trametes hirsuta
tinder fungus (Fomes formentarius)
there are three of this type of fungi on this willow tree by the river. tinder fungus (Fomes formentarius)
- FUNGI GROWING ON THE STUMP OF A CUT DOWN TREE.
TREE REFLECTION IN THE CALM RIVER
Mute Swan
by A Roberts in Wild about Wales Tags: blue tits, Grey squirrel, House sparrow, magpie,mallards, mute swan, Redstart. Phoenicurus torquata
This female mute swan is always on her own and always comes to the calm waters of the Severn that runs along Dolerw park.
here she is on take off for a two hundred yard dash up stream where she has a quiet spot for preening herself
preening time usually at eleven, but if the river is fast flowing she goes on the bank.
two blue tits discussing whether to have fat ball or peanuts,
sparrow on the fat ball
shall I keep it for later
eat it while its fresh
this way up
or is it this way
something very interesting in the tree bark
Magpies on the playing fields no matter how much I try this is as close as i can get to the magpie,
This looks like a good place to dive
the river here is quite shaded with the trees but I managed to get a good shot as they came into the sun ray,showing the iridescent green on one of the drakes heads.
then there was two green heads
one diver left
diver no 2.
further up stream there was some kind of ritual going onnot often does one see five drakes and two hens. the drakes are all in mating plumage.
Not so good a light again but I think this is a Redstart, Phoenicurus torquata, I hope it is as its a first again for me,
And its Silhouette. My new website is in the making. there Iwill be putting all the wildlife photos I have taken over the past 3 months, www.wildaboutwales.org.uk. will put a link on when the site is up and running ,
.
Red in the morning shepherds warning.
once the sun came up clouds set in and that was the last I saw of it all day. never mind weve had a week of nice weather before the winter weather sets in.
