Wheat, Maize, Willow and a Chat.

Three perched Wheatears were a delight to see as I started my walk down the track at Whittington. To say it was overcast was an understatement, mist hung around for the duration of the walk.

 

One of the 3 Wheatears seen (at a distance), 2 females and 1male.

 

 

A party of 15+ Long-tailed Tits were most entertaining as they searched for insects along the hedgerow and in the field of maize. There were a few youngsters still being fed by adults. Super little birds!

 

 

I am going for Willow Warbler...a gut feeling!

 

A distant Whinchat.

 

A flock of 30+ Swallows suddenly appeared overhead, their trills and twitters as they swirled above me feeding on the insects was a welcome sight and sound, I watched them for a few minutes then as quick as they had arrived they had gone and all was silent once again.

 

It was lovely to catch up with some of our delightful summer visitors before they head off on their long journeys to warmer climes for the winter.

 

 

 

 

 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Bandstand and Butterflies! 14/08/2016

It had been a couple of years since last visiting the Botanical Gardens. A dull Sunday afternoon was brightened by the sight of some spectacular plants and butterflies! A ray or two of sunshine would have given some justice to the flower images but that was out of my control.;-)

 

Butterfly Border.

Unfortunately there was not one butterfly to be seen on this walk, weather and a poor season for butterflies in general by all accounts.

 

 

 

 

 

The Shrubbery

This is just how I would like my garden to look.;-)

 

 

A lonesome and in moult Peacock! I have just read this on an Animals website, very apt:

 

A Peacock without his feathers is like a king without a crown, a tiger without its stripes, a cowboy without his boots.

 

 

Bands play in the bandstand every Sunday and Bank Holiday from April- October at approximately 2.00pm. I hope to catch one of the performances before the season ends.

.

 

There are four glasshouses to explore and enjoy.  Exotic Tropical House, Subtropical,  Mediterranean and Arid Houses.

A great variety of species of Carnivorous plants were on display. Strangely not many flies were around!!!

 

 Butterfly House

 

A few images of some of the butterflies, the species are native to the climates of Central America and Africa. It would have been helpful to have had a leaflet or photographic guide on show to identify the species seen. They were all very beautiful to see whatever they were called.

I believe this butterfly is a Citrus Swallowtail.

This one maybe a Malachite butterfly.

 

That is the end of my short trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens, well worth a visit if you are in the area!

 

 

 

 

 

The Weather Stone. 18/08/2016

I am pleased to say that when I took these images yesterday there were plenty of shadows and I am sure that if I could have reached the stone it would have felt hot!

 

Today is a different story, it is no doubt wet and shadowless.

Climb Every Mountain...Snowdon!!! 3rd-6th August 2016.

Climb every mountain or as in this case, let the train take the strain!

A few days were recently spent in Llanberis, Snowdonia...and what a wonderfully scenic area it is too!

This was one of the views from the Hotel which is situated in Snowdonia National Park and a minutes walk from the Snowdon Railway Station.....handy or what. ;-)

                                                   


                                                                        Beddgelert

A short drive away is Beddgelert, a small village in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd. A popular area for tourists judging by the amount of people. The walk alongside the River Glaslyn was enjoyable though sunshine would have been most welcomed, however it did not rain!

                                                  


                                                                       River Glaslyn                                           

 

 

                                                                              

Gelert.

A legendary dog alleged to have belonged to LLywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd.

Here is his story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelert

 

St Marys Church

 

 

 

 

Storm clouds on the horizon! Luckily they passed by without a drop of rain!

 

 

This cyclist certainly caught the eye of passersby.  Clever advertising!

 

 

 On the way back to LLanberis a few pit stops were made to enjoy the views.

                                                                A lonely looking tree!

 

 

 

Can you spot the climber?

 

 

Llanberis Lake Railway.

 

 

It was an enjoyable ride on the train though I have to say that if there had been commentary on the journey around the Lake it would have been in my opinion an asset.

 

 

 
                                                            Llanberis Slate Mine

                                                    https://www.llanberis.com/slate.html                                               
                                                                            

                                         

 

 

 

 

Dolbadarn Castle, Llanberis

 

This walk was a delightful if somewhat short woodland walk with some scenic views along the way and a Speckled Wood butterfly was a welcome sight on what had been an almost bird free walk if it had not been for a Collared Dove!

 

 

https://www.llanberis.com/dolbad.html

 

 

 

 

Snowdon and Snowdon Mountain Railway.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdon_Mountain_Railway

 

An exciting and scenic journey on the way to the summit of Snowdon!

Lone walkers, walkers with dogs, couples and families with young children making their way up to the summit! If I had had a hat on I would have 'taken my hat off to them' ! As you can imagine it was not a walk in the park!

 

Hebron Station passing loop

 

 

 

Going a little misty!

                                         Nearly there.  Just 200 metres to the summit!

                                         A few gulls (Herring?) waited patiently at the summit for a morsel or two but by the look of some of the climbers they were in more need of sustenance than the gulls!

                                          

                                                                Trig point.
                               
                                 Well done to all who made the journey on foot. You have my upmost respect!

 

My thanks for helpful information given to me go to my friend Ruth who having herself made this trip a couple of weeks previously inspired me to spend a few days in beautiful and scenic North Wales!!

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Images added of  the climber and his whereabouts in the photo.! I wonder how many visitors to my blog managed to spot the climber? lol