Red Kite, Buzzard and an Emu during a Saturday walk

It had been far too long since I had last been out for a one of these, a local walk to see what comes up and take pictures. But this Saturday lunchtime I finally got my act together, installed the big 500mm lens with the 1.4 extender on the Nikon and went out. I had to realise I am quite out of practice, most of the pictures of birds in flight weren’t very good. Really need to get back into it, practice, practice and practice some more. At least I got a few decent ones of birds perched. And a curious Emu in a field. Here we go (click on the pictures for the large version carousel):

I also spotted a Little Egret, unfortunately it was too far away to take pictures and by the time I had managed to get into a good position (quite challenging because of badly flooded footpaths etc) it had moved on, so I missed out on that one.

With spring hopefully just around the corner I hope this will kickstart me into getting out again. Fingers crossed there will be more posts with wildlife and nature pictures over the coming weeks and months.

Removal of Aldermaston Wharf lift bridge for refurbishment

In early January 2024 the lift bridge of the A340 Basingstoke Road over the Kennet and Avon canal in Aldermaston Wharf had to be removed for some major refurbishment work. During the initial preparation for its removal there wasn’t much to see, although I did manage to get some decent shots of the bare bridge in the afternoon light one day. Then on Friday 12/Jan/24 I was lucky enough to catch a good part of the loading of the bridge on to a trailer during my lunch break walk:

The bridge will now receive some long overdue maintenance and improvements over a few weeks before being reinstalled in mid March 2024. I’m hoping to be lucky again and be out for my lunch break walk at the right time, but obviously can’t promise anything.

For a few pictures and a video from the original removal check this report in Newbury Today.

Flooding along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Aldermaston Wharf and Woolhampton, West Berkshire

After a wet end to 2023 leading to saturated grounds in much of England storm Henk and shortly after some very heavy rain in early January brought some significant flooding to many parts of England. While not as serious as in some other parts of England there is also some flooding along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Aldermaston Wharf and Woolhampton in West Berkshire. I’ve lived here for 15 years and think on the stretch of canal I regularly walk it’s the worst it’s been in those years. There has been flooding before, but this year seems more and higher. On Saturday 6/Jan/2024 I went for my regular walk and took my camera with me for a few pictures and video:

I also recorded a few short video clips, here is the video I edited with them showing some of the flooding:

Floods around Aldermaston Wharf and Woolhampton, West Berkshire in January 2024

I hope you found the pictures and video interesting and informative, please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

A band new to me in 2023: Coach Party

I promised I’d write a blog post about them, so I better get it done before 2023 comes to an end. Some time during the summer I came across Coach Party from the Isle of Wight, probably on BBC Radio 6 Music. I’m not sure which song I heard first, good chance it was the one I’ve already mentioned:

Coach Party – What’s The Point In Life (Official Video)

Some more delicious noise in the next one:

Coach Party – All I Wanna Do Is Hate (Official Video)

I don’t know what period drama/series (if any) they are referencing in the video, but I think It’s quite enjoyable. And there’s more nice noise

Coach Party – FLAG (Feel Like A Girl) (Official Video)

I’m not sure why hate is featuring in their songs at an alarming rate, as here’s a second song with hate in the title, although the roles are reversed this time:

Coach Party – Everybody Hates Me (Official Video)

To close a song that hopefully isn’t going to weird you out

Coach Party – Weird Me Out (Official Video)

That’s it for Coach Party for now. If you didn’t know them before I hope you might have found something you like as well.

Let’s see what I’ll discover next year….

On heavy rotation just now: What’s The Point In Life

I’ve mentioned Wet Leg on this blog a while ago, now it’s time for another band from the Isle of Wight, which probably will extend to a Bands New To Me post later this year. The band is Coach Party, the song is (obviously) What’s The Point In Life:

Coach Party – What’s The Point In Life (Official Video)

Just under three minutes of pleasant noise with catchy lyrics, what’s not to love?

Nothing but the truth…