Category Archives: Pictures

A post containing pictures

Pictures, Thoughts

Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle

3 Comments

On my first big day out for over a year due to the pandemic I went to Westonbirt Arboretum (pictures from that in a separate post) on a May day with changeable weather. On my return journey I decided to make a detour via Avebury Stone Circle, a place I had great memories of from my early years in the UK 25 years ago. I hadn’t visited since moving to West Berkshire over 10 years ago. I had the place pretty much for myself (well, apart from the sheep and lambs) and took a few pictures of some of the standing stones during a few short sunny intervals. I used my wide angle lens and went close up, hopefully showing the massive size of these stones.

  • Picture of a stone circle seen from an embankment on a May evening with sunny intervals
    Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (1)
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (2)
  • Picture of a standing stone in a stone circle with a big tree in the background on a sunny May evening
    Big Stone and a Big Tree at Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle with a big tree in the background on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones and a Big Tree at Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening, a sheep wandering past
    Big Stones and a Sheep at Avebury Stone Circle
Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (click on the pictures for the large versions)

I didn’t stay long as I was tired after a long day walking around Westonbirt Arboretum, also some heavier clouds moved in and it looked like rain was on the way. But I’m sure I’ll be back later this year or next year as we hopefully progress with overcoming the pandemic and the country opens up further. In the meantime I hope you’ll enjoy these pictures.

Pictures

Goldfinch in the Autumn Sunshine (+bonus Starlings)

5 Comments

The last day of October 2020 brought a dull and grey morning and some heavy rain over lunchtime and early afternoon in West Berkshire. But around mid afternoon it cleared up and the sun came through, giving some nice autumn afternoon sunshine. As soon as the rolls I had started baking at lunchtime as the heavy rain stopped me from going anywhere were finished I grabbed my camera to try and get a few shots. I only had about an hour before the sun went too low and no time to go far, but I managed to catch these Goldfinches on a tree in its autumn colours (and some bonus Starlings on the top of a bare tree branch):

  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (1)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (2)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (3)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (4)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch on the top of a tree in the autumn afternoon sunshine
    Goldfinch in the autumn afternoon sun
  • Picture of seven Starlings on the top of a branch in the autumn afternoon light
    Starlings in the autumn afternoon sun
Goldfinches (and bonus Starlings) in the autumn sunshine

As usual click on the pictures for the large size gallery view. I hope you enjoy and like the pictures, I must admit I’m quite pleased about the first picture, managing to catch the Goldfinch just in the hole in the autumn leaves (there were also plenty failed versions of that picture…).

Pictures

Autumn colours along the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire

4 Comments

Having decided not to travel to Islay because of the Covid-19 pandemic this year I had a two week staycation at home in West Berkshire. Unfortunately the weather didn’t turn out as nice as I had hoped, so I didn’t get out for walks as much as I had thought (I ended up visiting a Swedish furniture store and completing some home improvements I had thought about for a while instead). Still, I managed to squeeze in a few short sunny walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal allowing me to take a few nice autumnal pictures (click on the pictures for the full size gallery):

  • Picture of two trees in their autumn colours next to a canal, seen from a window overlooking the canal
    (1) Colourful trees from the window
  • Picture of two trees in their autumns colours reflecting in the water of the canal
    (2) Autumnal trees reflecting in the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored along a canal in the autumn sunshine, trees in their autumn colour in the background
    (3) Canal boat in the autumn sunshine
  • Picture of Chestnut trees in their autumn colours along a canal
    (4) Chestnuts in their autumn colours along the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored on a canal under colourful autumn trees
    (5) Boat moored under colourful autumn trees
  • Picture of a canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves floating on a canal
    (6) Canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal
    (7) Colourful autumnal trees along the canal
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal and floating fallen leaves on the canal
    (8) Autumnal trees and floating leaves on the canal
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (9) Colourful autumn tree next to the canal towpath
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (10) Looking up a beautiful autumn colour tree

Except for the first picture (which is from my flat overlooking the canal in Aldermaston Wharf) all the pictures are from the towpath from Aldermaston Wharf walking west towards Woolhampton. Some really nice autumnal colours around, especially over the second week. All the pictures were taken with my large wide angle zoom lens (14-24mm, mostly towards the 14mm), allowing me to capture some big views of the trees and their autumn colours.

I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures and the colours.

Pictures

Grass Snake going for a swim on the canal

6 Comments

Having only taken pictures from my windows for a few weeks I ventured out along the Kennet and Avon Canal when the lockdown restrictions were eased a bit. I stopped near Frouds Lane to try to take a few pictures of birds crossing the canal. That wasn’t very successful. I was just about to leave when I got lucky, although not with a bird. I noticed some motion on the other side of the canal and suddenly a Grass Snake swimming across the canal came into view:

  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal
    (1) Grass Snake approaching
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal, seen from the side, tongue out
    (2) Grass Snake swimming
  • Picture of the head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
    (3) Head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
    (4) Swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake turning around, showing us the back of its head
    (5) Swimming Grass Snake turning around
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming past a twig floating on the water
    (6) Grass Snake swimming back past a twig
A Grass Snake swimming across the Kennet and Avon Canal. Click the pictures for the larger versions

I must admit I didn’t know that snakes can swim until I saw this one doing it. This snake had to cross the canal twice (and did it quite easily it seems): It came across only to realise that on the other side was a retaining wall about 2 ft high, so it couldn’t get out. It had a brief look, then turned around and swam back where it disappeared into the undergrowth (no wall on that side). The tongue was nicely visible several times and the head nicely reflected/mirrored on the water. I hope you like and enjoy these pictures. I certainly enjoyed the moment and watching the snake.

Pictures, Thoughts

Birds and more from my windows

5 Comments

During the first several weeks of the Coronavirus lockdown I wasn’t able to go out with my camera. As I live in a flat and therefore don’t have a garden I couldn’t even go out into the garden and take pictures there. Still, I did have my windows (including the door of my “fake balcony”) and I managed to take a few pictures from there. Here are some of the better ones:

  • Fluffy Blue Tit
    Fluffy Blue Tit
  • Great Tit above some fresh leaves
    Great Tit above some fresh leaves
  • Sparrow balancing on a vertical branch
    Sparrow balancing on a vertical branch
  • Sparrow among fresh shoots on a tree
    Sparrow among fresh shoots on a tree
  • Heron in (and behind) distant trees
    Heron in (and behind) distant trees
  • Insect on some tree buds (1)
    Insect on some tree buds (1)
  • Insect on some tree buds (2)
    Insect on some tree buds (2)
  • Beautiful Moon in the afternoon light
    Beautiful Moon in the afternoon light
Birds and more from my windows, click on the picture for the large version in a gallery

Nothing spectacular, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Sparrows are what I mainly see from my window. But also a distant Heron at the top of some trees around a nearby pond. Also some insects collecting pollen. And a beautiful clear Moon in the afternoon light.