Tag Archives: Aldermaston Wharf

Pictures

Squirrel outside my window

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Back in January I noticed a Squirrel in the tree just outside my window. I quickly grabbed my camera, which luckily had the big telephoto lens attached, and quickly took a few shots before the Squirrel moved on. Then something else came up and I kind of forgot about about the pictures. Today I remembered I them and decided to edit a few of them. Here’s the result, hope you like them:

Picture of a Squirrel hanging from a branch
Squirrel hanging from branch
Picture of a Squirrel grabbing some food
Squirrel grabbing some food (2)
Picture of a Squirrel grabbing some food
Squirrel grabbing some food (1)
Picture of a squirrel eating
Squirrel eating (2)
Picture of a squirrel eating
Squirrel eating (1)
Squirrel outside my window (click picture for bigger version)

Considering I took these pictures through the window on a dull overcast day with not much light I’m quite please with the results (and Photoshop’s help to get the best out of them). What do you think?

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Robins in the New year’s sunshine

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On the second day of the new year 2022 I managed to get out for a short photo walk around Aldermaston Wharf, returning as the rain arriving from the west set in. I didn’t see an awful lot, but managed to capture these two Robins in the mild New Year’s sunshine high up in a tree:

  • Picture of a Robin looking straight at us
    Robin frontal view
  • Picture of a Robin in full voice, singing loudly
    Robin in full voice
  • Picture of a Robin singing away
    Robin singing away
  • Picture of a Robin sitting in a tree
    Robin sitting in a tree
  • Picture of a Robin looking up
    Robin looking up
Robins in the New Year’s sunshine

As usual, click on the pictures to view the larger version and visit the gallery. I hope you enjoy the pictures of the two Robins, if I remember correctly the most popular bird in the UK.

Pictures

Goldfinch in the Autumn Sunshine (+bonus Starlings)

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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

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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, Thoughts

Steam Train passing Aldermaston Station

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After the (luckily short) heat wave this week it was pleasantly cool this Saturday morning, also a bit damp as it had rained most of the night and still hadn’t fully stopped by the time I decided to leave for the train station. For it was time to watch and photograph another steam train passing Aldermaston Station.

  • Picture of a steam train approaching behind a bridge
    (1) Steam train approaching from Reading
  • Picture of a steam train passing under a road bridge
    (2) Steam train under the A340 road bridge
  • Picture of a steam train passing under a road bridge
    (3) Steam train clearing the A340 road bridge
  • Picture of a steam train passing a rural train station
    (4) Steam train passing through Aldermaston station
  • Picture of a steam train passing close up
    (5) Steam train close up
  • Picture of a steam train from behind, steaming away into the distance
    (6) Steam train has passed on its way to Newbury

Since the electrification of the line watching steam trains passing through isn’t the same any more, but then again some progress is necessary and I certainly prefer the electric trains over the old stinking and noisy Diesels we had before.

I haven’t bothered looking up the details of the steam engine pulling the train today, I hope you’ll still enjoy the pictures without that information. If you do know more about the locomotive feel free to leave the information in the comments.