Nothing to do with wildlife!

A slight digression from the wildlife theme and not a bird on site! I did see a frog in the pond for the second morning running - so this is an encouraging sign. And today there were two frogs. The last two years they have spawned in the second and thirds weeks of February respectively - so I shall be keeping an eye on the pond over the coming few days.

Monday dawned fairly cloudy as expected. My daughter and I decided we'd have a day in London. Our goal was to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2008) competition photographs at the Natural History Museum but, it's the school's half term - and I think every school child and parent found their way to the Museum. We looked at the entrance queue - we turned and went back - to the Thames.

We spent the day walking along by the river just taking in the sights and sounds and this is what we saw.

Walking along the South Bank with St. Pauls Cathedral in the background.

We had a glimpse into the entrance of the Tate Modern museum; we had visited before and acknowledged that modern art is not our taste! Apart from the giant spider, the yellow and blue bed bases all had one book on them - and this in itself was an exhibit.


The view from the Tate Modern

Further along and much more interesting is the Globe Theatre with this wonderful gate (which is one of two)

Detail of one of the embellishments in the form of a Cormorant

A sundial which wraps itself around two sides of this corner
The sun only reaches it in the afternoon - we were too early to read the time!

And a glimpse of the outside of the theatre

This part of the river through London has many glass-walled buildings. Whether you like them or not, they do cause some wonderful reflections. In this "wall of glass" the building is a reflection of the one opposite.

More the traditional style of London

And the Golden Hinde



Entrance to Southwark Cathedral

I hadn't purchased a photography permit so I shouldn't really have taken this picture.
(for far more comprehensive information than I can give, and some good pictures of the interior, pop over to Pete's blog)

General views along the river bank as we approached our goal of...

Tower Bridge width HMS Belfast in the foreground


and three Chinook helicopters flew over the bridge and us!
More reflections on glass walls



and we are getting nearer to Tower Bridge





We then went to the topmost point which is the Exhibition Gallery

with some stunning views across London and beyond






There may be a Part 2 to this post but that's all for now....

Valentine's day at LWC Barnes - a sort of Woo Hoo day!

This morning as I sat as usual enjoying my caffeine intake of the day (I was on my 3rd mugful as I'd woken at 4.30 a.m., given in and got up at 5.00) and watching the birds, I became aware that there were a large number of goldfinches up in the trees. I counted those on the feeders - 17 - OK a bit lower than usual. Then I counted those that perched across the top of two Oak trees a couple of gardens away - I was amazed - there were 53!! Whoo hoo.

I'd mentioned to Pete that I might go to Barnes today but as the day dawned somewhat cloudy, I decided I would do some much needed sorting and tidying in the spare room as I've a house guest coming on and off over the next few weeks (but that's the subject of another day's post).

But by 11.30 I was incredibly bored and the sun was coming out so....... off I went to Barnes

A flying flock of Canada Geese greeted me on arrival.


When I got into the Courtyard area it was teeming with children - they've got a special "pets' corner" on over the weekend. So I moved swiftly on not stopping for a coffee as the cafe was packed with the little dears and their parents. Lovely that they are learning about animal life......

As Valentine's day has completely passed me by (no change there then and why should the habit of a lifetime be broken now!), I thought this couple of American Whistling Birds (Collection) seemed particularly affectionate.

The Moorhens were showing sign of courtship. Four had been engaged in a fierce fight which left two of them displaying - that's "synchronised displaying" of course



Now you may be forgiven for thinking I've lost the plot entirely by posting a picture of some not very interesting shrubbery. BUT if you look slightly to the left of off centre, you might see some brown dappled colouring - it's a WOODCOCK! Woo Hoo - a lifer for me!!
(And thanks to the very nice chappie who let me have a look through his scope)


The next excitement was a Snipe that decided it wanted to show itself. Woo hoo for the 2nd time as I managed to get some reasonable pictures.




I then went around to the "other side" of the reserve and there, hiding in the reeds was a Water Rail - Woo hoo again! However, in order to get these shots I was almost leaning out of the window and getting really frustrated trying to focus through some chain link fencing.
At first I could only get shots of its rear...

but eventually, it decided to come out a bit - just a pity it didn't step on the bit of grass that rather got in the way of an anyway decent picture.



So - not a bad way to celebrate they day with three birds that are not that easy to see!

Water, water everywhere!

I know now that I have three (rather than the previous two) blackcaps visiting the garden as yesterday, I saw two males at the same time and I also have a female. Regretably the Bramblings and Pied Wagtail have disappeared but I suppose I can't have it all! (Oh I know - I shouldn't be greedy) The goldfinches still visit in great numbers with recently, there never being less than 20 on any one day. This is now beginning to be quite normal for my garden.

Today I decided to have a quick nip along various points of the River Thames; given the snow melt and the following rain the river is dangerously high but fortunately, it's receding - phew!

It's ironic that out in Australia they are having record breaking heat and fires whilst here in the UK we've had more snow than we've had for 20 years and now some flood alerts as a result. What a topsy-turvey weather world we live in!

However, I digress - a pictorial account of my wander along the Thames and River Ember!

Swollen River Thames at Hampton Court


With a few of the birds

near Molesey Lock



From Hampton Court I went further upstream to Walton-on-Thames and the bridge



Many swans and Canada and Greylag Geese - although this one I believe is a bit of both!

Rather haughty trio of Greylags


On my way home I stopped and had a wander through the field (in my road) to the River Ember. Needless to say the river here was very full also.


But what did surprise me was the lone male Wigeon


There are hundreds of gulls in my area and this is evidenced by their flights over the area when they go to roost. It's quite spectacular and I'm sure most people are totally unaware of the waves upons waves of gulls going over.

This display involved the gulls circling overhead - don't know what was happening but it was about 4.00 p.m. (ish) so whether this was a pre-roost gathering or not??

If anyone has any theories?.......