Ashburnham Place

I went to visit my very good friend today.  Despite grey skies and strong winds (it was warm though) we went to Ashburnham Place.. Their Orangery Cafe produces some excellent meals and the grounds are beautiful.  We didn't walk far today but it was great to have a walk and drink in the scenery.

These aren't the best pics by any means, but given the dreadful lack of light and the motion with a 'travel lens" then as record shots then..

Just great to have a very good lunch and a wander with a very special friend.. thank you xx

Sorrento Day 4 - Positano

Last night's meal in the hotel was on a Sorrento theme with two musicians where we were serenaded with guitar, mandolin and voice (his)  accompaniment  - this with a lovely meal and bottle of local wine.... lovely evening and a wander around the gardens... more pics next week.

One example of amazing carved vegetables in the restaurant!

and today, off by bus to Positano - very black and low clouds to begin with but at least we never had the forecast thunderstorms!!

My rather muzzy highly cropped dragonfly (ID please?) taken with a 12 -32 mft lens

and for much easier identification, Pete's to pics taken with a longer range lens

London Wetland Centre... Dragons, Very Little Grebes and Otters

The sun shone and the early morning coolness turned into a scorching hot day.  I headed north to Barnes.  I had limited time as I'd promised Mum I would take her to Findon Sheep Fair.. (we went, it was packed, we came home...)

I espied Norman in the car park and later I met up with Rosemary (great to see you again!) with Chris and Anne.  Later on I was to come across Corinna, and also to meet (for the first time) Wendy and Duncan, and also Ian. Good to meet you guys 'in the flesh' so to speak.

We were after Dragons - and were rewarded... dozens (literally) of Migrant Hawkers about.

Whilst standing and watching, this Great Spotted Woodie flew up into the tree.  Pity it didn't choose to come 'my' side of that branch!!

Dragons!!

From the Wildside Hide... a Grey Heron cooling!

Black-headed gull in reflection

And on leaving the Wildside Hide I noticed a Little Grebe...then heard several squeaky cries..
'Hang on' thinks I, 'What is the bump on the back of the Grebe?'

Ah... 1 little grebe chick!

Oops no... 2 little grebe chicks!

Oops no.... 3 little grebe chicks!

They were tiny and could only have been a day (or two) old...

food time (and another of those annoying bits of reed!)

Wandered back towards the visitors centre, in time to see the Otters..  There are four females but I could only get 3 in shot at any one time.

Around the 'other' side, a very large dragon... still trying to ID it!

and finally, on the way out, about 11 Marsh Frogs.. remarkably quiet basking in the lunchtime sun!

 The traffic going home was..... awful!  But didn't detract from a rewarding morning....