As Seasons Change

Me and my Dad have taken some photos on our phones as we've been out and about.

We had something of an Indian Summer, it seemed, with some very mild days up until November.

A beautiful rainbow my Dad caught on one of his walks.

Marlow Bridge, currently shut for repairs and pedestrianised after an accident.

Bisham Abbey from the towpath side, and again by a fallen willow tree.

  It's been a long time since I really paid attention to things around me and took photographs.  I've never been a shutterbug.  But the quick pace of time is making me feel that perhaps I should be recording things, here and there, as signposts in time.

Whispers of Autumn

  I've been chipping away at the edges of my lead mountain, painting a batch of archers and plotting my next move.  I've therefore not had any finished work to show off, so thought I'd post some signs of the seasons.

 

  A wasps nest, built stealthily in an old stump near a flowerbed.  Some creature had attacked it in the night, perhaps mistaking the buzzing for that of bees and expecting some honey as a reward.  I can only imagine the stinging retort they endured.  We found this hive structure with some survivors picking over the ruins late in the day.

 

  I went out for my walk on the hill and deciding to dip down across it somewhat, and found a swathe of rosebay willowherb.   A common weed, but seeing it visited by bees, moths and butterflies gladdened my heart.

 

  Some little signs of the season winding down are appearing.  This is the largest patch of Lords and Ladies berries I've seen round about here, usually I only find one or two hiding under a hedgerow.

  Conkers growing in the trees.  The leaves are not turning, but all the horse chestnut trees around here seem to be afflicted with a virus that causes the leaves to brown and shrivel prematurely.

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  I've thought that I will start writing - if not full reviews, then at least, my impressions of books I have read.  I have been delving into modern Weird fiction and horror after being fixated for the past decade on the early 20th century.  There seems to be a tight knit community for such things and I would like to broaden my horizons and become a part of it.

Hawk Walk - Feathers & Fur

  My family discovered the wonderful Feathers and Fur on the way to Reading and we have visited them several times to experience some really beautiful birds of prey that have been rescued.

  You can look around at the birds in their aviaries at the garden centre it's attached to on most days.  There are event days when they encourage children to learn about the birds, the owls especially. 

  On these days the volunteers bring out a couple of the better socialised birds and only charge a couple of pounds to handle them.

  Just today, I went out with my Dad and the experienced handler, Sadie, on a hawk walk.  We took a Harris Hawk called "Echo" out with us.  It's more the case that we have the privilege of witnessing him chase things in the fields and have to lure him back with bits of chicken, than that we are engaging in falconry!

   The above shot shows Echo sizing my arm to clamber up...

  And here I feel rather complimented that he's decided that my shoulder is an OK lookout to try and see a pheasant that escaped him earlier in the day!  We were blessed with some beautiful weather, a low autumn sun that seemed blinding to us but not to Echo as we went on his usual circuit around the fields.

  My Dad took some excellent photos but the one above is definitely my favourite!