Al Woods Photo

The weather has really taken a turn for the worse today (see video) but needed to go out and MOT the car and get some shopping supplies. I know there was an extension of 6 months in place, but the guy at the garage said it would be better to get it done because there would be a rush later in the year. The garden is beginning to come to life at last. Things are quite a bit slower than last year.

The night sky has been very clear over the last few days so I took the opportunity to try some photography  📸📸📸 This is a shot of Venus 👁👁 And this is a shot of Pleiades, or The Seven Sisters as it is known. On April 20th, Venus and Pleiades will be seen together in the sky. Problem with long exposures of the night sky is that anything over about 15 seconds will result in the stars looking elongated. This is because the Earth is turning all the time and this causes the image to be blurred.

Well the COVID-19 outbreak has caused a virtual lock-down situation. We still manage to get out for a walk so long as we keep away from other people. Saw these beautiful deer while out recently. Lovely colourful Jay. And we are seeing a lot more Woodpeckers. 

The Covid-19 outbreak has made life difficult for everyone, however, it does give people the opportunity to get outdoors walking for exercise and maybe spotting the wonderful wildlife we have in our countryside. I saw a deer, and it saw me. This Grey Wagtail was by the waterside. The very chatty Chiff Chaff was high in the trees.

A lovely day today at Brockholes Nature Reserve. The resident Kestrel 'Kevin' was out and about. Lots of other birds spotted today too. Chaffinch  Great Tit  Longtailed Tit  Blue Tit  Coal Tit  Dunnock  Grey Heron  The Jay And although I couldn't get close enough for a good shot, we spotted these mad March Hares boxing each other. Maybe I'll get a bit closer next time!

Great day for a walk today. This Cormorant was quite happy on the banks of the canal until we walked past. Then he decided to be on his way. This Robin almost took some food from my hand and then decided against it! The frogs were very busy spawning in a culvert near the flash.

Toads breeding and spawning in  a pond at Cuerden Park.  Cuerden Hall at the park. It's a nice place to walk and take in the views. There's a visitors centre, cafe and lots to see and do. 

Stunningly colourful Peacock butterfly harvesting pollen from their favourite flower on the Buddleia shrub.

Barges and adjacent properties on the canal at Worsley.

Whitby Abbey photographed on a beautiful sunny day.

I heard this fellow before I saw him. He was snuffling about in the grass at night. The decent thing to do was take his photo!

Marsh Tit (or Willow Tit?) photographed at Pennington Flash. It can be so difficult to distinguish between the Marsh and the Willow tit.

A Cormorant perching above the lake. Photographed at Pennington Flash country park.

Westminster Tube station. Effects applied using Gimp 2.10.

Sunrise over the Snowdonian mountains. Photographed from Anglesey, Wales.

This nice collection of mushrooms looks like a fairy garden. Photographed at Newborough Forest, Anglesey.

A view over the cliffs and the path to the lighthouse at South Stack, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Lovely sunshine on a very cold morning while walking in Lilford Park near Leigh. 

Flying Scotsman and City of Wells steam locomotives photographed at Ramsbottom station, part of the East Lancashire Steam Railway. Read More for pics and video.

A series of photos of the water falls at Yarrow Valley Country Park near Chorley. I have used slower shutter speeds to interpret the water movement. Video of the falls below.