Category: Photography

Just photos – no particular theme

A few spots in the wind…

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

…after the rain. A short walk on the longest day…
As forecast, conditions were fit for a leg-stretch in the evening – from the village hall down to the slip at Camus More. There’s no sunshine (not much light at all!), but there’s colour here and there. The camper vans have been passing in the dozens, but I’ve got this little corner of Skye to myself this evening.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=137860&Y=870620&A=Y&Z=120

Flora and corncrakes

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, SkyeLeave a comment

A short stroll on a dull evening. No photos of the corncrakes (they’re secretive at the best of times, though a good few years ago we watched a pair in the garden here) – but we heard at least two in the boggy land between the main road and Monkstadt. The latter will always be associated with Flora Macdonald (as in “Over the sea to Skye”), but there are no photos of her either. The only flora in this post are some yellow flag irises, the ragged robins (blowing about in the wind) and a few buttercups. There are showers in the distance, but we’ve avoided them (luck!), and I’m not complaining about the wind. The midges can’t fly when it’s windy!

RSPB Corncrake – do play the sound recording on this site!

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Uig Baywatch

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

I believe it was a TV programme? No, this is a walk on the north side of Uig bay, via Idrigill to the headland of Creagile. Along the way, there are good views of the pier and the Hebrides, loading for its departure to Tarbert, Harris. Up on the headland, there’s a stiff breeze – the views may be great, but it’s not easy to hold the camera still.
Rather than retracing my steps all the way, I return via the playing fields and the woodlands by the shore, to admire once again the amazing lichen-clad trees.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=138622&Y=863963&A=Y&Z=120

Mallaig to Armadale

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Mainland to Skye… Just for a change, we’ve forsaken the bridge (and quite a few road miles) for the ferry. Mallaig is very busy – tourists all over the place. The ‘Jacobite’ (which some seem to know as the Harry Potter train) is in, but to return to Fort William the locomotive – 45407 – will have to run tender first. We’ll record the departure with no great enthusiasm, and we’re glad to get away as we board the MV Loch Bhrusda for the half-hour crossing. The time passes quickly – the sea views are great!

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Kippin’ in Kippen

On By geoffspagesIn PhotographyLeave a comment

An overnight stay on a journey north – it looked a pleasant and quiet place (it was!), in the Forth valley west of Stirling. (I wondered if there might be kippers on the breakfast menu? No – far too corny!). A brief exploration with just the phone camera on a fine sunny evening – just the thing to work up an appetite. Kippen has an interesting history – see Kippen on Wikipedia

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Sunday afternoon

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Quiet lanes – apart from the birds. They were singing merrily near Hazel cottage – Merlin says my recording includes chiffchaff, blackbird, thrush, goldcrest, wren and chaffinch. I think his ears are better tuned than mine…

Merlin

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Wild roses and pyramids

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

… and maybe bees? Around this time last year, we walked this way and found a bee orchid, the first we’d ever seen (https://geoffspages.blog/2023/06/08/the-bee-that-did-not-buzz/). Perhaps we can repeat the trick? Perhaps not… There would be some pyramid orchids, surely? Yes, but only a few. I think it was warmer in June ’23. Plenty of other things to see, especially now the wild rose – it’s really in the pink…

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