This weeks photograph was taken while taking photo’s of a Little Egret. On a bridge a photographer was photographing the same bird from a different spot. So my shot this week is of the lesser spotted photographer.
Dear photographer, if you happen to read this please contact me, would love to see your shots of the little Egret.
Comment’s welcome and have a great Wednesday.
George.
We’re off to the roof tops this week. I noticed over the last few weeks a cat walking along the ridge line on the houses behind where I live. I got this shot when the cat decided to sit in the sun. I had only a small window through the trees to capture it. Just after I grab the shot it moved off.
Thank you for visiting and feedback is always welcome.
George.
So I’ve been a little quiet on the blog, I’ve been busy moving to my new place to live. So for the first in a month I had a few hours to spare and it being a beautiful autumn day here I took a drive to the County Down coast. A few gentle walks and just parking up in other spots, it was an easy day. Chatted to a couple of other photographers and those just out for a stroll. So a few photos from today, Think the title might give a clue…
Grey Heron ( Ardea cinerea )
A Curlew ( Scolopacidae ) I spooked from its resting place.
Black headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter plumage.
In full song a Robin ( Erithacus rubecula )
A couple of Cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae )
Not a 100 percent but I think this is called a Skiff. So if any person knows what they are could you let me know. Check this link
The Grey Seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) and they are not all grey in colour.
Heading back towards Strangford.
Next a few shots of the Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta )
these birds flying in the photo’s are Lapwings ( Vanellinae )
Peace at last..
Unless he know’s different..
Don’t like the look of him..
So like my flying friend it’s time to go, hope you enjoyed the day out and you will join me another time. Thank you and take care.
George.
This week its a B&W butterfly the Pieris rapae, small white or Small Cabbage White.
This was shot using a Nikon D7200 and Sigma 105 macro lens. Converted to B&W in Lightroom.
Thank you for visiting and please feel free to comment, like or dislike.
Have a great day,
George
So after leaving Wales I headed over to the Peak District in mid England.
The ride across to the Peak District was an enjoyable ride with a few detours due to road works. When time is not a problem I love detours, on the motorcycle I just take any road and see where it takes me. Sometimes I do this just for fun. I have seen great little gem’s of the country side by doing this or ended up in dead end’s or farm yards. It’s still great to explore to little roads.
So my destination was The Royal Oak in Hurdlow, Nr Buxton, SK17 9QJ,
This was home for two nights staying in the Bunk Barn.
The bunk rooms are up the stairs, they are clean and also have a small shared Kitchen area if you wish to cook or just make coffee, tea etc. Toilets and Showers below them has seen in the photo. Because the barn is built into a slope the bunk rooms are at ground level on the other side of the barn.
Last year I camped here before going up to tour Scotland, saying it rained is an under statement. I never seen any of the Peak district. This year the ground was burnt with no rain for a couple of months. 
Where most of my meals where had and a few pints of ale enjoyed. There was a large music festival due to start a few miles down the road. So it was busy and no shortage of people to chat to, it’s the thing I love when touring alone. The people I meet, local and others travelling. Some great true stories, and others boasted by too much ale. You have got to love it.
An old Ford Transit motor home owned by a family of festival goers.
Red tailed bee and a few shots around the Peak district.
The Royal Oak sits on part of the National cycling network route. I walked around 10 mile of it in the evenings. With it being based on old disused railway lines in this area, it was enjoyable to walk and not have any traffic. While walking I left the camera, just enjoying the walk for what it is. Before leaving the Royal Oak I would like to say, Having stayed here twice I would highly recommend this place, staff and service is great and the ale worth trying.
My next stop is in North Yorkshire in the Market town of Skipton. It’s here I have to apologize for no photographs from this part of the trip. When replacing the SD card in the camera, I didn’t push it fully home and it was not till I was in Skipton I discovered it. So a full days photos in some scenic parts where lost, plus photos of a place I want to see for years. the town of Holmfirth in Yorkshire. Where the longest running British television sitcom was filmed. ‘Last of the summer wine’ the series run from 1973 to 2010. I always want to get a cup of tea in Sid’s cafe, a place in the sitcom. So I made it there and got my tea and thought I had my photographs, So it will be another trip back to see Holmfirth and another cuppa.
Skipton in Yorkshire is a place I have been to a lot, I was going to visit friends there for the weekend and do some walking but the weather there was thunder and lighting storms so with the bike parked for the weekend we went to Salts Mill a few mile from Bradford. About Salts Mill
The Church where a wedding was taking place.
Something different from the wedding cars you normally see.
The sign at the old police station.
Hockney 1853 gallery , Some views of the work on display in the David Hockney gallery. Here’s Andy adding scale to the famous Hockney chair.
In a gallery being artistic with slow shutter speed.
Heavy weight reading here in the book shop, detail from the slinging hook used in the old mill. It was nice to see how a lot of the old mill has been restored or just used has it was, like the old stone flooring and other features like the windows and doors.
A coffee in one of the coffee shops and it was out into the sunshine.
The mill chimney from different views.
Beside the mill runs the canal where we where going to walk but just has these photos below where taken the storms moved in.
some off the local wildfowl coming to greet me.
then ignore me.
Others check the camera out.
Looking across the River Aire beside the Canal.
It was a drive back to Skipton and enjoy the rest on the weekend with dear friends who always look after me with five star treatment, love you both. I left Skipton with heavy storms looming has I set off for Scotland to catch the ferry back to Belfast. Just made the ferry with minutes to spare, like the last one on board. Supper on the ferry and a mild crossing I rode into Belfast around 11pm and another half hour till home.
Hope you enjoyed the end to my trip ‘Short tour of Wales’ It was a good trip with kind weather and good friends, old and new. Remember a adventure does not mean travelling around the world or cost thousands. It can be a few mile away and with planning, cost’s can be kept down. So what ever you are into get out there and explore, meet new people and the most important thing enjoy life.
Thank you,
George.
This is the first post in a short series on my motorcycle tour of North Wales. I include a couple of links on the history of Portmeirion and the filming of the Prisoner, a cult 1960’s television series filmed there.
My Photo essay a walk through Portmeirion.
Parking the motorcycle in the car park and entering a place I recall from television. It was a little overcast but warm has I start my photo essay.
Lets enter, notice the painted ceiling in the archway.
One of the bikers I was travelling with.
Tides out, the following photos off a young blackbird are taken at the railings on top of the round platform in the photograph.
Moving on.
Up into the village.
Through the archway and into the gardens.
I liked the scale this child gives to the chest pieces.
A short climb back up into the village.
A short stop to play my respects to the Buddha.
He had a great view across the gardens from his lofty perch.
some little teasers of the garden has I make my way around the village.
The garden from another view.
It ‘s down hill from here, with a steep decline to the shore.
Things aren’t always what they seem.
With the last shot looking at the climb back up to the motorcycle, but not before a coffee and a short chat with other visitors.
Thank you for company on the walk around Portmeirion, Hope you enjoyed it and I’ll spare you the walk back up that hill. There are some longer walk in the grounds around Portmeirion, but walking in motorcycle gear is not recommended. Well that’s my excuse…
Feel free to comment, good or bad let me know, have a good weekend.
George.
It’s been a while since I last posted, I had planned to stop this blog due to a number of things. Number one on the list was no motivation, so now having rested and with the support from friends plus followers from the blog, let’s continue. Thank you all.
Bee’s and Butterflies.
We have had a hot summer here in Ireland, not much rain. Hosepipe ban’s and a lot of native people with a tan. Both rare in Ireland. With all this sunshine the butterflies are around in large numbers. The other thing I have been photographing is bee’s. Not to hard a subject has they flirt with the Blackberry flowers in the hedgerows.
I liked the fly which was captured in this shot.
This is a Ringlet which is getting a little worn looking.
So I decided bee’s flying would be a good subject to try, have you ever tried to photograph them in flight. It great fun and the hours disappear. So armed with a Nikon D7200 and a Sigma 105mm Macro lens fitted, a nice sunny day to keep shutter speeds up into battle I went.
Why do bee’s always take off facing the wrong way, this kind of shot was the flavor off the first hour or so. I don’t give in easy. A coffee break and it was back to the front line. I started to notice bee’s lift the rear end up slightly before take off. Which didn’t help when they are going the wrong direction. So in between the bee’s I got some other close up’s ( these a chopped in post).
Hover fly.
Clover flower caught in a light breeze. Yes it’s the effect of the slight movement that I like in this shot.
Not a hundred percent on this plant but I think it’s English Plantain. These plant shots were taken by lying on the ground with the camera. Focusing in live view, use the self timer and press the shutter release. Right back to the bee’s.
After about two hours my success rate way getting better. I enjoyed this little challenge and will give it another try. Might try flash the next time. Now on to some butterflies. The next shots are Large Cabbage whites.
The large cabbage white from different angles. Was going to try shooting these in flight but did not get one sharp shot. Bee’s are easy compared to butterflies.
For the final photo I’ll leave you with my favourite, a close up of one feeding.
Thank you for joining me in the garden, please feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts or tips on shooting these subjects.
George.
George McNeill Photography 
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