My last post was about the walk out to Rue lighthouse. This is the photographs of the wildlife I took while out on the trail. I hopefully will give them the right I.D, so I hope you enjoy the photos.
So the first photos show the Eider duck.
Next up is three photos of a Curlew ( NUMENIUS ARQUATA)
The first bird to be photographed has I move away from the coast is a Stonechat (male) sitting on a wire fencing.
The Coot is up next, this is a very common bird here in Ireland found on all types of water ways.
The next bird I post on my last blog post has a Golden eye, after looking closer I think it’s a female Tufted Duck
I’m now off road and walking up towards the clipp top trail when I hear the call of a Buzzard (BUTEO BUTEO)
Just before the cliff top trail a flock of Curlew’s flew pass.
The next batch of photographs were taken from the ruin cottages down by the coast near Rue lighthouse
The walk back to Church Bay was by road, and it along the first mile this photo’s were taken.
I have just got back to walking along the coast, a small sandy beach nests in the rocky coast line. I blimb down a take a seat on a sandy bank at it’s edge. It’s from here I get some of the small waders feeding here.
These are the last birds I photographed before entering the village. Again I’ll leave you with this photo of the Kelp house .
It’s been a couple of weeks since my walk on Rathlin, the weather was grey and heavy rain has I left home. It rained for most of the 80 mile trip to Ballycastle to catch the 8.30am ferry across to the island. But half a hour before the ferry was due to leave the sky cleared and a beautiful morning took it’s place. The 35 minute crossing was a little choppy with a strong breeze roughing the water. The sun was now reflecting bright from the white houses that line Church Bay has we came into the harbour.
It was time to remove my coat and enjoy the warmth of the morning sun, get a hat on to protect my naked head from the sun and wind.
A short walk and I’m leaving the main Church Quarter on the flat single track road that ends and gives way to the hills ahead.
The remains of the build on the right in the above photo is the Kelp house. It dominates the view for the next quarter mile. Before I get there I stop to get a few more photos. The beauty that surrounds you here make for a slow hike and a lot of photo opportunities. The colours turning to warm autumn tones, the sounds of the water kissing the shore fills a soul with contented peace.
Heading into the old building you get a feel of it’s size, the work that went into building the stone walls. The closeness of the sea and the views back towards the village.
I was going to show you the wildlife I photographed on this walk but it would make for a long blog post. so I’ll add a few and put the rest into another post.
So on with the walk, shortly after leaving the Kelp house the hills start. from the ferry to where I go off road to follow the Roonivoolin Trail is around 1.75 mile. This trail takes you across fram land and its livestock, so if you have a fear off cattle or sheep it’s probably not for you. The path starts along the side of a small lough where I spotted a coots and golden-eyes on the water.
The path is muddy and slippery underfoot has I follow the trail markers on the gentle climb towards the sea cliffs watched over by hardy hill sheep.
Another five mintues and you climb over a rickety stile and onto the cliff top walk. the path is a worn trail between a wire fence and a long drop. Watch your step, wet grass is slippery and I don’t fly like the gulls or crows that hug the cliffs.
The clouds are closing in and it looks like rain but with the company of a few woolly sheep leading the way I set off.
The walk is safe if you stick to the path beside the fence, and take time out to look at the views. I was sorry I didn’t bring a flask of coffee to enjoy my breaks as I sat on a rock with nothing but the sounds of nature, no man make sounds reached me here. Bar the sounds this one made, but that was only my body trying to get air into it…
The next set of photos are some of the splendid views across the island in all directions.
Has you can see from the heavy cloud cover it was looking like heavy rain coming in. Luckly it stayed on the mainland where there were heavy downpours, we remained dry on the island.
Where the crows sat is the point where you turn away from the cliffs and start a downhill walk back towards the road. Below to the right is my destination, the smugglers cottages and Ushet port.
Dropping downhill I had one more incounter with the wolly guardians of Rue. Just checking this human was leaving…
With another rickity stile to climb over and a final down hill walk I exit unto the road. Swinging right it was down hill to the cottage ruins. This is where i go into stealth mode. Around Ushet port seals come into here, so it’s keep the ruins beween them and me. There is a break in the rear wall of the cottage closest to them,once inside it’s off with the camera bag and set up with a 150 -600 lens. Using the building for cover i get some shots of the seals. Here a shot below, see how I’m greeted.
Right it’s time to make my way back to Church Bay, this time its a road walk. There are very few cars on Rathlin so its safe on the roads here.
The last few photos were taken on the walk back to the ferry. The rest of the wild life photos will be in another blog post. If you have lasted this long well done on coming with me on this walk, your are always welcome.
Back to Church bay and a visit to a chippie van, across to the beach and enjoyed the best chips/fries ever. On into the village and got a coffee to go, up to a little park area beside the church and sat enjoying my coffee. I still had a hour to kill before the ferry, I spotted the 3pm ferry getting ready so checked if I could change booking and was onboard in minutes. I sat on the upper outboard deck tucked in out of the wind, packed the camera away( I avoid the saltwater spray) and sat relaxing looking up at the cliffs I’d walked earlier in the day.
I’m going to leave you with two B & W photos I took on my walk back to Church Bay. Again thank you for joining me today.
I have missed a couple of week’s posts due to a bout of illness. But back on track, so we are going to Ballydevitt Cottage in County Londonderry . I have tried to find some history about this small cottage,without success.
I talked to a local couple but they are only a few years in the area, so at some point I will go back and see if I can get some information about it’s history.
This is another Irish photo rally point, it’s in Aghadowey, County Londonderry.
I’m going to add the coordinates which you can copy to Google maps and go to street view to see the location.
Hello and welcome, here we are at the start off another month. So this week’s photo comes from County Meath, Ireland and the grand gateway to Rathaldron Castle a few kilometres from Navan town.
Hello all, it’s been a few months since I last posted here on this blog. So finally the country is starting to open up again and this was the first the camera has been out bar a few photos around home. The Jeff Wright memorial scramble ( motocross being the more modern name) is run by the Ulster Classic Motorcycle Club ( http://www.ulsterclassicmotorcycleclub.com) They only allow bikes built before 31 Dec 1984 / air cooled/drum brakes to race at UCMCC events. All proceeds from this meeting go to Motor neurone disease association the disease that took the life of Jeff Wright.
The event was run at the Laurelbank MX Park in County Down Northern Ireland and owed by the Temple Motor cycle and Athletic club.
There where three grades of riders A,B and C, the photos posted are in no particular order and I apologize if I get any names wrong.
This block of images : 60 Billy Keenan 1973 400cc Husqvarna
204 John Guy 1982 480cc Honda
If you got this far, thank you. There are many more images for the race event, but hopefully you got a flavour of the evenings event. An event like this is not all about the racers but also about the people who attend the event. The families and friends who support the racers, the first aiders and organisers, the marshals who give there time so we can enjoy an evening like this in safety. Thank you all. To Raymond aka Nick a pleasure to meet you and hi to Billy Keenan ( number 60 ).
Stay safe and enjoy life
George.
Camera :Nikon D7200 with a Tamron SP 70 – 200 2.8 lens: ISO auto : Shutter speed priority.
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