Common Ridings 1948-1951

Just a short blog today. I've downloaded the first of many Common Riding 8mm reels that we have had digitized from the John Little Film collection. This one is 1948 Egdar Morrison; 1949 Wat Robinson; 1950 John Young; 1951 William park

Mist Opportunities

Shot of the Day

I set out to compile this blog last night but due to the laptop having so much on its memory it was taking for ever to complete the simplest of functions that I had to transfer a vast amount of data onto an external hard drive which meant I had to leave it chugging away overnight. 

There was quite a bit of mist when I got up but it soon cleared away to brilliant sunshine and blue skies. Suspecting this could be the last day of opportunities for some good autumnal shots I headed off with the intention of going round the pheasant pens.

This was the view that encouraged me to get out with the camera

There was some nice light picking up the colour around the base of the trees as I walked down through the wood.

Thia group of fungi caught my eye as i was heading for the Jubilee Bridge by the school.

I could see the mist was threatening to engulf the town again so I continued on hoping I would get round before the mist blotted out the sun. I needn't have worried the sun stayed with me for the duration of my walk

I found this seat rather colourful attraction

I liked this avenue as I passed through the gate near the Duchess Bridge

The Duchess Bridge after its recent refurbishment

I continued in an anti clockwise direction stopping to take a panorama shot on the way.

On the way back I stopped off at the Information Hub and gave Tootlepedal a hand to hang pictures for the camera club exhibition. I was rewarded with a cup of coffee and the offer of a jaunt up to the White Yett with Mr & Mrs Tootlepedal which I readily accepted. When we set off the mist had started to creep up the valley and we wondered if it was going to be a dismall walk. By the time we got to the car park at the McDiarmid memorial we were above the mist and in brilliant sunshine. Mrs Tootlepedal elected to stick to the road for her walk and set of with her binoculars while we set of up the track towards the monument.

We were joined by a new member at the camera club on Monday night who specialized in light painting I thought the memorial would make a good subject

We had some casual observers on the way

Looking back to where Mrs Tootlepedal was walking

Langholm's down there somewhere

Looking south, normally you would be looking over the Solway plain towards the Lake District fells.

On returning we came upon a Fog bow which I had never heard of before so I felt quite privileged.

This panorama was taken earlier before the mist filled the Ewes valley

A Gentle Stroll

Shot of the Day

The day started well and continued do so. There was an Autumnal mist about when I went to fill the feeders at the moorland station which was very pleasant as I was above looking down into the mist filled valley. 

There was very little bird activity so I took up the offer of a cup of pre-arranged coffee at Wauchope Cottage.  We arranged to meet later in the afternoon for a gently stroll, in the meantime I took a trip t Gretna Gateway to purchase a new suitcase for a holiday in Majorca next week.

A selection of shots from a walk with Tootlepedal

Another Pleasant Day Spent In Retirement

Shot of the Day

It was a lovely morning when I went to take my turn at filling the feeders although there was a sharpness in the air. Mist nets were all set up ready for Dr Barlow to do some ringing and recording. I sat for a while enjoying the peace and quiet and watching various species of birds coming and going. I noticed the likes of the coal tits tended to rush in and grab a seed as fast as possible and make a hasty retreat whereas the chaffinches and siskins were more likely to to take their time and peck away at their leisure after sitting for about half an hour I received a text message from Tootlepedal inviting me for coffee at Wauchope Cottage which was very welcome as it was rather chilly despite the sunshine.

Lately I've been fortunate enough to have two nuthatches visit my feeders and they are either desperately hungry or have become very tame as I can work away within two meters of the feeders and they just ignore me. These are gorgeous little creatures and by far my favourite small bird and I feel privileged that they allow me to get so close to be able to take shots at my leisure.The downside of all this is they appearance of numerous cats which lie in wait for an easy meal so I'm constantly warding them off. So if anyone has any ideas as to discourage them please let me know.

A Blustery, Clarty Walk.

Shot of the day

My shiny new car

I had various plans for jobs to be done about the house throughout the day but a text from Tootlepedal inviting me for coffee put paid to any being done before lunch. We discussed the Common Riding and Langholm Camera club's successful exhibition at the Hub. Tootlepedal remarked it was getting close to the first club evening of the year September 1st. I'll have to start sifting through what I've taken during the summer months which isn't an awful lot.....I tend to be a fair weather photographer, an attitude  that  doesn't produce stunning shots bit the weather in general this summer has been a little bit disappointing. 

I headed back home for lunch and then set about defrosting the freezer. I had inadvertently left the door ajar before I went away to Carlisle for a couple of days and when I returned the inside was covered in a thick layer of frost. Whilst I was in the middle of this rather cold and messy task I received a text from Tootlepedal saying he was on his way for a walk along the top track from the south lodge to the north lodge passing Holmhead. Making sure that the freezer food was well insulated I left the freezer defrosting into an old developing tray left over from my darkroom days and embarked on a rather blustery walk.

The track was rather clarty in places

There were plenty of wild plants growing profusely along the way

I found this shadow rather attractive

There were plenty of pheasants about, some on the ground.......

......and some in the air.

The old gateway leading to Holmhead.

Approaching the North Lodge

I thought this plough was interesting enough to be shot in monochrome

We were passed by a local couple out walking their dog.

I would love to know why the entrance to this nuthatch nest was plugged up. This is where Tootlepedal and I have spent many hours watching and photographing the parent birds going back and forth to the nest.