Nigel's Photo Blog

  This afternoon, we looked out of our window to behold a new Fox Cub which it's proud parent was showing off in the sunshine. The parent is a regular visitor and seems to depend on us for food. Nice to see the new arrival! Here is the cub exploring the garden     Images were taken through a glass window and hence slight loss of clarity.

For a long time I have been trying to obtain a capture of this elusive Heron. For once I was in the right place at the right time with the right combination of camera and lens.Sightings of these birds are rare in the Glasgow region. The existence of the species must indicate a favourable environment for the birds to survive, including fish populations. This morning, on my walk around a local country park, I was fortunate to benefit from a favourable combination of light and visibility allied with a low probability sighting of a Heron(above).. Generally speaking, Scotland offers an excellent canvas for photographers, including landscapes, seascapes and wildlife but the best shots require a combination of luck, serendipity and/or detailed planning factoring in weather conditions.  Nesting Little Grebe Mallard ducks with duckling.This is strange as a pair of mallards usually produce a brood of multiple ducklings. Can only speculate what happened to the rest. Landscape view looki

  This evening, I am posting information on the village of Sneem in County Kerry, S.W. Ireland. Key charectistics of Sneem are: A very popular stop on the famous Ring of Kerry tour route around the Iveragh Peninsula. Resident population about 260 persons. Named after the River Sneem which flows through the village before emptying into the Kenmare River estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. Is home to a number of visitor attractions (including a farm and ancient hill fort) and a base for local tour companies. Well resourced with shops, bars and restaurants catering for the high number of visitors.   Sneem Anglican Church ( 1810).   River Sneem Sneem Village Green River Sneem

On my regular, daily walks I normally pass along the edge of a small lake upon which a couple of Little Grebes (water birds) have chosen to nest. I am following their progress with interest. Fortunately, the birds and their nest are well camouflaged resulting in no interference as most passers by are ignorant of their existence.Many people would require binoculars or a long lens to see the birds at all. In past days just one of the birds was sitting on the eggs but today I was fortunate to witness the 'handover' of egg sitting to the other parent. The sequence of events is shown below. Co-parent arrives to relieve sitter Sitter prepares to leave New sitter inspects nest which holds two (or possibly three) eggs. New sitter begins to take up position. I wish this pair well. They are relatively rare visitors to the lake which is home to populations of swans, ducks, geese, cootes and moorhens.  Here is key information on the Little Grebe species obtained from the RSPB (bird chari

 This evening, I am reprising a one day tour of Wales which formed part of an extended tour of Britain. Llangollen, Wales First,we departed our lodgings in Llangollen , N.E. Wales and drove  S.E. to Ludlow , just over the border in England. Ludlow is a fine old English town with good examples of Tudor architecture dating back about 500 years. A market was in process in centre of the town. Close to the town centre are the ruins of Ludlow Castle. This castle has its origins in the 11th century as a border stronghold but over the succeeding centuries was extended into a Royal Palace. However, it was abandoned in the 18th century. In 1811 the ruins were purchased by the 2nd Earl of Powis with ownership resting in the same family today. Tudor Architecture, Ludlow, England Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, England Ludlow Castle, England Ludlow, Shropshire, England Next, we drove south for about two hours to Cardiff and our destination of Cardiff Bay , a former industrial area whic

  Cliffs of Moher, Ireland Tonight, I am reprising a tour of Ireland with focus on the ever popular Cliffs of Moher which form part of the country's west coast. First, we departed our lodgings in Killarney in the S.W. of Ireland and drove north with a short stop at Shannon. We arrived early afternoon at our principal destination of the Cliffs of Moher which border the Atlantic Ocean, stretching for 5 miles and reaching heights of 702 feet. This is Ireland’s most visited natural attraction. Summary information concerning the Cliffs: Form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark situated in County Clare. Almost diametrically opposite Dublin, on the east coast.  Each year about 1.0m people visit the site to facilitate which a large visitor centre has been built into the landscape.  To the N.W. can be seen the Aran Islands. The site features O’Brien’s Tower which was built by a far-sighted, eponymous landowner in 1835 to stimulate tourism. The site is of geological sign

  School Pipe Band, Oban , Scotland Tonight I am reprising a circular tour, Glasgow-Loch Lomond-Tyndrum-Oban-Kilmartin Glen-Lochgilphead-Inveraray-Glasgow. Purpose of this trip was to collect tour guest at Oban who was returning from a sojourn on the island of Iona. Weather was favourable. All went according to plan entailing superb scenic views.   Wildflowers, Tyndrum, Scotland Glen Lochy, Scotland Scottish Heather, Glen Lochy, Loch Awe Loch Linnhe, Dunstaffnage Oban Harbour Seafood Bar, Oban Ferry from Mull arriving Oban Kilmartin medieval Sculptured Stones, Argyll Nether Largie Standing Stones, Kilmartin Glen Temple Wood Stone circle, Kilmartin Glen . Video clip of drive through Lochgilphead with Loch Fyne on right.  For more information please refer Visitors' Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4.Also available via Kindle. .

Tonight I reporting on the ancient market town of Penrith, Cumbria, NW England from where I am writing this post. Penrith has a population of 15000, sits just outside the Lake District National Park and the name probably has Brittonic (Welsh) origins being a language which was spoken in the district during the second half of the first millennium. The town impresses as being prosperous with key indicator being physical presence of all the major British banks plus a few building societies (savings and loans). In most communities physical branches have long gone as bank services and customers move on-line. The key historic building is the 14th century castle which may have been built on the site in order to make use of the building stone left over from a Roman fort.  Artist's impression of castle in 1430. Castle ruins today. Sign outside Dockray Hall regarding Richard III. Clock Tower in town centre Family Grocers Historic Corn Market Here, the date 1624 indicates the antiquity