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Up-Up-and-Away Not something I expected to see whilst working on the press but the movement caught the corner of my eye. So grab the camera and take a shot, this chap had a few circuits and a figure of eight or two and then was off whence he had come. It did make me wonder though what a superb way to be able to see our countryside be it coast-moors-forests-industrial- oh you name What A View ! I did note as well the guy has a helmet cam so you can only imagine the video or set of stills ! This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ60 |
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A Few of "THE FEW" 15th of September and it is the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and I expect most of you have seen the news today and will be aware of the Flypast with many Spitfires and Hurricanes and a Blenhim all in the air at the same time taking off from Goodwood in Sussex. This Wonderful tribute to "The Few " then separated into 9 or 10 smaller groups flying to many parts in the South and South East of England. I was not sure of the exact route through my part of Surrey but at a suitable time I abandoned the press and went to a local playing field in hope. Low and behold within 5 minutes one could not mistake that iconic sound of a group of Merlin engines in the distance and then from over the top of some trees 3 Spitfires/ Hurricanes appeared and for a few seconds I was indeed very lucky to see a part of this special Anniversary Tribute although they passed quite a way to the side of me and a very lucky spot to have chosen. Thus the resulting picture is not photographically very good , what it represents is beyond words. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ60 |
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To The Skies Well you see whilst on a bike ride or a walk and it has been done before but you just have to take the shot. These two were very busy and seemed to spend more time under water than above, not sure what the great attraction was I have no idea. And getting in on the act I have just noticed the rather blurred by speed dragonfly in between the two tails. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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" You Just Keep Me Hanging On " Even Parakeets seem to get themselves in a pickle hanging on the line, this one was on his usual squawking way but decided to have a rest on some phone lines. I was on my way walking to work but with this subject I had to stop , take off my backpack and dig out the camera and he obligingly "hung" around long enough for me to shoot off four pics. This one was the best so time to wire it to POE. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25 |
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One Flew Over The Landing Pad This little character flitting about the Isle of Wight Pond on Bookham Common was all over the place and not easy to capture, this is about the best as it got- sharp on the timber but just off for the flying machine. I do wonder what goes through their minds and determines where to go and when ( that could be a theses for a degree if anyone is doing a degree on insects ). This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Hello World !!! Remember the other week we saw a wren perched onto of a step ladder? Well I did say that character was full of beak and shouting the odds all day, well maybe this little one may have been what all the noise was about and the noise was announcing to the world of the new arrival. This one showed it's face briefly a week and a bit back and I must say lately the vocal wren has been a bit quieter. Anyway, I only got this one shot and have cropped and tweaked to get what I could out of the pic- hope you guys like it. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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The Lion King Came To Bookham High Street Today Well, it is that time in England when villages have their village days and celebrate in one way or another. In Great Bookham there is a procession from the High Street down to the Barn Hall where there is all manner of the usual fete and village day stalls and refreshments. The procession each year has a different theme and this year it was Kings and Queens, so all the local schools have all the children dressed up - most were dressed as royalty down the ages but some schools took the theme on a different tack and there were some queen bees and lion kings. This jovial character who did not stop waving sat on a trailer towed by an old classic style convertable Merc. I am sure I have seen that trailer before with a very tubby bloke with a beard and a red suit surrounded by folk banging on doors with collection boxes. Could be, cos the trailer did have a "Rotary Club " badge on it. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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I Was Meant To Be A Heron Well got the bike out for the first time this year and hope the shoulder holds out and it's back to the Isle of Wight Pond on Bookham Common. I am after catching a heron or two in flight like I saw the other week- alas I did see just one but far too far away and it must have been returning to it's nest ( or heronry as we should say ). I may not have got to see the herons close enough to photograph but oh my what a noise was made when they return to the nest and the young ones start up - the sounds I heard today were something like the soundtrack from a dinosaur movie !!. So folks no heron so another ( I presume another one anyway ) dragonfly which may be a "Scarce Chaser" but then again I am no expert. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Little Jenny Wren This little one has been knocking about the garden at the back of the shop but this is the first ( and only) shot I have managed to get- tooooo many trousers to press so no time to chase it around. I must say for such a tiny bird it has got a right beak on it, the volume and quantity of what it has to say is well impressive. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25 |
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Isle of Wight Dragonfly Well, back at the Isle of Wight pond on Bookham Common this time we see a dragonfly resting ( looks to me like he is a singer and the dandelion is it's microphone ). The water at the moment has a strange muddy look to it, but the Isle of Wight Pond does look different each time you visit throughout the year. One disappointment though was as I approached the pond I could see a couple of herons swooping around over the pond but by the time I got there they were heading back into the trees while one went and sat on the the post that I have photographed it on before. I shall have to return to try and catch one of the herons in flight but will have to take the Canon for that- trying to pan something in flight with a bridge camera is just not easy ! This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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Blooming Crataegus !! A few minutes to fill todaywith a very quick stop at Bookham Common and the first thing I came across was masses of Hawthorn in blossom- well I did have to take a shot or two did I not? This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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Great Bookham Church Doorway No More This has been the doorway into the Church in Great Bookham for many a year ,but door it is not used anymore. Worry not the way in is through the new door at the end of the church under the clock tower. Shot taken on the say a bit snow fell on Bookham a week or so back. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25 |
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Isle of Wight Pond From The Other Side Well this the Isle of Wight Pond and this time I am on the other side looking back to where some previous shots were taken. Just behind the tree on the far right is the bench where the old boy and his dog sat in poe pic no 1188807. Oh and this shot taken this afternoon is NOT on the Isle of Wight but in the middle of Bookham Common. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25 |
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Upper Eastern Pond This is the view from beside the bird hide of the Upper Eastern Pond on Bookham Common. The hide offers a similar view with birds on the pond and at the right time of year many dragonflies, and if you are not too good with identifying birdlife, there is a wall chart to refer to. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Reach For The Island Isle of Wight Pond again on Bookham Common and the water's edge tree appears to be reaching for the Island in the middle of the pond. This is the island one can often see nesting birds at the right time of the year, I have seen in previous years quite a large family of swans there. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Sundown on Bookham Common One of the smaller ponds this time and the sun goes down after a bright but chilly day. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Weepy Tree at the Isle of Wight It is Bookham, it is the Common and it is the Isle of Wight ! Yes folks the pond here is one of a few on Bookham Common and this particular pond ( and the largest I think ) is called Isle of Wight Pond. As well as water side trees there is a small island in the pond which is a haven for nesting water birds, usually a heron can be found at one of the edges away from the pathways and at the shallow end a number of dogs can also be found jumping about in the water. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Balancing Time on the Isle of Wight Today's bike ride took me to the Isle of wight- but not the one most of you know. This is Isle of Wight Pond at the centre of Bookham Common and the wildlife here is very varied. I saw this Heron here last time I came, but this time for the whole time I was here- mostly chasing dragonflies with the camera and for at least 30 to 40 minutes he remained on top of this pole. He obviously needed a stretch of the legs but was most patient and I think unlikely going to get any fish. A number of ducks were doing their thing quite near to him and with all their flapping and splashing I reckon any fish would be away down the other end of the pond. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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They come out at closing time. The urban fox has found new territory in the garden at the back of the shop I work at, this is the second time he/she has appeared and next door has seen it quite a few times. The wall at the side has a drop of about twelve foot and this character seems to have no trouble scaling the wall to get into the garden. There is a butchers and a greengrocers just up the High Street from me but they are both very careful with their produce so I think it would be very lean pickings from them. The fact that we have the finest crop of weeds and undergrowth in the garden must be an asset to the wild fox who seems to show his face at closing time. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25 1 person has added this picture to their favourites |
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Bookham Common Resident Seen from a hide at one of the ponds on Bookham Common, sorry not sure what species it is - any suggestions? I was struck by the colours on the body. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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