Facetious Friday: Sometimes you just feel like mooing.
Mooooooooo!
Showing posts with label animals and wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals and wildlife. Show all posts
Friday, 25 September 2009
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Lancaster Castle inmates in flight
Walking around Lancaster Castle walls, a flock of birds take flight from the main turret.
I shot them in the way all animal lovers do - with my trusty camera.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Cow stares
Cows are more receptive to non-verbal communication early in the morning. I'm not quite sure what she was trying to tell me, but I am sure it was profound.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Heron, Lancaster Canal
It pays to wake up early. Got some great wildlife shots today between 6-7am. I'll post a couple more of them over the next few days.
This beauty was patiently waiting for fish on the towpath side of the canal. I was lucky to get a few shots before s/he flew off to take up a place on the pathless side, the usual waiting area when people are around. But before that, she seemed to have caught sight of prey as the photo below shows. Or perhaps this is just her usual take-off posture..?
Monday, 24 August 2009
Along the canal
Went for a cycle along the canal path. It was getting dark and not much of interest around (I was hoping for a good sunset but it didn't materialise). These were the best I could do.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Lancaster Canal, USA
It's a dark night on Lancaster Canal, and the area closest to the city centre is full of moored narrow boats. It's August and the 'boat people' are out in force, having travelled far and wide along the canal network. It seems some have even come from other continents.
... but for those of you who loathe squinting at dark photos, here's one I took over the weekend. This little blighter just stood there staring, hardly moving. It was amazing, I tell you! He was practically tame!
Thursday, 30 July 2009
River Lune salmon
A wild River Lune salmon, proudly held aloft by Jamie of Shaw's fishmongers in Lancaster Market.
Jamie explained that this wild salmon had been caught under licence near Sunderland Point on the mouth of the River Lune. You'll notice the tag: As soon as the salmon is caught, it must be tagged and recorded by the licensed fisherman, and then again on arrival at the fishmongers. Strict controls are in place by the Environment Agency, and records of all salmon caught and sold must be matched against quotas imposed by them.
There are a limited number of licences available and Jamie confirmed there is no guarantee of a regular catch, mainly because the salmon must be caught using traditional funnel nets. Jamie, Fred and a knowledgeable customer also pointed out that these licensees catch the salmon more for love than money - they know of fishermen who have lost money over the course of the season.
Jamie took this salmon from the refridgerated storage, where it was waiting to be 'worked on' by Jamie, Fred and Kev tomorrow or Saturday morning. Because it is caught locally and brought straight to the mongers, the salmon must be left to rest for at least 24 hours until the rigor mortis has eased. Until this time, it is still too stiff to do anything with.
It was a pleasure talking with Jamie and Fred, and I hope I have done justice to the knowledge they were happy to share with me. Unfortunately we will be away over the weekend so won't have a chance to try this particular salmon, but will make a point of getting a few steaks from the next catch. Thanks guys.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Lancastrians today
Chilled Snowflake, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.
Short photo narratives:
LARRY: I said hello as I passed. Returning later, he was still outside his flat in the morning sun. "Ah, you're still here then?" Twenty minutes later, I knew a lot more about Larry's life. I liked how quickly and easily he agreed to have his photo taken, and much else about things he told me. Thank you Larry.
YOUNG FAMILY: "Excuse me, are you from the paper?" he shouted across the path. It maybe looked that way, me with my hat and my camera, shooting photos of the Ashton Memorial. "Will you take our photo?" It was only as I got closer that I noticed the baby - five weeks old they told me. * Look at the pride writ large on the new father's face and the gentle happiness on the mother's. * To both of you - if you remembered the address of this site and are viewing this - congratulations and good luck in the years ahead. You make a beautiful young family; I'm sure you'll look after her well.
SNOOZING: And finally, to minimise the human bias, here is Snowflake, a neighbour's cat who sleeps in our garden bushes on warm nights. She emerged yawning again this morning, and after ten minutes of petting, stretched out on the table and dozed in the morning sun while we drank coffee. She's one cool cat!
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Night Bird
Night Bird 1, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.
A little boring to present shots from Lancaster Canal two days in a row, but it's only a minute's walk from the house and I've been busy doing nothing...
Anyway, meet one of the canal regulars. Ain't she a beauty? Her hissing partner and their grey cygnet were there too, but I only had eyes for her. (At this point, I'm feeling slightly concerned a swan expert will tell me this is a cob rather than a pen. Just like with the cat on a hot tin roof, my gender-distinguishing skills are built on guesswork.)
...and below is one from last week to balance night with day. May I present one of Lancaster canal's latest residents. For those of you who thrive on detail, s/he has seven siblings.
Monday, 6 July 2009
King of Portland Street
To be fair, the gender is guesswork. This may well be the Queen of Portland Street. If so, my apologies to Her Highness.
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