Red Mason Bees

Project

Washing up bowl pond

Inspired to finally act by all the posts on Twitter and other channels I have created a washing up bowl pond in the garden.

I have been thinking about putting in a larger pond for ages but couldn't work out the where to position it... will it get the right amount of sunlight, will I still be able to get to the flowerbeds, will I be able to cut the grass.

The best position is in a small patch of grass that has a natural dip in it so water will run into the pond. I have put the washing up bowl pond in this spot so that this could be enlarged at a later date.

The only questions now are will anything turn up and use the pond and how am I going to to do the washing up!

The chosen spot

The bowl waiting for the hole.

The bowl in place

Completed pond with plants from existing raised pond and a sloping rock

Closer view of pond on day one.

The foreman checks on the completed job. 

Going back to Knoydart in April 2015

A grey day on the Isle of Eigg

As forecast, Tuesday was much cloudier than previous days in the week. We set off just after 9A.M. for the 60 minute trip to Eigg. No whale sightings on the way over but the dramatic volcanic scenery of Eigg was spectacular as we approached. 

I haven't mentioned Steve yet. He is a local from Eigg who crews on the Mary Doune. He also has a minibus, which was very useful to get us from harbour up to the Northern side of the island, so we could go to the singing sands beach (The sands squeak when you drag your feet across them). The beach has some very weird formations of rocks and eroded cliffs so we spent sometime exploring and taking photos.

Once finished here we headed to the second beach of the day, at the Bay of Laig, a short walk down the Island. There were more dramatic formations on the beach, ideal for pottering about and taking pictures. 

Steve picked us up again at about 4 P.M. and took us back to the harbour for a cup of tea in the Eigg tea shop in Galmisdale Bay.

A bouncy trip back for most of the way as the wind and current between Eigg, Rum and Skye was getting up. Once nearer Doune the sea calmed down considerably and we had a smooth run back home.

Dinner
Artichoke and Celery Soup
Haddock with Pesto and Chilli sauce
Blackcurrant & Apple Pavlova

Skye, Elgol & Loch Coruisk

Elgol  & Loch Coruisk

A bright day with few clouds about as we set off , just after 9 A.M. for the trip to Elgol. On the way over we spotted a small basking shark (only about 3 metres!) which was slowly hoovering up the plankton. Once at Elgol a sharp climb up to the public conveniences and a take away cup of tea before heading to the beach to photos of the views across to the Cullin mountains on Skye.
The second leg of the trip was across the bay to Loch Coruisk. A spectacular loch nestled in the mountains, with views out to sea and lots of Common Seals basking on the rocks.

A few red deer were visible on the skyline so I took a few shots in an attempt to get some silhouettes.

When we arrived back at the lodge there were two Red deer stags within a hundred yards!





Dinner
Crab (caught in the sea in front of the accommodation).
Pork, squash, mash
Orange & Lemon Ice cream
Local Cheeses
50 Year Wedding Anniversary Wedding Coffee cake  (two other guests were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary so Martin made them a cake)

Sandaig Islands in the rain(but with an Otter)

Up early, just after six, to walk to the next bay to look for otters. A calm morning with rain forecast for later, the tide was low so all seemed ideal for a sighting. There was a Red Deer stag on the grass just outside the lodge when we awoke!  I did see a head pop up just off shore but later on saw a grey seal so it may have been that, rather than an otter. After about an hour gave up and went for breakfast.

Headed north from Doune to go to Sandaig Islands, famous as being the spot the Ring of Bright Water otter lived with Gavin Maxwell. We went ashore by dinghy piloted by Steve and spent a couple of hours exploring. Once back on the boat, courtesy of Steve again, we had a cup of tea then spotted an real live otter fishing. It hung around for a good while so everyone tried to take the perfect shot. The distance was a bit too far for most of the time but he/she did oblige by coming onto the rocks close by to finish the fish lunch.

The rain then started to hammer down so we upped anchor and headed to Inverie, to visit the most remote pub in Great Britain.

Knoydart here I come (again).

Just after over three years ago (that’s July 2010) I went to Doune Knoydart, on the West coast of Scotland. This was for a week of photography with the John Lewis photography club. Well, I am off there again. Like last time I am travelling from London on the Caledonian Sleeper from Euston to Fort William then on the West Highland Line to Mallaig. The group will be meeting up there to get onto the Mary Doune boat to Doune on the Knoydart Peninsula.

There are some familiar faces on the trip from 2010 (Anne and Abby) and some people I know from other photography club trips  (Hella Lipper, Kimberley Plumridge and Peter Warne). I will put a complete list of names in the blog once I know them all!

The later date of the trip could make quite a difference to the wildlife we see, as many  of the seabirds will have left their nesting sites for the ocean. However, I did notice an update from Skomer Island, just yesterday, which was reporting the Shearwater chicks still on the island and preparing to leave. So, there maybe some first flight shenanigans to watch and photograph from the Scottish colonies

Other wildlife that may be about could be seals, dolphins and whales on the water and who knows the Red deer rut may be getting under way on land. If we are very lucky then Otters and Golden Eagles might turn up.

The train has been underway for just under an hour (departed at 21:15) so I may go for a wander, there is only one way to go as I am in the front carriage, then tuck in for the night. Breakfast has been booked and will be available in the lounge car from 07:00.

Flickr Tags: Photography,jlppc,September,Scotland,Knoydart,travel,train