More than just Boats and Birds

 One thing I have discovered since I've been doing my little photography walks is that, because I have to be careful where I walk (that is I'm a bit unsteady, not so much what I might tread in!) I am more aware of the world at my feet.  There are cracks in the pavement just full of wild flowers and mosses for example.  I don't mean great big grab your ankle and trip you over jungle plants, but little flowers and fungi and such like.  I call them "crack weeds" or sometimes just "weeds".  There are little corners on the pavements and verges which can be fascinating.  And sometimes, a plant turns up that I've never seen before, or even heard of.  So I even went as far as buying a wild flower identification guide.  And the other day, I came across one of these in a little corner of waste ground.  

It is next to a waste sack for context.  Now remember this is the end of November and the weather is cold.  Too cold I would have thought for flowers to thrive.  But here was this little weed to brighten the day.

It took me a while to find out what it actually is, but thanks to my new wild flower identification guide I found it.  It is a small melilot (melilotus indicus) (Latin name even!) and while not uncommon, it is declining in the British Isles.  Was apparently used as a herbal infusion for tired or sore eyes.  Well I discovered something new!

Back at the Haven

The Haven is the stretch of estuary from The Wash upto the Grand Sluice in Boston.  I guess it's the tidal part of the River Witham.  Anyway, I'm mostly interested in the small stretch from the Barrier (well it keeps me occupied!)

There has been some dredging going over the last few days, not that it's made much difference to the river bed.  But it has attracted a few more birds.  Mainly gulls and a few waders this far inland but still interesting and some variety.

This year there have been some little egrets.  Today, there were three although only two were obliging with a group photograph.

I was able to take these together, although to give the perception of flight the one in the air has come out slightly off-focus.  I get a choice - slight blurring to give the appearance of a living scene, or Superfast shutter speed and a static, mechanical image.  I know what I prefer.

But here is a very smart black headed gull, taking a rest.

I know, it hasn't got a black head!  This one is in winter plumage, with just a spot behind each eye.

Over the Woodhead Pass

The Woodhead Pass is a main road across the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester.  Most traffic uses the Motorway M62 to the north, but the Woodhead is our favourite. We had to go across the Pennines earlier and the weather was brewing up nicely.  The forecast was fine in the East and rain to the West.  We were going West.  There were some great opportunities for photography but I just used my iPhone from the car.  Here are some snaps...

The weather was starting to close in

Traffic coming up from the West.

This is near Tintwhistle at the western end.

Basically, it rained all the time on the West, and didn't stop until we were back in the East near Ferrybridge.

The photos were all taken from the car using an iPhone 12 mini.  

I must go down to the sea again...

Ever since well into the lockdown, this has been my mantra, from the poem by John Masefield "Sea Fever".  Well yesterday we finally made it!  A trip to Cleethorpes, just for the day out.  We had a great time.  (Remember this is November so there was no paddling or sunbathing!). 

We had lunch at a Pub/Hotel, the-wellow-hotel  which was so good the wife wrote a review.  

Then it was down to the promenade where I actually got out with my camera.  First, the rain had stopped.  Next, the wind hadn't!  It was an east coast lazy wind, doesn't go round you but through you.  But I did get some pics and I did see the sea.  I took some boat pics albeit at a good distance.

These boats are being busy.  I think one is a tug and the other is being towed.

This is a breakwater that just goes on and on...

and a turnstone for luck

After the prom, we returned to the Wellow for afters and hot drink.  Then home.