The maximum temperature here today is 7⁰C, minimum 2⁰C. Blue skies but with quite a lot of clouds. Wind 15km/h North-Easterly winds with gusts up to 33 km/h. 4mm of rain was measured this morning. We have had a very chilly week, today thankfully it is a bit warmer.
The Christmas decorations in our supermarket just after New Year....
and the window of my hairdresser with reflections from outside and the lights inside.
Fascinating clouds that just caught my eye.
A Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) on a frosty morning.
A walk around the January garden......
A raindrop showing the house upside down!
European Holly (Ilex aquifolium). No berries this year!!
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana).
Hydrangea dried on the plant.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis).
Viburnum tinus.
A surviving but very brave rose.
Camellia japonica bud..
Playing with the Pampas grass. 😉
We have had a few icy mornings.
Eurasian Running Crab Spider (Philodromus dispar) on the poinsettia.
13th January
14 January
16 January about 20 minutes before the Full Wolf Moon. Clouds moved in about an hour after taking this photo!
19 January after a very stormy day.
A lovely surprise 9 January when this Cirl Bunting ( Emberiza cirlus) was spotted on the verandah.
More photos on my bird blog.
My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).
See also my
Fantastic photos as always. I love the playing around with the pampas grass.
ReplyDeleteHaha it just got the right amount of curl in it. Thanks for the visit and the comment. Diane
DeleteThis is fabulous photography, Diane! Well worth waiting the three weeks for. You have a very artistic eye, and have found some great subjects that demonstrate your excellent photographic skills.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and Nigel - stay safe - - - Richard
Thanks Richard for those kind words. I will be glad when the insects return, I struggle with subjects during winter and I can only get photos of the birds through the window. My broken part for the other lens is in the post so I am hoping it will arrive very soon and I can get back to using the D3500 and the Tamron lens.
DeleteKeep safe, all the best to you and the family. Diane
Fabuloua shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandi for the visit and the comment, much appreciated. Keep safe Diane
DeleteLOVE the moon shots and you had fun with that wonderful grass.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Gaelyn I was pleased with these moon shots despite the fact that the free stacking programme did not work that well. I tried sort of stacking just on the computer. Pampas is fun to play with :-) Keep safe and enjoy your views, Diane
DeleteDelightful series of images Diane. I like what you did with the pampas grass. All the best and stay healthy and warm :)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Denise, I am doing my best to stay healthy but I am struggling to keep warm !!!
DeleteHope all is well over there, Diane
I love all your shots but esp the moon between the steeple and roof. I have always loved playing and shooting water droplets. Nice job. Not sure how I would feel knowing I was the last of my line. I have two brothers that have kids, one brother whose kid has kids. I have a grandson about to be a dad so I know at least it goes on past me.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, these are the best moon shots I have ever taken, Lots of luck involved. Both my parents were only children and my only brother was killed in a car crash. I have a few very distant relatives, most of who I hardly know or do not know at all!!! Keep safe and enjoy your family. Diane
DeleteSuch wonderful variety. Love the birds and the blooms. The spider is a new one for me. The moon shots are lovely and that second last shot is a sky on fire. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteThank you veru much Marie, probably the best moon shots I have taken. I have taken a photo of one of these spiders before, also on one of the house plants. It was a very stormy day when I got the sunset. Keep safe and stay warm. Cheers Diane
DeleteHi Diane - glad the Tamron lens is on its way ... I always enjoy the photos people post, especially those who enjoy and have some knowledge of photography ... and we can see different aspects of life - sometimes as with you in another country etc ... the pampas is a delight, our birds haven't stopped singing ... and we haven't had that much frost: being on the coast helps. Cheers and thanks for these - enjoy the coming year, and keep safe - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Hilary. Fingers crossed that the lens will arrive early next week but the post here seems extra slow!!! The Pampas was fun to play with and I really enjoyed the moon shots. I am really not enjoying winter this year, I seem to feel the cold more as I get older!!!
DeleteLet us hope that we can all learn to live with COVID and get on with our lives! Keep safe, cheers Diane
Great job, Diane. As Richard says, worth a three week wait. I thought of you this morning when I got up. It is minus 26 here - just your kind of weather, I know! Looks like it's not going to get much warmer between now and the end of the month. Soon, where you live, in the balmy subtropics, insect life will return, and you will have invertebrates galore before your lens. In the meantime a visit from a Cirl Bunting wasn't too bad was it? All the best to you and Nigel. David
ReplyDeleteThanks David, I think I would curl up and die at -26C. I am feeling the cold more every year and anything in minus figures makes me shiver. I was delighted to see the Cirl Bunting, certainly the first time we have seen one in the garden. Keep safe and keep warm, wishing you both all the very best Diane
DeleteAwesome shots as usual!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam and the comment is appreciated. Keep safe and take care Diane
DeleteWonderful post with beautiful photos. Love the ice on the leaves and the spider looks like ice spider. Fiery sky after a storm day. Stay warm and stay safe. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy. I like the ice in photos but not in real life, I so hate the cold!! We are certainly trying to keep warm and stay safe, I will be glad when we can get back to some normality but I do not think things will ever be quite the same again! Stay well Diane
DeleteYour photos are stunning. I'm really glad I live in the tropics, though. Not a fan of cold weather.
ReplyDeleteYou must realise how much I miss Africa when it is winter in Europe!!! Cheers Diane
DeleteI'm like you. I go weeks without posting and then have to catch up. Busy with scanning all my albums and making books. Your photos are fabulous as usual.
ReplyDeleteThanks I have not got as far as making books but I am sure if I had children I would do so as it would be great for them. Sadly I have nobody who will be interested in my memories! Take care and enjoy your photos. Cheers t'other Diane
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