My Sunday Photo...Busy Bee On Lavender

I think this might be one of the best photos that I've managed to take of a busy bee.

I must admit I'm rather proud of it, but I have to admit that I've deleted nearly 20 that weren't so good. They are just so busy and flighty at this time of year...never staying still for more than a few seconds.

They really do test your skill and patience!

As usual I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo over at Photalife.com

Please feel free to pop across to see lots more photographs by clicking here
Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk

and Mersad Photography (Through my lens)
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting.

I hope to see you again soon

The Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh (Part One)

Last weekend I visited my daughter in Edinburgh.

We had a lovely girlie time together doing things that we love.

Painting in Pj's, shopping, eating and generally nattering whilst having copious amounts of tea.

We also have a love of plants and photography, so what better to do together, than to visit 

The Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh 

To say we took a gazillion photographs between us, may be slightly exaggerated, but not by much.

Therefore I'm having difficulty choosing what to show you...there was just so much to see and appreciate.

A real feast for the eyes. 

I don't think I've even seen so many varieties of plants and trees in one place.

The garden entry is free and there's only a minimal charge to enter into the glasshouse...but so worthwhile.

So there may be a few parts to this post because I would take up far too much of your time if I posted all my photos.

If you are visiting Edinburgh then try to ensure you put aside a day to visit and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. There will be something for everyone. 

For this particular post I'll concentrate on the Glasshouse which were established in 1670.

It's an incredible building.

The Temperate Palm House measures 15.24 m (50ft) to the top of the stonework - sandstone from a quarry at Bishopbriggs near Glasgow, with each glass dome 3.35 m (11ft) giving a total height of 21.95 m (72ft).

Shall we go in?

Can you feel that heat....ahhh

Everywhere you look there are amazing plants. 

I'm sure that if you were to visit numerous times every season, then there would still be something new to see. 

The humidity and heat took me right back in time to my days when we lived in the tropics.

So different from the North East of Scotland!

The ponds in the Glasshouses are at their best in summer with exotic sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), tropical water lilies flowers like Nymphaea 'Pamela' and particularly the giant Victoria water lilies (Victoria cruziana), whose leaves reach 1.5m to 2m in diameter.

Okay okay...that's probably enough for today.

As I said before it's been so difficult to decide what to include in this post... I hope you've enjoyed your visit and will return to see more in part two.

If you'd like to check out the Royal Botanic Gardens website then click HERE.
I'm linking up with
Mersad Photography.Blogspot.co.uk
 Image-in-ing.blogspot.com/
and Our World Tuesday

Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

My Sunday Photo...RSPB Bird Santuary with Puffins

I have had difficulty deciding whether or not to post this Sunday morning, after last nights atrocious sad news from London, and initially I thought posting random photo's was a little frivolous...but with further thought this morning, I've decided not to let these mindless people have the last say. 

I'm thinking that we need to maintain our way of life as much as possible... 

...so here's My Sunday Photo.

This post is at the entrance to the clifftops where the RSPB Fowlsheugh Bird Sanctuary begins.

Thankfully, the weather was perfect for a walk along the cliff tops with my visitors.

It was good to show that Scotland does have blue sky and great weather (sometimes)

When the weather is like this, then it makes a perfect day.

There was even some warmth in that sun.

The little islands near the shoreline had sunbathing seals...which is the first time that I've seen them there. Last time we were lucky to see a pod of dolphins, but alas not this time.

Talk about high rise accommodation. 

Imagine hanging on to the cliff whilst incubating an egg or feeding a chick whilst hungry gulls etc are trying to grab them.

When the partner flies back from a feeding forage...how on earth does he find the right nest?

As you can imagine the noise is quite loud, but the smell louder! 

Phew...very pungent if the breeze is blowing in the wrong direction.

It is quite a drop and there are no rails to ensure you don't step too near to the edge.
Now then...let's try to spot a Puffin.
Erm...shout out if you see one.

THERE.... there.... can you see him...?
Well the puffin's nest is actually further up the cliff face on the bank, so it's a little easier.
Although their numbers have supposedly declined over the last few years, we saw 5 this time which is 2 more than the last time we visited last year.
I believe that some where possibly in their burrows... actually sitting on their nests.
I hope to go back soon to check on the 'pufflings' (isn't that a fantastic name for the baby chicks)
Unfortunately, after quite some time searching and taking lots of photo's that were slightly out of range for my lens...we came across this chap!
I got so excited that I snapped hundreds of shots whilst hyperventilating.
I also committed the ultimate photographers sin, by not checking the settings on my camera before shooting...hence that's why I'll have to return as these photo's are annoyingly blurred.
But at least you can see that it's a Puffin.
He was very busy strutting his stuff and dancing in front of the nest.

Maybe Mrs P was in active parturition and he was the nervous Dad waiting anxiously for news. 

You can see his nest just behind... on the right.

This is the same Puffin but this is the dance floor just below his nest where he can impress the ladies, with his moves.

I have masses of photo's to edit and check through, but I think I have found my favourite...this pair of Guillemots.

I should explain that I was actually leaning over the cliff edge at this point, as their nest just happened to be on a nearby ledge under the cliff.
I quite like the effect that the grasses have made.
They were constantly chatting to each other...possibly saying 'Oh here we go again...paparazzi. I told you this stop was too near the path'!

I think that'll do for today and as usual I'll link up with My Sunday Photo over at Photalife.com
 Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk
 Mersad's Photography through my lens
and 
Lifenreflection.com
Have a peaceful Sunday and hug the ones you love.
Sending prayers and positive vibes to anyone involved with the tragic events in London and Manchester
 

The Birds and Bees

My Sunday Photo this week is all about the birds and bees, but don't worry there's nothing dodgy here, because it's not that kind of birds and bees. 

These are the feather and buzzy kind.

I've mentioned before on previous posts that we have white doves visit us every day... no matter what the weather. In fact, if they don't appear I begin to wonder and worry about them.

If I don't happen to notice them arrive...they now perch up on the decking in full view of the window and peer in.

This tactic works extremely well because I immediately put fresh bird seed out for them.

We have had varying numbers...the most being seven at any one time, but lately we have only had two.

I love to see them doing a fly by or hearing them cooing up on our chimney pots.
I do wonder sometimes what their owners must think...and if they wonder where they go to every day. I'd love to attach a little wee note on to them, to explain where they've been and that I only feed them the best quality sunflower hearts. 

The amount I spend on my bird food is quite extensive, so their owners are probably saving a small fortune!

(Dove)

We've had another new visitor this week on our kitchen bird feeder...a couple of siskins.
This is the first time that the siskins have used this particular feeder.
They normally use one on the other side of the house.
Obviously, our five star seed menu has gone out on 'Twitter' (sorry I couldn't resist) and the variety and amount of visitors grows daily.

Unfortunately, this photo was taken through the kitchen window, so it's not the best quality.

(Siskin)

This male chaffinch is wearing his Sunday best at this time of year.

He's quite stunning.

It's a pity that the sun isn't shining on him, because it really makes a difference to the colours.

(Male Common Chaffinch)

...and so onto the bees...

This stunning Rhododendon Augustinii bursts into bloom very early on in the spring and causes quite a stir with the bees. I just couldn't capture a clear photo of this busy bee....he was frantically trying to gather as much pollen as he could before the sun went down. 

(Rhododendron Augustinii)

I just love to hear the buzzing of the busy bees and have to say I've been encouraged by how many I've seen already in this early part of the season.

(Lavender)

...and finally...

I'm linking up with Photalife.com 
and Mersad's Photography Link

I hope you are enjoying a busy but brilliant weekend.

Thank you for your visit...you're always welcome.

Flowering Gorse

Whilst out walking this morning, I took a few photos that indicates that spring truly has arrived.

It was difficult to choose which photos to pick for My Sunday Photo.

I decided the Gorse flowers, these yellow beauties are bursting into life along the country lanes. 

I hope you like them.

For overseas visitors Gorse is a large, evergreen shrub covered in needle-like leaves and distinctive, coconut-perfumed, yellow flowers during the spring and summer.

As usual I shall be linking up with Photalife 
Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk 
and 
Mersad Through My Lens
visit today and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a wonderful week.

Norway

I mentioned last Sunday that it was my daughter's birthday during the week, and that she was away on holiday. For this week's Sunday link up, I asked her permission to show a few of the photographs that she sent to me from Norway. Thankfully she agreed, because it's been rather grey here today and I didn't have a suitable photo of my own to use.

 I think that these photographs are far better than anything I could have posted. 

I've never been to Norway, but it looks a fabulous place.

So let's dive straight in... well down the ski jump to be precise!

(It makes me feel giddy just looking at this angle, never mind throwing my body down it!)

I'm linking up as usual with My Sunday Photo

I'm also linking up with  Mersad's Through My Lens 
Monday Morning Blog Club 
and Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk
Just click on the link above to be transported.
Thanks for your visit and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great day.

Through My Lens... Goldfinches feeding and fighting

As I've mentioned before I love to feed the wild birds and today I thought I'd show you a brief glimpse of the usual shenanigans that go on at just one of my feeders.

This feeder is a favourite of the Goldfinches.

There are so many visiting our place now... I've actually counted a flock of 32 at one stage. 

The birds obviously approve of the sunflower hearts.

I have to replenish the feeder daily because they are hungry little b*****'s!

The sunflower hearts are an excellent source of energy and because they have been striped of their    husks, they are cleaner and an excellent souce of energy.

It can all start off quite polite and genial, but then it can suddenly go pear-shaped. 

Someone might be taking too long on the perch or pushing in unannounced... then it all kicks off!

Feathers fly!

There really isn't any need for this nonsense, because I have three other feeding areas dotted around the house... all with numerous types of various food.

You may notice that the field behind is covered in frost.

That's because we woke up to -5C this morning. 

Yes, that's not a typo... its a minus!

It's barely risen above minus degrees all day and now it's actually dropping once again, so no wonder the little birds are panicking and eating for all their worth.

They actually have to eat 30% of their body weight in order to survive. 

Which reminds me I must put in another order for more seed soon. 

Here's another of my little visitors.
The robin.

We currently have four dotted around, but this one seems to be extremely camera shy. 

This happens to be the nearest that I've ever been able to photograph him.

Sometimes, I think he's just toying with me because he can come and sit right where I've been, as soon as I leave. I'm determined to get a good photo of him one day.
Wish me luck...

And finally some visitors who have decided to stay nearby for the time being.
I know realise that geese can be incredibly vociferous!

I'm thankful that they haven't found my seed yet.

I'm linking up with Mersad's Through My Lens.

There's lots of great photographers over there if you want to visit then click here

I hope your Monday has gone well and the week just gets better.

Have fun and I hope to see you again soon

My Sunday Photo... Woodland Walk

The light seems to play such a huge part in our lives at this time of the year. 

Whether it's the lack of it light with the shorter days or that when it does shine it hangs so low in the sky, casting it's long shadows. 

We have had incredible sunrises, which we can witness without having to set the alarm clocks to an unearthly hour... and the sunsets have been spectacular. 

It's an incredible time for photographers to get out and enjoy.

This photo was snapped whilst walking my dog in the local woods. 

The forest floor is completely covered with leaves, which seem to cushion each footstep... like walking on a sprung floor. 

The colours are spectacular especially in the beautiful sunlight.

I'm linking up with Photalife once again and Mersad's Photography - Through a lens

Thank you for your visit and I hope that maybe you'll join me over at my new website

Denise Allan

I've still got lots to workout and it's really pushing my technical abilities to the limit, but hopefully I'll get there. It's a good mental workout for sure.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone