Bye bye 2019

As we say goodbye to 2019 and the decade, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you that have taken the time to read, like or comment on my blog. You support and interest keeps me writing and posting photographs – I could not do it without you.

Coal tit

Our world is a constantly changing place – sometimes for the better, sometime for the worst. Let us hope that 2020 and the new decade will bring lots more positives, for our environment, wildlife, and for people everywhere.

The Burren, Co Clare

Our little planet is beautiful and wonderful. Living here should inspire us all to do what we can to make it a safe, peaceful and glorious place for all things.

Happy New Year!

Fallow deer (farmed)

White butterfly

Lichen

Goldfinch

bumblebee

Favourites 2019

Choosing some of my  favourite photographs of the year is not that easy. Where to start?

This image is from January 2019, from the west coast of Ireland. The light on the west  coast is pretty special.

West coast Ireland

Then daffodils – what is there not to like as they herald the start of spring. I was particularly pleased with this image, which I darkened a little from the original.

Spring also brings blossom – against the blue sky, it just says happiness to me.

And springs brings with it one of my favourite animals, our beautiful bumblebees. I take lots of photos of bees and it is hard to choose one. Here the common carder bee on a vetch flower.

Common carder

We were lucky to visit two wonderful places this year. First The Burren in County Clare in late August. I just loved all the wildflowers and limestone landscape and walls.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The second place was Inishbiggle, a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland.

And at the end of the summer my favourite butterfly image.

Peacock

With the return of autumn and winter we again get that wonderful light along the coast.

And two photos to finish – an abstract.

And a black and white

A huge thank you to the four lens artists (Ann-Christine, Amy, Tina and Patti) who give us the lens artist challenge each week.

Six on Saturday

So for my final “six on Saturday ” for 2019, which special thanks to the Propagator for hosting.

1. Some of you may have already noticed this robin cropping up in my previous posts. It is a very brave little fellow and is now regularly taking food from my daughter’s hand.

Robin

Robin

2. Bargains – I love bargains. I got a big bag of Japanese onions for just one euro on sale. I know it is late to be putting them in, but I have planted quite a few in polytunnel and I am hoping they will do there. It is just too wet to get anything outside.

Onions

3. My second bargain was some bulbs – I got daffs and these which weren’t labelled (but I am pretty sure they are crocus). So it will be very much pot luck as to what comes up.

Bulbs

4. And in the garden daffodil bulbs beginning to show. While it has been a very wet winter here, it has been pretty mild most of the time.

Daffodils

5. In the polytunnel some of the pot marigolds are still in flower.

Pot marigold

6. And finally my new hot composter called a hotbin composter. It is an insulated compost bin that is supposed to be much faster than traditional bin as it heats waste by  up to 60°c. We’re setting it up in the greenhouse for the winter at least.

Hot composter

Thank you to all those who have followed my six on Saturday garden posts during the year. Here’s to a great gardening year for 2020.

 

 

Garden Birds

Santa was very kind and brought me a new lens (40-150mm) for my camera. So I have been trying it out and am very happy.  The garden birds are great subjects – if you can get close enough.

Blue tit

The bird feeder is a great place to get them. We take part in the garden bird survey every year which is hosted by Bird Watch Irelandand record the birds in our garden from December to February. Many counties have similar citizen science surveys (e.g. RSPB in the UK).

Blue tit

coal tit

Our friendly robin is an even better subject, because we can get really close.

Robin

This chaffinch I photographed through the kitchen window.

Chaffinch

Yes, I will have fun!

Coal tit

 

 

 

Festive Greetings

 

Happy Christmas

Silent Sunday

Winter shadows

 

Winter Solstice

Wishing you all a Happy Winter Solstice. It was a grey day here today – so a photograph from the west coast from earlier in this week.

Mullet Peninsula, Co Mayo

 

Flower Displays

Again I find myself reminiscing about last summer. The day we visited the National Botanic Garden of Wales was probably the hottest and sunniest of them all – so not the best day to photograph the amazing displays of flowers in the gardens.

Botanic Gardens, Wales

Botanic Gardens, Wales

Botanic Gardens, Wales

Botanic Gardens, Wales

One of my favourite areas was this planted wheat field with traditional “weeds” – in other words flowers – this is how wheat would have grown in the past before chemicals.

Botanic Gardens, Wales

I used the pop setting on the camera to get some interesting affects.

Botanic Gardens, Wales

Inspired by Lens artist photo challenge – on display

 

Wordless Wednesday

Belmullet Co. Mayo

Silent Sunday

Cheeky Robin