farewell to 2012

No road out.

It feels like 2012 inches of rain  have fallen this year!

Happy New Year and here is to a sunny 2013.

Black Blondin

This jackdaw insisted on trying to eat peanuts while perching on the clothes line. Every time it leaned forward to peck at the nuts it lost balance and toppled too far forward. Nevertheless it persisted for a long time.

Lammerhooe

the Tamar below Lammerhooe, in its flood plain and calming down a bit before tomorrow's torrential rain

Bridge farm to Horsebridge, land not yet owned by rich banker

Noah where are you 2

and the scene at Horsebridge this afternoon, Royal Inn still accessible but you may need to go now if you want a pint before Christmas.

Noah where are you

The world may not have ended yesterday, but it certainly feels like the second flood is upon us. The Inny, which is usually a timid little river, has become a raging torrent. This is only the second time in 20 years that I have seen this meadow flooded. It does clean and scour the meadows and I guess lays down some fresh silt. The high volume of water created the standing waves seen in the bottom photo.For some comparison with quieter times it is worth browsing through the pictures linked to the Inny label below.When I looked through them today it made me realise what a wonderful rich little place this is and how much pleasure it gives me

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone

covert surveillance

male greater spotted woodpecker showing off his undertail coverts

in conversation

passing the time of day, no hurry.

totem poles

more totemic pictures; not much else to photograph just now.

buzzard off

It is turning cold and food is getting scarce so buzzards increasingly turn to road kill to keep themselves going through the winter. Their problem is that they are not the most nimble of birds and are slow to take off and can easily get hit by passing vehicles. A lot of young buzzards die at this time of year either of starvation or road accidents.

Inny views

mist forming in the Inny valley, Kit Hill in the distance, Trecombe lodge (the single white building) on the opposite side of the valley.