a trip to Lundy 3

 One of the main reasons for going to Lundy at this time of year is to see the puffins at Jenny's cove. They are not easy to spot without binoculars and telephoto lenses, and the air is full of kittiwakes, razorbills and seagulls. However, if you look closely at the bottom left hand corner of the picture below

 and in the grassy area of the picture below, one can just about make out puffin-like puffins. I am not quite sure about the congregation on the rock emerging from the sea,

 but there were a lot more of them nesting on the cliff face (razorbills, and guillemots?).

There are also a lot of wheatears about, with a distinctive black eye line and flashing white tail feathers, which I think are designed to draw predators away from their nest sites.

We stayed on the island for about 4 hours, and then took 2 hours to get back to Ilfracombe, and another two hours to drive home....so a very long day travelling but worth it to see a little gem.

a trip to Lundy 2

 Lundy is spectacularly beautiful, especially when the sun is out and there is little or no wind. Sheep, horses and cattle graze the heath which is very like the moorland across the sea in Devon. The goats (below at Jenny's cove) are allowed to roam wild.

a trip to Lundy 1

Our trip started at the pretty (but still fishing) town of Ilfracombe (after a long drive from home).

 The statue of the pregnant woman was controversial locally, but has inevitably become something of a sight to see. She certainly looked very fearsome in the early morning sun.

We arrived at Lundy after a two hour voyage in MS Oldenburg, a small, fairly elderly ferry boat, seen here docked at the jetty on the island. Even on such a fine day there was a considerable swell. The climb up to the village on Lundy is very steep and long and not for the unfit. And NO dogs, so Spot was left at home.

one white one, one black one

earlier in the year we reported the arrival of two new ducks, Jemima and Chloe, to join Francis and Elizabeth (see duck label). Sadly this did not go well because the drake behaved very aggressively to the two smaller ducklings. Eventually they had to be rescued, and after a short sojourn in a neighbour's garden they were given to a farm park at New Mills (see link), at the end of the Launceston Steam Railway line (see previous page). They have settled in well and seem to believe that they are Shetland ducks. Photo by Jo Edwards, thank you!

volunteer food

Slightly blurred through the safety fence, the lioness is looking forward to tea.

At DZP 2 (link)

Burning bright at Dartmoor Zoological Park (DZP)

A few of the animals to be seen at the DZP, at Sparkwell near Plymouth (link), the story of which was told in the film  "We bought a zoo". Keeping animals in captivity, especially large animals like tigers, is always questionable but this is a small, friendly, slightly unkempt zoo with seemingly very content animals and warm friendly staff.  The amur tigers are under extreme pressure in the wild from loss of habitat, and use of their powdered bones and other parts in Chinese so called medicines. The tiger is eating meat from Dartmoor ponies culled during the autumn round ups. They are magnificent beasts and to see them so close up in an open enclosure is breathtaking. This is a fun day out at a very reasonable cost and it has a good spacious restaurant.

a day at St Ives

We went to an exhibition of William Scott at the Tate modern, St Ives (see link) and quite unexpectedly enjoyed the brilliant photographs of Peter Fraser, of which these are not examples, but very much in tribute to him.

Burell farm 3

and Summer out for a gallop chasing a rainbow

Burell farm 2

dogs, cats, doves....

Burell farm near Trematon

 At Burell farm today where a friend keeps some horses. It is the site of an old tudor house, now in ruins, and its origins go back to William the Conqueror. The yard is full of animals large and small.

helpful signs 1041

the church at St.Mary's, Ashbury (not Bratton Clovelly) in deepest Devon, and below the good ladies of Latchley (well, Lamerhooe really but it is the little village of Latchley in the background).

St Dilpe and Landulph

After giving a talk to Landulph Good Companions in Cargreen we paid a quick visit to the church of St Leonard and St Dilpe at Landulph. This church is a good long walk from the nearest village and is set out on a little peninsular that reaches into the lower reaches of the Tamar (see this Google link , the church is at the very end of the road). St Dilpe must be one of the many obscure Cornish Saints (see link) whose names lend extra mystique to local place names. Landulph must be a corruption of Dilpe. Sadly, there were no sweet violets on the bridle path from the church where we had found them for the first and only time in 2005 but it was very muddy (not a bridal path then).

Calstock

The Tamar Inn, Calstock on a busy afternoon. Interesting junk for sale further up the street.

Cormorant at Downderry

we have several Kurt Jackson paintings (from a time when he was very inexpensive) but he didn't paint this one

handel bars?

Thus at the flaming forge of life
  Our fortunes must be wrought

The Springer Spaniel at Treburley nestling under a chestnut tree showing the first signs of autumnal colour.

a day trip to Looe 2

catching crabs is a popular activity

east and west Looe from the bridge

a day trip to Looe

rock pooling in Looe with the tide well out, a hobby for crows and humans

a good place to visit

some of the stars of the donkey park at St Anne's Chapel (see link). It is in a good cause and good fun for small children although Spot wasn't allowed in! Mind you he is contemplating taking in some donkeys.

muscovy sauce

Calstock viaduct at low tide, and below, in close up, a surprising resident.

the view from Cotehele

 we were very lucky today to be taken up the North tower at Cotehele. The roof is reached via a very narrow steep flight of stone steps, and has a view towards Calstock and far across the Tamar valley. This is the same view as before (see link) but taken from a much higher vantage point and it includes the tudor roof of Cotehele itself.