I watched a bit of Autumnwatch last night because it came from the beautiful Leighton Moss in Lancashire and I have happy memories of seeing and hearing bitterns there. Unfortunately mostly they seemed to be filming in the dark but Chris Packham, who in my opinion is quite weird and annoying, launched a staunch defence of ivy. I quite like ivy so he redeemed himself somewhat in my eyes. He pointed out that insects that hibernate such as red admiral butterflies, wasps and bees are absolutely dependent on it at this time of year. This little scene was on the towpath to Waterbeach - it was practically dark down there at 3.30pm - a far cry from the flower strewn river banks from summer.
Three GT:
1. @sparkle is on the mend.
2. The yoof on his bike who stopped me in the middle of nowhere was just very keen to tell me how lost he was (quite an achievement on a towpath - it does only go from A to B).
3. Mary Berry's fishcake recipe looking good so far.
PS The slightly dreamy effect (I like to call it that rather than 'out of focus') is SOOC.
Why don't you like Chris Packham? He's quite punk rock and likes the Smiths and the Clash. And what has happened to the other Packham? You've made me realise now that she hasn't posted for ages.
I too am not a fan of Chris Packham...poor man I think it's his ernest cross looking face which he can't help & he is probably a very nice man! My niece & God daughter works for something to do with RSPB & she & her husband lived at Leighton Moss for a few years...she is there advising the crew but says they keep pinching her ideas. She did say she might be on in the background tonight so will tune in.
Good news about Juliette.....I thought she was away on her treck...have missed her lovely shots!!
Funny we have this ivy all over our front porch ..I took some photos of this but wasn't happy with the focus so deleted them.
Love your terms of SOOC Judith...I should have called mine that.... very pretty look though & the little be is busy there...sort of hover bees aren't they?
Sorry to hear that Juliette @ sparkle is injured but I'm glad to hear that she's recovering. I am pretty neutral about Chris Packham but I do like Mary Berry - she's the aga queen and I love my aga.
@happypat I heard somebody on the radio saying that they are really bad at stealing your ideas and not giving credit. It was somebody doing eagle watch or one of those things and he gave them a real scoop which they then took as their own. Naughty!
Love the dreamy focus look and I'm sure it was all intentional. Talking about Country Matters, I was chatting to a cameraman who films it and he told me that nobody can stand the woman on there - can't remember her name as I don't really watch it. Oh dear, just reread your commentary and realised you were talking about Autumnwatch, never mind! Must pay more attention ;)
@judithg good choice of song though Judith...btw going back to your swan pic from the other week and the bit of Banter about Junior Choice ...Annika Rice does a radio 2 show on a Saturday Morning....at 7.45 she plays a listeners choice of a "childrens junior choice song".... she's done some classics....7.45 am every Saturday...I wake up to her !!...she has been substituting for Vanessa Feltz all this week and been playing a song every morning (I go into school early during half term) . Have a nice weekend
There's loads of ivy on the towpath here, so from what you're saying that accounts for the number of butterflies and bees. Glad Juliet's on the mend - is it her hip again or something different? And on the Chris Packham and Julia Bradbury discussion, I don't like either of them (does that say more about me than about them?!)
It is a dreamy, lovely shot. Interesting what you said about Chris Packham, I find him weird too although generally a good naturalist - he was on D. I . Discs the other week which only deepened the mystery!
I too like Ivy in the right place - no longer watch Spring/Autumn Watch just too annoying and as for Countryfile - is it me or has it just become far too whimsical and staged? Rant over :)
I heard Chris Packham on desert island discs the other day. He IS weird, but I found his sheer enthusiasm quite endearing. Would probably be less endearing if you had to sit next to it for any length of time though...
Good news about Juliette.....I thought she was away on her treck...have missed her lovely shots!!
Funny we have this ivy all over our front porch ..I took some photos of this but wasn't happy with the focus so deleted them.
Love your terms of SOOC Judith...I should have called mine that.... very pretty look though & the little be is busy there...sort of hover bees aren't they?
poor Ivy is often the overlooked wallflower at the party.
Have you put the new firmware on your X100? It has speeded up the focusing - a bit. ;)