Friday, December 30, 2011

Next Year's Christmas Card, an Early Spring and a Job Well Done .... ..........




































While we were out walking in Teesdale this morning we encountered this very obliging Robin ...... 


























.... that struck a variety of poses that might be suitable for next year's Christmas cards. 


 Incredibly, hazel catkins are coming into bloom along the River Tees near the Meeting of the Waters. With a mild weekend forecast they look like they'll be shedding pollen in the New Year. Strange days indeed.....yesterday we saw lesser celandines in bloom in Sunderland (but I forgot to take a photo). 


Meanwhile, lambing will begin in a few weeks. We spotted this magnificent ram in a field of sheep, with a contented look on his face that suggests a job well done....

10 comments:

  1. The seasons have gone crazy Phil.
    I saw some Ragwort, Red Clover and Yarrow, all flowering today around my local lake.

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  2. Freezing yesterday and mild this morning. No wonder nature is confused so am I.

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  3. Perfect shots of the Robin, how obliging of it.

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  4. Your photographs of the robin and the ram are iconic images. Beautiful!

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  5. I don't think I've ever seen so many plants in flower at this time of year, Keith...

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  6. He knows he's master of all he surveys, doesn't he lotuleaf.....

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  7. ,,,, and then the gales blew all the catkins off, Adrian!

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  8. I think it must have thought it was a celebrity Robin, toffeeapple ....

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  9. Thanks Patricia - I can imagine the ram as a carving on an ancient temple...

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