I haven't posted much lately and this will probably more than make up for it - I trust it will not be too long or boring. The vast majority of pics relate to birds and I have accordingly posted the thread in that forum.
Yesterday morning, my guv'nor and I took an early bus into Cambridge with a view to walking downstream along the River Cam to Clayhithe and back again. We have not done this walk since last year. I also used to go there regularly very early on Sunday mornings with Cordless Dave looking for kingfishers (more of Cordless Dave later).
The first part of the walk is very pleasant, across commonland, past college boathouses, Victorian terraced houses facing the river, moored narrowboats, apartment blocks and fancy houses until open country is reached. There are supposed to be kingfishers nesting in holes in a concrete bank opposite the apartment blocks, but we have yet to see them. Crossing a footbridge linking the common with Chesterton, we came across this handsome fellow that I assume is some sort of Mallard cross
Eventually we hit the path alongside the river. This is made up and is very popular, especially at weekends with walkers, cyclists and cycling rowing coaches. The river was itself well used by rowing eights and scullers. We had to keep a weather ear out for the cyclists, some of whom thought they owned the path (I am a cyclist). We next came across what we thought was the carcase of a baby bird with its attendant greenbottles - beautiful in their own way and a necessary part of the cycle. Even grandads have a niche!
We stopped for coffee and cake and were joined on our bench by a baby robin. We then carried on and saw a family of moorhens on the river and were greatly attracted by these two:
Next up was this Mallard family - I love Mallards - they are so beautiful, varied and commonplace:
By then, we had passed Baits Bite Lock and the river traffic had calmed down considerably. I watched a Coot across the river balance on a half-submerged branch preening itself. This snap shows it stretching its wings, and also gives a sight of its strange feet:
We pressed on downstream and were in sight of Clayhithe. What I took to be Emperor dragonflies were hawking above the lilies at the side of the river. It was very windy and they were often blown off course as well as pursuing their own dazzling trajectories. I stood on the bank for quite some time trying to snap one in flight. It was impossible for the camera to focus against the lilypads but I did manage this shot against the water itself. It is not brilliant by any means, but it is my first pic of a flying dragon, and has whetted my appetite:
[img]http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/
Gallery/files/3/1/5/0/786Emperordragonflyma.JPG[
Cordless Dave is a friend and neighbour and something of a mentor. He has recently gone back to using his tripod and remote as much as possible to obtain clearer pictures. I took my monopod with me with that aim in mind. I saw a kestrel hovering quite some way off and decided to try snapping it using the monopod. I make no apologies for posting the next pics. They are all at 100% and heavily cropped but I am really pleased with the great improvement in clarity. They are not up to
Gallery standard but have provided another step in the learning curve.
We then had our picnic lunch on a bench by the river. Our grandaughter had been taken to hospital that morning for a progress check on a rather worrying problem and my daughter rang to say that all was well. We agreed to meet in the nearby pub to celebrate. This was a great interlude, but I am not sure that a couple of pints of Adnams Broadside is the best preparation for a five mile walk back to the very centre of Cambridge. However, it seemed a good idea at the time, and there are lots of convenient willow trees along the way. Shortly after we began our return trip, we saw our first swans that day:
A chap in a small boat disturbed a Great Crested Grebe and I was able to catch this shot. I had never seen a flying grebe before (perhaps I will now have three on my chimney breast):
My next dragonly gave himself up by landing on the path. I think it is a male Scarce Chaser but am open to correction:
Across the river were some pretty pink flowers that I knew were not Rose Bay Willow Herb. My guv'nor tells me that they are Indian Balsam aka Policman's Helmet - who am I to argue:
Last, but not least, was another mallard quietly preening - the delicate plumage patterns are superb
Soon after, we crossed the river and were flogging our way back to Cambridge. We had begun to flag and were also in need of a pit stop. We came across another pub where we opted for coffee and apple crumble with ice cream for my guv'nor and bread and butter pudding for me. With all of our needs satified, we then carried on, rejoining the riverbank and eventually reaching the city centre.
We had seen only one swan, no kingfishers, and no herons. I was little disappointed intially; but, looking at the snaps and reflecting what they represented, we quickly came to the conclusion that it had, after all, been quite a day out.
Colin
I still can't quite get the hang of taking moving bird pics with my new digital. I need more practice 
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