Today’s guest picture comes from Andy Little, one of our camera club members. He very kindly sent me this picture of an unusual bird which he saw when visiting New Lanark.
I had a steadily busy but not frantic day today. Encouraged by Mrs Tootlepedal, I got up reasonably early and went out for a bike ride after breakfast without even pausing to look round the garden.
The reason for the snappy start was a dire forecast of wind and rain to come later in the day. Anxious not to be caught out, I pedalled the whole way round my 20 mile Canonbie circuit without stopping at all, most unusual for me. As a result there are no pictures but I made up for this by looking round the garden when I got home.
The butterflies have slowed down a bit and I was able to take a few close up shots.
There was a lot of nectar quaffing going on.
This shot does include the bee’s knees.
The newly sprung up nerines are looking better every day…
…and the Michaelmas daisies are set to take over the world.
It is berry time and the birds have eaten almost all our rowan berries without letting me catch them in the act. This is most unfair.
Other berries are available…
…some more edible than others.
Then I took some postcards and photo cards up to our local newsagent, who sells them and makes a contribution to the Archive Group in return, and pedalled back home for lunch.
I kept an eye on the birds while I was in the kitchen and was pleased to see a coal tit in motion…
…and at rest.
The seeds are too big for them to eat on the feeder so they flit about in a restless way between the feeder and the plum tree behind.
After lunch, since the forecast rain and wind had not yet made an appearance, Sandy arrived and we drove down to Canonbie for as much of a walk as we could get in before the weather broke.
We parked at the church and walked along the river bank below it….
…looking out for hints of autumn…
..and noticing the scar in the red sandstone cliff where there has been a rockfall.
In the foreground you can see a fisherman moving along the river to try his luck.
His chances may be affected by the number of other fisherfolk around.
Goosanders like eating fish a lot.
Looking across the river, I could see the hedge that marks the road along which I had pedalled earlier in the day. The bank behind is covered with the seed heads of rosebay willowherb.
We walked south along the river following a local signposted walk…
…stopping to look at wild flowers on out way….
…and got as far as this little wood before the rain started to come down seriously enough to make us head back to the car.
We didn’t get a soaking but we got wet enough to persuade us not to dally taking pictures….except this one….
…and drove home to have a cup of tea.
We were joined by Mike Tinker, who has been enjoying having the company of both of his children and their spouses and all four of his grandchildren in recent days and thus was extremely happy but also in need of a quiet sit down and some refreshment.
In the evening, more rain and some gusty wind arrived in perfect time to welcome Luke for his flute lesson. It always seems to rain on Monday when he comes. As he was playing better than me today, I had no complaints.
In the evening, I went off with Sandy to the first Camera Club meeting of the season and with the attendance in double figures (11) and an excellent range of photos for the members to enjoy, the meeting was very satisfactory. There were biscuits too.
The flying bird of the day is a sparrow getting an unfriendly welcome from a siskin.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
I like the nerines. They remind me of pink lilies.
Great shots of the bees and butterflies.
Your countryside is starting to look more fall like than ours but I’m sure we’ll catch up.
We are getting our own gale tomorrow so we are hoping that not too much damage occurs.
Glad about the biscuits, I enjoyed your photograph of the nerines, a flower I hadn’t heard of before.
You fitted many activities into your day -good to see the coal tits.
I love that walking path! Autumn in your area is looking beautiful.
Our cheery little chickadees are back. They look like your coal tits. One of my aunts, long departed now, could get them to eat out of her hand. I think of her every time I see these birds.
Getting a bird to eat out of hand takes a lot of time and patience.
Lovely photos from your walk and the flowers in your garden. Love the nerine and the busy bee working hard.
That is an awesome bee capture!
I enjoyed finding out that I had taken it.
I’m often in awe of your ability to photograph small birds in flight, but catching a coal tit in flight is something extra special! The images of the butterflies and bee were also excellent today.
I hope that you don’t mind if I step up onto my soapbox for a minute here. A lot of fishermen incorrectly think that goosanders eat so many fish that there are none left for fishermen. The goosanders eat mostly smaller fish that in turn eat food that would otherwise be consumed by the larger fish that fishermen prefer to catch, depriving the larger fish of food to grow even larger. A healthy ecosystem includes predators such as the goosanders to keep the populations of various size fish in the correct balance overall. You may edit this portion out if you prefer.
I am quite sure that you are right but the information said that I read said that goosanders in Britain don’t affect anglers much…….except in Scotland!!
Love the butterfly shots!
I love watching them.