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Scout Scar cloudscapes

29/10/2018

Cloudscape over Scout Scar

A depth of bright cloud billowed above the surrounding fells and a dome of blue rose over Scout Scar. An inspirational cloudscape.
Approaching the ridge, I heard a shepherd shouting to his dogs; ' lie down, lie down,' now between a groan and a roar, 'lie down.' Black Hebridean sheep huddled close. Sheepdogs darted here and there but did not 'lie down.' Across a network of pastures wooden gates had been set out as if for a training course for 'One Man and his Dog. '

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Scout Scar in late October

28/10/2018

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Ash laden with keys, Scout Scar

Sunday morning, delayed as the clocks have gone back an hour. The clean, cold north-west wind has dropped and wind comes from the north-east. A sky of bright blue. Exposed to the wind, the ash trees on Scout Scar are stripped of leaves, laden with bunches of keys. Winter light strikes bare trees and fragments of limestone pavement.
During the morning, dark clouds gather, plunge the escarpment into gloom as a flight of fieldfare passes calling overhead. Trees on the horizon are backlit, spooky for the approach of Halloween.

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Isle of Man to Liverpool: a sea-crossing

6/10/2018

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Sky-line of Liverpool from Mannanan

A calm sea and a comfortable voyage aboard Mannanan, sailing Douglas to Liverpool. On a bright October day the sand-dunes of Formby were distinct, seemed close. Then the dramatic sky-line of a great city.
We arrived the day the Giants were in town. Their third and last appearance and the city was thronged with families eager to see them. Our objective was The Terrracotta Army, an enterprise of antiquity on a far grander scale.
Next evening, Jodie Whittaker made her debut as Dr Who, set in Sheffield. How about Liverpool? Another time, Another Place.

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Linnet and stonechat: October, Isle of Man

5/10/2018

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Stonechat 4 October

In late September and into October we heard stonechat on our coastal walks, and saw flocks of linnet sweep over the shore and disappear into the stubble of autumn fields. Then came a magical half hour above the cliffs at Pigeon Stream, on the Marine Drive beyond Douglas. Our vehicle served as a hide and a family of stonechat flitted about gorse and on the stout fence about the cliff-top car park. A flock of linnet was about and a bird settled on the fence. Then came another visitor!

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Scarlett Point and Rushen Abbey: Castletown, Isle of Man

4/10/2018

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LIttle egret at Scarlett Point

Scarlett Point is great for bird-watching. Hidden in a car, we could observe the little egret's hunting tactics. The wind ruffled his white plumage, his panache- a wispy crest of feathers for this elegant white heron. His feet stirred amongst seaweed, searching, his long black bill stabbing and his toes trailing ochre weed.
Cormorant in silhouette on rock, eider off-shore. Sunlight illuminated Castletown across the bay.
Always the possibility of wildlife drama.

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Scout Scar cloudscapes

Scout Scar in late October

Isle of Man to Liverpool: a sea-crossing

Linnet and stonechat: October, Isle of Man

Scarlett Point and Rushen Abbey: Castletown, Isle of Man

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