Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Tuesday 23 November 2021

Garden Birds, Baking and Autumn in Warwickshire

 


D and E have been baking again with another GBBO box. This time a Bakewell Tart - time consuming but delicious.






B, E and I went to Herefordshire for a few days last week (posts to follow later this week) and when we got home D had made a pumpkin loaf cake (not sure where he got the recipe from) but it was lovely.





With the arrival of Autumn more birds have started to visit the feeders and the pair of Nuthatches are still regular visitors. One day last week one of the Ring-necked Parakeets returned.












Yesterday D and I went in search of some Autumn leaf colours in North Warwickshire. The photos were taken around the Maxstoke and Shawbury area.  It was mid-afternoon when on a sunny day the light is very special.
















Record shot of a Red-legged Partridge.















Coleshill Parish Church in the distance.





All photos in this post were taken by D with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.



12 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

What a lovely walk. When I was driving home from my Chiro appt. in Carmarthen on Monday, the light was like this. Just stunning colours on Black Mountain and across the fields and woods driving home. I wished I'd had the camera with me and had been able to stop.

The Bakewell Tart looks gorgeous and lovely icing. I have to confess I never ice anything (though Bakewell Tart would be bald without it!)

Lovely Parakeet. They've not made it to Wales yet!

Ragged Robin said...

Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. So sorry you didn't have your camera with you - get a sunny day mid afternoon this time of year and the light is magical for photos :)

I do ice some things like carrot cake and coffee and walnut cake type stuff. The icing on the pumpkin cake was particularly delicious - cream, mascarpone and a bit of icing sugar :) Much nicer than butter icing in my view as I find that sickly!

The parakeets are moving North I know - found in Manchester at least although I know there are some concerns they may outcompete native birds for things like holes for nesting. But they are so colourful and a sighting brightens up a day :)

Rosie said...

Lovely sun filled photos. Great to have the parakeet visit your feeders and also to see the red legged partridge on your walk. The cakes look wonderful. At least I've been able to leave you a comment, I still can't comment on some blogs. Take care:)

Rustic Pumpkin said...

What striking Autumn photographs! Thank you for sharing. The Bakewell Tart and the Pumpkin Loaf both look amazing. Hope D remembers where he found the recipe! Not sure how I feel about parakeets invading but they're here now and heaven only knows what species will be following climate change.

John said...

Lovely picture Robin, the Parakeets interest me and I have seen many on our infrequent trips to South East Londonium. I feel they look almost Hawk like in profile when airborne and bloody hell they can be most noisy

https://suburbanwildgarden.blogspot.com/

Ragged Robin said...

Rosie - Thanks so much. So sorry re: the problems you are having re: leaving comments on some blogs - do hope you can resolve it. Parakeet hasn't been back but pair of nuthatches are here all the time :) Take care too :)

Rustic Pumpkin- Thanks so much. Yes David does have the Pumpkin cake recipe he has a magazine holder in the kitchen with his veggie cookbooks and the recipe is in there. Let me know if you want to know more and I'll ask him where the recipe came from. I suspect with climate change we may well get a few more new species. Would love to see more butterfly species but not any invasive that will do harm to native wildlife!! Take care.

John - Thank so much for leaving a comment and lovely to hear from you again. I am so pleased you are blogging again. In middle of cooking tea but I will read your new blog and add to my list either later tonight or tomorrow. Take care of yourself.

Millymollymandy said...

Amazing photos of the Parakeet - was it really close to the house? I’ve never seen one of these birds. So exotic!

Loved the autumn colours. The light was glorious! Well done to son for his photos - and his baking!

Ragged Robin said...

Millymollymandy - Thanks so much. Approx 10 metres (not very good at estimating distances) so quite close but son did use zoom on the Canon. They have become naturalised now - I think the origins of initial release are shrouded in mystery!

Thanks again - will tell my son :)

The Quacks of Life said...

ah ring necked parakeet is one I might see on a walk as they are close but I imagine I need to take my headphones off really to hear they're about!!

Ragged Robin said...

TheQuacksofLife - Thanks Pete - lol re: Headphones :) Visually you can't miss them either!! They are large and bright! Good Luck:)

CherryPie said...

The Bakewell Tart looks delicious :-)

Ragged Robin said...

CherryPie - Thank you.