14th May

What a day!!!!!

A one and a half hour train ride to the village of Lympstone for a job interview. First the train was 14 minutes late, but they only decided to tell us when it was already 10 minutes late, amazing considering it was already running late when it passed going in the opposite direction, it goes 1 station then heads back upline. Fortunately I had allowed extra time to have a look around the village and take a few photos before the interview. The shot on the right is of the village clock tower below are a couple of other shots taken during my walkabout. One is of some chains on the river bank, the other is of some crab pot floats hanging on a fence.

After my tour of the village I arrived at the location for my interview with about 10 minutes still to spare. After introducing myself to a member of staff I was told to take a seat and somebody will be with me shortly, half an hour later I was approached by another member of staff and told that the person I was there to see wasn't actually there and that she had double booked me. Not a happy bunny and I have told them I won't be taking my application further, to make things worse when I got home I had an email from them saying that the 'mix up' was because I hadn't  confirmed that I would be attending ?????? Not requested in appointment email.

On a happier note just before arriving at the location of my interview I had spotted a fox family, mum, dad and two cubs so heady back to take some photos. One of these photos was my blip for 14th May. Below is another photo of what I think is the female fox and a photo of a heron that landed further up the field.

Back in Torquay I decided to call past the duckponds on my way home to check on the cygnets and ducklings, whilst the cygnets were doing ok I noticed that there were only five ducklings, I suspected that one had been killed (possibly by the swan who have been chasing them) but hoped it was hiding.

13th May

Didn't take that many photos on the 13th May so this catch-up is going to be a short one. My blip for that days "On The Doorstep" Mono Monday challenge was of a beggar outside one of the towns shops (click on the date to view it). The shot on the left is of one of the local fishermen emptying his crab 'store pot' ready to take off for sale.

As I headed from the harbourside to the duckponds I passed by the flower beds at Torre Abbey gardens where I spotted a crow land with a chunk of bread that was about three times the size of his head. Just as he put it down to start eating a second crow (the one near the centre of the photo) swooped in and nicked most of it.

Over on the duckponds the cygnets are still trying to master the art of walking and trying to get out of the water, but still looking cute. The ducklings are trying to avoid Mrs Swan who has taken to chasing them around the pond.

12th May

I think it's about time I caught up with my 'extras' blog.

On the 12th May I decided to take a 'short' walk to the lakes at Clennon Valley, just past nearby Paignton, I ended up at a beach called Elbury Cove about 3 miles further on where I took my blip photo for that day (click on the date to see it) the photo on the right was taken just before reaching the cove looking back at my start point.

The photos either side are of a 'dip' in the coast path that I had completely forgotten about, and yes they are as steep as they look lol, and they're only about 200 yards apart.

Next are a couple of photos taken at Elbury cove one is of an old decaying winch next to the derelict bath house, the other is of a large piece of driftwood washed up on the beach.

Once done at Elbury Cove I set off for the return journey home, heading up onto the main road and deciding to take a detour to my original target for today, Clennon Valley Lakes. Here's some of the birds I photographed there.

My last two photos for the 12th's catch-up were actually taken earlier in the day, the shot of the bee was the first photo of the day. The swan family are the ones at Youngs Park at Goodrington, just past Paignton, these are about 4 weeks old.

10th & 11th May

The catch-up goes on.

Life on the duck pond has taken a new turn, since the three eggs hatched Mrs Swan seems to have taken a disliking to the baby ducklings and chases them around. Now the cygnets have taken to the water, anything that gets too close is liable to be snapped at if not from mum then dad, or both.
The swan family continued to be the subject of my blips for Friday 10th and Saturday 11th and below is the promised cuteness overload from both days, no extra words needed.

This is my favourite shot of the cygnets so far.

8th & 9th May

OK more catching up, and now the moment we've been waiting for the arrival of baby swans.

8th May

When I went down to see how Mrs Swan was doing I noticed her paying attention to a particular spot of her nest, when she stood up I saw why, one of the eggs had recently hatched. Still looking wet and 'shabby' the first shot was to be my blip for Wednesday 8th. This shot was taken an hour or so later.


Mr Swan had his work cut out scaring away a very determined rat who was trying to grab some of the bread that had been thrown for the swans. The other shot is of a robin that landed nearby tweeting as if to say 'What about me'.

9th May

When I turned up the next day there were now three baby cygnets

Stand by for cute overload. First a couple of the ducklings.

Now for the cygnets. These cuties were also the subject of my blip for Thursday 9th.

I couldn't resist a little bit of fun with these photos.

6th & 7th May

Another step on the road to catch-up.

6th May

Decided to take a break from photographing swan eggs and baby ducklings, so headed out to where I had seen the woodpecker a couple of weeks ago. On the way I cut through the nearby 'meadow' (it's actually the old tip) and spotted a few butterflies as I went.

I didn't see the woodpecker but on the way back I spotted this blue tit flitting in and out of this nest box and near the duck ponds what I think is a female buzzard who seconds after I took this shot jumped across to a nest further in the tree.

 I couldn't go home without popping by the duckponds and ended up photographing the ducklings.

7th May

Headed down to the ponds to see if any of the swan eggs had hatched, nothing yet. I took with me a bag of frozen mixed veg which I scattered on the pond. One of the moorhens appeared and started tucking in, seems it loves peas and sweetcorn (didn't touch the carrots or green beans). The other shot is a profile of one of the mallard males, I love the colours of these birds.

Call me a soppy sentimental old sod if you like but as they didn't survive long I have decided not to post the photos of the new ducklings that I blipped on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th May.