On Saturday monring I decided to make a visit to the avenue to see how the trees were looking...
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Off up the long hill. I'm heading south-east so the rising sun is hidden behind the hill which creates lovely silhouettes such as these trees and, if you look closely, a flock of birds flying between them.
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The moon is still up, pylon lines cut across the blue sky.
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Looking back from underneath the wires.
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A couple of cows watch me make my way slowly up the road.
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I like the contrast of bare branches against wintry blue skies.
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Made it to the top. Unfortunately the sun has since hidden itself behind a large bank of clouds. Never mind, some cows come over to say hello.
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Autumnal trees lie ahead. When I reach the trees I disturb lots of little birds who have been feasting on the beech nuts. Among them are...
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... great tits (similar markings to a blue tit but with a solid black cap),...
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...and bramblings. I find the
RSPB website a big help in indentifying birds, particularly the "similar birds" section as I had at first thought the brambling might have been a chaffinch.
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The avenue and the reason why I came this route. I'm a little disappointed as the sun is still proving elusive and the sky is rather grey, so not such a good photo as I'd hoped for.
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Looking up.
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Also on this route a few miles further on is the little ruined cottage, I stop to take a photo through the window.
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And then the sun comes out, hooray!
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Now heading downhill towards Barcraigs reservoir.
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The whole time I've been out cycling the hills on the other side of the strath have been bathed in constant sunshine. I definitely picked the wrong direction weather-wise today.
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The gorgeous colours of the trees around this little section of road cheers me up though. The previous day we had quite a lot of rain as you can see.
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At the junction coming up I'm going to turn right in the direction of the sunshine...
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...found it! What a difference, it makes the leaf and berry colours dazzling bright.
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Barr Loch.
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Bridge over the river Calder.
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A swan on Castle Semple Loch. The big bank of clouds is still lying over the area I've just spent the last couple of hours cycling around.
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The notices warn of issues with the water quality, nobody's told the ducks.
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The swan on the left with a yellow beak is a whooper swan. He has a damaged wing and stays at the loch year-round along with the mute swans.
I then zoomed home along the cycle path.
That afternoon we all went for a little walk on the braes...
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... someone tell this guy he needs a bigger bike.