St Bees Puffins

Saturday was glorious. So it was a case of thinking where to go that wouldn't be too busy! Certainly not Central Lakes! St Bees was busier than usual, but no one was bird-watching, so we had the platforms to ourselves. Good to see so many Guillemots back on the rookeries as well as Razorbills and Kittiwakes. The Herring Gulls have paired up and were being their normal noisy selves. The highlight had to be the two Cumbrian Puffins though! 

Plants wise the Scurvy Grass, Celandines, Dandelions and Wood Sorrel were in flower - it's been a long winter, but this felt like spring.

Unmistakable ...Puffin! 

Patterns in the grass...

Friday and finally a decent day ..well to start with! Some spring warmth and a visit to Wedholme Flow. Continuing with my exploration of a sense of place, I remain focussed on the grasses that bend over in the water ...and the shapes that they frame. 

Zooming in....

I just love this and am debating where to go from here...

...and then the day changed! 

One of many Reed Buntings.

Soundscape in Stitch (2)

Following my previous post this is the same walk ...just a different day...and different weather. So, still with a constant breeze, small birds - Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tits, chattered in the trees while in the open, Skylarks ascended ....

The Skylarks are the yellow; the small birds - the loops. The wind blows in the background, with a smattering of drizzle. As to the large holes: as part of the course we are exploring 'holes'. Using wire formed grommits, eyelets represent the breath of spring air opening the way to Spring proper.

 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace

Soundscape in Stitch (I)

Following my post about my Sound Walk, and its interpretation click here for that one....I have tried doing a sample of interpreting sounds through stitch. This is the first sample that will hopefully inform a larger textile piece. The day was damp, with a constant breeze. Gusts of wind were rain laden, while a solitary Pink-foot Goose sailed overhead. The red stitches are the raucous calls of Black-headed Gulls.

 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace

Ring-necked Duck

On the way to dropping Tom off at Cairnryan, we stopped off at Castle Douglas and Carlingwark Loch. Luckily for us, the Ring-necked Duck was at the closest part of the loch among a bunch of Tufted Duck. Although why it isn't called a Ring-billed Duck I have no idea! 

Ring-necked Duck on the left ..among Tufties.

Armathwaite...New Red Sandstone

The dramatic walls of New Red Sandstone (early Permian) shone in the sun - beautifully layered and weathered. 

Yellow Star of Bethlehem...just!

Yesterday it felt like spring! (Back to winter today.) So, a walk by the River Eden from Armathwaite through Coombs Wood to see the Yellow Star of Bethlehem. We were a bit late, but there were still a few in flower and bud. 

Sandstone cliffs...

Wood Anemone.

...and Yellow Star of Bethlehem...

Layers of sound

As part of the course I am doing, we go on  a Sound Walk. This will then lead into creating a stitched 'Soundscape'. Wanting to get on with things I found myself doing my walk in windy and damp conditions, but this may yet prove to be an advantage, as the continual gusty wind and spattering of rain gives a good background ot the various bird calls. If it had been decent weather then my sound walk may just have been bird calls giving a disjointed score - we shall see! So my first task after having jotted down a graphic notation for what I heard, was to transpose a small selection of these onto tissue paper that could be layered up to create an image ...some interesting effects .....

 #fibreartstaketwo #debbielyddon #sensingplace

Early Slow Worm

On the way back from Leighton Moss, we popped into Foulshaw Moss. Lovely to find this Slow Worm - basking in the sun - under an old window....

Slow Worm.

The pond was full of spawn and tadpoles.

Bog Myrtle catkins.

Pussy Willow and Bullrushes.

Marsh Marigold.