Haematite at Limeslade Bay.

More pictures from Tom of Limeslade bay - this time focussing on the lovely patterns when it is combined with calcite. There's a fault that runs through the limestone in bay and iron minerals have percolated into the spaces between calcite crystals in the fault. In some cases the iron minerals (haematite) have completely replaced the calcite. Apparently the Romans mined the iron deposits and mining actually continued until the late 1800s. 

Caerlaverock WWT reserve

For once a plan came together: the time off; the place and the weather! A glorious sunny day with great lighting for birdwatching and photography.

Lots of whooper swans and barnacle geese.

I loved the potential for a good photo - the feather on the rippled ice ....I just couldn't get the angle or close enough!

Teal; shoveller; wigeon; pintail, gadwall and mallard.

Female bullfinch in the sun.  

Mawbray at high tide, North Cumbria

We had planned to go up High Pike this morning, as it's been lovely and frosty/ snowy....so this morning, of course, it melted! So off down to Mawbray for a walk along the beach. Lots of birds at high tide and good views into the Lake District ....it looked promising, as if the cloud would lift, but it didn't and wafts of drizzle soon covered the Solway and then the northern fells .

Oystercatchers, curlew and golden plover murmurations.

The northern fells trying to emerge...

Rocky ...always happy! 

Bracelet Bay and Limeslade Bay ...Swansea.

An enjoyable walk out from Singleton campus along the coastal footpath....for Tom.

Swansea Bay and The Mumbles.
Left - top: Black Pill looking towards the Mumbles; bottom - Black Pill looking towards Swansea.
Right - top: Mumbles pier; bottom -Swansea Bay.

Bracelet Bay: a small limestone bay/cove on the south side of Mumbles Head.

Mae's Tearooms and Gallery

Well that's the table 'Christmassified'....pop up to Mae's in Uldale - or the Ireby lights switch on this Saturday to see more! Plenty of frankincense and myrrh available too - from Oman - the real stuff! ....not to mention the new hand-coloured Hesket Newmarket lino print.

Mini paintings....

Two new sets of mini paintings ...the first of Skiddaw across the Solway mosses and the second of Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris. All done with a palette knife and they are 7cm x 7cm - I enjoyed doing these especially as the alternative was glittering cones!

Mungrisdale Arts and Crafts Fair

Well that's all set up for what will hopefully be a busy weekend! Lots of interesting stalls to browse.