Freedom to Run

29th July 11, Newton Links, 6am

We've been up and about early the last couple of mornings catching the low sun and low tide.

Daisy loves the freedom of an empty beach to run and run...

...Before eventually she slows down to a walk and we head home for breakfast.

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Tale of a tail

27th July 11, Christon Bank, 8am

Early walk round the woods this morning when Daisy spotted something in the hedge...

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Harvest Home

24th July 11, at home, 9am

Dotting around the house this morning uploading photographs from yesterday's wedding.

Here's today's fine harvest from the tomato and courgette plants...

...and the smoke from an incense cone photographed against the black case of our iPad - very useful things iPads!

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Old Beach Road

23rd July 11, Newton Links, 7am

Something a bit different today. Thanks to Uwe for the idea.

This video is of Johnny Dickinson, an excellent local Northumbrian blues musician (although this video's from Kentucky). Play the video and then browse my sea pictures from this morning's spectacular waves. (note the video might make you a bit sea-sick but that all adds to the effect!)

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hidden treasures

21st July 11, Fallodon Woods, 3pm

Some hidden treasures around the woods today..

Some are natural and edible...

Some are very unnatural...

You can go in the right direction for an explanation by googling 'geocaching'

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we're back!

19th July 11, Newton Links, 8am

After a weekend away and then a nasty sore throat thing I'm glad to say we're back in action...

I posted a not dissimilar shot to this a few weeks back (which now hangs in our hall) but it seems a nice treatment when the beach is in this mood (empty and reflective)

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Snow White

14th July 11, Wandylaw 1pm

There are a few fields hereabouts which are white with flowers; like snow drifts across the landscape. I'd be happy to hear from anyone who might know the identity of the crop either by leaving a comment or via Twitter (@nland360)

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
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Not so sad

13th July 11, Howick Coast, 2pm

Lovely bright afternoon with fine crashing waves at high tide.

14th July 11, Newton Point, 8am

I had an interesting chat with the National Trust warden this morning about our flower meadow. It is technically a hay meadow but it's still recovering from a time a few years ago when it wasn't managed properly.

I thought I'd found a melancholy thistle but it's a hardhead thistle or knapweed. Melancholy thistles like wet ground, knapweeds like dry soil (like the dunes). The melancholy thistle is so named because its head droops as if hanging its head in sadness. I too would be sad if I was standing around in wet places all day.

Here's a happy face.

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incongruity

10th July 11, Ford Moss, 4pm

A rare treat of a walk inland. Ford Moss used to be a colliery but is now a restored peat bog and nature reserve. On the hill above are some cup and ring marked rocks and from here you can see the Eildon Hills near Melrose, the Cheviots are next door and the sea is still visible to the East.

The colliery chimney still stands; now incongruous in the landscape.

Ring marks are so fascinating - such a fleeting link with the past. They must have been important as they are found all over the country but their purpose is long forgotten. This part of Northumberland is very rich with them.

No obvious ring marks on this slab but it looks as if this massive circle has been segregated deliberately and there is, I think, a cup mark nearly dead-centre.

Daisy likes a view and I think she's not seen such an expansive view for a while.

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Happy Families

10th July 11, Newton Point, 06:30am

A few folk around despite the early hour. It was a very pleasant morning so why not just get up?

This family of shelducks will have had their nest in a sandy burrow but they're always around the rocks now they're bigger. According to my book, 'Sheld' is an old word meaning variagated or patterned which is very appropriate for these handsome birds. Sometimes one or more female Shelducks will lay their eggs in another's nest and the poor foster mum can end up with 32 eggs to look after. Two adults and 12 chicks here so just their own family - big enough I would say!

Two different views of the flower meadows again. I make no apology - they are beautiful this year

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sighthound

7th July 11, Howick shore, 8am

After yesterday's heavy rain we headed for the nicely made path at Howick to avoid any mud.

The wind was up and lovely waves were sweeping into the shore.

Two different thistles: Thistle 1 was in a sheltered spot and both photographer and bees could take advantage of the still conditions...

Thistle 2 was in the barley field and was blowing around vigorously.

Being a sighthound, Daisy likes a vantage point to visually survey the landscape in case of rabbits, hares, any other moving things...

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
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mooching in the rain

5th July 11, Newton Point, 8am

Curiously, I was listening to a Radio4 documentary about the decline of hay meadows (only 4 sq miles left in UK apparently) as I was wandering through our wild flower meadow behind the dunes on Newton Point. Listen here

6th July 11, around Christon Bank, 8am

The blessed, cooling relief of a gentle Atlantic front dowsing us with soft rain this morning. I can always walk further in the rain (I'm from W coast of Scotland remember) so we ended up at Brunton Mill. I had a mooch about the old buildings - I'd love to know more of their history.

All pics by Hipstamatic on iPhone

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
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You've been framed

4th July 11, Low Newton. 8am

No sea fret - another clear, bright and warm morning.

This is now a self-catering cottage. I suspect it uses "bijou" in the description somewhere...

An odd wooden frame on the beach this morning. Any ideas?

It made an interesting in-situ photo frame

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

too close for comfort

3rd July 11, Newton Links, 6pm

We sat for a while watching the waves crashing on the rocks on a gorgeous sunny evening. I got a bit wet in my dedication to get this shot as a wave came a bit too close for comfort

Oyster catchers spooked by a pair of very low flying microlights.

Time for a few games on Football Hole

Note the sea fret out on the horizon - I suspect we might be fog bound tomorrow...

Lovely colour on the meadows this year; especially against the westering sun.

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life