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17th may10, Embleton Bay, 8am

Back from a wonderful week on Orkney and back to our own beach.

Poor old Trooper is well out of sorts after hurting himself falling into a burn on Orkney. As I write he's finally out cold on strong pain killers after a few days of pacing endlessly and uncomfortably around the house. No running for him for a while but he's happy to walk up and down the beach.

Back home after the walk and the poppies were catching the sun.

busman's holiday

A last trip to Embleton bay as I'm off on holiday for a week.

6th May10, Embleton Bay, 4pm

I'm exchanging the wide, empty, coastal landscapes of Northumberland for the wide, empty, coastal landscapes of Orkney.

A turn of the head as we walk up the path away from the beach. See you in a week.

leaves and light

4th May10, Christon Bank, 8am

At this time of year there is a different flower appearing every week. Forget-me-Not is the latest and one of my favourites.

4th May10, Broad Wood, Ellingham, 4pm

A new walk today following up a cycle around here earlier today. Being broad-leaved woods, Broad Wood's flowers are different and more numerous than those of the conifer plantation at home. Bluebells are starting to appear along with wild garlic, wood anemones, primroses, cowslips, lady's bedstraw etc etc. The leaves are coming quickly now on all the trees and the native and newly arrived migrant birds are in full song. The young foliage filters the sunlight and, along with the melifluous music of the birds, the woodland is filled with a very special atmosphere. None of this would matter if not for a well laid out footpath that meanders through the woods and grants access to the arboreal depths.

Not For Me?

Back home after a weekend city break in Bristol - a fine city, a great concert and good friends.

3rd May10, Newton Links, 8am

Heavy showers moving down from the North today. One had just passed to move on South giving views of excellent cloud formations.

Meanwhile, a gap in the showers left blue sky coming our way to the North.

It's always a great contrast to come back here after a city break...

Not for me the streets of grey
The endless noise
Bright lights all day

Not for me the coffee bar
Where chatter fills
Your every hour

Give me the noise of a restless sea
Wind in the grass
Just the dog and me

Give me the chatter of calling birds
Wide empty landscape
Hearing no-one's words

But what of friends? Where are they
Without the noise
And the streets of grey?

Sometimes it's right to go with the tide
Bright lights are good
When it's dark outside

unfurling spring

28th April10, Newton Links, 4pm

Spring tide and not much beach to play with. It's been a busy week without much time to have a longer walk.

29th April10, around Christon Bank, 8am

The recent sunny weather and a day of rain yesterday means the trees are starting to unfurl their leaves. The tree on the right is a horse chestnut which is always early to leaf and the young leaves are a beautiful luminous, lime green.

This is a beech tree just starting to come into leaf. Some beeches still have their autumn leaves, especially those in hedges; I wonder why that is.

Lichen - a sign of clean, pollution free air. This is a part of the world you can breathe deeply and safely.

uncoiling spring

24th April10, Christon Bank, 8am

The ferns are uncoiling in the brighter parts of the woods. The nettles are sprouting too and soon the paths we've enjoyed all winter will be overgrown and impassable.

24th April10, Howick Coast, 4pm

25th April10, Howick Coast, 4pm

A few folk around on the path as it's a sunny weekend. These young lovers had found a fine spot to sit.

26th April10, Low Newton, 8am

I didn't even get in the car before I spotted my first picture across the road.

A different angle of The Square at Low Newton.

I photograph out to sea and into the sun most mornings so I'd decided to look inland today. Some of the 40 odd "bungalows"; holiday homes in amongst the dunes.

Trooper's warm enough to go in the sea and as a bonus we found his old ball washed ashore yesterday. He would have played here all day.

It's always a slow trot home however much fun we've had on the beach... and I have to carry the ball.

meanderings

Just to prove to myself that I don't only take pictures on days with blue skies...

23rd April10, Newton Links, 8am

A pleasantly understated dawn on a cloudy morning.

The recent winds have left ridges in the sand which are always of interest. These meandering paths were made by birds in search for a morsel.