It's not Easyjet - it's Sunsetjet

Yeah well, afraid to say that it's dark now by the time we go out, so I'm having to dig through the archives of photos. Should you take a stroll along the HNC, be sure to look up, around Uppermill, as 4 times out of 5, the wind is in the right direction so we're on the flightpath into Manchester Airport.

Snapped this Emirates A320 (I think - but I'm no professional plane spotting geek!) just as the sun was setting - cast a really nice orange hue.

The picture makes me think of warm summer evenings, walking late along the towpath - not like tonight, rather damp and very, VERY dark!

Heronsong

Saw another Heron in the distance this morning flying over the village. Heard it's cry too - what a wierd noise that was

That could be my next challenge (once I've got a decent photo) - to try and record Heronsong (if there is such a word!)

Off the Subject just a tad

OK, sorry about the absence of blog last week - unfortunately I was forced to go onto a business trip to Japan (unlucky!)

Anyway, here's my favourite photo of the trip - another timelapse, (as ever click for a larger version) but not really enough traffic/trains at that time of night to make enough of an impact. Still, impressive place - though really lacking in anything other than concrete, it's nice to be home and taking in the walks along the canal with the pooches (despite the fact it's chucked it down ever since I've got back!)


Also wanted to share with you my jetlagged snap of the little lady that actually catches your bags as they fall onto the baggage carousel - they have a job for everyone there.

All Creatures Great and Very Small

Poor little greenfly, didn't really deserve this, but hey, somebody's got to be at the bottom of the food chain - so long as it's not me!

The Cat's Whiskers

Sorry, been away for a few days, so haven't seen any of the local goings on or been able to post much.

Of course, this little chap doesn't really count as local "wildlife" but it was a fun picture anyway.

There is a Merth in my Reum

Didn't want to you think that this was just an avian blog - oh no, when all them birds are stuck indoors under duvets, with the feet in bowls of hot water - with their flu, there will still be plenty of interesting wildlife left on the canal.

This black one (to the right of this paragraph!) needs a closer look - a cloud of tiny insects in mid flight, go on be brave and click on it - unless you're scared of bugs!

The Elusive Flying Goose

I've been trying for ages to get a decent picture of a Canadian Goose close up in flight.

Trouble is that they know I've got a camera, so like to fly between me and strong back lighting, or fly nice and fast in low light conditions. Damn cunning those Canadians!

This is about my best effort so far

Signs

No Mel Gibson or Joaquim Pheonix here I'm afraid girls (try here instead!), just some local signs that I snapped for some mad reason.

What's French for Duck?

Canard...
...Yeah, it is rather, isn't it!
(say it in a cockney accent)

Don't bother even trying to feed the ducks on Sunday evenings.
By the time they've been fed all day Saturday by the tourists and fed again all Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, they've just too bloated to eat anything else.

So stuffed are they, that they've even given up stalking people on Sunday afternoons.

Painting with light

Took the dogs out for a walk in the dark tonight.
Had some fun taking long time exposure pictures and painting in the light with a torch.
Here are some of the better ones

Flicking the torch around as both dogs run makes it look like a ghostly pack.
The cloud cover across the moon behind the tree adds to the spooky effect (just in time for Halloween!)



Needed a bit of post production to whack up the contrast, but they're not bad for a first go.


Click on any image to see a larger version

Yuk yukkdy yuk yuk

What a damp day it's been - I think we've had autumn yesterday (anyone notice the blanket of leaves?) and straight into winter today.
Mind you, the temperature is still quite mild - No idea what 14 Degrees Centigrade is in Pounds Per Litres Cubed, so you old fashioned people are just gonna have to get with it!

Anyway, talking about the weather suggests that this blog has reached an all time low, so I'll shut up there!

Return of Chug!

At last, Chug the narrowboat returns into CanalCam's view - with a shiny newly painted hull.
Welcome back!

Birds are like Buses

Saw another Heron today by Old Sag when walking the dogs, but as I got near, off it flew into the nature reserve.

Then on the way home saw a Kingfisher - but it was WAY too fast to take a picture.
Birds are like Buses - you wait around for years, then all of a sudden two come along at once!

Strangers in the Night

As the darker evenings draw in, I've taken to walking the dogs along the canal in torchlight.
Went out at dusk tonight and saw the canal, quite literally, in a whole new light....
It was very still and the reflections in the water were crystal clear.
This has inspired me to do some time lapse light painting photography (some time!)

We met some cyclists without any headlights who were quite surprised as I lit up the dogs with a torch, still, saved them from a quick dunk in the canal!

Also came across somebody running home in the dark - didn't seem to be dressed like a jogger. This person passed us, then there was a crash and turned round to see him lying on the path having fallen over. Went back to check he was OK - fortunately he seemed to be, then as he limped off into the opposite direct he turned round and shouted "are you married?"!
"Yes" I replied, then he turned and caried on into the darkness.

This just struck me that it's a bit of a bizarre thing to ask another man in that situation, so seemed worthy of a blog post.

Anyway, hope he's OK and finds an unmarried man a bit further up the canal.

Hot, Wet WebCam!

Yes, get it here - for a limited time only!
CanalCam now includes external temperature and humidity - check out the bottom right corner of the picture (if the daylight is bright enough!) - you should be able to read the digital display on the sensor.

CanalCam gets a suntan

(ooh, that rhymes!)
I've tweaked Canlcam's position a little, and got it much closer to where it originally was.

Has anyone noticed the diagonal red blur across the middle of the image?

I think this might be because of two years of exposure to Chug's (the narrowboat) white paint reflecting in the bright Uppermill sunshine (LOL!) has caused UltraViolet rays to slightly "burn" the camera's CCD (image chip)
But I'm open to any other suggestions?

Fast as Duck

Oh,
And caught this duck just before it entered hyperspace

Yeah, two leetahs, dropped wiv alloys an' smoked windaz.
Got if off me bruvah - works in a garidge - init.
Fast as duck !

Heron

I've been waiting for a Heron to re-appear when I'm out with my camera.
Took some pics last time, here's one of it in flight.

Beautiful bird, but bad lighting so the picture is not so good, a little bit of an action shot - should have upped the ISO.

I've seen a Heron three times now around Uppermill in as many years.

I'm told that Roaches Lock is the place to find them so one day I'll go take a look with my camera.

Maybe not my ideal tall bird with long legs.

Where is Gerard?

I fear that Gerard the Albino Canard is no more.
Haven't seen him all summer, think he might have gone to the great canal in the sky.

I have however seen "Bernard" son of Gerard the Albino Canard.
Mostly regular duck colours with white patches on the body and tips of the wings
Picture to follow as soon as I can track the little blighter down.

Sorry about the Position, vicar!

Sorry about the position of CanalCam, it was set up in the dark last night, and is very procariously balanced.

I'll try to fix somthing up this weekend to tidy things up a bit

Great gaping hole

By the way, has anyone noticed the great gaping hole in the canal bank by lock 22 where the canal bank has collapsed?

I've reported it to British Waterways and they're "looking into it"

Seriously though, it's quite dangerous - take care if you're out when it's getting dark.
Look out for wet people on CanalCam !

Finally We're Back!

Hi Everyone,
Major apologies for being offline for soooooooo long.
Had a little accident with a drill whilst fitting a new TV aerial and went straight through poor old CanalCam's wire (zzzzzzztttt - flash bang - hair stand on end & CanalCam death!)

So finally we're back with the addition of the all new CanalCam blog
Feel free to post back and tell us your thoughts