Lazy summer days

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THE COUNTRYSIDE WATCH By Mark Anthony Tasker All copyrights © 2014 http//www.theimagebanks.moonfruit.com

ISSUE No 2

WELCOME This is the second publication from the Theimagebanks and this time I have pulled together images that focus on The Countryside Watch.

In this edition it covers wildlife, parks, canals and landscapes so I have selected just a few pictures that I took over the summer holidays, which I feel that are unique and you may find interesting.

Hope you enjoys the images and the short stories that explains why I picked them and the local history in some cases.

LAZY SUMMER DAYS As winter fell and spring came forth the days lengthen and the nights grew longer with the heat of summer lingering throughout the day and night. For me this is season sums up life as families spend quality time with each other.

In the animal kingdom the need to produce new offspring before summer ends reflects the cycle of life and in some ways even mirrors our needs to get the crops in before winter.

So on this hot summers night we had a visitor in our front garden and to our surprise the cats Oscar and Jessie we sitting nearby watching this shadowy creature in the undergrowth. I took a few pictures of the hedge hog and named it “Look Who’s Here” foraging in our garden and for me to see this wonderful creature was truly amazing. Just ask yourself how often do you see such a small animals that’s nearly becoming a rarity and most times to our shame we find what’s left them on the road!!!.

I suppose it’s the price we pay for our modern hectic lives almost divorced from nature, but it seems that our gardens are becoming mini sanctuaries for our wildlife. So we all should try to give something back and help them. For me this picture will always be one of my favourites and I hope it’s still out there and after so reading I did learn that hedge hogs are really garden friendly as well.

THE TEXAS ROSE It was the height of summer and this small tree was clinging to one of the wooden fence and was full of small yellow roses. Hidden behind an apple tree and living in the shade these mini roses were absolutely glowing and were so bright that they stood out.

I recall they were a gift from my parents and I only knew them by their name “ Texas Rose” and had completely forgotten about them as they didn’t need much care and seemed to be very hardy.

As I took the picture shafts of day light found their way through the branches and I focused on just one single rose. The reflection of the daylight caught the petals and I felt that it was one of those moments when certain conditions come together, hence the end result.

THE DOOR WAY OF ROSES This rose tree for the first time blossomed and was really a pleasant surprise to see so many roses, but under it’s own weight it formed an natural arch without any intervention or manipulation by me. Yet it had grown up to ten feet high and was expanding into the nearby pine trees so I couldn’t resist taking a photo and thought that it may never be same next year. Also I realised that these days and moments may not be repeat again and after all it was the height of summer. So for me this picture says it all and a sense of warmth and light does oozes out and compliments the greys from the wooden fence.

BUTTERFLIES

Patience is a virtual so they say or the early bird gets the worm are saying that are so true and this summer was turning out to be brilliant. Getting that elusive close up of the subject is never easy as conditions in nature are often beyond your control, of what, where, when, how many or just that single one.

Yet this single butterfly kept on coming back to the same plant again and again and after the third visit I took this single shot. How lucky was that I thought to myself and although I didn’t know what type of butterfly it was the garden seemed alive with bees, birds and butterflies. So for that single shot I had to focused on the subject and waited for that special moment and squeezed the button. In that split second I had recorded a brief moment of its lifecycle and afterwards I couldn’t resist sharing my photo with like minded friends on National Geographic.

The summer was turning out to be a good one considering the previous years and only shows that nature can bounce back. Looking back this was one many achievements I had made through photography and at times you do need a bit of luck of being in the right place at the right time.

MRS BLACKBIRD In this photography I caught a female blackbird foraging near the old bird stand were the seed balls were kept. As I took the shot its head turned around as if it was fully aware of my presence.

I thought at time that the background light and the colour of the fir tree were ideal as they did offset the natural details of the bird feathers.

WHERE HAS SHE GONE!!

On the fence Mr Blackbird came to the garden within seconds looking for his partner, both making claim to their territory and fending off all new comers. With a second opportunity like this my efforts did pay off in the end, but after a few shots this one was the best.

THE OLD CANAL The Liverpool to Leeds canal was started in 1770 and just in four years a small section was used, but it was finally complete in 1816 and extended in 1822. The history of this old canal is rich indeed and yet it connects the east and west coasts of England and in its day that was a major achievement. In this picture the ducks, geese and the swan gather at a favourite picnic spot searching for food.

This particular bridge in Litherland was recently modernised and spans the canal and leads into the Primrose Valley Country Park which separates Litherland from Crosby, creating a safe haven for wildlife. For me the composition was the true inspiration and the main reason why I took the picture.

I SAW THREE SWANS GO SWIMMING BY This was the second photography I took on the bridge on my return journey back home ,but later in the afternoon. As the day light began to fade and three swans headed down the canal from the old sandstone Cookson bridge. I took the shot and caught the moment as the young cygnet, which was smaller in size started to push ahead of it parents, but the canal was tranquil and almost a mill pond and no threats insight. It was strange to think that in complete stark contrast to it industrial past that canal barges worked by men and horses, which my grandmother’s father once did, were then replaced by engines are in fact becoming a rare sight to see these days. Yet nature always reclaims what we take and the old factories are now empty and decaying were being replaced by new houses on the canal bank. So with a view of passing swans going by, what else could you ask for!!

SPRINGBANK VILLAGE At the height of summer the tall grass grew and flowered then turned into a sea of golden carpets covering vast areas of land. On days like these childhood memories of going fishing by the canal or playing football or chasing dragon flies and butterflies reinforced my belief in the greenbelts in our cities.

The natural beauty of our landscapes are treasures we need to keep and nestled on the Liverpool to Leeds canal is the Springbank Village built with its own village green, just below Hatton Hill. The land does raise sharply giving great views in all directions, even the sea! So I took this picture as the day light was so perfect and I was walking down hill to Waterloo and the coast. For me this typifies the meaning of hot, lazy summers days and for the many joggers, cyclist and dog walkers I’m sure they would all agree me.

JUST LIKE THE FIELDS OF PROVENCE

On this day just before the height of summer the country park was full with so much colour that I was almost fooled into thinking that I was in the South of France, which I had visited so many times whilst on holiday. The tall grass was so dense that when the wind blew it moved like sea water.

The twittering of birds filled the air as I walked on the old path and it was still quite peaceful and deserted with nobody in sight. So with my camera I took a few pictures and this one was the best one as the colour of the grasses really does come through .

MANY PATHS TO WALK ON

The Primrose Valley Country Park does have many paths to walk on and on the first picture on the right the path splits into two. If you pick the one on the right you end up by a small brook full with tall reeds and a pond.

Although during this dry summer it was almost dried out the allotments on the far side gave some amusement as the chickens were very loud.

In the picture below gives you some perspective on the size. In the distance you can see a pylon and if you were to turn around and walk a bit Liverpool city centre is clearly visible, including the Liver Birds. For me these two pictures just show the diversity the park and it’s on our door step!