Walking along the side of the River Thames we came across this pair of black swans.
They were such a nice contrast to the normal white mute swans that are in abundance on the river.
Did you know that black swans mate for life and if bereaved the other won’t take another spouse?
These are fascinating female flowers of the hop plant that are used to flavour beer.
I came across these next to a country pub just outside Sonning on the River Thames.
They may be faded, but they still retain their beauty and magical presence.
Walking in a nature reserve by the River Thames provides plenty of autumnal subjects to capture.
A beautiful white umbrella flower, mistletoe way out of reach in the tree tops, a yellowing birch leaf.
Willow leaves just thinking about turning yellow, bullrushes waving by the water, patterning yellowing field maple leaves.
Continuing on my subtle purple theme in summer meadows, how about this purple comfrey and pink clover flowers.
And of course there are the orchids, like these rare pyramid orchids found on the Berkshire hills near the River Thames.
All these plants are attractive to bees and insects, making a perfect summer’s afternoon in the sun.
All the alder trees in Reading are in full bloom at the moment. There are lots about because of the River Thames, and some grow on the roadside quite a way from the water.
This means there’s lots of yellow catkins waving about, with some staining the pavement when they fall to the ground and get crushed.
Some of my friends are suffering from hayfever at the moment because of the pollen, a strange phenomenon when the weather is freezing cold and snowing and not at all spring-like.
For some reason there is a lot of yew growing on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire.
We walk around The Holies near Streatley because it commands wonderful views of the river, and we note the huge areas occupied by yew trees.
And yew seems to have infiltrated almost everywhere, even juxtaposing with the holm oaks in Basildon Park (you have to walk through a yew grove to get to the house).
Does anybody know why yew has been grown in such large quantities? And what would yew wood have been used for? The only thing I can think of is wood for bows, as its very flexible as well as being strong.
Walking through windy Windsor to see a customer led me past the River Thames (yes, really the Thames this time) to within the shadow of the castle.
The freezing cold wind was whipping up and the poor little seagulls were hunched up against the weather, when they weren’t lined up along the shore psyching themselves up to take the plunge.
Meanwhile Her Majesty’s swans were enjoying themselves greatly as a large supply of bread was on hand to supplement their diet.
Those away from the public were busy searching for morsels along the bottom of the river bed. Strange only seeing the bottom half of a swan bobbing about on top of the water, and reassuring when they right themselves up again.
All this snow has made the River Thames swell (though luckily not flood) to create dramatic torrents over the weir near Loch Fyne in Reading.
The sound of the rushing water made me go and investigate. But immediately I was surrounded by a gaggle of geese, clamouring for food, coming quite close in their attempt to get something from me.
It was like being pestered by a group of toddlers as you are poised opening the cookie jar – except that I didn’t have a cookie jar with me. The noise was quite similar too!
And they were joined by a couple of ducks who didn’t want to be left out of all this fun.
Update: Actually I have been corrected, this is the Kennet & Avon Canal, and not the River Thames. Really I should have known better!
Watching nature while walking 