Ecobird's photos

Captured at Walfords Gibbet, on the Quantock Hills, Somerset The place name comes from the story of a young man, a charcoal burner named John Walford who was very popular and became engaged to be married to a lady named Ann Rice. A local girl named Jane Shorney however set her sights on John and became pregnant by him. He was arrested and told he must marry Jane or pay for the upkeep of his child. His engagement to Ann was ended and he married Jane. The marriage was soon in trouble and three weeks after the marriage with Jane already pregnant for a second time the couple went to Castle comfort in Donnington with John arriving back home in the early hours on his own. The next day some children spotted some blood coming from below a gate and the body of Jane Walford was found beaten and knifed in what became known as Dead Woman's Ditch. A search of their cottage revealed a bloody knife and John was arrested and sentenced to death. His former fiance came to see him before he was hanged and gave him her forgiveness. John's body was left to hang for 100 days for all to see. I have added a song called 'The Hanging Tree' sung here by Rachel Zegler. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj0yKnXkc-Y Best viewed large I think. Many thanks

Captured at the end of the jetty at Burnham on Sea, Somerset. One little girl has her eyes firmly on the horizon and the other jumps for joy so a fitting image for New Year's Eve I think. Happy New Year to you all. Whatever lies over the horizon I wish you all good health and happiness in 2024. Life is a beach so whether you are leaving your own footprints in the sand, watching the sun setting on the horizon with a sense of wonder or feeling the breeze ruffling your hair, the sun on your back, sand between your toes or the first soft raindrops on your face I wish you joy and enrichment from these simple pleasures. I also wish you safe harbour in life's stormy times and light to brighten the darker moments. Thank you for all your continued friendship and support in 2023. Happy New Year!

Cornhill, Bridgwater, Somerset and the lights shine brightly on a night in the approach to Christmas. I have added a song called 'Bright Lights, Late Nights' by the Speakeasies' Swing Band www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY0ZZkBOHaU and 'Christmas Lights' by Coldplay www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1rYmzQ8C9Q I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a happy New Year

Evening in St Mary's Churchyard in Bridgwater. With Christmas rapidly approaching the tree is decorated with lights and the welcoming lights of the Golden Ball pub bathe the church pathway in a golden glow. The PiP shows the High Street with Christmas decorations and the front of the Golden Ball i shighlighted in the note. The present church dates back at least to 1157, although the original church was believed to predate the Norman Conquest. Additons to the church over the years, particularly through the 14th and 15th centuries resulted in the beautiful church we see today, Gothic in appearance with large stained glass windows and a spire of 174 ft, the tallest in the county, and it is a Grade 1 listed building. I wish you all a very happy Christmas, whichever pathway you take - the road to righteousness or the road to revelry, and whether your hosts are of the angelic variety or just look like it after a few glasses of Christmas spirit!! Cheers!! I have added a Jason Aldean song called " Church Pew or Bar Stool" www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1WwWlIkK1w Best viewed large I think. Thank you

We saw this wonderful old tree on Lydeard Hill in Somerset and it seemed to stretch out and upwards towards the sky. I have added a song from Cutting Crew called 'Reach for the Sky' www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOBEL0MMc3s

Captured at Lydeard Hill, Somerset. I have not idea what these 'mushrooms' are but I thought they looked quite attractive. They looked almost transluscent in the sunshine. If anyone has an ideas what they might be I would appreciate it. The closest I could come to a 'Fun -ghi' link was this song sung by some pretty well know 'guys' Here is 'Fun, Fun, Fun' by Status Quo and the Beach Boys!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UooD6GN9Gs Best vieweed large I think. Thank you.

Pictured at Lydeard Hill on the Quantock Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We went for a walk and enjoyed the peaceful beauty and Autumn colours, and were delighted to see some wild Quantock ponies. Over the fence is the Vale of Taunton Deane I have added a song by Reba McEntire called 'Just Like Them Horses' www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlD31PpaZNw This is best viewed large I think. Many thanks.

Pictured at Crail Harbour, Fife on a misty, murky day. A working harbour therefore the scene is a little messy but I liked the colours and the moody atmosphere. It might look a silent, peaceful scene but outside the harbour walls the mist was thicker and the waves were really crashing into shore. Here in the harbour the mist seemed to dampen the sounds I have therefore added a song called 'In the Silence' sung here by JP Cooper www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klfuvx-5C2o I would appreciate it if you could view large. Many thanks.

Captured at Lydeard Hill, on the Quantock Hills which became England's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). I loved the changing colours and the peaceful setting. Lydeard Hill shows on the map as being 365 metres high. A walk on 'higher ground' with changing colours made me think of this link:- I have therefore added a song called 'Higher Ground' performed by Playing for Change www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hGSqqhhokE Please view large for best effect. Many thanks

Captured on a late windy afternoon at Birnbeck Pier and Island, Weston Super Mare. The PiP shows the twisted metal of the pier in close up, with the Welsh coast visible across the Bristol Channel in the background. The end of the pier in the PiP was where pleasure boats such as the steam boat, the Waverley' used to arrive and depart from. I can still remember taking a trip from there as a child. Opening in 1867 the pier was popular with locals and tourists alike who have enjoyed funfairs and amusements and later on a beer cellar and theatre, and as you can see from the picture the lifeboat station was later housed here. Now at last after many years of promises as broken as the structures here, the money has been found to restore this wonderful old pier and contractors have been appointed. I look forward to seeing the pier finally restored to it's former glory I have added a song called 'Broken' by Jake Bugg www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EL20VKlvbs Please view large for full details. Many thanks

Captured at Burrington Coombe where butterflies drifted lazily around in the sunshine. I believe this is a Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) ? I have added 'Elusive Butterfly' sung here by Laurel Lea www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjq3lQmo5Hw Best viewed large I think. Thank you

Captured at the sea lock at Ardrishaig on the Crinan Canal The canal flows into Loch Gilp here. It is a quiet day and the seat by the lock remains empty

On the way to Loch Katrine we stopped at Loch Achray. The lochside trees captured my attention, and I particularly liked the shape of the old bare tree as it caught the sunlight.. Best viewed large I think. Thank you I have added 'Naked' by James Arthur www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXyLdg4mJxo

Found at Crail Harbour. This weathered wall and distressed looking door with peeling paint and rusty bolt caught my eye. I loved the colours in the wall and rough textures that made it look as if it had been battered my storms for a thousand years or more. I have added 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri as a link www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00&list=RDD8wP3E7gKig&index=22

Captured at the Crinan Canal. I loved the way the highly varnished bench was echoed in the wooden boat here.

Captured at Lendrick Hill, Callender, Perthshire. The woods here are so beautiful and peaceful and I have included detail in the PiPs which I really liked. I hope you do too I have added a song by Westlife called Evergreen www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_93dVrP7jM Best viewed large I think. Many thanks

Mist rolls in from the sea at Crail a small fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife, and the man in the distance looks out across the sea, barely visible in these conditions. This wall is all that remains of Crail Castle, thought to have dated back to at least the 12th century, with the tower a later addition. Certainly David of Scotland (1124 - 1153) used it as his occasional residence. Crail was granted Royal Burgh status in 1178, but by 1568 Mary Queen of Scots was said to have written that it was in a ruinous state with only the moat remaining. The third and 4th PiPs are of the sundial which served sailors, fishermen and townspeople for over 200 years in Crail Harbour, and which was removed in 1883, restored and placed in it's current position in 1890, and the sign on the rails with the above information. So I wonder - who is the man in the mist. Who are you? Here is a song by JJ Heller called 'Who Are You' www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8jilr8qsYU

Campbeltown captured from across the harbour at Low Askomill. The beautiful three masted tall ship the Thalassa can be seen here and a closer shot is in the PiP.. Built in 1980 the Barquentine Thalassa is one of the most beautiful and fastest sea sailers of the Dutch fleet. Thalassa was built in 1980 in the traditional way and designed as a barquentine. Therefore, the foremast has a transverse rigging; the main mast and the mizzen mast have a longitudinal rigging. She is 47m long and hen this was captured she had just finished a week long whisky tour, but she is also available for cruises and trips. This is in 16.9 so I would appreciate it if you could view this on full screen. Many thanks