I began dead-heading roses this morning.
This afternoon Jackie drove us to Barton on Sea via Milford on Sea. We stopped off at Milford for Sheila to buy a stamp for New Zealand and maybe some wool from the shop that was also a Post Office. The Post Office had been permanently closed a fortnight ago and the wool shop was closed for lunch.
We had more success at Barton, because the Beachcomber Café was fully open for business, and we spent a pleasant time in their garden overlooking the sea.
The gate in a low fence at one end of the plot is now nailed up. This prevents wanderers venturing past the valerian and irises and dropping off the end of the crumbling cliff;
something I all but did, not realising the sward would so abruptly disappear, the first time I photographed the paragliders who were out in force today.
I had been so engrossed in striding across the grass to get near the gliders that I almost walked off the edge. The cyclist in this picture has his black labrador running alongside him.
Today the fliers floated past the café.
This one was joined by birds in the air and by a plane high above them.
The dog-friendly café caters for people of all ages; children in buggies; older people in wheelchairs, with walking aids, and post-operative crutches.
The usual avian hordes scavenging for scraps included an imperious gull,
ravenous starlings,
and spritely sparrows.
The cake on the grass was tossed there by one of the customers. Jackie picked it up and placed it on the plate to encourage a photo opportunity. The last of the starlings was, we think, a juvenile. Perhaps that is why it was content to attempt to feed off an empty plate.
Our plates this evening were far from empty. They contained Jackie’s superb sausage casserole, creamy mashed potatoes, and crisp carrots, cauliflower, and runner beans, followed by sponge cake or rice pudding or both. She drank Hoegaarden, I drank Gilbert and Gaillard Chateauneuf du Pape 2014, and Sheila drank sparkling water.
Is there any chance that Jackie would like to visit us in Montana and prepare some of the delicious meals your write about?!! If so, you’re welcome, too 🙂
Thanks very much walksandrambles
She’s welcome to come to Maine, too 😉
Thanks, Laurie
Your startling identification is perfect. He’ll have those spots by the winter!
Thanks, John. He was right in every other way
Great photos from your day out. Those birds certainly aren’t shy, are they? So happy you didn’t ‘walk off the edge’. I think Jackie might have been a trifle upset. 🙂
Many thanks, Sylvia
If Jackie ever wants to come to Elk Township, New Jersey, she will be more than welcome in my kitchen, as well. – Loved the photo of the matching dogs followed directly by the photo of the matching spouses.
Another S. Jersey person! 🙂
Yay!
Hi Merril – I see on your blog a wine bottle from Heritage Vineyards – That’s about 15 minutes from my house – And if you knew of Elk Township, you must be close by yourself. Funny that we meet via Derrick in England!
That is funny! Yes, we go to Heritage Vineyards often. We’re in the Woodbury-W. Deptford area.
It’s good to see readers getting to know each other here
Thanks, Derrick. Isn’t it funny?
It’s part of the pleasure, too
It’s lovely, Jodie
I grew up in Woodbury ! WHS class of 1981. My mom & sister- in-law live in West Deptford & my in – laws are in Woodbury – right by Bell Lake. I’m there a couple times a month. My mom was just at the Riverwinds concert last night. Small World, as they say.
I’ve probably bumped into you at ShopRite or someplace like that. 🙂
Thanks, Jodie. I’m pleased you spotted that. Jackie will be pleased
I always wanted to try paragliding when younger – not now though, I prefer my feet on the ground these days. The bird photos are wonderful, especially where you have captured the oily rainbow sheen of the starlings feathers. I’m also glad you didn’t walk off the edge ……
Many thanks, Pauline. Think what we would have missed 🙂
It looks like a beautiful day–and you got quite a show between paragliders, people, dogs, and birds. Wonderful shots, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Merril
No paragliding for you?
No way, Leslie. Thanks
I’ve always thought I might be able to take the plunge.
I’ll bet you could 🙂
Maybe if I was only 3-5 cm above the water.
Great pics and thanks for reminding me I need to buy stamps. 🙂
Thank you, Peggy
We’re all secretly disappointed you didn’t go over the cliff as it would’ve made for a wonderful photograph!
Chortle, Bruce. Thanks
So the paragliders don’t wind up in the drink, do they? Are they able to steer themselves back to land to come down?
I suppose they must be able to return to base, and I’ve never seen one in the drink, Lisa. Thank you
We appreciate you capturing the awesome shots of the paragliders, but please don’t injure yourself Derrick…we would miss you!
Thank you, Jill. I learned with that one 🙂
Great parasailing shots, and that first gull…elegant !
Thank you, Van
Good catch of birds, plane and man in flight. Beach-combing is so rewarding.
Many thanks, Mary 🙂
Looks like a lot of fun. Pretty birds too!
Thank you, Weekly
It sounds like you and Jackie could travel all around the world, couch surfing at your follower’s homes, for the price of one of Jackie’s dinners. We’d happily supply the wine and Hoegaarden.
Many thanks, Yvonne
I don’t usually think of starlings and crows as beautiful, but in your pictures, they are. I like the green and pink sheen on the crow and the unusual color and complex design of the starling’s feathers.
Thank you, Nicki
Magnificent shots!
Thanks, Vikey
Thank you all for the invites, if only I could find the time!!
A beautiful day it seems. Wonderful pictures as usual. Thank goodness you did not walk off the cliff. That reminds me of myself when I am too intent taking pictures.
Very many thanks, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick 🙂
Enjoyed your vibrant pictures of Barton on Sea, by any chance is it in the same province as Walmington on Sea from the famed Dad’s Army series?, the village has the same style of architecture.
Cheers.
Walmington was fictional on the Kent Coast which is further East than our Hampshire. Thanks for the compliment, Ian
When I feel a little homesick for the old country I can absolutely rely on your to give me the tonic I need – these pictures could be no-where on earth but England. Even the cake scoffing starling!
Many thanks, Osyth. Pleased to help
So many beautiful spectacles in this post, Derrick. Spectacle of the fliers, of the dogs watching and above all the spectacle of the birds eating so close to you 🙂
Many thanks, Monica
😀
Thank goodness you didn’t fall off the cliff.
Now, am I going blind?
“The cyclist in this picture has his black labrador running alongside him.”
I clicked on the photo to enlarge, but ….
Wot? Is it not a labrador?
Oh I see. I was looking at the photo directly above your comment.
So your comment referred to the 1st photo…. Even describing which photo is getting confusing, lol. Thanks for clarifying. 🙂
I liked this post with the menagerie of animals and birds, along with people in their “amazing flying contraptions (machines).”
Thank you, Robin
I would do that if I have the chance. But it was good to watch your watching it being done!
Thanks, Cynthia
Be careful with that camera obstructing your view. Would have hated to see you tumble into the unknown…
Thanks, Anna. A lesson learned
Glad you didn’t go off the edge. What we do for photos … I’m always happy to see dog friendly restaurants. And what a gorgeous place for paragliding. We paraglided off the backside of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii a few years ago. It’s an experience I highly recommend. If I was rich, I’d make it a habit.
Thanks, Brenda