COMB / KNOB-BILLED DUCKS (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
1. The male, with the characteristic prominent knob on its head 
2. The female comb-duck. Both sexes have wonderfully coloured feathers, though the females are less bright
PEACEFUL COWS ON MOTTISTONE DOWN, IOW
PEACEFUL COWS ON MOTTISTONE DOWN, IOW
These cows were clustered close to the neolithic Long Stone in the November sunshine
MOTTISTONE NEOLITHIC LONG STONE, ISLE OF WIGHT
MOTTISTONE NEOLITHIC LONG STONE, ISLE OF WIGHT
This hilltop is believed to have been a place of burial. The stones are about 6000 years old, but are not in their original position. In later times – for example, the Saxon era – this was a meeting place, possibly a court (cf Witanagemot). The village name, Mottistone, derives from ‘Mooting Stone’.
SUNDIALS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT
SUNDIALS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT
On a recent impromptu visit to the Isle of Wight, we came across a number of sundials. Sadly we didn’t go to Brading, so we missed the annelematic sundial and the unusual ‘public’ sundial there. On the other hand, I did get to see the Mary Watts ‘Arts & Crafts’ sundial at Tennyson’s former home Farringford (now a hotel in the process of renovation), of which more below…
1. A CHURCHYARD SUNDIAL AT GODSHILL
2. TWO SUNDIALS AT A PRIVATE HOUSE NEAR SHORWELL
This sundial was in an overgrown sunken garden. I used my phone on a dull rainy day – hence the image quality…
3. THE MARY WATTS ‘ARTS & CRAFTS’ SUNDIAL AT FARRINGFORD
Among Tennyson’s coterie of friends and regular visitors to Farringford were painter G.F.Watts and his wife Mary. You’ll find all you need – or (probably) want – to know about them here WATTS GALLERY COMPTON. Having seen this pedestal in real life, my completely amateur view is that a suggestion that our own sundial (unearthed by me as a child from a pigsty at my home) is a Watts pedestal is unlikely to be correct. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by this one: very much Compton style, but not to my taste (if one is allowed to say that…). The lettering is incised, whereas on mine it is embossed (I’m not sure MW used that technique). So although mine has an authentic Liberty plate, the ID of the commissioned pedestal maker remains a mystery – probably lost through the standard Liberty practice of failing to credit their artists or to retain records of their commissioned work. To see the ‘Pigsty Sundial’ and examples of sundials at the Watts Gallery, click SUNDIALS and scroll down through the gallery.
FOR COMPARISON: THE ‘PIGSTY’ SUNDIAL – PEDESTAL AND GNOMONLESS LIBERTY DIAL
COMMON GOLDENEYE DUCKS (Bucephala clangula)
COMMON GOLDENEYE DUCKS (Bucephala clangula)
Photos taken on a bright November morning, with the sun high after a frosty night
WATER STUDIES AT A WETLANDS CENTRE
THREE WATER STUDIES: NOVEMBER WWT BARNES
AUTUMN BEES AT CLIVEDEN
AUTUMN BEES AT CLIVEDEN
[I seem to have loaded pics at too high a resolution, so these seem weirdly squished and distorted. They looked fine on the plant, and they look fine if you click on the image…]
A DEFINITION OF IRONY – OR FRUSTRATION 
A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE
A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE
If you want to find a good choice of multi-faceted sundials, Scotland is the place to go. A considerable number may be found at country houses and castles, or elsewhere having originated from a large estate. Many, perhaps most, are 200-300 years old. Some are relatively simple; others are so complex that their purpose is clearly as much ornamental as horological. Good examples can be found at Glamis, Haddo House, Castle Fraser and Culzean Castle. The photos below of a wonderful 1707 multi-faceted oblelisk sundial were taken at Kelburn Castle in Ayrshire*.
The sundial from each angle – the polyhedral part, and the stem below
East Side
North Side
West Side
South Side
The ‘Spire’
I later regretted not having counted the number of individual dials. This is one of the most important sundials in the United Kingdom. Some restoration has been carried out, and it now appears to be in overall good condition. It is heartening to think that, more than 300 years after this obelisk was installed at Kelburn, the castle is still occupied by the same family.
*Although the grounds are open to the public, this historic 1707 sundial is in the private part and I am grateful to the Earl of Glasgow for permission to use photos that I took while at Kelburn as a guest.
FIRST SNOW, DORSET 4 NOV 2012
FIRST FROST, DORSET 2012
THE FIRST FROST OF 2012 – DORSET, OCTOBER 14th
Here are close-ups of the car roof & windscreen – an amazing variety of ice textures & patterns
ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY 