Young herring gull

Young gulls can be difficult to identify - they are nearly all white with brown flecks over much of their bodies. If you have one of each common species all together (unlikely) you can usually make an identification by size. I took into account the size of this young bird and, with other features concluded it is a 1st winter herring gull. It was standing on some rocks in the River Monnow at Monmouth, one of several youngsters more interested in being fed scraps by people on the bridge than scavenging in the shallows of the river.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

The confluence of Monnow and Wye

The Welsh name of the Welsh town of Monmouth is Trefynwy which in English translates as "town on the River Monnow". The English name of the town derives from "Monnow mouth" and refers to the confluence of the smaller Monnow and the larger River Wye at the edge of the town. On a recent sunny day we walked down to this meeting of waters and reflected how benign it all looked; a strong contrast with the floods of earlier in the year. The Wye is on the left of the spit of land, the Monnow on the right. In the distance is the Duke of Beaufort Railway Bridge dating from 1874. It has been disused by rail since 1964 but now serves as part of a long distance footpath.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Hot cattle

It's not unusual for the temperature to reach 27℃ in September but it still surprises us when it does, and moreso when it is a run of three or four days with similarly high values. And, just as we humans seek shade and cooler spots at such times, so too do cattle. Those that graze in the fields next to the River Monnow at Monmouth have the luxury of paddling in the shallows or lazing on the damp sands. But, as I've remarked before, while that is understandable, doing in so in a tight bunch would seem to negate any benefits.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Cattle by the River Monnow

It was a hot, humid day as we walked along the bank of the River Monnow at Monmouth. Some of the cattle were, understandably, standing in the water and taking a drink to cool down. What wasn't understandable is why they were all packed so closely together rather than spreading out so they could all refresh themselves. That compressed mass of bodies must have generated a heat that negated any benefit they derived from going to the river.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Monnow Bridge, Monmouth

I posted a photograph of this fortified bridge in May, and on a recent shopping expedition to Monmouth I took another shot in the colder, harder light of November. The gathering of gulls, swans and ducks also added something to the shot. However, in my mind, as far as birds go, this image is a missed opportunity because, seconds after I pressed the shutter, a pair of kingfishers, iridescent blue and jewel-like in the low sun flashed from right to left and disappeared under the nearest arch, heading upstream!

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100