View allAll Photos Tagged Course
I revisited this magnificent nature reserve today 10th August 2018, many visitors to our city miss its glorious offerings, thinking all we have to offer is the beach front at the main boulevard , its a pity as this reserve is a short drive from the main tourist area and has its own charm, attraction and wealth of nature on offer, I love it .
Donmouth Local Nature Reserve is a beach site in the historic Old Aberdeen part of the City where the River Don meets the sea.
A great place to see seals and a range of interesting birds. The beach area has changed over time as the river has changed its course. There are lots of interesting plants in the dunes and beach area. Bird hide is an excellent shelter from which to watch the wildlife. The paths run across King Street to the Brig 'o Balgownie., the original bridge in to the City from the North, then down the other side of the river to the sea.
The site was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1992
Paths are good although wheelchair access to the beach would be difficult as the boardwalk can get covered with sand.
There is plenty of free car parking on the Beach Esplanade and at the car park in Donmouth Road. There are cycle racks on Beach Esplanade
Bridge Of Don has five spans of dressed granite, and rounded cutwaters that carry up to road level to form pedestrian refuges. The spans are 75 feet (23 m), with a rise of 25 feet (7.6 m).
It was widened in 1958-59, from 24 feet (7.3 m), to 66 feet (20 m) by the construction of a new concrete bridge adjacent to the old one.
It now carries four lanes of the A956 road, and is the last bridge on the River Don before it meets the sea. The bridge is just downstream from a substantial island in the river. Around the area of the bridge is the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve, designated as a LNR in 1992.
Near to the bridge are a number of World War II era coastal defences, including a pill box.
Mudflats
Mudflats are formed when fine particles carried downstream by the river are deposited as it slows down before entering the sea, and to a lesser extent by fine particles washed in by the tide. The sand spit at the mouth of the Don provides shelter from the wind and waves allowing this material to build up. The mud flats are a very rich and fertile environment. Despite their rather barren appearance they support a surprisingly diverse invertebrate fauna which includes; worms, molluscs and crustacea. These invertebrates are vitally important to wildfowl and wading birds within the estuary.
Salt marsh
Along the upper shore of the south bank saltmarsh has developed. This habitat would once have been much more extensive prior to the tipping of domestic and other refuse in the area and the formation in 1727 of an artificial embankment to prevent flooding of the river into the Links. This habitat is now reduced to a narrow strip of vegetation along the river margins upstream from the Powis Burn.
The species composition of the salt marsh varies according to the salinity of the water i.e. the proximity to the sea. Close to the Powis Burn this habitat is dominated by reed sweet-grass (Glyceria maxima) with reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea), sea club-rush (Scirpus maritimus), spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris), hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) and common scurvygrass (Chochlearia officinalis).
Further inland reed sweet-grass continues to dominate but hemlock water-dropwort is more abundant with meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and valarian (Valariana officinalis),
Sand dunes
Sand dunes are found in the more exposed parts of the estuary at the river mouth. Again, this habitat was once much more extensive in this locality with dune grasslands stretching from Aberdeen Beach inland as far as King Street, southwards from the estuary of the Dee, northwards to the Sands of Forvie and beyond. Many of the dunes formed part of Seaton Tip, and following tipping the area was grassed over. Other areas have been formally landscaped to form golf courses or planted with native trees in 2010 to create a new woodland area.
Some remnants of the natural dune flora can be seen in the 'roughs' on the Kings Links golf course and near the mouth of the river.
Above the high water mark, fore dunes with thick clumps of the pioneer grass species including sea lyme grass (Elymus arenarius) and marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) occur. Few other species are able to cope with the shifting sand. The largest area of these young dunes is to the north and west of the headland. Further inland where the dunes are sheltered from the actions of the wind and waves, and soils are more developed, more stable dunes are present supporting a more diverse grassland habitat.
Strand line plants which are able to tolerate occasional coverage by sea water include sea rocket (Cakile maritima), frosted orache (Atriplex laciniata), sea sandwort (Honkenya peploides) and knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare). Bur-reed (Sparganium sp.) has been recorded; presumably washed down by the river.
Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and sea lyme grass (Elymus arenarius) dominate the fore dunes. The latter species is not native to this area but appeared in 1802. It is thought to have been unintentionally introduced into the area by fishing boats. For a number of years it remained uncommon but from 1870 onwards it spread rapidly along the coastline (Marren, 1982).
In the more stable dunes red fescue (Festuca rubra), sand sedge (Carex arenaria), yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), wild pansy (Viola tricolour), harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and lesser meadow-rue (Thalictrum minus) are abundant. Small amounts of kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and spring vetch (Vicia lathyroides) are present.
Scattered willows (Salix sp.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus) have seeded into this area. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) scrub has colonised the dunes in some areas and appears to be spreading.
Scrub
This habitat is almost entirely artificial with only the gorse scrub on the inner dunes being a semi-natural habitat. Alder and willow were planted along the south bank of the river in about 1970 and these shrubs are now generally well established. Further shrub planting on the south bank was carried out in 1990.
Willow (Salix sp.) and alder (Alnus glutinosa) were planted in the 1970's along the south bank of the River Don eastwards of the Bridge of Don. The trees to the west of this strip are doing considerably better than those to the east. More recent planting was carried out in 1990 with hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) elder (Sambucus nigra), goat willow (Salix caprea) and alder.
Underneath the scrub neutral grassland is present with cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata), hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium).
Grassland
Much of the grassland within the reserve is formed on imported soil and is intensively managed. This includes grassland on the north and south sides of the Esplanade. Daffodils are present in the grassland on the north side of the road. On the north bank to the east of the Bridge of Don is rank grassland on a steep south-facing slope. This is unmanaged and contains some patches of scrub.
Rough grassland is present on the headland. This area has been modified by tipping, with rubble to the east and with grass cuttings to the west. The grassland contains a mixture of neutral grassland, dune grassland, ruderal, and introduced garden species. This area attracts flocks of seed eating birds in late summer and autumn.
Improved grassland is present on the headland and along the south bank of the estuary downstream from the bridge of Don. Much of this vegetation has developed on imported soil and contains a high proportion of ruderal species and garden escapes. On the headland, broadleaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), nettle (Urtica dioica), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), hemlock (Conium maculatum) and hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) are abundant. Sweet cicely (Chaerophyllum bulbosum) is widespread and in late summer fills the air with the scent of aniseed.
To the south of the Esplanade the grassland is managed with an annual cut.. The grassland does flood to form pools. Early in the year cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) is common, meadow foxtail (Alopecuris pratensis)is known to occur around the margins of these pools.
Woodland
Semi-mature woodland is present on the steep sided south bank of the river upstream from the Bridge of Don. Most of this woodland has been planted in the mid 1930's though some older oak and elm trees are present. These may be relicts of former woodland cover. The woodland in the reserve is part of a strip of woodland along the River Don corridor which continues upstream from the Brig 'o' Balgownie.
Woodland is present on the south bank upstream from the Bridge of Don.
Much of the woodland consists of even aged stands with willow (Salix sp.), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and alder (AInus glutinosa). At the top of the slope mature oak (Quercus sp.) and elm (Ulmus glabra) are present. The ground flora contains tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia caespitosa), red campion (Silene dioica), ramsons (Allium ursinum) and lady fern (Athyrium felix-femina) .In a few areas dense shading is caused by the trees and in these areas the ground flora is poor.
On the north bank scattered trees are present, mainly willow and sycamore with some scrub.
We did have a lovely day earlier in the week and this was taken looking across the Prestwick Golf Club course ~ today, I don't believe I could see the church tower or houses as it is raining and quite misty!!
Stay Safe and Healthy Everyone!
Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... Thanks to you all!
fresh snow on the course next to my house, left me some fun shadows and great sledding for the kids!
Top layer.
The Courses
Stone lithography courses are organised several times a year both at weekends and on weekdays. They are suitable for artists with or without previous experience of printmaking . Typically, participants are art students, art teachers, college lecturers, serious amateurs and professional artists in other media. As the number of places on the courses is kept to a maximum of four, each participant is encouraged to explore the medium in the way which is most appropriate to his or her own interests and experience, ranging from an introduction to the main technical processes of stone lithography, including preparation of stones, principal drawing and painting techniques and materials and printing skills, to more specialised subjects such as colour and transfer lithography. Other course formats and dates are negotiable: for example, a recent one day course was run for curators from the Word & Image Department of the V&A Museum.
On our walk we encountered a group of enthusiastic photographers experimenting with their landscape shots. Liathach and Torridon across the loch.
PADDY, SCOUT, and COUSIN PADDINGTON: "Now we eat them of course, Bogart!"
BOGART: "Oh! You were right Paddy and Scout! They are delicious and were well worth the wait!"
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and COUSIN PADDINGTON: "Yummy, yummy! Snuffle... snuffle... gulp." *Happy chomping and chewing noises and the licking of lips with cute little pink bear tongues.*
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his Macintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his Macintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, so it looks like he is stopping with us for a long while. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
Bogart has only arrived in the last few months. He has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. I look forward to getting to know his character, but I can already say that he has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
Toronto Aesthetics and Hair Academy (TAHA) provides Photo Rejuvenation Course and give the best training to their students. Students has also receive and explore the new techniques for removing skin problems.
So Give us a call Today!!!!
Dial:- 416-609-3500
2210 MARKHAM ROAD,
UNIT 2 SCARBOROUGH,
ONTARIO M1B 5V6
“i am sure
you've all heard
the old wives' tale
that no hypnotized subject
may be forced to do
that which is repellant
to his or her moral nature,
whatever that may be.
nonsense, of course.”
Dr. Yen Lo
in "The Manchurian Candidate"
Howdy this is our local private golf course and I was asked to take pictures of the 27 womens teams and I loved every min of it.. It was green this time and so beautiful thought that you might enjoy it also.. I don't play golf but love to take pictures ... Hey thanks for your awesome support and so good to see you....
Luss Highland Games 2023
The participants start the race seated facing the opposite direction of travel
It's taken a pandemic and lockdown (now into our third) to make us explore things closer to home, including Warwick race course and St Mary's Lands in the middle of the course. There has been racing here since 1707, though like everything else, it's cancelled at the moment. This is the home straight, probably taken at about three o'clock, with the sun already very low in the sky.
The shore near Dunstanburgh Castle
Picture taken on the Northumberland Landscape Course run by Ross Hoddinott and Adam Burton on 25/02/2016
Reservist infantry candidates from the Intermediate Mortar Course practice their skill on the 81-mm mortar in the training area at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, Oromocto, New-Brunswick, December 4, 2018.
Photo: Aviator Stéphanie Labossière, Canadian Army Trials and Evaluation Unit (CATEU)
GX03-2018-0051-009
~
Des membres de la Force de réserve participant au cours sur le mortier de niveau intermédiaire pratiquent leur adresse au tir de mortier de 81 mm dans le secteur d’entraînement de la Base des Forces canadiennes Gagetown, à Oromocto, au Nouveau Brunswick, le 4 décembre 2018.
Photo : Aviator Stéphanie Labossière, Unité de l'Armée canadienne d'essais et d'évaluation (UACEE)
GX03-2018-0051-009
Skandasashti is a Hindu festival celebrated all over India,of course,with different names in different Regions.In Tamilnadu it is to worship Lord Muruga who annihilated the evil demon king Soorapadman ,his two powerful brothers and the entire lot of Asuras who represent evils.The celebration concludes on the 6th day when Lord Murugan killed Soorapadman and released the devas from incarceration.The entire celebrations are marked by special poojas,alankarams and cultural programs.