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There are thousands of objects you'd expect to find in a hardware store, far too many to list here. The list of known and unknown things that are not associated with hardware stores is infinitely longer.
One such thing is seen here. It's a cross-section of what must have been a historic, specimen sized tree.
In other settings this object would have been converted into a calendar on which different rings represent key dates in history: the Fall of Constantinople, the Diet of Worms, the Treaty of Westphalia, the Articles of Confederation, the first daily Peanuts comic strip, and so on.
Unlike a date on a calendar, which is a two-dimensional ink image, each ring in this piece of wood is an actual contemporary of the events that took place when the ring was formed. The same sun and moon shone over them both.
Here, the visible part of the slice is mute. If there is an explanatory label and a ring chronology it must be hidden behind merchandise.
Long Beach, Washington.
“Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.”
~Unknown
I am leaving for my annual winter photo trip to the North Shore. This is my favorite trip of the year. In the winter each and every time you visit, the conditions and scenery change sometimes by the hour. You never know what to expect!
See you all when I get back!
Please be advised that when I do my commentaries it’s because of my passion for dolls and my love for my favorite brands especially Integrity Toys. I think everything they do is amazing and I am a 100% in full support of the company. So whether my critique is good or bad it all comes from a place of love. I just want the best and expect the best from them.
As promised here are shots of the new Monarchs body comparing it to the older FR:Homme body. I’ve also included Mattel’s Harley Ken articulated body because this is one of the male bodies that I like and it will make sense once you read through this commentary on why I included it. Note that I will be talking about body parts here. So if you’re not comfortable reading about naughty bits I advise you to leave and go back to your feed. So here we go…
1. You can see here the Monarchs body is the tallest one. But here you will realize that although the body appears to be skinny its frame is not that different from FR:Homme. Even with a smaller waist there’s not much of a drastic change in proportion which means they can still share fashions. One of the reasons why it looks skinny is because the upper thighs are thinned out. I believe the reason why they did that so the Monarchs can wear slimmer fit trousers and have that slim fit look that wasn’t really possible for FR:Homme due to the their thighs being thicker. Even with the tightest pants they still look bulky. The prototypes that were presented at the Luxe Life Convention shows how the Monarchs body looks good clothed and how it looks good in slim fit pants. But my thought is why do we have to compromise the aesthetic of the body just so they can look good clothed and why can’t they meet in the middle?
2. Here you can see FR:Homme and the Monarchs body in a different angle. You will see the difference in their muscle definition. Boy they really went ham on sculpting the muscles of the Monarchs body, didn’t they? The Monarchs chest is probably the best part of the body but even that I feel there’s more work that needs to be done with the sculpt. From the Menswear event presentation they showed inspirations of the Monarchs body and I recalled them to be slim, in fact skinny bodies with no defined muscles. You would think that for a slimmer look they would tone down the muscles of the Monarchs body but they made it even more exaggerated. They’ve added definitions of the rib cage and hip bones which would make sense for a skinny person but if you do your personal research *wink* we don’t really see those bones protruding for a body this muscly. This anorexic look in all honesty isn’t the direction that I picture the new male body would be headed to. It feels like they referred too much of the current FR/NU.Face sculpts so they look cohesive and this is the outcome. The definition of the rib cage and hip bones work for the female bodies but for the males it really doesn’t. Why don’t we trade those hip bones for v-lines instead? I’ve noticed even with male dolls made by different companies we really rarely see them. Yes they are too sexy but you know what, if they can add an outline of the penis they can certainly add those v-lines. Why not? These figures are for adults might as well go there. Everyone should refer to those male Numina dolls. They have the best body sculpts I’ve seen so far.
3. Let’s take a closer look at the torsos. The Monarchs’ clavicle is more anatomically accurate compared to FR:Homme and that’s what I actually love about Integrity Toy’s current bodies is that they all have that similar style. One other thing that makes the Monarchs body look skinny is that there’s too much gap between the chest and the arms when they’re on the resting position and I think it was done that way to accommodate the stand support that goes under their arms. With that being said I still would like for the arms to be closer just a tiny bit. The chest actually looks great in this angle but those areolas really need to calm down. They’re a bit too round and too big that they’re competing with the females. I also prefer them to be more oval shaped like what most men have. As for the lower torso I’m still in favor of FR:Homme’s as the abdominal muscles are more human accurate. The subtleties of those muscle definitions are much more appealing. The Monarch’s abdominal muscles fill up the space of the lower torso which makes them seem to look out of proportion. They are just sculpted way too big!
As for the bulge, Monarchs’ is more defined. They even added a scrotum which to me doesn’t really matter if it’s there or not. I do have to say it’s more prominent compared to FR:Homme’s with a boxer briefs on. Now for the thighs, just like FR/NU.Face’s they are square-ish which seems to be a style that is consistent throughout Integrity Toys’ current bodies. I feel that it’s not a bad idea to have that uniformity but these sculpts really do not have to be bland especially on a male body. The thighs on this Monarchs body could use some muscle definition and still retain that square-ish look that the IT designers prefer even though let’s face it no one really likes these square-ish thighs. But I digress. Now based on the feedback we’ve heard a lot of people pointing out the thigh gap and how bad it is. I do agree. The thighs are too far apart and the groin areas are carved too deep that it doesn’t really help with the situation. While the deep groin works well on the females somehow it doesn’t for the males. I really think there’s a better way to execute that by bringing in the carved out groin closer to the scrotum and giving more mass to the inner thighs that way it will fill up the space around that area. They just have to find a way to retain the slim look of the thighs once they do so. I have to say Mattel did better with their Harley Ken body. I like that the hips are narrow and yet there’s still a hint of muscle on the thighs.
4. Prior to the Luxe Life Convention, the registration packet explained that this is going to be an all-new body sculpt so that includes new feet and hand sculpts. While I like FR:Homme’s feet sculpt I also like Monarchs’. I have to say these are the parts of the body that are sculpted really well. They are on-point. However the ankle joints are not as tight as FR:Homme's. It was a struggle for Declan to stand on his own while Tobias did great without any support. That's something they need to look into as well.
5. With the Monarchs hands they decided to tone down the details of the sculpts so they’re not as wrinkly as FR:Homme’s which I actually like because it works on this scale. If they were in 16” scale or taller then I prefer more details added to the sculpts. They also trimmed the nails on these hands by the way which I think looks better. While Undercover Declan did not come with extra hands he has a left hand that can properly hold a bag which surprisingly hasn’t been done in the past. Although we had FR:Homme hand sculpts that were meant to hold accessories they still need to be aided by rubber bands so the accessories won’t fall off. The new Monarchs hand gets a good grip of the handles so the accessory stays on securely.
6. Is it just me or are the Monarchs’ arms freakishly long? The skinny look of the arms might have contributed to that. I think one thing that puts me off with these arms is that they have an hour glass shape to them as they taper at the elbows. The elbow joints need to be sculpted wider. Therefore the upper arms need to be sculpted similar to FR:Homme to accommodate a wider elbow joint. Just picture it and you’ll see what I mean. The arms have to be thicker at the biceps as it tapers to the wrists to make it look right. Not thick on the biceps, then thin on the elbows, thick on the upper arms then thin again on the wrists. It’s a no for me.
7. I wanted to compare the Monarchs body to another male body with better arm sculpts and the best example I’ve seen are from the Harley Ken body. Both FR:Homme and Monarchs have these bulgy lower arms that aren’t really anatomically correct and hinders a bit of movement. You can see with Harley Ken the inside part of the elbow or what they call Cubital Fossa (I had to look it up) has an indentation I would like for the Monarchs to follow. These definitely look better. Again another extra point for Mattel on this one.
8. What in the Kardashian booty is going on??? I’m sorry you guys but The Monarchs butt look whack. If they were going for a bubble butt then this isn’t it. I don’t mean to be rude but they look like they have implants. Here it is comparing it to FR:Homme.
9. Let’s turn the other cheek. You can see the square-ishness of that bum in this shot. Had they referred to FR:Homme’s butt and made it a bit bigger then it would have worked. You guys these aren’t cute.
10. And the best back side award goes to Harley Ken! You can see those subtle definitions on his back. The dimples and the ripples above his butt are definitely well-done. It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s beautiful. Take note Integrity Toys. Key word is subtlety.
11. Let’s take a good hard look at Harley Ken’s butt. They’re compact. They’re cute. They’re tight. It looks like Monarchs was going for that compact look like it was pinched together but ultimately failed. Harley Ken wins yet again.
12. Let’s take one last look at Monarchs’ back side. It’s overdone. It’s bordering on action-figure. The muscle definitions aren’t accurate. There are v-shaped details on his lower back that I don’t understand. The thing with the Monarchs body is that it had a big room for improvement in the almost six years that it was being developed. We waited so long for this and this is the outcome. Arguably Fashion Royalty and NU.Face are the best female doll bodies in the industry right now and somehow that didn’t pan out too well with The Monarchs. Unfortunately it was met with a lukewarm reception. Perhaps it’s back to the drawing board with this body you guys. Love you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpbMitv5Ypo&feature=PlayList&...
There you stood
on the edge of your feather,
Expecting to fly.
While I laughed,
I wondered whether
I could wave goodbye,
Knowin' that you'd gone.
By the summer it was healing,
We had said goodbye.
All the years
we'd spent with feeling
Ended with a cry,
Babe, ended with a cry,
Babe, ended with a cry.
I tried so hard to stand
As I stumbled
and fell to the ground.
So hard to laugh as I fumbled
And reached for the love I found,
Knowin' it was gone.
If I never lived without you,
Now you know I'd die.
If I never said I loved you,
Now you know I'd try...
Babe, now you know I'd try.
Babe, now you know I'd try,
Babe...
Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield
Expect nothing. Live frugally
On surprise.
become a stranger
To need of pity
Or, if compassion be freely
Given out
Take only enough
Stop short of urge to plead
Then purge away the need.
Wish for nothing larger
Than your own small heart
Or greater than a star;
Tame wild disappointment
With caress unmoved and cold
Make of it a parka
For your soul.
Discover the reason why
So tiny human midget
Exists at all
So scared unwise
But expect nothing. Live frugally
On surprise.
Expected release will be in April 2019. Visit our website or our resellers pages to reserve yours tomorrow starting at 10 am Central Standard Time. Limited quantities available.
What do you guys think?
Expect different photos from me from now on. My concept of things has changed. I started caring about what other people would think of my photos way more than I should. I am back to taking photos that make me happy. Not other people. I don't really care what anyone says about my photos, because they are for me, and I'm fine with that.
Model: Natalia Larioshina
Photographer: Justin Bonaparte
After a long slow crawl and getting soaked to the bone in a downpour . Finally managed a few frames of this stunning expecting mother.
Rainbow on the road to Buttermere in Cumbria on 6-10-19.
Another wet week in Cumbria, but it's beautiful.
Ref: IMG_4556 6-10-19
This photo wasn’t something I expected to create today – all I wanted was a Medlar flower but things had a way of evolving from there! Read on for all the details, but don’t forget to check out my macro tutorial book on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/donkom/macro-photography/ - it covers this type of photography extensively!
Medlars are a fruit of antiquity, rarely seen today. This is in part to the way they look (the French translation of the name basically means “the dog’s behind”), and partly because of how they have to be eaten. In late autumn when the leaves fall off the tree, the fruit is still not ready to eat. It requires bletting, which is a fancy word for rotting, before you can consume it. With an applesauce-like texture, it’s apparently quite the treat! Anyhow, I had a suspicion that the flowers would fluoresce – I was right!
While selecting a flower to bring into my studio, I noticed a leaf of a nearby plant with a ladybug, apparently being harassed by three ants. I wasn’t surprised as ladybugs love to eat aphids, and ants love to protect them for their “honeydew”… which is essentially sugary aphid pee. “What unpredictable element will this ladybug add to the photo?” I thought, while I set up the flower.
Pro tip: whenever there is an element of chaos in your work, try to make everything else a “known quantity” as best as possible before tackling the one thing that is difficult to control. In this instance, four UV flashes are set up at point-blank range just outside of the frame, focus and exposure is tested and adjustments made. The shot looks good – it’s just missing the actor. Using the stem of a discarded flower, it wasn’t difficult to get the ladybug to climb onto it. These insects like to climb upward, so keeping a slight incline on the 8-inch stem allowed me enough time to guide the red-shelled beetle to the flower, waiting patiently with my finger on the shutter.
Almost immediately, the ladybug took a chomp at one of the pollen-covered stamens! This was the third image taken, and the only one where the beetle was actually in focus. Pure, dumb luck – everything else was buttoned down, and I was hoping for some type of interaction like this. The actor here was moving quickly, as evidenced from the blur on its front left leg (camera right). This is a flash exposure with no ambient light, albeit with the flashes at 1:1 maximum output so the flash duration is longer; motion has to be considerably fast to blur when using flash! All the more reason why I consider this shot lucky – and instant before or after, I wouldn’t have this.
Once I saw this image on the back of my camera, I knew I could build on it. The first step was to shift the focus slightly to get another frame with more of the stamens in focus for stacking purposes – this is a two-image focus stack. I didn’t need them all sharp, just a little more to work with. The stacking was done manually because of all the overlapping areas of detail. The image was cropped and edited for colour, contrast, texture, all the basic stuff that you should do to such an image with local adjustments removing unwanted fibers and distracting specks. The ladybugs shell was surprisingly fluorescing very close to its natural red colour, and that was nudged a bit closer to help the image feel partly familiar, partly an otherworldly fantasy.
Shot on a Lumix S1R with the 24-105 F/4 kit lens – a great performer for macro work even though it isn’t a macro lens! ISO 2000, F/9, 1/250sec.
Want more details to create images like this? You’ll find every technique and “secret” all spelled out in my upcoming macro photography book currently on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/donkom/macro-photography/ - If you enjoy my work, I’d appreciate your support and you’ll get one of the best macro photography books ever written in return. :)
P.S. The Medlar (Mespilus germanica) has a few mentions in literature over the years, the most famous from the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet:
Now will he sit under a medlar tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
O Romeo, that she were, O that she were
An open-arse and thou a pop'rin pear!
Just as the French called the fruit a “dog’s behind”, the English called them “open-arses”! The play is often found re-written to be a little more polite. Trust me, the fruit is nowhere near as beautiful as the flowers.
Another outtake from my maternity shoot back in November.
Shot with natural light on the beach in Ventura, Ca
Commentary.
Expecting the white Chalk cliffs
and grey limestone, the dark flint
and inter-tidal sand and shingle,
it came as a pleasant surprise to see this
lush, verdant scene, just yards from Lulworth Cove.
A pure-water Chalk stream, lined by
water-irises, shrubs, flowers and trees.
This Jurassic Coast is an amazing place.
For all its superb features……
truly World Heritage!
We can regularly expect to see two of our four US Sapsuckers up here. The other one that is regular (if not common) is the Williamson's. The Red-breasted is primarily a West Coast bird, and the Yellow-bellied is mainly an Eastern bird... although Sapsucker vagrants may show up anywhere in North America. Our constructed bird oasis draws in nearly all of the avian population to be found in this area. This bird has stopped at our pond for a drink and has conveniently parked on one of my photo props. It is clearly a first-year bird, but you need to have a clear view of the throat to determine the sex..
IMG_8909; Red-naped Sapsucker
Saturday night i was experimenting with an old liqueur recipe from my mother. She made this kind of liqueur for Christmas using oranges, cinnamon and sloe. As I have no idea where I could get sloe I used pomegranate instead. I love pomegranate, it is a beautiful fruit with an extraordinary color and it tastes good, too. They are just difficult to clean, everything looks splattered afterwards. So, now I have to wait 6 weeks until I can try it – in the mean time I expect the best.
Sorry for the blurry pic on the left.. it was past midnight.
Here is the original
So this took me a lot longer than expected to get out there, but anyways, here they are! Justice League Dark, assembled by Madame Xanadu to deal with mystical/supernatural threats that the normal Justice League don't have the capabilities of fighting. The members starting from the back are:
Raven- Embraces her powers, but uses them for good. She's close friends with Rose Constantine.
Jason Blood/Etrigan- I only pictured Jason here, as I was mostly lazy, but anyways, what's a JLD team if it doesn't have him right? So here he is!
Deadman- After his death at the hands of Grant Wilson, Dick Grayson became Deadman, joining the JLD soon after. He sometimes goes back to Bludhaven so he can see Bette again though she doesn't know about him being Deadman now.
Ragman- A man covered by rags to hide the scars of his past, he usually stays quiet, unless necessary.
Doctor Fate- Khalid Ben Hassin being the current Doctor Fate joined the team early on.
Kid Devil- One of the newest recruits, alongside Raven. He's still trying to figure out his place on the team, but has been able to find a friend in Ragman.
Madame Xanadu- The leader of the team, who obviously brought them all together in the first place.
Rose Constantine- Constantine's daughter, all grown up (well sort of). She has her father's personality, though she's more mature than he ever was. She always saw his smoking as a bad habit, so she doesn't smoke.
Like all of my recent Rogueverse team pictures, a huge thanks goes out to Ken, as he's helping me big time with these rosters.
Yeah. You just don’t expect a Japanese tea house (and garden) on top of a mountain in Huntsville, Alabama do you? Yet, here is is. In Monte Sano State Park.
Nikon D7500 — Nikon 18-300mm F6.3 ED VR
18mm
F16@1/4th
ISO 400
Polarizer
White Balance on Flash
DSB_5482.JPG
©Don Brown 2025
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE,
i'd like to just thank Shandi-lee and Hey Summer for
their tearjerking testimonials (': You two are amazing,
those came out of nowhere-I wasn't expecting anything
like that at all. I wish I could hug you guys right now (x
They really made my day. Ahh, lol. :D <333
Second, i've been 'tagged' a few times since last time I
logged on and I think i've got a few questions to answer
as well, but if you dont' want to read everything, at least
read the last small paragraph. here we go (:
hey summer: what is your favorite thing in the world?
lol girl yu kiddin' right? seriously there is not just ONE thing
that is my favorite :3 but, if I honestly had to choose, it'd be...
being in a peaceful state, just reminiscing on my life and
daydreaming about my future. It's even nicer if i'm laying on
the grass under a cloudy sky. (:
aishia capture: where's your favorite place to be?
!n ur r00m, cr33p!n und@h y0 bl@nk3t$..lol oh god what if I
actually typed like that? you all would leave me D: ok, ok
errg, i'll act mature about this! This really nice park in a town
three hours away from where I live. It's really peaceful and
the trees there have big, beautiful pink flowers. AND they
have ducks. DUCKS. In a LAKE.
Light in The Air: If you could see yourself anywhere in
the future, where would you be? What would you be doing
and where?...stripper. lol. Okay, don't ROFL at me, but
I would like to be an actress, even though i'm kinda shy. I do
daydream about that more often than I actually just realized
right now. BUT if that never comes true, i'd either be an anchor
for the valley's (area where I live with a bunch of cities with a
ton of Mexican culture/influence) best news channel because
I do the news at my school, OR i'd own a sweet little indie
looking camera shop where I'd sell modern and vintage cameras,
film, camera straps, take pictures, give lessons, work with little
kids..that'd be pretty cool 'cos there's nothing like that here.
OROWN/DESIGNACLOTHINGLINE,
I'VEREVEALEDTOOMUCH.
alexa: What's your favorite song?
oh noes, the impossible question D: damn you -.- lol uhm,
at the moment my favorite song is 'Turbo Swag' and 'Smokahontas'
by Attack Attack! Oh, and that only girl in the world song by
Rihanna..it's catchy. :3 Eh, couldn't choose 1. :c
brooklynxX: Do you like your long hair?
YES. I love the length, but it's still not as long as I want it,
BUT i'm satisfied 'cos I had a bob about three/four years
ago and it's taken me THAT long to grow it all out. The only
cons are that I don't know how to style it up, and even though
I don't straighten it everyday/weekly I manage to get dry ends.
)': I'm happy you like my hair but please don't be jealous of it!
lol. it's very tedious to maintain n_n
Taylor;through a lens: Where does the inspiration behind
your photos come from? There is no secret to this. I do not
meditate. I do not ask Jesus to bless me with magical fingers
upon which I molest photoshop or my camera. It's when i'm really
bored in my class and start daydreaming weird stuff that become
ideas for photos lol. That's how I came up with the idea for my last
photo. c:
under.the.radar.: I am not gorgeous or talented!!!! I don't
say that so people will protest, honest o: I'm actually earnest
about that. but thank you morgan c: Actually, just two days ago,
I had to take my snakebites off because I was going to talk with
the principal..and..in the few hours they were off, the holes closed
so I no longer have my piercings )': lol I cried for 30 minutes. I miss
them a little, but it's less worrying now but when I had them they
never hurt (: Only when I bit the metal part on the inside by accident
while eating food. >_<
Sorry everything was so descriptive, I guess that's what happens
when i'm gone from flickr for a week. You've got my utmost respect
if you actually read all that junk lol, but even if you didn't i still love you
:D Meaning behind this photo? I've been fine for a while now, but never
in a true state of complete happiness. Reasons? Stress from school,
stress from boyfriend. Mostly stress from boyfriend. Ugh. I hope you
guys are enjoying life and watching adventure time. You. BETTER. be.
watching. adventure time. |: why haven't you guys come to mow my
arms??? I will pay you GOOD MONEY. $$$
When you read the title you might expect a man in ermine and silks standing in a great hall with flunkeys at his beck and call? Instead here is a portly young man with a suit that is just a little tight and a very pleasant smile on his face. From a photographic point of view this is a dreadful crop from another photo!
Photographers: Various
Collection: Irish Personalities Photographic Collection
Date: 5th September 1928
NLI Ref: NPA PERS36
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserv...
This popular reserve on the north Norfolk coast has something for everyone. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons, which are often full of birds. You can sit on benches or watch from spacious, wheelchair-accessible hides.
In summer, marsh harriers float over the reeds, where bearded tits nest. On the lagoons are avocets, gulls and terns. In autumn and winter you can see up to 20 species of wading birds and lots of ducks and geese.
A well-stocked shop has a wide range of RSPB gifts and books and a large selection of telescopes and binoculars. We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.
Opening times
The reserve is open every day of the year. The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 10.00 am to 5 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). They're closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). It's also closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
There is a charge of £5 per car for non members.
Information for families
There are lots of exciting activities for families to do during the school holidays. Call the visitor centre on 01485 210779 to find out what is happening today.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control.
For more information
Contact us
Tel: 01485 210779
E-mail:
titchwell@rspb.org.uk
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Marsh harrier
Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reedbed with their wings held upwards in a shallow 'v'. In spring, pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.
Bittern
Keep your eyes peeled for bitterns making short, low flights over the freshwater reedbed. You may be lucky enough to find one fishing on the edge of a channel. In late winter and spring, listen out for the mating call: a deep, resonant 'boom'.
Bearded tit
You will often hear bearded tits before you see them. Listen for their bell-like 'pinging' calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds. They perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.
Avocet
Watch elegant avocets 'scooping up' microscopic, aquatic life in their amazing, sickle shaped beaks. They nest in mini colonies on the islands of the brackish marsh.
Redshank
You can see redshanks wading in fresh and salt water throughout the year at Titchwell. Watch for their towering display flights over the saltmarsh as you walk along the main path in spring.
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
This is one of the most exciting times of the year. The first spring migrants, such as swallows and sand martins, can be seen over the lagoons with wheatears along the beach. In April and May, the lagoons can be full of migrating waders, including ruffs, black tailed godwits, spotted redshanks and dunlins. Marsh harriers can be seen performing their 'sky dancing' display and the reedbeds are alive with singing reed and sedge warblers. If you are lucky, you may also hear the 'booming' of the bittern, which has recently returned to breed at Titchwell.
Summer
Mid-summer is the quietest time for birds but the best for some of the more elusive reserve species. It is possible to see the rare water vole on the pools around the meadow trail and, if the conditions are suitable, up to ten species of dragonfly and damselfly. By mid-July, the breeding marsh harriers will have flying young and up to 15 birds have been seen in a day. In these quiet months, the reserve staff carry out essential management work on the lagoons. While every effort is made to avoid disturbance, it may sometimes be encountered during a visit.
Autumn
Autumn is the time for waders when, with luck, over 20 species could be seen around the reserve. Species such as curlew sandpiper, little stint and black-tailed godwit stop on the lagoons to feed on their return migration from their Arctic breeding grounds to their African wintering grounds. With the high spring tides, large numbers of waders can often be seen roosting on the lagoons. September is one of the best months to view bearded tits. The young gather in small flocks and can show very well feeding on seeds blown onto the mud near the Island Hide.
Winter
Winter is the time for wildfowl at Titchwell. Large numbers of ducks and geese winter in North Norfolk and most of these species can be seen on the lagoons. The commonest species are teal, wigeon, mallard, gadwall and shoveler, with smaller numbers of pintails and goldeneyes. Offshore from the reserve, large 'rafts' of common scoters, long tailed ducks and eiders can be seen. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese can be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast. Hen harriers, marsh harriers and occasionally barn owls can be seen over the reedbed at dusk. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese may be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast.
Facilities
Visitor centre
Information centre
Car park
Toilets
Disabled toilets
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Group bookings accepted
Guided walks available
Good for walking
Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
The viewing platform on the edge of the dunes is an excellent spot from which to watch an array of waders on the beach and fishing terns, migrating skuas and wintering sea ducks, divers and grebes at sea.
Island Hide gives views over the bird-filled freshwater marsh and along the edge of the freshwater reedbed where you can watch bearded tits and water rails feeding.
We now have a new Parrinder Hide as part of this project.
Fen hide overlooks the freshwater reedbed and is the perfect spot from which to see bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers.
Nature trails
There are three trails on the reserve and all are accessible to wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The main path is approximately 1 km long and runs from the visitor centre to the beach.
The Fen Trail was extended in September 2012, along with the East Trail and Autumn Trail. To the end of the East Trail is 700 m and to the end of the Autumn Trail is 1.2 km.
Please note that the Autumn trail is only open between 1 August to 31 October to avoid disturbing the marsh harrier roost.
Coming back from these trails you can rejoin the main path via the Meadow Trail, which is 100 m long.
Sorry, dogs are only allowed on the main path (a public right of way).
Tearoom
We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.
Refreshments available
Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Hot meals
Cold meals
Snacks
Shop
There is a large selection of optics and books, plus daily optics demonstrations.
The shop stocks:
Binoculars and telescopes
Books
Bird food
Bird feeders
Outdoor clothing
Gifts
Accessibility
10 September 2014
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page.
Before you visit
Entry to the reserve and the hides is free. Parking charges apply for non-members. Free parking for carer or essential companion with disabled visitor
The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm (November to February closes at 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (November to February closes 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Registered Assistance Dogs welcome. Other dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control
Two pushed wheelchairs for hire free of charge
Check accessibility for events and activities.
How to get here
King's Lynn Railway Station is 22 miles (35 km away)
Bus stop outside the reserve.
Car parking
Eight Blue Badge spaces 130 metres from visitor centre entrance
120 spaces and a short walk along a gravel path from the visitor centre
Surface is bonded gravel
No lighting
No formal drop off point
No height restriction
Visitor centre and shop
Entry by double doors and a shallow slope. There is an entrance at the front and back to the visitor centre - both have shallow slopes. The entrance doors are manual, outward-opening light doors without a threshold.
Level, tiled floor throughout. No seating. Good lighting. Magnifying glasses, pens and paper available. Binoculars hire. Small children’s binoculars free hire. Information displayed in clear print format. Staff available to assist. Shop is in the visitor centre. Level throughout. Some tall or deep displays. Staff available to assist.
Nature trails
Three signposted trails. Mostly flat, boardwalks and rolled sand and gravel surface. A short, steep slope over the sea defence bank near the beach.
Viewing facilities
Four hides. Ramp or slope access with a mix of large windows or solid wood viewing slots which require opening - can be difficult as they are stiff. The new Parrinder Hides are spacious modern and all level throughout.
Toilets and baby changing facilities
A unisex accessible toilet in the main toilet block near car park 200 metres from the visitor centre.
Catering
Café serving hot and cold food and drinks, snacks and locally-made cakes. Step-free entry. Level throughout. Non-slip flooring. Colour-contrasted crockery. Staff available to assist. Nearest accessible toilet is 200 m from café in the car park.
Picnic area
Two picnic areas, five tables and one bench outside the visitor centre one bench with all tables having wheelchair spaces. 60m from the visitor centre toward the car park is a second picnic area with four benches and three tables with space for wheelchair access. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.
Education facilities
No dedicated provision
Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.
For more information
Titchwell Marsh Visitor Centre
E-mail: titchwell@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01485 210779
Cafe
The 'feeding station' is warm and friendly with a reasonably-priced menu. We serve a wide selection of hot and cold snacks and light lunches. Takeaway drinks and food also available. Freshly-baked home-made scones daily. Locally-made ice-creams.
We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!
Opening hours
10 am to 4.30 pm (we close at 4 pm from November to February)
Highlights from our menu
A selection of cold, filled wraps
Freshly-made sandwiches
Our famous bacon baps
Home-made cheese and fruit scones
Carrot and walnut cake, made by our local bakers, Krusty Loaf
Access to the cafe
Our cafe is on the ground floor - no stairs and easy access for wheelchairs.
Children welcome
We have two highchairs available. Children’s corner selection on the menu.
We use local ingredients
We sell locally-made Norfolk ice-creams. We use Fair Trade products where possible.
Dietary requirements
There are vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free and gluten-free options.
How to get here
By bicycle (Sustrans cycle route)
National route number 1 is within two miles of the reserve.
By train
King's Lynn - 22 miles.
By bus
On the main road outside the reserve.
By road
Take the first left after driving eastwards along the A149 through Thornham village. The reserve is signposted with a brown tourist sign.
Archaeology and history
Titchwell Marsh is a wonderful place for wildlife today but there is fascinating story to tell about how the landscape has evolved. Visitors can see remains that illustrate the two major events that have shaped the landscape - sea level rise after the last ice age and military use during the Second World War.
The advance of the sea
It wasn't always open marsh at Titchwell - there was a time more than 9,000 years ago when this area was covered in forest and was part of coastal plain that stretched out into what is now the North Sea.
Flint artefacts from this Mesolithic era have been found on the reserve, evidence that people were hunting and gathering, probably following animal herds for long distances. It has been suggested that at this time they could have walked as far as Denmark whilst staying on dry land!
A wetter climate led to the formation of peat, causing the trees to fall and be preserved in the wetland deposits. Gradual sea level rises throughout this post-glacial period then inundated and preserved the peat beds. Today the remains of the trees and peat beds can be seen eroding on the coastal foreshore at low tide.
Once the sea level rose, the coastal plains were inundated and by the Late Bronze Age, around 3,000 years ago, sea levels would have been much the same as today. Archaeologists have found evidence that people were living on the edge of the wetland at this time so there must already have been a settled community here - it would have been a good location to farm the dry land and exploit wetlands for fishing and fowling.
Today the challenges of climate change mean we expect more coastal inundation and our engineering works will ensure the preservation of important wildlife and cultural heritage for the future.
The Second World War
These wetland and intertidal areas would have been exploited by human communities for millennia for hunting and farming, but it is the 20th century that has seen the biggest changes at Titchwell and left an indelible mark on the reserve that can be seen during your visit.
During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into a firing range
During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) firing range and the coast was reinforced against invasion. Part of these defences would have included a reversal of drainage and encouraging flooding as a defence against invasion - helping to re-establish wetland biodiversity.
The main banks, including the Parrinder bank were constructed for firing practice, with targets set at 1,000 yard intervals. Today these banks ensure that freshwater wildlife can be protected from inundation by saltwater. Rare breeding species such as the bittern, bearded tit and marsh harrier rely on freshwater reedbeds for there continued existence in the UK.
The remains of a 'firing loop' where tanks drove up to fire at the targets is still preserved as well as pillboxes where machine gun practice was also taking place. Many of the islands in the marsh were built to house 'pop-up' targets for gunnery practice and today these are important for breeding and roosting birds.
Occasionally the remains of two Covenanter tanks can be seen at low tide on the foreshore, their appearance depending on the shifting sands. These two were probably used for target practice.
More information about these heritage sites can be obtained from reserve staff during your visit.
Metal detecting and the collection and removal of objects from the reserve is not permitted.
Our work here
Titchwell Marsh is specially protected as part of the North Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural beauty.
The RSPB has helped create a mosaic of wetland and coastal habitats on the reserve in order to attract a diversity of bird species. These include nationally important numbers of avocets, bearded tits, marsh harriers and bitterns, and internationally important populations of wintering waders.
We are working to keep these habitats in good condition, and also to provide a key visitor attraction and a good example of our management practices.
Reedbed success
Our freshwater reedbed is important for threatened wildlife such as bitterns, bearded tits, marsh harriers and water voles.
In 2005 our three-year project to rehabilitate the reedbed for bitterns proved successful when the first pair bred on the reserve for 18 years.
Living lagoons
We are managing the freshwater lagoon and its islands for the benefit of breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl, among other wildlife.
We are also managing the brackish marsh as a saline lagoon. This provides suitable breeding conditions for avocets, as well as feeding grounds for other waders and wildfowl.
Natural habitats
We are allowing natural processes to maintain other coastal habitats, including saltmarsh, shingle and sand dunes. This provides habitat for a variety of birds, including wintering brent geese and wigeon, breeding little terns and redshanks, and high tide wader roosts.
We are also managing woodland and grassland areas around the reserve for their wildlife.
Rising tide
The coastline at Titchwell is eroding and we know that the site is becoming more vulnerable to damage caused by surge tides and storms. The RSPB is working to ensure the freshwater habitats are protected and will continue to support species such as the bittern and bearded tit.
We are examining options for flood defences at the seaward end of the reserve and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.
Reaching people
Titchwell is one of the most-visited RSPB reserves. We will continue to maintain and improve our facilities. We will also use the reserve to demonstrate our management practices, and will continue to develop our positive relationships with key audiences and local communities.
Coastal Change Project
Titchwell Marsh is an exceptional nature reserve in a special area. It is part of a network of outstanding wildlife sites across Europe called Natura 2000.
The nature reserve has been under threat from the effects of coastal change, the impact of sea level rise and increasing storm events. The Titchwell Coastal Change Project was designed to save the reserve from the effect of these coastal changes.
We are pleased to say we have now successfully completed the project.
We have realigned the sea defences to the north and reinforced the sea banks around parts of the reserve to the west and east. The future of the reserve and its wildlife is assured for at least the next fifty years.
We could not have achieved this without support and funding received from the EU Life+ Nature Fund, WREN, The SITA Trust, Marine Communities Fund, and the many individuals and RSPB supporters who donated and enabled this project to take place.
The project took several years to plan and three years to deliver. A summary of what has been achieved appears below:
A new northern sea defence was built along the line of the Parrinder wall. The completed Parrinder wall will protect the reserve’s freshwater habitats to the south
The sea wall and west bank path were re-built and improved from the visitor centre northwards to the Parrinder wall. This sea wall will protect the freshwater habitats for years to come
Improvements were made to the freshwater marsh islands and reed bed to benefit nesting birds such as avocet and bittern
The fabulous new Parrinder hides opened in December 2010
A breach was made in the east bank to the north of the new Parrinder wall. This has allowed saltwater on to the brackish marsh which will change over time into tidal saltmarsh. The new saltmarsh will in turn protect the new Parrinder wall. This new marsh will be known as Volunteer Marsh
A section of the south-east corner of the east bank was improved, enabling it to better protect the freshwater habitats which lie to the west
The sluice on the east bank, which lets freshwater off the marsh, was replaced. This will enable us to control water levels on the freshwater marsh more effectively than we can at present
A new reedbed area was shaped and formed in the grazing meadow east of Fen hide
Two new trails were developed to the east of Fen hide. These trails will open in 2012.
The project has protected and improved the conservation value of the reserve and has ensured that it will remain one of the most outstanding and valuable wildlife sites in Europe.
I'm not expecting much attention because you have to view large to see what is going on, but this was a first for me; a tobogganing Polar Bear. He was at the top of a snowy slope and just slid on his belly right down to the bottom. You can see the sinuous track he took if you look close enough. For interest here's a photo of this same bear at the top of the hill before the sledging www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/53968751778/in/photolist
I was going to call this photo the Cresta Run for two reasons, but thought the second one was a bit obscure. The Cresta Run is an ice track in Switzerland used for toboggan racing, but Cresta was also a fizzy drink brand from the 1970s that used a cartoon Polar Bear singing a jingle to the tune of Elvis's "Teddy Bear". Here's the advert on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvo2Hddqg3I
It would nice if someone can identify this plant.
Wishing you all a most wonderful weekend.
We are expecting a winter storm to come our way. Hoping for a mild one.
Enjoy the snow if you are in the storm path. Take care.
I keep expecting to drive past here and find all the cars around this house cleared. Since my last photos some numpty has smashed the rear screen of the 240, which might be one reason that a large dog started barking it's head off when I stopped here yesterday.
Expect to see a lot of photos from the view point. This area of the Chicago River (the point where the river bifurcates into its north and south branches) has just been made easily accessible to the public with a plaza called "River Point Plaza" fronting the new office building called River Point. With the extension of the River Walk further west, more and more people are venturing into this area of the river (where before this area was closed off), more and more people are crossing this bridge to the right and coming into the Plaza to hang out ... and take pictures of the river facing East.
Captured July 2016 : Canon VT rangefinder + Canon LTM 50mm/1.2 lens.FOMAPAN 100 rated EI=64 developed in ILFORD ID3 homebrewed developer.Bute Park CARDIFF.
I was fortunate to visit this fantastic exhibition in Paris. Absolutely brilliant, highly recommended. Saatchi Gallery, until 3 May 2020
“The legend of Tutankhamun captured imaginations globally when his tomb was unearthed by British explorer Howard Carter and financier Lord Carnarvon in 1922.
Produced by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and IMG, and presented in London by Viking Cruises TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh unveils more than 150 original objects from the tomb, 60 of which have travelled out of Egypt for the first and final time before they return for permanent display within the Grand Egyptian Museum which is currently under construction.
Come and discover the most famous of the Pharaohs, and the young sovereign’s personal belongings as you follow his passage into everlasting life.
Prior to the London showing, the exhibition became France’s most visited of all time with attendance of over 1.4 million. Tickets are selling fast in London, sell-outs are expected and advance booking is highly recommended.”
Really wasn't expecting to see 20825 P825FVU at Dover Today!, and just out of shot to the right was a Trevor Wrigleys and Sons towing truck (Complete with an Optare MetroRider painted on its side!), that was collecting Stagecoach 20832 P832FVU, for onward transport to its final, I assume, resting place, which I assume is Carlton Barnsley Scrap Yard in South Yorkshire. I was not able to get a final shot of 20832 P832FVU as right after I took this shot through the fence, a distant voice called out "Go Away!", so here is a shot from January: www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/24584536686/.
And be sure to check by my other acount: www.flickr.com/photos_user.gne?path=&nsid=77145939%40..., to see what else I saw very recently!!
Yes I'm back again.
However due to my main computer on which I edit my work being struck down with a big bad virus, this picture and all the others I am uploading, were Unedited but have now been replaced with Edited versions. So enjoy and Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I do still hate everything about this shit that is new Flickr and always will, but an inability to find another outlet for my work that is as easy for me to use as the Old BETTER Flickr was, has forced me back to Flickr, even though it goes against everything I believe in.
I don't generally have an opinion on my own work, I prefer to leave that to other people and so based on the positive responses to my work from the various friends I had made on Flickr prior to the changes I have decided to upload some more of my work as an experiment and to see what happens.
So make the most of me before they delete my acount: www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/?details=1, to stop me complaining!!