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8th September 2021, 13:30 | #321 |
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Beach
During the month of August, we spent the month exploring the beaches on the coast in Kenya, north east of Mombasa. A friend in the UK, very kindly loaned us the use of his beach house for as long as we wanted.
Kuruwitu Beach is a marine conservancy where we spent many hours exploring the reef and swimming in its warm waters. Here are a couple of photos of the beach. A protected reef and conservancy for the past 12 years. No plastics seen on the reef bed. Beach fishing boat Kenya by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr Beach view Kenya by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr |
10th September 2021, 05:39 | #322 |
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What a stunning setting Phil........Beautifully captured
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Jeff. |
14th September 2021, 07:54 | #323 |
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Morning Jeff, thank you very much, how kind. We are staying in a hotel with a self catering apartment in the Ballymun area of Dublin. It’s quite a change from Kuruwitu Beach in the photo. Ballymun has undergone a regeneration, formerly notorious for drugs, crime and its tower block slums which were demolished. The hotel in Ballymun is about 10 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes drive from the centre of the city.
The apartment is comfy, exceptionally clean with A/C - heating, double glazing, a giant Flatscreen TV in the bedroom with excellent Freeview But for what it is, it’s expensive in comparison to London. Moving on.........I deliberately left my camera behind in Kenya with a view to upgrading it once we are in England. We found the weather in Ireland a shock, but everyday we have been going out exploring, riding on the trains and buses. Social distancing and wearing of face masks in restaurants and shops is mandatory, this includes buses and trains. Yesterday we took a train to Howth on the coast and had Fish n Chips. To eat inside, the staff wanted to see our EU digitised vaccination certificates. We had paper ones with us from Kenya but decided to eat outside. The fish was a lovely piece of COD and the chips were thick cut and tasted great. One portion was enough for two at €12 or £10.23 so I wondered if that was the going rate for Fisn n Chips I wonder what today will bring? |
1st March 2022, 05:25 | #324 |
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Recently seen in the garden, a Weaver, an Ibis and a Seedeater....
Breeding Male Baglafecht Weaver by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr Hadada Ibis visits garden pool Nairobi by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr Streaky Seedeater by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr |
14th March 2022, 04:38 | #325 |
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Some unusual pretty flowers seen in a garden tree - 10 March in bright sunlight
Calliandra houstoniana by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr |
14th March 2022, 04:42 | #326 |
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14th March 2022, 04:46 | #327 |
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A beautiful Swallowtail butterfly visits a lavender coloured flowering shrub in partial shade in the garden in Nairobi.
Papilio mackinnoni - Mackinnons Swallowtail visits Lavender Flowering Shrub Duranta Erecta by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr |
15th March 2022, 05:57 | #328 |
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A regular garden visitor usually seen in the mornings, a Hartlaub's Turaco. The flight feathers are bright red, the remaining plumage in green and blue. This Turaco was calling to his mate in another tree.
Photographed at 12 O'clock high in shade. Hartlaub's Turaco by Philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr |
15th March 2022, 06:26 | #329 | |
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Quote:
That looks pretty dark but a picture of the plumage whilst in flight must look good? |
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15th March 2022, 08:59 | #330 | |
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I am still to take one in flight, it’s something on my wish list. The above shot was difficult to take. Behind the tree in the photo was bright sunlight and I had to lay on my back to get the shot as the Turaco was high up in the tree. Whilst lining up the shot, a Praying Mantis landed on my forearm, a distraction, but fun to see. In post edit, I had to increase the exposure without ruining the overall appearance, unfortunately the end result was dark. Last edited by Gate Keeper; 15th March 2022 at 09:01.. |
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