A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: N - Newport Bridge, Nuthatch

 The River Tees is crossed by many bridges between the town of Yarm and the sea. The only lift bridge carrying a road out of Middlesbrough does not lift anymore.

Newport Bridge

It's possible to walk along the river bank and get on to the path across the bridge and down the other side.

I have spent many hours trying to photograph birds in our and the garden next door. However I have had limited success in capturing a decent shot of this small bird (through our lounge window).

Nuthatch at a nesting box

Somehow I don't think I will be lucky enough to get anything as good as this - scanned from a bird book.

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: M - Michigan Wildlife, Maxie,

 During our many visits to Michigan we get to see a lot of wildlife without having to move far from where we stay. Including this in the paddock - 

Rocky and Bambi share the food dropped from the bird feeder

Snapping Turtle from a nearby 'swamp'

Squirrels abound as well as deer beyond the lake.

And then there's Maxie waiting for the refuse wagon.

She just loved to roll in what the deer left behind. The stink she created was almost matched by how mad she became when forced to have a bath. She would go away and sulk in the dirtiest spot she could find.

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: L - Lions, Lilly

 It's unlikely that I will ever get to see lions in the wild so I have to be content with shots at Newquay Zoo.

When it comes to dogs however I have many from which to chose. One of those always got attention.

Lilly in her bandana

Lilly in the shade

However I don't think we would ever get her to do this - a performance by another Lilly in our village - 

Coming out of her lake was a different matter altogether.

A-Z Challenge 2021 = Photo Shoot: K - Kayak, Ketton

 You will have seen Harry the heron before but not getting ready to step aboard.

The kayak

When I was a boy I lived in the Rutland village of Ketton.

The house where I was born

There was no stone wall then just a grey wooden fence with a gate to the front door and a double gate across the drive.

Elsewhere the village has an church with a Norman arch - 

West door at St Mary's, Ketton

The Railway Inn and the entrance gate to the church

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: J - Jack, Jigsaw, Jews Ear Fungus

 Jack was a lovely dog but had a bad back, But this did not stop him contorting himself - 

He had a favourite spot on the kitchen floor right where anyone working wanted to be.

He enjoyed swimming in the lake but when his back gave way he had to have a life harness on when he went in.

His ashes were added to the water when he passed over the rainbow bridge. The above collage is how we remembered him.

During the current pandemic jigsaw puzzles have taken up some of our time and one in particular proved difficult with no straight edge pieces to get us started.

Can you count the butterflies included?

If you like such fun you may also like ariculeria judae which I discovered in a local wood. Perhaps you prefer its more common name - 

Jews Ear Fungus

It felt like velvet to the touch on a elderberry bush.

Sunday Stamps - Air Travel ; Great Britain

 We have no intention of travelling by air during the pandemic but the means of flying by my selection this week would not be possible anyway.

From a set covering British aircraft designers - 

Gloster Meteor T Max 7 - 10 June 1997

And celebrating the 50 Anniversary of Passenger Jet Aviation Airlines, the plane that will never be surpassed.

Concorde - 2 May 2002

And just for fun - 

Meccano Constructor Biplane - 18 September 2003

And it's not all hot air just check other means of transport by following the links at Air mail

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: I - Infinity Bridge

 When a new bridge was proposed across the River Tees at Stockton several designs were proposed for the public to select the one they wanted. One was a massive favourite but we were told that design could not be built. This went up instead.

The Infinity Bridge at Stockton-on Tees

A reflection of the bridge with it in the river is said to make the infinity sign. I've never seen it myself.

The bridge however make interesting shots possible.

In fact you could take all day and finish up with an infinite number of shots.