A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: Z - Zebra

When I learnt the alphabet it always began with 'A' for apple (as my challenge started) and ended with 'Z' for Zebra.

So here they are:

 

These were at Newquay Zoo the ones below at the zoo in Detroit.

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: Y - Yarm

 If you follow the A67 from my previous post you will find yourself in the town of Yarm.

There you will be able to see the bridge built originally in the 1400s when it was the bridge over the River Tees nearest the sea.

Yarm Bridge with the Viaduct behind it.

Hopefully you will have seen a shot of the Viaduct under the letter 'V'.

You can get a feel for the size of it from this shot in the town.

The town hall (1700s) would probably fit under one of the arches.

If you have time it will be no problem to explore - 

Yarm Castle

Probably not what sightseers were expecting is it?

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: X - Cross Roads

 'X' was always going to pose a problem for me until a roadsign like this gave me an idea.

Roundabout ahead

For all of us who live here it simply is the Cross Roads so I guess that's an 'X" for me.

Where I collect my paper has Cross Roads Garage as its address.

Many of the drivers from the A1044 ignore the island in the middle, rarely slow down as they drive straight over, making me crosser (X er) and crosser (X er, X-er) when I have to make my way safely from the A67 to the garage.

 

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: W - Wood Pigeon, Weddings, Whitby

 Wood pigeons are very common in our village and currently a pair are building a nest in one of our hedges. Still they can take a rest from time to time.

Two wedding photos separated by more than 60 years - I'll let you decide which is which.

We live quite close to Whitby, the North Yorkshire town associated with many things including Captain Cook, Dracula and of course the Abbey.

Whitby Harbour

Not all visitors are allowed in the Visitor Centre and some then decide to get in everybody's way.

Others just find the walking too much to handle.

A-Z 2021 Challenge - Photo Shoot: V - Viaduct, Turkey Vulture, Valhalla

 The Isles of Scilly have seen a lot of shipwrecks. The Valhalla Museum on the island of Tresco has figureheads on show recovered from some of the wrecks.

As you can see Valhalla is part of the National Maritime Museum.

Soaring high in the sky is this Turkey Vulture captured in the USA.

One of the sights that is hard to miss is the viaduct in the town less than three miles from where we live.

Yarm Viaduct crossing the River Tees

Nearly 700 metres long the viaduct, carrying a railway line, has 43 arches which dominate the town.

Larpool Viaduct in the Esk Valley ( a minnow with 13 arches)

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: S - Sam, Sveti Stefan, Soo, Scout

 In the beginning the brother and sister were - 

Sam and Maxie

Maxie appeared earlier under 'M'.  Sam was the Golden 'Yellow' Labrador who would not go into water deeper than his knees.

Deep snow didn't bother him

Unfortunately when he got older he suddenly went blind, but this did not stop him getting about.

If you have time you may read an article about him which was published in Dogs Monthly (a UK magazine) - you will find it at When Darkness Falls

Now that people are thinking of foreign holidays again it has reminded me of a place we visited what seem like many years ago.

Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan is a small island on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro and is reached by the causeway you can see in the centre. Accommodation is in individual cottages.

Finally today it's the dog owned by our younger son.

Soo - ready for action

Not bad for a Springer.

But there is another dog. He insists on having the last word.

Scout

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: R - Red Panda, Rhino, Ring Tailed Lemur, Rabbit

 Animals from Detroit  and Newquay zoos feature today.

From Detroit

A Red Panda watches on

While a rhino keeps guard - 

In Newquay others prefer to lounge around

While one just shows off

Ring Tailed Lemur

Much more demure is the wild animal found in my garden 

Rabbit having lunch

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: Q - Quarry Wood, Quill, Queueing

 I was all of a quiver trying to find a photo to match 'Q', then I remembered the nature reserve at Preston Park. 

There is no quarry left there anymore just footpaths to follow through the wood beside the River Tees.

I learnt to write using a pen with a real nib before graduating to a fountain pen before the biro came along. I never had the chance to use a quill.

I understand these were made from 

Tail feathers of a bird

Somehow I don't think that from a wood pigeon, a victim of a hungry sparrow hawk would have been good enough. I believe the tail feathers from a goose were once preferred.

"Quill etc" by studentofrhythm is licensed under CC BY 2.0

In these pandemic days queueing has been necessary to gain access to many places - and don't ask about public lavatories. Even dogs have problem it seems 

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: O - Oscar

Oscar is a bit of a lad. The notes at his vet describe him as a dog that gets into everything.

He has had an operation to remove a corncob from his stomach; locks have had to be fitted to the kitchen cupboard where the refuse bid is kept; he regularly opens the other cupboards below the worktop. He has chewed up the remote control for the lounge ceiling fan and a wireless mouse has somehow appeared in the garden.

The other dogs get unexpected treats when he empties the dog food bin in the garage even when it is on a high shelf with the lid weighed down with a large stone.

He is also known as 'guilty ears' - they give the game away when he knows he has been in mischief when his owners are not at home.

After he and the other dogs once caught a squirrel it's common for him to sit or stand beneath a tree for one to come down.

Oscar - The Squirrel Hunter

When he gets you like this you just wonder what he has been up to this time.

There is one thing he has still to work out - 

How to catch shadows

- especially his own.

He is always in the driving seat.

 

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.