THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW

Haven`t had much opportunity to practise with my new camera this month but here are a few shots to end the year with.The black redstart,both seal species rock pipit and stonechat were all from Samphire Hoe.

 BLACK REDSTART

 GREY SEAL

 COMMON SEAL

ROCK PIPIT

STONECHAT

An afternoon at Stodmarsh was  very sunny  with very little bird activity.

 REDSHANK

SUNSET AT STODMARSH
The following day at Oare was a little better birdwise.

 A MISTY VIEW OF FAVERSHAM

 TEAL

 MALLARD

 PINTAIL

TEAL
Meanwhile at Dover Harbour

 3 SNOW BUNTINGS put in an appearance

 JUVENILE SHAG

 FLY OVER CURLEW

 TURNSTONE

 BLACK THROATED DIVER arrived in the dock on boxing day morning,unfortunately the pier is closed until further notice due to storm damage.

Finally a bag of chips at the East Cliff Folkestone is sure to entice a few Mediterranean gulls within range.

MED GULL.
So its happy new year to all my friends and acquaintences,lets hope we see a lot more of this in 2014.

SUN RISE

SUN SET

BARCELONA

A long weekend to Barcelona,was the perfect antedote to the doom and  gloom of high winds and tidal surges in the UK.An early flight with Monarch on Thursday had us rambling down the Ramblas by midday.We had not been there before so after checking in to the Hotel Colon right next to the cathedral we set off on foot to explore the city.Pre booked tickets for the Segrada Familia on Friday meant another early start so we found our way there on Thursday afternoon to ensure  we got there on time.After this a stroll through the Arc de Triomf and down to the harbour area before returning to the hotel.I didn`t take my big camera and binoculars on this trip just my Panasonic lumix and here are a selection of photos of buildings,scenery etc from the trip.

 SEGRADA FAMILIA It will be good when its finished.

 NATIVITY SCENE AT THE EAST ENTRANCE

ARC DE TRIOMF

 GIANT PRAWN SCULPTURE

 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS COLUMN

 GO WEST YOUNG MAN

 CABLE CAR ACROSS THE HARBOUR

 CUNARD LINES QUEEN VICTORIA

 PANORAMIC VIEW OF BARCELONA

 WORLD TRADE CENTRE

 BARCELONA PORT HQ.

 THE CATHEDRAL

 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Our ticket to the Gaudi masterpiece the Segrada Familia was for 10am which was good because unbeknown to us Friday was a holiday" Feast of the Immaculate Conception" evidently so it was fairly quiet when we got there but manic by the time we left.

 CENTREPICE OF SEGRADA FAMILIA

 AMAZING ROOF STRUCTURE

 SUPPORTING COLUMNS REFLECTING THE STRENGTH OF NATURE.

VERY COLOURFUL STAINED GLASS

 FOUNTAINS AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

 SQUATTING FIGURES including NELSON MANDELA who passed away that day.

 FAMOUS CHARACTERS IN CARICATURE.

 PABLO PICASSO. We visited the Picasso museum no photography allowed unfortunately.

 CATHEDRAL SPIRE from the cloisters

 CASA BATLLO Another Gaudi building

 THE PEDERA BY YOU KNOW WHO

 A RATHER GAUDY WATER TOWER

 SUNDAY MORNING STROLL

 MONK PARAKEETS are all over the city parks

 A SPANISH GHERKIN--TORRE AGBAR

 SPANISH ONIONS

 TORRE AGBAR

 PARC DE LA CLUTADELLA

FACES IN AN EXHIBITION

 CAGANER Squatting figures traditional to Catalonian nativity scenes fertilizing the earth to guarantee good fortune for the coming year.

  KINGFISHERS spotted in a jewellers in the RAMBLAS a bit pricy for me at 750 euros

 CATHEDRAL INTERIOR

 ANOTHER CAGANER.

 HOTEL COLON and Christmas market.

ROYAL SQUATTERS.

A brilliant vibrant city lots to do and see,and still lots more to see next time including the Camp Nou