canal

View from a kayak on a canal to the Gulf of Mexico. The foreshortening makes it seem that it is uphill, shere, of course, it is flat. There's nothing like a paddle at sunset!

I found this fungus growing along the towpath and posted it in the Fungus forum for ID. Unfortunately I would have needed to cut it in half and get pictures of the underneath etc. to be sure of a definitive ID. This was the closest they could get to.

I see these guys so rarely, I forget they're not really black and white!!! This angle picked up some rather pretty iridescence I thought. Taken on the banks of the canal.

After our lunch that day we wandered further along the canal and I had to go round a bend to see what was there, then I wanted to get to the bridge, which I could see in the distance. .... here it is!!

I loved the water highlights in this Mallard image. Actually quite different from the usually reflections, quite silvery light.

Along the canal towpath I came across this beauty. The Flower forum identified it for me as Purple Loosestrife. The Wildlife Trusts website says it's "a valuable food source for long-tongued insects like bees, moths and butterflies, including Brimstones, Red-tailed Bumblebees and...

I'd lined myself up to take the view through the arch with the bridge as a frame, when the boat came through, so I had to quickly adjust things. LOL The hills on the right through the tunnel are the Black Mountains.

A pretty Comma butterfly from earlier in my holiday. I seem to have missed this one when I was in that folder. They're beautiful, aren't they.

I guess there must have been some salts in the earthy canal path that this butterfly was enjoying. Can't think why else he was there.

These are such rare birds in my part of Scotland, so it was nice to get so close to them on my holiday in Wales. .... sorry if you're over-run with them;)

I was rather taken with this back view of my friend Harry. On the far side of the canal, of course.

In the hedgerow along the canal is this bush, a Snowberry. I think it looks very pretty at this stage, but later on it will be covered in white berries, which hang on through the winter. I'm really not sure if anything eats them though.

Another view of the moorings, taken in the sunshine this time! I reached the old railway bridge then climbed up onto it to wait for my brother who was walking back that way. There's a right network of interlinking paths in that area.

Glenys was busy that afternoon, and my brother wanted to go to town and walk back. So I arranged to go and meet him. Found this eclipse male Mallard - I rather liked the toning hues in this picture.

The canal was a great hunting ground for flowers, another I've never seen before - Marsh Woundwort. I presume it was thought this one helped to heal wounds.

At the end of my walk, I met my brother and Glenys insisted we extend my excursion by going on a Magpie hunt. She didn't let me down, did she. The reason she was so keen, is that I don't see these at home, they're quite scarce in this part of Scotland. This is the same guy as in yesterday's...

.... or Ummm... that looks a long way down A Magpie investigating the canal. He changed his mind about diving in. The strange thing is.... 10 minutes after posting this picture, I got my first ever one in the garden here at home. I've not even seen one in the town - they're quite rare birds in...

Just after the Mallard had swum past, I spotted this pretty white flower grown on the canal bank. I'd no idea what it was, Flower forum to the rescue LOL . I've heard of plantains, but not this one.

The walk I did that afternoon, was down to the village, then up the hill to the canal.... not only is it uphill, but there are steep steps to climb up onto the tow path! Mr Mallard came out to congratulate me on completing the worst bit!

This Mallard seemed to be powering along. The light in this area was quite different, and didn't look too attractive until she passed through, making some silvery highlights in the water.

I knew you had to get a picture of the underwing to prove the ID of a butterfly. But not sure how much use this one is LOL However, there wasn't anything else it could have been from the top side. At least I tried.

This is looking towards Gilwern from Bridge 99 that I showed you the other day. I thought it was looking very pretty with wild flowers growing along the edge. I'd gone to meet my brother and his wife who were out for a walk.

I've often wondered how they got the name.... they're not 'red' but mostly black with orange edges LOL Another one on the huge buddleia beside the canal. In dappled light, which affected the colours.

There really were some lovely plants growing along the canal and I discovered this one is native too (though it does look quite exotic, doesn't it). It flowers during July and August, which probably explains why I've not seen it before. They prefer lake edges and slow moving water

I saw far more butterflies than birds along this section of the canal, and as I wasn't very fit, I didn't manage to get too far on this trip. Here's a couple of beautiful peacocks, they had me a bit confused with the orange coloured wings, but suppose that must just be the angle of light...