COMPTON: THE WATTS GALLERY, WATTS CHAPEL – THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT

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The newly restored Watts Gallery showcases the work of artist G. F. WATTS. There is also work by his wife MARY WATTS, though that is best seen at the Watts Chapel a short walk from the Gallery. I found material for 3 of my Themes – sundials, mazes and (stretching the definition somewhat) ‘stone’ marks. Here are examples in the first two categories; I’ll leave the remarkable terracotta gravestones (and their lettering) for another time.

SUNDIALS AT COMPTON

The Garden Sundial

An ususual sundial, now kept inside the Gallery

MAZES AT COMPTON

A maze on the altar front in the Watts Chapel

Terracotta Angel holding a Maze outside the Chapel, among other elaborate ornamentation

This similar Angel and Maze was on the other side of the Chapel

PROVENCE: SIX VILLAGE CHURCH CLOCKS AND BELL TOWERS

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PROVENCE: SIX VILLAGE CHURCH CLOCKS AND BELL TOWERS

LEVENS

TOURETTE LEVENS  A CLOCK NAMED BRIAN

CHATEAUNEUF VILLEVIELLE

COARAZE

EZE SUR MER

PEILLON

A PIED WAGTAIL’S EVENING PREENING ROUTINE

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PIED WAGTAIL PREENING IN EVENING SUNSHINE

This is a complicated routine involving a great deal of busy activity, from 180° head rotation to elaborate fluffing up to pauses for admiration. I watched this bird, one of a pair, for several minutes. The photos have been cropped but not in any way photoshopped… I’m pleased at how well they turned out, considering that I was filming from the ground 20 feet below, and the bird was moving most of the time. I’ve put  some individual pictures up first, then a slideshow of the whole performance…

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THE FIRST SWALLOW OF SUMMER

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THE FIRST SWALLOW OF SUMMER

THE FIRST SWALLOW TO ARRIVE AT OUR HOUSE IN DORSET, APRIL 27 A handful of swallows arrived from Africa on the first day of sunshine for weeks, preened for a while on the wires, then flew round the garden after insects. The next two days have been heavy rain, and they haven’t shown again… We saw the last ones leave last Autumn, so it’s good to have seen them come back. 

PIED WAGTAIL PICKING ITS WAY DELICATELY ALONG THE ROOF RIDGE

GOLDFINCH IN A WEEPING ASH

BLACKBIRD’S NEST

The chicks fledged and flew during the past week, and we missed it… suddenly the nest was empty

BEES BUZZING BUSILY IN THE BIG CITY

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BEES INVESTIGATING FLOWERS AND BLOSSOM IN A LONDON GARDEN

SPRING HONEY BEES IN SUSSEX & EARLY HONEY…

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HONEY BEES, EAST SUSSEX ON 1st APRIL These bees are from four hives, and were thirsty. During the day there were always several drinking in the birdbath. Although the water level was quite low, sadly there had been a couple of casualties early in the day. Adding bits of plant solved the problem. Also shown below is the first honey of the year. 

SPRING – SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT…

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A ROBIN IN FULL SPRING SONG AT THE TOP OF A CHERRY TREE

(for more robins CLICK HERE )

ALPACAS IN DORSET – BEAUTIFUL, YET DIM & PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE

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ALPACAS IN DORSET – THE 3 LAWNMOWERS… 

I realise that these creatures are not strictly – or in any sense – equines [the page where they are kept] , but South American camelids related to llamas. I don’t have a separate category for them, however. Our neighbours keep these 3 in our paddock, where they act as lawnmowers, mobile fertilisers and exotic livestock eye-candy in the Dorset countryside. They are very stupid, and wince-makingly shy – except when they are being violently aggressive…

And here is their modelling portfolio in slideshow format. Some might say the brown one has “IT”, but the white one clearly needs some expensive orthodontistry… 

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HOUSEMARTINS IN WALES

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HOUSEMARTINS – CWMDU, POWYS, WALES These little birds moved too fast and too acrobatically for the small camera I had with me. They were nesting under the eaves of the cottage I was staying in

A SPRING FROG IN THE GARDEN

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A FROG IN THE GARDEN

My reflection can be seen in the frog’s eye (click twice to enlarge image), an unintentional result

THE NEXT GENERATION… We went away for the weekend, and came back to find a bird bath full of fresh frogspawn! I have put some wire over it – the blackbirds use it for their lengthy ablutions, often nearly emptying it. The frogspawn wouldn’t stand a chance… Strangely, there’s also a tiny freshwater shrimp in the bowl. I’ve no idea how that came to be there. Updates will follow