Night time at Barnes Pond - # 09/152

The title speaks for itself.  The mediaeval riverside community of Barnes has a pond and an ancient church, many centuries old (and much re-built after ravages of fire and age).  The pond is surrounded by elegant late 19th century villas and the Sun Inn (a great "Bar Fly" venue) looks out towards the water.

Barnes now part of the Borough of Richmond and can be counted as part of London's great "Suburbia".  Is it nice in Barnes?  Again, let the photo speak.

Stop messing about! - # 09/151

You probably wish I would post some nice photos of the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, I can only assure you I'm keen to get back to that point.  But it's not always that simple.

Anyway, I took a friend out to Barnes Common to play about with some night photography.  Things got out of hand and we ended up messing about with the lighting along Barnes railway bridge across the Thames.  Sorry!

Black swan washing - # 09/24

Still at the London Wetlands Centre in Barnes: here's an Australian black swan washing itself.

I took several frames of this bird going through the antics of twisting itself into amazing coils, reaching every part of its body in the cleaning operation. I missed the moments when water was showering in all directions, but this is my choice photo showing off the "contortions".

Perhaps I ought to have cropped out some of the water area, but at least the bird is in context and does not overwhelm the whole picture

Two ducks, male and female - # 09/23

This is not my usual style of photo, but as Spring appoaches I couldn't resist this charming picture of "Him and Her" in their new home inside an old canoe. It was taken at the

http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/119/london_wetland_centre.html

Wildlife is under pressure and the Wetlands Centre is a remarkable example of how a huge 19th Century city water processing and distribution "miracle of engineering" can be converted into a magnificent and successful haven for water fowl.

A day out at the Centre is a delight for photographers and families, whatever their interests. It's like a world tour accomplished in a few hours.