Tag Archives: st Helens

The Remains of a Boat

Walking across to the Duver in St Helens with mum, there is the remains of an old boat that has been decaying for a long time. The remaining sections of the hull look interesting, and the engine is still substantially intact. I got a few shots of it as we wandered by, and it got me thinking that I have made the trip a couple of times in the past when visiting the UK. Was that boat there then and did I take a picture of it? Well, the answer is yes and yes. The last of these shots is what it looked like when I first saw it to compare with its current condition and show how much it has decayed in the approximately 20 years between these shots.

Jackdaws After the Scraps

There is a nice café and bar at the Marina over on the Duver in St Helens. When visiting, we have been known to stop over there for a snack or some refreshments. The local jackdaw population also really likes it. I don’t know whether they would consider buying their own stuff, but they do like to see what is left by any of the other patrons. They are definitely wary of the humans but, if you don’t move too much, they get progressively closer.

I find them fun to watch. Crows and ravens appeal to me anyway but the grey feathers around the head of the jackdaws make them look a little different. I got some wider views of them including some video. I did also go for some closer shots of the birds when they would be near enough for me to do so. The details in the feathers when you look close at them is really interesting to me.

Changing Continents but Still Chasing Cormorants!

Mum and I were walking across the wall that crosses the harbour in St Helens. There were a few birds in the vicinity, but I wasn’t anticipating getting anything. Then a bird took off from the water and flew around me providing a few good opportunities to photograph it. What type of bird was it? (Unless you haven’t read the title of this post, you already know.) A cormorant. My favourite bird is just as available to me here as it was in Washington. The colours do seem slightly different but that is just a bonus.