Take Off And Landing

The Greylag Goose provides plenty of entertainment as he criss-crosses the lake at the Arklow Nature Reserve in search of food.

On The Daisy Carpet

Today, we're back in Arklow Nature Reserve to see the Greylag Goose in action on the daisy carpet.

Duck Studies

Another of our favourite places is the Nature Reserve in Arklow, Co Wicklow and today we observe some of the many ducks who populate this lovely spot.

A Question Of Balance

A moorhen standing one-legged on a piece of wood among the reeds at Arklow Nature Reserve.

Bass Fishing

Bass fishing is big on all of Wicklow's beaches but it's nice to find a quiet spot to while away a few serious hours such as the out of the way Clogga Beach south of Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Seaweed

Colourful seaweed covered rocks on this section of Clogga Beach near Arklow, Co Wicklow prompted a pseudo HDR approach when processing this photo.

The Country Fountain

 

Spotted the other day, on a bend in the very quiet Clogga Road between Arklow and Clogga Beach in Co Wicklow, this old drinking fountain or is it just a water pump?  Maybe a little rusty round the edges, but it still functions.

Anyway, today is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community and todays's theme is Fountains. To see lots more interpretations from around the world, click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Almost Summer

Absolutely freezing today, so, what to do but go to the beach for a very, very brief visit, just to bring you this panoramic view of Clogga Beach near Arklow, Co Wicklow.  You have to concentrate hard, folks,but this view could almost be of summer.

On Frozen Pond

Above, the view from the Arklow Bay Hotel, Arklow, Co Wicklow on the frozen lake of the Arklow Nature Reserve.  Well, almost frozen, looking back towards the hotel below, these birds still occupy a little corner.

Soft Landing

It's a bit frenzied here when food is thrown to the birds at the lakeside Nature Reserve, North Beach, Arklow, Co Wicklow and this gull needs all the help he can get as he avails of a soft landing on the duck's back!

Swanning About

Always a favoured spot for bird lovers, the lakeside Nature Reserve in Arklow, Co Wicklow is home to a variety of wildlife including swans and we can never resist a few shots.  They dine off of aquatic vegetation, insects, tiny fish, tadpoles and of course whatever they're fed by visitors here at the at the lakeside.

Pigeon Fancying

Passing Direct Pigeon Supplies, which is a fairly large shop in Arklow, Co Wicklow prompted me to check out the state of pigeon racing in Ireland today. An extremely well organised sport which had it's origins in Belgium in the early 1800's, by 1870 there were approximately 10,000 lofts in Belgium, but previous to this pigeons were used as message carriers.  Homing Pigeons are today raced in Belgium, Holland, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, South Africa, United States, India, Argentina, Hungary and Mainland China.

Pigeon Fanciers in Ireland race between April and September from a number of different locations within Ireland itself, including Arklow, Waterford and Cork on a weekly basis. However, there are certain races each year from the United Kingdom, and as far as France.

A great source of information is to be found at the home of racing pigeons in Ireland, www.racingpigeon.ie

Goose or Gander?

Difficult to tell whether this Greylag is a goose or a gander.  In a flock, the male gander is usually 3 to 6 inches taller than the female goose.  Also the male tends to hiss and puff up at your approach.  Well it wasn't hissing at me and I was very close so I guess it's a goose!  Or maybe it's become somewhat tame from being fed so often by the visitors to this lakeside Nature Reserve in Arklow, Co Wicklow and can't be bothered to hiss or even puff.

The Feeding Deck

A lazy Sunday afternoon for these moorhens on the feeding deck at the lakeside Nature Reserve, located beside the North Beach area in Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Sunday Stroll

Today, it's a beach with a difference! This is South Beach, Arklow, Co Wicklow and it's a beautiful October Sunday morning so, time for a pleasant stroll along the beach.  Nice backdrop - that's CRH plc's quarry at the famous Arklow Rock landmark!





And this is the opposite view!

Street Entertainment

For many, the highlight of the final day of Arklow's Seabreeze Festival was the Pig Derby, but, among the numerous other events taking place was the Pipe Band competition followed by a march down Main Street.

A job well done Princess, the pigs have flown!











And not forgetting the many other acts on stage including this young band who really rocked us!

And Pigs Might...

Well they just might, but here we are in Arklow, Co Wicklow for the closing day of the Seabreeze Festival and one of the most popular events - The Pig Derby - so, place your bets and off we go!






But first, let the Garda Mounted Division entertain you.












Winner alright, pay out!  Well, actually, it's the one at the bottom of the picture - and I missed him!

Urban Contrasts, Arklow Style

Following on from yesterday's post, contrast this view of the derelict former gypsum factory, located 100 metres from the marina, with the view upriver from the visitors' pontoon.

Hello Buoys!

It's been years since the last visit to Arklow, Co Wicklow, and this is my first view of Arklow Marina with the old buoys, on dry land, marking the north side.  On the left, a reflective view to the narrow marina entrance.