Moorhens

It seems really crazy to have to go to a zoo to see tame-ish moorhens close enough to photograph! Out in the wild they are very timid birds, but even here on our pond where they'll venture up from the pond to eat the duck food near the shed, any sign of us and they'll run off and hide under a tree or bush.

But in a place like a zoo (and no, they weren't exhibits!!) they are used to people. There was plenty of water between the various animal enclosures, so suitable habitat for them, and with the children throwing them popcorn which was on sale at the entrance (hopefully unsalted or unsweetened, which seemed to be for the kids to chuck to the animals in the petting zoo before we reached the more exotic species), I guess they've become used to humans. I saw at least two family groups with young so they seem settled and breeding here.

So we made the most of it so Chateau Moorhen could have a few decent photos of them! (Photos mostly taken by my OH who had the Canon with the telephoto lens).

Adult moorhen. It's impossible to tell the difference between the sexes,
or at least not for the layman.

Juvenile

Juvenile again

Whole family group after the popcorn!

I'll do a posting about this zoo when I can get my act together as it was a great afternoon out and well worth a visit, but my brother has just gone home this morning and we've been busy out and about so I'm a bit behind with my postings!

We have a boat!

Somebody, and that somebody is not me, has been hankering after a boat for quite some time. Many years ago we bought one of those cheapie inflatable jobs you get from the catalogue trucks that come around the villages, had a fun row around the pond together once, then one of the rollocks fell off, rendering it fairly unusable! After that the boat was never used; the last I recall even seeing it was moving it one time and finding a grass snake under it. I thought it had long gone to the dechetterie and didn't even know we still had it, until my OH got it out recently and found it had been munched by mice.

We had a look in a local 'outdoor' type of shop and small plastic boats were going for about €400, which is a heck of a price. Same price in various online shops. So I suggested he have a look on Le Bon Coin, which is a French website for selling or giving away all manner of things. Et voila - a couple of boats for sale on the south side of Rennes. He made a cheeky offer and was accepted. New toy for €160!

Of course he had to have a go straight away soon as he'd got it home on the trailer. Note: you need two people when you are getting into it - one to hold onto it firmly. I had a camera in one hand so the poor guy nearly ended up in the drink. Now that would have been worth it for the photo opportunity!

Someone is very proud of his new toy

"Right, so how do I go about this, exactly, then?"

Managed - just!
The oars are a little short as they are the ones that came with the inflatable boat, as the ones
that came with this boat are a bit warped.

Off he sails into the sunset......

And disappears off round the corner.....

God I'm bored. Where are the damselflies?

Oh Oh he's coming back, quick MMM take an interest!

Boys and their Toys.

Apparently it's my turn today. Oh. My. God.

French Friday - Dinan Port

I have tons to blog about/update but with my brother being here we've been out a bit more than usual. So just for a change from veg, flowers and insects it's time to post some photos from a day out at Dinan Port.

Dinan is a medieval walled hilltop town with a chateau overlooking a valley where the Rance river flows through. Just down the hill from the town is Dinan Port beside the river, which is very picturesque and touristy and both places are linked by a steep narrow cobbled lane which has many stunning medieval buildings. No two are the same and there are Kodak moments everywhere! I'm sure I bored my OH and brother senseless stopping to take so many photos, but I'm a tourist when I'm in places like this and I just love the varied architecture, facades and windows.

There are boat trips to be had along the river, which shortly after Dinan becomes a part of the Rance estuary, eventually flowing out to sea after passing the hydroelectric barrage and bridge which links Dinard to St Malo.

I'm not going into more detail about the town, port or river as I do have rather a lot of photos - and these are only a few of the ones that I took!

The viaduct is the road bridge leading into the town from the direction in which we live, which gives stunning views down over the port area

Of course it is touristy and popular, with restaurants and cafes lining the riverside

My OH

Wandering up the road from the port leading to the town.
That's my brother's back view.

I found this building fascinating and wondered what the top half was,
as it just seems to have open slatted windows.

 I love this kind of higgeldy piggeldy building!

It being summer there is no excuse not to have window boxes galore!

Prettty blue woodwork.

Another view of it.

OK, time for a piccy of me..... not sure why I am standing like that.

The aubergine house. Well, it was slightly more of an aubergine colour and less
dusky pink in real life. Whatever shade you call it, I love it!

My OH and my brother

At the top of the road, looking through the town walls into the town proper.
We didn't go much further as we've wandered around Dinan itself before.

I had to have a closer look at this beautiful blue building though!

Whilst I've spared you any insect photos this time (I did take some actually....)
I couldn't resist this lovely house and garden that was just up a side lane.

This one....words fail me. Just stunning.
(Glad I don't have to clean those windows though!)

And finally back down the hill again to the river, looking in the direction of the sea.

And just because he'll probably kill me for it, here's a pic of my bro and me. :-)

In other 'Stop Press' news, a moorhen is back. Only seen one so far but we know it is one of 'ours' because it's been seen coming up the path from the lake to eat the duck food, and only the ones who have been raised here know to do that!