Winter sun and a project

A beautiful sunny day but a cold wind, not yet coming from the East, but according to all the weather reports the "Beast from the East" will be with us soon. That phrase has been much used in the press over the last few days.

These were taken on the way to Llantrisant along the cycle path.

Beautiful February blue skies. 

We had this outside table that has seen better days, the top had rotted and the frame had gone rusty, but worth repairing.  So while I got most of the rust off with the wire brush and made a new top, my wife did the final prep,  painted and varnished.

and the finished job.

Some wildlife

Forest Farm Nature Reserve 

Always a good stop off on a ride into Cardiff.

Blue Tit and female Sparrow

 Great Tit

Reed Bunting ?? [female]  

He's always a regular visitor at these feeders, and why not with all the free food.

The Taf

In the distance you can see the gap carved by the Taf, with Castle Goch to the right

Honest folks Spring is around the corner.!!

Post virus!!

After 3 weeks of suffering with a virus it was good to get out on a lovely sunny day.  We dont normal get laid low often with colds etc, but this time it hit us for six.
  First I went for a cycle[ see Strava side panel].
As I get older any lay off from regular cycling takes its toll and it takes me a while to get back into the swing of things, so a gentle 18 miler was just what I wanted.

After coming home I was stiffening up a bit so went for a walk and played around with the camera

Goldfinches in the garden.

Its always good to see the snowdrops and these have been out for a couple of weeks now.

This Cormorant was about 40 m away, I zoomed in and managed to rest the camera on a fence. 

Although the 40x  zoom is great to have, the downside is holding the camera steady.

The trail, which was once the Heath to Treforest Railway, goes past the house past the Rugby Club and follows the river Taf, so its handy for a stroll.

This friendly cat is usually in the same spot most days,  at the end of the rugby field,and always comes to say hello and have its tummy tickled.

I wonder how many years did it take for this to occur?

Here's the zoom in action.

I spotted this water rail on the opposite bank of the Taf, but as I said the its difficult to hand hold the camera steady.

So here's to the continuing road to recovery!!!