It's just not the same, and some other bits

 

Matthew and I looked forward to seeing two steam powered railway trains just before Xmas, the first scheduled to come through Martin Mill drawn by 70000 Britannia. What a disappointment when it showed up with this Class 67 - otherwise known as a skip - on the front. Apparently the train

was re-routed at the last minute in the London area and the Brit wasn't cleared for the alternative route. At least the train had plenty of power at the front, no wonder it was bang on time

 

2 days later we went to Shepherdswell to see another train, this time scheduled for haulage by Tornado - this time we weren't disappointed as she burst out of the tunnel in new blue livery, smashing, and so much more interesting and spectacular, hence the blog title

 A few minutes after she'd gone, a following service train started to push the smoke and steam from the tunnel reminding me this used to be a common sight, and very evocative of many chilhood memories 

 

Paid an early morning visit to Stodmarsh too just before Xmas, a lovely and spectacular sunrise, tho' much too dark for good photography

 

 

 Large numbers of Fieldfares flew out as the light strengthened, and by the time I'd slipped and slid down to the Marsh Hide these two Marsh Harriers were squaring up out on the marsh. Suddenly a third appeared and seemed to dive in threat at these two, so they both cleared off leaving just an empty vista

 

 

Last weekend we walked to Hope Point and saw this Red Throated Diver fly close enough for these feeble pics. Was pleased to note that our first summer visitors had arrived, in the form of 2 or 3 Fulmars soaring about the cliff face

 

 

 

Nearly home for a nice warm cuppa, this Kestrel landed in an Ash tree across the road, maybe it was checking for Ash die-back?

 

 

Then it took to the air and obligingly hovered to provide this fine picture

 

Yesterday I slipped down at last to Dover to check out the various birds reported from the Granville Dock and the Bubbles, to be treated to this superb sunrise

 

and a super-power gathering of lifeboats, Dover's own "",City of London and another of the same type named "The Will"

 

Then the sky got all dramatic as fog rolled in, and after photographing this view of the North and South, I walked down the Prince of Wales pier

 

and took another pretty picture

 

I found no sign of the Black Throated Diver, nor the Red Breasted Merganser, but did see Razorbill, Shag, the resident seal by the hovercraft slipway, and loadsa Great Crested Grebes