Saturday 15 October 2011

Union Canal, Ratho


We had a lovely walk along the Union Canal in Ratho today. The elderberries were at their best:


as were these puffball fungi

There were lots of snails with different patterned shells, here's just one example, nicely contrasting with the lichen on the wall:








and we met these entertaining and friendly Aylesbury ducks and their friend (who looked like a mallard/Aylesbury cross)









You can see more photos of this stretch of the canal in this post.


As ever, text in red contains hyperlinks which take you to other websites where you can find out more.

16 comments:

nmj said...

That is a pretty snail shell! Still, I confess that I generally see snails as wee hooligans who eat my plants but I loved 'The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating' by Elizabeth Tova Bailey - have you read it? The author had severe ME and a friend gave her a snail as a companion and she became fascinated by its life cycle. It's a beautiful book, the illness is in the background, it's all about the snail. I'd recommend!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Hi Nasim - no I've not read The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, though I have heard about it before... Snails are wee hooligans but they are often so pretty and they're good food for song thrushes

bunnits said...

What a wonderful place. Delightful photos. Love the "ducks in a row" shot.

martine said...

Love the cute picture of the ducks on the towpath:-)
thanks for sharing
martine

Carver said...

That is a delightful place to walk. I enjoyed your shots.

K.C. Woolf said...

I love elderberries! I've been so busy lately I haven't even picked any this year. Thanks for reminding me; I'm going for a good, long walk tomorrow. :-)

Phoenix C. said...

That looks like a great walk! I love the colours on the snail. There are loads of elderberries here too, and all kinds of other berries in abundance.

Magyar said...

Ahhh, a grand stroll Juliet, and your photos tell of that walk.

__There is always one in any flock that is notoriously out of step; in this 'marching five,' the middle duck commands the eye! ;-)
_m

Anonymous said...

Really love the photo of the ducks all lined up :)

Crafty Green Poet said...

bunnits, martine, gabrielle - and they were hilarious to watch as they marched around and swam back and forth...

Deb G said...

I'm so glad you share your walks...makes the world smaller.

Anonymous said...

Awww. The ducks are so cute in a row like that. How adorable!

smiling soul said...

admirable! post:)

smiling soul said...

admirable! post:)

Celeste said...

Love, love, love the five ducks in a row, how perfect :)

Johnny Nutcase said...

fun photos! i love those puffballs- always fun :)