Best of the Borders

Carret Rigg & Tup Knowe, the Borders (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 60mm, ISO 400, 1/125 sec at f/22)

I am just back from a four day trip to the Borders with my wife Aileen.  We spent most of the time simply touring around lots of different places which provided a few good opportunities to take some nice shots.  The first couple of days were particularly good weather-wise and the above shot was taken from the road heading west from the Hermitage towards the A7.  The light was brilliant and in combination with the autumn colours and the folds of the hills I think this is definitely my favourite shot from the trip.  The following shot was taken just a short distance back up the road and I also like it but it lacks the focal point of the small farm and the little green patch of fields.  The shot above reminds me of one of Charlie Waite's taken in the Alps I think.

Catcleuch Brae, Tudhope Hill, Carlin Tooth & Ellson Fell, the Borders (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 28mm, ISO 400, 1/160 sec at f/22)

The remainder of the images include the Hermitage Castle, once home of the Armstrong Clan and Gilnockie Tower, specifically home to the notorious Johnnie Armstrong, once arguably the leading Riever in the borders.  I also got a few good shots of various birds, the highlight being the heron which was fishing by a small waterfall in Hawick while the sea trout were jumping.  It had first been scared off by a much larger trout that almost hit it as it jumped up the falls, but eventually managed to catch this much smaller one in mid air.  The Nuthatch was also a first for Scotland for me and the Tree Sparrow is one we don't get up north yet either.

The Hermitage (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 55mm, ISO 400, 1/200 sec at f/18)

The Hermitage (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 24mm, ISO 400, 1/250 sec at f/18)

Gilnockie Tower, Canonbie (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 28mm, ISO 400, 1/160 sec at f/11)

Gilnockie Tower (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 50mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 sec at f/11)

Tree & Fields, Hermitage Glen (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/125 sec at f/14)

Wall, near the Hermitage (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/250 sec at f/8)

Aileen (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/320 sec at f/5.6)

My happy companion for the four day tour.  She was in her element searching high and low around the old stomping ground of her Armstrong ancestors.  I'm not too sue how they would have felt about her marrying a Turnbull though.

Turnbull Statue, Hawick (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 35mm, ISO 400, 1/500 sec at f/5.0)

The above statue was erected in Hawick to commemorate the event which according to tradition led to the establishment of the Turnbull Clan.  The story goes that Robert The Bruce was hunting in Ettrick Forest when he was charged by a bull, or in some versions a wild boar.  He was sure to be killed when a member of the hunting party stepped in the way and wrestled the bull away.  His reward from the King was to be named Turn The Bull and he was given the lands of Bedrule, near Hawick.

Heron having just caught a trout (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 800, 1/640 sec at f/4.5)

Nuthatch (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 150-500mm lens at 403mm, ISO 6400, 1/250 sec at f/6.3)

Tree Sparrows (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 150-500mm lens at 403mm, ISO 6400, 1/250 sec at f/8)

Any Clues to What This Is? (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 150-500mm lens at 403mm, ISO 6400, 1/320 sec at f/6.3)

I am not sure what type of flower this is but if anyone knows please let me know. Thanks.  I really liked the effect of zooming ion on these seed heads.  They are a bit reminiscent of Alliums but the leaves are different.

Pampas Grass (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 150-500mm lens at 403mm, ISO 6400, 1/320 sec at f/14)