Stowe Gardens Infrared

Perfect autumn day for our CCC visit to Stowe Gardens - even some little puffy clouds to add a bit of interest to the sky. I took both infrared images (below) and colour images (to follow).

This Morning's Total Eclipse of the Moon

One of the advantages of looking after Sadie and Meredith while Ellie and Matt are having a holiday is that there wasn't much chance that I would not be awake for the Total Eclipse. A clear night so a beautiful view of the colour changes leading up to totality.

Autumn at Burwash Farm, Barton

There were a lot of common Darters still laying eggs at the Dragonfly Pools and a very large number of Craneflies. It looks like being a good berry year.

Cheltenham Juxtapositions

To avoid the traffic, I travelled across to Cheltenham in the middle of the day giving a free afternoon to look round the town, taking a few photos. I seemed to settle of a theme of juxtapositions in their shop windows, bus shelters and architecture. There are also some very splendid fountains in the town. Thanks to Cheltenham Camera Club for a very warm welcome last night.

London From the Air and Map of Swedish Trip

This is the final post from my Swedish trip - the Grey skies of Sweden were replaced by a beautiful sunset as we returned to the UK and then a wonderful clear view of London with the Dome, Emirates Cable car, Woolwich Barrier and docklands all visible. I also include here a map of our travels for future reference as I intend to return. Many thanks to Daniel Green of Birdsafaris Sweden for his expert guidance.

Sweden Day 5

The light on our final day in Sweden was not good so I struggled a bit to identify and photograph birds at the Oset and Rynningeviken Reserve but enjoyed the scenery and views of  Gadwall, Temincks Stint, Hooded Crows, various Wagtails and Red-necked Grebe. 

Sweden Day 4 Marshlands

I felt very much at home in the Kvismare Valley as the landscape is like our East Anglian Fens and many of the birds would be those seen there - Marsh Harrier, Heron, Tree Sparrow and hunting Peregrine. But the abundant Cranes and White-tailed  Eagles made the area special to Sweden. We even found a tree that had been gnawed by Beavers. The shrew was very small and thought to be a Pygmy Shrew