Tracks and Trails

With all the heavy rain over the last few weeks, all the paths are muddy around us. One upside is the visibility of animal tracks, even more so in last week's snow.  We have a Badger Sett that I walk past most days - the first two images show hind and fore paw prints. The tracks clearly lead from the Sett into Toft Wood and across. Badgers are protected by the Badgers Act 1992 which prevents injury to and the disturbance of badgers. Land owners must not disturb a badger or its sett without obtaining a licence but with all the clearing going on of the banks of the Brook, fingers crossed that this is upheld.

The other tracks are Muntjac, Fox (two photos), Dog and Rabbit

Soft Focus with the Hosebaby

Back in June I made myself a camera with a moveable lens to play around with soft focus and focus points using a flexible vacuum cleaner hose. Decided to give it another go, with some flowers I had been given. The focus point can be moved anywhere in the frame by flexing the hose - see set up at end.

Frozen Lichens, Mosses and Leaves

Some further frosty images taken in Toft Wood. 

 

Snowy Walk in Toft

Toft meadows looked great with yesterday's snow and sunshine.There are still lots of  frozen areas of standing water but the spring flowers are braving the cold. Especially good to see a large plant of Spurge Laurel, a fairly uncommon wildflower. 

A Sharp Frost

Some closeups from yesterday's sharp frost starting with some prickly characters. The bright red Hazel female flowers stood out especially well in the misty grey conditions; the yellow male catkins contrasted with the deep red alder male catkins. The female Alder flowers are in 'bloom' much later when the catkins open.