Grey Heron at Bradgate

Always a delight to photograph, this was a particularly photogenic bird at Bradgate, both in the snow and in non-snowy conditions. 

Stars of RSPB Blacktoft Sands

The RPS Nature Group outing to Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve near Goole produced some great close views of commoner waders (including Blacktailed Godwit),ducks etc plus one star species, White-winged Lapwing (last image - an accidental from Iran), at a distance. It was very cold and icy there and 4 of the 6 hides produced no birds at all but was compensated by these great views (all quickly converted from Raw files - will process fully when home and replace)

 

Bradgate Park Early Snow

It snowed heavily for about 30 minutes after I arrived at Bradgate this morning giving some very attractive landscapes with a Chinese painting feel. The snow chnaged to rain so it was a very transient effect. The light level was low so it was difficult to record the deer in the snow.

Storm Light and Trees at Lyveden NT

I stopped off at Lyveden Manor and New Bield in Northamptonshire and walked around the estate (house images to follow). There were some very dramatic skies throughout the couple of hours that I spent there - perfect to show off the winter trees.

Sunset Walk with Camera

A fine sunny Monday ended with a colourful sunset so I took my camera on my usual short walk in Toft which includes both wide open vistas and Toft Wood with its great autumn colours. All shot at f2.8 between 1/30th and 1/8th second with unstabilised camera and lens.

Kingston Church in IR

 The Church of All Saints and St Andrew, Church Lane, Kingston was substantially rebuilt in 1488 following a fire and the materials of C13 church reset or incorporated. It is fieldstone and clunch rubble with limestone and clunch dressings and tiled roofs.This church has a great collection of wall-paintings, with representatives from most periods of the church’s history. One of the most striking is the devil drawn in red outline – he has scaly wings and a surprisingly human face. In his stomach is another face, with a more unsettling expression.