Devil's Dyke Newmarket - Pasque Flowers

Several of the Pasque flowers on Devil's dyke are only just coming into bloom - much later than the Royston ones. They are also much larger, growing in tall grass rather than short turf. Tried various apertures from 2.8 to 7.1 including image 3 which is focus stacked of 3 images at 6.4. Hundreds of St Mark's flies around, the males having large eyes, females (first image) smaller eyes. Named as they are abundant normally on St Mark's Day, April 25th. The very small spider and Weevil beetle were photographed at f22  but impossible to get it all in focus at that magnification

Visit to Newmarket Stable

Many thanks Geoff for showing us round Stanley House Stud yesterday - great to see so many healthy foals and mothers enjoying the sunshine. Ouija Board certainly thought the whole thing a laugh. I concentrated on manes, bristles and eyes including one shot of our party reflected in an eye

What Next for the Aura Nightclub Newmarket

This building is currently closed having finished as the Aura nightclub in 2014.  It was built in 1936 as the Doric cinema and closed in 1964. Since then it has been used for night clubs and also the Orange Pub. Planning permission for flats was recently refused. These locals show the general desire for it to be returned as a local amenity - Cinema/bowling alley etc - Newmarket currently has no entertainment other the pubs and nightclubs. 

December foal Sale at Tattersalls, Newmarket

A brief visit to Tattersalls Auction this afternoon - always a privilege to see such beautiful horses many sold for very large amounts. 

Cambridgeshire Orchids

 The Common Spotted, Fragant and Lizard Orchids are at their best in Newmarket area at the moment. The Lizard orchid is a very variable species as seen from these examples and is not at all easy to depict successfully.

Horse Racing at Newmarket

We wandered onto the race course during a walk at Newmarket Heath and took some photos of the racing. The first few at 1/1600 second

I then tried a bit of panning as they galloped down to the start - 1/125th for the first and then1/60th. The latter seemed the better shutterspeed so took some race images at 1/60th.