Waresley Wood Spring is Here!

 This year is one of those where all the spring flowers have ended up in bloom at the same time! Ellie and I were going birdwatching at Fowlmere but the roads out of Toft in that direction all had closed signs so we headed for Waresley Wood - I said too early for Bluebells but we found them fully out along with all the other spring flowers (Wood Anemone, Celandine, Primrose, Oxlip, Dog Violet and Greater Horsetail) though no Early Spotted Orchids were found. Very bright sunlight and an 800mm - not recommended for flower photography but certainly gave some different views. Final image of a mating pair of Bee Flies - first time I have seen them coupled in flight but only got in focus as they landed.

Hardwick Wood

 A very enjoyable walk right round Hardwick Wood this afternoon with Ann and Mike. Quite a lot of Bird song including Cuckoo, ChiffChaff, Nuthatch, Gt Spotted Woodpecker etc and all the expected spring flowers - here a selection of shots (Bluebell,Wood Anemone, Primrose, Oxlip, Celandine). The area that was coppiced this year and then fenced off has wonderful large Oxlips while many in the open wood have been nibbled off, presumably by Muntjac Deer. Quite a few large White and Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing. 

Harwick Wood Spring

With recent colder spell, there is a great variety of Spring flowers in and around Hardwick Wood at the moment with the Garlic and Bluebells just coming out but Oxlips and Wood Anemones still in bloom. I was accompanied in the Wood by various birds.

Very Wet Spring, Hardwick Wood

Primroses, Oxlips, Violets, Celandine, Dog's Mercury are all in bloom in Hardwick Wood but not in great numbers and the Oxlips that are out have been eaten extensively. 

Hardwick Wood and Caldecote Church

 Our Cambridge Camera Club (and RPS Nature Group) outing was to have been to Waresley Wood but this was closed until the day so we relocated to Hardwick Wood, which in many ways is a better venue. It is certainly at its best and has the finest displays of  spring flowers for several years with all the species out together. Paul and I visited Caldecote Church meadow at the end for the Fritillarias and also a couple of bees. I was using mixture of focus stacking with the X100v and single shots with the 80mm macro. The bees are with the X100V (23mm). The third shot is with a legacy Olympus lens - I love the softness of this but found it too difficult to manually focus in the bright and contrasty light.  Last shot shows some of the group in situ!!