Newnham, Cambridge on Frosty Morning

Taken on an early morning walk into Cambridge from Newnham recently with the mist and frost adding atmosphere to the playground.

Shadows, Cycles and People in Cambridge

Very contrasty light this morning for my walk from the Park and Ride to the City centre. The low sun gave long shadows and bright rim lighting. 

Coot and Gull Behaviour in Changeable Weather

After all the recent bright sunny weather, yesterday saw a change and so my visit to St Albans to photograph Coots had intervals of sunshine, heavy cloud and even some rain at the end of the morning. In the duller conditions, it was impossible to portray the Coot's red eye. The Coots were fairly active with lots of chasing but only one fight and that during a rainstorm. There were lots of Black-Headed Gulls in the process of moulting from winter to summer plumage and often displaying their kleptoparasitc behaviour  towards the Coots waiting around to pinch any food that they brought up from the bottom. The gulls eat different food from the coots – gulls are carnivorous generally etc whereas the coots are mostly vegetarian,  so, presumably, the gulls aren’t actually stealing food the other birds would eat themselves.

 

 

 

Black Sands Iceland

On our journey back to Reykjavik, we stopped a couple of times on the volcanic plains to photograph the grasses and other vegetation that cling to life there. Quick edits but gives an idea of the scenes - the weather was sombre, grey and rainy, to go with the surroundings

Welney Wildfowl Trust; Pochard with ?Moon and Icy Landings

We visited Welney last week on a chilly but bright sunny morning though the horizons were misty with more delicate colours. Don't remember a moon but not sure what else produced the effect! The Ouse Washes were fairly flooded and some of it frozen which gave some great landings (most missed in the camera!)