Outing to Kings Cross 3. The Environs including Nature Reserve

Our route on Saturday took us through Coal Drops Yard - now a fashionable place to shop (and hold Hen Parties), past the Gasometer apartments and Garden and then back along the Canal to the London Wildlife Trust Reserve where we were captivated by the hundreds of Ermine Moth caterpillars that had stripped the spindle trees and were descending on silk threads.

Red and Fallow Deer at Sunset

We were very lucky to have a good sunset for our trip to Bushy Park. Here a selection of Fallow and Red Deer taken against the setting sun.

Wildflower Project 1

One of my projects this year is to photograph all the wildflowers growing in my garden (and aroundthe village) in Toft, Cambridgeshire. Here is the first batch - all from the garden. (Dog violet, Cowslip, Primrose, Celandine, Herb Robert, Groundsel, Cow Parsley, Woodruff, Greater Stitchwort, Bluebell)

 

Epping Forest RPS Nature Group Outing 1. Fungi

Photos of the most-photographed fungi on our RPS Nature group trip to Epping forest today. These are my suggestions for species but will update if get different IDs from experts

1. Mycena inclinata 2. Mycena haematopus
3. Mycena inclinata 4.Mycena radicata
5. Lycoperdon pyriforme
6 and 7 Helvella crispa
8 and 9 Xylaria hypoxylon
10 and 11 Mycena inclinata

 

 

Snettisham Wader Spectacular

The predicted high tide arrived an hour early this morning due to strong onshore wind so the Knot (top image) followed by the Black-tailed Godwits soon filled the shingle island in the gravel pits at Snettisham. I tried some slower shutterspeeds (1/50th) . The waders stayed at the roost for a full three hours after high tide but eventually lifted and were off.

The Big Turnout

Coinciding with the arrival of the scorching weather, we ordered a skip to clear out our large double garage as we are having it converted to a bedroom for ourselves. It may take quite a few days even if the weather cools a bit. If it stays this warm it will be a lot  longer! Murphy, now 17 years old, takes all such chnages in her stride.

Below a very hansome Shield Bug on a fall-down plum - interesting the difference in colouring between sunlight (left) and shade (right) lighting.