Signs of Spring at Last

 Today in Bristol the sun shone and the temperature just made it into double figures. The flowers birds and people all responded appropriately.

A Few More from Rye Meads

 A sequence of Kestrel mating and then returning to their nest box, the female having been scared off by a Magpie. Distant shots. Below a Tufted duck pair nearer and in beautiful light

Pembroke Chapel Cambridge

 Pembroke College was the first in Cambridge to have a Chapel of its own and the Chapel is the first building designed by Christopher Wren and consecrated in 1665. It is a very light Chapel rendered even more ethereal using infrared.

Kingfisher

 Very enjoyable visit to Rye Meads in beautiful sunshine though a very cold wind. The male Kingfisher visited around lunchtime and had a couple  of unsuccessful fishing attempts.No sign of the female though she has been visiting the nesting bank.

Sunset Stroll

 A few images from a sunset stroll in nearby Barton looking for the Barn Owls. It was too cold to stay long so contented ourselves with some Hares and a Yellow Hammer.

Fowlmere Vigil

 We visited Fowlmere RSPB reserve this afternoon and waited to supposedly see the Hen Harrier come in to roost in the late afternoon. Well we waited and waited and got colder and colder but no Hen Harrier. Here is a selection of birds that kept us company including the rare Four-Winged Greylag. Only one ChiffChaff heard - a late spring indeed and the Fieldfares are obviously waiting for the Easterly wind to turn around before returning home.

Spring Markers 2013

Each year I record what is out in the garden on around 21-22nd March but that proved a bit difficult this year as there was several inches of snow. It has melted mainly now though still present in the shelter of hedges etc, Difficult to record what isn't out but compared with previous years the daffodils and Forsythia are in bud,  there are no flowers yet on the Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Japonica or Red Nettle so it is definitely as late spring!!

Burghley House Interior

 The inside of Burghley House is as 'over-the-top' as the crenelated exterior. There are sumptuous dining rooms, bedrooms, sitting rooms and a huge kitchen culminating for me in the Heaven Room. This was designed by Antonio Verrio. Although only painted in two dimensions onto the flat surfaces of the walls, the optical illusions created by foreshortening, perspective and very expert painting is entirely convincing, transforming the drama into three dimensions, filled with movement.

Thanks Jo and Ruth for financing the trip - I enjoyed the company and look forward to entertaining you this time in Cambridge.