Other Birds at Lakenheath

The Great Crested Grebes and Reed Buntings paraded in front of us showing off their pristine plumage while a Common Tern put on a great display of hovering and diving even managing to catch a fair-sized fish. Other species included Greylag Goose, Egret and Heron, Marsh Harrier, Common Cranes, Greenfinch, Great Tit and Chaffinch. Bittern were heard but not seen.

Hobbies at Lakenheath RSPB Reserve

This page gives some idea of what it was like at Lakenheath RSPB Reserve today with Hobbies hunting overhead - sometimes 8 in a the same patch of sky and some coming close. The most we counted at one time were 25 but some of these were distant. More birds and insect life to follow.

My Actual Entry for CCC Points of View

I promised to put up my first choice of images for the CCC Points of View competition having posted my second choice (http://pin-sharp.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/points-of-view-at-saffron-walden.html). Here they are. I came joint 4th - very respectable position.

For the Category Amazing. This is the Turf Maze. The 'Smile' was what made me think snakes and the image was completed with two lens caps that I happened to have in my pocket, 

The next category was 'Old' and this image was the window display of one of the many antique shops in Saffron Walden.

I managed to baffle the judge with this image for the Category: Bigger picture. I had bought the doll in a shop earlier and in my mind was the bigger picture of life from childhood to the grave but admittedly not that clear a message.

This was for the Trading Category and was taken through the window of the butcher's shop.

 The final Category was Monochrome and was a dummy for sale in one of the secondhand shops and was completely 'armless.

CCC Outing to Waresley Wood

A second visit to Waresley, this time with members of Cambridge Camera club. Perfect conditions for photographing the flowers - no wind and overcast but bright skies. The Oxlips are nearly over but this one was complete and looked good among the Bluebells. I finished the morning photographing the Giant Horsetails - an intriguing plant.

Life in a Bluebell Glade

I spent a very enthralling couple of hours on the edge of Waresley Wood (Cambridgeshire) photographing the abundant invertebrate life in a small Bluebell and Dog's Mercury valley. Besides the Peacock and Brimstone shown here, there were also Small Whites and Commas. The Honeybees were busy collecting pollen from the Bluebells while the Bee Flies (Bombyllus major) concentrated on the Celandines. Both Hairy and Dock Shieldbugs were plentiful while I was fascinated to record the Grey Mining Bee together with its parasitic species Nomada lathburiana. The Sawfly I think was Tenthredo atra but will need to get this one checked out. Finally a 7-spot Ladybird.

Cambridge Camera Club Exhibition

Cambridge Camera Club's Exhibition is on this week in a new venue having been priced out of the Cambridge Guildhall. We are open until Saturday 5pm. We are very happy with the welcome that we have received from St Andrew's Baptist Church Cambridge and visitor numbers are good. We need to improve the lighting for next year. A few shots taken at the end of the day.

2014 Diary Printed

As Blurb had a 35% discount off on their books, I managed to finish editing the download of my 2014 Blog. it can be accessed HERE.

Birthday Girl

My grandaughter, Meredith, was three on Saturday and took it all very seriously.

Nightingales Have Arrived at Paxton but No Photos Yet

Still not a lot of migrants arrived at Paxton. We heard and briefly saw one Nightingale though it is thought that there are 6 males present. The males arrive first and sing loudly to 'call down' the females.  We did hear and photograph Willow Warbler and Blackcap as well as a very vocal Dunnock and a drumming Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Rye Meads Afternoon Session

Some of the birds seen during the afternoon walk round Rye Meads in beautiful afternoon light, which showed off the pristine plumage of the Heron, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Black-Headed Gull and Shoveller well before the breeding season takes its toll.