Winter Birds in Toft

A few birds from a walk round our village. . Lots of Redwings feeding on the ground along with Blackbirds and Fieldfares. Great to see a Siskin in the trees - it was only a dark silhouette to the eye so pleased to be able to do the ID on the computer after lightening the file. The Starling is definitely the star of the set with his iridescent plumage

Park Street Car Park Cambridge

As we had to be out in the car, we took our exercise in the Chesterton area of Cambridge - a delight not to be battling with our local mud and ice! Park Street Car Park is such an anomaly and yet has all the intrigue for me of concrete structures. It was built around 1960 and was due for closure and redevelopment to a hotel and car park  this spring. However, the contractors have dropped out so at the moment it has a reprieve - a relief in some ways I am sure for the local residents. 

Mosses at Madingley Hall

 This winter's project is Mosses and Lichens - very much still in progress! Here a collection from Madingley Hall playing with depth of field and backlighting. The bright light reflected off the snow behind some of mosses gave interesting bokeh.

Madingley Hall Walled Garden

Madingley Hall are actively inviting visitors to their gardens by opening a take away cafe everyday (there were some snow-free seats to enjoy a coffee). The gardens are extensive and well worth a visit at the moment with all the snowdrops, aconites etc. Here a flavour of the Walled Garden, which dates to the mid-18th Century, and was used as a kitchen garden. The arched Hazel Walk is thought to date to the mid-19th Century and is worth a visit on its own. 

Now Wimpole in the Snow

These images I hope portray the very cold conditions at Wimpole today - a high wind and persistent snow gave some very bleak but beautiful pastel scenes. I particularly like the images of the Hardwicke Arms,which dates as a coaching inn from the 18th century.

Changing Skies at Wimpole

The sky was constantly changing during Tuesday's walk at Wimpole. with all the recent rain, the road at Arrington was flooded right across giving a great reflection.