Sculthorpe Moor Reserve

I stopped off at Sculthorpe Moor Reserve on the way to Hunstanton. There were very few birds showing themselves in the reeds, on the water or in the woods but the feeders did present quite a few species including various Tits and Finches. This is the first time that I have caught a Bullfinch in flight - shame light level was low so quality not great! 

Toft Minifungi and Slime Moulds

With the recent damp weather, my log pile is beginning to show some slime moulds and minifungi. Tentative IDs are under the photos - certainly the first one is a species of Trichia slime mould and the fourth/fifth are a very strange eyeball like fungus, Lasiophaeria ovina.

Welney Swans and Sparrows

The cloudy conditions at Welney on Monday were ideal for photographing the Whooper Swans close up from the basement hide. I had in mind a set of almost abstract images so went for low key processing to try and emphasize their softness. It was also possible to shoot the sparrows coming to the feeders directly into the light. Only one Tree Sparrow recorded in my photos but there were a few more among the dozens of House Sparrows.

Welney WWT Visit Highlights

 The rain stayed away and we even had a few brighter intervals for our Paxton Pits Volunteers visit to Welney WWT yesterday. Amazing numbers of Lapwing, several flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and all the usual ducks including good numbers of Pintail. Swans were limited to a few resident Whoopers and maybe a few distant Bewicks. The first image is going to rate as one of my all-time favourites - a Cattle Egret flying past one of the sheep walking along the bank. 

Marsh Harrier and Cormorant Versus Perch at Paxton Pits

This Cormorant caught and eventually swallowed a large perch while the very smart female Marsh Harrier spent quite a few minutes flying around looking for prey. 

Madingley American War Cemetery

By the time we got out for a walk today the cloud was beginning to build up. This set of images was taken with my low resolution phone camera but I am pleased with the set I have produced with a bit of Color Efex processing. I was aiming at symmetries, reduced colour palette and grain to hide the low detail.