Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding

As I had a bit of extra time before lecturing in Pinchbeck, I visited Ayscoughfee Hall and gardens near Spalding.This was a family home built in the 1450s, standing in 5 acres of Gardens. The gardens are full of features including this huge topiary yew hedge,an extensive aviary and large water area.

Switzerland 7. Final Walk in Infrared

I carried my Sony RX100 infrored converted camera with me all the trip but usually forgot to get it out so decided the views of the Eiger and Jungfrau etc  would be taken on that during my walk. It was a very clear (and hot) day giving very contrasty images - good for playing with light and shade.

 

Switzerland 7. An Hour with the Wood Ants

On our last day in Switzerland, I decided to do an easy 90 minute walk down from Wengeralp towards Wengen but, of course, I got distracted on the way down by various insects including several nests of Wood Ants. I spent an hour at one site where the ants were returning to the nest along a tree trunk lit by dappled sunlight through canopy. They were either carrying nest material (first 5) or prey for the larvae. I now want to know whether they have a division of labour - some do nest material, some food or if it is serendipitous. Dragging the spider  to the nest was a real problem as the ants on each of the 8 legs pulled in different directions.

Switzerland 6. Cows, Toadstools and a Magnificent View

After visiting Schilthorn region, I did the lower part of the walk down from Murren, admiring the wonderful views of the Eiger/Monch/Jungfrau range and attempting to photograph some of the abundant fungi in the woods.

  

Switzerland 6. Schilthorn Experience

Although I have visited the Wengen area very many times, this is my first visit  to the impressive Schilthorn (2970 metres). We took the cable car from Mürren  to Birg, where there are great views of the valleys. Peter and Holly did the Thrill Walk pathway under the vertical walls of the imposing rock massif. The steel structure clings to the rock, and then swings under the observation platform and the cable car to end below the cable car station.
We then took a second cable car up to the summit itself which was featured in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. After considering a number of locations, the stalled construction of the sports bar atop the Schilthorn was chosen and the film's producer financed the completion of the famous revolving platform for the right to use the facility for the first and only Bond film starring George Lazenby. A black ski run featured in the film starts at the summit and leads down to the Engetal below Birg.
The views are magnificent includes Titlis, along Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to Mont Blanc and into the Black Forest.
The last image is an accidental double exposure but, of course, now I wish I had taken some more!!

 

Switzerland. Speed of Hummingbird Hawkmoth's Wings

I had a couple of opportunities to photograph these amazing moths - in the middle of the day in Murren and later on the geraniums from my balcony. The first one is at 1/8000th second and the wings have just about been frozen. The wings in the second image show some movement at 1/5000th, more at 1/4000th and by 1/2000th they are completely blurred. The images on the balcony against the evening light were 1/3500 and 1/8000 respectively.