Changes to 19-33 Cambridge Regent Street

 I learned yesterday that this stretch of Regent street facing Downing College and backing onto Paker's Piece is due for demolition in the next couple of weeks so I took some shots with my phone before the work starts. I haven't yet investigated what is to replace the restaurant (previously Pizza Hut, Cafe Cuba Libre) but hopefully will fit in well with the new University Arms etc. Two shots at end of CCC last full survey of the area in 2001 when Pizza Hut and small Post Office in full operation.

Warm Sunshine Brings out the Insects etc

 Yesterday's and this morning's warm sunshine brought many insects and spiders out of hibernation in the garden and on the hunt for food and mates. Here are a few portraits and an ID sheet.

Slime and Other Moulds

Warm and sunny 'spring' day today so lots of insects active in the garden - too many to sort this evening so here some other subjects taken in the bright sunlight - two slime moulds Didymium and Lamproderma species and two fungal species - I think these are Lasiosphaeria ovina and Neodasyscypha species. I was using a 1.4 extender on my 90mm macro lens but cannot focus stack as I need to update the firmware on my quite old camera (the camera predates the lens!)

Paxton Pits Changeable Light

 Yesterday afternoon, I spent an hour watching the Herons and Cormorants busy collecting nesting material and various other water birds while the light changed from bright sunshine to heavy rain and then a rainbow. 

Life in the Compost Bin

The wet and warm weather recently has encouraged a mass of slime moulds in my compost bin. I brought in a Ground Ivy plant and a few Silver Birch leaves that are coated in fruiting bodies. I think the two species evident in the third shot are Lamproderma scintillans and Didymium squamulosum which are Barry Webb says are often found in the same habitat at the same time (to be checked).