Shags, Puffins and Guillemots on the Farne Islands

As always the Puffins took centre stage on our visit to the Farne Islands but I also tried a few different approaches - wide angle on the Shags and head-on flight for Puffins and Guillemot, I captured a a passing Razorbill which was new for my flight shots and, my favourite of the day, an over-optimistic Guillemot attempting to push over the cliff.

Buttercups, Castle and Boats on Lindisfarne

A dull and at times rainy morning on Lindisfarne, but this helped bring out the colours of the flowers and boats. I intended visiting the Castle interior, the gardens and the Priory but instead spent a lot of time on the beach among the cold-water corals and sponges!

First Evening in Northumberland

Six members of Cambridge Camera Club have braved the A1 and its roadworks for a week in Northumberland. Obligingly there was a colourful sunset looking over towards Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne from Seahouses. With all best wishes to Miles, Mike, Jane, Phil and Sue who wanted to join us but are unable for various reasons. 

Mimicry in the Meadow

An hour spent in our local meadow produced some strange insects - a Scorpion fly complete with curled sting on its  tail, a fly that thinks it is a bumble bee, an Ichneumon Wasp and a fly that mimics it, a green bug pretending to be a leaf and a splendid green eyed fly.

RPS Nature Group at a Wet RSPB Lakenheath Fen

Somehow the weather knows when we are to hold an RPS Nature Group outing so for the third outing recently, after a fine week, Saturday was cool and wet. This was not good for those wanting birds in action - the Hobbies must have spent a hungry day and even the Bitterns, Kingfishers and Warblers , although present, were difficult to pick out from the foliage. I decided to go for the bird in the landscape! But for macro workers, the conditions were good with no wind or harsh lighting to contend with. Lots of  snails, spiders, flies and damselflies; my favourites of the day were the pair of Leaf Beetles and the Long-horned Moth. Thanks for the usual hospitality by the RSPB staff.

Toft Photogroup Cambridge Challenge

Our village has a small photogroup and on Friday we ventured into Cambridge for an evening's photography. We were set the challenge of illustrating 4 topics. With the help of Photoshop the first image combines all of them, Knockers, Red, 10 and Movement (felt it best not to knock repeatedly on the door to get movement!)