Thetford Forest

Last weekend we took the van for an outing to see how our 'new' dog, Leo would cope not only with traveling in the van but also sleeping in it overnight.  In the event he was untroubled by the whole venture.   Encouraging for the summer I hope.

We stayed on a campsite with immediate access to Thetford Forest which the dogs and I enjoyed at each end of the day.

On the first evening I saw two deer which thankfully neither dog saw!   The one on the left is a Muntjac Deer and I think the lower one is a Roe Deer.
 

First thing in the morning the sun was shining and throwing rafts of light through the trees - calming and atmospheric.

 

I really enjoyed hearing and seeing some more Blackcaps, and in different vegetation.

 
















On our way home we stopped at Lakenheath Fen and I was delighted to have heard a Bittern for the first time, but didn't see it to photograph.    Hobbies were about and although I don't have enough pixels in this image, I think it does capture what Hobbies do, namely catch insects in their talons and eat them on the wing.

Worts Meadow

There is an orchid in the wood which I have not seen before called a Twayblade orchid.   I'm told it is one of four different orchids in this wood, but the others appear not to be in bloom yet.

Although not a good photograph I enjoyed listening to, and trying to photograph, this Song Thrush, so appropriately named.

In the moat is this plant which I don't know the name of yet.   Will have to do some investigating!








In the pond are numerous tadpoles - so reminiscent of childhood summers.

Ipswich Waterfront 9 May

For a while I had been wanting to visit the new Waterfront at Ipswich.   The weather didn't contribute much to the experience as it was pretty overcast most of the day, and not in a way which added atmosphere.

I was a student in the town between 1975-1977 and remember old wharfs and storage buildings, some of which remain today as the development of the area was clearly halted abruptly in 2008 and the economic downturn.

When ambling along the front it was easy to forget one was in Ipswich - one could have been in any European city.

Street art picking up the colouring of the flats behind.

Of particular interest was to see the transformation of what had been Civic College to the seat of learning called University College Suffolk (UCS).   The building appearing below is new and additional to the site which had been Civic College and is now part of UCS.   Clever use of a question mark as a statue outside!

Some cameos which again could appear anywhere, well nearly anywhere!

Birds alongside The Cam

I hesitate to say I shall turn over a new leaf, but it is a new year for me and I should like to capture it with images.

I hadn't expected to see that much bird life alongside The Cam this morning as it was overcast (not unusual) and windy.   Was delighted to watch a Grey Wagtail feeding young close to the path at Baits Bite Lock.

I also saw a Black Cap - the first of the summer for me.

Although Robin and Wren are more common birds, it is always a pleasure to enjoy their song.

To round off the morning, I saw a Goldfinch and was amazed to see just how much speed the bird generated in its first leap off a twig.   Yes, I know, the bird isn't in focus!

Great Crested Grebe's Nest

Yesterday morning I went to check on the progress of what I think was a second brooding for this pair of Great Crested Grebes. A disaster had struck as far as I could tell, and recently. Instead of one bird incubating on the nest, both birds were behaving as though something was wrong. One bird, I think probably the female, eventually climbed onto the nest to check out what had happened. There weren't any eggs or chicks to be seen anywhere. She then sat on the nest which appeared very wet, but not for long. She then left the nest and before both birds left the area, the remains of the nest sank. I carried these images around in my head all of yesterday, and still don't know what had caused the destruction of the nest. A challenging world for birds...

Little Owls at Worlington

I had been told there was at least one Little Owl chick to expect - and that was all there appears to be. An early start paid off and I was able to capture the chick initially outside the 'nest' - a horizontal hollow telegraph pole - on arrival, followed by an adult returning to the area to feed a grub of some sort to the chick. The adult knew I was there and told the chick to disappear inside the pole, which it did! Decided I should leave after a short while so that the necessary feeding before fledging could continue. May go again tomorrow morning...

Downstream of Clayhithe

Enjoyed a relatively new walk this morning and found some LBJs! Pleased to have caught a Goldfinch in flight (although it isn't sharp) and to have captured what I think is a female Linnet. Someone might be able to confirm whether or not it is? There are three images of warblers which may be the same species, or different. Can't make up my mind which of the two images with the warblers on cowparsley I prefer. Any thoughts?