Quy Fen

Took the dogs to Quy Fen this morning.    There was low light and not that much to photograph, but as I want to keep the blog going, I'm including what I did see, plus a couple of photographs of Yellowhammers feeding in our garden.

Skylark in flight

Female Reed Bunting enjoying the Oilseed Rape

A male and female Yellowhammer have been frequenting our bird feeder this year.   I imagine their nest is in one of the arable fields next to us.

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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 shafts 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!