Quy Fen

I do want to keep this blog going so that I can record a year photographically.   It means, though, that some days I have to 'find' something to photograph on dog walks, and that can be a challenge at times.   The first two images are taken from either end of the Fen.

This memorial stone speaks for itself.   Of note is the attention the farmer is giving to preserve this stone - but then it might be the Ison family which is still farming this land.

Quite some waves for standing water in one of the fields near the Fen!



Whenever I see such a line of pylons I'm reminded of an advertisement on TV (a while ago) which had them walking across the countryside.

Walk in the wind at Quy Fen

Quite a number of folk were out walking at Quy Fen this morning.   But then it is one of the less muddy walks for dogs in the area.   None of these dogs is ours, and anyway, two are quite enough!



It was more difficult than I had imagined trying to photograph the dogs with their ears being blown by the wind.   Given the weather forecast, I guess I shall get some practice soon enough!

 

Ely Cathedral

A friend and I had arranged to meet in Ely for lunch, and settled on the interior of the Cathedral for our rendez vous - out of the wind!   Just a couple of snatched photographs while I was waiting.   I have played around with the contrast on the first one, but not the second.

Sitting and thinking

Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits!

Boxing Day morning

The early morning light on the walk around the fields this morning was strikingly blue - not sure why.  

The first image is of the pollarded willow trees which I have photographed in various weather conditions, in particular in the snow.

Fungus on Walnut trunk

This fungus was found on a Walnut trunk which had been felled because the tree was 'dead'.   Although some of it sounds hollow to the knock, clearly not all of it is yet dead.   I would welcome help with the identification of the fungus, and would be interested to know how particular it is to Walnut.   It was wonderful to find the fungus in such good condition, particularly as these were the only two outcrops.

Sunrises

Perhaps what has been particularly noticeable is the range of colours in recent sunrises.   The first three were taken as the sun was rising when walking towards Quy Fen;  the second two were taken at Milton Country Park.   The magic of skies in the Fens!

Sunsets

Some of the skies in both the mornings and evenings during December have been fantastic.   The sunset was taken over Toft and it was a challenge capturing just how much colour there was in the sky - and that was before the cataract operation!

Pensthorpe

I had set my heart on capturing some images of the Bearded Tit, or more correctly, Bearded Reedlings.   What a challenge!   I shall have to go back and keep trying.....    In the same aviary were some other waders - Curlew, Ruff in winter plumage and perhaps a Stint.

Turnstone at Cromer

This Turnstone was foraging for food on the concrete walkway above the beach at Cromer.   It was tossing over vegetation before it found a very long worm.   Perhaps it was an earthworm, perhaps not.

Tidal Surge, Cromer Pier, 6 December

Cromer Pier is an attraction to photograph and it was particularly dramatic at times with such a high tide and winds.

Tidal Surge, North Norfolk Coast, 6 December

This was to have been my first trip to Snettisham to see the behaviour of waders when there was a high tide at dawn.   However, because of the anticipated tidal surge, Snettisham was going to be closed until 09.00 on the Saturday.   Instead Ann and I went along the North Norfolk coast to those villages and towns which retained access to the sea.

The first was to Morston Quay where a number of folk had come down to the coast to see if their boat was in the same place - many weren't!

We then went to Sheringham and Cromer and the surge had clearly caused considerable damage to some properties.

Paxton Pits

A visit yesterday revealed just how little there could be to photograph!   Hardly anything was about, but there was a sighting from the Kingfisher Hide of a Grass Snake swimming - at a distance.   I was amazed at how long it was.   The middle photograph isn't all snake I'm sure, but it shows just how strong the snake wake can be.

The only other thing captured was what I think is a Large White butterfly.