Tulip

At eye level in the garden...........

Geese at Wicken Fen

Went to the Burwell Fen end of Wicken Fen to see the new Hide.   It will probably take a while before the vegetation around it grows sufficiently to entice wildlife back.

This pair of Greylag Geese was in evidence with one of the pair being almost albino, but not entirely.   Sunlight shone through the webbed feet too.

Bottisham Lock

A gloriously sunny morning.   A Pied Wagtall was collecting nesting material and will probably be nest building around Bottisham Sluice (where Swallows also nest but not confirmed yet).   I'm pretty sure it was a Yellow Wagtail in the grain field and I haven't seen one for several years.   Blue Tit was obliging as was the female Yellow Hammer.

Jubilee Room, Palace of Westminster

An ex-colleague, Steve McCabe is the MP for Selly Oak, Birmingham.   He had offered to host an event in the Palace of Westminster for the charity for which I'm a Trustee.   We were able to disseminate the successful research outcomes from a 10 year longitudinal study of the workings of this therapeutic community.   There was time before that to take a few photographs of some of the public areas - Westminster Hall and then the Pugin wallpaper in the Jubilee Room.

Deer near Research Park

How quickly the stag's antlers are growing.   The deers' winter coats are coming out now even though we are continuing to have showers of sleet and hail both day and night.   During the rutting season the stag is separated from the does.   Not entirely sure what he might be saying to the does these days.

Churchyard Cherry

Willingham Churchyard has this prolific flowering cherry which was a joy to behold.

More Wicken Fen images

There are often Konik Ponies to see, and on this occasion, also a Grey Heron, a close up of the Whooper Swan, and some of a flock of Goldfinches.   The finches travel in large numbers on occasion, and it is difficult to capture the whole flock!   The Konik Ponies are lovely colours and well camouflaged in this environment.   Whenever I photograph a Grey Heron in flight I remember Bryan Parker who was always keen to photograph them.

Seasonal First Sightings - Wicken Fen

The first surprise, when walking in from the Upware end of Wicken Fen, was to see a Whooper Swan alongside the narrow boats with a couple of Mute Swans.   They weren't there on the return.   It was lovely to see a Blackcap, Chiffchaff in the open, a Swallow, a Common Tern and lastly a Whitethroat.   What a morning!   Additionally, I heard a Bittern booming and plenty of Cetti's Warblers but I've yet to get a decent sighting of a Cetti's, leave alone photograph one.

Bottisham Lock

Just hadn't got round to doing some postings, but here is a bit of a catch-up.    Somewhat unusual to find a Swallow perched on a branch, but obliging.   Some days birds are more obliging than others!   Another sign of summer is hearing and seeing a Sedge Warbler.   Quite a number of Goldfinches around and a Mute Swan and Coot nesting in close proximity.

Research Park

A gloriously sunny morning with plenty of trees coming into flower.   Probably one of the first non-honey bees seen this year too.

Isleham Washes

It had been quite a while since I was last at Isleham Washes.   There are some interesting birds to see but too far away!   A few Avocets were around, probably some Snipe and Teal - none of which were close enough to photograph.   Aggression among Canada Geese, Greylag goslings and a Pied Wagtail were close enough on a lovely sunny and cold Sunday morning.

ISAS Garden Plants

We have an Amelanchier outside the kitchen window and it is one of my favourite shrubs - although challenging to photograph.   The flowers don't last that long and yesterday they had quite a bashing from the wind, rain and cold.   Thankfully they have survived.   Many of the bulbs and Hellibore are alright too.