After the Sunclose Farm season

These photographs were taken on the last day of September and capture all the work that goes on after we've finished buying soft fruit at Sunclose Farm, Impington.   What an acreage of land!   The seasonal workforce stays on for more than a month after the shop is closed to take down the polytunnels and generally tidy up.   Many return to Eastern Europe for the winter months before returning next summer.

These strawberries were the only remaining fruit to be seen.   I wonder who gets to eat them?   Without the polytunnel for protection one could imagine the birds really enjoying the feast!   The last couple of contre-jour photographs show how much vegetation had been allowed to grow inside some of the polytunnels at the end of the season.

Welney II

Other than Whooper Swans...........

There were more Lapwing gathered than I'd seen in a very long time.   They twinkle in flight when the light catches their underbellies.   It was quite comical to see a long line of Canada Geese crossing in front of the Hide - at least 20 of them.   A humble Mallard, but they can be attractive when they 'stand up' in the water.

Welney

It was good to meet Miles, Ann and Phil at Welney on Tuesday.   The water level is low so quite a concentration of wildfowl - over 2000 Whoopers and 9 Bewicks (somewhere).   By the time  Robin and I got there were fewer swans.   However, that didn't stop those that were there from settling some scores and relishing lots of washing/cleaning, with plenty of splashing.

White Park Cattle?

I thought this was an example of White Park Cattle but having checked some websites, I'm not sure as it doesn't have any horns.   Attractive nevertheless.   This was in the fields between The Cam and the railway line at Clayhithe.   This herd was very curious about dogs.

Creativity

Having gone out without a camera once recently (and missed photographing a Barn Owl at close quarters), I'm reluctant now to be without it (the camera).   Had to resort to trying some panning once more, as the light wasn't special, nor was there anything moving to attract my attention except autumn colours.

The images are of a hedge near the Waterbeach Car Dyke Roman Canal, but the reds are not prominent.   The first image is of an Asparagus frond, in autumn hue, and the creative effect is from twisting a telephoto lens during the shutter movement .   I settled on images with some sky in the panned hedge ones.

Heron and Mink

Also early this morning at Bottisham Lock was a silhouette of a Heron (plus an edited version) and later the first sighting of a Mink at the Sluice.   The Mink was hiding in the footings of the Sluice and disappeared at one point to return with cobwebs on its face!   Sadly I didn't get to see it out in the open, probably because it was fearful of the dogs.

Sunrise at Bottisham Lock

Sunrise photographs may not engage everyone, but I hope I shall always want to capture the start of a new day when there's plenty of colour and anticipation.   The first photograph is of the sunrise reflected off a window - and it tested my use of the 'lens correction' function in Lightroom!   The next photograph is of the view upstream and the other two capture unusual cloud shape and strong colours.

Barn Owl, Clayhithe

A few days ago I'd seen a Barn Owl at Clayhithe quartering between the tow path and the railway line and uncharacteristically I didn't have a camera with me!   Glad I went back this morning and although the owl wasn't as close as it had been earlier in the week, at least the light was good this morning.

Mute Swans in Flight

There were some spectacular photographs to be had of three Mute Swans coming into land, but.......   However, these photographs bring back the memory.

Lovely Light - Bottisham Lock

Sometimes on a walk one finds lots to photograph and sometimes little.   This morning there were lots of photographs to take, and of different things.   Kingfishers were about but not hanging around to be photographed!   The sunrise was lovely and the morning light added to the other subjects photographed.   Rarely do we see cattle in these parts.   The greenhouse hadn't been used for a while.   The Little Grebe didn't actually take off.   This year's Great Crested Grebe was around two adults but under threat of being chased away for good, and in the process of 'escape' created a spectacular wake.

 

Moon in the Morning

Wanted to get another contemporaneous posting done and enjoyed the range of subtle colours this morning's sky produced on the Research Park walk.   Not sure that I have a preference for the orientation of image......

Wengen III

The weather tended to get better as the week progressed.   The first image was taken from the top of Mannlichen (I think) on day one, the second on day two when we went to Murren and this mountain top was across the valley from Murren.   I liked the suggestion of a recession of the tops.   The third photograph was taken on the last day and with the two viewing stations in the bottom left of the image, the insignificant size of the visitors underscores the vastness of the Bernese Oberland - in this instance near Grindlewald.