Lakenheath Fen

 An early morning visit on Saturday revealed little about but I did enjoy watching and photographing a Hobby once it was warm enough to see a few dragonflies/damselflies on the wing for the Hobby to consider catching.   A female Common Whitethroat presented itself nicely.

Meeting Madge

 A friend has just acquired her first dog, Madge, who is an 8 month old Border Collie.   She reached her new home just 4 days ago and is making good progress.   It will be a privilege to have her staying here on occasion.   I enjoyed my first visit to Fordham Reserve which is very informal and will be very colourful when the Flag Iris are in flower.   A return visit is indicated.

Lakenheath Fen - this morning

 I love visiting this RSPB reserve and today was able to photograph a couple of Bittern in flight and a Cetti Warbler!   (Bittern are in a separate post)   This post includes several other birds and a Hobby although not a strong image.   It was one of the first Hobbys to have been seen on the reserve this summer and there was some discussion as to what it/they will be feeding on in the absence of dragonflies.   The Song Thrush was melodious first thing, Chiffchaff, Cetti Warbler, Littlee Egret, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Wren and Reed Bunting.

Bittern at Lakenheath Fen

 I was thrilled to have seen and photographed these two Bittern at Lakenheath Fen.   It was the morning the staff and volunteers were doing a Bittern count and these two were part of the five seen.   I think both these are male Bittern - heard no booming.

Botanic Garden

 I was trying out a newish Macro lens just after I'd taken the camera body to Wex in Cambridge for a fault to be sorted.   I'd hit what is referred to as the 'joystick' on the back of the camera and it had got stuck.   Once released the review/display button worked properly again.

Having renewed my Garden membership I'm expecting to spend more time photographing there.   Here are just a few images taken hastily as I had a cousin staying over the weekend (who is not a photographer) but was impressed with the Botanic Garden.   What a range of spring time plants and a couple of photographs of the iconic fountains using different shutter speeds.

 

Angelsey Abbey - not Snowdrops!

 All these photographs were taken in the parkland so a visit to the Winter Garden is indicated after half-term perhaps.

Angelsey Abbey - Snowdrops II

 Here are some close up images which reveal more detail than I was expecting.

Angelsey Abbey - Snowdrops I

 February half-term was a busy time at Angelsey Abbey but worth the trip.   I'm befriending a new macro lens and there's still plenty to learn about it.   I think I'm going to enjoy it.   This posting captures dense collections of snowdrops: a good year from all appearances.

Sheep in this morning's freezing fog

 For about another 4 weeks we can expect a few hundred sheep to continue grazing alongside this boundary.   I hadn't photographed them in the past fortnight but the thick fog and the frosty conditions prompted action.   There are several breeds of sheep here and I shall have to consult a teatowel I've had for many a year to see what I can identify.