Evening Light, Landbeach

Initially I thought the haziness was a ground mist, but as I got nearer it was smoke from quite an important bonfire.   The second image has a 'polar' filter on it.

Swallows at Bottisham Pumping Station

All the Swallows' nests at this location are out of sight behind a very large grill, so early on in the breeding season one sees just adults flying in and out of the grill.   As time goes by, the young Swallows fledge and expect to be fed as often as possible.   The noise is quite intense as each youngster demands its fair share!

Swans in flight - Research Park

Perhaps I shall develop a theme of images called "Syncronicity".   These are not the only pairs of Swans I've taken in flight.   It is amazing to see how close they are to one another, and the confidence they must have in the bird in front not to do something untoward!

I haven't seen that many damselflies this year, but was pleased to see this well camouflaged Common Darter this morning.

Wicken Fen - other samples of wildlife

Yesterday was a glorious morning and prompted an early walk.   Although it was sunny with virtually no wind, there were few birds to be seen.

However, there were masses of Swallows on telegraph wires at the Upware end, perhaps contemplating migration to southern Africa.   What I don't recall seeing before were Swallows sitting in trees.   As there was hardly a Swallow to be seen on the way back, it prompted the thought that perhaps they had been roosting on willow branches before spending the day catching insects.

The Buzzard made its presence known when it called out.

I expect the butterfly is a Common Blue and I have yet to identify the Fly, but I have seen images others have taken of the same fly.

Wicken Fen - Kingfisher

I was delighted to see this Kingfisher on Wicken Lode yesterday morning.   I had seen it 'flash' by about 30 mins earlier, never expecting to see it again!   Thankfully it was perched on the other side of the Lode, opposite a gap in the reeds when I did spy it again!   The first image doesn't display the Kingfisher at its most attractive but I haven't photographed one 'face on' before.   I bet it had seen me long before I noticed it!

Sad about the busy background but as the lower image is probably the best image I have of this bird, it appears here.   The iridescent blue isn't quite the colour I remember seeing, but I haven't tampered with the colour balance in Lightroom either!

Lazy Otter

Quite a bit of vegetation has been cut away on the bank from the Lazy Otter and this is having an impact on the amount of insects to be seen during the walk to Streatham Old Engine.

A Swallow caught having a good scratch - with something of a supercilious expression!

Devil's Dyke

I was surprised how different the soil on Devil's Dyke is from the surrounding land and I spent a pleasant hour or so this morning on the chalk ridge, photographing its wildlife.   For a first visit I was impressed and will enjoy returning when it is less windy and will hope to see more Chalkhill Blue butterflies.

 Growing up on the edge of the Cotswolds meant that these flowers and samples of insect life were some of the first I ever noticed and it's a delight to find again such examples on chalky soil near a subsequent home.

Clayhithe

A couple of images from this morning's walk.   The Great Crested Grebe was very close to where I had seen a couple displaying earlier in the season and where there is a nest (with 3 eggs in it I'm told).   I hope to be able to follow the progress of this brood and get some images of young being carried on a parent's back in due course.   As to the identification of the fish.............

The Kestrel had spent quite some time hovering before swooping down but leaving without prey.

Research Park Walk on a foggy morning

These images show how variable the weather can be in April.   Later in the day the sun came out and the temperature rose.

I don't think it will ever be possible to get a decent photograph of a Skylark in flight.   Not only is it quite a small bird, Skylarks are never close enough and constantly on the move and changing altitude.

The Canada Geese often have a lot to say when in flight, in pairs!   The field they were flying into also had a larger number of Greylag Geese.

Birds in Worts Meadow, Landbeach

Although I have taken a camera out with me when I've had chances to walk the dogs, I haven't been getting images ready for this blog though!   It was wonderful to see a Swallow this morning and I enjoyed speculating as to whether these wires were its first 'touch down' since leaving warm climes as far away as Africa!

The Blackcap's song attracted my attention, but not the background against which it was sitting!   The Chiffchaff was better placed with the lichen reflecting the colour of its feathers and the inside of its bill.    Not too many pixels in evidence - just record shots.