Dahlias at Anglesey Abbey

It was lovely to have lunch with Clare and David today at Anglesey Abbey and venture out in between showers to photograph Dahlias.   They are not my favourite flower by any means, but their boldness of colour and complexity of structure can't be ignored when you see a display as fullsome as that seen today.   Those attending to the plants were pleased with this year's showing, but didn't think it was quite as good as last year's!   Depending on when the first frost comes, these plants could go on blooming until mid November.

 One of the gardeners alerted us to the Dahlia heads which had been put on the surface of the lode water near the mill.   They did look somewhat like water lilies, as intended.

Bottisham Lock

This morning's walk took us back to Bottisham Lock to see if there were any Swallows still.   None at all.   I guess they will have started their very long flight south to warmer climes.   Instead a few Wagtails were on the pumping station.  

Even on Sundays the polo ponies get exercised.

Sometimes the ponies are cooperative when being 'caught'.   It is still something of a challenge getting four ponies through a gap in the fencing though.   All the ponies in these fields seem to accommodate being in very close proximity to one another and don't appear to upset one another when being led around and ridden.   Only one horse is saddled up and the other three are taken round at the same time on exercise.

Roe Deer - Wicken Fen

Although these Roe Deer kept their distance it was lovely to see them in family groups.   The first group was grazing on 'terra firma' outside Charlie's Hide which on all previous occasions has had water in front of it!   No birds to be seen.

The second group was in a harvested field alongside the road going back to Burwell.   Previously I had seen only Muntjac Deer on Wicken Fen.

Konik Pony detail - Wicken Fen

I went across the lode at the Cockup Bridge, Wicken Fen in the hope of seeing, leave alone photographing Short Eared Owls, but they are not around yet.   Instead there was a Konik Pony on its own and uncharacteristically tolerant of humans.   It wasn't troubled by the dogs either.   I love the colouring of these noble animals.

First Cousin Twice Removed

I had seen Sidi when she was a matter of months old, but this was the first chance to interact with her and watch her play.    She was enjoying her new bookcase which will get taken down to Weston-super-Mare shortly.

Deer at the Research Park

Although I had taken photographs of these Red Deer previously, I found them to be more tolerant of a human on this occasion.    They didn't like the dogs though and on a couple of occasions charged towards the fencing to frighten them off!   No sign of the stag.

 Worth presenting these attractive animals in monochrome too.

Swallows

Bottisham Pumping Station has Swallows breeding and roosting in it and around it.   These young ones were enjoying the warmth of the morning sunlight and getting some preening done.   On this and a previous occasion there must have been about 50 Swallows perching and flying around.   About an hour later they had left the site - I think to spend the day on the wing, feeding.   With these weather conditions they may not hang about in the UK for much longer.

 I believe the butterfly is a Green-veined White.

Mute Swan

I set myself a rather silly objective of trying to photograph the head and top part of the neck of a Mute Swan when it was under water.    The symmetry of some of the neck above the water and the head underneath held my attention for a while.   And there's reflection and shadow, but what is which?!

Research Park - evening light

I hadn't managed to get out for a walk with the dogs until the evening.    Doing the walk at the other end of the day brought a very different light and atmosphere to an otherwise familiar walk.

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.