Beautiful Bluebells

 

You know that feeling when you look under a cushion and find a £20 note that must have fallen out of your pocket unnoticed? No nor do I, it is more likely to be a till receipt or a tissue in my house. But just imagine how good it would feel. Well that is sort of how I felt earlier today when I picked up my camera to get a couple of macro shots of a mysterious bug on our garden wall (more of that at a later date). After I had got a few decent shots I scrolled through to find a load of pictures from a recent day out that I had forgotten I had, then to make things even better I found a load of pictures from a day out before that too. I was so pleased I could hardly wait until I finished work to upload them.

So although the bluebell season has ended I still have a few pictures that I haven't processed yet, I don't want to overload this post with too many pictures so I will spread them over a day or two. Unlike my last post which was from a walk in Boilton Woods these were taken at Burton Mere, I think you will agree that these are quite special, such beautiful flowers and now they are gone for another year it is nice to still be able to enjoy their beauty.

I am so grateful for the beauty of nature and I am grateful that I found these almost forgotten images (I would have liked to find £20 too).

Something Creepy

 Isn't this little chap adorable? 

This is one of my favourite woodland species, a Treecreeper. Although they are quite widespread (214,000 pairs in the UK) they are really difficult to spot. They are very small, and they are constantly on the move as they almost scurry up and down tree trunks and along branches in search of food. They cling tight to the bark, often using their tails to give additional support, their brown plumage is perfect camouflage and that curved beak is just right for probing the cracks in the bark for the insects that make up its diet.

When I spotted this one I was also pleased to see a second treecreeper further up on a neighbouring tree which is unusual as they are normally solitary birds; although as we are at the start of spring it is possible this was a breeding pair out foraging together. Anyway whatever their story I think this is a little woodland gem and I am definitely very pleased to have captured these images which I can share with you.

The Holly and the Bokeh

 So, following on from yesterday here are a few more shots experimenting with bokeh.

This time instead of lichen I have used holly as the subject but the naturally fragmented light in the shrubs behind the holly has created marvellous bokeh. 

I love the rich tones of the first two images but I also think it works well in high contrast black and white as in the third image.

Gold Crest

 A few weeks ago I saw a pair of Goldcrests while I was out for a walk, I managed to get a few photos on my phone's camera because they had flown onto a bush right next to me and stayed around for a little while. I wanted to go back and capture some more images using my DSLR so I went back to the same spot and waited.

Although it was a sunny day the light in the woodland was not that great and also the large number of dog walkers on my chosen day meant there was a lot more traffic than on my previous visit. The birds did appear after a short while but they were more skittish and wary than the last time so I was pushing my equipment to get these shots. They were all taken at 560mm F8.0 1/1000 sec and 10,000 ISO. Due to the high ISO there is a lot of noise in the RAW images so I have removed some of that in lightroom resulting in some loss of detail. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to see these beautiful birds again and I am fairly pleased with the above images. I am sure to go back again in the hope of getting some more, and better, shots of these stunning little beauties.

A Few Days in December

 So, I know that we are now part way through January, almost a third of the way actually so it may seem a bit late to post something with a title "A Few Days in December" but that is what these pictures and those that I  will share over the coming days represent.

I managed to get out for just a few days last month, although I have had a fair bit of time on my hands the poor weather and a lack of motivation on my part meant I didn't get out as much as I would have liked and when I sat down to review my images I actually thought that I wouldn't have very much to show for it. 

As it happens on those few days out I did get more than a few shots and perhaps more important than the images themselves I had time to unwind, to reflect and to connect with nature in a way that I really needed. Although I had my camera with me the primary purpose was just to get out and enjoy being out, without putting any pressure on myself to get the perfect shot.

Above are a few images from my first day out, a short visit to Mere Sands Woods. The weather was not great, the lighting poor and I really should have used a faster shutter speed but as I say photography was not the most pressing thing for me, I really enjoyed my walk and mostly just watching. The pictures, well they are a bonus.

I hope that you enjoy the images above of a Great Tit, a couple of Blue Tits, a hungry Nuthatch and  of course, what winter walk would be complete without a Robin?!

Some of these images were made possible because someone had left out some seed on a tree stump where I stood a while and watched the birds come down in a frenzy to feed. 

The Robin shot was captured right at the end of my walk, I think it is quite a nice image but I had an even closer and perhaps more meaningful encounter with a Robin on one of my other days out, which no doubt I will tell you about in a future post.

Dead Wood

 In the forest in winter it would be easy to think that everything is either dead or dormant but actually as you look around you will find an abundance of life. Everything in the forest works in harmony and even the old dead wood is home to so much new life; from the insects and grubs that feed on it and help to break it down, to the fungi and mosses that draw on its rich supply of nutrients.

Then in the rain or after a heavy rainfall the sound of water dripping from the tress and the sheen on the leaf litter adds even more to the experience.

I enjoyed my woodland walk here (this is in the Black Forest) and I will be certain to get out to a forest near me over the coming weeks so that I can draw on the energy that it gives.

The Boar's Head

 I don't know whether you can see what I see, but when I saw this rotting log i thought of a wild boar rummaging in the dirt or perhaps just resting its chin on the ground.

I like looking for things like this where rotting wood has the appearance of something else it certainly adds a little interest to the decaying process.

Oh Baby

 I had spent the morning defrosting the freezer, not the most exciting way to use a valuable day off work that's for sure, so after lunch I decided to head off to Dunham Massey for a walk around the deer park.

I am lucky to have some really nice places to visit close by where I can enjoy the wildlife. While you might think that photographing deer in a managed herd is not as special as photographing them in the wild it still has its challenges. Although the deer are used to people they are still wild and quite timid so it is important to respect that and keep a sensible distance. At this time of year as the rut is under way that is even more important because they are on high alert.

It was a real treat to spot this youngster in the first image, it was so cute.

Later on it was wonderful to spot another youngster feeding from its mother, it was such a tender moment to witness. I stood really still so as not to disturb this mother and child.

It was so good to get out even just for an hour or two and I need more moments like this to help clear my head and get a break from the pressures and concerns that sometimes can wear me down.

In the Leaf Litter

 Meet Trypocopris vernalis.

I love getting down into the undergrowth and leaf litter to find what lurks there. It is so easy to miss what is beneath our feet but there is so much interesting stuff to see. Often it is very small so hard to see, or it moves really quickly so it is very difficult to have a good look let a lone get a decent image.

This little critter scurried across the forest path so I followed it for a little while to see where it would go. At first glance it looks pure black but as the light catches it you can see flashes of brilliant blue. on its belly there is even more blue and it is a really beautiful colour.

The "copris" part of its name gives a hint to one of the characteristics of this beetle, namely its diet, or at least the diet of its larvae since they feed on the dung of animals such as sheep and foxes, YUK! (the poo diet, not the fox). They are a species of dung beetle and their common name is the Common dor beetle or Spring dor beetle. The chances are if you have been out walking in the woods or anywhere in the countryside you will have seen one of these or perhaps one of its cousins as they are widespread across Europe and Asia minor. Despite its dodgy diet they are really cool. Go on take a closer look.

Enchanting Erythronium

 

I love these delicate lilies that were growing in the dappled shade of a woodland garden at Bodnant. The way the petals peel backwards and upwards to reveal the bright yellow anthers to attract the pollinators is quite enchanting. 

The first image above is one of my favourite shots in quite a while, I love the balance of light and shade and the way the flower appears to be almost floating or dancing in the air like a ballerina or perhaps for those who believe like a fairy.  As I said enchanting.

Beautiful Bluebells

 I have been so very busy at work in recent weeks and I have had barely a moment to relax, as different emergency situations developed I was getting more and more behind with things I need to do. On Friday afternoon as I closed down my laptop I decided I needed to get out for a while to end the working week on a high.

The sun was shining and so I put the top down on my car and drove down to Burton Mere Wetlands. I didn't actually make it to the reserve itself because I first went for a walk through the woodland to look at the bluebells and spent quite some time taking the stunning display, the scent was wonderful too although a couple of people complained they couldn't smell them which in these times of Covid 19 made me wonder if they should get tested...

Seeing these bluebells brought back many happy memories, among them memories from my youth in Kent walking with my family in Bluebell Wood, and more recent times of Boilton Wood in Lancashire.

I love to see the wonderful carpet of blue but I also like to look closer and see the detail of each delicate flower and you can see that as they open out they really are little bells. These are the native English Bluebells and they are a protected species. As such I was unable to wander freely in the woods and had to stick to the marked footpath, I was able to spot a couple of trails through the bluebells which marked the route of badgers that live in the woods.

I was so glad I took a little time to myself to end the week on a high note.

In The Cold Light of Morning

It certainly was cold on this particular morning but with the light glowing through the trees it gives this scene a warm quality that draws you in and makes you forget about the cold.

I love combination of the rich green and velvety moss, the warm brown tones of the ferns and the milky sunlight. I also love the twisted forms of the trees and fallen branches.

Misty Morning in Patterdale

On the valley floor and along the shore of Ullswater everything was shrouded in mist and a thick frost coated everything on the ground and in the trees. However ascending through the forest it was possible to catch glimpses of the fells rising above the mist to see clear blue sky and to feel the warmth of the morning sun.

It was a truly wonderful place to be.

Winter Glow

I always enjoy a woodland walk. An early start on a cold and frosty morning with the winter sun glowing through the trees are just some of the ingredients for a perfect day out.

I think these two images really capture the atmosphere of calm that I enjoyed on Saturday. I had been looking forward to getting out with my camera for a few weeks but work commitments and lousy weekend weather had put paid to any hopes I had so when the forecast showed perfect conditions on Saturday I had to go... I think these and the other shots I captured on that day were ample reward for the early start and extreme cold.

Fleshy Fungus

It is that time of year when a woodland walk will reveal lots of beautiful fungi and I can never resist capturing images of these wonderful organisms.

I will soon be heading to the New Forest for a few days and I am sure that I will be snapping a few more like this.

In The Shady Woodland

I love walking in the woods in the early morning. The sound of birdsong, the sunlight through the canopy creating a patchwork of light and shade and in spring the sight and smell of bluebells forming a carpet of green and blue.

Did you know that the native bluebell is a protected plant? in the UK if you remove bluebells from the wild and you are caught selling them on for personal gain you can be fined £5,000 per bulb!!!

Did you know that every part of the bluebell is poisonous? It is best just to look on and enjoy their delicate beauty and breathe in the wonderful fragrance.

Did you know that in ancient times bluebells were used to make the glue that stuck feathers onto the shaft as flights for arrows?

Surprisingly Beautiful

These strangely beautiful plants are the skeletal remains of the perennial Cow Parsley. I think they are really photogenic especially on a cold, crisp winter's day like it was on New Year's Day especially when viewed through a macro lens.

In The Canyon

As promised I have chosen a different subject today having posted pictures of fungi for the past three posts. But if you want more fungi you could always check my instagram today (chipster_63)

The first of todays pictures shows the path through the forest on the way to Ouimet Canyon in Ontario. It is a spectacular sight however on the day we visited there was thick fog or low cloud obscuring much of the view although it was really atmospheric.

The canyon itself is 100m deep, 150m wide and 2km from end to end. The origin of the canyon is glacial erosion but the erosion continues as a result of wind and rain. 

One of the rock features that you can see in the above photos is known as the "Indian Head" which eerily peers through the mist.

The bottom of the canyon is out of bounds because it is of special scientific interest due to the many species of arctic flora found there. Normally they would only be found 1000km to the north but the conditions at the bottom of the canyon allow these species to flourish.