New Years Eve 2011

The last day of 2011

A mild and windy day
Wishing everybody a Happy New Year for 2012

A Dull December Day

A brief diffused shaft of light through the window on this artificial flower encouraged us to go for a walk in Ashridge...

We had hoped that the clear sky on the horizon might reach us, but it rained instead

A jelly like fungus on the ground. Possibly an example of the 'Yellow Brain Fungus', normally found on branches, so it is probably something else!

Christmas Day - No Snow, only a Snow Bunting

Christmas Day, a dull and breezy day.

A trip to Startops reservoir, near Tring, to see the long staying male Snow Bunting. It did not let me down, allowing me a number of photos for the record. An example below.

Whilst waiting on the reservoir bank this juvenile Mute Swan flew in ......
....only to be chased off by an adult mute swan

The poor light meant slow shutter speeds giving the pleasing blurred wings

Ivinghoe Beacon last December (2010)

It's certainly been cold these last few days, but no snow to talk about.

These photos were taken around Ivinghoe Beacon last December.

Camouflaged Mantis

More photos from France in September

A camouflaged Praying Mantis

A little less hidden

Revist to December 2010 - Waxwings

A year ago the UK was invaded by unusually large numbers of Waxwings turning up all the country. These, my first ever, were spotted by chance resting in a tree by the edge of playing field surrounded by houses in Leighton Buzzard. Wonderful colours in their wings. I hope we will get another occurrence this year

A couple of starlings leaving a nearby ariel.

Butterflies from Le Defile de L'Argensol, France.

After today's cold wintry weather in the UK, some September butterfly photographs from the limestone gorge in Southern France

Possibly a Silver-Spotted Skipper

Camouflaged Butterfly on the dry river bed
A Clouded Yellow on Scabious

Not so camouflaged!

Dockey Wood, Ashridge

December, and this is Dockey Wood without its famous Bluebells.

A Muntjac stays in the shade of the wood

Brilliant golden evening sun beyond the wood...
...catching the denuded winter branches of the adjacent wood.

Market and Street in a town in Gard, France

More from September
Market Soaps

The dog was the one who gave up his ground!

Market Spices

Cat Shadows

A French Frog

From September again

A little frog in a pool by the river's edge

Even so, I think it is a Marsh Frog

Misty November Morning, Old Linslade

A misty start to the day. Mainly black and white photos as the colours were so flat.

Canada Geese feeding on rough pasture

A spiders web covered in droplets from the mist captured the coming brightness as the mist melted away.

A young Great Tit was close enough for colour

The swirl of water as the canoeists passed

Black Headed Gulls, a Jackdaw and Rooks in Silhouette

Two Tailed Pacha, Southern France

Back in September, exploring the banks of Le Gardon de Mialet near Ales France, my wife spotted this large beautiful and exotic butterfly resting in the shade. At the time I had no idea what we had seen. A bit of lucky google research tells me it was a Two Tailed Pacha.

The colours of the underwings!!

It was very docile and allowed us to pick it up and move it into the sun, where it opened up its wings for a few seconds before flying back to the bushes, giving me a chance to get the open wing photo.
Not a great shot, but at least it gives an idea of the contrast between the top and underside of the wings

Magpie Ink Cap Mushrooms at Ashridge

This last weekend we came across the Magpie Ink Cap mushroom in the beech woods. This mushroom appears to melt away when mature, turning into water, described as deliquescent in the guides

Just starting to melt.....

....even before it turns into a parasol as it matures, here with liquid in its rim.
It is poisonous to humans!

New Tate Modern and Millenium Bridge, London

Photos taken late September 2011

Silouettes always interest me

Halloween at Ashridge

A strange object in the sky just before dark?

A Halloween Ghoul?
My first attempt at trying to photograph a bat. Plenty of room for improvement!

Hummingbird Hawk-Moths, England and France

Yesterday I photographed this migrant Hummingbird Hawk-Moth feeding on nectar on these Petunias in a hanging basket. A sign of how mild it has been recently that this wonderful day flying moth is still about.

Earlier in September I was able to photograph the same species in a garden in Southern France.