London Architectural Abstracts

A few black & white photos in London producing abstract shapes.

The open escalator shaft for the Jubilee Line at Westminster station gives powerful shapes.

Escher Staircases?

Orwelian Metropolis perhaps?

Reflections in a Shopping Mall off Victoria Street

An office block on Victoria Street

Muntjac in Ashridge

Last weekend in Ashridge...

A Fox?....





No, a young male Muntjac...



..slipping off slowly through the bluebells.



It was remarkably unconcerned about our presence.  I wonder if it had been hand reared.







A Walk In Ashridge

The cloudy skies lifted this weekend.  In Ashridge some signs of summer and a reminder of last winter.

A Caddis Fly with silvery golden wings

A Seven Spot Ladybird on a Bluebell.





Excitement as we spotted a Tawny Owl.  It quickly flew off before we could get closer

The skull of a Fallow Deer that died last winter on Step's Hill, with a Cowslip poking through the eye socket

Missing Insects this May

The wet and cold start to May continues.  More heavy rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow with flood warnings.  The photos below were taken last year on the 1st May.  Except for the Holly Blue, these insects were found around Ivinghoe Beacon.

A diminutive Holly Blue in my small town Garden





The Duke of Burgundy, found in less locations in the Chilterns nowadays

A highly polished and hairy Bluebottle fly

A Dingy Skipper 









London Buildings

The April weather has continued into May, with little Sun with cold, wet and windy conditions.  This has meant no walks, so here are a few London Buildings taken last month.



A derelict building



Old and New

Borough Market Roof





Fallow Deer Coat Variations - During the April Moult

Some photographs showing Fallow Deer Does losing their winter coat on the Ashridge Estate.  These deer are wild and not fenced in, and are not owned by the estate.  They can be seen regularly in the farmers' fields that border the forest.

A leucistic (white not albino) doe...



... whilst the darker melanistic deer shows a darker, almost black coat emerging from under their moulting coat.



Part of the herd with 2 leucistic deer and a flock of Wood Pigeons in the tree beyond.