English Wilderness

Catrigg Force

2011-12-07T23:27:00.001Z

Catrigg Force is an impressive waterfall as Stainforth Beck flows into a haunted dell. No-one seems to know who or what haunts the dell. I certainly didn't spot anything unusual when I visited after dark :-)

Autumn Maple

2011-11-02T20:38:00.001Z

At the weekend we visited Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and walked the gardens and woodland trail. The autumn leaves looked quite spectacular, particularly the red maple. :-)

The berries of the yew tree look unusual. The seed is formed first then the red flesh grows around the seed, leaving an opening at one end. The seeds are poisonous, as are most parts of the yew tree...

Warrendale Knotts Cave

2011-10-17T09:40:00.001+01:00

Warrendale Dale Knotts Cave is hidden on Warrendale Knotts 60m above the Settle to Attermire footpath. The cave isn't the easiest to find, located behind a limestone block and a patch of nettles. There are approx 20m of passage, all crawling :-(

Spider Cave

2011-10-07T22:50:00.000+01:00

Spider Cave is a high opening in Beacon Scar. The debris strewn passage quickly lowers to a crawl which enters a small chamber. A squeeze through to the left enters a passage which is too narrow to follow :-(

Brent Scar Cave

2011-10-03T11:52:00.002+01:00

Brent Scar Cave is a high fissure to the south of Victoria Cave. The passage closes in after about 5 metres :-(

Spider

2011-09-15T21:51:00.005+01:00

I spotted this monster spider earlier today. There seems to everywhere this autumn, lurking just out of sight :-)

Sawfly Larvae

2011-08-31T13:46:00.000+01:00

Our rose bush is covered with sawfly larvae at the moment. This strange looking bug is approx 14mm long :-)

The Old East Passage, Gaping Gill

2011-08-25T15:55:00.000+01:00

A few days ago we paid another visit to Gaping Gill, a pothole in Yorkshire with a 110m drop from the surface. Once inside we went off to explore the Old East Passage.

After climbing the east slope and scaling a small ladder we entered a wide low passage. Progress along the passage varied between stooping and a crawl.

The passage is well decorated with an abundance of stalactites :-)

Dragonfly

2011-08-15T13:10:00.000+01:00

I suspect this dragonfly I spotted a few minutes ago is a blue hawker, another insect that isn't mentioned in Complete British Wildlife :-)

The View from Victoria Cave

2011-08-09T22:37:00.000+01:00

Victoria Cave is in King's Scar high above the village of Langcliffe and offers a fantastic view to the distant hills. :-)

Spider

2011-08-02T22:22:00.000+01:00

I visited a few caves over the weekend. Now I know how Spider Cave earned it's name - it's full of spiders :-(

Coquet Island

2011-07-16T11:30:00.001+01:00

Coquet Island is located off the Northumberland coast, but landing is strictly forbidden to protect the seabird colonies. The island is home to the medieval ruins of Saint Henry the Dane's hermitage which have been incorporated into the Victorian lighthouse.

Hobthrush: Saint Cuthbert's Isle

2011-07-04T21:44:00.000+01:00

The small island of Hobthrush or Saint Cuthbert's Isle lies just off the coast of Lindisfarne. Saint Cuthbert lived here as a hermit before seeking solitude on Inner Farne.

Northern Marsh Orchid

2011-06-19T12:07:00.000+01:00

Found in an abandoned quarry along the path of Hadrian's Wall. :-)

Forget-Me-Not

2011-06-14T00:05:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite flowers grows wild in the garden. The forget-me-nots are approx 7mm in diameter. :-)

Comma Caterpillar

2011-06-09T18:05:00.003+01:00

I spotted a few comma caterpillars in the garden this morning. The caterpillar above is 6mm. His bigger brother munching a currant leaf is 11mm :-)

Mystery Photo - Caterpillar Eggs

2011-05-25T11:21:00.002+01:00

I spotted this for the first time this morning... Can you identify what it is? :-)

Thanks to everyone who guessed and congratulations to Sparkle and Sheila who correctly identified caterpillar eggs. Also well done to everyone who mentioned eggs, close but not quite close enough! :-P

Chalk Arch at Selwicks Bay

2011-05-05T11:38:00.001+01:00

The chalk cliffs at Selwicks Bay, Flamborough Head contain several sea caves, rock arches and other formations. The rock arch formed when a sea cave collapsed. Eventually the top of the arch will fall away, leaving a chalk stack.

Swan

2011-04-28T10:18:00.000+01:00

While walking around a local lake I spotted a mute swan on her nest. I snapped a photo before taking a detour to avoid getting too close :-)

Caldey Island

2011-04-24T09:44:00.000+01:00

Caldey Island is just off the Pembrokeshire coast where the Bristol Channel meets the Celtic Sea. The Pembrokeshire coastline is visible on the horizon.

Formations in Gough's Cave

2011-03-27T23:07:00.002+01:00

Gough's Cave is one of the show caves in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset. The cave was originally know as Sand Hole. A retired local, Richard Cox Gough, spent 8 years excavating the cave before discovering Saint Paul's Chamber and opening it to the public.

In 1903 a human skeleton was discovered just inside the entrance, buried beneath 9000 years of debris. Cheddar Man was about 23 years old when he died and dates from 7150BC. Excavation revealed evidence of human occupation from approx 12000BC to Romano-British times.

Saint Margaret's Island

2011-03-20T11:10:00.000Z

Saint Margaret's Island is a small island in Carmarthen Bay, Wales. Two ruins can be seen on the island and Google maps reveals a square enclosure. Unfortunately the island is inaccessible to the public.

View on Google Maps

A Walk in the Forest

2011-02-25T16:19:00.000Z

A few days ago we went for a late afternoon walk through the woods at Sandringham. It's quite a trek through the forest so we only explored a small distance before the sun went down :-)

The Sky Tonight

2011-02-08T18:13:00.000Z

The crescent moon seems clear tonight so I couldn't resist taking a few pictures. The moon didn't turn out too bad although I didn't have much luck with Jupiter :-(

Storr's Cave, Ingleton

2011-01-12T17:55:00.006Z

Storr's Cave has two prominent entrances close to the road east of Ingleton. A large passage joins the two with smaller passages leading off. A low passage to the south descends to a dried up streamway. A narrow passage leads north, waiting to be explored another day ;-)

A hidden third entrance used to be an easy climb to a dry chamber full of small bones. However, the entrance has been enlarged and the chamber strewn with clay and debris from a new passage that's being excavated. I can't help wondering who's digging and what they've discovered :-)

The Big Freeze

2010-12-22T13:49:00.001Z

The U.K. is entering a new Ice Age, or so the media would have you believe. After a few inches of snow everyone's talking about The Big Freeze and the country has come to a standstill! :-)

Loch Lomond

2010-11-20T15:12:00.000Z

The view across Loch Lomond to the snowy slopes of Ben Lomond was the first sign of snow we spotted :-)

Scottish Rainbow

2010-11-13T11:44:00.000Z

I spotted this rainbow close to Kyle of Lochalsh on the way home from the Isle of Skye :-)

Fairy Glen

2010-11-09T15:54:00.000Z

After walking round the pinnacle searching for an easier path I found a well worn track to the top :-) The view down to the hazel grove is quite spectacular.

Stardust: Kingdom of Stormhold

2010-11-06T20:59:00.002Z

Stormhold is a magical kingdom close to the village of Wall in the movie Stardust. Fairy Glen on Skye is one of the many locations used. This rocky pinnacle is visible in several scenes. Do you think I can make it to the top? ;-)

The Old Man of Storr

2010-11-02T21:43:00.000Z

The Old Man of Storr is hiding in the mist. The 50m high basalt pinnacle was first climbed in 1955 by Don Whillan and James Barber.

Kilt Rock Waterfall, Skye

2010-10-30T15:50:00.001+01:00

I'm currently on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Kilt Rock Waterfall on the east coast is one of the most impressive, plunging 50m down to the sea :-)

Yew Berries

2010-10-26T11:17:00.030+01:00

The dark green seeds of the yew tree develop first followed by the red flesh which almost surrounds them. Yew ranks high among the world's oldest trees. Notable examples include the Llangernyw Yew and the Fortingall Yew.

The Lake at Belton House

2010-10-23T04:50:00.000+01:00

The gardens of Belton House near Grantham are fantastic. The lake isn't natural, having been dug for Sir John Brownlow 300 years ago.

Acorns

2010-10-20T10:43:00.004+01:00

Was I the only child who used to collect acorns? :-)

Wasp's Nest

2010-10-17T10:40:00.000+01:00

While walking around the lake at Belton House I was surprised by the amount of wasps. Here's where they live :-)

European Yew

2010-10-07T11:34:00.000+01:00

The berries of the yew tree are one of the strangest I've seen, having an opening at one end.

Jupiter

2010-09-23T23:18:00.001+01:00

Here's my latest attempt to take photos of the night sky, Jupiter and four moons.

Red Dragonfly

2010-09-11T20:52:00.001+01:00

This afternoon we visited Belton House near Grantham. While exploring the gardens I noticed a few red dragonflies hovering around the ponds, possibly Common Darters?

Dragonfly or Damselfly?

2010-09-06T20:01:00.000+01:00

I went for a walk along the River Witham yesterday and spotted these. Does anyone know what species they are? :-)

Small Copper Butterfly

2010-08-25T10:32:00.000+01:00

I spotted this Small Copper in the garden and it kindly waited while I went to fetch the camera :-)

East Gill Force

2010-08-18T20:40:00.000+01:00

East Gill Force is close to the Yorkshire village of Keld. The waterfall drops 4.5m shortly before East Gill meets the River Swale. We visited the falls yesterday after spotting them by chance on the map :-)

Hungry Caterpillars

2010-08-08T20:12:00.001+01:00

These tiny green caterpillars have virtually stripped the leaves from the gooseberry bush :-( Unfortunately I haven't been able to identify them. Any ideas?

Thistledown

2010-07-25T12:55:00.001+01:00

Thistledown is the soft silky material attached to thistle seeds to enable them to float on the breeze. We used to call them thistle fairies and try to catch one to make a wish :-)

Caterpillar Hunt

2010-07-20T08:17:00.004+01:00

This morning I went on a caterpillar hunt, looking specifically for caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth. I found plenty of ragwort where the moth lays her eggs, but had to search for a while before I discovered a few caterpillars :-)

Comma Butterfly

2010-07-15T08:14:00.004+01:00

The ragged edge of this butterfly's wing caught my eye. It's a Comma, a species that almost became extinct in the U.K. Thankfully the population has recovered and they're common in the south-east. :-)

The Comma butterfly often lays eggs on currant leaves so I'll be watching for caterpillars on the blackcurrants!

The Cinnabar Moth

2010-07-06T21:56:00.001+01:00

I first noticed a day-flying cinnabar moth a few weeks ago but as usual I was too slow to take a photo! Luckily I spotted another in the garden at the weekend. The caterpillars feed on ragwort and after a quick search I discovered a couple of plants at the end of the garden :-)

Duck

2010-07-01T11:26:00.000+01:00

I can always rely on ducks. They're one of the few birds that don't fly off the moment I get my camera out! Swans, geese, seagulls and pigeons also seem to love having their photo taken :-)

Oak Leaves

2010-06-25T23:45:00.040+01:00

Something I enjoy about photography is how it makes me pay attention to the colours and shapes around me. Otherwise I'd never have noticed how red the oak leaves are at this time of year :-)

Buttercup Meadow

2010-06-20T23:43:00.000+01:00

It's scenes like this meadow in Gloucestershire that make the buttercup one of my favourite wild flowers :-)

Storm Clouds over Lincolnshire

2010-06-15T09:34:00.001+01:00

After a fantastic weekend the storm clouds began to gather on Sunday evening. Here's the view to the west from Boston.

Bumble Bee

2010-06-09T20:20:00.000+01:00

When I visited Prinknash Abbey last week the grounds were alive with bees going about their business. Unfortunately I can't identify this one. Any ideas? :-)

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn

2010-06-03T18:09:00.000+01:00

For the last few days I've been camping in south Wales and couldn't resist visiting a few waterfalls. Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn (White Meadow Lower Waterfall) is hidden where Afon Mellte (The Lightening River) flows through a gorge.

The Sphinx Stone, Millstone Edge

2010-05-24T21:21:00.000+01:00

When I spotted this weathered rock at Millstone Edge it reminded me of a reclining lion. It wouldn't surprise me to find out it's called The Sphinx Stone but as far as I know it's just a nameless rock. :-(

Stanton Moor, Derbyshire

2010-05-19T00:01:00.000+01:00

Stanton Moor is a wild upland area between Matlock and Bakewell which was an important site in the Bronze Age. Nicholas Thomas's Guide to Prehistoric England lists more than 60 prehistoric features on Stanton Moor including The Nine Ladies stone circle.

The Cork Stone, Derbyshire

2010-05-15T16:01:00.001+01:00

The strangely shaped Cork Stone on Stanton Moor is about 5m high and apparently a natural outcrop. Iron handholds have been added to make it easier to climb.

In 1789 Major Hayman Rooke recorded four standing stones surrounding the Cork Stone, but these have long since disappeared.

The Andle Stone, Derbyshire

2010-05-12T08:22:00.002+01:00

Derbyshire's Andle Stone is 5m high and stands in a field surrounded by a drystone wall. Among the modern graffiti at the top are cup marks, possibly contemporary with nearby stone circles Doll Tor and the Nine Ladies.

Hunting Kestrel

2010-05-07T10:07:00.000+01:00

The Kestrel is hovering over the fields watching for the slightest movement before diving down for the kill. :-)

Lost Feather

2010-05-03T15:22:00.001+01:00

A few days ago I asked if anyone can identify a mystery nature photo. Amber, Sharkbytes, The Accessory Lady, Steve and Ville all recognised the close-up of a feather. Nice work :-)

Mystery Nature Picture

2010-04-29T19:01:00.000+01:00

I spent the weekend camping in Derbyshire and here's one of the photos I took. Can you figure out what it is? ;-)

Two More Clear Nights

2010-04-25T21:32:00.000+01:00

The night sky was clear again on 21 / 22 April so here are the next two in the sequence. :-)

The Moon, Two Clear Nights

2010-04-23T09:08:00.012+01:00

The sky has been clear most nights this week so I've taken the opportunity to stand outside staring at the moon! These two are from 19 / 20 April :-)

Dandelion

2010-04-21T05:56:00.001+01:00

I'm sure the lawn will be more dandelions than grass before long. They're spreading like wildfire :-)

Crescent Moon, 17 April 2010

2010-04-18T19:21:00.000+01:00

Taking photos of the Moon is becoming at obsession! This is the best of about 10 shots I took last night. I used the tripod and self-timer, f/5.8, ISO-64, exposure time 0.25 secs, exposure bias -2, max aperture 3.44. :-)

English Daisies, Bellis Perennis

2010-04-14T10:28:00.000+01:00

Most gardeners consider daisies a weed, but I don't mind them growing all over the lawn. :-)

The Slopes of Ingleborough

2010-04-07T10:19:00.001+01:00

Ingleborough is one of the three peaks of Yorkshire with the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and a Roman camp on the summit. Unfortunately I've never made it to the top, turning back three times thanks to bad weather. Maybe one day :-)

Victoria Cave, King's Scar

2010-03-30T23:59:00.015+01:00

Victoria Cave was originally a small opening in King's Scar known as the Fox Holes. In 1837 Michael Horner followed a dog through the opening and discovered a series of chambers. The artefacts discovered inside let to a full scale excavation, enlarging the entrance to it's present size.

The excavation revealed the story of the cave through the ages. 120000 years ago the cave had been a hyena den. Towards the end of the last ice age the cave was a place of refuge for hunter-gatherers and in Romano-British times the cave was used as a shrine.

CaveMaps.org has a detailed map of Victoria Cave. :-)

Lost in the Mist...

2010-03-28T12:33:00.000+01:00

I was hoping to explore the cliffs above Bivi Cave but a sudden change in the weather put a stop to my plans. :-( Luckily I always carry a map and compass otherwise I could have ended up anywhere!

Inside Bivi Cave

2010-03-25T16:21:00.005Z

Here's a closer look at Bivi Cave which is close to the footpath from Settle to the Attermire area.

There's a great view from inside Bivi Cave looking towards Sugar Loaf Hill. The cave is only a couple of metres deep so technically it's classed as a rock shelter.

Bivi Cave, Attermire

2010-03-23T23:28:00.001Z

In Walks in Limestone Country, Wainwright describes Bivi Cave as a small cave so snug and dry a refugé in wet weather that one regrets going past on a fine day.

Personally I think the nearby Spider Cave is a much better place to shelter. :-)

More Spring Flowers: Primroses

2010-03-19T17:09:00.001Z

I didn't have to go far to find these primroses, they were hiding away in a shady area of the garden. Now I just need to find some daffodils to complete my collection of Spring flowers :-)

Snowdrops - Spring is Here

2010-03-16T21:36:00.002Z

There are crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops in the garden and we've just had three fantastic sunny days. It can only mean one thing, Spring is finally here :-)

Mystery Nature Photo (Pollen)

2010-03-13T14:41:00.015Z

On Saturday I issued a challenge to identify a mystery photo. Thanks for taking part and thanks for all the great guesses, some of which are quite entertaining! Chuck from Secondary Roads was the first to recognise the pollen. Then Sheila from A Postcard a Day identified the flower as a crocus. Nice work :-)

Heading Downstream

2010-03-11T21:34:00.000Z

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a duck, drifting slowly downstream without a care in the world?

Common Blackbird

2010-03-07T22:05:00.002Z

I've never been much good at taking photos of birds, so I'm always happy for a bit of help from nature. In winter the trees leave nowhere for the birds to hide and eventually I manage to catch a picture or two. I spotted this blackbird this morning while exploring the site of Sleaford Castle.

Grey Squirrel

2010-03-02T22:30:00.002Z

This squirrel seemed surprised to see me. He regarded me curiously for a moment then scurried off to the nearest tree. Thankfully he hesitated long enough for me to snap a couple of photos.

Eurasian Coot, Fulica Atra

2010-02-27T16:02:00.002Z

The common Eurasian Coot is a plump waterbird similar to a moorhen. I spotted this one foraging by the pond in Saint James's Park, London.

European Robin, Erithacus Rubecul

2010-02-23T16:13:00.000Z

Normally I'm too slow when trying to take close-ups of birds. By the time I'm ready they're long gone! Luckily this robin in the gardens of Hampton Court Palace didn't mind waiting for me.

The Apennine Mountains

2010-02-21T23:10:00.001Z

No matter how many times I photograph the moon, every photo seems to reveal surface features I hadn't previously noticed. Tonight the shadows fell just right for the Apennine Mountains to show to the west of the Sea of Serenity. The range includes Mons Huygens, the highest mountain on the moon at 5000m.

Squirrels in Central London

2010-02-19T23:32:00.001Z

This morning I wandered around central London and was amazed how tame the squirrels are. They seemed quite happy to pose patiently for photos and were confident enough to climb all over me!

Offering from the Druids

2010-02-17T22:32:00.000Z

The Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a Bronze Age circle of 10 stones in the Peak District National Park. The tenth stone was discovered in 1976. According to legend the Nine Ladies were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday.

The circle appears to have been used by modern Druids as a holy place to worship nature. Their offering was left at the centre of the circle.

Cave Formations in Gough's Cave

2010-02-11T21:44:00.003Z

There are some amazing formations in Gough's Cave, but I can never see what they're supposed to be. What do they look like to you?

Reflections of the Swiss Village

2010-02-07T16:36:00.003Z

The Swiss Village is a formation in Gough's Cave, Cheddar. The picture and clip both show the village's reflection in a shallow pool below the formation.

Frost Crystals

2010-02-03T08:16:00.004Z

Yesterday's frost formed needle-like crystals up to 3mm. Hopefully it won't be the last hoarfrost of the winter because I'm hoping to get a better shot.

Have you got any tips on taking close ups of frost, ice or snow?

Chasing the Moon

2010-01-31T12:45:00.004Z

For the last couple of nights I've been hoping to get a decent picture of the full moon, but for some reason I couldn't get a clear shot of the surface features.

This one was taken 4 days ago and is the clearest I've managed. I used a tripod and the self-timer and set the exposure compensation to -2.

Over the River...

2010-01-29T11:52:00.001Z

I discovered this tree overhanging the River Witham and couldn't resist climbing on it. Needless to say I left my camera on dry land.

Capture the Moon

2010-01-26T17:25:00.003Z

This week I've tried to catch a decent picture of the moon. Here's my latest attempt. I used a tripod and set the exposure compensation to -2.

Water Droplets on Hawthorn

2010-01-21T22:09:00.002Z

I've been trying to take a photo of water droplets with the background focused in the droplet. This is my best attempt so far. Have you got any suggestions how I can take a better shot?

Common Orange Lichen

2010-01-17T14:06:00.003Z

This morning I walked to Witham Park to experiment with a new camera. I photographed this lichen hoping to identify it, but my book isn't very clear. Does anyone recognise it?

Update: thanks to everyone who helped identify the lichen. It's Common Orange Lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

Beck Head Stream Cave

2010-01-13T10:23:00.001Z

After climbing down about 3m in a tight rift and wriggling another 5m through a low passage, Beck Head Stream Cave opens out onto the sandy bank of an underground stream.

Not wanting to take my camera any further I took this one photo before braving the icy waters! After wading for ages upstream the passage reaches an underground waterfall and the end of my exploration, Broadbent Falls.

The River Witham Frozen Over

2010-01-10T11:01:00.003Z

Here's something I don't see very often. The tidal River Witham froze over a couple of nights ago. As the tide went out, the river left sheets of broken ice on the banks, freezing over again at low tide.

Taken by my camera phone from the footbridge near Boston Stump.

Dawn Over Snowy Fields

2010-01-05T19:19:00.002Z

Not as much snow as some of you have, but this is how it looks here.

Frost Crystals

2010-01-02T17:40:00.002Z

There were some great guesses, but no-one mentioned the specific word I was looking for, frost.

Mystery Nature Picture (Frost Crystals)

2009-12-29T12:46:00.004Z

Can you figure out what's in these photos I took in the garden this morning?

Ducks!

2009-12-15T18:33:00.003Z

Double Rainbow

2009-12-06T15:28:00.004Z

I spotted this rainbow near Ullswater in Cumbria and quickly snapped a picture with an old 35mm camera. Have you got any suggestions on how to take a decent rainbow photo?

November Reflections

2009-11-29T08:52:00.000Z

November Sunrise in Boston

2009-11-23T07:21:00.001Z

I took these pictures of the sunrise a couple of days ago by the river Witham in Boston, Lincs. They were taken without using the camera's sunset/sunrise mode.

Fish in the Rockpools at Newquay

2009-11-19T06:11:00.001Z

I spotted dozens of these small fish in the rock pools at Newquay but I still haven't managed to identify them. They're about 2 inches long and camera shy.

Dog Whelk, Newquay

2009-11-15T11:12:00.001Z

I spotted this dog whelk on the beach at Newquay. The rock pools there are home to numerous molluscs and invertebrates, including anemones, mussels and limpets.