The Big Freeze

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

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

Scottish Rainbow

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

Fairy Glen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wasp's Nest

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

European Yew

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

Jupiter

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

Red Dragonfly

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?

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

Small Copper Butterfly

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

East Gill Force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Storm Clouds over Lincolnshire

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

Bumble Bee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lost Feather

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

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

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

The Moon, Two Clear Nights

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

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

Crescent Moon, 17 April 2010

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

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