Showing posts with label fungi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fungi. Show all posts

Monday, March 25, 2024

'Signs of Spring' Survey at Paxton Pits

 Our first survey of the year at Paxton is always along the main Heron Trail recording any wildlife (plants in leaf/flower, birds, insects). This is a useful year-to-year comparison. Despite the cold and blustery conditions, the sunny intervals brought out quite a bit of insect life. My favourite was the Simulid midge - minute but amazingly sculptured - it is on a nettle leaf so the stinging hairs give scale!!. We were pleased to see our new bee terrace being used - Andrena bicolor was the commonest bee recorded there.


Saturday, February 24, 2024

Paxton Stalk Balls and Scarlet Elf Cups

Winter Stalk Balls, Tulostoma brumale, are most commonly found on the coast in sand dunes etc but there is a good population at Paxton Pits on the gravel areas. Along with Pixie Cup lichens and Scarlet Elf Cup fungi they make wonderful macro subjects. As previous post, pairs of images - Raws processed with DxO Pure3Raw and  stacked in Zerene stacker in the computer next to in-camera stacks.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Pine Woods in Full-spectrum Photography

My images using the Full-Spectrum camera  in the pine woods at Sandy on Wednesday confirmed that I was not alone! First this very laid back tree and then all those faces in the dead tree bark - reminded me of a William Blake etching such as the Vision of the Last Judgement. The last image is a bit of colour fun with Foxglove rosettes.


Sunday, February 4, 2024

Macro at Paxton Pits

 Decided to do a bit of focus-stacking practice on subjects in Rory's Wood at Paxton. Found a couple of definite slime moulds, plus some 'oddities'.

Monday, January 8, 2024

Under a Garden Log

As part of my project to record all the species in the garden, in winter I spend time photographing the fungi, mosses etc. Unfortunately a lot of them are very small stretching my macro capabilities. The first two are a couple of different crusts - very colorful with intricate scuplturing. I then located two very tiny slime mould fruiting bodies and a 3mm translucent white Spider/Harvestman plus other crusts and lichens. All will take some time (if ever to put a name to!!)

Ann Miles Photography - My Favourite Images of the Past10 years or so