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.
Monday, March 25, 2024
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'.