There and Back

Sometimes it is awe inspiring to consider the variety in nature that surrounds us, and which we often take for granted, or just plain `don't see`! The images that follow were all taken by me in a period of 21 days in July and could pass unnoticed if I had been in a rush. Unfortunately, for many people there is little alternative to the modern day hustle and bustle. I am one of the lucky ones, I know. Firstly, the star of the week for me ...... ....... the Fen Raft Spider. The Raft spider is a large, chunky spider that lives around the edge of ponds and ditches, and on wet heaths and bogs. Adults sit at the edge of the water, or on floating vegetation, with their front legs resting on the water's surface in order to feel for the vibrations of potential prey. Using the surface tension of the water, they chase out on to the water to catch their prey, which will even include tadpoles or small fish. Raft Spiders will also swim underwater, often diving beneath the surf...

A Sunday morning walk around the lanes of Layham and Shelley was a fairly regular route at the weekend, but the rather close sound of fire engines was certainly not normal! So, looking around at the skyline, I soon spotted a plume of smoke, luckily blowing away from me. It appeared to be only a couple of fields away. As luck would have it I was carrying my camera, so made my way toward the fire.  In the village of Shelley lives a man who is a thatcher by trade, and unfortunately it was his store in a nearby barn that had caught fire. By the time I arrived, the building was well alight. At this stage the building was standing - to a degree. One fireman pours water into the building.  The owner looks on helplessly - it's all in someone else's hands.    Gradually the whole building collapses into a burning heap.  All the firemen can do is keep it under control, and dampen down. When you stand outside t...

Cromer is a traditional seaside resort and is famous for its pier, home to a lifeboat station and Pavilion Theatre, where the UK’s only remaining traditional end of the pier variety show takes place each Summer and Winter. The pier is an enduring example of Victorian architecture, having withstood many storms, tidal surges and even an attempt to blow it up by the Government in WW2 to prevent the pier being used as a landing strip for enemy invaders! Glad they decided not to! This was a passing visit so had to take a few images. Firstly the famous pier with a stormy sky in the background A couple of images of the cliffs and beach huts. On the path leading down to the promenade, a peek over the edge revealed these steps which instantly appealed to me. The curves and lines just said `take a picture of me` - well, not literally. At the bottom of these steps was this `compass` which this couple obviously `took a shine` to as well. The whole area was in f...

The end of May and beginning of June are great times to see some of the many insects that we have and which are still in good numbers. These images are all taken near home again, and highlight a small but stunning world, most of us are almost unaware of in our busy lives! This little chap is the red-headed or 'common' cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis). It is a red to orange beetle with, as the name suggests, a red head. It is about 20 millimetres (0.79 in) long, and is found throughout Britain A scarce chaser (Libellula fulva) is a species of dragonfly. This one I believe is either a juvenile or a female. The adult male has a bright blue abdomen with patches of black, while the adult female and juvenile male each have a bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with an average wingspan of 74 mm. This dragonfly is considered a species of special concern in Great Britain due to loss of its specific ideal habitat.  Banded Demoiselle  ...

The world seems full of colour so far this year and I have found it difficult to know quite where to point the camera sometimes! We have Poppies, Oilseed Rape, Wild Garlic, and Bluebells, all seen in profusion around the county. We sure live in a beautiful world! Once considered a weed of arable fields, the development of intensive agricultural practices has resulted in the decline of the Common poppy (also known as 'Corn poppy') in the wild. This familiar, showy flower is now most likely to occur as part of intentional wildflower seeding, or as the result of the disturbance of soil containing old seed banks. Its strongholds remain roadside verges, scrub, waste ground and farmland.  The pictures here however, were taken in a field near home which had another later crop growing in it. Some years I guess they are killed off, but 2011 was a good year for them. The same field which had the Poppies in it, also has this pungent Oilseed Rape (Brass...