Last year, I published A Symphony of Nature: Discovering the World’s Beauty – a visual journey through the wonders of our planet. From birds and butterflies to the sun and the moon, my book contains a collection of photographs that celebrates the beauty of life and the artistry of the natural world.
Each chapter explores a different element of nature, inviting you to pause, reflect, and immerse yourself in the captivating symphony of colours, shapes, and textures that nature so generously provides.
These upcoming posts follow the chapters of my book, beginning with the birds I’ve photographed on my travels. A Symphony of Wings celebrates the magic of birds in all their forms.
Blue Tit Little Egret CormorantsCommon LoraLittle Egret Red-vented BulbulSwanWhite-browed FantailGreat TitChinese Pond Heron
The images shown did not make the final cut of my book, so there are many more to see.
A Symphony of Nature is available to buy on Lulu.com:
Last year, I took another walk around Sywell Country Park, but this time it was all about nature and finding the birds, insects, and flowers.
It was June, so it was much greener than before and I could feel the warmth from the sun on my skin.
The first feathered friend I saw was this Coot with its white frontal shield. Fun fact: Back in the day, the featherless shield gave rise to the expression “as bald as a coot.” (Wikipedia)Â
This one has found something to balance on.
Whilst trying to photograph this delicate dragonfly, I got the plant in focus instead – I think it’s a Stinging Nettle.
There are lots of flowers dotted around – like this daisy.
Although Hogweed is pretty to look at, it’s best not to touch it as it can cause blisters and scars in humans! (Wikipedia)
This bee doesn’t seem bothered.
Another beauty, but also very toxic, is the lovely Foxglove. Fun fact: In the past, myths had it that foxes wore the flowers on their paws to silence their movements as they hunted – hence ‘fox’s glove!’ (Wikipedia)
It’s quite hard to take photographs of things that move, but this Long-tailed tit sat at the top of this tree just long enough.
As did these two-silhouetted birds.
A family of swans swam passed – the mother looking back to check the cute little babies are all there.
Then, they head off towards the reeds and out of the open – there were buzzards circling overhead!
These coots chicks were sticking close to each other – the lake must seem like an ocean to them!
This bird flew away at the exact moment I took the photo!
But, this dunnock and duck looked straight at the camera lens!
It’s always a pleasure seeing nature at her finest!
Last week, I published ‘Another Day, Another Walk’ and this week I am publishing ‘Something old, something new.’ The same walk a few months apart and this time I walked further and took the long way back home.
On my walks around the town, I may take the same or similar photos, but I always manage to find something new to capture.
And, after many years away from my hometown, I really enjoy exploring it!
Trees and water, buildings and wall art, birds and animals, graffiti, bridges and flowers are all things that I am drawn too and can’t myself taking a few photographs!
I wrote about Summer Leys Nature Reserve a couple of months ago, but I actually went there for the first time in 2019. In June, 2022, I went back and enjoyed another walk there – this time taking photos of the animals and birds that use the reserve as their home.
We’ll get to the creatures in a minute, but here is a reminder of how lovely the reserve itself is.
I visited in the summer again and as you can see, the fields, flowers, plants and trees are in full bloom.
Now to the animals and birds which is what took me back to Summer Leys in the first place.
The first thing I spot is this butterfly resting on a leaf. I am not sure, but I think this is a Polygonia c-album – a species which is common around the UK (Wikipedia). Insects are notoriously difficult to photograph, but this one was kind enough to rest long enough for me to capture it.
Polygonia c-album
As I wander along the path, I come out into open fields where these sheep are grazing or having a rest – oblivious to me watching them.
There are also a few Highland cattle at the reserve. These grazing animals help keep the grass short throughout the year
Close up of one of these huge beasts. Good job my camera has a long lens on it!
A much smaller mammal, the grey squirrel is a resident of the UK and can be seen everywhere from parks to reserves like this one. I love watching them scamper around.
There are so many birds to be seen here too like this bullfinch.
And this Long-tailed tit (you can just about see it in the trees).
The reserves gives the birds a little helping hand with these birdfeeders. If you stay quiet and in one place for a short amount of time, then more will come – like this Blue tit.
And this Great tit.
As a walk around, I see a flash of movement in the bushes and managed to capture this cute little fellow – I believe it is a Willow Warbler.
I think it’s great that places like this are dedicated to looking after the wildlife.
There are also different kinds of habitats for every species to have a chance of success!
No matter how big or small you are!
If you are ever in the area, I recommend a little walk around Summer Leys Nature Reserve, it’s a great spot for wildlife watching and getting back into nature.
Another lovely spot to take a walk in Northamptonshire if you are ever here, is Summer Leys Nature Reserve.
An old gravel pit which has been transformed into a nature reserve, Summer Leys takes about an hour to walk around unless, like me, you stop and take lots of photographs, then it will take a while longer – but that’s all good if you want to spend some time surrounded by nature.
There is a pathway that takes you around a lake in the centre of the reserve and, I would say, that it is one of the less popular places to walk around, so there have never been that many people there. Maybe it’s a different story at the weekend!
Setting off from the car park, you follow the path through woodland where the birds are chirping and the trees are rustling in the breeze.
The wood makes way to a tree-lined path.
It won’t be long before you see your first hide where you can sit and watch the different species of birds that breed there – if you are lucky enough to spot them!
The reserve is not just for birds, the habitat is perfect for insects to and there is a whole meadow which has been dedicated to butterfly conservation. (More on the insects at Summer Leys in my next post!)
Part of this meadow is also home to grazing animals like these sheep.
Keep walking and you’ll find yourself surrounded by trees which form a natural arch across the path.
Before you reach the end of this path, you’ll see a small area where the birds have been given a little helping hand.
It’s a lovely place to do some exercise too!
There are plenty of flowers which always add a splash of colour to all that greenery.
Out of the woodland again, you’ll be closer to the water.
Go through the gate and follow the path around the other side of the lake.
Meander your way through more woodland, again full of the wonderful sounds of nature.
One last look at the lake from a different perspective before reaching the car park again.
If you’d like to learn more about what Summer Leys Nature Reserve has to offer, go to the Wildlife Trust’s website. Better yet, go and see it for yourself!
I love experiencing nature up close. It’s not always easy to photograph birds and squirrels because they don’t sit still much, but I managed to capture these images of our furry and feathery friends as they busied themselves foraging, eating, chilling and preening!
When you think of Blackpool, it might conjure up images of a busy seaside resort with plenty of people enjoying their time there. Whether that’s at the Pleasure Beach or having fun in the amusement arcades – it’s a busy place.
But, on a chilly May day last year, I found a more serene town with a whole heap of photographic subjects.
There were gulls in the sea water pools chilling..
Or flying down to take a seat..
Or pondering its next move..
There were people walking, going about their day..
There were empty beaches..
And piers..
North Pier
Close up
Blackpool’s iconic tower..
Blackpool Tower
And, finally, the Comedy Carpet – one of the largest pieces of art in the UK..
Comedy Carpet
I hope you enjoyed these images of a very serene Blackpool town 🙂
He has been called the greatest broadcaster of our time and for over half a century David Attenborough has been bringing the natural world into our living rooms with TV programmes like “Life on Earth”, “The Trials of Life”, and “The Blue Planet” – fascinating insights into the flora and fauna on Earth through incredible cinematography and storytelling.
I have always loved watching these documentaries and David Attenborough is someone I could listen to forever. His soothing tones mesmerise as he invites us into the lives of the amazing animals and plants that we share this planet with. Ever gently but with a serious undertone, he also warns us of the impact of human society on the natural world.
This man is loved by all and over the years has received many awards and much recognition for his work – as well as having 15 species of plants and animals named after him. He is a true inspiration and his passion for the natural world seeps into our hearts every time we watch him doing what he loves.
David Attenborough at the Great Barrier Reef/ Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Here are 5 of David Attenborough’s best quotes of all time:
It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.
An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.
People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.
I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it still unexplored.
It’s about cherishing the woodland at the bottom of your garden or the stream that runs through it. It affects every aspect of life.
I had this title written down for ages, but it wasn’t until I went to Chiang Rai in June that I finally got round to thinking about it and it wasn’t hard to find something that inspired me.
The countryside in the north of Thailand is just beautiful and, living in Bangkok, I sometimes forget just how beautiful it really is.
Beautiful Chiang Rai
I was just awe struck at the nature around me in Chiang Rai. The greens and browns of the open fields…
Colours of Nature
…mountains…
Kok River running through the mountains
…rice paddies…
Rice paddies-not quite lush green
…trees proudly sporting their sweet and fleshy bananas and mangoes…
Fresh mangoes
Flowers- purple, yellow, white, red, all manner of gorgeous bright colours in every shape and form you could imagine.
Periwinkle Pinks
The blue skies with white fluffy clouds, clear and bright sunny days followed by the grey of a threatening storm before the clouds burst and the earth drowned under a barrage of rain.
Blue Skies
Grey skies and rainbows
Birds-swooping and diving looking for their next meal or chattering to one another in the branch of a nearby tree.
On the wing
A resting sparrow
It was the beginning of the season and the land around me was brown and dying because of the lack of rain, but the changing face of nature will soon transform the environment into brilliant green and lush landscapes once more.
Brown fields, soon to be sprouting with new rice shoots
Harvesting!
Green is my favourite colour and you can see it all around. Chlorophyll, responsible for all manner of greens; brilliant, emerald, forest, moss and jungle-all green, all different hues and values, in varying amounts, different forms, different shapes and sizes and all combine to form something that should be appreciated.
It wasn’t only the colours of nature that inspired me, the sounds of nature both inspired and impressed me. I sat outside my room in the evening and became aware of insects playing their nightly song, all in sync. Midges buzzing, singing cicadas, croaking frogs and, then, silence! A second later, their chorus of pulsating buzzes was back again. I was distracted by the local cat calling in the distance, but I chuckled to myself because it added to the free music festival I was enjoying.
Friendly cat who was all too vocal in the evenings!
Then, fireflies attracting mates or prey with their cool trick of bioluminescence. I sat and listened and watched. It’s not often I experience these sounds, but it was an immense pleasure to just stop what I was doing and listen along. It really was amazing.
Dragonfly obsession!
Nature is nothing less than wonderful, just the sheer diversity of it is mind-blowing. I was well and truly blown away. If you ever get the chance to visit the north of Thailand, I recommend Chiang Rai wholeheartedly! 🙂
Kok River
If you would like to share some of things that inspire you, I’d love to hear from you 🙂
