A few images from my travels. I love the sea and always make a beeline for it when I can.
I can just hear the waves and smell the sea air!
Category: Nature
Two Fabulous Flowers
Two of my favourite flowers – the Sunflower and the Hibiscus. The colours, the varieties, the beauty, flowers always make me smile.
And, in the words of Khalil Gibran:
‘Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun’
Finding Nature
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!
Do you enjoy finding nature as much as I do?
Peace and love 🙂
Something old, something new!
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!
What are you drawn too?
Summer Leys Nature Reserve – Revisited
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.
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.
Peace and Love.
Summer Leys Nature Reserve
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!
Pretty Pocket Parks
I have lots of photos from places I have visited in the past and today I was reminded of this lovely pocket park known as Hunsbury Hill Park.
According to the local government website, this park formed part of an Iron Age hill fort which I didn’t realise until I read it today! – You learn something every day!
I visited Hunsbury Hill Park nearly 10 years ago and, looking at the photos, it’s about time I went back!
It’s sometimes surprising what your local community has to offer!
Fields of Lavender
Lavender is another favourite flower of mine, so I was really excited when I found Hitchin Lavender – a family-run farm specialising in the cultivation of this beautiful flower.
I visited in July last year and while there was lots of lavender, if you visit later in the year, there will be even more! The main flowering season is between mid-June and late August.
You are free to wander across the fields, up and down the rows, taking in the intoxicating smell! You can pick your own lavender or buy lavender products in the shop. You can even take a picnic and sit and enjoy the views.
It’s not just lavender that is grown here – there is a wild flower meadow, and fields of sunflowers which flower from the middle of August.
It’s a lovely place to spend a few hours.
Lavender represents purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace, and calmness, so let’s enjoy some of that as we wander through the flowers.
Gorgeous isn’t it? 🙂
Bluebells at Everdon Stubbs
On a Saturday afternoon last year, I went to see the bluebells at Everdon Stubbs with my friends.
Everdon Stubbs is one of the few remaining ancient woodlands in Northamptonshire and it’s a beautiful and peaceful place to wander around with your camera.
There are many varieties of trees and flowers including the lovely bluebells which carpet the woodland floor in spring.
Bluebells are one of my favourite flowers – I love the colour.
Did you know that the bluebell symbolises constancy, humility and gratitude?
And, however beautiful they may be, bluebells are actually poisonous?
Nature Up Close
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!
