Norfolk Weekend

Oystercatchers by Andre Neves

On Saturday 13th December, a group of 8 Members met on the beach at Hunstanton where the sun was shining, tide was coming in and thousands of birds were on the move, either following the tide line to feed on anything disturbed by the incoming water or flying in groups to other feeding grounds. The Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Godwits and Turnstones were the most active but great to see good numbers of Sanderlings and, at the other end of the size scale, Curlews feeding with them. When the Mussel beds were completely covered, we turned our attention to the Fulmars flying in and out from their nests on the cliffs. They pair up and choose nest sites at this time of the year and then go off to sea before returning in the spring to the nests to lay eggs and raise their chicks. We walked along the cliff path to Old Hunstanton to the Beach Cafe for Brunch and then onto the sandy beach where hundreds of Sanderling, Godwits, Redshanks etc were feeding.

Five Member stayed over in Hunstanton and met up with three more NG Members on Sunday Morning at RSPB Titchwell Marsh. Because the main paths are straight, it was not as easy as at Hunstanton to get the right directional light and it was also very windy so we could not spend time on the beach as usual. However, once we had photographed the various Ducks, Geese and Waders, we took shelter in the woodland area and were delighted to be joined by a party of Firecrests and Goldcrests along with a normal and Siberian Chiffchaff and a very obliging Treecreeper
  
 

Nature Group Visit to RSPB Sandy

12 Members met at RSPB Sandy at 10 am and armed with our cameras, macro lens, lights, tripods  etc set off to track down some interesting specimens. Our first stop was for the Birds Nest Fungus unbelievably complex very small structure of a nest attached to a plant stem and a variable number of eggs. There were very large number of Fly Agarics at all stages of existence very picturesque with the autumn tones of the bracken and silver birch leaves. We continued onto the heath where we met the Mycological Society members who were recording all the species so they showed us some rarities such as the nail fungus that grows only on the dung of the Dartmoor ponies that graze the area.  We returned to the Visitor Centre for lunch and in the afternoon most of us went down into the quarry to hunt for more specimens and also Slime Moulds as this area is generally damper.  Julia found a Physarum species. These are very small indeed - not much bigger than a pin head so a good photographic challenge. A search around revealed a second species - very attractive orange species Craterium minutum

RPS Nature Group outing to Brandon and Santon Downham, Suffolk

The RPS Nature Group enjoyed a great show of fungi, both in numbers and species, at Brandon on Saturday and at Santon Downham on Sunday, with several people staying locally to make the most of the venues. On Saturday, the target species fpr pictorial shots were the Porcelain toadstools and the Fly Agarics while on Sunday various more creative techniques were tried including smoke, water sprays, crystal ball, silhouettes and bokeh shadows 

Orchid Hunt at Bonsai Bank Kent May 24th 2025

A small group of Nature Group members and friends met 09:30 ahead of a short trek to the bank where native orchids grow. Yes, it was raining, but this gave way to some beautiful light and opportunities to focus stack during moments of calm when the breeze subsided.

Many orchids were in full bloom, in particular the spectacular lady orchids in their various shades of white and pink. To complement, there were greater butterfly orchids, twayblades, fly orchids and white helleborines. The early purples were slightly over and the common spotted orchids were yet to bloom.

Due to weather conditions, butterflies and insects were a little less plentiful, but that didn’t mean that anyone left the bank early. Some didn’t leave until 18:30 in the evening.

Plenty of breaks provided valuable time to get to know each other and to spend time discussing kit, equipment and photographic techniques.

Link to Gallery from Trip: RPSNature - Bonsai Bank 24th May 2025

The Dee Spectacular – Sat 1st and Sun 2nd March 2025

Image: Male Kestrel with Vole by Claire Pettingale

This event, where the Dee Estuary marshes are inundated by an exceptional high spring tide, is becoming an established outing for our Nature Group. This year we had a dozen attendees, many travelling quite some distance. The award for the ‘furthest travelled’ went to Bill and Mary Venables who came all the way from Dover.  

The weather was superb for the weekend, due to a resident high-pressure system which offered us wonderful light for photography but the downside – there’s always a downside – was that the same high-pressure system (1037mb) suppressed the potential impact of the inundation, pressing down on water levels. Unfortunately, the waters of this year’s spring high tide (10.3 metres) did not reach the Parkgate promenade. So no ‘spectacle’ I’m afraid. Undeterred we looked elsewhere including Hoylake and Burton Mere RSPB reserves to supplement the weekend’s endeavours. 

Greg Lovett and Bruce Kendrick

Fungi Hunt at RSPB Sandy

A party of 13 RPS  Members, Paxton Pits Volunteers and Cambridge Camera Club Members spent a very successful day on the 9th November  at RSPB Sandy. Although not the abundance of large toadstools that occur some years, we found lots to keep us occupied including Birds Nest Fungi, Fly Agarics, Parasols, Ink Caps etc. The Gallery can be viewed at RPSNature - Fungi Outing to RSPB Sandy November 9th

Fungi Workshop in Suffolk

Probably the most important task when leading a Fungi Workshop is to find plenty of good and varied specimens for the group to practise various techniques of lighting, composition etc and experiment with new ideas etc.  Brandon came up trumps with abundant species from the minute slime mould to a wonderful group of Porcelains Fungi above us in a Beech Tree. The only downside was the very wet conditions through the morning which cleared for a time after lunch but returned late afternoon and bringing the workshop to a halt before the hoped for sunset. 

Hopefully the weather will be kinder for other fungi trips this autumn but we doubt the fungi could be better.

Image by Chris Phillips

Nature Group's Macro Workshop

On Tuesday 9th July, the Nature Group ran a Macro workshop at the Welney Wetland Centre | WWT organised by Nick Bowman with tuition from Ann Miles, Ian Wilson and Duncan Locke. (photo John Harvey)

This had been proceeded by an on-line tuition evening the previous week from Duncan on Focus stacking

The main aim was to practise the macro photography using both focus stacking and other relevant techniques, firstly inside using the moths captured the night before. Although a cool morning, the moths proved quite a challenge as there was quite a breeze outside and inside was too warm but a few shots were got.We then organised ourselves into groups according to camera systems and, armed with some tips from Ann, we vemtrued out and started photographing the abundant insects etc along Welney's dykes and ditches.

Lunch was taken in the cafe with plenty of talk about techniques, cameras etc

In the afternoon, some people opted to learn all about flash as it applies to macro photography etc while others went out on the reserve for another seesion with the wildlife.
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Visit to St Albans March 2024

Image Alexandra Doughty

Most of the group met at 7.30 am in the car park and walked down to the lake to observe and photograph the Heronry that for many years has existed in the centre of the public park. This year there appear to be at least 5 nests and one of the pairs were busy with nest building. The light was excellent giving first-class opportunities to take Herons in flight. We were joined during our hour or so on the side of the Lake by various other Nature Group Members giving a final total for our party of 14.  Apart from the Herons, there were plenty of other birds to photograph including Great Crested Grebes, Red Kite, Canada geese, Coots and Mute Swans.

Some of the party later walked up to the Cathedral as it was reported that the pair of Peregrines had returned to the area. No sign of them when we arrived but we were shown a wonderful crevice in the walls where a Nuthatch was busy building and entrance of mud to its nesting area.  The Nuthatch was soon abandoned as the Peregrine pair arrived with the male alighting on the Cathedral and calling to the female. He took off and the pair gave a wonderful aerobatic display though not really a photographic opportunity as distant and into the light 

See Galleries: RPSNature - St Albans Lake March 16th 2024

   RPSNature - St Albans Cathedral Birds March 16th 2024

Nature Group Outing to Slimbridge March 2024

Image Peter Ward

It was a cold and wet start to the day at Slimbridge and the hides between the Peng observatory and the estuary tower were all fairly quiet, sowe met in the estuary tower where we could watch the progress of the tidal surge that followed in the wake of the Severn Bore.

The Dumbles were quickly flooded and many birds were pushed onto the Tack Piece in front of the hides, including around 200 Black-tailed Godwits with a smaller number of Dunlin and Curlew.  There were several murmuration’s when a Marsh Harrier started hunting over the Tack Piece, which is always a spectacular site to see.

The spring migration is well underway now and a large flock of Avocets has arrived and has settled around the Hogarth hide, where they have started pairing up and mating. Last year was a successful breeding season for Avocets at Slimbridge, where fences around the reserve means they are more protected from predation.

There were still a few Bewick and Whooper around the reserve, but most have now left along with many other over wintering birds.

I would also like to thank Mark Wardle on behalf of the group, for the Introduction he gave us to Slimbridge, which included conservation work and advice on what to see and where.  Mark is a Nature Group member as well as a WWT Volunteer.

Gallery RPSNature - Slimbridge 12 March 2024