Outdoor SIG - Visit Reports
2020/21
Rainham Marshes
With the M25 flowing both there and back and decent weather, Rainham Marshes proved an easy place to visit in mid-July. The site was dominated by geese and coots which seem to have taken over. There was a rumoured stork on site but none of us saw it! Instead we found many egrets and a marsh harrier flying around but always far from our cameras! The photographic highlight proved to be a pool of frogs. There were also good opportunities for wild flowers and butterflies/insects. A one-way system operated on site though all the hides were open.
Lakenheath Fen
In early June the Outdoor Group headed north east to the RSPB reserve at Lakenheath Fen. The day was warm and humid (and plagued with traffic problems). While there was a good deal of activity on site – we saw and heard cuckoo, bittern, marsh harrier, bearded tit and hobby for example – the sightings were poor and the photography challenging! Many of us took to pointing our cameras at the smaller species including dragonflies and insects.
Dockey Wood
Early May saw the Outdoor Group visit Dockey Wood at Ashridge to photograph the bluebells. We met at first light but the conditions on the day were pretty dreadful with a strong, cold wind blowing. I do not think the bluebell display was as good as previous years maybe because of the cold, dry conditions throughout April.
Images taken by the members present are shown below. Despite the conditions there are some great images!
Images taken by the members present are shown below. Despite the conditions there are some great images!
Startop’s End Reservoir
With lockdown easing the Outdoor Group were able to meet in April. We choose Startop’s End reservoir so that the Group could practice photographing ‘birds in flight’. This is a difficult subject to get right and with most people out of practice using their cameras it proved an ideal location. The weather was even kind to us!
There were a variety of birds present during the afternoon and plenty of opportunities to practice. Notable species included common terns, mandarin ducks and black headed gulls. A selection of the images taken by members is shown below.
There were a variety of birds present during the afternoon and plenty of opportunities to practice. Notable species included common terns, mandarin ducks and black headed gulls. A selection of the images taken by members is shown below.
2019/20
Ashridge
Ten members of the Outdoor Group made an early start to meet at Ashridge on 24th October for the deer rut and autumn colours. We made our way through the woods in the dark, listening to the call of a Tawny Owl and hearing the bellowing of rutting Stags, finally arriving at the Old Deer Park. In very poor light we saw two large Stags often locking antlers and a group of Hinds. We moved on round the deer park listening but never quite seeing more deer activity in the woods. The trees were starting to turn but have some way to go before they will be at their best. The poor light made photography very challenging but there is something special being in the woods at dawn with a group of enthusiastic, like-minded people. The light did not improve turning to rain around 09.00am. We all went for a ‘Brownlow’ breakfast and planned the next visits for the Group. A few members planned to return next week.
