Below are the images uploaded by our members and selected.
November & December 2023
Autumnal arrangement by Janet
Display at the entrance to our local National Trust.
Frosty Spiders Web by Janet
This was taken in our front garden.
Horsing Around by Karen
Inquisitive shire horses peeping at me over the fence/wall on a grey and cloudy day.
Taken near Staintondale, North Yorkshire.
Mexican Bell Vine by Janet
Outside the entrance to Packwood House.
September & October 2023
Black tomatoes by Leslie
These unusual tomatoes were spotted in Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. The background
looks as if it has been snowing but this wasn't the case as the image was taken in
September.
Kestrel by Karen
Taken in North Yorkshire.
Loweswater by Karen
Taken from the shoreline in September this year. Someone obviously had fun arranging
their own stone circle!
Purple fields by Karen
A walk to delight all the senses.
Quirky pumpkin by Carolyn
This rather malformed pumpkin was spotted in Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. So many
shapes and colours.
Scary orchid by Carolyn
This scary looking orchid was spotted in the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. There were
so many beautiful blooms to choose from but this one was so unusual.
July & August 2023
67 images have been selected for July and August and of those,
11 were from our members.
Acrobatic Magpies by Jim
Found at RHS Garden Bridgewater. This was taken at RHS Garden Bridgewater on a rainy
day. At first glance it looks as if the top magpie is balancing on the head of the
one on flight, but in fact the top one is sitting on the railing.
Bee Collecting The Nectar by Janet
Found in Packwood House gardens. The allotments at Packwood House are beautiful at
the moment with many different flowers and seed heads attracting bees and butterflies
‘Cygnet’ure Selfie! by Karen
I’ve been following the cygnets born here at Elmden Park each year. But I think this
one has got to know me better than the rest. He always poses for a shot!
Display Of Produce Grown by Janet
Found at the local National Trust.
Janet’s image was used to headline October’s "Your Friends Newsletter"
sent out from the National Office.
First Signs Of Autumn by Jim
These blackberries or brambles, showing various stages of ripeness, were photographed
at the edge of a playing field in Balsall Common.
Frog by Janet
Found on the lawn in our garden.
Hazelnuts by Janet
These were growing in the hedgerows at Packwood House car park.
My Little Friend by Pam
My little friend used to visit me every morning by my sunbed in Bali. A surprise at
first but the varied wildlife was interesting. I'd be drinking my coffee and there he
would be. He actually only measured about 8 inches (20 cm) but looks huge in the photo.
Sunflower by Karen
Taken at Becketts Farm near Wythall in the sunflower field.
Sunflower Symmetry by Karen
Close up of a sunflower taken at Banbury Hall garden.
Time For Tea by Jim
This was taken recently at Baddesley Clinton, a National Trust property in
Warwickshire. Peanuts had been left out on the tree stump for the grey squirrels
and this one was oblivious to my presence only six feet away.
May & June 2023
Gugh From St Agnes by Jim
This was taken looking across The Bar
towards Gugh from St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly. Because of the high tidal
range of approximately 6 metres this bar is covered by the sea at high tides
Gannets Saying I Do by Karen
Found at RSPB Bempton, North Yorkshire.
Taken on a cliff top walk 400ft above the North Sea at wonderful RSPB centre, May
2023. Patience and a long lens with tripod or resting place required!
Stalking Bittern by Richard
I was fortunate enough to watch this bird
for 10 minutes stealthily stalking its prey along the side of a reedbed at RSPB
Minsmere — before it vanished into the undergrowth. The bittern's focus on its
prey was fixed — a predator to be feared!
Granite Outcrop by Jim
The two people in the centre of the photo give
an idea of the height of this massive rock formation on St Agnes in the Isles of
Scilly
Echiums by Jim
These were growing in wild profusion throughout
Tresco in the Isles of Scilly
March & April 2023
Remains of the Day by Terry
Eclipse of a Sunflower Seed Head.
Taken in Baddesley Clinton National Trust property. I had admired the
"Sunflowers" when first seen in full bloom in late summer, but I was taken
aback by the exquisite form of the "Sunflowers Seed Heads" in late autumn — truly
one of natures creations.
Butterfly in search of Nectar by Terry
At Packwood House National
Trust property in Solihull. I just think that "butterflies are exquisite and
delicate creatures of nature". There's often some minute difference in each one
that we are lucky enough to see.
Rutting Deer by Peter
In Calke Abbey — Derbyshire. We were walking
around the edge of the deer park at Calke Abbey when we came upon these two deer having
a fight.
Green Woodpecker by Peter
Several times during February and March this
Green Woodpecker visited our back garden. It would spend up to an hour at a time,
using it's strong beak to dig into ant colonies in the lawn and eat the inhabitants.
Glory in late Summer by Terry
Even though it was the end of summer, the
plant foliage still possessed such vibrant colours and the lasting effects of a hot
summer. For me a sight not to be missed.
Gneiss Patterns by Jim
Seen in Harris in the Outer Hebrides. This
rock formation of granitic gneisses was found near Husinish, a remote place on the
west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. The settlement lies at the end of a
12-mile long single track road. These rocks are around 2 billion years old.
Queenie Shells by Jim
These broken queenie (queen scallop) shells have
been washed up onto Fenella Beach from a dump used by fishermen which is situated
around the headland. This beach is located in Peel on the Isle of Man. It takes its
name from the character in Sir Walter Scott’s 1823 novel Peveril of the Peak which
was set around Peel Castle.
Long-Billed Curlew by Tina
This was taken in California on a beach walk.
Patterns in the Sand by Karen
Found on the North East Coast.
Seven Swans a Swimming by Karen
Found in Elmdon Park, Sheldon.
Bluebell by Karen
Found in Hay Wood, Warwickshire.
Three Oystercatchers by Jim
St Michael’s Island near Castletown in the Isle
of Man. This photo shows how difficult it can be to spot these wading birds when they
walk amongst seaweed covered rocks. Just as I pressed the shutter on the camera the one
on the right decided to turn his head away from me. They often give their presence
away with a loud "peep-ing" call. They hunt on rocky or muddy shores
for shellfish to eat.
Volcanco Tiede by Tina
This was taken on a trip to the volcanic site of
Tiede in Tenerife. I liked this particular shot of the volcano as it shows the two
stone pillars either side which the geologists believe were originally hundreds of
miles under ground and were left intact when the volcano erupted.
January & February 2023
Thames In Flood by Carolyn
Found in Swinbrook near Burford.
The winter sun on the flooded fields made interesting patterns.
Holly Blue Butterfly by Janet
Found in a local National Trust garden.
I thought the colour of the flower enhanced the markings on the butterfly.
Is It Time To Feed? by Jim
Seen through my lounge window. This robin
appeared to be carefully considering whether to eat some seeds from the feeder.
Contrails At Dusk by Jim
Although "man-made", these contrails or
condensation trails form an interesting criss-cross image in the evening sky over
Balsall Common. Although close to Birmingham Airport, these aircraft are far too high
in the sky to have taken off from there. One wonders where their passengers will land.
The Harbinger of Spring by Jim
Found in Charlecote Park, Warwickshire.
I am constantly amazed that these small and delicate flowers always appear after a
harsh winter to bloom in such profusion. A welcome sign that Spring is on its way.
I’ve Just Got To Lie Down by Karen
Found at Bodenham Arboretum. Well it
made me smile — this donkey had so much fun rolling about on the grass then he seemed
to pause to rest with his legs in the air.
Lazing Around In The Shade by Tina
Found in Charlecote Park, Warwickshire.
I was walking in the grounds of Charlecote Park where there were loads of deer, a few
were sitting in the shade and I was lucky to get close enough to take this shot.
Red-Legged Crab by Tina
I was walking on rocks in Tenerife, and I could
not believe how many crabs were rushing about, these red-legged crabs really caught
my attention. There were not easy to photograph, they kept moving!
Fly Agaric Fungi by Terry
Found at Baddersley Clinton National
Trust property. I was very pleased and excited to come across this fungi specimen
as it rarely appears at the above location.
