Learning to look more closely

As will be clear, I enjoy walking and the sense of moving at a realistic pace through the landscape.  Often in the past the objective often has simply been to "go for a walk" for the sake of fresh air and a general appreciation of the lie of the land.  Photography is encouraging me to look both at the landscape and at the details rather more carefully, which become increasingly rewarding.  I have had a general interest in wild flowers for some time, but only now am I really appreciating them, along with the stirrings of wanting to find out more about lichen and fungi.  Birds are of great interest too, but being so mobile and quick, I have a fast growing regard and respect for people who photograph them.  As for insects, any pictures I get will have to be of particularly slow types or ones that don't mind getting close with the camera.   I am far from having the eye or the skill to catch fast moving subjects that are easily startled.

I suppose the reputation for fungi and lichens (also grasses and mosses) as being complicated and difficult has always put me off.  But so many fungi appeared last autumn that just cried out for a picture, and it always seems like a job less than half done to have a reasonable picture of something and not a clue what it is.  So there is a new found desire to try and start tackling the subjects.  At least there are plenty of on-line tools these days as well as books, and I am hoping to make some progress.

Some fungi and lichens are just so great to look at and attempt to photograph.  Their forms and colours are so varied.  It is also striking how the same group of fungi seen on walks a few days apart can look very different as they mature, which just adds to the complexity but also to the interest.

As far as wild flowers are concerned, new types are appearing in flower on almost a daily basis as the spring season unfolds.  But first there are some lichen pictures, all taken yesterday afternoon on a short walk locally.

The other three shots for this post were also taken yesterday, featuring plants and insects.   Plenty to see!  Must keep looking....

If, in future, my walking pace declines to a few hundred metres an hour and I start complain about those who are content to rush through the countryside at three miles an hour, then it probably started about here.  I can see that I am going to be torn between trying to accomplish a meaningful walk in terms of distance with the time to take in more of the detail along the way.

Local evening stroll, Carr Vale reserve

If I am not away elsewhere, I usually try to get out a bit and more often than not end up doing a round of one or both of the local reserves.  Carr Vale Flash nature reserve was established in a former mining area where a group of small lakes or flashes had formed due to the industrial workings.  They are located in the Doe Lea valley close to the Carr Vale area of town where we live.

These pictures give a flavour of what can be seen on just a short evening stroll in the spring.  Things change almost on a daily basis, and this April the weather changes virtually minute by minute.

Meadow Flash, Carr Vale - after April showers

Evening at Meadow Flash, Carr Vale reserve

 Meadow Flash is in open fields, the others are more secluded and enclosed.  A pair of Great Crested Grebes has taken to the other main lake this year.  Just one of them was out and about this evening.  I do not have the big lenses and equipment necessary for close ups of birds, but did manage to get a silhouette with the unmistakable outline of this elegant and striking bird.

Silhouette, Great Crested Grebe

The smaller middle lake between the other two sometimes comes up well for a picture.  The reeds are just coming to life, and I always like the patterns on water, whether reflections on still water, or abstracts caused by ripples or waves.  This evening the water was calm in this sheltered spot.

Reeds in the middle lake at Carr Vale

Many of the spring flowers are now in full force.  One of my favourites (although with a long flowering season not restricted to spring) is the White Dead Nettle.  To me it seems to be camera friendly, showing up lovely details.  A tiny bug of some sort also features in this evening's shot.

White Dead Nettle

One common flower that seems to have eluded me until this year is Ground Ivy.  I saw it the other day and got a nice picture, and managed to identify it successfully, realising I had somehow missed out on getting to know it before.  It is a lovely little plant, and enticed me into taking another picture of another good patch of what is obviously a widespread plant.

Ground Ivy

As noted in a recent piece, I am very intrigued by lichens but put off by their complexity.  This one, however, is common and quite recognisable, and I managed to identify it through visual comparison without too much trouble.  It's simply called Common Orange Lichen.

Common Orange Lichen

It always seems worthwhile getting out, and there's usually something fresh to see, even on a familiar little walk.  How pleased I am to have become interested in photography - it is literally an eye opener.  I was already interested in places and nature in general, but the combination with photography is focussing things much more for me.  Above all it directs my thoughts in wonder and awe before the Creator God, with evidence of the hand of a master designer at work on every hand.

Local Bank Holiday walk

This is just a post to share some pictures from a walk from home on Easter Monday.  It is not a full route report - I went along the path to the Palterton lane, up the lane to the village, along the path at the top of the hillside to Glapwell and back along the Stockley Trail.  It was dull throughout, with light rain, but became quite an impressive downpour shortly before getting back home.

At the far edge of Palterton there is a farm with lots of hens and ducks as well as cows.  Most of the hens had sought shelter, but the ducks were out in force.

Ducks to the right of me....

.....and more ducks on the left

It is an easy stroll across fields to Glapwell.  I walked down the main road, a section I had somehow neither driven or walked previously.

Road down the hill from Glapwell to Doe Lea

The road is basically the main road between Mansfield and Chesterfield.  Towards the bottom of the hill the Stockley Trail leaves to the right.  It leads to a former mining area.  The fishing lake is rather forlorn with warning notices about contamination that still needs to be finally dealt with from mining times.

Steps from the fishing lake by the Stockley Trail

By the fishing lake

 The trail then leads into a bowl in the hills which was the site of heavy industrial and mining activity.  It is developing into an intriguing area botanically.  The ground is largely some sort of bare shale which alternates between being very wet and very dry.  There are areas of reeds and slopes with gorse and many types of plants, mosses, lichens and fungi in between.  Many of the plants are types that form rosettes of leaves.

Gorse

Coltsfoot

It is usually worth spending some time wandering around and although it does not look especially attractive overall, it always seems a rather individual and fascinating spot to be.  There are odd industrial remnants lurking, and strange bits of stone and rock.

Industrial remnant

Today, as often, the mosses and lichens caught the eye.  The details are really lovely, and I was quite pleased with a couple of the photos.  This is one instance where bright sunshine is not helpful for photography.

The trail uses the line of the former colliery railway between Glapwell / Bramley Vale and Bolsover.  Having walked it quite regularly, I did not stop this time for fresh photos.  I almost always visit the lakes at Carr Vale on walks from home, which is where the rain really came on quite quickly and impressively.  I'll close with a rosette of leaves and a quick shot at the "Meadow Flash" lake at Carr Vale.

Rosette of leaves

Meadow Flash - it's raining!