Rushmere and a Pocket Wood

I chose to take a look at woodland close to quarries as the likely subjects for pictures and turned off the A5 towards Heath and Reach, eventually I found the Brickhill Road and passed Rushmere Country Park with a commercial Car Park, but I was seeking somewhere more secluded, and continuing beyond, found a much smaller parking area, where there was free parking.

From the edge of the parking area was an excellent view of a splendid, much modernised farmhouse which intermittently was lit brightly by the sun, whilst the fields and trees around were shaded by passing clouds. Towering above and beyond were Cumulus clouds. I stood awhile trying to time it such that some of the foreground was in shadow whilst the sun played on the building, all the while a tractor could be heard as it was hard at work in the field close to the house.

I then wandered into the woodland along the tracks amongst the ferns with dappled sunlight filtering through the foliage of the tall trees, trying to capture the beauty of the abundant ferns when backlit. Also the first signs of approaching autumn tints were to be seen in amongst the many shades of green. There was a slight breeze blowing fitfully, which meant the light was constantly changing. But clouds bring rain, which at first was hesitant and light, but it soon became apparent I was in for a shower.

I returned to the car and eventually moved further along the road taking the intersecting lanes that seemed less used, to where I found a small fenced area of grass with a nesting box at the edge and what seemed more like a floral grave in the middle. The shower had passed, but the cloud cover remained almost total. It was the aptly named Pocket Wood – a mere acre of woodland open to the public. Upon further investigation it turned out the local Parish Council had built a small circular pond and a winding circular pathway through the woods. At first I could hear the sounds of ducks but I never caught sight of any and their sounds ceased as I took to the path.

It had been an interesting interlude providing rural woodland textures, light and shade.

Autumn Colours as Leaves Fall

A drive on the warmest day of late, with little more than the occasional light breeze – this is how it should be in the English countryside; not the grey damp, mizzly days to which we have been subjected recently. I parked in a spot between two large puddles of indeterminate depth on the edge of a wood near Codicote, because I had just spotted wonderful dappled sunshine and shadows displaying the colours I consider truly autumnal: golden brown fallen leaves, bronze and green ferns, and dark brown and black tree trunks with rich green moss carpeting their feet.

At first I took only the 24 -105mm zoom, but spotting a robin and a tit flitting from branch to branch and a squirrel, I returned for the 300mm. How shortsighted of me! I should have covered all the bases, because I now no longer had surprise on my side! The sunshine was intermittent, which in some cases was handy as the lesser contrast could be beneficial, but generally I do like the brightness of sunlight., though really then, flash would come in handy, and I rarely venture out with flash unless I specifically need it.

The sounds from some hidden birds was tantalising, because they travelled around and above me with no form to show me what species was responsible, at least the robin, with little more than a whisper of wings against the ferns remained just a few feet from me as it circled.

I spotted at least three grey squirrels, one on the ground the other two leaping from branch to branch and scurrying up the trunk to the highest reaches of the tree, but one only of this pair remained in sight, intent on munching leaves from small twigs.

Having spent some time in the woods spotted some dramatic clouds across a field and stopped promptly to grab the shot of the tree against this backdrop, and then followed the road to Ayot House – I should have taken note of those clouds as I barely managed the shots of the house before being caught in the rain! I then continued my return trip when the sun came back out, so I stopped again, this time to wander along the river by East Hyde.