This was an owl walk with a bit of a difference - guaranteed to see the owls although I appreciate it's not quite the same as going out and finding your own in the wild! We got to handle all the owls - up close and personal - and then when it dropped properly dark we went into the woods at Clumber and watched them being flown - not being much of an owl expert I was surprised at quite how close to the ground they flew. But those eyes in the dark were just amazing!
Anyway, to start at the beginning here are a few photos of Clumber itself - these are a few of one of the many entrances into the Park - a road knows as Lime Tree Avenue - just beautiful to drive through - these were actually taken the day before when I went out practising my photography again!!
On to the day itself - started with coffee and cake at 4 o'clock in the cafe (had to get that in first before the cafe closed!) then out into the Park. The walk didn't begin until 6.00 pm so there was an hour to kill (I mean to take photographs in!) before the walk began. Lovely time of day to be in the park as most of the day's visitors were gone by now and there were just a hand ful of people around. It was about 5pm now and the light was beautiful with the sun just starting to go down. Nice bit of autumn colour on the trees.
I decided to photograph the church through the branches of the tree - can't decide whether it works or not? Perhaps not enough of the church showing to make it look deliberate?
And the cvhurch a bit later without the tree in front of it - but getting a bit dark now to do it justice.
5.25 pm now and the light is beginning to fade over the lake
Time to go and see the owls now - not many photographs of these unfortunately as it was dark, but I did manage to get one or two pictures of an owl that was sat quite close to a floodlight.
And its other side!
And that's it! And the next thing I have to learn is how to re-size photos as one or two I have are two big to post!
A very interesting evening anyway - some people got to wallk through the forest with an owl (or a falcon) perched on a gloved hand
See my Flickr photos here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115745582@N04/
As you say, very interesting. Great Autumnal shots too.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
A wonderful way to spend an evening, Christine - and all your photos are great! I think the one with the church seen through the tree works well.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
What a fantastic experience Christine and the photos are stunning. Looks like a beautiful place and the Autumnal colours are beautiful.
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Regards, Hazel
Beautiful photos, Christine. The autumn colours are absolutely stunning. What is that very tall tree? Could it be a Wellingtonia? Whatever it is it's very spectacular.
Nice shots of the owls too.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Wonderful account of your evening with all your beautiful & illustrative pics CB - hope you are successful in resizing so we can see more!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks all.
Teejay - I'm afraid I don't know what sort of tree it is, but it did look good in the evening light and still partially green, partially orange.
Hi Christine,
We know Clumber Park quite well we have visited there, when go over to Retford in Nottinghamshire to see family. It really is a beautiful place I would love to visit when they are showing the owls
you have taken some lovely photos, beautiful!!