
We set off to enjoy a nature ramble around Gunton Park lake. The lake is very pretty and is two acres in size,having a circumference of about two miles,allowing for the twists and turns of banks, bridges and reed beds.
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![]() It was a glorious Spring day in May; the sun was shining, with a nice breeze wafting through the trees. Margaret and I had the morning completely to ourselves, such is the restful nature of a Spring break at the beautiful holiday village of Gunton Hall in Suffolk. We were visiting primarily, to celebrate Margaret's birthday, and we were enjoying the leisure facilities, and the beautiful peaceful atmosphere. We both felt fairly stale from our indoor cerebral pursuits, of playing Scrabble and completing the Daily Mail cryptic crossword, and decided exercise and fresh air was essential to blow the cobwebs away. We set off to enjoy a nature ramble around Gunton Park lake. The lake is very pretty and is two acres in size,having a circumference of about two miles,allowing for the twists and turns of banks, bridges and reed beds. We set off on foot to the lake, through the wonderfully kept formal mini gardens, to the more natural wild flowers and shrubs surrounding the lake. There are many varieties of bird life, and wildlife in profusion. The setting is beautiful, we had just missed the hosts of wild golden daffodils, but we were able to photograph some beautiful flowers that were blooming in their season. We crossed the first bridge, and commenced our slow ramble along the path beside the lake. There were many banks of primroses growing along the sides of the bank of the lake, with blue bells and violets in profusion. Some of the rhododendrons buds were on the point of bursting into bloom, and everywhere there was a feeling of new life, and Spring was uppermost and visible everywhere. Some of the wild ducks had bred early and the ducklings were gathered around their parents, who kept a wary eye on us as we passed, and were ever on the lookout for danger in the shape and form of predators. The slideshow below illustrates more than words can ever describe, the beauty of the May afternoon, in a small corner of England. We stopped for a break to simply sit and enjoy the beauty of the bird life and the natural surroundings, before heading back to the chalet we were occupying, in the grounds of Gunton Hall, for a very welcome cup of tea, and a well earned rest. Overpowered by the absolute beauty of Nature and the natural world.
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![]() A Kookaburra in the natural woodland above a stream Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane Australia. A short walk from our daughters house there is a wonderful park with a large area of natural woodland. This area has several walks and trails spread out through the woods. The first thing you notice is the cacophony of sound coming from the tree tops. This is comprised of the calls, of the many varieties of birds that live here, all claiming and demonstrably staking out their individual territories. The incredible variety and colourful plumage of some of these Australian birds is breathtaking. The State of Queensland government is to be applauded for their foresight, in setting aside areas such as this, where the natural wildlife and birds can exist in their near natural environment, alongside the encroaching development of the Brisbane city suburbs. A slideshow of some of the many varieties of birds I came across during our visit to Australia. ϡ ❦ ϡ ❦ ϡ ❦ I have a great interest in bird life and all things avian. I have always admired the way birds make use of the different natural resources, and their ability to forage and survive.The great adaptability that ensures their survival using flight, and camouflage, or not, in the case of the more colourful species. Galahs and Friarbirds feeding and foraging. I made this slideshow presentation by using some of the photographs composed of just two of the more colourful varieties that I encountered. The Galahs were feeding on some scrub vegetation and weeds in front of a house that was being developed. Sadly the area they were feeding in was concreted over while we were there. The Helmeted Friarbird would arrive several times a day to feed on a Grevillea bush in the garden, there would be a loud harsh sort of a squawk as he or she came in to feed. I think this was designed to frighten away any smaller honey-eating birds that were already feeding on the bush. Love in the treetop canopyThese two Cockatoos were very high in the tree top canopy. I was on a very early morning walk when a loud squawk and a flash of white alerted me to their presence. I was very lucky to freeze myself, aim the camera and I got this wonderful video of them greeting and actually locking beaks together passionately. Bush Turkeys set up home in the woods.I was strolling along a track in the woodland, in the early hours one day, when I came across a Bush turkey standing in the middle of the path in front of me. I stopped, and noticed he was watching something happening off the track. Two other Bush turkeys were in the process of setting up home and building a nest. I love the way the male, fusses around the female, giving her encouragement as she literally digs in ready to lay her eggs.
Listen to the birds in the background. |
AuthorsJohn and Margaret, Writers and Photographers at large. Archives
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