The annual field trip to photograph Autumn colours will again take place at Epping Forest this year. This trip is ideal for members of the Landscape Group and the Nature & Wildlife Group to all meet together as the ample opportunities for both genres of photography.

We are grateful to local photographer Peter Warne providing us with a basic route through the Forest during his recent photo-talk about the Wildlife and Landscape possibilities Epping Forest has to offer. We shall start by exploring the area around Wake Valley Car Park and move on after lunchtime to the area around Lodge Road Car Park where there is the best opportunity to see fallow deer as the annual rut approaches.

This month’s Nature & Wildlife shoot is taking place at Holkham Halll and Park out on the North Norfolk Coast

The sweeping landscapes and stunning vistas that surround the Hall make up just a small part of Holkham Park, for it is abundant with wildlife, wildflowers, fascinating architecture, and trees older than the Hall itself. Delight in the dawn chorus overhead, the sight of rutting deer in autumn and the tiny waddles of goslings down by the lake in spring. There’s over 3000 acres of parkland with a view or follow the walking and cycling routes to explore off the beaten track.

Access to the parkland is free but there is a charge for parking of £5 per day. Bring your refreshments or you can take advantage of the on site facilities including the Look Out - situated on the edge of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, offering spectacular views and a range of food and drinks to enjoy inside, outside or to take away.

The park opens at 10am and closes at 4pm.

This month’s Nature & Wildlife shoot is taking place at Holkham Halll and Park out on the North Norfolk Coast

The sweeping landscapes and stunning vistas that surround the Hall make up just a small part of Holkham Park, for it is abundant with wildlife, wildflowers, fascinating architecture, and trees older than the Hall itself. Delight in the dawn chorus overhead, the sight of rutting deer in autumn and the tiny waddles of goslings down by the lake in spring. There’s over 3000 acres of parkland with a view or follow the walking and cycling routes to explore off the beaten track.

Access to the parkland is free but there is a charge for parking of £5 per day. Bring your refreshments or you can take advantage of the on site facilities including the Look Out - situated on the edge of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, offering spectacular views and a range of food and drinks to enjoy inside, outside or to take away.

The park opens at 10am and closes at 4pm.

A well-known sight on our coast are the common and grey seals, often seen lounging on the beach or curiously watching us from the water.  With over half of the world's population of Grey Seals, approximately 80,000 individuals, choosing to use Britain's coastline, we are incredibly lucky that a large proportion of these can be found around Norfolk's shores.

While both species can be seen throughout the year and they co-exist happily, the beaches between Horsey and Winterton are blessed to be home to some of the largest colonies of Grey Seals to be found anywhere. From November to the end of January the beach will be crowded with Seals and their new born pups.

However, as these are wild animals, please treat these beautiful animals with the ultimate respect they deserve. Human intervention can easily prove fatal to Seals and in particular their Pups, so please ensure you adhere to the following rules during the shoot:

Keep Your Distance - Maintain a distance of at least 10 metres between you and the seals but always take care not to disturb the seals. For this reason, a zoom or telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 300mm is preferred.

• Don’t Chase Seals or Their Pups into The Water - Seal pups, while white, are not waterproof until they first moult and are likely to drown.

• Never Come Between a Pup and Their Mother - Approaching Seal pups may lead the mother to abandon the Pup

• If you See A Seal In that is Clearly in Difficulty - Contact The Friends of Horsey Seals on 07706 314514 or the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999

The sun is expected to rise in Wexham at 7:40am so we plan to meet at 7:00am so we can enjoy the best of the early light.  An early start also offers ideal conditions to photograph the seals with the first low tide coinciding with our planned arrival.

The next Nature and Wildlife shoot will take place at Sculthorpe Moor home of the Hawk & Owl Trust.

The Hawk and Owl Trust was founded in 1969 (as the Hawk Trust) because of concerns about the alarming decline in numbers of Peregrines and other raptors. Owls were added to their remit shortly afterwards and the Hawk and Owl Trust was born.

One of the country’s most accessible reserves, Sculthorpe is internationally recognised for its wildlife. The reserve is located in the beautiful Wensum Valley in Norfolk, and is a marvellous, peaceful place with a huge variety of wildlife in a rich and unusual mosaic of woodland, fen and reed bed habitats.

A series of hides for watching wildlife are located throughout the reserve and include the elevated, tree-top Volunteer Hide and Aerial Walkway. All hides are fully accessible by wheelchair. Sculthorpe Moor can proudly boast that we are one of the most disabled-friendly and accessible nature reserves in the whole country.

Meet in the car park at 10am
The reserve is a few miles inland from the North Norfolk coast, off the A148 King's Lynn to Fakenham road, just outside Fakenham town. Take Turf Moor Road (signposted 'Nature Reserve' on the A148, opposite Sculthorpe village.

The May meeting of the Nature and Wildlife Group will take place at Hickling Broad Nature Reserve

The Group visited this reserve earlier in the year hoping to see Kingfishers. However we were informed, that although Kingfishers can be seen any time of the year the best chances are when they are feeding their young in May/June. This time of year also offers a good chance of spotting a Bittern - So a return visit is in order.

Hickling Broad is a 600 hectare (1,500 acre) nature reserve North East of Norwich which is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the broad with the largest surface area and the water is slightly brackish due to it’s proximity to the sea.

It has the largest reed-bed in England and supports many rare water weeds. It is also home to many rare insects such as the Swallowtail butterfly, Norfolk hawker and Emperor dragonfly and many others. Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Pochards and Water Rails. Cetti’s warblers can be seen nearly all year round.

There is a way marked circular trail from the Visitors Centre all the way round the edge of the Reserve which takes in numerous hides the Bittern Hide, the Observation Hide, Seckers Hide and the Cadbury Hide.

Meet in the car park at 10am.

This is our first visit to this fantastic reserve at RSPB Rye Meads which is situated beside the River Lee and is a firm favourite with both birdwatchers and photographers thanks to its numerous trails hides.

This delightful wetland reserve is a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers and photographers thanks to its many trails and hides.

Common Terns nest on specifically created rafts during the summer months and Kingfishes can be seen nesting in artificially created sandbanks and is one of the most likely places in the UK to see this brightly coloured and incredible bird. A brand new and comfortable Kingfisher hide called the ‘Kingfisher Hub’ has only just been opened with terrific views of both the lake and the sandbank where the Kingfishes nest.

Please note: There is unfortunately a time limit and tripod ban in the kingfisher hide due to its popularity at the present time.

Kestrels are also a common sight on the reserve and many of them make their nests in the specially built nest boxes scattered throughout the reserve.

Apart from the bird life there are numerous insects to be captured (butterflies dragonflies etc)…so don’t forget your macro lens.

The May meeting of the Nature and Wildlife Group will take place at Hickling Broad Nature Reserve

The Group visited this reserve earlier in the year hoping to see Kingfishers. However we were informed, that although Kingfishers can be seen any time of the year the best chances are when they are feeding their young in May/June. This time of year also offers a good chance of spotting a Bittern - So a return visit is in order.

Hickling Broad is a 600 hectare (1,500 acre) nature reserve North East of Norwich which is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the broad with the largest surface area and the water is slightly brackish due to it’s proximity to the sea.

It has the largest reed-bed in England and supports many rare water weeds. It is also home to many rare insects such as the Swallowtail butterfly, Norfolk hawker and Emperor dragonfly and many others. Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Pochards and Water Rails. Cetti’s warblers can be seen nearly all year round.

There is a way marked circular trail from the Visitors Centre all the way round the edge of the Reserve which takes in numerous hides the Bittern Hide, the Observation Hide, Seckers Hide and the Cadbury Hide.

Meet in the car park at 10am.

The February meeting of the Nature and Wildlife Group will take place at Cley Marshes Reserve

The land that comprises the reserve was purchased in 1926 to be held in perpetuity as a bird breeding sanctuary and has provided a blue print for nature conservation across the UK. In 2012 an appeal helped purchase a further 57 hectares linking the two reserves at Cley and Salthouse. Together creating a single coastal reserve in excess of 300 hectares. Six hides (four accessible by boardwalks) gives fantastic views across pools and scapes that are specially managed to attract breeding and passage birds

Cley and Salthouse Marshes is justifiably popular with birders as over the years the marshes has hosted a huge number of rare birds, the reserves position in the middle of the Norfolk coastline makes it ideally placed to receive scarce visitors. Although Spring, Autumn and Winter are the best times of the year for rarer birds to show up, almost anything is possible at any time. Check at the visitor centre for the latest sightings.

Meet in the car park at 10am. There is no charge to enter the reserve but there is a car park charge.

The visitor centre is large and includes a shop, cafe and toilet facilities

The January meeting of the Nature and Wildlife Group will take place at Lackford Lakes, Bury Saint Edmunds , that belong to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Lackford Lakes is a 400acre Nature Reserve comprising of 11 lakes with 8 hides & is double SSSI designated. Cafe is open 10-5 daily.

UPDATE ABOUT EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS

Looking forward to the N&W Shoot this coming Sunday I have checked the weather forecast and at the beginning of the week there was an 80% chance of rain but now no rain is predicted and it looks, as far as the weather is concerned, it is going to be a rather pleasant day

Checked out this reserve a few weeks ago as I was informed it was one of the best sites in the country to see Kingfishes however on this particular day none made an appearance. I was informed it was still a little early. However Little Egrets, Grey Herons and Cormorants were seen within a very short time of arriving.

Lackford Lakes is a 105.8 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north east of Lackford in Suffolk. The nature reserve, which is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The lakes are disused sand and gravel pits in the valley of the River Lark.

A superb site for wildfowl in both winter and summer, Lackford attracts Tufted Duck, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Goosander. There is a large winter gull roost which comprises many thousands of birds. Passing birds of prey include the majestic osprey, whilst buzzard and sparrow hawk can be seen regularly.

In the summer months, hobby can be seen in hot pursuit of sand martin, swallows and an array of dragonflies. This is one of the best places in Suffolk for kingfisher, and cormorant are often seen fishing at the sailing lake or roosting in the tall trees by the river. Almost any migrant bird can turn up - black tern are regulars but species like Little Egret and the more uncommon waders are also seen.

Meet in the car park at the entrance to the reserve at 10:00am

Titchwell Marsh is the very first reserve the NDPS visited while we were considering setting up the ‘Nature & Wildlife Special Interest Group’ and on that occasion we had arranged a Wildlife Workshop with Kevin Sawford.

It was also on that occasion when many of us were lucky enough to get up close to a magnificent Grey Heron feeding in the reeds.

Titchwell comprises various habitats including reed beds, saltwater and freshwater lagoons, as well as a sandy beach and is renowned for its wading birds, wildfowl and geese. These gather in significant numbers from mid autumn onwards and with the arrival of migrant birds from Scandinavia and Northern Europe the fresh water lagoons are soon filled with a variety of resident species and visitors.

During Autumn, Marsh Harriers can be seen soaring low over the reed beds and Avocets, (the RSPB emblem bird) can be seen on the fresh water marsh in significant numbers all year round.

The freshwater reed beds are incredibly important for a wide variety of species including rare breeding birds such as bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. Otters and water voles are also well established here. Ongoing management work in the reed beds such as winter reed cutting helps to create and maintain a mosaic of habitats including reed bed edges and muddy margins which benefit these species. Dark Sky Sites are designated by the International Dark Sky Association as being areas that showcase exceptionally starry skies.

Incidentally Titchwell Marsh reserve became a designated Dark Sky Site in 2019 and boasts some of the darkest skies in Norfolk. The lack of artificial light means visitors can see thousands of stars when the night sky panorama is revealed. On a clear night, views of the Milky Way and the constellation Orion are visible with the naked eye and could be a good venue for our next Milky Way shoot!

Meet in the Car Park by 10:00am. Parking is free for RSPB members but non-members are required to pay a fee.

The annual field trip to photograph the colours of Autumn will again take place at Epping Forest this year. This trip is ideal for members of the Landscape Group and the Nature & Wildlife Group to all meet together as the ample opportunities for both genres of photography.

About Epping ForestEpping Forest is the largest public open space in the London area, at almost 6,000 acres. A former royal hunting forest, it was saved from destruction in the 19th century by the Corporation of London. The age of the forest and the range of habitats that it contains make it a valuable area for wildlife and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The formerly pollarded trees have not been cut since the 19th century and have now grown massive crowns of thick, trunk-like branches. The weight of the branches cannot be supported by the parent tree, and the large amount of dead wood in the forest sustains numerous species of fungi. The predominant tree species are pedunculate oak, European beech, European hornbeam and silver birch - all providing beautiful autumn colours with abundant foreground interest in mosses etc. It is also excellent for infrared photography with the varied trunk and branch shapes providing infinite subjects.

A MAGICAL HAVEN FOR BOTH BIRD-WATCHERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sculthorpe Moor is a small but fantastic 45 acre nature reserve situated in the Wensum Valley very close to Fakenham and is run by the Hawk and Owl Trust.

There is an abundance of wildlife on the reserve all year round and as Autumn approaches there is still much to see and photograph at Sculthorpe. Dragonfly’s are still abundant and large numbers of Migrant Hawkers and Darters can be seen well into November in sheltered areas.

Buzzards, Marsh Harriers and Red Kites can all be seen and are particularly active at this time of year. Look out for Brambling the orange, black and white relative of Chaffinch which begin arriving around this time from Scandinavia and artic Russia. Kingfishers and other species of birds can be seen all year round at Sculthorpe from the various hides on the reserve

Meet in the Car Park by 10:00am

The NDPS Nature and Wildlife Group will be visiting one of the most popular and interesting reserves throughout Norfolk and Suffolk - Strumpshaw Fen this month on the 22nd August.
The hides are open subject to wearing a mask and social distancing. There are no particular food facilities although there is a coffee machine. A packed lunch might be worth considering, there are numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the site.

In summer, the fen meadow comes alive with a rich display of wild flowers, including six species of orchid and the reserve is host to a wide variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies.

Strumpshaw is one of the best places at this time of year to spot the Kim Kardashian of the butterfly world the spectacular Swallowtail Butterfly which can be seen from late May to mid-August. Up to 20 kinds of dragonfly can also be seen, including Willow Emerald and the rare Norfolk hawkers.

In addition, Strumpshaw has the full range of Broadland habitats and wildlife. Walk round the reed beds, woodlands and orchid-rich meadows and you could chance upon the spectacular Marsh Harriers, the secretive and illusive Bitterns, or the brilliantly coloured Kingfishers. Cetti’s Warblers also nest at Strumpshaw along with Otters and Water Voles and you may even be lucky enough to see Lizards basking in the Summer sunshine.

Meet as usual in the car park at 10.00am - Car parking is FREE for RSPB members otherwise charges normally apply.

Once the home to the highly respected naturalist Ted Ellis, Wheatfen ia a particuarly important reserve and probably the most studied area of fenland in the whole world. Ted Ellis and all his helpers management of the land and careful work of generations that came after them has guaranteed that Wheatfen is as special now as it was 70 years ago.

While all sorts of birds, butterfies and other insects can be found at Wheatfen there are some notable ‘star players’.

Norfolk Hawker dragonfly can be seen late May, June And July Found in the fens and ditches at Wheatfen.

Swallowtail Butterfly is the UK’s largest and rarest butterfly and only found in and around the Norfolk Broads. There is a very good chance of seeing a Swallowtail during the months of July and August at Wheatfen Reserve.

Marsh Harrier magnificent birds, who’s numbers at one time was dramatically dwindling and East Anglia was the last stronghold of this impressive harrier. Thankfully they have bounced back and they are frequent sight at Wheatfen.

Plenty of areas to explore for example the wooded area at Wheatfen is the home of many smaller woodland birds and some ancient oaks planted around 1815.

For a small donation the warden at Wheatfen will give our group a short tour of the best spots on the reserve at this time of year.

General admission to the reserve is FREE - Meet in the car park for 10:00am start.

The next Nature & Wildlife shoot will take place at RSPB Lakenheath Fen on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. The site was heavenly farmed arable land until it was purchased by the RSPB in 1965 and began turning it into the the nature reserve it is today.
The beginning of Summer brings everything back to life after the Winter period and life is certainly buzzing at Lakenheath Fen.
Along with the larger birds you can expect to see such as Marsh harriers, Bitterns, Hobbies, Red kites and Cranes there is an abundance of smaller birds such as Bearded tits, Reed warblers, Kingfishers etc and not forgetting the numerous varieties of Butterflies and Dragonflies and many other insects.
400 hectares of habitat has been created since 1995 comprising wet reedbed ungrazed fen and wet grassland and forms part of of a broader network of wetlands across the fenland region.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE AND TIME OF THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CHANGED

The Nature and Wildlife Group’s May shoot will be at Foxley Wood

At 123 hectares Foxley Wood is the largest ancient woodland and coppice in Norfolk and is recorded in the Doomsday Book, certain parts of the wood are known to be over 6,000 years old. For the past 1000 years it was a source of wood but the demand decreased during the 20th century and Foxley Wood became neglected until the 1990s when it owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. It was acquired by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in 1998.

It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Nature Conservation Review Site (Grade 2) and a National Nature Reserve.

The Foxley Wood is rich in flora with over 250 species having been recorded. Foxley Wood is known for it’s Bluebells which form a magnificent display during the months of April and May.

Fauna include insects such as dark bush crickets, white admiral ringlet butterflies. Bird species that are seen include sparrowhawks, tawny owls, great spotted woodpeckers and European green woodpeckers.

This should be a great opportunity to get some iconic images of Bluebells at their best. All those members who reserved a place on the original date have been transferred to the new date. Please note the shoot is now full.

Last February a Blog article titled ‘A few Days in Norfolk’ written by the acclaimed wildlife photographer Thomas Hanahoe led to a successful meeting of NDPS members at the RSPB Nature Reserve at Snettisham to see the wader roost arriving before dawn so we could photograph the birds at first light

A number of Landscape Group members have decided to make the trip again this year and other members are welcome to join us if they wish. Join us in the Car Park at by 06:45am. The time given is when to leave the RSPB car park (not the time of high tide) and allows sufficient time to reach the Wader Watch-point before the spectacular occurs

The Nature and Wildlife Group will resume its outdoor shoots at Minsmere Nature Reserve out on the Suffolk Coast.

Minsmere is a 2,500 acre site which has been managed by the RSPB since 1947 covering reed beds, grassland, woodland, and areas of beach and shingle. It is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is conserved as a site of Special Scientific Interest.

Minsmere is home to Nightingales, Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits, Bitterns, Avocets, and many other species. There are easy paths through woodland, heathland, and reed beds, past coastal lagoons and on to the beach.

Tom’s Tours and the Nature and Wildlife Group are joining forces to re-organise the shoot at the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen that had to be cancelled back in September due to the covid-restrictions that imposed at that time by the UK Government.
Located on the banks of the River Yare, around eight miles southeast of Norwich, the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve is one of the most important parts of the Norfolk Broads. Encompassing the last remaining tidal marshes and carrs on the River Yare, the wild and remote area features reed beds, open fen, alder, and willow woodlands. There are also two small broads and a specially designed nature trail in the reserve.

Thought by some experts to be as environmentally important as Mount Everest and the giant redwood forests of America, the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve is a fantastic place for an afternoon stroll.

With Norfolk placed in Tier 2 from 2nd December the Society has updated its Covid Guidance & Procedures to ensure that all events/shoots are covid secure

This Nature and Wildlife Group shoot was originally planned to take place in November but had to be cancelled due to the covid-restrictions in force at the time. However, with Norfolk placed in Tier 2 from 2nd December and some members keen to get out again with their cameras it has been re-organised prior to Christmas.

This shoot provides an opportunity to photograph the Konik Ponies at the NT’s oldest reserve and most famous fen. Wicken Fen, one of Europe's most important wetlands, supports an abundance of wildlife. There are more than 9000 species, including a spectacular array of plants, birds and dragonflies.
The raised boardwalk and lush grass droves allow easy access to a lost landscape of flowering meadows, sedge and reedbeds, where you can encounter rarities such as hen harriers, water voles and bitterns.
Wicken Fen Vision, an ambitious landscape-scale conservation project, is opening up new areas of land to explore. The grazing herds of Highland cattle and Konik ponies are helping to create a diverse range of new habitats.
As the nature reserve expands under the Wicken Fen Vision, it would not be possible to manage the enlarged reserve using traditional methods of man and machinery, instead a more sustainable approach is needed.

CANCELLED

This event has been cancelled with the UK’s current restrictions that apply from Thursday 5th November 2020 due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

About Epping ForestEpping Forest is the largest public open space in the London area, at almost 6,000 acres. A former royal hunting forest, it was saved from destruction in the 19th century by the Corporation of London. The age of the forest and the range of habitats that it contains make it a valuable area for wildlife and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The formerly pollarded trees have not been cut since the 19th century and have now grown massive crowns of thick, trunk-like branches. The weight of the branches cannot be supported by the parent tree, and the large amount of dead wood in the forest sustains numerous species of fungi. The predominant tree species are pedunculate oak, European beech, European hornbeam and silver birch - all providing beautiful autumn colours with abundant foreground interest in mosses etc. It is also excellent for infrared photography with the varied trunk and branch shapes providing infinite subjects.

Bradgate Park offers a fantastic population of both Red and Fallow deer, giving us a unique opportunity to photograph the deer rut without having to cope with the vast crowds that can affect most of the parks in the UK. The annual deer rut is in October, an ideal time for autumnal colours and to capture the impressive stags looking their best. The light is usually best an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset – the ‘golden hour’.

Due to the current situation regarding Covid-19 it has been decided to restrict the shoot to one day. We shall meet up at the Park early in the morning and stay until after sunset so it will be late at night when we get back to Norfolk.

This shoot is limited to SIX (6) participants - reserve your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.