Spurning in Hull

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I was supposed to be doing this last week when the sun was high and the wind was low. Unfortunately all I managed was a few dodgy fox pics in the hotel gardens at dusk. Fortunately I had to come back up to Hull again. This time I was determined to get something worthwhile. I made a day of it and ended up at Spurn Point or head or what ever you want to call it at about one thirty. Perfect considering its about three hundred miles from Glastonbury. Still I was here and raring to............ FOUR QUID!!! Four pounds for parking no less. You must be joking. There isn't even a car park just some spaces if your lucky. I thought about it and decided to stump up. I searched high and low but there was no one around at all. It was all shut up. Well the sign said if there's no one at the gate they will collect later. Fair enough. I kitted up and tromped off down the road. So as in keeping with adventures up north it was very grey, very wet and not particularly warm. I forgot my walking boots so my, as us over forty's say, pumps would have to do. Tread carefully I thought, It's all I have for the hotel later.

It couldn't have been any worse for photography but I soldiered on. Having said all that I actually like this sort of weather. The bleak has a beauty. There is different light and colours and hues. It's all good. I enjoyed the moment nonetheless.

Curlew on the sands

This Tern had a mouthful!

Erm shouldn't you be at Shapwick?

Dunlin and Ringed Plover

Now I'm not 100% sure but I'm going for Juvenile Common Tern. If it's not then its an Arctic Tern but I doubt it.

Dunlin having a hop across the sands

Aren't Ringed Plovers just the cutest.

and a Juvenile Black Headed Gull. A particular favourite of mine.

Black Tailed Godwits

And that was pretty much it. I thought I would pop on my latest favourite lens. A Takumar 17mm f4 Fisheye. Well you're not complete without a fisheye are you. Interestingly it doesn't give a really bad fisheye effect. This is because it's on my 70D with a crop sensor which effectively cuts off the outer edges. When I put this on my film camera it did give the full 180deg effect. I'm really pleased with this reduced effect though. A full fisheye would get a bit annoying after a while. This gives a nice wide angle effect with just a hint of curve. Its staying in the bag and the 28mm can go in the cupboard for a bit.

Here's the results. Little or no cropping.

Due to time restrictions I only walked part of the way. I remember years ago coming here and being able to drive all the way out but since the road got swept away in 2013 its walking only. Quit an odd sight seeing the road disappear suddenly

PEBBLES!! LOTS OF PEBBLES!! and every one could tell a story.

An obeliskish thing

I seem to remember reading somewhere but I'm not sure (Googling it would spoil the enigma) that the road was built by either US soldiers or prisoners of war. Either way I'm guessing that these were probably the barracks. 

Fishermen

The Godwits

Another Curlew

Up on the dune at the back of the car park there's a small wide for sea watching. I didn't bother going in. I prefer the outsides. All day around there there were a few Swallows flying very low and incredibly slow. I resisted wasting a thousand shots trying to get them. They were back flying around the hide. I crouched down and tried a few snaps.

Rather wet Swallow amongst the flowers

That was the Tuesday, on the way home I managed to pop into Far Ing reserve which runs along the Humber by the bridge. I didn't stay long but I managed a few.

Cormorant and Grey Heron

Walking along the river bank I was wondering if there were in fact any bitterns around here after seeing nice big pictures of them all over the advertising for this place. I had my answer.

The final shot of the day before the five hour drive home.

Star Gazing

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The afternoon was spare so I quickly headed down to Ham Wall.  I did something a bit different to normal though.  Parking up in the Shapwick carpark (Ham Wall has got its own posh carpark now with lakes and frogs).  I headed across the metal bridge and walked along the other side of the river into Ham Wall.  I haven’t actually been this way before.

I was immediately pleased that not many other people seem to either.  Ham Wall is a bit of a victim of its own success and can be reminiscent of a town park on sunny days with man, woman, child and dog all very much in evidence throughout the reserve,  Not that I have anything against this.  But sometimes some peace and quiet is needed…

Strolling along, flanked by the tall reeds made viewing a bit tricky but I wasn’t too bothered.  I was in a relaxed kind of mood and just enjoyed the tranquil surroundings.  I dint see a lot really.  A Greater spotted woodpecker uttered its alarm call and flew over my head.  Quickly followed by a Jay.  I didn’t manage a picture of either of them.

Shuffling through the long grass in my flip flops may not have been the best of ideas given the preponderance of ticks in the area.  Still I suppose I'm giving back to nature by being a mobile blood bank.

Time passed and I found myself in front of VP2.  I had walked further than I thought!

It was then I spotted a little slice of heaven.  A bench tucked away behind some dense, low lying trees looking over the lake area but closer to it than VP2 could ever manage.

The bench was marked with a plaque. 

 I wondered if Owen had ever stood at this very spot and marveled at the sea of swaying reeds stretching out towards the imposing perimeter that was the Mendip Hills.  To the east the Tor stood proud, an icon looking down on the flood plains beneath it.

I decided that this was the spot and I simply watched.

 Here is what I got... Its nothing to special.  The light was poor and everything was a bit distant!

 

Except for this fellow.  A Marsh, Iberian frog or whatever they are called these days.

Flew quite close.  Got a better one a couple of posts back though.

A rather noisy fellow.  Shame it was so dark.

One for Robin... :-) (In joke)

 What a view.

Although they aren't great quality I was quite pleased with these as they are a bit different.

 About an hour later he flew up from his spot.

There were two Hobbies zooming about the place.  This one was photobombed by a Grey heron

 Bit of flora

Time slipped by effortlessly.  I had stood and gazed for over 2 hours! In that time I only saw 4 people.  A very rare thing at Ham wall. It was an aptly named plaque as it was indeed a Star spot and one which I am sure Owen would be proud of.  Maybe from a star of his own.

Although I didn’t know him I will certainly be back to use his bench again (just don’t tell anybody!)