Click on the thumbnails below for the full-size image or click here to return to the nature gallery index.
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Banded demoiselle

The Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) is a common sight along the banks of the Gt Ouse. It has a graceful butterfly-like slow wing beat.
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A black swan

A black swan photographed just outside of Ely.
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Red Darter

The Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) is a common sight in summer and autumn
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Dragonfly

A southern Hawker dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea) very kindly poses for a photo. Actually I think this one had just emerged, and was drying its wings.
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Ely Duck

A juvenile Muscovy duck photographed at Ely. The pretty duckling that turns into an ugly adult!
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Basking fish

Fish warming themselves in the shallow water. The Great Ouse is teaming with fish. I don't know anything about them, so couldn't tell you what they are.
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Flag irises

A loveley clump of flag irises
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Geese at sunset

A flock of geese flying at sunset. A very common, and noisy spectacle.
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A pair of Canada geese with their goslings. Photographed just upstream of our marina at St Ives.
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Prehistoric

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a common sight along the river bank. Often, as here, standing motionless in the water while fishing. They look almost prehistoric in flight.
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We can see you

The unmistakable Kingfisher. It's our ambition to get a good close up, but it's not easy. The characteristic streak of metallic blue, as they whizz past low over the water, is always a pleasure to see. Watching them dive and surface with a fish is a rare treat.
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Mating

A pair of Azure, or perhaps Common Blue, damselflies mating.
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Ox-eye daisies

A patch of ox-eye daisies in bloom. Photographed near Brampton Lock.
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A snail

A snail photograhed at Wicken Fen. Wicken Fen is a magical place and well worth a visit.
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Swan & Cormorant

A swan and cormorant photographed together near Earith.
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Swan & cygnet

A swan and cygnet
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Sunset teasel

A teasel in the sunset. Photographed at Hundred Acre near the Fish and Duck Marina at the junction of the River Cam and Gt Ouse.
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Waterlillies

A patch of yellow water-lilies photographed in the Old West River.
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White geese

Domesticated white geese like these can often be seen mixing with wild birds.
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Willow tree

A knarled old willow tree with fungus on its trunk. No matter how broken, battered and lighning-struck these trees become, they always seem to continue to grow.