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Poetry Competition 2022 (Archive Page)

Thank you for sending in photos during March and April 2024. We've got a great selection, which we hope you enjoy browsing through!

...And a Nightingale Sang

Having arrived slightly early for our u3a Birdwatching Group visit to EWT Fingringhoe Wick, we took the opportunity to take a short walk before our meeting started. Not only were we able to enjoy the wonderful Nightingale song, but on this occasion we were thrilled to be able to see and photograph the performer.

Ian
Witham and District u3a

A Bevy Of Swans On The River Severn

This was taken on a visit to Worcester and I think that they were gathering hoping to be fed.

Alan
Solihull Witney u3a

A Host Of Golden Daffodils

Taken in the historic gardens of Hidcote, a National Trust property, near Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

A Lonely Dandelion

One wonders how a lonely dandelion managed to appear amongst this cluster of bluebells growing in Jephson Gardens in Royal Leamington Spa.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Blue Tit In Flight

Leigh on Sea, garden

Graham
Leigh Estuary u3a

Atlantic Sunset Over Appledore

Had a u3a Digital Camera Group evening on Instow beach, eventually we were privileged to witness and capture this spectacular sunset over the ancient fishing village of Appledore in North Devon.

Alan
Torridge u3a

Bees On A Sunflower

Photo taken at the Confetti fields in Wick Nr Pershore Worcestershire

Sandra
Evesham u3a

Beautiful Blossom

Quite local Mercia Marina, visited recently to find this gorgeous blossom on show. Beautiful

Julie
Long Eaton and District u3a

Arrival Of Spring

You know Spring is around the corner when the farm babies start arriving. This kid was seen (and cuddled!) at Hadleigh Farm Rare Breeds centre in March.

Sue
Leigh on Sea u3a

Courting Couple

This was taken on a boat trip to Coquet Island, off the Northumbrian Coast at Amble. It becomes bustling with birdlife / seabirds, and in particular Puffins, who return in their thousands every Spring to breed. I was lucky enough to capture this pair who were looking lovingly into each others eyes.

Charles
Ilkley & District u3a

British Soldiers Lichen Cladonia Christatella

Taken in woodland in Simonside in Northumberland. I was surprised to see this lichen with bright red tips.

Jane
Hartley u3a

Colour

Just loved the colours and texture in this photo

Steve
Northallerton u3a

Bluebell Carpet

Taken near Hockley Heath - lovely carpet of bluebells in a local wood. Colourful time of the year.

Karen
Balsall Common u3a

Breakfast

Walking around Narborough, Norfolk and saw this Blackbird with breakfast.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Daylight Robbery

This cheeky Squirrel found an easy meal in my garden bird feeder, and made no effort to leave when it saw me.

Peter
Chorley u3a

Dragonfly In Flight

I was lucky enough to capture this shot after waiting for a long time by a lake in Gloucestershire

Paul
Torridge u3a

Egret Waiting For Lunch To Swim By

Taken on a Honiton u3a Nature Appreciation Group visit to the RSPB hide at Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham

Val
Honiton u3a

Fairy Garden - A Miniature Landscape

These fairy gardens are at their best in February about 4pm when golden light beams almost horizontally & illuminates miniature landscapes on top of old walls. This is Chorley, where I set up conditions & monitor them - I do not claim to tend or garden these almost alien dioramas. It is the sort of unnoticed miracle that goes overlooked. They are fleeting & mysterious, these mosses, lichen & liverworts are not plants & are here attempting to reproduce in different little-studied ways.

Estelle
Chorley u3a

Female Common Newt Basking In Rare Spring Sunshine

This is was in front of the house, in Yelland, along the bank of the stream. I am told that the 18th March is very early in the Year to see a Newt, and this one is looking ready to 'Pop'. Yesterday, the 20th, I discovered a much smaller Male was having a bask in the self same spot, and there was not even any hint of the Sun, I am guessing the temporary positioned concrete slab had retained some heat. I will need to be looking out for the Slow Worms now.

Alan
Torridge u3a

Fence Climber

This Grey Squirrel pops into our back garden in Bangor, Co. Down most mornings. He may not be as attractive as a Red Squirrel but he still looks handsome as climbs over our back fence in February.

Michael
North Down and Ards u3a

Forget Me Not

It looks like someone left a bunch of Forget-me-not At the entrance of St Mary’s church in Bloxham.

Andri
Banbury u3a

Grey Squirrel

Early morning walk around Baddesley Clinton. The squirrels were out posing for the camera.

Peter
Balsall Common u3a

Getting Ready

This pic was taken at my local pond. The pair of swans have ruled the roost for some time. He is very aggressive. As usual not getting it too white was difficult.

Kenneth
Harborough Welland u3a

Fungi

I took this image with a macro lens and from a very low angle. (getting down was easy, getting back up was the problem) - I think this is one of the ink cap varieties, but not too sure.

Alan
Longton u3a

Fruits Of The Forest

Dane's Dyke near Flamborough on the East Yorkshire coast. Some interesting fungus I happened to notice while passing a tree in some woods.

James
Bridlington u3a

Hector's Dolphins

Picture taken off the coast at Kaikoura South Island New Zealand. These cute dolphins cannot be found any where else in the world so I feel privileged to have seen them.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Hello

On a walk from Burnsall to Grassington, in the Yorkshire Dales in the spring. The new lambs were very interested in us, this one cam to say hello.

Dawn
Ilkley and District u3a

Heron On The River Nith

Taken on river Nith, Dumfries.

Earl
Dumfries u3a

Life On Earth... Eco Friendly

Graveyard at St Mary’s Church in Bloxham

Andri
Banbury u3a

Live Life In Full Bloom!

I see my blessings, small or large, whenever I am out. Taken during a windy day in Bloxham.

Andri
Banbury u3a

Kestrel In Late Afternoon Sun

This was taken outside our caravan just as the sun was setting. He saw me but treated me with distain so I managed to get the pic

Kenneth
Kibworth u3a

Jackdaw In Garden

Graham
Leigh on Sea u3a

In The Undergrowth While Walking

Walking around the footpaths in Narborough, Norfolk.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Lone Egret

There was a solitary Egret lurking around the pond and I just got it with its 'aerofoils' up

Kenneth
Kibworth u3a

Manx Loaghtan

Seen on a local Rare Breeds Farm this rare Manx Loaghtan sheep goes by the name of William. Certainly wouldn't want to get in an argument with this fella though as he looks as if he has had a a bout or two!

Sue
Leigh-on-Sea u3a

Otter Feeding

caught this magnificent otter feeding on the pond side at High Batts Nature Reserve

Steve
Northallerton u3a

Natural Pond

Freshwater pond in Bude Cornwall with very healthy vegetation

Nick
Newquay u3a

Mr And Mrs Mandarin

Graves Park Sheffield

Monica
Sheffield u3a

Monarch Butterfly

This was taken in Laguna Beach, California. I was walking along the headland with amazing scenery over the coast, when I noticed these butterflies. There is even a golf course and fancy hotel called The Monarch Beach Resort, after these butterflies. They are commonly found in North America and every Autumn millions of monarch butterflies migrate 3,000 miles to spend the winter in the forests of southwestern Mexico. Each migration is by a new generation, so they cannot learn from others. Instead, they rely on their genes.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Oystercatchers

Shoeburyness, Essex

Graham
Leigh Estuary u3a

Peek A Boo Duck

A female mallard at Warnham Nature Reserve Sussex.

Jenny
Abbey Wood and Thamesmead u3a

Red Deer Doe

This was taken at Tatton Park which is one of the UKs most complete historic estates. The red deer and fallow deer roam freely in the grounds.

Alan
Longton u3a

Red Squirrel

During a recent trip to Scotland we were fortunate to be near this woodland location inhabited by red squirrels. We went out early one morning and stood very quietly as they came out, soon there were six or more of them running around, chasing up and down the trees, running within a couple of feet from where we were standing, it was a magical moment and one I won’t forget.

Sue
Newquay u3a

Rosemoor Hot Garden

RHS Rosemoor in North Devon. Spectacular summer display in their beautifully nurtured and maintained Hot Garden. Lost among the masses of flowers that is ever maturing, as summer progresses

Alan
Torridge u3a

Rook Trying To Land On Nest

Windy day and this rook circled around 3 or 4 times trying to land on nest but overshot each time. Finally landed about 3 ft away and hopped across the tree top branches to get there.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Robin Singing

Taken whilst on walk from home along the River Torridge

Paul
Torridge u3a

Redpoll

Taken first visit to high batts reserve first redpoll ever seen with first use of new lens

Brian
Ripon u3a

Serenity

A moment of peacefulness when I pass the fields near St Mary’s Church. (Tedworth House, Wiltshire)

Andri
Banbury u3a

Singing Robin

I was just walking along the River Torridge when I could hear a Robin singing and was lucky enough to get a nice photo without disturbing it.

Paul
Torridge u3a

Singing

Out for a walk around Narborough, Norfolk and saw this Robin singing in the hedgerow.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Starling Wave

Just a couple of days before the end of February my wife and I headed up to Belfast to watch the murmuration of starlings. Our attention was drawn to a tall building where the starlings were gathering and about 10 minutes before sunset they took flight. The display they gave us was just mesmerising for 20 minutes. The photo shows them just as they left the roof of the building where they had gathered.

Michael
North Down & Ards u3a

Snack Time

This pic was actually taken in my park on a dull rainy day. I just saw this shaft of light coming trough and managed to get it.

Kenneth
Harborough Welland u3a

Sunset Over Jura

One of natures most beautiful sights is a sunset over water. This is across the island of Jura taken from the mainland - Argyle and Bute

Peter
Balsall Common u3a

Wellington And Friend

This was taken in Edinburgh. Couldn't work out what they were both looking at.

Alan
Solihull Widney u3a

Will This Be Good Enough

Leigh on Sea, nest box in garden

Graham
Leigh Estuary u3a

Twisted Tree

Ecclesall Woods, Sheffield

Monica
Sheffield u3a

Shells On The Seashore

I spotted this collection of shells on a beach in Victoria, Australia. It was the variety of patterns that appealed.

Carolyn
Balsall Common u3a

Spring Again!

This gorgeous bud standouts in the garden at the moment. It carries the promise of the stunning bloom it will become. Breathes hope and joy!

Andri
Banbury u3a

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

This cheeky chap came to sit by me hoping for some food. They are the Australian equivalent of our seagulls and they will scavenge for any food they can find. They are also extremely vocal.

Leslie
Balsall Common u3a

The Sea Gull

This image was taken in Lisbon. I turned round and there it was. I was struck by how well he blended into the background. I only managed to get the one shot. What brilliant camouflage

Pamela
Coventry u3a

Take Your Rubbish Home

Yarrow Valley Park Chorley.

Peter
Chorley u3a

The Storm Clouds Are Gathering

Ingoldmells on the Lincolnshire coast. A beautiful day, but wait what is that coming to spoil my walk? Time to find some shelter!

Robert
Skegness u3a

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