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Poetry Competition 2022 (Archive Page)

This gallery shows the amazing photographs submitted by members during January and February 2025. Thank you to all those who have submitted their photos.

Photo of frosty sedum flowers

Frozen Sedum Flowers

Having lasted throughout the year these sedum flowers were covered in ice crystals during January's freezing fog.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a winter canal scene

Shropshire Canal

Taken at Market Drayton canal.

Jill
Market Drayton u3a

Close up photo of a flower seed head

Goatsbeard seed head

This photo was taken on a walk in the Haute de Provence of France. It is a zoomed in picture of a goatsbeard seed head. An example of the beautiful structures and patterns to be found in nature.

Clive
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of brown fungi

Life Amongst the Fungi

I visited Green Island Gardens near Colchester for the first time and was delighted to see some wonderful fungi. It wasn't until I uploaded this picture that I noticed the tiny spider and all it's webbing.

Annie
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photograph of strange fungi in grass

Fungi

Dun Skudiburgh, Isle of Skye Tuesday 21st January 2025

Amanda
Isle of Skye u3a

Photograph of fungi on a mossy branch

Fungi

Fungi found on a tree by the River Torridge in Devon.

Paul
Torridge u3a

Close up photo of a deer

Close up of a Deer

This photograph was taken on Cannock Chase. It is a young fallow deer in its winter coat. I had some taken further away, so I put a 800mm lens on to really get close up.

Alan
Longton u3a

Photo of frosty leaves

Winter Enchantment

A December walk in Derbyshire

Ailsa
Glenfield u3a

Photo of a hare in a harvested field

Hare after Harvest

Hares are quite common in Norfolk, but not easy to spot. Their camouflage is excellent, their ability to remain statuesque is outstanding. This one was watching me intently, ready to bolt for cover.

Susan
Balsall Common u3a

Close up photo of ice crystals

Patterns in Nature - Ice Crystals

Taken at my home in Yorkshire on 10 January, the snow had fallen and then froze and formed these amazing ice crystals, beautiful to look at but lethal to walk on. Taken with my Canon 90D using a 60mm macro lens on a sunny but very cold day.

Dawn
Ilkley and District u3a

Osprey leaving the water with a trout

Osprey with Catch

Taken in Rutland, this photo shows an osprey as it exits the water with a trout it has just caught. It was taken with a fast shutter speed of 1/2000 sec to stop the action.

Alan
Longton u3a

Photo of a frosty windshield

Car view of a frosty morning

It was taken last month when we had a heavy frost on a snowy morning. For some reason instead of just getting the scraper out of the car, I sat in the car seat and noticed frost inside the window. Memories of childhood came flooding back to me of mr frost visiting our bedroom window in the night. The sunlight made it sparkle ✨ in more than one plane.

Nancy
Congleton u3a

Photo of crocuses in bud

‘No winter lasts forever’

“I see you trying Don’t give up You are about to bloom …” Photograph was taken in Bloxham.

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of two starlings

Stroppy Starlings

I was looking for a mouse in our garden but the Starlings were being too noisy, so I took them instead.

Kenneth
Kibworth & District u3a

Photo of flowering snowdrops

Bouquet Toss

Only lately, I have learnt that Queen Victoria's bridal bouquet contained a single flower, snowdrops! It was Prince Albert's favorite flower. Photo: Evenley Wood Garden (EWG)

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of a two seals on a beach

Pair of Seals

Taken at Horsey Beach, Great Yarmouth Norfolk. This was taken in November before the seal have their pups.

Ashwin
Great Glen Wigston and Oadby u3a

Photo of a deer in the mist

Frozen Leaf

Another photo taken after the coldest night of the winter. This leaf was all on its own on the drive covered in frost making such a contrast to the black tarmac.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of squabbling gannets

Two onto One

I spent a day at RSPB Bempton Cliffs and came across these gannets appearing to have a bit of a squabble.

Alan
Solihull Widney u3a

Photo of a tree in the mist

Standing Tall in the Freezing Fog

This was taken on a local walk on a freezing cold foggy morning. I thought the tree really stood out in the fog.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a heron stood in water

Taking care to avoid the alligator

This photo was taken on the Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina. The heron was feeding in the lake taking care to avoid a number of alligators that were swimming around.

David
Cottingham u3a

Photo of a peacock with its head hidden

My head is somewhere else today

This was taken at the Cartagena cruise terminal they have made into a nature reserve. As it had been raining hard this peacock was doing all it could to dry off.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of a lake at night

Foxton by Night

We had gone out to take a picture of a comet but it was cloudy so we took this instead.

Yvonne
Harborough and Kibworth u3a

Photo of a robin

Robin

Walking the dog around Narborough and the robin just sat and watched.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of an otter

Just popped up to say hello

Otters are found regularly on the River Nidd at a spot called Nidd Gorge. However saying that you still have to be fortunate to see one. It is a good place to see a few other interesting animals - Roe Deer and birds - a Little Egret has been seen regularly on the river. Perhaps another will join it and breed?

Ian
Harrogate u3a

Photo of a winter sunrise

Crisp Early Morning

I got up early to catch the light as it came in across the estuary. Very cold but the light was beautiful as it started burn off the early morning mist and fog.

Annie
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a winter evening sky

Red Sky at Night

This was taken in December 2024

Jill
Market Drayton u3a

Photo of a beautiful sunset

The Golden Hour

On my way home from a day out, the sun was just beginning to set over my home town of Tiptree, it was glorious so I stopped my car and captured the sky in all its glory.

Ginny
Tiptree u3a

Photo of purple primroses

Purple Primroses

Market Drayton - just love these

Jill
Market Drayton u3a

Photo of a hellebore

Hellebores

Market Drayton 18/02/2025

Jill
Market Drayton u3a

Photo of a cardoon flower

Purple

Taken at Chester Zoo

Jill
Market Drayton u3a

Photo of a buzzard in a winter tree.

Just Chillin'

Taken at our local sports centre.

Alastair
Northallerton u3a

Photo of a sparrow feeding young in a bird box

Sparrow feeding youngster

I'd set up a nesting box at my allotment and a family of sparrows took up residence.

Alan
Solihull Widney u3a

Photo of a buzzard on a bare branch

Buzzard - just hanging around

Walking the dog around Narborough,Norfolk and the buzzard was just sat watching.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of frost on holly leaves

On A Cold & Frosty Morning

Ice crystals formed on the holly leaves in our garden this January during the freezing fog

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a frosty woodland floor

Frosty Woodland Floor

An early morning walk in the local woods and I loved the patterns made by the frost around the fallen leaves.

Annie
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a backlit grass flowerheads

Backlit Grass

Taken in North Devon. The grass looked so attractive.

Alan
Interest Groups Online

Photo of geese flying in formation

Skein of Geese heading to Roost

In Bude we watched Skein after Skein of Canada Geese flying over us, all silhouetted against the backdrop of an evening sky.

Alan
Interest Groups Online

Photo of a jackdaw against a blue sky

Jackdaw

This Jackdaw was very interested by the Pasties being eaten. It sat next to us for some time, at the top of the stack of Lobster Pots, near to the Rhenish Tower on the Harbour.

Alan
Interest groups Online

Photo of two deer standing in grass

Cairngorms Deer

Last year I stayed in the Grant Arms Hotel which specialises in wildlife trips. I captured this pair of red deer in the Cairngorms on one of the trips, a highlight of the day (for me).

Susan
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of lions feeding on a recent kill

Sharing Lunch

While on safari in the Masai Mara we came across a recent kill. A pride of lions were having first pickings and some spotted Hyenas waited patiently.

Dennis
Teignmouth u3a

Photo of an iguana in a tree

Costa rican Iguana

Walking along the seafront in Puntarenas Costa Rica this scuttled in front of us and up the tree. I don't know who was more surprised, it or me!

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of cyclamen

Manatees in Biscayne Bay Miami

While walking along the bayside, there was a notice to boat owners to be on the lookout to avoid these gentle creatures. I looked out and found these.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of an eagle owl, flying

Eagle Owl

The Eurasian eagle-owl. It is often just called the eagle-owl in Europe and Asia. It is one of the largest species of owl. Females can grow to a total length of 75 cm, with a wingspan of 188 centimetres. Males are slightly smaller weighing up to 2.7kg. this picture was taken at a display in the Cotswolds.

Peter
Chorley u3a

Photo of a frosty Oak Leaf

Frosty oak leaf

Taken in Old Woodhouse, Leicestershire

Ailsa

Glenfield u3a

Photo of a sea eagle

White Tailed Sea Eagle

The Isle of Mull is one of our favourite places to visit especially for the wild life Including the Otter, and Red deer, we also had a boat trip hoping to photograph the sea eagle and was not disappointed.

Geoffrey
Boston u3a

Photo of a winter stream

Surrounded by Swathes of Snowdrops

Dear Diary, spring is on its way… Photo: Evenley Wood Garden

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of a red stag

Red Stag

I took this photo at Margam Country park in Jan 2025 , he just about stood still for a few seconds, before heading into the undergrowth.

Gary
Swansea u3a

Photo of a stream running through a winter park

Go with the Flow

Sometimes you just need to relax, breathe, let go and live in the moment. No more expectations Just going with the flow … Photo: Evenley Wood Garden

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of a hovering kestrel

Kestrel in the Evening Sun

Around 4.30pm whilst walking the dog around Narborough in Norfolk and shooting almost into the sun.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of a honey bee hanging from a flower

Busy as a bee…

This hard working bee was observed during a walk in the Haute de Provence region of France. Interesting to see its pollen harvest on its back legs.

Clive
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of frost on flower buds

Frosty Buds

Taken after the coldest night of this winter, and for the last 10 years. The fog and frost lasted all day. I thought the depth and pattern of the frost on the leaves was amazing.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Previous Found in Nature submissions