Treasure Hunting

There is one summer fishing session I think I enjoy more than any other - when me and James hit the Fens in the boat, our annual trip searching for gold. A maze of clear water, a boat full of bread and no particular plan! I think I'll just let the photos do the talking...









We've got the boat down to an artform, minimum of gear packed away, bait, motor... And in the excitement of setting off I aways forget to take a photo. Here's an after photo, after thought!

Lucky Seven

My 10th radiotheraphy treatment (not fun) followed by my 6th Small River barbel session this season (much more fun). And I began my quest for a small river seven pounder... Got one... 7lb 10oz...


Great stuff. A total of 13 barbel landed, also including fish of 6lb 1oz (above) and 5lb 0oz (below) - getting bigger - where were they hiding? The quest for an eight pounder starts here...


Edit: And I popped down to use up the rest of the bait the next afternoon. Back on splasher patrol - seven barbel added, the biggest about 3¾lb. Season total: 90 Small River barbel.

Clouded Vision?

I was charging about like a nutter photographing Clouded Yellow butterflies - a beautiful summer visitor. Lots of blurry yellow blobs and a couple of decent shots - including the light coloured one above. Did I happen to photograph a very rare Pale Clouded Yellow?

I was on well known butterfly hotspot; Hutchinson's Bank in Croydon - and it's got form for them - one was confirmed there in 1976! It's probably not, but I've sent the photos over to those in the know and I'm waiting to hear back! Normal one below for comparison.

Dinosaur Tour

I popped up to see the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Neglected, ignored and in disrepair* - and I love them! It was the first dinosaur park in the world - featuring the first life-size dinosaur models. Can you imagine being a kid in 1854 going to see them? Wikipedia.

*The dinosaurs were restored in 2002 but the park is in disrepair.