Somerset Year 2022
Waltons Heath at Dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_1101
As is often the case my photograph year started with a sunrise at RSPB Ham Wall.
Ham Wall
Visits to RSPB Ham Wall to watch the starling murmurations tops and tails each year. This year saw a large jump in the number of marsh harriers. Now seeing them on every visit.
Starlings and the Marsh Harrier – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_9240
More of a surprise was a chinook helicopter that caused every bird on the reserve to take to the air.
Birds vs Chinook – Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_1839
Pylons
I did not visit the nature reserve very often, instead I followed the starlings each morning as they flew out into the Somerset countryside. Pylons soon became one of my favourite subjects as the birds passed by.
Pylons and Starlings – Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4608
We did have some lovely mornings at the start of the year.
Pylon and Starlings – Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4893
Panborough
I found a new view point on the hill over Panborough. Wide open views over the Axe valley aligned with the rising sun.
Panborough from Hare Acre Hill – Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8718H
For a couple of weeks each morning brought a different view.
Dawn at Autumn Equinox – Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4044H
Priddy Mineries
We did not get any snow this year, but we did get some deep frosts. Sitting in a hollow high up on the Mendip Hills frost lingered at Priddy Mineries.
Priddy Mineries – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5821
Mist over Priddy Mineries – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3765
Stockhill Woods
This year I made an early decision to visit Stockhill Woods more often.
Stockhill Wood – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3572
Stockhill Wood – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3580
Glastonbury Tor
The tor is one of the most iconic symbols in the Somerset landscape. From Westbury-sub-Mendip a series of small hills mark the way to the tor.
Glastonbury Tor – From Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4555
On one very cold morning the sheep at West Pennard enjoyed having a photographer to watch.
Dawn at West Pennard – Somerset, UK. ID JB_5511
River Brue
On the River Brue I was lucky to watch an otter swimming down stream.
River Brue at Dawn – Nr Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9323
An extreme crop provided proof that this was indeed an otter and not a log!
Otter – River Brue, Nr Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7765
From the top of the Mendip Hills the Tor is the only hill visible above the mist.
Glastonbury Tor in the Mist – From Deerleap, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3476
Sometimes all the hills disappear under a thick white blanket.
Mist over The Levels – From Ditcheat, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7312
Snowdrops
As winter begins to end out pop the snowdrops.
Snowdrops – Church of St Michael, Blackford, Soith Somerset, UK. ID JB_6725
Covered in the jewels of early morning dew the flowers glisten in the low winter sunshine.
Snowdrops – Church of St Michael, Blackford, Soith Somerset, UK. ID JB_6731
Wood Sorrel
Back at Stockhill as the Wood Sorrel was out, covering the woodland floor.
Wood Sorrel – Stockhill Woods, Priddy, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8185
Spring
The swans at the Bishop’s Palace welcomed the arrival of spring.
Swan and Blossom – Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3071
Wattles Hill
I discovered a nearby wood with beautiful flowers. Finding a corner of the countryside that you never knew existed is an amazing feeling.
Wattles Hill – Wookey Hole, Somerset, UK. ID JB_6474
The tiny wood was full of wood anemones and celandines.
Wood Anemones – Wattles Hill, Wookey Hole, Somerset, UK. ID JB_6093
Summer Butterflies
In the summer may attention turned to chasing butterflies in the hope of getting some pictures.
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) – Ubley Warren, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9982
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) – Collard Hill, Nr Street, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8642
I had wanted to photograph the dark green fritillaries on the Mendip Hills for a long time. Somehow we kept missing each other. This year, after several unsuccessful trips I finally got my picture.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2546
Uphill
Near the coast a mini project to capture various views of the old windmill on the hill above Uphill.
Uphill Beacon – Uphill, North Somerset, UK. ID JB_4157
Uphill Beacon – Uphill, North Somerset, UK. ID JB_4262H
Luckily, I was walking by just as a rainbow appeared. This seems like the perfect spot for a pot of gold.
Rainbow over the beacon – Uphill, North Somerset, UK. ID IMG_2474
The hill is a favourite with dog walkers.
Waiting for sunrise – Uphill nature reserve, North Somerset, UK. ID JB_6667
Fenny Castle
Another mini project during autumn to photograph the hamlet to Fenny Castle.
Sunrise at Fenny Castle – Nr Godney, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4756H
Castle Farm – Fenny Castle, Somerset, UK. ID JB_6306H
Willows and cattle make the perfect image of the Somerset Levels.
Willow and Cattle – Fenny Castle, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5598
The castle is part natural and part man made.
Glastonbury Tor – From Fenny Castle, Somerset, UK. ID JB_6391
Back to Ham Wall
At Ham Wall changes to the Avalon Hide created a whole new window of opportunities.
New windows in the Avalon Hide – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_2753
The wonderful new windows gave us the chance to see the starlings arrive in front in of the setting sun.
Starlings fly over the Avalon Hide – Ham Wall, Avalon Marshes, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0474
The number of starlings grew quickly during November.
Starling Murmuration – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3335
By December we had half a million birds doing their thing across some colourful skies.
Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5503
… then exploding out of the reeds each morning.
Starlings at Dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9747
And finally…
In December we had a cold snap with a deep frost and a light dusting of snow high up in the Mendip Hills
Barrow Cottage – Pen Hill, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4098H
