Levels and Local

First, a few images taken in thick fog shortly after sunrise on the Somerset Levels.

Socked-in at Shapwick

Fog easing a little now ...

 

... even a suggestion of sunlight above

A flash of colour in the fog

In reality, I was entertained for about an hour by two Kingfishers that passed repeatedly in front of me from side to side before this one stopped in view long enough for a short burst of shots.

Moorhen

That represents a morning's work!

The remaining images were all taken at Stourhead.

The Pantheon

The leaves are changing

A lakeside view taken against the light

I have to confess.  I spotted a couple of landscape photographers with their tripods set up and their remote shutter-releases.  I strolled down and what's good enough for ... ...

This is the most independent of the young Mute Swans.  It swims around alone a lot and tries its hand at bullying the ducks.

Here are three of its siblings swimming in a group.  The fifth one was sticking close to the parents.

Blue Tit

Robin

Marsh Tit

Last mealworm

Great Tit

Nuthatch

"Who moved the piano?"

Mallard

Sleepy sheep

St Peter's Pump

St Peter's Pump

This pump, dated 1474, is situated north west of the main Stourhead NT park in Six Wells Bottom Valley. It was originally part of the old Bristol water supply and stood near St Peter's Church at the west corner of Peter Street and Dolphin Street, Bristol.  St Peter’s Church was bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940 but some of it still remains standing. The pump was moved by an Act of Parliament in 1766 and re-erected on the Stourhead estate in 1768.  It marks the source of the river Stour which meanders through Wiltshire and Dorset before flowing out into the sea at Christchurch nearly 60 miles away.

This photograph was taken from the highest lake on the estate, which is the first point at which the river comes to the surface.  It is an underground stream to that point.  I used a 600mm lens so there is considerable foreshortening.