Summer Walk, Ladyburn Lake Druridge Bay - Tuesday 24th July 2018.

   

On Tuesday 24th July, visit number four on the Camera Clubs Summer Walks programme saw members meet at Druridge
Bay Country Park near Red Row. Surrounded by footpaths, meadows and mixed woodland, the central feature of the park
is the Ladyburn Lake, and this large freshwater lake was to be the focus of our attention for the evening.
Leaving the visitor centre, we set off to look for images but it looked like the recent good weather had deserted us, as the
dull and the flat lighting was not ideal for photography. Although the lake attracts many seabirds and has a large resident
duck and swan population they kept their distance, leaving the reeds, insects, wildflowers and the occasional garden bird
as the subjects most suited for close up shots in these conditions.
Making our way around the lake we continued in a clockwise direction and headed through the nature reserve and round
to the north side of the water, here it was difficult to imagine that this area was once an opencast mine and that the lake
was man made. Finally the clouds started to move and blue skies broke through and lifted the mood. Reflections in the
water, swathes of the pink Rosebay Willow Herb and a family of swans were all literally seen in a new light and recorded
before the evening sun set over the lake. This was gentle relaxed walk over a couple of hours and once again a big thank
you to those who attended and a reminder that these evenings are open to all members.

         

Davy Bolam.