A Collection of Moments Outside
![A Collection of Moments Outside - Poppies](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6923-12-06-2018.jpg)
I have to admit to struggling lately, motivation, tiredness, extra work, have all led to me not getting out much. I’ve forced myself a few times, but then haven’t posted anything about them, so to try and break that habit, and get back into posting regularly, today I’m offering up a collection of moments outside.
A Collection of Moments Outside
To kick things off, today’s walk was a drizzly wander around the Floodplain Forest. After days of warmth and sunshine I picked the one day that was over cast and had some drizzle on and off, typical.
My idea to chase some butterflies was blown by this weather, but that didn’t dampen my walk too much. Rather than waffle on too much (still not quite in the right head space for that I’m afraid), I’ll let the photos of the day do the bulk of the talking.
Poppy Photos
![Abstract Poppy](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6925-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Open Poppy](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6929-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Popping Poppies](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7037-12-06-2018.jpg)
Photo of the Day
![Coot on Nest](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7025-12-06-2018.jpg)
Mute Swans
![Young Mute Swan](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7039-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Young Mute Swan](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7061-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Male Mute in Reflection](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7076-12-06-2018.jpg)
Other Nature Pics
![Grey Heron](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6949-12-06-2018.jpg)
![House Martin](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6973-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Yellow Flowers](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6996-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Helophilus pendulus](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_6998-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Magpie](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7007-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Linnet](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7017-12-06-2018.jpg)
![Goldfinch](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Floodplain-Forest-Walk-IMG_7020-12-06-2018.jpg)
An Evening with Dragonflies
I thought I would check out some local ponds for evening Dragonflies one evening. Sadly there were very few (the odd damselfly), so I headed to the Wolverton Mill lakes.
At the lakes, hunting along the fence, a few Black-tailed Skimmers could be found. Their sleek bodies darting out from the fence posts to grab small insects, or dash away from my approach.
![Common Blue](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dragonflies-IMG_6908-10-06-2018.jpg)
![Female Black-tailed Skimmer](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dragonflies-IMG_6911-10-06-2018.jpg)
![Female Black-tailed Skimmer](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dragonflies-IMG_6915-10-06-2018.jpg)
![Male Black-tailed Skimmer](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dragonflies-IMG_6916-10-06-2018.jpg)
![Blue-tailed damselfly](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dragonflies-IMG_6920-10-06-2018.jpg)
Sunset in the Ouse Valley
Having seen a few sunsets from my window I decided to pop out one evening for a stroll around the floodplain forest. However finding all the hides in use for activities that were not wildlife related (seriously do adults need to use public hides to drink and smoke weed?) I soon gave up and instead decided to chance my arm with some sunset photos over the Ouse Valley.
Apart from being disturbed by some cattle (I don’t like cows for good reason), I managed a few nice images and one stunner of a Kestrel.
![Sheep at Sunset](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6799-03-06-2018-Copy.jpg)
![Sun setting over the Ouse Valley](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6829-03-06-2018-Copy.jpg)
![Clouds looking like mountains](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6833-03-06-2018.jpg)
![Sunset at the Ouse Valley](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6845-03-06-2018.jpg)
![Final Sunset](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6856-03-06-2018.jpg)
![Kestrel at Sunset](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6814-03-06-2018-Copy.jpg)
![](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sunset-Ouse-Valley-IMG_6814-03-06-2018-Copy.jpg)
![](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.viewsfromanurbanlake.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Outdoors-Wellness-With-Bo-Beolens-Pin-Image.jpg)