Early Morning Walk at Ladybower Reservoir

I have an annoying FLU since 2-3 weeks back so I haven't really been able to cope with strenuous walking or biking to my usual photo locations.
So early one morning, I had the good fortune that I got a ride to Ladybower Reservoir, to be there before the sun came up. I've only been there once so early in the morning and this morning I went to a small beech forest and hoped for nice autumn colors. Once on site I realised that it was not as I expected. The nice summer we had has postponed everything, not that I'm complaining :) 
Walking out there is anyway always nice and I was joined by 4 - 5 hooting tawny owls and once it brightened properly, I saw about 30 Mandarin ducks which was a bit surprising, did not know they every landed there. 
The sun began to rise over the hills and was shining nicely on to the other side where there is little larch forest. I took some pictures and just enjoyed the nice weather. After an hour, the light began to be pretty harsh and flat so I started walking back towards the bus but as usual had many stops along the way.

Pics from Botanical Garden

Strong winds and rain, it has been all week, and today it is blowing gale.
But today I had to go out with the camera, a trip to the botanical garden and I took the opportunity to leave early this morning. For the weather forecast promises rain for the afternoon so I did not have rain but it is very windy  12-15m / s
But as the Botanical Garden is located in a valley, so I did not have the worst of the wind.
Today it felt great to shoot, because it's been a bit tough to find something interesting to shoot in the forests. but here I always find plenty to shoot, and if nothing else, there are lots of cute squirrels :))

Camera Equipment: Nikon 3Ds and Nikon 200-400mm f4 lens, Handheld.
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Ladybower, Peak district National Park

Yesterday, me and my wife, took the bus to Ladybower reservoir to spend few hours enjoying the autume colours. As you might know by now, Ladybower is located just 10min from us by bus into the Peak District National Park.
Since it is close to us, we try to come out there at least few times per month. Yesterday we wanted to see the small beech forest on the east side of the reservoir, and unfortunately it was probably the last minute to see it in the autumn colors. As it tends to be a bit colder there compared to Sheffield the autume comes a bit faster. Anyhow the day offered lovely weather with sunshine and 10C.

Photo equipment i used: Nikon D3s, D90, nikon 10-24mm f 3,5-4,5 and 24-70mm f2,8 lenses.
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Old big beech tree

I love the colours in this

Part of the beech forest

Beech forest and ladybower

Ladybower

Fall colours

Ladybower with Great Tor and Bamford edge in the background 

More fall colours

Some pics of a waterfall

Have spent a lot of time down in the Rivelin Valley this week, has photographed mushrooms and so I have put up some bird feeding stations.
I put up the The bird feeder `s so i can get closer when i take bird pictures.
Otherwise, I just have been strolling around there and tried to find something interesting to photograph.
A place I always stop at is a small waterfall of about 1.5 m and there is always something to photograph. Have seen trout that have tried to force up the waterfalls, but have unfortunately not been able to get them in the picture yet. But I will try when the weather gets better, it's been fog 3 days in a row and then overcast. Now I want some sun before I go down there again :))

Camera equipment i used: Nikon 3Ds, nikon 50mm f1,8D and a tripod.
Click on a picture to enlarge them