A walk round Doxey Marshes

Got a tip off that a Short-eared Owl was to be seen on Doxey Marshes.
Went along after work to see if I could get a few pics. Sure enough, it didn't disappoint.

Managed to get some reasonable action shots, though I have a long way to go to perfect my focusing skills.

The evening light was beautiful and helped in getting some nice effects.

A new beginning

Test blog for my latest updates. Here's a Marsh Tit taken at Loynton Moss Nature Reserve a few days ago.

Wild Times on Mull

Spent a week on the Isle of Mull, looking for wildlife and generally chillin out. We were mainly looking for and saw White Tailed Eagles, but our photo of the holiday came from a walk around the Treshnish Peninsula. At an area known locally for it's links with smuggling and illicit Whiskey moonshine, I spotted a pair of Otters just offshore. A closer inspection revealed three Otters, presumably a mother and two cubs, fishing, playing and later play-fighting. We watched them for about twenty minutes and I couldn't believe our luck as the sun came out and I managed to get some reasonable shots.

During an earlier drive out, we came across this soaked Buzzard, trying to dry off on a telegraph pole. Buzzards are usually quite flighty birds, but this one seemed too wet to care. We had a great time on Mull. Given the opportunity, I would happily move over there. Can't wait to get back.

Farlington Marsh Kestrel Take-off

Discovered Farlington Marshes, nr Portsmouth. Spent a morning there spotting lots of new birds for the 2010 Bird List. As I started my walk around the site I stopped at a pond, marked on the map of the site as a lake. As I looked out over the water, a head popped up. I'd hoped for an opportunity to get a Little Egret close up and here he was.

Lots of photography followed, mainly for scrapbook and ID purposes. It was a great day and the sun shone down. The Brent Geese were gathered in their hundreds, preparing for their migration. As I prepared to leave, I caught site of a Kestrel hunting close to the A27. He took a rest on a nearby street-lamp, giving me the opportunity to train the lens and prepare for take-off. This was the result.

A great place to go for a few hours. I plan to return for dawn on a high tide day. Can't wait.

Eel supper

Took a walk along the South West Coast Path between Abbotsbury and Ferrybridge. This section borders the Fleet Lagoon, an area of water hemmed in by Chesil Beach. There, I spotted this Cormorant fishing. I settled down to watch his efforts, which were soon rewarded. It wasn't until I got home and checked the photo's that I saw that it was actually an eel he had caught, not a fish. Hope you enjoy.

Jubilee Birds

This Robin pic was taken at Jubilee Lake, Thatcham. The birds here are well used to people and if you're careful, you can get right up close and personal.



Also featuring close up and happy to have his picture taken was this Wren. I was very pleased to get this shot. Wrens are usually too skittish to get this close to.



The last star of this walk was this Grey Heron. Not quite so happy to be seen and soon took flight. Almost prehistoric in appearance. A great day out.




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Sunrise Storm

Glad I'm not over there.

Star Turn

The time: Mid afternoon. The place: Aruba, Caribbean Sea. The star: This Brown Pelican.
Whilst swimming in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Aruba (as you do!) I was unable to avoid a pair of Brown Pelicans low flying over the sea and occasionally diving in for their next meal. Having got out and dried off, I returned with the camera for a couple of shots. Managed to catch this beauty as he caught sight of his next catch. Hope you like.

Birds of The Caribbean

The following pictures were taken on my recent holiday in The Caribbean.
This first example is a Magnificent Frigatebird. These were plentiful, throughout the area of the US Virgin Islands. These birds are famous for inflating the red throat pouch during courtship displays.

This Peregrine Falcon joined us mid-ocean for a couple of days. Beautiful bird and unexpected so far from land.

Stopping off for a quick nap on the ships rigging, this La Sagra's Flycather.

This Little Blue Heron. Taken at St Croix, USVI.

Lastly, back at Miami, this was one of a number of Turkey Vultures, circling the dock area.

Goldfinch Smackdown

Oi! Get off my feed tray.

I said. Get, off, my, feedtray!

Go on. Get out of it.

Hop it. Last chance fly boy.

What are you looking at!

Ok, they're not a great distance away. But I'm really enjoying how my new 70-300mm Zuiko Olympus Digital  lens is allowing me to get just that little bit closer to the action. Hope you enjoyed this short series.

Abbottsbury Kestrel

Saw this beauty in the distance on a coast walk between West Bay, Bridport and Abbottsbury in Dorset. The closer I got the further away she flew. Then, just as I neared the end of my walk, she flew right over, stopped and posed for me. I couldn't have asked for more. As she flew off after a few minutes, and with a huge smile on my face, I thanked her for the great photo opportunity. Made my day.

Bowdown Wood Nature Reserve

Ain't nature purdy? Lovely gnarled up tree at Bowdown Wood. Other interesting stuff included this fungus;

And these Fungii;

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Canada Geese at Dogmersfield Park

Spent a lovely Sunday morning walk along the Basingstoke Canal and through The Dogmersfield Park Estate to Tundry Pond. Perfect timing for the arrival of three seperate squadrons of Canada Geese flying in.

 A wonderful experience which made the walk a memorable experience. The Canal was quiet and tranquil, spoilt only by the odd cyclist, jogger or stalking photographer.

Altogether, a beautiful morning. Looking forward to more trips along The Basingstoke Canal.

Summer colours

I know! I know! It's another Starling. Perhaps I should start the Starling Appreciation Society. I think that acromyn is taken? Couldn't resist posting this gorgeous bird. The thing I like most about Starlings is the fantastic range of colours they display and they move through adolescence. This great iridescent example graced my bird feeder the other day. Lurvely.

Tower Bridge

I never tire of this shot. The first time I've ever actually visited Tower Bridge in London. As we came away, late afternoon, I turned to look back and saw this beautiful sight. The low sun was shining through and sitting perfectly on the bridge. This has been my desktop for months now and I have no plans to change it.

Bird on a wire

I may have mentioned before. I need a better lens. I have professional aspirations and amateur equipment. I am always looking for the close up shot which is usually too far away. When this Sparrow showed up on a recent walk along the Dorset coastline, I quickly grabbed the camera. As usual I had the wrong lens fitted as I had just been taking landscape shots. I fumbled around whilst remaining calm and quiet, managing to fit the zoom without disturbing the cheeky chap. As I focused the image, the sun broke through and made the shot. Lovely jubbly, happy days. I like to get at least one memorable photo whilst on a walk. This will do.

Pitlochry by night

These shots were taken in 2006 shortly after I got my DSLR. They show the Pitlochry Dam and lake in Perth and Kinross. The beautiful stillness of the water reflecting the stunning sky caught my attention. The Dam itself is bathed in yellow lighting which gives a dramatic look to the structure as you approach from downstream. A truly excellent place to visit. Provision was built into the dam, for trout to travel upstream and a camera and infra-red monitor was installed so that visitors could see the trout as they pass through the special underwater tubes on their journey up river.

Starling Silhouette

Have I mentioned that Starlings are my favourite garden birds? I believe that the art of taking a good photograph lies firstly in the ability to be able to spot the photograph oportunity. Something different, out of the ordinary. This juvenile Starling decided that the ball finial top of next-doors bird table was an ideal place to sit and soak up some sunshine. I decided that it was an ideal opportunity for a great picture. It's normal to see birds perched on objects for short periods of time before they fly off just as you focus your lens. Less common I find to have the opportunity to catch them so comfortable with their surroundings that they feel happy to squat down and ignore you. Seperated by a garden fence I was only about ten feet away for this shot. Juvenile Starlings are beautiful birds with their muti-layered brown plumage, but the silhouette made it stand out.

Patience is the key

Firstly, please forgive the focus. Like many people, we were lucky to have a couple of Sparrow nests in the eves of our roof. It was difficult to avoid the constant chirping of the male standing guard and marshalling the female back and forth collecting food for the chicks. I sat and watched the too and fro from the nest for a while taking the odd snapshot of the female in flight. All of a sudden there was a mighty ruckass. The male had obviously caused upset and the female was quick to let him know who was in charge around the chicks.