Hello and welcome
I have always had a keen interest in wildlife and the great outdoors;
I was an Angler for over 30 years but gave it up a few years ago to
concentrate on photographing wildlife. I lived in Runcorn; Cheshire a
short distance from the M56 that gave me great access to the Wirral,
Northwales and Lancashire, with some great countryside on my doorstep
I didn't have to travel too far in search of wildlife and photographic
opportunities.
Some of my wildlife photographs range from as far afield as Cuba,
Antigua, Saint Martin, Saint Lucia, Dominican Republic, Tuscany ,
Corfu, Turkey, Spain, Portugal.
I now live in the Charente area of western France.
Coypu
More from France
A short walk from the house is a small lake that has a family of Coypu in residence they are not camera shy and will come very close to you, swimming up and down the lake checking you out.
Lots more in the France Coypu folder
More later
Cuckoo on a wire
Most mornings are heralded with the sound of Cuckoos which sit on the telegraph post just next to my garden and take turns in chasing each other off, I did get some photographs of them but not what I wanted. Seeing them most days is reward enough.
More Later
Back from the brink
Back from France I started up my laptop and disaster. My laptop had locked me out, it wouldn’t recognise my password. After many failed attempts to get it to boot up, whilst pulling the last remaining hair follicle out, I was on the brink of launching it out of the window, which I would have done if it hadn’t have had all my photos taken this year on it.
I decided the best option was to bury my head in the sand and go out and take some photographs, if that didn’t solve it what would.
At Leasowe I ran into Gerhard and Mike, Gerhard asked what I was out photographing. Nothing really I said, just repairing my laptop. I could tell by the puzzled look on their faces that it didn’t seem like the best way to solve my problem.
Gerhard said he could do a better job than me (and he did). I am now up and running thanks to Gerhard. I am very grateful for his help.
After working on the house and garden I only managed to explore my surroundings on a few days but I did have some success at home.
Whilst working in the back garden t I discovered this toad under a log pile.
And in the front garden under some rocks this Fire Salamander.
The fire salamander is possibly the best-known Salamander species in Europe.
Black Redstart are nesting in the back garden and can be seen most days feeding on insects, which provide some great photographic opportunities.
More in the France folder
A trip down to my woodland produced Firecrest, although difficult to photograph I still got a few shots.
Could have been in better light.
A short walk from my house is a small lake that has a family of Coypu in residence they are not camera shy and will come very close to you, swimming up and down the lake checking you out. The field next to the lake seem to hold Roe deer most mornings and can be seen from the road if you are lucky.
Most mornings are heralded with the sound of Cuckoos which sit on the telegraph post just next to my garden and take turns in chasing each other off, I did get some photographs of them but not what I wanted. Seeing them most days is reward enough.
More later with the photographs.
Full Moon
Full Moon taken last night, this is my last post before I set off to France for a month.
I will be posting from France if I can sort-out the internet while I am there. So watch this space.
More later
Toad Wars
Its Toad wars at the local pond with male toads wrestling for the best position to fertilise the female’s eggs.
Another Gaffe
If I make a mistake it’s not the end of the world I can correct it.
But for some it is.
Early morning at the feeding station and a mistake cost this Siskin its life as it was taken by a Sparrowhawk.
Shame it’s not sharp, I do like seeing the Sparrowhawk but I also like seeing the Siskins and all the other birds that visit my garden.
Everything needs to eat, that’s life.
The Sparrowhawk only made the one visit so the feeding station saw plenty of activity during the rest of the day.
More later
I didn’t expect to have PPI on my cards
With good weather forecast for today I made arrangements with the lads Roy and Graham to have a day out photographing
and see what we could get.
At the end of the day with two cards maxed out I returned home to check my account.
I found I had PPI on both of my cards.
Peregrine and Parakeet images, this is a good return all for the price of a phone call that I made myself.
Got all my PPi back
First Singing Chiffchaff this year
An influx of migratory birds has arrived this week, the first I have seen is the Chiffchaff.
With Skylark, Wheatear and Ring Ouzel also here it's time to go out and get some photographs.
But the garden is still very enticing with Siskin, Goldfinch and Bullfinch putting on a show most days.
More Later
Black Necked Grebe Courtship Dance
Black Necked Grebes courtship dance not a bad photograph considering the distance they were taken at.
